Its been a long time that I wrote any short story, so here I am writing one. On the night when most people are perhaps enjoying in disco, or with their friends , I am writing here on my diary, which gives me more comfort than anything else. This is a story with no conclusion, necessarily every story does not has to have a conclusion but the essence it produces leaves the readers mesmerized. I hope you would like this story. Do comment and share.
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10,9,..............1 Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
New year, huh! Which means I can no more turn the pages of the calendar on my table, rather buy a new one. One might wonder, but thats the difference a new year makes to me.
31st December ,2016. Me swimming in a pool of strangers, enjoying the beautiful scenario of Parkstreet- random couples, a bunch of dudes, elderly people, children, teens, they all seem so excited. Amidst the crowd, was swimming like me, another, someone, maybe- its not bad to think .Once you are among a pool of unknowns, imagination can be your friend.
Should I enter, or should I not. I had never been to a bar before and that too alone. But hey, I can get drunk and perhaps lie down on the street and let my parents rescue me from the police station. No dilemma. Once I am in, I have to do it. Who are these people, friends, couples, having a gala time aint they? Where should I find the bartender? Oh there he is, dressed in a fine white shirt, preparing a drink in tiny little glasses. She takes the first shot, ugh she doesn’t like it. But then she takes another, then one more. And thats how she completed five in a row. The bartender comes out and tries to hold her, but she signals him to stop indicating she is fine. Amidst the mess of crowd , she prefers a corner of a sofa with her face buried in her palms.
People, life , problems, that same old story, I hate it.
“Excuse me.” I asked the bartender.
“Yes sir, how may I help you?”
“Can you prepare me a drink?”
He looks unusually surprised at my question which he is not generally used to, as if I was requesting any government official to get my documents.
“ 3 vodkas, 1 genetonic” I guess they are used to hear something like that, I don’t know. I have never been to a bar before and have no idea how drinks are ordered.
“See, I don’t drink. Its my first time in a bar, occasion of new year as you can understand. Well Happy New Year in advance, haha”
That weird look on his face like he had seen some alien or something – was too much.
“Okay , make the best one you can”
“Alright sir, a plain scoth, neat or on rocks?”
“I like my things neat.”
What the hell is that. This is something what evil must taste like- some smoky liquid worth that much money? I could have spent it on a extra cheese large size pizza. Its horrible to drink. But for the time being I need to sit somewhere. Oh, there’s a place. The girl still occupying the corner, her frizzy hair all undone, looking miserable, who cares?
I take a seat and drink that horrible thing in silence- being a very poor initiator of a conversation. I know she is looking at me, and also noticing my face as I drank it.
Her: You don’t seem to like that scotch.
Me: Excuse me.
Pretending like I haven’t seen her so long.
Her: If you don’t want it, why are you drinking?
Me: Because I want to drink.
Her: You are a virgin right?
Me: And you must be the third daughter of Mrs I know everything.
She finally laughed, at least I could make someone laugh in moment of grief, thats a lot of achievement, thank you 2016.
Her: No Mr Sarcasm, your juvenile frustration tells me, you are a virgin. So new year, no friends, and expectedly no girlfriends, right mama’s good boy.
Me: Yes, you are right. And you know what, it doesn’t matter to me if its a 31st December or a 1st January, its gonna be an everyday for me.
I was never frank enough to talk to any stranger, the Scotch was doing a good job.
Her: So good boy, any new year resolution?
I kept staring at her until she burst into laughter taking me in.
Her: I can understand from your face you don’t have any.
Me: And do you have any resolution.
Her: Nopes, just aiming at my future, not just a year.
Me: You didn’t seem to like those either, did you?
Her: They are called Tequila. Thats how they drink it, once it gets in, it burns down the throat , but later, Oh my God, all your anger, frustration, pain, are lost in vapours. Seriously man, what the hell are you doing in a bar.
Me: So you must be having five tonnes of anger inside you.
I cracked a joke , but was too foolish to realise it was not funny.
Her:Its my boy friend. I broke up with him.
Me: Thats common.
Her: I know. Ten years, it doesn’t seem to matter much now.
Me: Holy shit. Are you kidding? You had been in a relationship for ten years? Why did he break up with you?
Her: It would have been easier if he did.
Me: You mean, you broke up with him.
Her: It was hard, he was too good, the perfect guy for me- and I just broke up.
We paused for a moment, me sipping from the glass, it didn’t feel that bad , my tongue got used to the scotch by then. She lit up a cigarette and started speaking
Her: I got a promotion, and for that I am transferred to our head office in London. I had to choose between one of them, and I did.
Me: But ten years cant be a joke. He must feel terrible.
Her: He would be fine, just needs some time. Time, the healer of all wounds. Its reality good boy, and this is how it looks.
Me: And the tequilas are helping you in this matter.
Her: So far, so good.
I finished my last sip, and we both had to leave then.
Me: So I guess thats it.
Her: Yeah, but let me tell you one thing , you should not be in a bar ever Mr good boy.
Me: Time will teach me more than this I hope.
Her: You wish.
Me: Congratulations on your promotion, and Happy New Year.
Her: A very happy new year good boy.
She went towards the back door, while I went for the entrance. Two paths, one heading forward in the hope of new future and a brilliant career, while the other chose to return back to his home, his family.
There was an envelope on my table, which my name on it. It was from mom , I knew. She did this every year, writing her wishes on a greetings card “Happy New Year son”.