The light from his laptop screen reflected on his glasses.Eyes fixed to the screen,he typed fast.It had been a long and busy day.Conferences,presentations and client meetings. His life hadn’t changed for as long as he could remember. He leaned back on his chair,keeping his glasses on the table and slammed his laptop shut.He turned and faced the glass wall behind him. His office on the fourteenth floor overlook the city.The tall sky-scrapers decorated the skyline standing silently.A few dots of light decorated the otherwise dark buildings standing with their head held high.The lamps far away glowing dimly in some lane stood watch over the lonely streets.Maybe they thrived to tell their story…what they had seen all through the years.They said the city never slept.He could see cars in the flyover not far away.He looked at his Rolex on his wrist.The golden rim glistened.Half past twelve.
He picked up his jacket and walked out.The watchman was fast asleep in his chair. He didn’t want to wake him.Silently he walked past.Soon he was standing on the side walk overlooking his office.However tonight he didn’t take his way home,he left his car in the parking.He wanted to walk,walk where he wanted to.This part of town never seemed to be empty.And then again New Year was only a week away.However tonight he didn’t want to sit in a booth having his favourite drink,or talk to the woman sitting alone in the bar.He wanted to be alone.Away from this crowd.Away from the scary reality.Yes he was alone.He had never complained.In fact,he loved being alone,being single.But tonight,something was different.Unlike other days,he felt incomplete,he felt lost.The night seemed to be colder and more harsh.A couple was crossing the street.The girl had her arms wrapped around the boy’s.The girl was giggling.The boy couldn’t stop looking at her laugh to his jokes.Maybe he thought how lucky he was.
He reached the bridge over the river.He didn’t stop.A police patrol car drove past him piercing through the silence of the cold night with its annoying siren.Otherwise it was calm all around him.Draped in a rugged shawl a homeless old man sat at a distance in front of a fire looking at him.He could hear the fire crackling.He took out his purse and walked towards him.Maybe it was the fire but even then he could see the man’s face lit up and eyes glistened as he held out a 500 rupee note.He kept walking.The cold wind from the river seemed to be cruel.It seemed to mock his loneliness.Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty. He felt poor tonight even in his expensive suit.He thought Language… has created the word ‘loneliness’ to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word ‘solitude’ to express the glory of being alone.Tonight he felt no glory.
A shop was open at the end of the bridge.It was one of those small shops at the corner of a street that sold greeting cards.He went in.It was small but cosy.A boy rushed out from inside as he started looking through the cards stacked according to occasions.”Sir”,the boy asked,”Would you like a new year card sir?”.
“No”.He paused a little then said,”But do you have birthday cards available? ”
“Yes Sir,this way”…”Here are some sir. Whose birthday is it sir?There are special cards for everyone sir daughter,son,wife, brother..Can I show you some,Sir? ”
The man looked at the boy.He smiled and said “It is mine!”.