The tall and bent figure trudged along the narrow road that would soon lead out to the main road of the city. It was the early dark of the winter and he could already see the lights from far. He was deep in his thoughts and his feet moved towards the destination it already knew and that had embarked upon exactly two hours ago.
He had not slept the night before and he was losing sleep since the last one week as the deadline neared. Now, he was on his way to fulfill a promise and he had still no answer as to how he was going to do it.
He had never broken a promise before and had worried whenever he felt he could break one. Call it good fortune or being methodic, but he had always fulfilled his promises until recent times.
He was meeting John twice in this month. But his acquaintance dated back to his school days. He had some money on him and could have taken a bus, but he decided not to. His back was wet with the sweat and he could feel trickles of it travel through his spine at regular intervals. He had enough money for a nip of cheap vodka which he knew he would need in some time to come.
The main avenue of a city is almost the same anywhere in the world. Fountains and archs welcoming you to the city, followed by traffic intersections and roads bordered by shops of all kinds and sizes. Selling everything, from your morning tea and coffee to your toothbrush and toothpaste.
John was five feet seven, slim with a slight belly, fair countenance which belied his age of around the mid forties. He was dressed like a corporate (which he was as a banker with the Banque de Paris) and if anybody would have bet against the fact that he was waiting for the approaching figure, he would have won hands down.
John sighed as he looked at the figure, and then at his Patek Phillipe and knew that his friend was punctual as always.
He shook hands with John and then half hugged each other, not because of his sweat but maybe they had lost touch with each other. John led him to the waiting BMW and after de-parking, headed for the most expensive restaurant in town.
John was tempted to converse. Should he ask him about his work, which he knew was suffering. Or his wife who had to take up a job to feed the family and fund his exceptionally bright daughter’s higher education. He glanced sideways and saw him immersed in his own thoughts and decided against breaking the silence.
The BMW rolled into the driveway and the valets were already running towards it to relieve them of the car. The manager was waiting to escort them into the already reserved table located at a very vantageously quiet zone.
He sat down and slouched a little to soothe his aching back and for a minute forgot all the worries in his mind.
John ordered a Black Label and the waiter turned towards him. “And what would you like to have, Sir?
“A double Absolut with soda, water and a dash of cordial… thank you.” He waved his hand and the waiter was off.
He glanced at the overhead digital clock which showed 8:12 pm. He was already sitting on the deadline and still had no clue how to fulfil it.
The first big gulp of the vodka seemed sweetened as it ran down his throat. But later it warmed his body again to a slight sweat.
He compared it to the cheap vodka he normally had in the roadside pubs with bad lights and air and thought it was one of his lucky days. And then he remembered the promise.
John remembered him as a student of great character in school. He topped his class everytime, he won all the debates and elocutions, and passed out with honours.
He could not afford higher education and dabbled in a variety of jobs and businesses and ended up incurring losses every time.
He had a taste for all the good things in life and was inspired by his rich friends and the glamour around their world.
Strangely enough, everytime he was sad or out of a job or was down to his last penny, he would come home and write. He would write for days and for nights continuously on sheaves of loose paper. But the urge of alcohol and good food would get the better of him and he would embark upon his search for a new job or enterprise.
But the last couple of years were the worst that he had seen. He had to sell his home much to the chagrin of his wife who dealt him the silent treatment and drove him further away and regularly towards the cheap bars of the evenings.
He had been writing furiously for the past two weeks and it seemed like a period of not giving up at all. And then, he ran out of writing paper.
It was late in the afternoon, and he decided to walk to town and save the money meant for travel. And maybe, have a nip of cheap vodka instead.
He walked for almost an hour and stood at an intersection to change lanes when the BMW halted near him and John recognized him.
They had run across each other a few times after having parted from each other on completion of their schooling. John studied further and on completion had joined the financial industry and worked his way up to be a banker of big repute.
John was unwinding for the weekend and didn’t mind when a third double absolut was ordered and asked for a repeat too. He looked across at his companion and saw the effects of alcohol. He was at peace with himself and smiling and happy. He remembered the last time he had met him by chance when he saw him waiting at an intersection to cross the lane.
John called out to him and asked him to hop in to the car. He asked him where he was headed and told him that he would drop him there and since he had time to kill, they could spend some together, catching up on times.
After a couple of beers, he thought of asking for a loan from John but could not arrive upon an amount. It would be embarrassing if it was very small and a big loan might invite a decline which would be more embarrassing.
After the third beer, he told John that he had forgotten his wallet at home and could he lend him a few for his shopping. John was eager to help him out and pulled out five crisp hundreds from his bill fold and handed it to him. He promised John that he will return it next week. John refused saying that he was traveling and would not be around for a week.
John also gave him his telephone number and told him to call him up whenever he felt like.
He took the telephone number and said, “ I’ll call you and whenever I speak to you, we have to meet and let me pay back your money.” John smiled and said nothing.
Alcohol makes you brave too. He looked at John who seemed to be in his world. “ I think I will just wait for him to ask, which I know he won’t”, he answered himself.
But he was the one who called up John and fixed up the meeting to pay back the money. And John knows that before bidding good bye, I am going to give him the money.
God! I have never cheated anyone out of their money.
He remembered the evening he had bought his writing paper, a pair of new dresses for his wife and kid, some groceries and some Chinese food for dinner. He had raced to the bus station to catch the earliest bus and then he had woken up in the middle of the night and wept for a long time. He thanked John and the Lord for making them meet. He swore that he will keep calling John till he talks to him.
He looked at the time piece again. It was a little blurred and he could read 11.15 or was it?
He didn’t remember what he had eaten and wondered what the waiter was telling him which sounded so personal.
He looked at John and started, “ John, about the money…”, John was looking at him intently. The waiter interrupted him and presented him with an envelope. He opened the envelope and saw a stash of crisp hundreds. He again heard the waiter lapse into a conversation and heard him thank profusely for something he had done.
He remembered handing John his five hundred back, which he accepted after a lot of coaxing. He tipped the waiter hugely and was escorted to the exit with full honours.
I took a long look at what I had written and looked up at the clock overhead. The time was 11:46. I stretched myself, longed for some alcohol, which I hadn’t had since almost a month. I looked at the kitchen and asked “ Anything for dinner?” As expected, there was no reply.
He had not slept the night before and he was losing sleep since the last one week as the deadline neared. Now, he was on his way to fulfill a promise and he had still no answer as to how he was going to do it.
He had never broken a promise before and had worried whenever he felt he could break one. Call it good fortune or being methodic, but he had always fulfilled his promises until recent times.
He was meeting John twice in this month. But his acquaintance dated back to his school days. He had some money on him and could have taken a bus, but he decided not to. His back was wet with the sweat and he could feel trickles of it travel through his spine at regular intervals. He had enough money for a nip of cheap vodka which he knew he would need in some time to come.
The main avenue of a city is almost the same anywhere in the world. Fountains and archs welcoming you to the city, followed by traffic intersections and roads bordered by shops of all kinds and sizes. Selling everything, from your morning tea and coffee to your toothbrush and toothpaste.
John was five feet seven, slim with a slight belly, fair countenance which belied his age of around the mid forties. He was dressed like a corporate (which he was as a banker with the Banque de Paris) and if anybody would have bet against the fact that he was waiting for the approaching figure, he would have won hands down.
John sighed as he looked at the figure, and then at his Patek Phillipe and knew that his friend was punctual as always.
He shook hands with John and then half hugged each other, not because of his sweat but maybe they had lost touch with each other. John led him to the waiting BMW and after de-parking, headed for the most expensive restaurant in town.
John was tempted to converse. Should he ask him about his work, which he knew was suffering. Or his wife who had to take up a job to feed the family and fund his exceptionally bright daughter’s higher education. He glanced sideways and saw him immersed in his own thoughts and decided against breaking the silence.
The BMW rolled into the driveway and the valets were already running towards it to relieve them of the car. The manager was waiting to escort them into the already reserved table located at a very vantageously quiet zone.
He sat down and slouched a little to soothe his aching back and for a minute forgot all the worries in his mind.
John ordered a Black Label and the waiter turned towards him. “And what would you like to have, Sir?
“A double Absolut with soda, water and a dash of cordial… thank you.” He waved his hand and the waiter was off.
He glanced at the overhead digital clock which showed 8:12 pm. He was already sitting on the deadline and still had no clue how to fulfil it.
The first big gulp of the vodka seemed sweetened as it ran down his throat. But later it warmed his body again to a slight sweat.
He compared it to the cheap vodka he normally had in the roadside pubs with bad lights and air and thought it was one of his lucky days. And then he remembered the promise.
John remembered him as a student of great character in school. He topped his class everytime, he won all the debates and elocutions, and passed out with honours.
He could not afford higher education and dabbled in a variety of jobs and businesses and ended up incurring losses every time.
He had a taste for all the good things in life and was inspired by his rich friends and the glamour around their world.
Strangely enough, everytime he was sad or out of a job or was down to his last penny, he would come home and write. He would write for days and for nights continuously on sheaves of loose paper. But the urge of alcohol and good food would get the better of him and he would embark upon his search for a new job or enterprise.
But the last couple of years were the worst that he had seen. He had to sell his home much to the chagrin of his wife who dealt him the silent treatment and drove him further away and regularly towards the cheap bars of the evenings.
He had been writing furiously for the past two weeks and it seemed like a period of not giving up at all. And then, he ran out of writing paper.
It was late in the afternoon, and he decided to walk to town and save the money meant for travel. And maybe, have a nip of cheap vodka instead.
He walked for almost an hour and stood at an intersection to change lanes when the BMW halted near him and John recognized him.
They had run across each other a few times after having parted from each other on completion of their schooling. John studied further and on completion had joined the financial industry and worked his way up to be a banker of big repute.
John was unwinding for the weekend and didn’t mind when a third double absolut was ordered and asked for a repeat too. He looked across at his companion and saw the effects of alcohol. He was at peace with himself and smiling and happy. He remembered the last time he had met him by chance when he saw him waiting at an intersection to cross the lane.
John called out to him and asked him to hop in to the car. He asked him where he was headed and told him that he would drop him there and since he had time to kill, they could spend some together, catching up on times.
After a couple of beers, he thought of asking for a loan from John but could not arrive upon an amount. It would be embarrassing if it was very small and a big loan might invite a decline which would be more embarrassing.
After the third beer, he told John that he had forgotten his wallet at home and could he lend him a few for his shopping. John was eager to help him out and pulled out five crisp hundreds from his bill fold and handed it to him. He promised John that he will return it next week. John refused saying that he was traveling and would not be around for a week.
John also gave him his telephone number and told him to call him up whenever he felt like.
He took the telephone number and said, “ I’ll call you and whenever I speak to you, we have to meet and let me pay back your money.” John smiled and said nothing.
Alcohol makes you brave too. He looked at John who seemed to be in his world. “ I think I will just wait for him to ask, which I know he won’t”, he answered himself.
But he was the one who called up John and fixed up the meeting to pay back the money. And John knows that before bidding good bye, I am going to give him the money.
God! I have never cheated anyone out of their money.
He remembered the evening he had bought his writing paper, a pair of new dresses for his wife and kid, some groceries and some Chinese food for dinner. He had raced to the bus station to catch the earliest bus and then he had woken up in the middle of the night and wept for a long time. He thanked John and the Lord for making them meet. He swore that he will keep calling John till he talks to him.
He looked at the time piece again. It was a little blurred and he could read 11.15 or was it?
He didn’t remember what he had eaten and wondered what the waiter was telling him which sounded so personal.
He looked at John and started, “ John, about the money…”, John was looking at him intently. The waiter interrupted him and presented him with an envelope. He opened the envelope and saw a stash of crisp hundreds. He again heard the waiter lapse into a conversation and heard him thank profusely for something he had done.
He remembered handing John his five hundred back, which he accepted after a lot of coaxing. He tipped the waiter hugely and was escorted to the exit with full honours.
I took a long look at what I had written and looked up at the clock overhead. The time was 11:46. I stretched myself, longed for some alcohol, which I hadn’t had since almost a month. I looked at the kitchen and asked “ Anything for dinner?” As expected, there was no reply.
