Smoky House

Every habit that is a part of our lives now, would have nurtured over a period of time. Even after recurrent persuasion to oneself to keep away from certain habits they keep falling for it. I know I am one among the million smokers. There is absolutely multifariousness among smokers. Heterogeneity among the platoon of smokers is not a matter of big surprise when compared to number of smokers in the world. I am referring to diverse smoking habits and not any diverseness of other sort. Before I write all these let me place one thing on board, I don’t intend to glorify smoking habits.

Some smoke only when they are drunk, some after every meal some need coffee and there are some who always smoke. There was some special kind who needed a house under construction, to smoke a cigarette. I started smoking when I was a high school student (17 years old maybe); my family would be extremely disappointed if they see me smoke or even if they hear from someone that their son is a smoker. This would cause drastic cut in the pocket money thus leading to mental agony which affects my enlightenment. It’s intertwined; everything had a bearing on smoking which in turn was possible only from that house. So I smoked only under cover.

I am not sure even to this day that house is fully built. This house is very near to the place I lived; only half of the construction was over. No doors no windows, walls are not plastered, floor wasn't finished either. There were piles bricks kept in some of the rooms, there were other stuffs used for construction as well scattered all over the places. This house is sitting in middle of 3-4 acres of land this offered a lot of privacy, silence and solitude. One could not ask for more than this place to be a breeding ground for budding smokers. We smoked, we spoke, we discussed a bunch of stuff, we argued, we planned and once we even drunk from that house. Trespassing is not a crime in those days, those times where prehistoric before I wrote this and published in my blog. In fact I enjoyed every moment I spent in that no man’s house. I never met or argued owner of this house about my visit to his house.

This house stood as a symbol of someone’s aspiration. I wished that house stayed the way it was forever. I haven’t cared about the man who would have weave dreams around his house. For me it was a place to hide and smoke. Now it has lost its glory, I wish when I see the house again it’s completely build.

I am going to my hometown this weekend; would go to that house again, if it is completely built and there is some one staying. I would ring bells and ask them whether they have found my lighter lost there 8 years back. No, I don't think that's a good idea, they will be scared and moreover I am acting crazy for no reason. I may sometimes just pass by and see our old hangout place. Now trespassing is illegal I would just abide by the law.

Cousin From Salvadore

"My cousin, she is from Salvadore. She was in United States last month. She said she miss her land. For me countries like Salvadore, Ecuador are poor countries. I can't imagine why she wanted to go back". I wasn't expecting him to talk to me; I was standing near to the pool in the Hotel I stayed for eight months. I met him once at the gym and once from office. I knew he was a new employee in the office I worked as a contractor. It was very late at night I was waiting for my laundry to finish, so as the Arab lady. She told me that I look like someone she already met. I asked her whether she is sure that I am not any of character in "One Thousand and One Night". Anyway she is not that significant character in my story. She plays a part of silent witness. Mazin, he is main character. However this is all about me so he comes only second, though he has been quoted at the beginning of the story. Having said its all about me I should give my characters a fair introduction.

Mazin: He says he is from Algeria; however he doesn’t have any root there. He is an American, born and brought up in US. I was confused when he said he is originally from Algeria. That wasn't typical, Mazin. We will deal with that matter later anyway. If I explain everything here I don't have anything to write for the third character. He is an advocate, now stopped practicing. He wanted some different kind of job and joined the company I was working in US.

Arab Lady: When I was walking through the hotel lobby I found a lady in black dress covering her head. I turned back and looked at her again and smiled. I saw her and kids most of the days from that day, when I was leaving for office.

Before all the characters in the story met, the third character was in hot water tub thinking about the hotel and this placed he lived for so long. He already has a belonging to that place; some unknown force is pulling him to that place though this place offered me high altitudes of solitude, and boredom in abundance. The Arab lady came to the hot water tub and started talking to him. She asked do you have any cousins or someone who lived in the same hotel last year. He said it may be same person that you met previous year. She said she comes here every year from Kuwait to spend summer vacation. He just spoke to her an hour before everyone met near the smoking lounge. That's the reason why this lady does not contribute to main theme of the story.

Me: It’s not important who I am. I lived in that hotel for eight long months. Now I am standing there smoking and talking to Mazin and the Arab lady. Mazin was so different than I thought; when we met in Gym he said this gym is not going to work for him. It’s in a way true; the gym had only three equipments. Someday out of tiredness some of the equipment stopped and took rest. He came to gym on the day when the steps machine was on leave. I was on my good boy thread mill. He asked me do you go this gym everyday. I looked at the pathetic gym but I decided to say truth. I said, most of the days yes. I am not going to leave this poor gym alone. She has been supporting me well, though some of her equipments were misbehaving at times. It’s not her fault, moreover there comes a stranger who has never seen her in real beauty if he is to make fun of her, I am going to stand besides her and support her. I told him that there is a big gym near by and gave him directions, he thanked me left. I gave myself to my love for that poor gym.

Now Mazin speaks totally different things than o first meeting. He is asking me whether I am happy to leave US. He expects me to be sad, for him India wasn't a better place to live than US. Then he told about his cousin from Salvadore. While we talked he told me and the silent Arab lady lot of things about his life. I was thinking about how mazin introduced himself to us. He said I am from Algeria, then he said he don’t know anyone there. For him only place he know as his country is US. I am in a dilemma why did he say he is from Algeria. Why he is not saying I am an American? What would I be telling if I have been living in US for say 25 years? Can I introduce myself as an American? I don’t know. I wish Mazin was not confused. I was a bit confused; I already have lot of things imbibed from that life style. Not that I have changed beyond recognition, still I would say I am not the way I was. One part of me always wanted to go back, but I agree there was another side for that coin. I have already started enjoying the glory within scheduled mechanical life. Glory of intoxication and sound of bar music may be that was the force of gravity. May be smile of Thai girl who served dinner the other night in the bar was the impel I felt. May be the hot water tub, may be the poor gym that nobody cared to visit. I don’t know what I am going to miss when I leave here. I know one thing for sure, even mazin is not American. I want to be a place where my identity is not questioned, the place where most of others and myself where identified by not so broad term for distinction. However I still loved that place.

I said there are only 3 characters in my story, now I have so much in mind I may need to introduce many. No it’s not easy to do that, it’s not reasonable too. “The Boy” thinks authors should introduce all characters when story starts. I agree with the boy who traveled to Egypt for finding the treasure. So there are no more characters.

I am just another man who has been distracted by influences of this affluent nation the comfort and the freedom that it offered for some time of my life. Again I stand corrected I need to go back, I don’t belong here. I haven’t enjoyed all it offered, I can’t. I am not leading a futile attempt to act like someone else. I have to be real; the first thing I am going to do after coming back to my place is go fishing. I am glad that when I reach there, there will be rain to wash away what I have conceived. Let it wash away. I will have a clean start all over again.


On my way back I saw the movie “Name Sake” directed my Mira Nair. This movie pictures truthful sides of integration of cultures, assimilation and cultural struggles. I am glad I saw that on the very moment I needed more insight to the matter. Finally this is not a story and mazin is happy living there, the Arab lady would have already left to Kuwait after her vacation and me… oh well I am back to my place, started wearing the costumes that never suited the climate, sitting in office dreaming of new places to visit and working on meeting my targets.

"Why Not"

I got into Auto Rickshaw, Are you wondering what an Auto Rickshaw is? Okay let me explain, Auto Rickshaw is a three wheeler vehicle. Its cheap and one of the popular public transports.

Anyway that's not my story. Again I got into Auto Rickshaw and told the driver the place I wanted to go to. To my surprise he said "Why Not". I didn’t say a thank you, I was shocked. I have been living in small towns in India for more than 25 Years. I am sure I would be able to understand what "Why not" means from age of 15. This is the first time I am hearing a rickshaw driver saying "Why Not" in 10 years of my Auto Rickshaw expeditions. Most of the time the words I have exchanged with drivers where argument about the fare, when they tried to over charge me (Way too much than what’s displayed in fare meter). There were some good drivers I have dealt with (me gratefully remembering their service); however they never said "Why Not". I was impressed with the courtesy that this driver showed to his passenger. I am honored.

With that unusual pleasant start of my journey, I was sitting in the rickshaw relaxed and watching the driver cruising through the idle road to take me to the destination. The silence was broke spontaneously. Driver turned back and asked me have you used perfumes? Now I am sure that I smell good, how ever he sounded like I did some awful mistake. I wasn't sure that what I should tell him or what he would say or act if I responded that’s none of your business. I didn't respond to him, I just watched him driving. He continued, "You know what perfume kills sweat glands, don’t apply in on your body". "I won’t" then I smiled. I didn't want to disappoint him moreover I had this feeling that he is different kind of Auto Rickshaw Driver. What is different kind? To this day I believe that there are four kinds of men. Sane, insane, men who are pronounced to be insane by others and men who decided to act insane by choice these are the four kinds. I was trying to figure out category he belongs to. Soon I decided not to think too much about it; sincerely I don’t want to be included in "others" referred in third category. He is just different rickshaw driver who said "Why Not" and thought me perfume kills sweat glands. If perfume I used really killed my sweat glands then he has every right to accuse me for having done that to my body.

Then he started singing some songs, for a moment I thought I am in Venice. How cool will that be if every Auto Rickshaw driver sings all the way he drive? He asked me if it’s OK if he is singing. Its ok I said, for whatever reason I haven’t thanked him for doing that.

After a while he stopped singing, I was just waiting eagerly for next. I had this feeling that he is going to tell me something which no other rickshaw driver said before. He already did it twice, the third is obvious. I didn't have to wait too long. He said "There is nothing in this world, but sex and ego" he said this in English. Allah! I never heard these kinds of philosophies from an auto driver. I didn't say anything. He continued, "Don’t fall for it; I don’t know what kind of man you are".

I was just shocked... then he started singing again.
He wished me good luck and drove away when I paid and got off...
I had everything in that auto rickshaw... music, science, health, theology and philosophy... The fun ride is over... again back to Auto Rickshaw... driver who does not sing... and do not speak philosophy... And who do not speak English.

Now onwards I am expecting more from any auto rickshaw drivers so that I don’t have to write these again.