Chapter 7: Talent vs. Status
Winter morning. The chill seeping through the tin walls was invading right inside the quilt.
Arin stood in the bathroom—in front of a plastic bucket. The water in the bucket was so cold that if you dipped a finger in it, your soul would shiver. This wasn't bathing, this was a 'Game of Courage'.
Arin stared at the bucket, as if it were his ex-girlfriend insisting on getting back together.
"Look brother," Arin talked to the water, "Our relationship is becoming very 'Toxic'. You are ice, I am fire... this combination isn't working out. But what to do, helplessness isn't named Mahatma Gandhi, it's named 'Hygiene'."
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and—Splash!
A mug of water on his head.
"Oh damn...!" Arin's entire body stiffened. "Is this water or my Ex's stone heart? It hit straight on the soul, brother!"
Nearby, Nainu sat watching him, a distinct 'judgment' in his eyes. Arin grabbed him and, while rubbing soap on him, laughed like a villain from an old era.
"Bathe, son, bathe. If the face isn't like Hrithik Roshan, at least the fragrance should be like a 'Rose'. Impression is made by scent, not by face."
After getting ready, he looked at himself in the broken mirror. Wet hair fell on his forehead. He swept it back with a jerk, popped his collar, and looking straight into his own eyes in the mirror, said:
"Admitted that there is no 'Gandhi' (money) in the pocket,
But the 'storm' on the face is second to none.
Even this mirror is confused today,
Is the guy standing in front a person, or a walking-talking 'Brand'?"
The top two buttons of his shirt were open—not to let air in, but to bring a storm out. Red guitar on his back, and Nainu wearing black sunglasses on the bicycle's rear seat.
The bicycle tires whirred on the road—surr-surr.
(Arin's Mind)
"Man, Arin, if girls faint on the road today,
The blame shouldn't be on me, but on 'Global Warming'.
I am just doing my 'Duty'—of making the world beautiful."
Academy Gate. Priya was standing there. The morning sun was hitting her face, and her female dog sat beside her.
Arin kicked the bicycle stand. Khatak!
He walked towards her running a hand through his hair, like a slow-motion video playing.
"Good Morning Priya Ji!" He slid his black sunglasses slightly down.
"By the way, is the sun shining brighter today, or is this the reflection of your 'Glow'? Dim it down a bit, dear, my glasses will melt."
Priya burst out laughing. Her laughter made the morning even fresher.
Arin leaned down and whispered in Nainu's ear:
"Look brother, your 'Simran' has arrived. The love-story train is on track. Go, set your 'setting'. And listen... don't cling too much, act like a 'decent' dog. It's a question of reputation."
Both dogs were released into the garden. While going inside, Priya's gaze got stuck on Arin's open buttons and the guitar.
Arin noticed it. A mischievous smile floated on his lips.
"Hey, don't stare like that, Madam," he pulled the guitar strap with his thumb.
"This guitar is for 'playing', and I... well, I am just for 'displaying'. By the way, what are the intentions? Want to practice or just do 'Darshan' (worship/gaze)?"
Priya's face turned red like a tomato. "Shut up Arin! You talk too much."
Near the ring, his friends were lying on the ground, as if they had lost a war.
Arin went and slapped a friend's shoulder hard.
"What happened, brother?" Arin saw his drooping face.
"Why is your face like you sold a kidney to buy an iPhone and the box didn't have a charger? Smile, man! The country's GDP is running on your smile."
The boys burst out laughing. The fatigue vanished into thin air.
The coach arrived. The whistle blew. "Come on lovers, get in line!"
Arin gave the coach a perfect salute.
"Sir, hit with a little love today. The swelling shouldn't be visible in tomorrow's 'Selfie'. I am a 'Limited Edition' piece, there shouldn't be any dents."
After shedding sweat, when everyone was packing their bags, Priya called out from behind.
"Arin, listen!"
Arin stopped. He adjusted his guitar and turned around in slow-motion like a hero from a South Indian movie.
"Your command, Your Highness! If you ask for my life... I'll think about it, but if you ask for my number, I'll give it right now."
Priya extended a folded paper towards him. There was a mysterious smile on her face.
"Read this, and cut the drama."
Arin took the paper.
"Oh my God! Is it a love letter? Look, if you are proposing, get in line, token number 56 is currently running."
He opened the paper jokingly.
His eyes fell on the words.
'Moonlight Pub' — Lead Guitarist — Salary: 20,000/- Month
The noise of the hall vanished.
Arin's laughter got stuck in his throat.
Units... Tens... Hundreds... Thousands... Twenty Thousand.
Twenty Thousand.
A flashback ran before his eyes—the leaking roof, the struggle to save money for Nainu's milk, the owner's abuses, and that emptiness.
This wasn't just money. This was his ticket to 'Freedom'.
His 'Cool Dude' mask fell to the ground. The scared, struggling child inside him came out.
He couldn't understand anything. He crumpled the paper in his fist and—without thinking, without any 'filter'—he pulled Priya into his arms.
A tight, crushing magical hug.
"Thank you! Thank you, my mother!" His voice echoed, trembling.
"You've cracked the 'Password' of my destiny! You aren't a girl, you are an 'Angel', man! Thank you!"
Silence fell in the hall. Everyone stopped.
Priya's eyes went wide. Her body went numb in Arin's strong grip. She could hear Arin's heartbeat—which was pounding fast like a hammer.
Time had stopped.
A few seconds later, Arin came to his senses.
The scent... the silence... and people's stares.
Oh damn... this is a public place!
He released Priya with a jerk, as if shocked by current.
Priya was still looking at him as if she had seen an alien. A thick fog of 'Awkwardness' covered the atmosphere.
Arin immediately 'Rebooted' his system. He cleared his throat, fixed his hair, and brought his signature shameless smile back to his face.
"That... Sorry man!" He placed a hand on his chest.
"Actually, seeing 20 thousand, the 'Middle Class' inside me woke up. I felt you were 'Goddess Lakshmi' herself, so thought I'd take some blessings."
He leaned towards Priya and winked.
"By the way... the hug was good, right? My battery got fully charged."
Priya and the other friends burst out laughing loudly. Priya lowered her gaze, but her red cheeks revealed that she didn't mind this 'Glitch'.
Coming outside, Arin put Nainu in the basket. Now the world looked even more colorful to him.
"Let's go, Partner," he gestured a flying kiss towards Priya.
"I'm off now. I have to Re-charge my 'Aura'. See you tomorrow—same time, same nonsense!"
Priya stood at the gate, watching him go.
"He is crazy, this boy..." she said to herself, and a smile blossomed on her face. "...Totally crazy. But pure at heart."
Arin pedaled the bicycle. The wind was blowing his hair. He felt as if the cycle wasn't moving on the ground, but in the air.
He opened his throat and started singing without a care for the world:
"Main toh hoon paagal... yeh kahoon har dam...
Jaane de, jaane de...
Log kehte hain main sharabi hoon,
Par main toh bas apni 'Vibe' ka nawabi hoon!"
(I am crazy... I say this every moment... Let it be, let it be... People say I am a drunkard, but I am just the royal of my own 'Vibe'!)
Nainu sitting behind was enjoying the wind.
Tonight at the 'Pub', Arin wasn't just going to play the guitar, he was going to write a new song for his destiny.
(Narrator)
"When happiness tears through the roof and comes pouring in,
It is justified for a person to go 'Crazy'.
Because sensible people only count money,
And crazy people... live the moments."