
“And there you are!” he roared, as I opened the door. “I thought I’d never see you again, man.”
He pushed past me into the house, clapping me on the shoulder, and headed straight for the fridge.
“There is nothing of your liking in there,” I shouted after him, closing the door.
“That’s why I carry along my own stuff.” He fished out from his bag three sweating beer cans, shoved them into the freezer, and wheeled around, grinning. “So? Does this mean you’re finally back from your adventures?”
I grabbed a water bottle from the cabinet on my way to the sofa, and sat down. “Not really. Just have a few things to sort out here, and then I’ll be –”
“– gone. Back into hiding!” He barked out a laugh and flung himself on the sofa next to me. “Isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” I muttered to myself, wishing I hadn’t picked up his phone last night. “Anyway, what was it you couldn’t tell me on the phone?”
“Oh, that.” He twisted, a wide smile pasted on his face. “Nothing. I just wanted to know what you’ve been up to? And don’t give me that same crap that it’s just a break.”
“Hell man, you’re still not over it? Sorry to disappoint, but it indeed is just a break.”
“Oh come on, now. A three-month long break! Just for nothing?”
“Not for nothing,” I protested. “I’m doing things I’ve never done before. Living out all my fantasies. Figuring myself out.”
He waved a dismissive hand. “You sure are working on something.”
“I am not.”
He looked me in the eye, probing. “You serious?”
“Yeah,” I said, laughing. “You want it on a stamp paper?”
“Man.” He slumped back, looking relieved. “Then, you’re the biggest fool I’ve ever known.”
“Not the biggest, I bet,” I said, nodding distinctly at him. He stared at me blankly, my joke lost on him.
“No, seriously.” He jerked forward. “When’re you coming back to work?”
“Not sure I ever am.”
“Now, you’re kidding me!”
“Nope.”
He gazed at me, as if I had gone senile. “And you think the company will wait for you to be sure?”
“I’m sure it won’t. But, that’s fine. I may actually never join back the corporate world, to tell you the truth.”
“Well,” he said, “then you should know they’ve already hired your replacement.”
I shrugged. “I’d asked for two months max, and I didn’t turn up.”
“I’m sorry, man.” He sighed. “I tried to hold it for as long as I could. Called you as well. But…” he broke off, and went quiet for a few seconds, before letting out the reason he had come for. “Anyway… boss was saying… asking, you know… if you’d be willing to talk to your clients, one last time?”
“Talk to them? What for, now?”
“Just to reassure them, I think. Some of them, you know, especially your big ones, are talking about shifting their accounts out. And most are not trading half as much as they used to.”
“Why don’t you let them breathe for some time, then?” I said, annoyed. “The market is down, and we’d squeezed them enough already, I think.”
“Oh please. You don’t wanna help. Don’t. Just don’t go all ethical about it now that you’re no longer in the business.”
“Fair point,” I said, “none of my business, anyway.” I sat back, and drank some water. “So? It’s you they’ve given all my clients to?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Wish they hadn’t,” he said, getting up. He marched over to the fridge and returned with the beer cans. “They won’t trade. They won’t meet me. What good are they?” He stared at me, eyes full of accusation.
“Well. Their money, their call.”
He let the hissing sound from the beer can be his response as he pulled it open and put it to his mouth, while I thought about ways to push him out without being flat-out rude.
“I still can’t believe it,” he said, at last, pulling me out of my reverie.
“What? My clients not meeting you?”
“No,” he said, through his clenched teeth. “Can’t believe that you could take such a big step without consulting me. I could’ve helped you out, you know, to gain back your perspective.”
“Oh! Seriously? When did I ever consult you for anything,” I said, “let alone my life decisions?”
“And that was a mistake you shouldn’t be so proud of.”
I laughed. “Oh, yes! I’ll live to regret that all my life, not having consulted you.”
“Laugh all you want,” he hit back, “but you know I’m way better than you are.” Then lifting his butt, he pulled out his wallet. “See.” He flashed his new visiting card in my face, to prove his point. “I’ve taken another promotion.”
I looked at it, and couldn’t help smiling. “It’s not the same I left behind, by any chance?” I said, flicking him a glance. “The promotion?”
His face went red. “It wasn’t yours to leave behind.”
“I had signed the final papers. Remember?”
He suddenly seemed to have fallen short of breath, his mouth opened to say something, then closed, before he jerked his head away. Only after he had emptied the can with short angry gulps did he turn to face me again.
“You’re f**king jealous,” he said, snatching up the second can from the table and opening it. “That’s what you are. Yes, it’s the same promotion. But you see… you ran away! Didn’t you? Proving it was a mistake selecting you in the first place. So what’s your problem if they rectified it, and chose the more deserving person, at last?”
“Oh man, that’s you I recognize so well,” I said, “always competing, always in the race with me.”
“Don’t flatter yourself. You were never the brightest star in the firm to race against.”
“And still I managed to beat you in everything, career progression included. Says something about me… or maybe about you.” I smiled.
The arrow hit home. “You were lucky,” he began with trembling lips, “plain lucky to have –”
I stood up. “If that’s all you were here to talk about, I think, I’ve heard enough.” I strode over to the kitchen to prepare myself a cup of tea.
He grunted to his feet, and staggered to the kitchen after me.
“Can I take it?” he asked, shaking the last can in his hand, “if it’s tea you’d rather have?”
“Sure. Whatever.”
“Thanks.” He leaned against the doorframe, and took a moment’s pause before saying, “You know, I thought we were friends. That we could talk.”
“No man.” I added tealeaves to the boiling water. “I don’t think you could be friends to anyone.”
“Is that so?” he said, his brow creased, “then why the hell am I wasting my Saturday evening here?”
“Not yours alone, mind you. And maybe it’s because you wanted to see, first hand, how miserable I am without the job.”
“No brother,” he said, shaking his head. “You get me all wrong. I care for you.”
I found myself grimacing. The beer was kicking up his system. The next he’d say he loved me.
“You don’t believe me?” he said, his words beginning to slur. “Okay, tell me… who else, out of all your wonderful friends, is here to meet you? The f**kers don’t even know you’re back. Do they? And even if they were here, I can bet, they wouldn’t have the heart to tell you the truth.
“But I do,” he continued, before I could say anything. “Why? ‘Cause I am a real friend. And here’s the truth: you think you’ve earned enough money to go all Buddha now. Live in the Himalayas, meditate, and all that shit, but I tell you… it’ll all be gone soon. Poof!… and you’ll find yourself back in the old streets, begging for work again.” He took a couple of quick swallows of the beer, and resumed, “And I tell you this not to embarrass you, no, but so that you can do something about it now, when you still have the time.”
“But the point is,” I said, restraining an urge to punch him in the face, “that I know what I’m doing. So just chill.”
“Oh, what exactly is this grand thing you’re doing? Writing fairy tales for little girls?”
“None of your f**king business!” My patience wore out at last. “I think you should leave now.”
He went stiff, and looked at me, offended.
“I guess I really should.” He finished his beer, and let out a loud belch. Then he shuffled across to the washroom, hitching up his belt in place, as I gave my tea a final boil. I poured it out in a cup, and carried it to the sofa.
He came back after a few minutes, all combed, and freshened up, chewing a gum.
“It was a mistake coming here,” he said, picking up his bag. “I really thought I could talk some sense into you, but –”
“Yes. I absolutely loved the way you did that. You’re the man to be consulted, always.”
He sighed. “I think I’ll leave then.”
“If you think so.”
He gave a wan smile, and tottered towards the door, shaking his head. He paused there and looked back. “You know,” he said, with an edge in his voice, “you’re reading too much of philosophy probably, with all the idle time in your hands, but one day–”
“Philosophy! Oh yes, thanks for reminding, man.” I picked up his visiting card from the table and scrawled down the word on it. “I’ve to buy some books while I am here.”
The door slammed, and I looked up. He was gone. I stretched my feet up on the table, picked the cup, and took another sip.
(Please like, comment and share, if you enjoyed the story. Thanks.)
Copyright © 2020 by Sundaram Chauhan
I want more.!
I could see it all playing out in front of me. Thank you ❤️
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Thanks so much 🙏
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Nice blog
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Hey Saania. Thanks so much 🙏
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Very good! I liked the characters :). One more than the other. 😉
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Thanks Sandy Kenyon. 🙏. Glad you like it. 😀…
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The title is perfect, you know. It made me wonder how it would be so and every line played it through to the end, the peaceful ending of choosing and living by ones own lights and ways. Following your own path and not someone else’s. I wonder if the ill-wisher would like to have the courage to leave it all behind too and just doesn’t know how. Very thoughtful writing as always Sundaram. ✍️👍☺️
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That’s reassuring Ellie. That was the first title that crossed my mind, when I conceived the conversation between the two, and I stuck with it. Looks all the better now with your endorsement 🙃… and yes I guess in his heart maybe the well-wisher was merely envious, and couldn’t say the right things… it was the courage he was envious of. And that he lacked. But he sure loved all the attention, and money he was earning to be sympathetic towards something as impulsive as leaving a job. Thanks Ellie for reading with such interest, and leaving a lovely comment. 🙏🎼🙏
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I Love your writing!! It’s easy to become part of the moments you create so well. 😊🎶😊
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🌹🥀🌷🌺🌸🏵️ and the whole bunch of them for you my friend. 😀😀
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Thank you! 😄🙏
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Such a captivating story, literally I will love if there was part-II
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Thanks so much…🙏🙏…it’s a great compliment. Appreciate it…🤜🤛☺🙏🙏
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[…] The ill-willing well-wisher […]
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Wow!!
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Thanks so much. 🖖🤘🙏
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If you have time, do check out my blog under the name of The Lightening Bug
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I sure will Nawazish…
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Wow, you are a great storyteller. Jus loving your posts. I am glad to find your blog.
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Glad to be able to give you something to love today. I hope to keep the act up, and deliver more of such moments. ☺️
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What a story. Totally sucked in.
You are a fine writer. Simple word usage, perfect communication.
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Hey thanks Katoon, I guess that’s your name.☺…it’s a wonderful comment to begin my day with. Appreciate you visiting and paying it a read. 🙏
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Yeah we I answer to that nickname. Given the seriousness of this platform, I better change to my real name. Thanks Sundaram Chauhan
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I like the edgy to and fro between the two characters. I was waiting for it to all go down with a punching bout! Could totally relate to the self-righteous-know-it-all types! 🙂
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First of all I love your site address 🤜🤛… ☺️…and thanks so very much for reading, and leaving a comment. 🙏…yeah I wanted to see that happen too, but then it went out of scope because of the boring mature-headedness of the protagonist. Glad you could relate.🙌
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Thank you! I just started blogging, and wanted to have an address with a punch. Liked how your story ended! 🙂
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Haha…yes…you punched it hard enough to leave a mark. Keep inspired…🤜🤛🤘
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Two characters, one location, and a lot of emotion packed into this short piece. Thank you for sharing this story. 🙂
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You just suggested me a one line intro for the story…😀😀…thanks for the appreciation…🙏🙏
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Firstly, the title is so well chosen, Sundaram.
You have got a creative writing style and a knack of describing the scene so precisely which i felt right after i read the previous post. The idea is quite unique and i wonder if it was just your imagination. But being honest, i didnt think the well wisher to be bad initially😅.It was after i read your comment section and then re-read some part, that i got the idea lying behind. And then i related the title with it. In a nutshell, it was nice reading.
💫😍
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Hey Chetna…thanks so much for all the appreciation…🙏🙏…and it was definitely inspired by real events 😀…but only in theme…the conversation is a pure figment of my imagination…so glad you enjoyed this piece too… Thanks for giving such a thorough and genuine feedback…🙏🙏🙏
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You are so good at imagination, man!😅
And it is always a pleasure to read your amazing write ups.
Now, for keeping me hooked to them, you have to bear the punishment of having your notification section banged up by long comments! 😂.🤣
Btw, is writing just a hobby of yours or are you into it professionally also?
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I would love that…there is no bigger pleasure than being genuinely appreciated for a piece of your writing. You know that… And writing has been a hobby for a very long time now…and I’ve just begun to take it seriously…Professionally, one day for sure…that’s the goal. 🤘🎼🙃☺️
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Yeah! I can relate with you on this very well.
And i tell you one thing, i have just started blogging quite a few months ago. And mostly i prefer reading poems, as the rhyming makes it so lyrical, or the short content mostly. But you had neither with you, and i am already eager to read all of your posts.
The dialogues in between, the description of the feelings, the flow, all in a perfect blend!!
I like reading novels, and your stories are no less good than them.❣️
Oky. Break the leg, Sundaram.😅 But just make sure you keep posting on your blog always. I will be waiting for the next one.💜😍
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That’s a great boost Chetna. I’m already feeling more excited about finishing my current story and posting it…😀…you sure have made my day. Thanks so much my friend… You keep inspired and posting too…for you’ll often find me there too…:-🤘🤜🤛🤘
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I am equally excited for the same.😂
You deserve all of this, Sundaram.
And I will be pleasured to have you there.😊✨💫
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This is very well written. The turmoil of desiring to escape or to stay back and continue in the comfort zone we have created inside our heads, in our world is so well represented by the two characters. Well, that’s how I perceived it 🙂
And thank you for checking out my little blog.
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Thanks Parikhit…🙏🙏…and I’ve just found your awesome blog, and saved it, for I loved the poetic descriptions in your writing. Yours is a pretty classic way of writing…🤜🤛
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Ah I feel humbled Sundaram. That means a lot coming from you for I am in awe of your writing.
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The feeling is mutual my friend. 🙏☺
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Definitely felt it.
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Glad you did 🙏🤜🤛🙏
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Very well-written story. I think one of the signs of a good writer is that dialog flows and isn’t interrupted with “he said” again and again. You captured believable, natural dialog with phrases that created a visual. Well done.
Thanks, too, for the follow.
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Thanks so much for such an uplifting feedback. Really appreciate it. 🙏 Keep inspired.☺️
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Sudaram, keep it up, I too love the nicely thought potted story
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Glad you did 🙌😀 thanks so much, again, for stopping by. 🙏
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One water, three beers / One cool head, three sweating cans / One clear, three empty
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Haha…thanks…🙏:-)
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This brilliant story sticks in the mind. Really good.
Gwen.
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Thanks Gwen. 🙏 Glad you like it. ☺
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I enjoyed this vignette..very visual, puts us in the scene as an invisible guest in the room. Believable and snappy banter between them, their characters well defined as almost opposites like beer drinkers vs tea drinkers:)
It makes me want to know about the one who drinks tea…both nameless and yet we perceive their characters right away; the ill-wisher, quickly rubs us wrong, as we see who he is… what he is doing. Intriguing scene and yes, many more could come from this..if you wanted to..but as a short story, it stands on its own. This is some very good writing. I loved the dialog between them as a vehicle for describing how different they were from each other!
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This is a very beautiful comment Karima. I am glad you enjoyed it. Beer drinkers vs Tea drinkers 🤘😀 I loved this. Hope to keep entertaining the same way going forward too. Always a pleasure having you here. Thanks so much, and enjoy your day. 🙏🤜🤛🙏:-)
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[…] the way, did you miss reading The ill-willing well-wisher.’ I asked, suddenly recalling it. There was no way she could have sniffed a woman in this last […]
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
AN INTRIGUING STORY TO BE DROPPED INTO THE MIDDLE OF!
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Thanks so much Jonathan 🙏🤘🙏 Appreciate the lovely feedback, and the reblog. 🙏🙏🙏:-)
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U.R. WELCOME! 😀
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I enjoyed this story. It made me think of the phrase, “With friends like you, who needs enemies?” So many people in our lives want to look down and feel sorry for us as we fail, but not celebrate our successes.
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Right you are…that was the intended theme…but I know not even those people are totally negative…it’s always a play of circumstances, misunderstandings, and miscommunications. I really appreciate you leaving a wonderful comment. Thanks so much Brandon. 🙏🙏🙏
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A perfect story.
Gwen.
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Thanks Gwen. 🙏🍀🙏
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