The Hidden Smiles...

I was particularly late at the location where this grand, resplendent triumph was to be cheered over. Even I had got duties, as a son, a brother, and most properly as an employee in my company. My boss. Let it be the time period when British had this so called right to treat Indians. Treat them as a pig! And, now it's me to be treated, by my boss of course. But couldn't miss this arrangement tonight...

   After I was done waiting for over an hour in this rest room and also done with my refreshments, there came a glimpse of my old pal and one of the greatest animation movie writers right now. Keshav Sharma. I had to bring to his busyness about my arrival through one of his secretaries. It had been a long time we didn't meet each other. He walked, talked, nodded and even responded in a very seldom seen way, the way it's seen in those lavish masses.

Though he was one of them now.

   'I am damn assured I fretted you by sending this message but just couldn't halt myself to greet you in person... So accept these apologies from—' he didn't let me make up and smiled in a friendly way.

   'Oh come on man! Your highness!' he laughed at this and continued 'Tell me. How are you doing dude?'

   'Yeah alright. Firstly, accept this small present from me' I handed him a box, which could easily be recognised as a wrist watch, a sumptuous one. 'I congratulate you on this splendid day. May you make merry along this journey!'

   'Why did you bother to buy it bro?' his tone was soft, and on the same hand he accepted it with gratitude.

   We had been brushing up with many of our nostalgic flashbacks until a lady wired with a headphone and a mic too, which marked her as the backstage event manager, came in.

   'Regrets for disturbing you Mr. Sharma but it's your call next,' she conveyed it to Keshav and waited ahead.

   'Yes, yes. For sure.'

   Keshav glared at me and ended, 'Alright Rakesh, it's the time. Bade me luck and I hope to see you in the very first lane.'

   We shake hands tightly and gave a warm hug to each other before he went away towards the backstage along with the managing lady..

   Actually, this friend of mine, Keshav Sharma, had been in this field of writing animation movies for more than a decade. Success touched him finally. His latest written and directed movie, Bring me Happy won the best animated movie award in India. The whole Sharma Animations band is full of buoyancy. This team of 2000 really have put in the efforts to deserve this. Even I loved the trailer.

   For the same, he and his team were invited to celebrate. My hand is still quivering because I met a star a few minutes ago, and now I have this pleasure to sit back and watch him on the stage, then the movie too.

   The trailer was played and now, complete silence poured in the whole auditorium as the co-host of this event moved forward towards the mic.

   'Now, with my uttermost pleasure, I would like to invite Mr. Keshav Sharma, the writer and director of this epic movie, on the stage to pour his pearls of wisdom. With your highness sir.'

   Whole of the vicinity was now imbued with clapping and cheering till the man of the day got near the mic. Perhaps he was quite nervous or maybe not. But attired really well, he looked shining.

   I was very glad to hear him, addressing about everything and leaving nothing behind. His well-toned voice flew down in everyone's ears and added a cheery to the cake.

   As this all was going on, a cynical wave struck my mind too hard to even listen or observe what was going on at the moment. I was now not listening to him or seeing him. Indeed, something else started to race in my mind...

   I wondered about the team of those 2000 animation artists who too had burned the midnight's oil to make this movie. Only Keshav and a few managing directors or producers could be seen. Where were they?

   This was resentful, and I couldn't stop to find out about them. What if they were not even invited in here?

   This further made me to get up and move back without even having a glance at the well-suited audience. More or the less, no one would have cared about me leaving the party. And why should they?

   I didn't stop thinking as I unlocked the car and moved in and started driving. I partially memorised the correct address of the company's main branch but still following it, somehow, got there an immediate appointment.

   I rushed in the reception and enquired about what had been pestering me a lot.

"What about the other employees?"

   Someone reported me that there was a cheery holiday that day, and also that none of them were invited to the show. This further perplexed me even though I had nothing to do with it. Even though I was assured about this partially! I was assured that they won't be congratulated because they were just the employees! Just the workers! The ones, who are not noticed at all...

Near to me, a man, of about the same age as mine, sat down.

   For the first few minutes, he stared at the floor deeply as if he was in focus upon something inside his head. Further, tears dropped down his eyes to the chin as he closed them. It was not even a complete minute but this man was now weeping intricately.

   I made it to ask him about the reason for the same and it tensed me a lot simultaneously...

   'My friend, Mohit. He is no more, he...he passed away this evening,' he lost himself on the utter reliance of mine and continued getting hick-ups soon.

   To my wonder, I was actually not electrified to listen to this. Alas for my heart!

   'What did he do? What happened to him exactly?'

   As the other guy pressured himself to go on, he was not able to even speak properly.

   'He was an animation artist at this company. A new movie was being made as a new project and whole of the team had been working upon it for so long. We didn't even get any weekends or any leaves... Just tormented till we looked like aliens at the end of the day! He had several health issues and due to this overload of work for such a long time, he quitted.

Yes, I was shocked to hear this...

Now, as I was sitting in my car, many thoughts knocked in my head in the dripping sound of the rain.

   My mate was too happy, the seniors of the team were so happy. They made merry today. They enjoyed their grand success. But, what about those slaves and workers who despite of the level of treatment and wages they got, couldn't celebrate this night?

Sleepiness could now be easily seen in my eyes...

Few lines of my father, who himself had been a worn and torn employee, started to ring up–

An unnoticeable worker is the one who made the overload, but got no propulsion. The one who contributed, but with no credits. The one who never gained anything, but never complained too...

And slowly, I made it to just sleep and leave every thought behind.

Sleeping in the car, under the sky, full of disappointments, hearing loud firecrackers; from the city centre hall, the event hall.

Their gain and their vain.

Ayush Aryan