To Live?

HAPPINESS

It was a cold and windy evening as Mr. Richard Anderson was paving his way toward his humble abode. A 25-year-old young man who had a stock million dreams in his sharp blue eyes yet no clear directions of how to pursue them. He was not dissatisfied with the job he was working oh so hard for currently. A proud job with a good pay scale and adequate working hours, it was everything that a post-graduate in Information Technology could ever demand. For a foreigner, he was living a perfect life with a satisfied family. He remembered the day he got his job like it was just a second ago. The excitement on his mother's face and the contentment on his father's face was something that had told him at that moment that yes, that was the pleasure for which he had conquered sleepless nights and fought off every distraction. Everything felt just like it was supposed to be. Much better at that. For then, he felt a sense of completeness. For the first time in his entire existence.

As long as he could remember, there has always been a hole, deep within somewhere, a void, an emptiness watching him closely with its big eyes. Why? He had no idea why even in the most blossoming of the atmosphere did he experience a stiff cold breeze. He did not understand why it was there but he always felt something missing in the best of the moments. The day he got his job, he felt that finally, this was all over. Finally, he was knowing the meaning of living his life to the fullest. But was he wrong? It all lasted for a day or two. Then what? Again came the monster, gnawing his insides with its huge claws. He was desperate to find that bright sunlight again on this shadowy, gloomy night. And this is what was now his life's mission. To find happiness. To Destroy every ounce of negativity in himself. And for that, he had decided to work as much as he could. He would not stop until he felt that complete satisfaction again. He decided to work hard and thus be able to make himself capable of buying everything he desired for. And then live a comfortable and satisfactory life.

"Am back.", Richard announced as he inhaled the sweet, familiar scent of hot chocolate brewing. Evaporating all of his weariness. "How was the day ?", Janet asked. "As usual. Nothing new." He replied as his mother helped him get off his coat. He could never cease to be amazed at how Janet took care of everything in the house every day without ever getting bored of performing the same duties. Her mother was truly the spirit of that 1100-square feet area that they called home, only because of Janet. Janet hummed in response. "What new could have been there dear? It is supposed to be the same each day. You just need to adapt to it all." Richard could never understand this out-of-the-world power of his mother. Always so positive. Always so carefree. She was the perfect example of a happy-go-lucky attitude. "Whatever. I'll just go and get changed. Exhausted. And you, mother dearest know the cure." "Fresh cocoa and 2 slices of melted chocolate originally branded by dairy milk, all together boiled in milk? You got that." Janet said mockingly. Richard could not help but smile at his true rockstar mother. He carried himself upstairs and did some regular chores till dinner was ready.

Dinner at the Andersons was always considered a serious affair. It was the time when you were supposed to talk about your day while enjoying the delicacies. Of course, it was a rule made by Janet to keep their family close together. And of course, Richard hated it. It was all the same story every time. Mother oh so cheerfully talked about the neighbors. Father excitedly listened to mother and put up his views here and there and talked about politics. Fathers and their problem-solving aptitude. They could go on about every problem taking place in the country. If given a chance, they could take the country to such great heights that Lord Zeus would have to shift his abode from Mount Olympus. At least according to them. Come on, like, which family finds pleasure in knowing about the life of their neighbors or the politics taking place around the country? Every!!! Richard strongly felt that these politicians are all mingled up, whichever alliance they belong to. Making the citizens suffer between their daily fights was the happy meal that they thrived on. Different countries, same story. Still, the matter was out of his hand. The family could do anything to keep Janet happy and what bad could ever come out of it?