The old man's POV:
I shook hands with Charlie and just that was the address of welcome i offered him.We settled in the sofa as apart as we could.Our circumferential auras repelled one another,with a probable history of reasons.However,things were long back and it was highly amiable of him to have come over at my request.Still,my malevolent part of mind accused him that he had come to pry on my work and bestow ghastly comments.
It took some time for us(Krish and me)to wrap up the so called paper work that was pending.Then,we opened up the system to reveal our mastery to the outer world.The OS ran pretty well as we had expected,i saw Charlie scrutinize and contemplate the screen the whole time.He didnot speak out a single word even.And when finally the demonstrations were all over,
Krish spoke,"And thats the end,how do you like the new technology?"
Charlie reflected for a moment and said,"That is going to be a success,i'm sure."
I was baffled at this remark,my fiddling fingers ceased to move and words blurted off,"Do you really think that?".
"Yeah,why not?.You have done this beautifully.This set up eliminates false sharing defects and the improvisation of locking system are just great."he said with slight exclamation.
"We've other positives too." Krish said.
"Yes,i read the description,I've seen what you've done and in my opinion this is going to win."he spoke like he was obliged to do so.
"Thanks,Charlie.That's a great confidence boost."said Krish with enthusiasm.
"I didn't just say this for boosting up or something,i really feel so"saying he nodded affirming his own words,"you must really thank god for this.Let the Almighty bless you."
"Where from does god come in here?" i spoke crisply.
Krish sighed gravely,and Charlie was stunned and said."Don't you think you should thank god,you are successful because god has assisted you."
"This is our work,more to say it is mine.Nobody else deserves the credit"i retaliated.
Charlie was dumbfounded.
I continued,"I have no trust in such abominable things.Superstition doesn't help,idiot.It's like craving for everything from nothing.Such lavishness."
"Its okay, its okay,man."Krish patted me,"he is just ignorant" and winked at Charlie without me knowing.
I just snorted and saw Charlie do the same.
"So,Charlie ,do you think we should apply for the patent right away?"Krish asked.
"Ah!,thats some question.I would say it is utterly selfish of you to do so."
"What?"i said furiously,"This is our work and we patent it,what is so selfish about that?"
"The way you speak is selfish"he said nonchalantly,"why do you always call it as your work?"
"Cause,we did it"Krish interjected.
Charlie waved him off and said,"Have a heart to do things for the public,why do you have to patent this? Just because all the other inventors have patented their works?Be indulgent and generous,just let people use the good technology unchallenged by your owning dominance."
I was infuriated,"If this is selfish,then your so called Almighty itself is gravely selfish."
"What?" he said perplexed.
"Yes!,you see your almighty only blesses and consecrates his followers and devotees and not all his creatures.What do you call it then?"
"God blesses every one of his child and protects all of us,irrespective of the prayers."
"Oh! Then why do you even pray?"i said hastily.
"We don't always pray to ask,fool.We pray as a token of thanksgiving,to thank lord for what all he had given and what he has yet to give."he spoke in a ecclesiastic manner as if he's breathing holy air.
"Is that so?"i remarked mockingly."But most people pray only when they have got a problem or a situation,as like prayers are only for asking and not as you say,a token of thanksgiving."
His composure changed,he stiffened a little.His eyebrows tilted and his face turned pale.Krish was just gawking at the both of us.
"And the people are so ignorant and superstitious that they don't realise that they are pray-asking things to a literally nothing."saying i made a grimace.
And then things happened so quickly.Charlie caught his own chest and wailed out loud,swayed a little and collapsed face front on the carpeted floor.Krish shook him and when there was no response,he headed to the phone.It took me some time to take all these things in.And when i responded,Krish had made the phone call and had returned with a jug of water.We splashed water on his terror-stricken face but in vain.And some moments later,the ambulance arrived and escorted Charlie on the stretcher out of my house.
And some five hours later,Krish and i were standing on the reception of a multispeciality hospital.It had been a rigorous time admitting Charlie and running errands to fill applications and getting the equipments the doctors asked for.Myocardial Infarction! they had said when asked for the diagnosis.The doctor had said,"It is an acute attack,good thing you did calling for the ambulance immediately or else there would have been much less hope."And we were put up waiting for the next report.In the meantime,his family were informed and they had arrived.And when finally we could meet the doctor again,he said"Thank god,he's fine now.You can go see him."I flinched.And the family rushed in not bothering to hear what else he had to say.
Krish and i came out from the congested atmosphere to the reception."It's been five hours since he collapsed"Krish told me.
"Right,i am completely exhausted for the next two days."i said letting out an highly exasperated sigh.
"But we still have got work to do." Krish said.
'This guy is one diligent fellow'i thought.
"Hell with the work!"i said,"i need some rest."
"Look,this is what we strived for,we've got the papers ready,all we have to do is just submit them"
I reluctantly acquiesced and walked up to the bike.Then changed my mind and said,"No,i'm afraid i can't come,I'm way too tired.You take the bike and go finish off the work, and I shall walk home."
"Right then,have your sleep.Let me drop you home"he offered.
"Ah! Don't bother,i can manage.Keep the papers safe,man.It's got our future."(I didn't know then that he's not going to return.)
We did a ridiculous hi-fi and he set off.Then i walked,i felt like i was only half-conscious.My brain needed a boost and i spotted a tea stall on the roadside.The evening breeze made me shudder.I glanced around and recognised the place in a jiffy-the Gore's square.I trodded towards the stall,ordered a tea and lit up a cigar.'
