Why Did It Happen?

(3)

The next few days were just as normal as the rising sun or falling snow. Our friendship was budding. We had exchanged our phone numbers and would talk almost every day on the phone or chat on WhatsApp.  It had become an obligation to talk to him every day. I didn’t feel good if I didn’t see his face in the morning. His smiling face would always give such good vibes and positivity. To say it in one sentence – I loved talking to him, staying with him, eating with him, walking with him, etc. I loved spending time with him; but as I said earlier, I had too much ego back then to accept it.

All this while, I tried to open him up a little bit; to crack this hard shell. I knew of his courage and strength, but nothing of his vulnerability. He had been through too much of a starless night sky. He had seen darkness and lived through obscurity so much that now, even light blinded him. Two weeks from the day we met at the cafe, he got into a heated argument with Shawn Felton – one of his batch mates.

“Hey, see who’s there. The apple of his mother’s eye; the superman of his little sister.” I don’t know what urged him to talk in that manner with Daniel that day. I have never seen people being so conceited towards Daniel because he himself was a very level-headed and a humble person.

“Thank you so much Shawn, but what did I do to deserve such sudden and lovely compliments?” Daniel replied, smilingly.

“Nothing, I’ve got a dare and I have to complete it – without telling you about it.” His brain was a storehouse of stupidity.

“Okay then. Go ahead.”

Shawn shrugged and continued, “Tell me about your father. What does he do? Does he live with you? Is he even alive or is he dead? Does he...”

“No offence Shawn, but I refuse to answer any personal questions”, Daniel interrupted.

“Oh come on Daniel. Please cooperate. I HAVE to complete this dare”, Shawn insisted.

“No Shawn. You have to understand that there are certain things you are not supposed to ask people and you have to learn to respect people’s privacy.” I could hear a slight trace of impatience in his voice now.

“Please Daniel. If you help me then I’ll hook you up with that girl you like.” I guess he was referring to me.

“No, and just for the record, she is a friend of mine, so mind the way you talk about her.”

“Okay, I’m sorry, but please help me.”

“No.” This please-no-please-no continued for quite a while. I was really astonished at the amount of self-control he had with such obstinate people. Had it been me, I would have punched him right at the centre of his face the moment he contradicted me. Well, even the strongest wall breaks down if beaten for too long. If not break, then there’ll definitely be cracks. That is what happened with Daniel. The wall that he had built up around him, cracked.

“I said NO!” He banged his hands on the table and stood up with a jerk. “Don’t you get it? I don’t want to talk about my dad you idiot! Why is it so difficult for you to understand that? Are you so incapable of comprehending a single word – NO? Don’t you dare ask me about my dad ever again (he said that in a way so threatening, it would have made a tiger look timid). And for God’s sake, grow up and stop playing all these stupid games.” With that, he walked off. He was fuming with rage.

He left the whole class in a state of shock. No one had ever seen him so furious. The calm, sweet, forever-smiling angel suddenly became a horrifying beast. I don’t know why shouting or screaming was such a big deal in the western world. People would start judging you if you yelled at someone, even if the person you yelled at was wrong and you were right. I remember shouting at the boys of my class in school when they used to misbehave. It isn’t that big a deal in India. These white people have a whole other different level of sophistication.

Our professor entered the class after a minute or so. I’ll go, see him after this class is over, I thought.

I went to his room. He wasn’t there. I went to the library. He wasn’t there either. I went to the garden. I located him there – sitting on a secluded bench.

“Hey! Do you want to go to that cafe?” I sat beside him and asked.

“No. Not in that mood, currently. Thanks for asking”, he replied, still quite despondent.

“Okay.” I crossed my legs, folded my arms and sat comfortably. I wasn’t sure if he wanted to talk right then, yet, I didn’t feel like leaving him alone. I wanted him to know that he had someone to share his problems with. I wanted him to know that no matter what, I’d be there with him. That day when I was sitting beside him, I wasn’t thinking any of those. All this struck as a realization only after I had lost him.

“I....I shouldn’t have talked to him that way”, he said hesitantly.

“Don’t be foolish. HE shouldn’t have talked to you like that. A person’s personal life isn’t something to be announced in public. Shawn knew well enough that the whole class had their ears on your conversation.”

“I know, but yelling isn’t a solution. I should have been more patient and calm with him.”

“Dan, people have always taken your kindness for granted. A time had to come when people would know that you are not someone to be messed with. Don’t you worry about that now. Forget about it. Shawn has probably learnt his lesson,” I could still see that apologetic expression on his face. “And don’t you dare go apologise to him. Certain people don’t deserve such a humane behaviour.” He agreed to that and we headed towards the main campus.

Hi!! So, I guess Shawn is actually very insensitive and troublesome... What did you guys think??
Please let me know your views... Till then, byee!!