The Planeteers - In Search Of Greatness

Part 2

He was a giant, matted between the cigarette smokers and women with laced socks who moaned in their lost thoughts for everything. The noise around the tables bounced off the cervices of the wooden walls, and he seemed to absorb everything. This was another usual night, like every other night for past few months. He found his peace in the shrieks, curses and crass adultery.

He slumped his broad shoulders, hovered over the cards that were arranged in an unusual manner in his large hands. His eyes flicked over the neighbours' cards, but he wasn't registering anything in his head.

While a card was being laid down under the dim light, he felt someone breathing over his shoulder.

He didn't acknowledge the presence of the man, nor was the requestor waiting for it.

"Suchi! Brother, would you spare me some bucks?", voice behind him barked.

He snatched few notes from the left pocket that was musked with nicotine powder. The exchange was smooth and no noise was made.

Suchi , the giant, suddenly felt his senses responding to the word "brother". He remembered everything that he wanted to forget; the very essence why he was here to gamble. He missed Ma-Ti very badly. When the fight with sadness was lost, he threw all his cards on the table as a surrender and got up. Eyebrows were raised, some grunted in displeasure, but he didn't bother. As he strolled towards the bartender, the pungent dark spaces creaked with his weight. Suchi was huge, hairy and always managed to frighten most of the inhabitants of Hope island.

Adopted as a younger brother of Ma-Ti, he had travelled to the island along with other Planeteers when their parents died. Relationship of Suchi with Ma-Ti was magnetic. One would never be able to say that Suchi was adopted into Ma-Ti's family. Over time, ideologies changed, and the brothers parted. Suchi wasn't sad about the partition, but the bitterness with what they did. It all happened because a girl was involved.

He reached out to the largest cigarette in the counter, yet they looked tiny in his ape like fingers. The puff of smoke brought out the memories of years, something he objected to. Ma-Ti shared a special bond with him, connected to each other through the heart rings. They could communicate easily through their telepathic powers, and often knew the actions of each other. This was the reason their hearts reached out to the same women, except Ma-Ti took it as a betrayal. It started out as a cold shoulder, few quirky comments and finally a full fledge fight. Suchi would often try to reach Ma-ti in his head, just to see if he was feeling the same pain as him. He knew this cannot go on for longer periods as both had only each other as family.

"I am sorry Ma-TI, for I hurt you a lot. I will let Nitra be yours"

He heaved a sigh, but the lungs felt heavier. It was the weight of guilt that he was wearing. He never meant to hurt his older brother.

"Nitra is always his. Let it be as it is. I let my emotions come in between"

Suchi placed his hands on his temple of the head, and felt the beats. This wasn't the first time. He had considered connecting telepathic before as well, but that would have seemed impersonal. It would mean like conversations over phone, not being sincere. He let go off his attempt and puffed out smoke again.

"The big man, the man, the giant", someone snarled at his back.

Suchi continued smoking like nothing happened. To him, it seemed like leaves rustling. He just had to ignore like every other time. The man leaned forward towards Suchi in search of mischievousness. Suchi elbowed him gently.

There are times when same things that are seemingly harmless, turn rouge. Today was such. The man in brown boots bolted himself upon Suchi, strangling the neck playfully both hands. As if the action wasn't enough, he licked Suchi's ears lobes.

"Monkey, monkey", he whispered like a lover's call in a clandestine operation.

Suchi placed his cigar that was left out in the tray, and rolled his sleeves. In one sudden jerk, he flung the man over.

The man slid over few chairs, and some people shrieked in horror. Some intoxicated men lifted their beer cups, and women, who looked for drama clung on to the men tighter. The man lay on the floor, frozen and wide eyed.

Whatever be the cause, Suchi never reacted angry. His reactions always had lot of grace. It was simply not one of those days.

"I am no one's monkey. No one deserves to call me that", Suchi roared to the entire crowd in the bar.

"I am Ma-Ti's monkey"

In moments of this drama, his insides churned the hurt. He felt it in his heart. The pain. The only pain. He lost the essence of vanity. It hurt somewhere that he couldn't point to.

He focussed hard on the floor, fingers over his temple, concentrating harder than he has ever known. He screamed out for Ma-Ti inside his head. He knew Ma-Ti would never ignore this. He screamed and screamed, but the receiver did not acknowledge. His Amazonian brother couldn't even be found.