What is the question? │✔

{ 2 }

"Masterji! Oh, Masterji!"

Banging his face into his bolster pillow, he let out a groan. Eyes squinting, his pupils adjusted to the light in the room. The chime of the grandfather clock, made him tilt his chin, to have a better look. However, everything, at that particular moment, was just a blur of nothingness. And that mess seemed to intensify as the slurred speech interrupted his train of thoughts.

"Oh, Neel Ba! It's me! Your V!"

The realization hit him sooner than any calculation error would. Hastily picking up his eyeglasses from the side table, he stumbled towards the door. Unfastening the latch, he scrunched his nose, unable to bear the stink of alcohol. Heading back into his house again, this time he emerged following all the safety guidelines. Giggling at the sight of his beloved Masterji, the young boy snorted, pointing at the clothespin which secured Masterji's nose.

"I'm not here to sell Maach!"

"Trust me, even the reek of fish would be better than this!"

Disappointed, he shook his head, preparing to scold the boy. Closing his eyes and facing towards the other side, he started.

"V! What have I told you about this? Huh? No booze—"

Snort. 

"—Without me!"

Completing Masterji's sentence, he lifted the two brand new bottles in the air and pointed towards the terrace. Groaning for the second time in the entire night, they headed towards the open terrace. Sitting on the ledge, legs dangling, the bottles were opened. It was a celebration, after all. 

Drowning his sorrows, Veer burst out into tears, yet again. Patting his shoulders, Masterji tried to sympathize with him. However, only a devoted cricket fan would understand the pain etched behind the defeat of their 'Men in Blue'. But even the always optimistic 'V' knew that if the 'God of Cricket' got out on only four runs, then the fate of the team was decided. Sniffing, he blew his nose on the sleeves of his torn T-shirt.

"Neel Ba, do you think they will win the Asia Cup this year?"

"It's 'Asia Cup' kiddo, not 'World Cup'. India will win."

Masterji held back a smile, amused by the boy in front of him. Pulling out a tube from the packet next to him, he brought it closer. Lighting it up, he inhaled. The chaos within him rattled him up, knocking him over and over again. Exhaling, he watched the slivers of smoke twirl around each other, dancing away into the oblivion, taming the madness in him.

Every person is a genius. And no genius can be made, without a touch of madness.

He watched his trail of smoke mingling with another string of fumes, capturing his attention. Staring at the happy-go-lucky boy, he refrained from demanding an explanation. He was twenty-one, a legal adult who had the right to take decisions of his own life. Moreover, V was not his own flesh and blood. He could show his concern but could not impose it on him.

"I know what you are thinking Neel Ba!"

Pausing, Veer chuckled, the corners of his lips bending.

"But you can't say anything, after all, you have not been a great example Masterji!"

Wrong. There was nothing wrong with that statement. It was he who had shown him the dark side of the world, in every way possible. Orphaned at an early age, Masterji occupied the parent-figure position of his life. And he was solely responsible for whatever Veer did. But he was not a parent. Rather a friend who was twice the boy's age. His listener, not an advisor.

It was not a secret that Veer looked up to only one person, Masterji. To be honest, everyone in the colony admired him. The most respectable and knowledgeable person in the locality, being a school teacher was just an additional quality. His opinion was considered the final, let it be advice on educational matters or the colony's maintenance or fixing marriage alliances.

But the responsibility of being a parent, Masterji refused to take that up. But he stood by his side, like a rock. In fact, it was he who bought a separate room for Veer in the colony, choosing to respect his privacy. And so, Veer would sleep in his room but spend most of his time in Masterji's house. That is when a match was not taking place as Masterji had strictly ordered that luxury like television would not get a place in his humble abode.

"Neel Ba! Are you going to meet my professor tomorrow?"

Snort. No wonder he was celebrating the loss of his team. Some motive had to be there. This was exactly what Masterji thought. Gulping down the entire bottle in a go, he sighed. Maybe, just maybe, he had spoiled him a bit too much.

"I'll see to it V."

Humming in response, the boy lolled his which dropped onto Masterji's shoulder. Adjusting his position for the boy's comfort, he prepared himself to face the next day's morn. It was going to be some hangover for sure.

As the star-studded sky started disappearing, he slipped, faltered, and finally fell into the trap of dreamless sleep.