Disclaimer: This is a story I wrote long ago. I was searching my archives for something yesterday and this one caught my attention. The story is a fictitious one, but is based on some actual incidents. Read on

****
 
 It was 10:30 in the night when I entered my room and switched on the lights. But there aren’t any surprises waiting for me as sincerely as i wish them to be. It takes more than a wish i suppose. I take a look at the messy room with clothes thrown everywhere, footwear occupying more space than the clothes and was genuinely amused at my dexterity in keeping it the same after every cleaning session the care taker gives to my room. After a particularly bad day at the office I wasn’t looking forward to spend the night lonely though I would have loved my loneliness on most occassions. I looked sheepishly at the corner of my room which contained the magic liquid that kept my spirits high on weekends. ‘You shouldn’t be doing this on week days. What about your office tomorrow?’ The voice seemed to be admonishing but was a bit meek. ‘You should not have bought it in the first place you dumbo’. I retorted at my voice. Since the first mistake was made the second was only inevitable.

 Three drinks and two hours later I was kind of spent and particularly in a joyful mood. I wanted to take it to the next level and lifted the bottle again. But instead of emptying it, I chose to admire it’s beauty for a while. A cool wind crossed my face and made me shiver a bit. The night was getting wonderful by the minute and I was loving it. I thought only one thing was amiss and with a smile I set about to do it

‘Gata Rahe Mera Dil
Tu hi Meri Manzil
Kabhi beete na ye Raatein
Kabhi beete na ye Din’

 My voice seemed pleasant the first time and got coarse in between and that was when I decided to leave it at that. I left the bottle and the song incomplete and lost into a deep satisfying sleep.

 10:30 it was again and the same old me in my same old room again. Lights on! Admire the room! Take a glance at the corner! and voila..the bottle was empty. I wasn’t really sure if I emptied it last night but not able to do soemthing about it I chose to get lost in Amitav Ghosh’s Glass Palace. The next morning he knocked my room and asked for rent. I gave him the money promptly and asked him
‘Mama!!(That’s what we call him at our P.G)Was there someone in my room when I was away?’ The usually cheerful expression changed to one that of a hurt one. I regretted asking him but could not say so to him. As I started to retreat he said in a low tone. ‘It’s me! For cleaning your room.’ That was probably as close as he could go to the truth.

 First weekend of every month calls for being generous and this time I wanted to spend the night with Mama. I never bothered about him more than I should which was limited to paying rent, paying for washing and ironing my clothes and similar stuff. So when I invited him for a drink with me he was more than pleased. He brought the drinks and we sat on the terrace. It was a typical March night in Pune. The summer has just about started to arrive with the winter giving its way to it. There was a cool breeze blowing through the air making us comfortable. We started some music and what more can I ask for?

 We chatted for some time before i brought my most famous question ‘Mama! When did you start drinking?’ He looked at me for a while and seemed to have lost in thought. He finished his drink in a gulp and started. ‘It is a long story. I was 12 or 13 I guess. I dont know what my father wanted me to become but he admitted me in a school. The people were all weird looking and carried lot of books. I could get none of it. I pleaded my father to stop this. But he refused. He was considered a great man coz he wanted me to study instead of working. I took none of it and started flunking every class. Not that I would have topped the classes anyway, but that led to my father’s misery. Finally he let me out of the school and I celebrated the occassion with my first drink.’ I smiled as he pushed his glass for one more drink.

 Then he asked me the same question again. ‘I started drinking when I graduated from my college.’ His smile became wider and he gave a pat on my back. ‘That’s why you got into a BIG company.’ He expanded his arms to symbolize BIG. More chat and music followed till we both felt it was enough. I kept the remnants of the bottle in the same place as usual and went to sleep.

 Monday is always another day. Though I’m not looking forward to it, I get through it somehow. So Once again it is 10:30 and I’m in my room with my loneliness. I looked at the corner. Found nothing.
‘Jo Mil gaya Usi ko Muqaddar Samajh Liya,
Jo Kho Gaya me usko Bhulata chala Gaya’
Mama sings.

****
 
PS: I do not intend to call Mama a thief but I used it as a title because I felt it is too good and was unable to resist it.