Few years back in Howrah (near Kolkata), I met a rickshaw puller who was quite drunk and spoke out his heart. Initially he was singing folk songs and the hidden pain in his voice was pulling the sky down. I was curious and asked him the reason. Initially he said "nothing, I'm just enjoying the moment" as I was just a passenger for him. But I was also rigid and pushed him again. He did not cry, yet tears fell down his eyes. He said that he was a local goon with a fearless attitude and used to work under a local politician and earn well enough to lead a sophisticated life.
One day he went to resolve a dispute and beat up a man, out there he met a girl who was coincidentally daughter of the man who got beaten up. It was a love at first sight for him as he never met any girl in his lifetime who could dare to give an eye to eye look at him. He fell for her and started following her. He proposed for friendship but she denied, but accepted later with a condition that he would apologize to her father, obviously by not informing him that she asked to do so. He did not think twice and apologized to her father very next day.
A brand new musical episode started in his life with that friendship and time pushed the duo closer and eventually she became breath for him without which his heart would not function. He would take her for long rides in his bike and buy her expensive gifts. One day he proposed her to become his better half and she agreed with a condition that he would leave his gang and earn money with honesty. The guy watched several Bollywood movies, hence, he knew what a hero would do in such scenario. Within a month he stopped all his illegal activities and tied knot with her though her father did not agree. Initially he took her to his own home but had to rent a separate house as there was a fracas between his wife and other family members. He was the boss of the house and easily could throw out his parents and siblings, however, decided to stay separately with his wife.
A love marriage is always like heaven on earth for a specific period though there is no certain duration set for that. In his case, within few months his all savings were emptied as cost of love and he did not have money to pay house rent either. His wife asked him to do some work, after trying several options he started pulling rickshaw. He used to work all day long, unfortunately earn a bit. He would give everything to his wife so that she can manage the family, but that much money was not sufficient. Her words turned into arrows and prick him deep inside. He started losing his muscles and became weak. He lost interest in having food due to loss of appetite. He had to start drinking country liquor as he had to work hard and that seemed to be energy drink for him, however, his wife would not understand that, she would fight with him everyday as he was a drinker.
So one day all bollywoodia love disappeared and reality hit his life. His wife fell for another guy and eloped with him. She left their two years old son with the father. Physically and mentally broken, the guy, had no place to go, no person to share his sorrow with. He went back to his house for few days but his family members kicked him out as he would shout and disturb others being drunk. They wanted to keep the child though and asked him to come back if he can quit drinking. He knew he would die without alcohol as that is the only medicine which works as pain killer and never leaves him alone, hence, he left his home, of course with his kid. He could not go back to his previous profession as he did not have that physical strength or confidence like before. He would work so hard to make sure that he can give his child a better life, however, drink every night to make sure that he stays alive and that is too pain free. He said that the kid was in second standard (when I met him) and he never felt to get married again; he would be happy to spend his life with the memory of his estranged wife.
Not that he is the greatest lover or dad on the earth but I really got shocked when he asked me, after sharing his biography, "Will she come back to me one day"!! I could tell him several things with facts but did not want to make him feel like a loser so all I did was paid him some tip.
By,
Bodhisattwa Roy
One day he went to resolve a dispute and beat up a man, out there he met a girl who was coincidentally daughter of the man who got beaten up. It was a love at first sight for him as he never met any girl in his lifetime who could dare to give an eye to eye look at him. He fell for her and started following her. He proposed for friendship but she denied, but accepted later with a condition that he would apologize to her father, obviously by not informing him that she asked to do so. He did not think twice and apologized to her father very next day.
A brand new musical episode started in his life with that friendship and time pushed the duo closer and eventually she became breath for him without which his heart would not function. He would take her for long rides in his bike and buy her expensive gifts. One day he proposed her to become his better half and she agreed with a condition that he would leave his gang and earn money with honesty. The guy watched several Bollywood movies, hence, he knew what a hero would do in such scenario. Within a month he stopped all his illegal activities and tied knot with her though her father did not agree. Initially he took her to his own home but had to rent a separate house as there was a fracas between his wife and other family members. He was the boss of the house and easily could throw out his parents and siblings, however, decided to stay separately with his wife.
A love marriage is always like heaven on earth for a specific period though there is no certain duration set for that. In his case, within few months his all savings were emptied as cost of love and he did not have money to pay house rent either. His wife asked him to do some work, after trying several options he started pulling rickshaw. He used to work all day long, unfortunately earn a bit. He would give everything to his wife so that she can manage the family, but that much money was not sufficient. Her words turned into arrows and prick him deep inside. He started losing his muscles and became weak. He lost interest in having food due to loss of appetite. He had to start drinking country liquor as he had to work hard and that seemed to be energy drink for him, however, his wife would not understand that, she would fight with him everyday as he was a drinker.
So one day all bollywoodia love disappeared and reality hit his life. His wife fell for another guy and eloped with him. She left their two years old son with the father. Physically and mentally broken, the guy, had no place to go, no person to share his sorrow with. He went back to his house for few days but his family members kicked him out as he would shout and disturb others being drunk. They wanted to keep the child though and asked him to come back if he can quit drinking. He knew he would die without alcohol as that is the only medicine which works as pain killer and never leaves him alone, hence, he left his home, of course with his kid. He could not go back to his previous profession as he did not have that physical strength or confidence like before. He would work so hard to make sure that he can give his child a better life, however, drink every night to make sure that he stays alive and that is too pain free. He said that the kid was in second standard (when I met him) and he never felt to get married again; he would be happy to spend his life with the memory of his estranged wife.
Not that he is the greatest lover or dad on the earth but I really got shocked when he asked me, after sharing his biography, "Will she come back to me one day"!! I could tell him several things with facts but did not want to make him feel like a loser so all I did was paid him some tip.
By,
Bodhisattwa Roy
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