Bang! Mahesh just picked up his empty coffee mug and threw it against the wall. It immediately broke into pieces. Like every morning, today also he was sitting on the couch of his living room with his morning coffee when Aisha, his wife came straight out of the bedroom and confronted him. “You were out again till well past midnight yesterday .” She shouted. “You know what! It’s just unbearable for me anymore. I’m gonna need a divorce. I can’t stay with you any longer.” Aisha just burst out crying and slammed the door of the bedroom.
This has become a daily occurence between them and it’s become too much for Mahesh to bear. The anger just spilled over on the mug. Mahesh got up from the couch, took his key, wallet and slammed the front door shut. It was 12 in the afternoon and he went straight to the bar.
The bar that he regularly goes to has just opened. The captain who knows him as a regular customer came up to him and asked, “Arre sir, abhi? Aiye Aiye.” Mahesh went and sat at the table where he generally sits.
Captain immediately came and asked him, “Sir kya lau? Apna regular wala na?” Mahesh nodded not even looking up. He doesn’t care what he’s going to drink as long as its alcohol. He badly needed to get over his anger, frustration and all the other outpouring negative emotions. He needed a few drinks for that or so he thought.
Usually he doesn’t go beyond four pegs on a normal day. Today as the captain served him the fourth peg of his regular brand of whiskey, he immediately asked, “Sir, kuch khaane ko lau kya?” Mahesh shook his head, again without looking up at him. The captain knows Mahesh usually orders for food after his fourth peg. He also knows him to be a customer who’s very jolly, polite and positive in general. He’s unlike some of the other customers who are sometimes very rude and extremely difficult to deal with. He also tips quite handsomely.
Today though, he looks a bit different, keeping his head down, absolutely to himself. He looks uninterested to even look at the captain or for that matter anybody else. He looks a bit disturbed. ‘Something’s wrong with Mahesh sir.’ Captain thought.
Captain turned his attention to another customer who was on another table. Even though he was a bit concerned for ‘Mahesh sir’ he tried to shake it off his head. After all, he’s just a captain who shouldn’t talk much with the customers. Atleast that is the order given by the owner of the bar.
Just then he heard Mahesh calling him, “Captain!” “Aaya sir!” He said and went upto his table. Mahesh just raised his finger to show that wants one more peg. Captain nodded but then immediately asked, “Sir sath mein kuch khaane ko bhi lau kya?” Mahesh looked up at him. “Bhai, bolega na tujhe main. Barbar puchke kya bhagana chahta hai mujhe yaha se bhi?” Captain was taken aback by that. Mahesh never talks that way. He realised that he better be left alone. He just said, “Arre nahi sir. Sorry. Lata hun ek aur.”
A while later, as the latest peg was almost finished, Mahesh called captain again. “Sun, bill leke aa.” He said. Captain just nodded and went to get the bill. As he kept the bill on the table, Mahesh took out his wallet. He checked the bill, took out the required amount and kept it on the table beside the bill. He then took out a 100 rupee note separately and held his hand ahead towards captain. “Arre, nahi sir.” The captain said. He could see Mahesh’s eyebrows raise a bit with his words. “Sir, aaj nahi, khushi khushi kabhi aur de dena.” He further added. Mahesh realised what captain meant by that. He put the money back in his pocket and got up. He looked straight at him, gave a wry smile and slowly kept his hand on captain’s shoulder and said, ” Thank you. Sorry.” With that Mahesh left the bar.
The captain stood there, looking at him going out through the front door and just gave a gentle smile.
Om Shanti….?