Friday Night

By Shiva Joshi

City Nightlights were sparkling, creating a buzzing atmosphere. Youngsters were out to have a good time, families were gathering for their personal time, some people were going back home to enjoy their much-awaited rest, eager to let go of all the events of the entire week. All in all, it was a regular Friday night.

Nothing interested me anymore, as I have seen all this before, however I continued to linger about as the weather was nice, and my four walls felt stuffy.

The thing about humans is that they are the most interesting species to observe. People go to museums and zoos to look at artifacts and observe animals, however, what they do not realise is that people who can walk, talk and show expressions and leave impressions are the most observable specimens in the world.

As this thought passed fleetingly through my chain of thoughts, I took a long sip of my cappuccino, and at that moment, light flashed in the sky, lighting the already illuminated city of Gurgaon.

The sky roared with thunder so ferociously, as if warning to make way, for it was heading downwards to meet the ground and become one, and along came the downpour, like a wide shower and the rainwater looking like unscaled diamonds owing to the brightness of the surroundings.

Just as another stroke of lightening passed by, is when I saw him. Getting soaked in the rain but rather he did not care about that. To most people he might seem out of his mind, but maybe that’s exactly what he was.

His hair was wet and down, his coat and bag in one hand while a small box in the other. His body language was slumped with his shoulders hunched over and his expression blank, walking with heavy footsteps. As if it was painful for him. As if he was walking, carrying all the burden on his shoulders. It was evident, that is a man who has given up on something he believed in.

I don’t know how long I was observing him, or what had clicked in my head. I grabbed an umbrella from the stand near the café, promising the barista I would return it back, and walked out towards him. I didn’t understand why I was walking towards him, or that what was even to be said. Maybe it was my empathy? Or maybe because he was looking so torn and wet that I felt a spark of human being risen in me.

I was walking towards him as I was thinking, and in no time, I was in front of him, stopping at his step, bringing the umbrella over both of us. He slowly looked up, and I saw he had a cold yet confused expression on his face.

“You’re wet” is all I said with an obvious tone. “Take it” I said as I offered him the umbrella. Instead, he just kept looking at me as if one would look at a zebra in a zoo. His eyes were dark, clouded with an emotion I was all too familiar with, yet didn’t have the courage to acknowledge.

When I understood, he wasn’t going to take up my offer, I let out a small sigh, grabbed his hand with the small box and forced the umbrella in it.

“Don’t get wet anymore. Nothing is worth getting sick over”. I started backing away while saying these words. His expression still the same as he was looking at me. “Why are you…” he seemed to be at a loss of words. I just gave him a small, expressionless smile, “Get home safe, and return this umbrella, will you?”

I didn’t look back and just ran to the auto stand, taking the first ride home.

It has been 2 months, and I’m here again. On another regular Friday night drinking coffee. With a somewhat lingering interest and a small expectation, looking at same yet different people on the bustling streets, I see him across, on the sidewalk, this time with a melancholic smile and an intriguing stance looking back at me.

By Shiva Joshi