The Life of a Druggie - By Bincy Sebastian

Written By: Bincy Sebastian

Category: Short Story

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the gripping short story "The Life of a Druggie," Bincy Sebastian offers a poignant exploration of redemption and resilience. Entered in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this narrative draws readers into the tumultuous life of Simith Manikandan. As he grapples with addiction and the loss of personal dignity, the story unfolds with raw emotion and the promise of renewal. The submission resonates with themes of hope and the courage to begin anew, capturing the essence of the competition's celebration of creative expression.

About the Work

Bincy Sebastian's "The Life of a Druggie" is a deeply moving narrative that delves into the complexities of addiction and the arduous path to recovery. The story's tone is somber yet hopeful, skillfully weaving together imagery of despair and the gradual emergence of redemption. Through Simith's journey, the reader is invited to witness the transformative power of truth, acceptance, and love. The literary style is straightforward yet evocative, allowing the authenticity of the protagonist's struggles and triumphs to resonate profoundly with the audience.

The Life of a Druggie

Original Submission by Bincy Sebastian

The Life of a Druggie

The night before his visa cancellation news, Simith Manikandan sat alone on the narrow bed of the bachelor's accommodation. The room was crowded with six other workers, but he had never felt so alone.

His phone lay silent beside him. Months ago, he would have waited for a message from his fiancée. Now there were none. He opened her photograph and stared at it. The smile he once lived for now felt a thousand miles away. It was all because of his anger issues; doubt; because he himself had broken her trust in ways she didn’t know much about.

For the first time in years, he did not crave the drug.

He craved peace. Outside, Sharjah slept beneath a blanket of yellow streetlights. Inside, Simith felt as though his entire life had collapsed upon him. No job. No money. No passport. No fiancée. No dignity.

His father called.

"How are you, son?" his father asked.

Simith could not answer. The old tailor sensed something was wrong.

"What happened?"

Years of lies, excuses, and half-truths finally broke inside him.

Simith cried. Not quietly. Not like a grown man trying to hide his tears. He cried like a frightened child. For nearly an hour he confessed everything. The drug. The supplying. The stolen portions of drug that he used to use, while mixing the remaining with some salt before handing it to the end customer . The fights. The lies. The loss of his job. The threat of losing the woman he loved. He confessed to his dad everything.

On the other end of the line there was silence. Then his father spoke. "Come home."

That was all. Not anger. Not abuse. Not disappointment.

Just two words. "Come home."

The next few months were the hardest of Simith's life.

His father borrowed money and sought legal help through community members. After negotiations and intervention from labour authorities, the passport issue was resolved. Simith's visa was cancelled legally and he returned to Kerala.

The first weeks were terrible. His body demanded the drug. He slept for long hours. He shook. He sweated profusely. He lost weight. Some days he screamed in frustration. His mother sat beside him and prayed quietly. His father said very little. But every morning he left a cup of tea beside Simith's bed. The same way he had done when Simith was a boy.

Recovery was not a straight path. There were relapses. There were lies. There were moments when Simith wanted to disappear.

But slowly, one day at a time, he attended counselling sessions. He joined a rehabilitation program in Palakkad. He met other men whose lives had been destroyed by addiction.

For the first time he stopped blaming everyone else. He accepted responsibility. That acceptance became the beginning of freedom.

Months passed. Then a year. The cravings weakened. The anger softened. The anxiety reduced.

One evening he visited his fiancée's house. He had rehearsed a hundred speeches. When she opened the gate, he forgot them all.

He simply said, "I am sorry." There were tears in her eyes.

She had heard about his treatment. She had heard about his efforts. She knew he was not the same man who had once shouted at her over the phone.

Trust did not return that day. Trust returned little by little. Conversation by conversation. Month by month. Eventually she agreed to give him another chance. Not because she pitied him. Because she could see that he had changed.

Two years later, Simith started a small seafood distribution business in Kerala. The work was honest and difficult, but it was his own. He employed three young men who had struggled with addiction.

Whenever they asked how he knew so much about their pain, he would smile and say, "Because I have walked that road myself."

The wedding was simple. No grand decorations. No luxury hall. No borrowed money. His father stood proudly beside him. His mother cried happy tears.

And when Simith tied the sacred thread around the neck of the woman he had loved since he was sixteen, he understood something he had never understood before.

Love alone had not saved him. Hope had not saved him. Even prayers had not saved him.

What saved him was the courage to tell the truth, accept help, and begin again. Years later, when people looked at Simith, they saw a businessman, a husband, and a father.

Very few knew he had once been a drug addict and a drug peddler, addicted to porn and sex because of heavy doses of “ecstasy”, sleeping in a crowded room in Sharjah with other roommates who consumed drugs in the name of extra power and energy. Young boys working for long hours in the malls and supermarkets, did consume the smoke until their nostrils bled, so that they could stand on for 10 or 12 hours in the supermarket working hard without getting tired. Simith never forgot all of these. He had learned from the consequences of all of it. He had learnt it hard; when he lost control over his body, his feelings and emotions.

Every morning, before going to his own shop, he touched the old tailor's measuring tape that still hung in his father's house.

It reminded him that broken things can be stitched back together. And so can lives.

**********

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform that celebrates the art of storytelling and poetic expression. The competition invites participants from around the world to share their unique voices and creative talents. It serves as a global stage for writers to explore diverse themes and narratives, fostering a vibrant community of literary enthusiasts and creators. Through this competition, Hashtag Kalakar continues to support and inspire the next generation of writers.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Bincy Sebastian for sharing "The Life of a Druggie" with us. This evocative short story offers a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and the possibility of renewal. Participating in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, Bincy’s narrative reminds us of the courage it takes to embrace change and start anew. We are grateful for the opportunity to feature such a meaningful work.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.