Afterthought

“Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?” “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” The sun had been playing hide and seek all morning. I could barely concentrate on combinatorics. It was all very beautiful, but, the alternating gloom of clouds and the joy of verdant brilliance drew me out on to the streets, and, given the confused state of mind I was in, I was glad to lose my way. My mind, drifted from one thing to another, and finally settled on a strange incident. And, as with all strange incidents in my life of late, he was involved. There were times when he was awesome, there was times when he was pathetic. There were times when he was a legend, there were times when he was a shame. There were times when he was a demi-God, and there were times when he was a pitiful human hypocrite. I don't know what this incident made him. I hated dogs. I could live without ...

My brain was throbbing. Figuring out the primal of the integral of exp(-x^2) was no easy task. My mind had already begun its journey. I was listening to the familiar tunes of Mozart's 21st symphony. The night sky was red, and puddles were getting replenished. I wondered where he was. He would help me get over this riddle. I wondered what to play next. A much easier riddle! And, then, the familiar footsteps approached the door. He entered the room, wet and dripping. He shook the water of himself in a way that reminded me of a little dog. He sat down, and looked at me. His eyes shone with conversation. I nodded the question. "Brilliant rain! Reminds you of the monsoons, doesn't it?", said he. "Yes, it does. But, where were you?" "I met this person near the river - prabuddha. He was on those ancient benches, staring intensely at the gently rippling water. I walked to him impulsively and sat down beside him. He didn't seem to notice my presence at firs...

I was in my chair, with my feet up on the radiator, feeling too lazy to prepare for the week ahead, to get rid of my weekend stubble and go through my notes for the week. The listlessness of life was bothering me - pleasant days, work, then home, and then, work. He was in his chair, by his laptop. Strains of the violin playing wafted to my ears. He would never notice if it were to become too loud. It was strange. I had known him for so long, and, yet, seldom could I even guess what he would do, or say, or think. In many ways, he was a kid, and in many, he was not. He would throw his tantrums, tantrums that would make a little girl's yell for a doll seem like a well thought out argument... And, then, he started. He was out of his reverie, and was mid-way describing an incident to me. He was telling me about trying to break into someone's room. "We hadn't seen Adam for days! He wasn't the reclusive sort. He would usually be downstairs every other evening for a friend...

Beeep Beeep There was something wrong with my eyes. I couldn't open them. It was tough, painful. Whenever I managed to part the lids, spears of light would pierce through, tears would stream down, and impulsively, I would let darkness close in! Beeep Beeep NO!! I had to fight, to make my way there. I had to! To stop it!! Beeep Beeep I pushed, eyes shut, felt my way around, stumbling, falling. If only I could get there. Beeep Beeep It was cold. Darkness closed in again! Beeep Beeep This was annoying! Frustrating! I had to get there! My feet! The frigid air was worse than the light! Beeep Beeep! The sound! I had to stop it! Where was it?! Beeep Beeep! Ah! There! Can't open my eyes! Can't see what was happening! Why? This ear shattering, earth moving buzz? How does it stop? There! There! Stop!! In the name of all that's quiet and peaceful! AH! THE BUTTON! This should make it stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!!! STOP!! ... Silence ... "Son, were you asleep?" I smiled!

She smiled!