A memoir (Chapter III)

CHAPTER III

A rant....

     Joseph, expressing his wish to continue the party overnight, decides to show the gang what he had brought in his odd grocery bag. Bottles of Ethamalt (A low-level fruit-flavoured alcoholic drink legal in East India), of all fruit flavours he could get. Most of those as per him were for "himself, because for him, medicine makes him f**king hate life and these bottles are his only girlfriend, and his only source of happiness aside his friends. I come to a realisation that everyone, except Aman seems to have some really bad condition when it comes to loneliness and shame.

       Joseph, grabs three for himself, while Meera grabs one for her, Manthan hesitates but takes one, Rayma and Masud look with disgust, and Aman is in pure anger; It seemed like he hated alcohol. Now me? I am an alcoholic myself, what did you expect? I had a fermenting room in my basement, and I was arrested twice by the government for making alcohol for myself, which surprisingly my dad got me out of, and among the only times dad slapped me. I purely dislike how he just doesn't understand the fact that his opinions and help mean nothing to me. I pretended to hesitate, but a gruntled Aman handed me a bottle, telling me nonchalantly "No need to act, here you go".

We drink, chat, Aman eventually comes out of his anger and speaks normally, while Masud and Rayma starting moving ahead of trying to avoid the smell, and just sit at a corner, while others drink. Now this drink won't be getting you drunk any sooner, but Joseph? He's drunk at two already! He's blinking, he's loud, but most importantly, he starts ranting.

"I !@#$ spent my five goddamn years in this university. I applied here because this was supposed to be the OG bros uni, but nah, some mo********ers and s***s decided it was best to ruin this uni all for once. I !@#$ hate my life and my uni. I wasted my five !@#$ years, trying to defend, bring peace and help others, while I was met with nothing but insults and backtalking. I !@#$ hate everyone here except ya'll..." He rants.

He continues "I was betrayed on by my good friends in my second year, my girlfriend on my third year and now I am here, a !@#$ dumba**, old and helpless waiting to pass and !@#$ get away from here once !@#$ for all. These !@#$ don't have any respect, any damn integrity for the professors, two women eventually quit in shame. And when someone decides to rebel, he or she is either ignored, left to fear for their !@#$ lives or even !@#$ get murdered. Is this some sort of a joke? Every year, we sent !@#$ r*****s, r*****s, s***s and w****s to the University Games, and what we returned were !@#$ compliments about how big of a !@#$ we were. We !@#$ lost all, every !@#$ single match, for the last five !@#$ years. If dad ever got to know what !@#$ uni I am studying at, he would have excommunicated me without wasting a !@#$ second. I hate my life..." Joseph very loudly rants, startling everyone, as Masud and Manthan try to control him.

"Joseph has never been the same since that s**t broke up with him. She cheated on him with students of other universities and then !@#$ ditched him, after rigging the whole university games of his third year. He never touched his favourite football ever again after that. I feel sad to see him grow so bad. It almost looks like if we don't want to improve. Others mock us, laugh at us, and make ridicule of ourselves, when we fight over petty issues, don't clean up the animal feces and just live in these jungles, which once used to be a large university." Masud explains, calmly.

He continues: "Joseph used to be the local dada (sort of big brother) of this university. He was elected the student president on his third year, when he met some girl, who appeared to be his huge fan. They grew close, and that !@#$ even met his father to seek blessings. While Joseph was feared by everyone, there was only her whom he loved. But eventually, that 13th University games of East India, ahh it still traumatizes me. I and Manthan left their cricketing after that, while Rayma and Meera, oh well..." Masud sighed, with a face down.

"I wept in front of everyone. Those bastards will get their justice, at least someday in their lives..." Meera replied in a deep voice.

Aman, seemingly unbothered, asked everyone if they wish to play cards. Most did agree, understanding he just wants them to not discuss such things in his birthday. "Let's play bridge, you know, I am pretty decent at playing it hehe". Josephs reponds in agreement "Grandpa taught me the game, I'm in too.", Manthan nods, and others tell they don't even know how this even works. I decide to respond, "I'm in."

"You know the basics?!" Aman looks at me surprised. Joseph is surprised even more, as he used to be the only expert in this college. We initiate the game, and the game runs long. As the non-players chat, Manthan and Joseph's team win a game. "You sure how to play this game, right?" Joseph asks, doubting.

"Let's see hehe" I replied. Aman silently draws the cards, and oh my, we win this one. The last game was a tough contest, but they didn't realise I was the queen of bridge in my town's club, which suprised all the goons, politicians and old men of the town, who regularly played this. A rubber point, a bare number of tricks and the game was enough for me to defeat and surprise Joseph and Manthan.

A drunk Joseph asks "Woah !@#$ you seem good at this. Who taught this !@#$ to ye?". "Myself." I respond.

I am sorry for my infrequent, occasional and short posts. I am writing this story in a free flow manner, and I write this with every new shower thought that pops inside me. I'm sorry if this bothers you but you'll have to wait for the next part. Do tell me if something can be improved, thank you.