The Dreary Man

An attempt at creating a portrait out of words.  

The dreary man looked older than his years. He was perhaps in his late forties or even younger. He was clad in a white shalwar qameez. A white crocheted cap was sitting neatly on his head and on his feet he wore dust covered slippers. His snowy bearded face made him look respectable according to the society’s standards. His somewhat trembling lips were holding on to a cigarette which presumably was a cheap brand affordable to him. He had a slight limp in his walk which he was confidently covering by trying to walk as straight as possible.

The hardships of the life had left a mark on his overall persona. The difficulties he had been going through all his life were clearly evident. The lines, features and expressions on his face were a witness to his destitution. But he was going strong; as strong as can be. He was boldly facing the hurdles of his life and bravely fighting them off. He was not spreading his hand in front of people to beg for alms. He was continuing to rightfully “earn” a livelihood by working. He had not let the difficulties beat him up or extinguish the flame of life burning within him. 

He was still standing tall; a noble man with flowing dignity.

And the Ice-Breaking Question Was .....

Just remembered a funny incident and REALLY wanted to share. So here goes *wink*

I went to a seminar once. I went alone, on my own and on my own initiative. I was hoping to learn a lot and gather loads from the experience. In the whole bunch, I could see only a few girls. Following my female tendency, I was hoping that that group of girls would let me in their tiny circle too, to allow me to chat and get comfy with the surroundings.

I was standing all alone at the first tea break. Suddenly I saw that bunch of gals approaching. My heartbeat started to increase a bit. I felt excitement and anxiety at the same time. I couldn’t believe it that after hours of sitting and being alone I was finally going to be taken under the feather by fellow female attendees. With every step they took, my excitement mounted.

And then came the glorious moment, the moment I was spoken to. I was expecting an introduction from them, or a query about my own self, or at least a friendly “hello” to break the ice. What my ears heard was incomprehensible for the first few fractions of the second. I couldn’t believe what I had heard. But I was soon pushed back into reality and realized that what I heard was correct.

And those words were, “Where is the bathroom?” :-P