The Dark Side of LIFE

Addict

There is only one word to describe my thoughts – TURMOIL. There are only two things which can calm it down – DRUGS & ALCOHOL. As I shoot up the crystal white powder through my nose, the numbing chill it spreads after, relaxes all the havoc creating thoughts & nerves of my body. It helps me keep away my worst nightmares and the darkest fears. The burning sensation in my throat and food pipe from alcohol keeps me giddy and free. The amount of alcohol or drugs I take, I should have been dead ages ago. But it all burns away quickly. I know the reason but no one else knows it. I can’t tell anyone about it. My friends and people around me believe that my family history is the reason why I drink so much or consume drugs. They always get surprised by the amount I drink and more about the fact how even after so much consumption I am still able to do work like a sober person.

Right now, I am shooting up the drugs and drinking to forget the wandering hands of filthy men in the bar I work for. I don’t have anyone to rely on financially and to support myself hence the need for money brought me here. I have two jobs to manage everything. One of my jobs is at the Bar where I make and serve the drinks and the other is at a renowned Publishing house as the Assistant Editor. I am not a social person. I only have 3 friends to whom I lie every day. I am not proud of it but that is how it should be.

“Akira..!”

Hearing my name, I open my eyes and look towards the door of the VVIP area I have been sitting in. Come to think of it I might get in trouble for it. Standing at the door is my three friends Pari Khanna, Rohan Raichand and Armaan Malik. They are worried by the look on their faces but it is probably because I have been MIA for two hours. My phone was switched off and I was not at the bar serving.

“Do you have any idea how worried we have been?” Pari said while walking towards the sofa I was sitting on followed by Rohan and Armaan. I remain quiet at her question and leaned back on the sofa headrest, closing my eyes.

“What happened today?” Rohan asked me looking at the three empty bottles of whiskey and one is a half-filled bottle of it. Armaan was silent just observing me. I have learnt the excellent art of making a Poker Face.

“Pari, you know me pretty well. s**t happens and I always end up drinking or shooting up something. You shouldn’t worry yourself so much. It is not good for your health.” I replied to her after a while.

“If worrying for you is not good for my health then doing all this every day is not good for your health as well. You need to get sober. My parents have returned from their trip and have requested to meet you as soon as possible.” Pari elaborated on her concern.

This makes me sit straight and I look at Pari trying to figure out if she is just saying this to get me out of here or it is true. As soon as I realise that she is telling the truth, I start looking around the room ignoring all of them. This is a real mess. The different Bar snacks are lying around the room next to the sofa and the centre table, the three empty whiskey bottles are on the floor, on the right side of the room there is one bottle lying on the floor which was once filled with the most expensive whiskey and it is now completely smashed on the floor with some blood droplets mixed in it, lastly just next to it is the prized possession of my bar owner, the Teak Wood table of the Bar is lying down with a broken leg and smudges of blood on it. Two hours back this room was extremely neat and clean and now it messy and b****y.

Whoever would enter the room got impressed, why will they not be. The room was decorated to impress. Leather sofas, A beautiful centre table, another table on the right side of the room with table high chairs, a Mini Refrigerator, a beautiful Crystal Chandelier and the walls were the most beautiful shade of Blood Red. But all of this aside, the most mesmerizing thing in the room is the wall-size painting on my right. This painting keeps drawing me to it. This is the reason I always come to this room whenever something happens. The painting is of a lavish landscape with a cliff and a black coloured huge wolf howling at the full moon in the centre. This painting reminds me of myself. The wolf is also alone calling to his mother. The weirdest part of it is the signature on the bottom right corner. It just says, 'Queen'. I wonder who it is.

At least the mess which got created in the room did not even reach the painting. I guess I would have been more pissed if it got ruined and had to be thrown away. Realising the words Pari spoke a few minutes ago, I come out of my train of thoughts. I look at my three friends who were also looking around at the mess.

Rohan was the first one to speak. "What the hell happened here? Akira, What happened here? Who did this? Uncle and Aunty will kill us."

Oh! Yes. This bar is owned by Pari's parents and this room was specially designed for the super-elite guests. How am I going to tell them about what happened here two hours ago? Will they believe me? I don't think so. They will believe those bastards. No wonder they wish to meet me. Those bastards must have called them.

Don't get me wrong. Uncle Ram and Aunty Jiya are very sweet. They took care of me when THOSE people couldn't. But this is business. No one wishes to incur losses.

Very calmly I reply to Rohan, "Relax, Ro. I will clean this up first. Then we can go and meet Uncle and Aunty. Give me 10 minutes."

Pari gets up to say something, but looking at my dead serious expression, she backs out.

All three of them wait for me to finish cleaning the mess. I noticed Armaan looking at me a few times or should I say looking at my arms. Hopefully, he doesn't know what is happening. I will never be able to tell them the truth. They all are naive and they don't need to know anything.

As soon as I finish, I announce, "Let's go. You guys need not worry about how to explain this scenario. Leave that to me..."

Armaan interrupts me, "At least tell us what happened. You know we will never judge you for anything. You can explain to Uncle and Aunty whatever you wish, but at least tell us. We care for you. We worry about you."

As I hear the words, I turn to look at him. My eyes are moist by his words, but I have learnt the hard way not to express myself. "Armaan, I appreciate your concern, but guys please stop worrying about me. I have learnt to live on my terms. I can take care of myself. No one can change anything for me. My life will remain the same. And about what happened here, let's just say some men were getting way too frisky. I handled them. Now let's go home."