Two Lives

17th January 2015

N29

02:24 AM

Endymion Road to Trafalgar Square

The bus was unusually full even at this hour. People who chose to venture out on a cold night, those with the freedom of choice. Mostly, people returning from late night weekend parties. Youngsters, like us, being free. Next stop, three friends entered, holding cans of beer. He offered one to us. That’s the thing about being young and free — not having inhibitions. He spoke of London, the US, the cities and the parties. Everyone was loud, talkative, laughing, smiling or singing — all shades of happiness. All shades of freedom. All shades of youth.

176

03:36 AM

Southampton Street / Covent Garden to King’s College Hospital

The bus was as full like the earlier one. The same laughing, singing and talking. Everyone free, young, happy and full of life. Except for him. He sat in a seat at the corner, unnoticeable among the sounds of happiness and laughter. His eyes looked tired, like they deserved a good sleep. He kept waking up though, to the sounds of freedom. He didn’t complain. He looked at them, one after another. Perhaps, he wanted to tell them. Tell them that he knew this freedom too, once. Tell them that he didn’t choose to be there at this time of the night now. But he looked at them silently. He looked at me, I smiled. He didn’t. He wasn’t there. He wasn’t free. He wasn’t young.

We got off and started walking home. Why were we outside at that hour?

We were victims. Of someone else’s choice.