God has a Sense of Humor

He had never thought that this would be the way that he'd return home, sitting in a fancy chauffer driven sedan. Especially considering the fact that it was not at all the way he had left the place – with just a bag full of old clothes on his back, and a heart heavy with memories.

"God really does have a sense of humor," he thought to himself, and once more it felt to him as though the cheers of the crowd followed him.

It was his second act as a standup comic, the first time in his old city – and by God, had the city grown! The people still were the same; well, almost. Some people do change an awful lot over the span of seven years after all.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Evening. I stand here in front of you, not to show you my wit tonight, but God's sense of humor. I never thought he possessed one, and by golly, was I surprised!"

His opening lines still rang clear in his ears, the applause and laughter still beating on his eardrums. It felt so different in the smooth silence of the car, right after the tremendous cheers he faced back at the auditorium.

"When I left this city, I had promised myself that I'd never come back, and I'm sure God heard that. I think that's why he's made this city what it is now, raising it from the dumps to the beautiful metropolis we know today – all while I was gone. He made me miss it all, and I think that was just for kicks! Something like, God's way of saying 'Haha, Gotcha!' "

He had left in rags. He had left a broken man, feeling as though he had been deceived by a good friend. He had left with a ragged bag on his shoulders and a torn Rs. 100 note in his pocket. He had left nothing behind, for everything that he had owned had been lost or taken away from him. He was nothing more than an exile that day, boarding the last train, never to return.

No food, no shelter, no clothing, that was his condition that chilly winter day. Food, clothing and shelter, the three basic needs of all men. The three basic necessities, without which no man can ever survive.

"Well, the Big Man Up There has a funny system for that too. For nine months, he gives us food through a tube, delivered right into our tummies – no hassles of chewing or swallowing even! He gives us a wonderful home, warm and cozy, that doubles up as a Jacuzzi all the time we're in there. And the best part, we don't even need clothes in there. We can walk around buck naked, and still not care about it, or be one bit uncomfortable. And just when we start to get comfortable, (which I think happens around the ninth month of our stay), we're pushed through a tube, and out into the world, and forced to worry about things like digestion, and breathing, and jobs, and who's got better clothes, or better cars, and loan installment payments for all the things we couldn't afford but wanted anyway. Well, what kind of a system is that, really?"

He had never been free from the memories. It had always gnawed at his mind, calling out to him. Like that old friend, who's been half forgotten, and you're curious about how that friend is doing these days, and what he's been up to all these days.

"You can drop me off there. My house is just around the corner, I can walk the rest of the way," he said and stepped out of the car. The evening smoke and the constant shrieks of the cars on the road greeted him.

He recognized the little restaurant where he used to eat, every night for three years before he fled; the park where he used to go for his after dinner smoke, every night, without fail. This night too, he took out one of his favourite cigarettes. As he lit it, a stranger approached him.

"Excuse me, do you have a light?" he asked with a smile. He was a stranger, and yet he recognized him.

The cigarette was lit, and the man walked away. He smiled at the city, and the city embraced him back. It was good to be back home.

This time, there were no jokes by the Big Man Up There.

~~~~~

Been away from the Blogging world for a while now, haven't been in touch with writing even, what with the exams going on and all. They got over today, so I had to write something – couldn't wait, like always. This one might have come off a bit sloppy and/or rusty, apologies for that. I wanted to finish the post as soon as possible.

Nice to see a steady string of visitors even in my absence, thanks so much for that!

Thanks to Juhi for the "This blog Measures up" award.

 I'd like to pass on the award to Arv, Harshita, Isha, Siya, and Jagjit.

Hoping to write more soon, see you guys around J

***

Image Courtesy baratunde

34 comments :: God has a Sense of Humor

  1. What a wonderful post... u ask my why!!

    Well... coz it has all the elements of life in it... I loved the second para in italics... I somtimes feel how you imagine, think and write all these things...

    Everything is real abt this post.. feels like ME, feels like Home...

    :) You are back and I am smiling...

    Oh! BTW... thanks a lot for the award... ;) and the way u insert pics in the post..similarly just add a pic and then drag it to the place u want to use it at... and then release ur left click and the pic will be places in the middle...

    Hv fun...coz exams r over...

  2. @ Harshita... Well, it's good to be back!

    Really glad that you liked the post, and more importantly could actually relate with it too.

    About the post, I've been listening to a lot of standup comedy these days, so in a way you can say that it was inspired from there... especially the cynicism of George Carlin.

    Thanks for letting me know how to put the pic there, did that...

    And yes, I intend to enjoy these end of exams to the fullest extent, although I've got my internship going on :P Cheers...

  3. hey I am third third third :P

    Welcome back :)
    How was your xams..? hope all is fine.
    :)
    Yeah, God and his sense of humor...! We the objects of humor...! lol.

  4. welcome back and wat a return :)

    this post is all Arnab style :)

    kewl one mate...

    take care... cheers...

  5. Hey..finally ur back..

    Loved the post.. I like the philosophies.. the style is good..the narrative and all..but personally I felt it was not very gripping..which is weird to comment on Your blog..but You said it in the end.. :)

  6. Well Arnab...Welcome back...
    Good to see ur new post..well today itself i hv written in comment ..tht i m looking fwd for ur post..
    dude..
    u always rock...
    i m serious...
    u written beautifully... u knw the way of life... n hw we move on...
    i think ths all is ingredients for cooking..a nice dish which is called Life...

    very well written...
    hv fun

    Cheers :)
    Pallav

  7. good to see u back yeah!!

    and this post is really really heartfelt as always :)
    now since ur exams r over, we r hoping for a rock on :D

    n congos the award and the winners 2 :D

  8. hey Arnab, good to c u back again....forgot that u had exams!!!! Hope u fared well! And this was again a nice post and good narration. God does have a sense of humor....god tussi great ho...!!

  9. This wan't sloppy at all :). Especially liked the text in italics.
    God has a sense of humor, but then Devil isn't far behind either :). That makes living this life even more fun :).

  10. @ Diya... The exams, I dunno about that. I'm just glad that they're over now, and I don't have to think about exams for the next 2 months.

    Even I'm pretty sure God likes to play his little jokes on us... otherwise, wouldn't he get bored??

    :P Cheers...

  11. @ Arv... Thanks a lot man. Glad you enjoyed the style of this one. Hope to write some more, although I'm still tired after the exams...

    Cheers man...

  12. @ Niti... I know it wasn't gripping, it was very hurried. I just wanted to get it on the blog as fast as possible... not the best way to get things done apparently, hehe...

    Thanks for the honest comment :) Cheers...

  13. @ Pallav... Thanks a lot man. It feels good to be back, although it'd be better if I could write something better than this one...

    Cheers...

  14. @ Richa... I hope that comes soon myself, but then again, it'd have to wait for me to get back to the way I was. I'm still surprisingly tired, even though the exams are over now...

    Cheers...

  15. @ Aruna... Thanks a lot. The exams were fine, the best bit about them being the fact that they're over now :D Cheers...

  16. @ Brown Phantom... I'm glad you liked it, but personally speaking, I do think it's sloppy.

    Interesting viewpoint there man, I'm wondering how it didn't strike me once. Thanks dude!

    Cheers...

  17. This was like wowwww! :)

    It is just so amazing how you look beyond the obvious-es. I see all your stories have a 'something there' in the end.

    I just l.o.v.e. the way you write. Like, reeeally!! :) :)

    Oh, and thanks SO much for the award!!! :D :D

  18. @ Dr. Acula... Thanks a lot for that, although I personally didn't like this story all that much. Too hurried, and I'll try not to do it this way in future... see, I learn from my mistakes... often :P

    Hey, how come a change in your name eh? Been listening to Mitch Hedberg, have ya??

    Cheers...

  19. Hmmmm.....so you do know of my thoughts on this one right ?? Pray let the 12 minute thing not happen again.

    Though, I did love the text in italics. :)

    And thank you SOOOO much for the award. :D

    Cheers

  20. Good one!!
    Coincidently, I read this sitting t home.:)
    I've come home after a period of 6 months and it sure does feel great to be a part of the environment that still remembers u and accepts u as u are, even if u keep away for a long time!

  21. You deserved the award !! :)
    It's one. I'm sleepy! Goodnight!
    Take Care!

  22. Yeah, dats a good take on the issue, we would have been bored otherwise. :)
    Great imagination Arnab. :P :)

  23. @ Bondgal... Yeah, I do know your views about this. Mine are quite aligned to yours as well, and I've learnt my lesson with this one. No more 12 minute writeups are gonna make it to the blog.

    About the award, well you deserved it :) you're welcome... cheers...

  24. @ Akanksha... I somewhat know what you mean. Although I've never been away from home for 6 months, I've seen people who have stayed away from home, sometimes for years at a time. Although the experience is second hand, I do know what it must be like...

    Glad you enjoyed the post. Hope I can write some more soon... cheers...

  25. @ Cursed... Thanks a lot :) Little late in coming, so I'd rather say Good Morning. That'd be more fitting, don't you think?

    Cheers...

  26. @ Diya... Double edged sword of humor, is it? Both sides taking the fun out of the jokes being played... nice! :D

  27. I liked the way this was written - two different time periods written parallely. Great rags to riches story :-)

  28. @ Shweta... Thanks a lot. Glad that you liked it :) Cheers, keep blogging...

  29. Oh this post was amazing.. but the end somehow was anticlimactic I guess I was waiting for something else to happen :)

  30. I've been reading quite a lotta blogs lately..Happened to step into yours...[hi!:)]

    I love the way you shuttle between the mans thoughts and his show...made me feel like i was watching a movie of somekind..

    short. goof flow. well written. :)

  31. did i just say goof? i meant..well u know what. :P

  32. @ Winnie the Poohi... Thanks a lot. And I can see that you're not a fan of anticlimax :D

    Sorry for the disappointment that came along with this. Hope you enjoy the rest of the stuff here more though...

    Cheers...

  33. @ mon espace... Welcome to Technicolor Collage. Hope you like it here. Thanks a lot for dropping by, and the comment... see ya around...

    Cheers...

  34. @ mon espace... and yes, I do know what you meant there. :P