A stranger I know

I begin my day with a cigarette. 'Coz as they say, the best things are to be done when your mind is fresh.

So out I go. Its 7 am. The fresh air beats on my face, the aroma of coffee fills up the air, there is dew on the verdant greens, birds chirp, the warmth of sunlight, a puppy plays with a calf, the children get ready for school & the people get ready for a busy day.

The cigarette vendor hands me out my brand, we talk a bit while I light it up. The first cigarette makes my day, & since I don't like to be disturbed having my first drag on a new day, I walk down to a quiet street, sit like a king on a raised platform & enjoy every sweet puff down to my lungs.

For the umpteenth time in 300 Bangalore mornings, this man walks up to me, wishing me, in his own typical repertoire:

"Good morning boss!".

And this is how the conversation goes:

"Morning", I say, trying to sound polite.

"Lovely day"

"Yeah". I subconsciously reply, the cigarette stealing most of my focus.

"Coffee?"

Is that an invitation? I wonder, and give him a surreptitious glance. "I had my cup."

"I didn't", he takes a pause. "Could you give me 2 Rs?", he says, probably taking delight in my discomfiture.

"Why? Don't you earn? You seem to be in good shape to work. So why don't you?", I take a drag.

A glance on my cigarette clutching hand, "Do you have another cigarette? Could you buy me one?", he says coaxingly.

I wouldn't have declined honestly, but I cant go about buying stuff for accosting strangers. Besides, I was not carrying my wallet.

"No"

And off he walks away, as if in a stupor.

And thats the way it has been, since the past 10 months.

5 years back, as my cigarette vendor tells me, he was a responsible conscientious husband, a caring father of two & a dedicated garage owner. He started drinking around the same time, frittered away all his money on hitting the bottle & gambling, and abandoned his family. Whats worse, he got hit by a car one night & has a short term memory problem. And when I say short term, his memory lasts for a day or a half. He cannot make fresh memories. He might not even remember me tomorrow when he asks me for 2 Rs, yet again. For someone who has seen the movie "Memento", he'd understand better. Its actually hard to believe - I mean you see that kinda stuff in movies - & I did have my qualms about him faking it. But then I look him in the eye everyday, & I never once discern the slightest smidgeon of recognition.

And so it goes the next morning:

"Good morning boss!"...