STRUGGLE. His life is a synonym of struggle. 25 years old, dark skinned South-Indian with deep eyes, short disheveled hair. Standing 6 feet tall, in his mangy boots struggling to become a star that he always dreams to be.
Our adamant artist has a new struggle now. To gift a bracelet for his Girlfriend as she demanded it on her 24th Birthday, that is a week away.
The bracelet costs ten thousand rupees.
All alone, in a room distressed with his struggles. He’s in a bad mood.
A friend of his who works for an orphanage paid a visit to ask him to perform a comedy for the children of the orphanage on the coming 14th November.
“What am I to you? A clown?” he questioned in resentment.
“Are you alright? What is bothering you?” his friend asked politely.
“Nothing!” he yelled.
Staring at him his friend asked, “You look like you’re struggling with something.”
“No, I’m not” replied he rudely.
“Don’t bother denying me, I can see it. Come spend some time with those children. Make them laugh, it’s just for an hour and you’ll feel better.” saying this, his friend slowly made a move out with dismay.
“Wait” with hesitation “I’ll do it but I need money”.
“My friend it’s a charity. We’re not running an entertainment business. This is for the children, to make them happy, to keep them smile. I approached you because I thought you are a good hearted person to do this favor but sorry mate, I guess I knocked the wrong door”.
“I need money. I’m struggling with this. Just do me this favor as one friend to another and you have your clown not just for an hour, but for the entire day.” he asked with a desperate voice.
His friend with a tender smile asked, “How much?”
“Ten thousand” he said.
Nodding his head with a yes sign his friend left him.
The day has come to become the clown. He spends the whole day with the children performing all the acts he knows. He did his best to make them happy. Those little children’s smiles made him forget his struggles and his youth. He is blending with them just like a blaze with a breeze. The entire day he was there, like a child.
He felt like it is his happiest day ever. Sunrise to Sunset, it went down like in a single blink.
Time limits everything.
Now that he’s happy and got his pay.
Walking down the lane with moolah pockets, “Happ(a)y” he breathe.
But, deep inside he sense something’s wrong. The happiness he had minutes ago slowly starting to fade away. Something’s bothering his mind. Yes, his heart.
Now starts another struggle.
“Wait. Are we doing this right?” asked his heart.
“Yes indeed” replied his mind.
Heart: “No, we’re not. We don’t take from orphanages, we give”.
Mind: “Who cares, we needed money”.
Heart: “And for what? To buy the gift that she demanded, why don’t you just tell her that we cannot afford it? ”.
Mind: “Come on, we deserve this. We didn’t steal or beg. We artist, we perform and we get paid and it doesn’t matter from where or from whom”.
Heart: “This is not fair. Those little children’s money won’t do any good to us.”
With the struggle goes on, way back to his place he lost a piece of his heart and a peace of mind.
The struggle continued till her birthday.
Finally he fulfilled her demand and gifted her. She was so happy, hugged him and kissed him love. Poor lady didn’t know what struggles he’d been going through inside.
He smiled and left the place pretending to be happy for her. Hiding his blandness beneath those deep eyes.
You cannot have two ‘a’s to pronounce HAPPY. He’s slowly learning that fact.
Finally, he listens to his heart. He realized that he cannot endure some struggles. Struggles like these, where the heart contradicts the mind. It eats us.
He decided to return the money.
Heart: “Now, that’s my man!!”
Mind: “Never-mind”.
Now this time the struggle is for a job for repaying the money to the orphanage.
Luckily he found one. In a local bar as a standup comedian, during mid nights. It’s a 3 months contract, 5 thousand per month.
In the day he used to rehearse and in night he used to perform. The audience, one day they threw money one day empty bottles.
An artist who wishes to become a star and shine like a dazzler ended up in the midst of drunken, humiliating people who show no respect to the art and the artist. He felt like he’s a Jew among gentiles.
Bearing the unpredictable nature of his audience, he performed like a Pro. Laughing and jumping but deep inside he’s crying. Withstanding this struggle just to repay the money for the orphanage, he continued to perform.
The day has come when the 3 months contract ended. He repaid the orphanage’s money as a donation.
Down the lane he walks alone back to his shelter with a lost and found piece of his heart and peace of mind.
“Happy” he breathe.
Now that this great struggle has ended, there’s always room for new struggles.
The owner of the bar called him again. He said it’s important that he shall see him once. Determined not to work there again he stopped by the bar, as the manager said it’s important.
Waiting in the lobby avidly, biting his nails.
The manager in tuxedo gently walked towards him with a neat smile he spoke, “Well, nice to see you again, young man”.
“Nice to see you too, sir” he acknowledged.
They shook hands.
Then the manager continued, “I have something to say to you. Last week a big time film maker happens to stop by our bar. His car got stuck and he’s got nowhere to go in the midnight. He stayed in the bar till his car got repaired. I offered him a drink and he watched your performance. He was so impressed and he wants to offer you a role in his next project”
Our hero here with his heart in his mouth doesn’t know what to speak but simply gazing so attentively to the manager.
“I thought he was joking but then again he called me in the morning asking your whereabouts. He gave his address and told you to meet him. So, if you’re interested you can meet him” completed the manager.
His heart ran over with joy and not knowing how to react he hugged the manager so tightly and with deep exciting throat he uttered “Thank you, good sir!”
The joy has overflowed as tears in his eyes rolled out. Nothing shined so brightly, not even the stars on that day but his face.
He left the place with his head held up for another struggle. This time he’s in love with this STRUGGLE.