machi and his woes!

people talk to share-anger, happiness, dejection........yesterday night, my bengali friend from across the corridor caught my arm and cleared his throat to express those " twitched eye-brow" expressions stamped on his fore-head. he is one of those thinking kinds who have an opinion on almost all subjects concerning a normal man.
on first thought, i wanted to get away as soon as possible. it was 2.30am and i didn't want to break the continuity of the novel that i'm reading. well, after trying my best to free my hand, i finally submitted-preparing myself for any kind of wisdom that could possibly flow out from his mouth. i have met only 2 kinds of bengalis- those who eat fish and more fish and those who drink, smoke, snort and make life paradise(they have fish anyway....)
a little high, this friend of mine whom we affectionately call machi had tasted a few beers in the evening. after parading myself for a couple of times in the corridor, building up my expectations, he finally let his tongue loose.
chumi-another alias of his-expreseed his deep regret at his inability to drink anything his entire life.
" yaar tere ko chadh gayi hai." i smirked.
he squeezed my hand in his giant fists and looked at me very innocently. he added, "we bloody bengalis have to eat everything- from a cake to fruit to water and wine."
"yaar tu so ja."
"no, listen to me man. i have a point." he demanded.
"alrite." in the last couple of years at college i have realised that every drunk guy has a point. they seem to get intellectual enlightenement and wisdom only after midnight.

"i didnt drink beer today."
"hain? then what did u have?"
"i had beer. but i didnt drink it man. i ate it. i eat water. i eat soda. we bengalis cant drink.......man...beer khabo....jal khaabo....man, its frustrating."
......and i had stereotyped people who repetitively used 'man' as drunk. this guy was out of the league. he wasnt drunk. he had gnawed at his beer.
to add to his woes,i started laughing uncontrollably. he said," yaar endley, you think of my situation man. i want to drink something. i want to desperately try drinking something."
he indeed was high. i led him to his room and subsequently his bed and convinced him to go to sleep. " But i still can't drink anything man!" i heard him shout as i closed the door behind.
i deeply sympathise with you dear friend. i tried my best to convey my helplessness at his situation.
and then i laughed..........he is the man who can never drink.

i have many friends who belong to his part of the nation, its a pity i could never strain my muscles before.....