PART 1


CHAPTER 1:

"I am going to California." What would you assume if someone said so? You would probably think, "He must be going there to achieve something big or, he must want a better education." But it's different for me. I am just trying to run away from my past into a better future.

I came out of the airport in California and started to look for my uncle.

"Hi, kiddo! How's it going? " There he is, my irritating uncle.
"Nothing much is happening, and please, I am not a kid anymore." I tried to sound as irritated as I could, but he never takes the hint which didn't change even now.
"Yeah, whatever you say kiddo!"

Don't act as you understand me when you won't act on it!!

He took me to the parking lot, where his car was parked. He started talking to me while loading the bags.

"I am sorry about your Mom and Dad... How is your brother anyway?"
"Please don't bring him into this conversation. You know I hate him after what has happened."
"So what exactly happened?" He asked, and as usual, he had no sense of timing.
"Nothing, they just got a divorce."
"No, I am asking for the specifics."
"What? Are you planning to make a documentary on my parents' divorce now?"
This was followed by a minute's silence. I could feel the atmosphere getting thicker and thicker. So, I decided to break the silence.
"It's just that talking about the past to you won't change anything. Let's focus on what to do from now on instead, all right?" was my follow up.

"Anyway, did you have a girlfriend back there?"

There you go, he started the interview once again.
"Huh? No, I want to avoid that kind of thing, especially since I have started high school. Anyways, girls in relationships end up pregnant, and we end up conducting fundraisers." was my reply.

In my mind, I knew that getting a girlfriend for a loner like me was nothing more than a joke. How can one have a girlfriend when he is not even surrounded by friends...

I was brought back to reality by my uncle's voice.

"I see, you have not lost your mature outlook on life. You are self-conscious and logical as ever."

It seemed that we had finished loading the bags, and had already exited the airport tolls.
What he said reminded me of what people used to call me; 'An awkward king'.

"Well, some people think that being self-conscious is awkward," I replied.

"No, it's not. I think it's cool and mature."

"But, you are an old geezer."

"Ouch! That hurt you know!"

He was more than twice as old as me, but still a child from the inside.

He is careless, socially active, and pretty popular among his colleagues too. I don't understand how can a person be so happy even after not having much freedom in life. He is chained by society's values and rules still, he is happy.

"Everybody is different. They have different perspectives for different situations. Let's take 'human rights' as an example."

That was the most mature topic you could think of?

"Many people believe," he continued, "that a person's right extends to the point till one doesn't hurt the sentiments of others. While other pessimistic people agree to the fact that human rights aren't 'free' and they will always have some restrictions, no matter what we do."

"I agree with the one you mentioned first," I replied sounding convinced.
"Woah, so, you can be optimistic sometimes, " my uncle was shocked to the point where he lost control of the car.

"But the truth is," I continued, while ignoring his inconsiderate comment, "people keep hurting others while growing mentally and emotionally. So, should they not be allowed to even exist?" I said it very...