Business, Pleasure and Pain

This is the thing about being young ambitious semi-professional. You work hard and play even harder. And boys play the ball no matter what.

It has been a busy day at work. You’ve been running around to get things done before lunch. Some kind of rush when you want to pack and catch a flight. Well, you rush for a quick lunch, come back knock of pending work, what you can’t finish you postpone it. Off you leave for your workshop.

It has been a while since you’ve been working. You’ve even travelled abroad for business. Walking through the posh lobby of a five star deluxe isn’t a big deal for you anymore. But this one is different.

You sit through the session. You’ve your share of boredom, your share of limelight and sumptuous supper. But then you want to break free. Stay aloof and move out to the poolside.

It is quiet. Unmoved empty easy-chairs, calm pool surface disturbed the passing by breeze; good old skies are clouded but are kind enough to give way to the shy moon. Then you realize, it wasn’t too long before you sat down right there, singing with your mates and her. Someone strummed the guitar and so long the chords were right, you mixed your drunken happy voice with plenty others that were trying to sing.

You can’t remember when that unsaid, unseen space barrier broke, you remember sleepless night spend looking at the calm poolside. You remember those long five star lobbies that allow you to watch someone long enough before they disappear. You remember coy little stares and glances. You realize you probably know this place as well as you knew your school or junior college. You remember karaoke night at the bar at the merci of the singer. You remember tiny blank notepad and sharpened pencils kept next to the phones, you realize words are missing. You walk around without key to any room. You see people leaving in their cabs and you remember when you waved.

Sweet aroma of the earth smells familiar but it isn’t raining yet. There is none to share last one in your pack, there is none to raise your last sip to. Those chairs are still unmoved, untouched- just like they are supposed to be. Just like you were supposed to leave them, perhaps you should have.

It was business then it is business now. There were sparks and butterflies then there is aftermath and perspective now.

You had a resolve then - you’ve one now.

This is the deal with semi-pro, it is still business as usual (maybe little unusual)

Neo.