Afshaan Karim

The prof walks into class, swaying slightly. The usual restlessness is replaced by dull shifting and moving as all of us take our places. While the mic is tested and the attendance sheet is passed around, there's an unusual murmur rippling through class. "Something's different today" says archit. Ignoring his observation, i try to work on being invisible so that i can catch up on sleep when suddenly, he jumps up and declares he's drunk! That's what they're all talking about. He breaks into a pathetic story about the unsuccessful stint in the industry, his hopes being crushed, his marriage not working out. Already very comfortable, some of us click our tongues sympathetically from time to time to express our (albeit fake)solidarity . He rambles for what seems like hours and now it's beginning to seem a little comical how we ever looked up to this person. Finally, he stops weeping, looks at our disgusted faces and realises at that moment, it's time to leave..