As soon as his office was over, the act of standing at its exit and choosing between the two turns — left and right was a daily dilemma for him. The left turn led to a bar where he drank while the ‘right’ was where his home was with all its homely joys and responsibilities. 

After the brief dilemma of a few minutes which involved a fleeting introspection into the life that he was living, the people he had disappointed and responsibilities he was escaping, he took the left turn and went ahead with his drinking routine. 

In a series titled Meri Pyaari Zindagi, the World Health Organization Regional Office for South East Asia’s (WHO SEARO) has collaborated with Gaon Connection for a social campaign to promote awareness against the ruining effects of alcohol. The campaign involves videos, audio stories and memes that narrate the experiences of real-life former alcoholics as well fictitious protagonists who won the battle with alcoholism. 

Also Read: Some gulps of beer and a lifetime of guilt

‘Sharma ji’ this audio story’s protagonist was a chronic alcoholic who had diverted his finances to satisfy his addiction. 

Alcohol and escapism

A plate full of crunchy pakoras (fritters) awaited Sharma ji at the bar along with his daily dose of alcohol. The realisation of failing in his relationships was so intense after having the first peg that the next peg was drunk in a single gulp to wash the guilt down his throat.

From all his failed commitments and promises, what bothered him the most was his son Anshul’s repetitive reminders about submitting his coaching fees. 

After a few more pegs, all these worries and failings vanished and Sharma ji was no more affected by what happened around him and hardly remembered the conversations he had with people. 

Also Read: Alcoholism can be conquered and here’s ‘how’ Bhushan did it

His wife had almost given up on him but the sight of his son’s helplessness urged her to confront him about his recklessness to spend his earnings on alcohol.

“How do you plan to afford his coaching fees when you just drain all your earnings on the alcohol,” she asked her husband.

The question infuriated Sharma ji and he threw away his dinner on the dining table and had a fit of rage. He even taunted his son for asking for a coaching fee. “What do you think you are going to accomplish by going to this coaching centre, it’s a waste of money,” he blasted.

A dejected son and a reformed father

While returning to his house in a drunken state, the story’s protagonist noticed an unfamiliar darkness at the entrance of his house. It was hours past sunset and the light bulb at the entrance had not been switched on.

What was even more peculiar was the cacophony of the crowd consisting of his neighbours who had come to motivate his wailing wife. 

It was too much chaos for him to bear in his drunken state. On seeing him in the house, his wife shouted at him that her son had not returned home that evening.

It was a first. Never before had his son been out for so long without informing at home.

Also Read: Sometimes the only right answer is NO

One of the neighbours informed him in a voice reeking of shallow concern — “Brother, I searched for him everywhere, he hasn’t been found. I even checked the hospitals. He is nowhere to be seen,” he said.

Sharma ji went blank for two minutes and then sprang into action. He washed his face with cold water and resolved to find his son. 

He went to his son’s room where he found his computer to be switched on with the screen flashing a mail sent by him to his coaching centre’s teacher.

“Sir, I want to study a lot but I belong to a poor family which is why my father has not been able to submit the fees,” it read.

It was a lie.

Sharma ji realised that his son had lied about poverty because he could not think of a better reason to tell his teacher.He went straight to his coaching centre where he found his son sitting in a dark corner with his hands covering his face. 

“But what if he wouldn’t have found Anshul,” is a question that haunts Sharma ji to the present day.

Also Read: “De-addiction is a process not an event”: It took Hemant Giri years to find his way out of an alcoholic existence

“I will never let alcohol come between me and my son. Never again,” he promised to himself and held Anshul in his arms and took him home. 

The 12-year-old boy was happy to receive such affection from his father that evening.