??? ~
A cattle had walked into a den, filled with dogs.
He walked with gentle strides as if his feet would pierce through the ground any moment. The rain had turned violent, it was drowning all of my thoughts. Or maybe it was the sour wine I had drowned myself in. I wanted something to cure this weariness in my body. Hence he had become my subject of interest.
This man would not last one moment in this town. If I was generous I would say one more day before he is eaten by a lunatic or a dog.
His mannerism was of a person who lived too carelessly and peacefully. Hoping to see the light in a world where everyone was blind. I was quite jealous. I aspired to be this hallucinatory.
He walked into the arbour, gaining a shade from the rain. The garments he wore, drenched in the rain stuck to his body. He showed concern on his face, too carelessly. How different must our lives be, for me to be this meddlesome in his mundane routines of the night? Despite staying in this inn for a week I had no recollection of him walking by this inn. Had this been his first visit? Who is he? Where is he from? I had to stop myself from asking too many questions about him.
He looked unfamiliar with own body like a puppet was trying to become the puppeteer, unknowing of its every move. But, I must say he moved like a doll. Inhumanely pretentious. Just who is he?
His hair curled all over his body, reaching the end of his spine. He looked around to find something. There were quite a few people around him watching him closely. He was still not aware of their presence.
If I had to make a prediction, he was the eldest of two sons. The younger one took responsibility of his father's business. He was the softer and sweeter always inviting danger unknowingly. Hmmm.... Maybe he had a caring mother or sister? His father had probably been disappointed in him. Perhaps a betrayal? Or maybe irresponsibility of him to handle their business?
Why am I having such thoughts? Was my boredom truly getting at me? Is this the first step to lunacy.
Disregarding more of my concerns I observed his actions closely.
He looked at the porcelain vase that was kept in front an abandoned house.
Even I took a notice of that vase before. When I walked here, it caught my eye. At first glance it seemed to be made by a skilled craftsmen. A copper vase of such height was uncommon, it looked admirable from afar.
But when I noticed its surface, it had few cracks, was degraded in quality and had no distinctive beauty to appreciate. No one had to wonder why it was abandoned. There was not even a flower that hideous, to held by it.
He rushed towards it and picked up the tray from the bottom of the vase and looked at it with utmost curiosity. His face dropped. Confusion was painted across it.
A painting hmm... If he were a painting, the painter must been a truly miserable person. To even imagine a person like him.
His confusion travelled throughout his body and he gently placed the tray down. And sat next to with his hands on his head. His hair covered his face, obstructing my view.
I got up from my seat. "Observing a stranger could only fuel this much of my curiosity, I suppose," I straightened my rob and moved away from the balcony. "I have better things to do," I moved on from the sight of that strange man.
Even the way he walked had piqued my interests. His body would move as if it did not recognize the person inside it. He was an interesting piece of information to my eyes, nothing else.
I turned away from my table and walked towards the entrance of the inn. A good night of sleep, and a walk in the rain would calm my thoughts. There are many things I should sort out before this game, begins.
I hand the innkeeper the money and headed in the opposite direction from that foul metallic scent. Is the that stranger wounded perhaps? It was hard to confirm from my peripheral vision as he had been wearing red garments.
"You seemed to be a respectable man, the rain has stopped yet why are standing here all alone?" A distant voice blurted out.
"Brother, I suppose he is waiting for someone. Tsk tsk you know if you keep standing here like this don't you think we will have a desire to look at you?" said another man and it continued "You know you should smile at us, we are giving you company. What if a wild bear had come here and ripped you into shreds? We are keeping you safe."
"Oi oi, why aren't you speaking. Is there something in your mouth? Are you that restless already?" I then heard a thud. The men had lifted him up from the ground. A box had fallen next to him, it had something on its surface, a marking of an eye. This situation was getting too interesting to look away from. What will that man reply to this nonsense? Will he scream at them, scold them or hmm.... Maybe entertain them?
I looked at that scene. His body was shaking from cold. His face unknowingly made a an expression, too tender to look at, lips parted and eyes enchanting, begging for a glance.
This was inviting for those people. After all, their concern was not 'if he would like it', it was could if they do anything they want without being reprimanded. This was the world he had, perhaps not yet seen.
"You must understand,the Gods and Goddesses bestowed knowledge upon on us-" Huh? What? "-they then told us that our desires are causes of destruction. Now, now, we all are young men full of desires,we all can't control it right? If we do not look at you, our desires won't be fulfilled. If we do not touch you, this discomfort in our heart and body will trouble us. If such a beauty is in front of us is it wrong to admire it? Is it wrong to fulfill the needs of our youth? So please adjust alright, just for tonight. Lust is one of the best friends of youth. And our desires have to be fulfilled you should understand.."
"...HAHHAHAHAHA What? What the fuck was that?" I had to see the face of the man who uttered these words. I walked closer to those people. About few men had gathered around one foreign scholar...hmmm... Did he even understand what was said to him?