A Loose Generation

“Aajkal yay generation toh bas gaanja aur vodka hi maarti hai”, quipped the anonymous uncle, a retired professor from St. Stephen’s college. “Sir, mainey bhi ek quarter chadha kar rakhi hai,” I had replied after the introductory presentations had been exchanged and the curiosity in each of the other had been quenched by the introductions thus made. The anonymous uncle had a resigned look on his face upon hearing my reply and averted further conversation by introducing his companion on the table for the day, a certain businessman. I was on my way to exit the place, before we had struck conversation after the anonymous uncle had commented on my statement made to a waiter who had rushed after me in a bid to fulfil the bill raised by him from our table. I had explained to the waiter of my willingness to pay the bill, but had added that I could not do so earlier, even though I had mentioned to another waiter that I had an outstanding bill raised against me by a waiter with a tattoo on his neck. The anonymous uncle had repeated my statement with a certain waggishness after he had overheard me saying the same to that waiter. I smiled and turned to him and explained the entire scenario, an exchange of conversations had occurred which had obligated the necessary exchange of introductions. 

Thus introducing me to his companion on the table, the anonymous uncle remarked that I was speaking to a businessman who by the gold ornamenting his figure at various places had exuded a wealthiness around him, but who remained taciturn in order to exhibit an air of businessman like solemnity, or so I had felt. I grabbed an opportunity to chat up with the two elderly gentleman, even as my friends were waiting for me right outside, expecting me to leave with them. Though they must have grown quite irked of the wait, as they had found their way back into the place looking for me, and later, after finding me, had joined me on the same table as the two elderly gentlemen. The two gentlemen offered coffee and cigarettes to us, which my friends willingly lapped up even as they lent all their ears in willing participation to the ensuing discussion.

Looking around the table, the businessman soon found the attentiveness from those present conducive enough to goad him into speaking about the state of affairs presently. He began with the slow governmental procedures which act as impediments to his desire to execute his business swiftly and more efficiently. He hinted at corruption, bribery and a degradation of the times. Discussions ventured into the current political atmosphere, anna’s attempts at eradicating corruption, the selfish nature of human beings, and the self-centredness of the present generation. Joining the anonymous uncle’s earlier banter regarding the amoral younger generation, he added that the girls of today run only after sheer money. He explained that he had hundreds of people working under him, including several women, who for few hundreds or thousands, could be called anytime by him. He time and again uttered in unison with the anonymous uncle, about the morals of the younger generation that had come loose just like the pajamas of a person who has experienced a tremendous weight loss in quite a short duration. 

“I have accounts on almost all sites. Young girls like those you see around will strip on cam for me. Such a loose generation this is. I can make them do anything just with the money that I have”, the businessman spoke with an indignation dried out of its righteousness. 

We smoked his cigarettes and left after expressing all our attentive eagerness to hear him speak.

Image from here.