The room was full of smoke; from cigarettes, pipes, the occasional marijuana for the night. The Verve playing in the background on an old dusty recorder and bottles of beer all around a dormitory room. All signs of a frat party; Joel’s 18th birthday.
It has been 2 years since he settled in London for further studies into business organization and a long 4 years since his 14th birthday – the milestone setter for his life. A date of discovery, of celebration, of intimacy and pure newfound and lost love. Luckily for him, the Fellings were a busy family. No frequent visits to see how their boy was doing. Just a weekly telegram and telephone call. No wonder he was happy here!
On entering university, the first year was reserved for getting to know the town, the studies and the people – oh, the people. Welcoming, affectionate, free-thinkers! He thought to himself, ‘Maybe, someone will come by my life’s path in this colorful new world, and I will be happier”. London’s perpetual cool & damp climate forced white collared newbies to head to the pub every evening for a warm drink – soothe their throats and their minds!
College going folk always need more spending power than is granted to them. To connect the bridge, a post-study job is the way to go. A splendid spot at one of the local bars opened up, for bartender’s assistant. Joel thought, “This is perfect. I will get to learn how to be a good bartender, and I will also get to meet some new people. College folk are as boring as it gets anyway”. Turns out, his fellow students would rather let life pass them by and rather pore into their books every day. Randy, the owner of the bar, a big burly fella, interviewed Joel. Much less of an interview, more of a simple conversation to gauge whether the kid could even hold 4 mugs at a time.
Got the job! Now all we have to manage, is not to drop anything that mustn’t be dropped. At the slow age of 17, Joel began learning about earning and saving. Smart spending, better futures. There is a lot to learn about business, outside of business school, clearly. A few months in, one-night Joel was cleaning up the bar after a long night. Enter: Keenan.
Two bottles dropped onto the floor disrupting Randy’s snooze, because Joel realized his feelings never went away. They had only hit snooze for 3 years. The same golden hair, dark brown eyes, and the unmissable jawline. I am sure, if there was a movie version of this, we would have violins playing in the background. Keenan smiled politely and sat his bags down. He had heard through the pipelines that Joel was working at Randy’s and decided to pay a visit, because the sparks from three long, long years ago, never went out from his end too!
Thus, began this little love story of sorts, again. Keenan, with some more courting experiences than Joel of course, introduced Joel to a whole new world – of free thought, free expression. A colorful gateway to life. They partied hard, worked even harder. Joel realized bartending is his passion and slowly began training himself – after hours was reserved for cocktail experimenting, and life experimenting, the latter with the love of his life.
Fast forward 8 months to Joel’s 18th birthday and the smelly dorm room; J&K’s party room. The night Keenan proposed to Joel – a double celebration was in order. Magnus arranged for a cake, Zeke, for a bottle of champagne. They reveled the night away. The next morning, luckily, both remembered their promise to live a life of happiness together. All was right in this part of the world at least. The next week, was a small celebration, a rejoicing of their love made permanent. A telegram was sent to the Felling House in Bristol informing the family of Joel’s life and the turn of events until now.
Father James fumed for days together. Mother tried her best to calm him down, while still holding disgust in her heart. It doesn’t matter that her son found love, it mattered where. And for her, it was a sin. They sent back a telegram, after deep thought, banishing him from the grounds and the inheritance. Joel complied with this, and accepted his fate thereafter. He had to make it on his own; whether big or small.
Luckily, education had been paid off, and now his life was in his hands. His strong man, by his side. Devotion does not only have to be for God, thought Joel. He had love, hope and the respect of those around him. He had his parents in his heart, and that is all mattered.
After all, we all love our children, despite our differences. So, they will come around. Not today, not tomorrow, someday.
“They will come around”, he kept saying to himself.
Written By Anisha Masand
Part 3 of the story on 30th Oct ’20
Week 42, Oct ’20
