He had always been a
mediocre child. Allan Burns, the youngest of the lot. His parents were doctors
and taught medicine in A class university. His three elder brothers were
achievers. Andrew the oldest was an athlete and played competitive hockey. Arthur had taken after his parents and was studying to get into the top
medical school there was. Adam was an A grader and wanted to be a space
scientist. But Allan was a mediocre. He had no ambitions, was an average
student, played poor baseball, and lived a mediocre life. He was happy.
As time went by and
his siblings left one after the other to pursue their dreams, Allan stayed.
Someone needed to look after his aging parents he would reason. It made sense
because renting elsewhere was expensive. When the time came Allan took up a job
because that was what everyone did. It was a mediocre job and paid decent. It
was enough to pay his bills and save some. Allan loved his life. He neither
felt the urge to achieve something extra ordinary nor felt the pressure because
his siblings were going places. He called it contentment.
Soon his hormones raged,
and Allan felt the need to have a partner to share his life with. A charming
boy like him deserved a nice girl. A girl who could live a mediocre life with
ease. It was odd to find someone though. Girls looked for go-getters and Allan was
not chasing anything. He was happy. But
love is a funny thing. It certainly is.
Allan met Rhonda at a
bar. She fell for his charm and he fell for her confidence. It was instant.
They were spotted together often, and Allan loved her company. She made him
laugh and he was always happy around her. Rhonda was pretty, intelligent, had a
great career, and she loved with passion. But she was different too. Rhonda was
a go-getter and she wanted Allan to make something of his life too.
Allan was motivated to
dream big, to have an ambition. Taking Rhonda’s advice, Allan signed up for a certificate
course in computers. He decided to take a break from his job and focus on his schoolwork.
Software industry was growing, and a certificate would have given him that
perfect start to a thriving career. He worked hard each day. Mornings became
nights and fall turned into winter. Three months had passed. Rhonda was by Allan’s
side supporting him. His family cheered for him. But something was strange.
Allan was not happy.
Project work, coding, grades did not make him happy. He was suffocated. Trapped
in a maze. He missed his old life. He missed his routine. He dropped out of the
course and went back to his old job for an even lesser pay. He broke up with
Rhonda because she did not make him happy anymore. His old ways made him happy
and Rhonda did not fit in the puzzle anyway.
Breaking up did not
hurt him and he moved on with ease. He met Madge his new co-worker. She seemed
to love the mediocre job that he loved so much. She enjoyed the routine as much
as he did. She had never been an achiever much herself. She was content as was
he. She liked Allan and fell for his charm. They married. She fit the puzzle, perfectly.
Allan knew he did not
love her, but he loved mediocrity.
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| PC - Rakesh Rana |
