The Third Cigarette

Sunday Afternoon, September

The message he received was "Thanks", an unnecessary headache, he thought. The issue is that not getting what they think is necessary offends people and getting what is unwanted becomes an unnecessary burden. That was the reply to the link he had sent her to read and review his work. She was supposed to read it, give a brief review and suggest edits. Also he felt that whatever he wrote last had to be crappy, so he just never enjoyed reading that again. So in that case she was also supposed to look for grammatical errors. An awful lot of work! She does it everytime, he never really thought about that but she did it well, every single time.

So, technically he should be the one thanking her and that too after his work was done but she says it anyway, just like that, no reason whatsoever. He has always been this kind, poor at digging for reasons, a burdened task for someone like him. He tried anyway. How can she be so illogical, he thought. She isn't, he knew. She must have been busy with something else and subconsciously typed the typo or overflowed with the feeling of affection or maybe out of conveying the feeling of respect or importance he gives to her, she must have done the illogical, he thought as he smoked two cigarettes sitting in front of his desktop still wondering what to reply or whether or not to reply!

An idea struck. Reply with a smiley, the usual one. Smileys can do a lot, mean a lot and still not offend one, still not express clearly, still sort out things and an easy scapegoat in weird situations as this one, said somebody sometime.

But is it necessary? Who does that? Certainly not him. People do, another voice inside his brain. He could only hear the two voices debating. He couldn't hear what each voice said like most of the debates. The third cigarette was useless. Its like you're just smoking it, its there but its just there, so it maybe necessary but its not as hitty as the first and the second ones, so it might not even be needed. So the same question arises again, Is there a fine line between the necessary and the unnecessary? 

The Sinner

Synopsis :

Set in Global Economic Crisis Era (2007-08), Victor, an unemployed man goes for an interview for a mysterious job. He faces Karen, a recruiting officer who is so dominating that his questions lead to an unexpected revelation of Victor's dark past.    

Legends:

Narrator (Victor (2015))

Victor (2008)

Karen

Scene 1:

EXT | Children’s Park

(A man is sitting over a bench.)

Narrator: To love is not a sin. Me, you, we don't choose our feelings.There are instances in your life which bring out the inner wild animal and then you're okay with it because that little wild animal becomes a part of you and it deserves to be sympathized with and you two can keep your little secrets. Until someone disturbs the inner decorum.They identify your animal, sympathize with it more than you do, nourish it, make it their pet and then show it what it is and show you what you are. And you are left shattered, lonely. But does the animal inside you really die?

Scene:2

INT | Victor's House

(Victor is drinking his coffee and reading the newspaper lying on the table next to him)

Narrator: 2008.Global Economic Crisis.I had graduated in April last year and I had been unemployed for one year and seven months.I had kept looking for jobs, Newspaper Ads. No success. It was 15th of February, 2008. I came across this ad in the newspaper.

Recruiter: Mystic Co.

"Looking for HONEST Employees. Excellent pay. Light Job."

Job Profile : ---

Time: 09:00 AM

Venue: B-32, Mystic Co. ,Victoria Street, Bangalore-47

Victor:

Holy Fuck!

(Cuts the newspaper ad)

Narrator: 2008. Handful of jobs and too many takers. The competition had grown so fierce that hiring itself was a task. That's where they came in, the recruiters. These companies acted as recruiters and guaranteed to pick up the best from the lot. Mystic Co. was one such firm. You wouldn't know who would actually hire you until you clear the recruiter firm's job interview. The more they grilled the aspirants the better was their market value and heftier the sum they collected from their clients, that is, the companies which actually hired us. Middlemen! Bastards! These sons of bitches were the only ones who were doing well even during the Crisis.

(Pauses)

And Mystic Co. was one the best recruiters in the market. There were too many rumors on the streets about their grilling methods. I knew this would be tough.

Scene:3

INT | Dark Room

(Victor looks nervous. A man walks and sits over next to him.)

Narrator: Next thing I remember I was sitting in this room with this heavy guy.Everything else, Dark. Pitch Black. This guy introduces himself as the Chief Recruiter. I don't recall his name though.

K:

Karen (inaudible) Chief Recruiter.

(shakes hands)

Honesty is the highest form of intimacy.

At this firm we accept anything but dishonesty. And you are?

Victor:

Victor Jose.

K:

Again?

Victor:

Victor Jose.

K:

Say again.

Victor:

Victor Jose.

K: (shouts)

Say it again Victor. At this firm we accept anything but dishonesty and you are?

Victor:

Victor Jose. I will be honest Sir.

K:

Well, Okay Victor.We will see. Welcome to Mystic Co. Now let me tell you one thing. You tell a lie, you're outta here. Do you get what I am saying?

Victor:

I do. Yes sir.

K:

Louder.

Victor:

Yes sir.

K:

Okay, Victor then we shall begin with the interview. Not a lie, Okay Victor?

Victor: (Thinks and nods)

K:

What is that?

Victor:

(Loud enough, laughs) Yes Sir.

K:

Is this funny to you? Am I funny Victor?

Victor:

(Nervous) No Sir.

K:

You're not supposed to laugh Victor. You're not supposed to laugh you pigfuck (louder). Say it again.

Victor:

I 'll be honest and I won't laugh.

K: (stares, crooked smile)

Narrator: By this point of time I had known it won't be easy to face the rest of the Interview. I had heard stories and I could see which way it was leading.

K:

Okay Victor.

(stops. Looks at the papers.)

So tell me Victor what is the most important thing for you right now?

Victor: This job.

K: You sure?

Victor: Very sure sir.

K: Say it again.

Victor: Yes sir.

K: Say it again.

Victor:

This job is the most important thing for me right now.

K:

So, you won't back out?

Victor:

Back out of what?

K: (shouts)

This job interview

Victor:

NO Sir.

K:

Okay Victor. Then we shall start with the series of questions we have here. Just answer honestly. You know how much we love honesty Victor. Don't you?

Victor:

Yes Sir.

(Pause)

K:

Are you a good listener?

Victor: (thinks, tilts his head)

Yes, Sir.

K:

Are you thoughtful of your remarks?

Victor:

Yes.

K:

Do you consider yourself fit for the job?

Victor:

Yes Sir.

K:

Both mentally and physically?

Victor:

Yes Sir.

K:

Are you sick Victor?

Victor: (Laughs)

No Sir.

K:

You look like a physically fit person Victor. Are you S-I-C-K sick Victor, mentally?

Victor:

No, Sir. I wonder what makes you say that?

K:(Explodes)

You Pigfuck! It is my job to ask and yours to answer. Don't act smart.

Just answer what you're asked or get the fuck outta here. Understand?

Victor:

Yes Sir.

K:

Are you mentally fit?

Victor:

Yes Sir.

K:

Is your life a struggle?

Victor:

No.

K:

Is your life a struggle?

Victor:  

No.

K:

Is your life a struggle?

Victor:

Yes.

K:

Do you find it easy to be fair?

Victor(Thinks, tilts his head):

Umm... No.

K:

Are you a good team-worker?

Victor:

Yes, Sir.

K:

How do you know?

Victor:  

Sir, I was a part of...

K: (Ignores, Interrupts midway)

Do you find interest in your co-workers?

Victor:

Yes.

K:

Do you find interest in your co-workers?

Victor:  

Yes.

K:

Sexually?

Victor:(Strongly)

No.

K: Are you concerned with the impression you make?

Victor:

Yes.

K:

Okay. Thanks. You may leave.

Victor:

What? That's it? I had heard stories. Do I have the job?

K:

No. That's it for you. You think too hard. You interrupt. You are ambivalent.You're concerned more about your image.More than honesty.

Victor:

No, No, No... I really  need this job. You gotta ask me more questions. I am ready. Come on, please.

K:

Okay. Could you answer the next series of questions without blinking your eyes? Without Fear?

Without reluctance?

Victor:

Yes.Yes.Yes..

K:

Answer as quickly as you can.

Victor:

Yes.

K:

Okay. Starting now, you're not to blink.If you blink we go back to start.

Victor: ( Blinks )

K:

Infringement. You blinked.

Victor: (Tries very hard to open both we eyes. Uses his hands to open the eyes wide.)

(Pause)

K:

Are you mentally fit?

Victor:

Yes

K:

Do you show interests in your co-workers?

Victor:

Yes.

K:

Sexually?

Victor:

Depends.

K:

Depends on what?

Victor:

Man or woman.

K:

Do you like men?

Victor:

No.

K:

Do you like children?

Victor:

Yes.

K:

Sexually?

Victor:

(Blinks, breathes heavily)

K:

Infringement. You blinked.

Victor: (shouts)

Fuck!

(Slaps himself three times)

K:

Back to the start. This is your last chance Victor.

Victor: (Breaths heavily. Then uses his hands again to keep his eyes wide open.)

K:

Are you mentally fit?

Victor:(looks numb and confident)

No.

K:

Do you like men?

Victor:(looks numb and confident)

No.

K:

Do you like children?

Victor:(looks numb and confident)

Yes.

K:

Sexually?

Victor:(looks numb and confident)

Yes.

K:

Are you lying?

Victor:

No.

K:

Have you had sex with anyone inside your family?

Victor:

Yes.

K:

Who?

Victor:

My cousin Jasmine.

K:

Are you lying?

Victor:

No.

K:

Are you a liar?

Victor:

Yes.

K:

How old were you?

Victor:

19.

K:

How old was she?

Victor:

11.

K:

How many times have you had sex with Jasmine?

Victor:

Once.

K:

Where is your dad?

Victor:

I don't know.We don't talk.

K:

Is that because of that incident?

Victor:

Yes.

K:

Where is your mother?

Victor: (Doesn't blink. Stares. Says nothing.)

K:

Where is your mother?

Victor:

Loony Bin.

K:

Is she a mental patient?

Victor:

Yes.

K:

Is she psychotic?

Victor:(shouts)

Yes.

K:

Do you still talk to Jasmine?

Victor:(shouts)

No.

K:

Why not?

Victor:(shouts)

Because my uncle won't let me.

K:

Have you tried to kidnap her?

Victor:(shouts)

No.

K:

Will you kidnap her?

Victor:

I may.

K:

How come you have had sex with her?

Victor:

I love her. She loves me too. I have seen her growing in front of my eyes. I took care of her. I will take care of her. I 'll marry her and we will elope. Somewhere far from this insane world. She is a my little flower. And I deserve to smell my flower. I fed her. I own her. She is so beautiful. I deserve her more than anyone does. She is my soul-mate. We belong to the same family, that's not our fault. I am not a pedophile. She'll be the same to me even if she is a two year old kid or a hundred year old woman. She will be my lover & I will be her lover.

K:(Reaches out to hold his hand.)

Do you really love her?

Victor:(Cries)

Yes.

K:

Do you think she loves you?

Victor:(Cries)

Yes

K:

Does she love you?

Victor:(Cries, blinks)

(Silence prevails for a couple of seconds.)

K:

You're hired. National Crime Bureau.

CUT TO

Scene 1:

EXT | Children’s Park

Narrator: As it turned out, the whole room was wired and the guy was an agent from the  National Crime Bureau, a secret Government Agency which worked under the name Mystic Co.

Jail-term. Seven years. I have served my time. I am free. I tried doing everything I could to find her. Found no trace of her. Jasmine, love of my life. No regrets. There is Ana. She visits this park every evening. It's about time.

(Looks at his watch)

What a beauty! Jasmine comes back to my life every time Ana sits on my lap. Ana! What a beauty!

THE END

SoundTrack