POV: Narrator
12 December 2022
08:23 am
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, California

Clazer gazed somnolently over the waiting room, looking for a place for him to sit. His brain has become foggy as if the whisky has taken him into oblivion but he hasn't had a drop. Eyes drowsy as if the eyelids weigh a ton and gravity has been turned up tenfold. A TV played quietly in one corner, a distraction that might help keep his mind off.

The seats closest to it stood vacant, sandwiched between two sweating and shivering men. As one leaned forward and filled the space with harsh, hacking coughs, he realized why no one else had jumped at the prime location. His mind was thinking probably he is a patient of mutant coronavirus.

He wants to get distracted from the situation he was in, he started glancing at the other side of the room, the bland walls, and a tableful of torn magazines suddenly felt much more appealing to him.

A nurse with a light shade of makeup and a nibble shade of lipstick comes in calling his name,
"Mr. Clazer Oath?"

He responded shakily, "Yes ma'am"

"You can sit inside and wait for the doctor, he is late today."

Clazer did as the nurse instructed. Inside, there was a room which was every shade of grey, from washed-out concrete to almost steel-blue. Every line was straight, every corner sharp, and the chairs looked as soft as a train station bench.

Clazer moved in, his mind focused on walking as steady as he could, and his palms dry. Then his eyes twinkled to the poppies on the desk, a noble gesture towards the fallen. Even the touch of its petals would shatter him into pieces...

He then realized that the Psychiatry clinic was behind the wall, due to COVID they separated the main clinic from Doctor's cabin, he sanitize his hands, entered the cabin, and was about to meet the doctor, but then he realized the Doctor is late today.

Clazer slowly pulled the door to his surprise the doctor was sitting right in front of him at his desk. But Nurse just said he is...whatever.

"Long time since we met, they weren't lying...I am a culprit of whatever happened?" Doctor said.

"I wish I lied"

Clazer settled down in the madhouse (aka Psychiatry clinic) passing his medical record to the doctor.

"Call it your richness or just a favor from the President of the hospital that we are discussing here in my cabin. I don't know why President appointed me here for you." said the frustrated old man while turning the pages of Clazer's medical record, there was a photo between pages

The doctor picked the photo, a sweet boy in his eighteen smiling wide every part of him was perfect but his blonde hair grad you're all attention.

"I don't want to see his face, you know..." The doctor said trying to tear the photo apart but couldn't.

Clazer smiled, "But you have to no one can run away from their past."

"I won't deny the fact but it's all in the past." He said looking into his bag, trying to find out the diary he always kept with him. "I don't want to use these torn pages so I am going to use the diary instead. Now, where did I keep it?" he murmured.

A long rectangular room with a bookshelf for some books, leaving space for a door and window. In the center, there's a round table with a set of couches around it.

The Doctor kept rummaging through his things in the bag while Clazer watched him quietly.

"Found it!" The doctor said taking out a blue-colored diary.

"So what about Kabir?" Doctor asked, glancing through the pages. Picking the photo and keeping it in his bag.

" That's what I don't want to talk about right now," Clazer mumbled staring at his sneakers.

" Then why are you here."

Clazer was numbed.

The doctor noticed it was something serious.

"You look real handsome now, What's your body count?" the doctor asked him laughing slyly.

"Does it matter?" Clazer smirked, lifting the corner of his lips.

"When did you first meet Sirania? And what were those conditions you mentioned on the phone yesterday?"

Clazer took a deep breath.....
"You sure you want to hear about it?"

"If I didn't, I won't be here in the first place." The doctor said, taking out his pen, ready to write.

"Let's get started. I will be a little energetic. "

...........................................................................

"Washington, D.C.
12 September 2021"

We shifted to Washington, D.C. in a hurry, I was very happy in Los Angeles, but dad suddenly decided to fulfill my dead mom's wish to set up his business in Washington, D.C., her hometown.

I remember her saying,
In the wake of a cold orange sunset, autumn leaves fall
Spring will come again and replace them all
Even miracles of God, neither replace nor restore
Once people lose, what they once adored...

That night dad reached home from the office and was late as usual. The servant had informed him about me like any other day and he came straight to my room.

To his surprise, the door was unlocked. He stepped into my room without knocking and looked at me, sound asleep after a meal.

"Hey, Clazer are you asleep?" Dad whispered, walking into a dark room with dim lamps.

"hmm..." I replied.

"Tomorrow we have to go to a party. Our new business achievement party and you have to come. We are gonna deal with something important tomorrow." he said

"Okay, dad."

"Sure?"

"I don't have any plans for tomorrow, I'll come, let me sleep for now..." I murmured in a quavering voice, a bit shaky and a little unclear.

I thought he left.

After a minute, I heard him muttering something.
"Moreover, it's like a blind date for you, how can I bring this up, my son? The daughter of my business partner is a little interested in you and surprisingly she goes to the same college as you. Do you know her?"

I was too tired to listen, understand, analyze, and respond. I started snoring. And that's what dad told me the next morning.

Talking about Dad, David Oath, CEO and Founder of Oath's Central. A business legend, he manufactures engines for big car companies like AUDI.

He started earning by selling himself. Even today, close to 45 years of age, he is a Chocolate Boy. No, wait! A chocolate man as he calls himself. Many girls still want and crave him even though he has a 21-year-old son, me.

My mom had me when they were still in their 20s. He was not married then. Mom's conception and family pressure forced him to marry my mom.

13 September 2021, the next day.

I woke up at 7 am and there was a notification on my phone to get ready for the party and surprise. I remembered dad coming into my room late last night but couldn't recollect anything he said. I begin to get ready for the celebration as today was Sunday.

An elegant Tesla arrived at the home to pick me up and dad calls me "Son are you ready to get into the car, I hope you remember what I told you last night."

"I do dad."

Like hell if I remember even one word of it. But couldn't tell him.

The car dropped me at Siena Hotels with a few steps toward the main entrance. Dad was waiting for me there.

.....................................................................

"What does this all have to do with Kabir?" Doctor asked

"Rome wasn't built in a day. Will you be patient enough?" Clazer said, tiredness in his smoky blue eyes.

To be continued.

Questions
1. Who is Kabir?

2. What do you think about the blind date?

3. Do you like the Doctor's attitude?

Have you voted...