Between sanity and insanity, there's a thin dividing line. And this is the property of the human brain that has prodded the scientists into carrying out numerous studies which have remained inconclusive, even to this day. Why does a mentally healthy person flip? What triggers it and isn't there a way to get back to a state of equilibrium without medical assistance or say, with minimal medical assistance like the way we treat a superficial wound?
This evening, during my customary walk, I was witness to three individuals - all men - in varying forms of mental instability. Of these, I must hasten to add, that two could be classified as temporarily unstable due to being inebriated.......
* * *
The first was a comparative youngster in his mid-20s. He was uttering a lot of gibberish and walking along with his dirty white dhoti slung from his left shoulder and thankfully, he was wearing an undergarment. With matted hair and an unkempt beard, he looked as though he'd been living off shop verandahs, park benches or even the railway platforms for the past few days.
Perhaps, he'll find his way back to his own home once the effect of liquor wears off.
* * *
The second was in a more profound(?) condition. He was middle aged and lying prostrate on the pavement, absolutely dead to the world in an alcoholic maze. Flies aplenty were around his body and he was asleep on his puke. The smell of liquor, that emanated from him as I walked past, was nauseating.
He too will wake up and perhaps, go back to his home.
* * *
The third person seemed to be one who'd sadly lost his sanity. He was walking along the road, towards the opposite direction, chiding imaginary people who're constantly up to mischief and didn't care a damn about what was happening immediately around him. He too seemed to be a comparatively young guy in his late 30s!
Hope he finds his way to his folks without mishap. Or is he a wanderer who has lost the comprehension as to where he came from and is headed for a destination that he doesn't know?
Tailpiece.
I must confess that the three gentlemen had disturbed me deep within. Why do people drink to such an extent that they lose control of their faculties? And is drinking a panacea for one's worries? I ask these questions as I too drink on social occasions
PS.
I hope I ain't sounding condescending!
This evening, during my customary walk, I was witness to three individuals - all men - in varying forms of mental instability. Of these, I must hasten to add, that two could be classified as temporarily unstable due to being inebriated.......
* * *
The first was a comparative youngster in his mid-20s. He was uttering a lot of gibberish and walking along with his dirty white dhoti slung from his left shoulder and thankfully, he was wearing an undergarment. With matted hair and an unkempt beard, he looked as though he'd been living off shop verandahs, park benches or even the railway platforms for the past few days.
Perhaps, he'll find his way back to his own home once the effect of liquor wears off.
* * *
The second was in a more profound(?) condition. He was middle aged and lying prostrate on the pavement, absolutely dead to the world in an alcoholic maze. Flies aplenty were around his body and he was asleep on his puke. The smell of liquor, that emanated from him as I walked past, was nauseating.
He too will wake up and perhaps, go back to his home.
* * *
The third person seemed to be one who'd sadly lost his sanity. He was walking along the road, towards the opposite direction, chiding imaginary people who're constantly up to mischief and didn't care a damn about what was happening immediately around him. He too seemed to be a comparatively young guy in his late 30s!
Hope he finds his way to his folks without mishap. Or is he a wanderer who has lost the comprehension as to where he came from and is headed for a destination that he doesn't know?
Tailpiece.
I must confess that the three gentlemen had disturbed me deep within. Why do people drink to such an extent that they lose control of their faculties? And is drinking a panacea for one's worries? I ask these questions as I too drink on social occasions
PS.
I hope I ain't sounding condescending!
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