The audience was in splits. Viraj gave a victorious smile and ambled gracefully to the corner of the stage. He picked up the water bottle from the side table with one hand with the mic casually held in the other. Every movement a flourish, he made an occasion of something as mundane as sipping water. His ripped body showed through his crisp white shirt and he knew it. Every errant drop spilled on it sent ripples of desire through the veins of his female audience. His distressed jeans, although a tad misplaced, enhanced his Greek God looks. Light brown eyes, fair complexion added to his charm, and with a sense of humour to boot, standup comedy was perfect for him!
Even as a child Viraj had been a crowd puller. Often funny and sometimes brash, his antics won the hearts of his audience in no time. Although his relatives overtly disapproved of his veiled jabs at them, his mother dismissed it as mere jealousy. Her son was destined to be the next Rajesh Khanna, after all. Wasn’t he just as handsome and loveable with that unmistakable starry air about him? He had won several school and college awards for his acting too. Why did he choose to do standup comedy like Johnny Lever then? What would he earn? If only he listened to her. Sigh!
Viraj loved being on stage and taking a dig at anyone and everyone. Standup comedy allowed him to be devilishly cute, belligerently snarky and brutally honest, all at once. Urban relationships, scheming in-laws, chatty cab drivers, mischievous kids, bad roads, or loudspeakers in the neighbourhood, his sharp tongue spared no one. Sadly, this affected his love life too forcing him to remain single. While most of the time his crackling humour led to packed and overbooked shows, last month his punch at a local politician had landed him in jail for a night. What more, he was warned in no uncertain terms that he was being watched round the clock and had to behave, or else.
Viraj placed the bottle back on the side table and resumed his position on the stage. The next segment was crowd work; something he looked forward to. This audience was engaging, fun and had taken his whackiest jokes with a pinch of salt. He had managed to momentarily shake off the unease that had been endlessly nagging him too. Little joys. What could ‘or else’ mean, anyway? As he dismissed that thought and braced himself for another laughter riot, his eyes unwittingly settled on something shiny behind the last row.
A bald guy stood there wearing what looked like a thick chain and stared back at him, quietly and purposefully. He couldn’t make out his expression in the dark but the hairs at the back of his neck instantly stood on end. His throat went dry and his speech started faltering. Assuming it to be a part of the standup act the audience rolled with laughter. Was it them? Were they threatening him? Why now? Should he raise an alarm? Or should he make a run for it?
Just then someone delivered a hastily scribbled note to him from backstage. Due to incessant rains police authorities had requested them to cut the show short and inform everyone to disperse peacefully. The situation was under control but their area was in the risk zone and could make navigation difficult in time. While he read out the note to the audience the lights came back on. The bald guy at the back was the new watchman carrying the lock chains of the studio on his neck. People were already on their feet, the winning camaraderie forgotten within moments. Volatile life!
This story has been written for Season 2 of #storytellersbloghop hosted by Ujjwal and MeenalSonal
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.
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Well written!
Very well written, Varsha. Our mind can make us see what isn’t there. This story reminds me of a recent controversy around a well known stand up artist.
A heart pounding thriller of sort and treated in an appealing, heart pounding manner Varsh. Great job and well done in the end, something rare nowadays.
Hilarious. Loved the setting of the joke and your words were a visual treat. Could imagine each word.
I always love to read your stories. They’re so vividly written that I can imagine the whole set up and it feels like I am one part of the story. I liked how you portrayed Viraj’s bold career choice and the narrative of the story. And rhe ending was superb!
Hehe, liked the suspense in the end and how one see the things as they perceive. This was completely different take on the prompt.
The twist was really funny. Imagination can really work overtime sometimes no?
The ending was so different. At the end of the day, its our mind that help us perceive things. Liked reading it.
Crisp and engaging Varsha.
Beautifully written Varsha. I always look forward to read your posts! keep going.
There is something about stand up acts that attracts some. They can speak their mind.
But, they are also taken to task & have to go through the grind- like landing up behind bars or feeling threatened by random people.
The watchman at the end! Phew! 🙂 Imagine carrying lock chains on the neck!
Much of what you believe to be true probably isn’t, thanks to a mental shortcut your brain takes without you realizing it. Well weaved story.
Very crisp and engaging,Varsha. I dont know how you manage to write such a short and interesting story that too on a stand up comedian
I just Loved the way you have played around withsuch beautiful words, what a wonderful stage setting, I just loved each word and emotion of this writeup.
Enjoyed reading and visualizing the way you have put up the full story. Nice one.
Stand up comedians are often under the radar of some or the political figure or well known figures. The ending of your post was really amazing. We do often hallucinate our fears out that we forget who we are and spiral down. Thankfully in this case the note for rain warning saved him or else he was on his way to make a fool of himself.
Lovely how uv portrayed a vulnerable side of the human mind. I love your style of writing… crisp.
An engrossing short story. I liked the paranoia Viraj faced and how the watchmen at the end was just a harmless guy. Well written
Loved the post. The twists in the story was really well narrated
Beautifully written, Varsha. We always have choices but it depends what we choose and art what time in life.
I absolutely enjoyed your writing style! Also loved the way you pushed the reader to overthink the situation!
A vividly written story. So gripping. It is so true…sometimes fear makes us imagine things and can take the joy out of something we love.
Very well written. It is also a reflection of the current times when we don’t know who will take things in the wrong sense.
I could feel the story and your words were so well written that I had a visual treat.
It is a very nice take to the theme. I like the way how the story revolves around a standup comedians and the problems they face.
I loved the end, it was surprising. However, I liked how you portrayed a vulnerable side of the human mind. You had choosen good words, Loved the story.
Volatility of life can be portrayed in different aspects. But yours is one of the unique renditions.
I loved reading this story varsha, never expected this end or the story to take this turn though.
Loved reading this story. You keep your reader stick to your last word.
I always enjoy your writing, Varsha. Loved this one and how it shows a mirror to the current times.
Well written. Loved the ending. This story shows how imagination and overthinking can make a situation better or worse.
What a beautifully descriptive story – starting from Viraj, whom I could easily visualise thanks to the way you talk about him, to the twist at the end. Brilliant!
What a beautiful penned story!!!! loved reading it
The most descriptive story that did paint a picture of the standup comedian. A unique way of presenting the prompt. 😊
Vulnerability portrayed in a clear, vivid way. Loved this crisp and interesting take on volatility.
Wow….I was engaged truly in the story. Very nice choice of words
Standup artists are talented but yes every profession has some highs and lows. Great climax at the end.
I loved how you ended the story! A recent conflict that affected a stand up comedian comes to my mind ! Very well narrated story , Varsha !
Great twist to the story. Well narrated varsha, mind makes things appear completely different and scary in this situation..
I liked your subtle insinuations of the volatility of life. It’s true, life is as volatile in the smaller, more mundane things as it is in the larger ones!
Loved the way you have portrayed how things can seem to be different in a different mindset, I like the twist or climax of the story, clearly conveyed the story. Beautiful!