A Winner

I have this bad habit of waking up at odd hours in the night and not being able to fall asleep again. I’ve tried not taking naps during the day. I’ve tried the pills. But this bad little habit of mine has its own routine and I just wake up at strange hours no matter what.

Last week, I was in the city on one of my regular assignments. I normally stay in a hotel around Time Square in Manhattan but that night, I thought it would be cheaper in Queens. I was right, the hotels in Manhattan were a rip off. I got a King Suite right on Long Island City for a mere quarter of the price I normally pay. The room was fairly large and very clean. I took a hot shower and jumped straight into bed. I must have been tired, I was fast asleep without much tossing and turning.

My cell phone rang and woke me up. I forgot to switch off the ringer. Every light in the room was on. I had not even turned off the TV. I looked at my phone to see who had called. It was an unknown number. Then I looked at the clock. It was 3:a.m. Drat that, of all times, why would somebody want to wake me up at 3 in the morning! I called back the number. An angry male voice answered and then hung up on me. How sweet, I thought. I wanted to call him back and give him a piece of my mind but decided I would go out instead and smoke a cigarette. As if luck had it, my cigarette pack was empty. The urge to smoke in me started throwing a tantrum. I jumped into my sweat pants and went out.

There was a chill in the air and the street was almost deserted except for a few cars that zoomed fast every now and then. I walked down the street hopping to find a convenient store still open. I walked about three blocks and saw a sign that said open. There were a few people infront of the store. Early risers, I thought and walked to the dimly lit door. It was locked. Perhaps the owner forgot to switch the sign from last night. I tried to peer in through the door to see if anybody was inside.

“The store is closed.” Somebody said from behind me. I turned around. It was a group of Hispanic and Black men. I smiled, pointed at the ‘open’ sign and started walking away. “Hey, Stop! What do you need?” He asked. “Never mind, I just needed to buy a cigarette.’ I said and continued walking. “Hey, Chino, do you have any change on you?” Another man shouted. He was wearing a hood and I could not see his face. They started advancing towards me. A red flag went up in my mind. I felt my hair rise. I looked to the left and then to the right. The streets were deserted to the next mile. A chill went through my spine. I counted them. They were four ogre sized men with a strong smell of trouble. I evaluated my strength - Outnumbered and atleast two minutes before the cops or any help could reach me!

‘Nope, I don’t have any money, I am broke.” I said and with that, I took to my heels. I heard somebody run after me for a few feet and then give up. I did not look back. I ran and ran as fast as my legs could carry me till I reached a busy street. My lungs were gasping for air and my heart was hammering against my chest. Early commuters were spewing into the street on their way to work. I was safe. I thanked my heavens. I went to a store that was open for real this time and bought a pack of cigarette.

I puffed up huge clouds of smoke and thought about the close call. Were they robbers? Were they looking for trouble? Why did I run? Am I a coward? A series of thoughts ran across my mind. Suddenly I started chuckling.

I was a winner! Whatever their intentions, those men in sweat shirt hoods were the losers. The choice I made to run against my pride was a wise decision. Back then, when I was eighteen, if they had confronted me on such a night, I would have turned around. I would have shown them a few swift kicks from my twelve years of practicing Tae-kwonn-do. I would have showed them the strength of a red bull in me that could walk up endless mountains with 50 Kgs of load on my back. I would have given them a piece of my mind. I would have bragged on how I grew up on red rice. But no, I am 30 now. Age has taught me well. I carry a few scars on my back and a permanent one in my mind. The choices I made through these years had made me a winner.