Yesterday I was having a talk with my colleagues. We were just having a nice time. Suddenly one of my colleagues asked if I was better at verbal fighting or fist fighting. Frankly speaking, the question took me unawares. I had never thought about it before.

Later when thought about it a great deal, I got pretty upset. The truth is that I am good at neither. I can’t argue and I can’t show a fist to someone even in my dreams.

Why am I like this? My colleagues taunt me happily and I just ignore them. Somehow I never have the words to answer back. Either I become silent or I pick up a major fight in which I sever all relations with the person. I am not what they call ‘diplomatic’. I can’t play with words and soothe the situation. There are times when both the parties are right and when both are wrong. In such situations what is needed is a cool attitude and a general splurge of words. But I always fall short of them.

This is the reason why people at office call me Mr Touchy. They say I am oversensitive like a baby.

To think that I can ever punch someone is beyond anything possible. Millions of times, I have apologized for no fault of my own- only because I am scared of the other person punching me. If someone pushes me in the mall, I invariable say ‘sorry’. This has now become a second nature to me.

I hate myself. I am not capable of anything. A guy must be good at something. I have my kids. It is God’s kindness that till date there has never been a situation where me and my family had to suffer. Oh God- why I am I like this? I hate myself. I really hate myself.

I am too upset now. Let me take your leave. Please take care. Bye.

The ‘common man’ looked at the smartly dressed man in the mall who was complaining about a bad billing system with an assured tone. The common man was next in the line. The person at the counter looked at him with pleading eyes. The common man didn’t say anything and paid his bill.

The common man wondered if there were more people like him this world.