Muser and Tom

 

Introduction:

When the first impression is not encouraging, a misconception develops. Later on, someone else might help in clearing the fog and a newer perspective takes the place of the earlier misconception.

When Bystander walked in, his friend was busy sending emails. Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked ‘what is cooking now?’. His friend replied sarcastically ‘cooking goose’. After collecting his thoughts, Muser smiled at him and said, “Forget it. I was just sending some of my articles to contacts who got in touch with me for something or other”.

Bystander was taken aback to hear that Muser had to resort to e-mailing them! Recovering quickly narrated his recent train journey and gave email id and contact number of the Careful Handler and the other gentleman to Muser. He did not mention about Doubting Tom, allowing Tom himself to make the contact.

In the meanwhile Tom had managed to call up Muser and fixed up a time for a one to one meeting. When they met, Tom explained, without inhibition, that he had several doubts. Muser agreed, as he was also guilty of doing the same thing – having and getting doubts cleared. A relieved Tom had a lot to ask and took out the notes he made during the train journey.

 Bystander was not aware of this. It was Muser who broached the topic of Tom and showed his friend – a sort of minutes of meeting - neatly written in capital letters, and urged him to read on.

 
Before starting to read, he wondered why Muser had gone to such trouble. He did not pose that question to Muser, though a doubt was beginning to take shape in his mind as to the likely end purpose of the minutes. Keeping this thought aside he started to read.

Doubting Tom, after looking at his notes asked, “Mr Muser, was it by oversight you forgot to mention that an ATM cannot distinguish between counterfeit and genuine currency before dispensing it out?

Muser appreciating Tom’s keen reading and replied “The idea was to humanize the ATM to an extent and with some shortcomings. So, I didn’t want it to be seen smarter than us. Any way, are we better in this respect?”

Again reading from his notes, Tom queried, “You have made out The Mouse to be pro-human, unlike the real mouse – it does not spread diseases to humans. Why the vengeance on the software? Is it not a party to attacks by cyber viruses, merely on a click?  Do you still empathies with the mouse?” 

Muser felt amused at such a reaction.  “We share our living space with other species of one kind or the other, infecting each other. Then why not an artificial mouse infecting an artificial mind!” said Muser.

“You have managed to create a larger than life size charisma for insects and animals. The point is, can it be sustained?” Tom came out with another doubt.

“Charisma can be sustained only thus far – don’t we have examples of it in our own lives. Protagonists will come up now and then, don’t worry? , replied Muser in a reassuring voice.

“Even forgetting the possibility of souls discussing on earthly matters, it was nice to meet the three ‘stars of science’ pulsating with sarcasm, wisdom and humour”, Tom commented with a hesitant smile.

.
The smile on the face of Tom gave the opening Muser was waiting for. “You get dreams and meaningless messages, which you promptly forget on getting up. Some dreams stay on for some time drawing attention to some thing or person.

“Clairvoyants claim to foretell future. Then what prevents me from having a dream in which the ‘spirits’ meet and discuss, issues of relevance, as far as they are concerned. I merely jotted them down, not forgetting much of what transpired”

 “I want to make a special mention about the special train. You could have touched up on more serious issues like burning trains and derailing trains .A good opportunity to highlight the plight of passengers, who are literally taken for a ride” , Tom finished speaking in a serious tone.

“Ha..ha! The plight was definitely miserable; Bystander is already worked up enough to shoot off paragraphs on those serious issues you just mentioned. Why don’t you tell him?, asked Muser.

This was a tricky wicket on which Tom was not yet ready play. Instead he asked Muser, “You managed to bring out, with a rare sense of humour, the three common afflictions like salt, sugar and bellies.

“The hand shake, wearing a golden ring was firm and gripping. I am eagerly waiting to know who the lucky winners are going to be?” closing his notes.

Muser enjoying the attention his writing has evoked said, “In the Bulging bellies I have left a lot to individual’s imagination. Examine and enjoy the visual treat.  The lucky winners, in the ‘golden hand shake” still remain a suspense. I hope it may not take long. Bear with me till then”

At the end of the reading, Bystander remained silent for a few seconds. He was actively revising his, hitherto held opinion about Doubting Tom. Watching the changing expressions on the face of his friend, Muser felt a pang of pity. For all his impulsive pronouncements, inwardly he was a sensible person. It took no time for Muser to understand this much – Bystander was getting burdened with a similar feeling. 

Muser gently explained “Some people ask doubts to get them cleared.  They might make repeated attempts, as un-cleared doubts remain in the mind for long and nag them.  In one way it serves to test your skills in standing up to clear those doubts – some times benefitting both the party.

“Having gone through conversation between me and Tom, are you not thinking about changing your hasty notion about him? He was right in questioning the fruit vendor who was passing on information which had not been personally verified. Do you know how difficult it is nowadays to get connected to the customer care of any product? At the electronic shop, he questioned the parrot talk of the salesman on guarantee & warrantee.

“Take the ticketing clerk for instance - though he might have acted in good faith, cannot assure that the ticket will get confirmed. What if it does not – that was Mr Tom’s genuine doubt. Coming to your train journey, was he not the one who kept the lunch waiting for you, even though you had not asked him to do so?

“His persistence and bad luck combined with your ill formed opinion has brought up on you this suffering of guilt. My sincere advice to you is; forget and ask for Mr Tom’s forgiveness. He is humane. Allow him to be known as Mr Tom and not by your pet name, anymore. O K?”

After hearing the long, one sided conversation, Bystander had something to think about seriously and remained silent for a long time, leaving Muser to get busy with his e-mails.