A new tale about rehabilitation of alcoholics!

Three drunkards were admitted to Rehabilitation Center where they become friends. After they were discharged as rehabilitated they decided that they will meet again after a month and share the progress. So they met after a month at a Coffee House.

The sober meeting

After exchanging pleasantries and ordering three coffees, they silently sat at the table and looked at each other. Finally the younger looking ex-drunkard looked around at people and spoke, “It is very tiring to take care of myself, that too sober and that too 24x7x365. I feel exhausted. Look at the people around. None has such a tiring job.”
The second one with partially bald head, nodded in agreement and said “Worst part is that treating us sober, everyone find an excuse to burden us with unnecessary responsibilities. I am tired too.” He too declared.
Third one with gray hairs, kept his face grim and after thoroughly stirring his Coffee, took a small sip. After being satisfied, he looked at others and asked the other too; “If it is so difficult, why not start drinking?”
“No, we do not want to go into rehab again. We can not let down our loved ones.” Both replied almost instantly and asked the third one if he had no problems.

The third one scratched his head and agreed that it was difficult in the beginning but he found a way. Now other two stared at him, almost begging for answer.
“Well what I do is” he started slowly, “that I remain sober when I drink and make sure no one notice me drunk. But when I do not drink, I splash my clothes with drink and try to act a little delirious. Thus I know how every one is frightened of uncertainty, when we are drunk.”
The other two looked disappointed, yet asked: “How it helps?”
“First of all I drink when I like and catch others in conversations they think I do not understand. Secondly I am not afraid of lack of drink so I have overcome the fear of Rehab.”

Bottom-line:

1. Often consistency of behavior is exploited by others. Sometime exploitation is in the name of help or compassion.
2. It is not about drinking rather it is about being a grown up, with first duty to take care of ourselves.

© Sandeep Bhalla