Eccentricity

Eccentricity is a word with a nice ring to it. But most people’s eccentricities are quite unacceptable in civilized societies, such as necrophilia or infinitely less controversial, but equally strange, seasoning fried eggs with mustard.

Sameer himself may not have any particularly peculiar habits (at least none that he’d care to share), but he knows plenty of people who do. Today he’s going to reveal some of his friends’ odd behavior around beggars.

One of his neighborhood friends has been blessed with a 2002 model of Mehran and the permission to return home at any ungodly hour. Naturally, this friend spends a lot of his time cruising around town. Every Thursday night around 11 p.m., however, he can be found passing the Teen Talwar signal and while doing so, playing an unusual game with the beggars present. As soon as the signal timer shows a few seconds remaining till GO, he beckons a beggar with his index finger and tries to run over him/her, laughing maniacally. The intent is not to hit the beggar but to watch him/her dodge the car. Sameer was astonished to discover that the beggars are not only aware of this game, but willingly take part in it because afterwards, they are rewarded with hard cash.  In fact, the beggars dream of being the ‘Chosen One’ each week. Sameer wonders what his friend does when the tullas (traffic policemen) are around…perhaps they are a part of this game too.

Another story is of Sameer’s friend from IBA, Minahil. Minahil is terrified of beggars. When Sameer discovered this fact at the signal outside IBA, he could not stop laughing until he realized she was truly hobophobic; her fear is so profound, that she refuses to go to Cafe Coffee Day or Hot & Spicy, just because of the beggars outside. This causes quite a few problems for Sameer’s group of friends in IBA because Minahil starts hyperventilating as soon as she sees a beggar.

On a lighter note, is Aamir’s eccentric and amusing custom. Aamir is not a fan of giving money to child beggars, except in one situation, when he literally, chases them down to do so. This happens after Aamir has had an expensive meal. Sameer is not quite sure what the bracket is for a meal to be considered ‘expensive’ but every time they eat at a half-decent place, Aamir gives child beggars a hefty amount. If child beggars are not around, he drives around looking for them. Apparently, he feels guilty for enjoying a lavish meal while children on the streets starve. Sameer has never questioned this behavior and secretly applauds Aamir’s gesture. At least no racy Mehrans or hyperventilating is involved.