‘The human mind is truly the scariest thing of all. It isn't about the fact that it is like a secret entity that cannot be deciphered. It's not because it's hidden within bags of skin, tissue and bone. It's because a person is his mind itself. A mind is what makes a person a person. Without a mind, we would be zombies. A mind is two warring factions put together on one battle field. A battle of wills; of right and wrong, of the known and the unknown…’ The phone rang, jolting Asher out of the whirlpool the book in his hand had sucked him into. He bookmarked the page and set the book on the arm of his chair, before picking the call.
“What's up, Asher?” The voice of Andrew, his closest friend filtered through the phone speaker.
“I'm alright. What's up?” Asher responded.
“I'm cool. I just wanted to remind you about the bash tonight. You coming?”
Asher sighed quietly, careful of not letting Andrew hear him. He looked at the book sittlng on the arm of his chair. All he really wanted to do tonight was eat pizza while flipping the pages of the book. He didn't want to be near loud teenagers, drinking and smoking away with nothing better to do. He didn't want to be around the noise and clamor that was called party. But he just couldn't miss it. He had to go. Or else what would his friends say?
It was the last Friday of the year and his friends from school had decided to hold a party tagged End of Year Bash. It had been planned that they would party themselves away in a bid to shed all the worries, sorrows and stress that had been piled on them since the year started. It was like a unanimous decision between all of them that the only way they could do this was through partying. As if they had not partied enough throughout the year. All they needed was rest and meditation. That was what Asher thought when he had heard about the bash. But, he didn't voice out his thoughts. He didn't want to be seen as a party pooper. So, when he was invited to the party by Andrew, he had accepted the invite reticently.
And now, here he was. The party was already in full swing, even though it was just seven in the evening. Loud music was blasting from the speakers and the air stank of cigarettes and alcohol. People were lounging by the walls with either a cup of alcohol-spiked punch or a shot of vodka. Asher wove his way through the already-high crowd in search of Andrew. He finally found him serving and opening drinks for people. Asher headed towards him and when he got to him, he lightly tapped Andrew on the shoulder. Andrew turned to him and smiled when he saw it was Asher.
“You finally came,” Andrew yelled over the music. “I didn't think you would make it.”
“I wouldn't miss the party for anything.” Asher lied through his teeth.
“What would you like? We have different brands of alcohol here.”
“Don't worry. I’m not yet ready to get into the party.”
Andrew smiled and nodded in response. “My gee.”
The party had already divided into sections. Some people were dancing while some were totally wasted. Another set of people were sitted in a circle, about to play party games. Asher was sitted with them. Andrew sat opposite him. Asher held a cup of really watered down alcohol. After he couldn't keep rejecting Andrew’s persistent offer of alcohol, he had finally accepted a cup of tequila, then sneaked off to dilute it really well that the alcohol now tasted of water instead. Among the people sitted was Dare, the daredevil of their set. He was a chronic smoker, and even now, a cigarette was dangling from his fingers. Beside him was pretty Leila. Leila was Dare’s girlfriend. She always mindlessly followed him everywhere and hung by his every words. Asher always wondered why she liked Dare that much.
Judge was sitted beside him. Judge had won moneybag of the year during their class’s dinner night. He had five flashy cars and wore expensive clothes and jewelry. Asher had heard that he got his money through fraudulent and devious means, because he didn't come from money. His parents weren't rich, nor was he a trustfund kid. And there was Funky. When Asher had heard that name the first time, he had laughed aloud. Funky had been named Funky by his parents. It wasn't a nickname. Asher kept thinking why Funky’s parents had named him that. Were they just lazy to dredge up a good name or was it something else? Funky was the class bully. He called people names and just found ways to put people down, either through words or by strength. He was Dare’s crony.
These were the people Asher moved with. He didn't have any special connection with them but they granted him safety. With them, he was untouchable from school’s persecution and it was because Andrew had ingratiated him into their circle. Andrew was the guy who could get you anything you needed. Andrew was the guy everyone needed, because of his usefulness. Andrew always had solutions and answers to everything. And he had known Andrew since they were ten. He and Andrew were polar opposites in character and looks but they had just bonded somehow and were something close to best friends.
A girl had just finished her dare of drinking five shots of tequila and was stumbling back to her seat. Andrew, who was the coordinator of the game, spinned the bottle on the floor. It stopped with it's head pointing at Dare and the bottom pointing at Asher. Andrew cleared his throat and Asher's heart palpitated. He knew Dare would give him a dare to do. He would never let him pick truth. Dare removed the cigarette from his lips and exhaled the smoke. Then he extended it to Asher.
“Come on. I dare you to smoke it throughout the duration of the game.”
Asher looked from the cigarette to Dare whose face was in a smirk. Then he looked round the circle. Everyone was looking at him expectantly, even Andrew. If he didn't do the dare, they would call him a coward or one of those slangs. They would look down on him. And he would also have to drop a hundred bucks, which he didn't have. But he also didn't want to smoke. He never ever wanted to do it till he died. He never wanted a cigarette near him. The silence was becoming thick. Then Asher broke it.
“I can't take it, man. I'm sorry.” He shook his head. Everyone groaned in anticlimax.
“Come on, Asher. It's just a cigarette. What's the worst that could happen?” Funky hollered.
“Yeah, Asher. It's nothing much.” Andrew agreed. It was then that something snapped within Asher. He was tired of having to conform to what his peers expected from him. He was tired of giving in to peer pressure. He didn't want to party or have to drink or do things he didn't want to do, just because he wanted to impress others. He wanted to read books, and meditate and listen to soft music, even if it made him weird. He wanted to do only things he enjoyed. Just then, he made his new year resolution. He was going to authentically be himself without thinking of what others thought about him.
He glared at Andrew.
“I said i can’t take it. Respect that. And it's not just a cigarette to me. So, no. I will Venmo the hundred bucks to you, Andrew.”
“Coward.” Funky said and laughed mockingly.
“And you all are just mindless people with nothing better to do. I shouldn't even be here.” Asher stood up, pushed his chair backwards and walked out of the party.
He heard Andrew say, “Aww, man. It's nothing that serious. Don't be a party pooper.” But he didn't turn back. As he left, he felt relief wash over him and something like the sweet pleasure of freedom coursing through his veins. He had taken his first step in achieving his New Year's resolution. Damn the consequences.