The Life Of Normal-Taro

"You ready?" Thankappan asked Scarlet who was staring at the mirror for some reason.

"Yea, let's go." Scarlet replied as he walked out of the bathroom. 

Since John was forced to go on a cold case due to unknown reasons, Scarlet was able to freely roam around in the house.

He knew that once he goes to the MIB base, this short term privilege will be lost. So, instead of outright heading to Snehatheeram with Thankappan, he loitered around the house, snooping at every nook and cranny.

"We're gonna be late, you know?" Thankappan spoke.

"Well, they didn't give us a fixed time, so why worry about something like that?" Scarlet asked.

"Huh, you're right. Maybe it's just my behavioral pattern that's making me do this. Take your time then. We'll go slow this time." Thankappan smiled as he replied.

"Yea, Ponnappan wanted you there by an hour. And now you're already late. I wonder what he'll do now." A voice came from behind. It was Lonappan.

"What? I never got any info like that!" Thankappan screeched.

"Really? Then what did I send right here?" Lonappan asked as he shoved the smartphone before them.

"Huh? You never sent the message." Thankappan replied after looking at the phone for a good few minutes 

"What!? Let me see." Lonappan unshoved the phone and looked carefully at the message. That was when he realised that he never switched on the internet last night. "Seems like I made a mistake there. Oops." He shrugged as if he couldn't help but mess with them.

"You! At least call him and say that it's your fault and not ours." Thankappan looked frustrated as he ditched his shoes and wore sandals instead because of the hectic nature.

"Now why would I do that?" Lonappan asked.

"Why? Because you were the one who committed the mistake. So you're the one who should clear up the mess as well." Thankappan spoke.

"Humm. That does make sense. But I really don't feel like doing it. I just don't." Lonappan replied simply by pouting.

"What's wrong with you, dude? You're being really weird, you know that?" If Thankappan looked frustrated before, he was full-on enraged now. He was not in the mood for playing games, so this seriously annoyed him.

"I know. I just wanna see that despair on your face." Lonappan smiled like a crazy guy.

"You know what? Fuck you, that's what. I just don't know why I thought you would do shit." Thankappan walked off after saying that. Scarlet, who had no idea what to say, alternatively looked at both of them, before silently following Thankappan.

"I prepared an auto for you. I paid for it as well. So, if you'd be so kind to get in that auto, it'd be great." Lonappan shouted.

Thankappan couldn't believe in anything Lonappan said. So naturally, he thought that his senior was messing with him as he said that. He thought that maybe Lonappan brought some messed up autorickshaw intentionally to get him late.

"As I said before, fuck you and fuck the damn auto you brought as well!" Thankappan spoke as he swung the door open.

"Dang, that was a bit harsh." The voice didn't came from behind this time around, instead it was from right before him. And the person sounded a bit hurt by the remark.

"Gopan! Were you the one that Lonappan called?" Thankappan sounded a bit surprised.

"Well, like he said that you guys were in a hurry and there's no one better than me to get you there as quick as possible." Gopan replied. But the disappointment still hadn't left his voice.

"Is that so? I apologise for the remark. It was simply a jab meant for Lonappan and instead it hit you." Thankappan sounded sincere as he said it, so Gopan quickly accepted the apology.

"I guess I can't take it personally then." Gopan shrugged. "Let's go, shall we?" He asked, without dwelling another second in the conversation.

"Yup." Thankappan nodded his head and quickly got to the auto.

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"We're here!" Roughly forty-five minutes later, Gopan exclaimed.

It was a rough ride. However, they went fast—really fast. They were really lucky that they didn't get a speeding ticket for the rush that they did.

Anyhow, they got a bit nauseated after the lengthy journey. However, they had something to overcome now.

"By the way, why the hell are you even going here? Are you two going on a double date or something?" Gopan gave out a sly smile.

"Ah, it's nothing like that." Thankappan tried stopping Gopan from speculating, but that just lead to more misunderstandings.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. After all, you two might be on a date with each other after all. Look, don't be afraid or anything. I'm not against same sex relationships and stuff. I'll be rooting for you two even if others don't." Gopan spoke with the brightest smile on his face.

"It's not like—fuck it. Thanks man." Thankappan didn't even try to refute anymore. He didn't want to waste any time in pointless conversations.

"No probs. Tell me if you two need any help. I'll be happy to help. The marriage laws for same sex is a bit of a hit topic around here, but activists of WPP like me are trying our hardest to get the bill passed in the parliament. So don't worry." Gopan spoke.

"Ah, thanks. You guys are the ray of hope for people like us." Thankappan gave out a fake smile to get out of the situation.

"Okay then. See you later." Gopan continued smiling and waving as he left the premises.

"Oh, thank goodness. Now let's go to the base." Thankappan took the lead after Gopan left.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" Scarlet spoke.

"Well, if it is about what I said to Gopan, then let me tell you, I haven't thought of it yet." He replied.

"What do you mean?" Scarlet asked.

"I mean, I haven't thought of my sexual orientation or stuff like that. So, identify me as tank for all that matters." Thankappan spoke.

"It's a first for me that someone asked to identify them as a freaking tank." Scarlet chuckled.

"Well, it's kinda like a lame meme on Earth, so yea." Thankappan shrugged.

"By the way, where exactly is the MIB base?" Scarlet asked.

"You see the hut there?" Thankappan pointed to the distance.

"Yea. From there?" The Crimsoner asked.

"Hmm?"

"Wait a minute-"

"Yup. That's the base." Thankappan smile.

"My goodness. I sure didn't expect that." Scarlet spoke in awe.

"Ha, you're gonna be even more surprised once you saw the interior." Thankappan smiled.

# 

"You were right. I'm honestly surprised." Scarlet spoke as he looked around in pure elation.

"Haha, I knew it. Majestic, isn't it?" Thankappan asked.

"Well, majestic would be an overstatement. But, it sure is something spacious. Like really spacious and clean." Scarlet replied.

"Ah, that's an apt description, I guess." Thankappan shrugged. "It's a perfect hideout, though. I mean who expects a top secret base to be a hut… Well, if someone knew about the super secret organization, then maybe they would think of that. But other than that, it's no use raking your brain." He spoke.

"The explanation felt weird, but I feel the sentiment." Scarlet replied.

"Then that's all that matters." Thankappan replied.

"Yo, Thankappan!" Someone called for him from the sides.

"Hey, Rocky! How are you doing, my man?" Thankappan gave out a really casual greeting.

"I'm fine, dude. By the way, is that the person?" Rocky asked.

"Ah, yea. Meet Scarlet. My friend. Scarlet, this is my other friend, Rocky." Thankappan spoke.

"Oh, hi." Scarlet greeted first.

"Hi." Rocky greeted back. However, the atmosphere grew extremely stale after the greetings exchange. And Rocky felt it pretty soon and wanted to avoid an awkward staredown down the road. "So, I heard the boss is calling for you two." He spoke.

"How does he look right now?" Thankappan asked.

"The one who served tea to him said that he looked dead serious. Also, he was mumbling something. So, I don't think the situation's that good." Rocky spoke.

"Is that so? Maybe we should come some other time." Thankappan was literally about to turn back before Rocky got a firm grip on him. Soon enough, it wasn't just Rocky, the whole place who had trapped them. "What the hell is this?" A surprised Thankappan.

"You don't have permission to leave." Rocky spoke.

"What the-"

"We simply don't wanna incur the boss's wrath. Who knows what happens if you were to go from here scot-free?" Rocky sighed.

"Dude! Unfair!" Thankappan cried but if fall on deaf ears.

"I'mma tell you something else too. Outside this place right now, there's this guy named John. You know what'll happen if he comes to remember something, right?" Rocky asked.

"Okay. Leave me alone, will ya? I'll head towards the boss." It took for him to say that before they left him alone. However, they still didn't believe him completely and had few people following him like a bodyguard until Ponnappan's room. After careful consideration and reconsideration, he finally opened the door.

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