I received an email from Dad from Bahrain on christmas eve for the first time in a very long time and at first, I thought it was a christmas wish –until I clicked it open. I knew my dad wouldn’t dare wish me for christmas and I was right. My Atheism is what made us not see eye to eye; so if he values god more than family relationships, then be it. Instead, it contained this….

From: Dad
Subject: Fw: Scan Data from FX-262344

Dear Mr Ruben,

Today there is a card for you from US. Scan copy attached. The cover is
Red in colour.

Short and to the point (whats there to talk between us anyway). Someone sent a card to my Bahrain address and dad scanned it and mailed it over. Its not like him to do this, but whatever. I downloaded the attached scan data and opened it. To my surprise, it was this…

“Hi, please notice I didn’t say the word you don’t like. your old 360 friend.”

The word I don’t like would be”Merry Christmas”. Renae is my friend in South Carolina. I met her in a social networking site called Yahoo! 360. She is an Atheist too, if my memory is correct (we never really discussed religion between us). Its been a very long time since Me & Renae talked since real life demands so much of your time. I never even expected anyone to remember me at this time of the year.

Last christmas was a cold one, this time it was even more. But this card brought a little happiness like a hot cup of coffee on a cold winter night given by someone you love. It was black & white, and came out of an old printer; but still, it feels great.

College is closed for winter. Its always deserted but I like to go there and spend time. I spent the last two days alone in my dorm. There wasn’t anyone around since everyone went home for vacation. I don’t have a home to go to anyway. Sister is away and there isn’t anyone in our house back home, Cochin in Kerala. I don’t want to go to Bahrain since dad would make everything worse and I wont be even this happy (the little happiness that I have now). So my Yule was spent for the first time alone, in Bangalore.

I like being alone. I’m more comfortable with myself than being with anyone else. I walk through the corridors at night, since that is the time I wake up. I spend a lot of time talking to myself. I smoke more and watch the screen saver of my phone change shapes and colour hoping that it would stop and someone from my contact list would appear. I knew better not to expect any calls, since no one likes to call the Grinch.

I’m glad that they know that the Grinch wouldn’t be fun to have along if you they are celebrating the season “the christian way”. I’m glad no one from my real life wished me. This just proves that my stands are pretty clear for everyone. But Renae found a way around it and made the Grinch smile. Things like this is what makes me realize that the people I talk online are real people too. I still don’t call my readers and friends online “real”. I seriously need a reality check now and then. Anyway, Thanks Renae.

I just wish that christians would stop making the holiday into their own political agenda. The non-religious would also like to enjoy the holidays and winter solstice without the ridiculous decorations or santas and religion being shoved down our throat.

=]