Prologue 1 - Mark Eisner: The beginning of grief

#NOTE: The main story line begins in chapter 1. This series of 3 prologues is required for the introduction of the MC, and his journey to the start of the real plot line. It is highly recommended that you read the prologue first. You may skip it as it does not affect the main storyline but is just a buildup.

Human life is something from which nothing can be expected, neither good nor bad. Events unfold themselves as they were destined to, and all that the humans can do, is to become a "destiny-obeying" damned scapegoats and watch as things happen to them. Some of them get lucky and are able to get the best of it, and there are some.... who don't get a goddamn penny. There are some, who suffer even though they didn't deserve it. There are some, who shed tears in a corner, shutting off their grief. There are some, who cry out loud, asking for help. And... There are some.... who don't care for what happens to them. They just live out their lives, carefree of all failures, bearing with all of their messed-up experiences, casting away all their fears of destiny....

And they... are the ones.... who have the real power to change the whole world.

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A very jolly man was making his way through a series of very well-lit, wide corridors. He was fair in complexion. Naturally wavy, jet-black hair was dangling from the very edges of his temple. A set of deep-set black eyes reflected an emotion of unmoving serenity. His nose was thin and sharp, a trait which he had triumphantly acquired from his late mother. His thin, moistened lips were radiating a very satisfying smile. He was tall enough to tower over the fellow people he was passing by, though they didn't seem to notice him.

With elegant and brisk steps, the man came to a halt in front of a highly polished, large wooden door. Nervously adjusting his already-perfectly-positioned necktie, he carefully made a slight knock on the door.

The unusually amplified knock was answered by a very business-like voice, "Come in."

Putting all his effort into forcing a charming smile on his face and correcting his posture, the man made a swift hand maneuver, opening the door, making the slightest sound possible. 

He was greeted by a room large enough to be labeled a hall. It was large enough to fit an average-sized club basketball court. All of the visible flooring of the room was covered with posh, grey carpets. The wall directly opposite to the door was fully made out of tinted glass panes, providing a dull but vibrant view of the city life outside. Being fully air conditioned, the breeze from the AC right in front of the man gave his hair a light air-lift, making them wave a little, exposing all of his mystical eyes. Though his smile was made-up, it was quite satisfactory for the presentation he was about to make.

The center of the room was carefully furnished with a large, "U" shaped table, made of heavy metal, facing directly towards the right, to a blank screen, where the man was supposed to present his proposition. Around the table, the 8 designated seats were presided by all the top board members of the company the man worked for.

It was his dream job, of being a software engineer, in order to achieve his dream of bringing worldwide equality to distribution of basic computer services and battle for the end of the age of online content piracy.

And today was something which can be termed a "Red-Letter Day" for him. He had been preparing himself for this very day. Days and nights spent in practice were now going to be paid off as he made elegant strides, positioning himself right in front of the "U" shaped table, facing all the top employees of the company, who, on the contrary, were eyeing him with a somehow very smug expression.

With a very cheerful tone, the man greeted all of them in a professional way, trying to grasp one hundred percent of their attention towards him.

In respond to his greetings, a handsomely suited man of fifty, with greying hairs, sitting in the penultimate seat behind the table to his right replied in the same business-like tone, " A very good morning to you, Mr. Eisner. I hope that you have been having a great day. I believe that you must have really put your effort into the presentation of yours, but we have a very grave notice for you."

Eisner, who had already begun to rearrange his sheets, abruptly stopped in his actions. Turning his face towards the representative, his face still forcing a charming smile, he asked him with a slight frown, " I did not quite get you sir, can you please kindly explain to me what you mean by that?".

The man, who was eyeing him intently broke the silence with the same, expressionless, business-like tone. "It pains me tell you this, but your presentation schedule has been scrapped off the list. Moreover, your name has been struck off our employee registers as of now."

The color and happiness which was reflecting from the face of Eisner drained. His face turned the palest shade of white. His heart sank to the deepest pit of his stomach. Lips shaking, he said, "Why do you say that sir? Are you kidding with me?".

The old man continued in the same voice, "It is no joke, Mr. Eisner. Recently, we have been experiencing a great loss in the shares we have in the stock market. Moreover, our products are being less frequently than usual. Even our NASDAQ value has decreased by a whole 10%."

Eisner was already aware of that fact. He had always kept a check on the current situation of the company's economy. But he had always assumed the best out of it and believed that somehow, his company would get out of such a dire situation. He had always believed that his beloved company would fight till the end. But what conclusion they derived was something which was hard to swallow for Eisner.

The man continued, "So, Mr. Eisner, we have decided that we have to fire some of our employees in order to make up for the significant decline of revenue. As a result, you have been fired from our company. We believe that the products designed by you have not sold much. They didn't match our average distribution trend. So, we concluded that you, must be fired. I'm really very sorry for you."

What he said was indeed completely true, each and every sentence of it. His products indeed, didn't sell as much as his fellow mates, which was a topic of really nasty slanders thrown upon him. Though even after that, he cast away all their humors and worked as hard as he could. It had been his dream. He couldn't possibly back away from it after he had come so far. Even though he bore dark circles, he worked all night long to complete his designated assignments, he ran from cabin to cabin, doing all the nasty paperwork which the others despised.

But all he had strived for, what he had done till the present day, it was vanishing into thin air without a trace. It was becoming as bad as his life before he had acquired his job. His cheerful eyes which were reflecting happiness were now clearly portrayed the deepest sadness. 

He didn't reply anything, he didn't fight back. He didn't have the guts to do it. He was all but one man. Another suited man, sitting right beside him on his left, broke the silence, "Though you have been fired, you have been awarded a handsome compensation for all the years of painstaking hard work you have done for us."

Eisner still didn't reply anything. His figure was frozen from head to toe like a statue. His hands had already let go of the papers he had been clutching, the presentation which he made after toiling for so long. 

"Well, this concludes our rendezvous, Mark. You may leave now. And yes.... your compensation will be transferred to you within a day through your existing bank account. Also, do make sure to notify your fellow colleagues about your dismissal. Since they'd be worried about you if you went absent for so long without prior notice", the representative sitting beside him said.

Without uttering a single word, Mark Eisner started leaving the room. There was no expression in his eyes while he left. All they showed was an unending abyss of sadness. He had lost his job.... the job he considered his dream, his only goal which he had strived for his whole life, all gone, vanished in just a matter of few minutes.

Relying this information to his colleagues was much more excruciating. Each and every word stung him like an electrode in his ears. It almost felt like blood would gush out of them any second.

But neither of his colleagues gave shit about it. Some of them just simply waved the information away as an excuse that they were busy with their stuff. Some of them produced a fake sadness on their face acting to provide him with condolences. Some of them tried to act really shocked.... but none.... none of them stood up for him. None of them gave a damn what was going to be his future plight. Nobody barged into the damn conference room to explain the representatives back into their senses.

It was that day... when Mark Eisner realized what was his place in this world. He was not the center of anything. He was just... just... a goddamn toy... just some nobody who was just cast aside. Nobody cared for him, and nobody would give shit even if he disappeared from the face of this planet. 

His expression while leaving the building was almost ironical with the one which he had entered with. Turning around one last time to gaze at his ex-heavenly abode, the place where he could forget all of his anxiety, Mark let a singular tear slide down his face before he wiped it away and was on his way.

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It has been hours since Mark Eisner has been fired from his job. The first thing he did after leaving the building was to go check his bank account. To his surprise, he really did get a compensation of roughly about 20,000 $. After that, all that he had been doing is hopping from one bar to another.

An overload of alcohol had left him in a state of dire stupor. His clothes now looked like rags draped around him. All of his senses had been flushed down the toilet and his face were all weary and covered with an umpteenth layer of dry tears. Anyone who saw him would almost laugh at the pitiable situation he was in.

Already having spent about 500 bucks on liquor, Mark somehow made his way back to his 1 BHK apartment at Panorama Heights. To add to his solitude, his apartment was situated at the topmost floor, floor 29. Nobody had been inhabiting that floor except him.

Staggering forward to his front door, he unlocked the door, taking almost ten minutes. Closing the door behind him, he went straight to inhabit the sofa which was lying in the center of the living room.

Sinking into it, Mark Eisner let out a heart whelming cry. A cry that even the gods could hear. A cry which would even make the devils silent if they witnessed his condition. He rested his head in his palms and let out muffled squeals, almost like a child who had lost a toy which was very dear to him. But there was no one... who could experience his grief, there was no one, to sit by his side, and comfort him...

He cried all night long, and didn't even realize when he dozed off.

But ...

this was never the end of his suffering...