The Indian Hero and the Old American Man

By Joshua Cody

“This is an intriguing coming-of-age story that centers on friendship and love but also incorporates elements of magical realism and science fiction. The setting descriptions are vibrant, and the characters are realistic and nicely flawed.”

A thirty-seven-year-old virgin, known as the Indian Hero, has not consummated his marriage of twelve years. To top it off, he has a gold-digging girlfriend who has not slept with him in five years, an employer who owes him a year’s salary, and a dream to produce his original screenplay. But when the Hero’s path crosses with that of an elderly American man living in Saudi Arabia, everything is about to change.

After the old American invites the Hero on an eight-day vacation to Thailand to heal from his financial and emotional woes, the Hero looks forward to the respite away from his challenges in Abu Dhabi and India without any idea that the American’s goal is to recruit a go-go bar girl to take his virginity. Despite the American’s warnings to the Hero to not fall in love with the beautiful bar girl in Bangkok, he does. But will she reciprocate his feelings or leave him a lonely man just like all the other women in his life?

In this engaging novel of friendship and self-discovery, an American man takes an Indian hero under his wing to help him heal his mind, body, and spirit while on a vacation in Thailand.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Release date: May 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781543751246

Joshua Cody

Joshua Cody received his bachelor's degree in music composition from Northwestern University, and his master's and doctoral degrees from Columbia University. Joshua is a composer living in New York City. [sic] is his first book.

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 by Joshua Cody.

ISBN:              Hardcover                978-1-5437-5123-9

                        Softcover                  978-1-5437-5122-2

                        eBook                       978-1-5437-5124-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

www.partridgepublishing.com/singapore

Contents

Chapter 1   Pattaya, Thailand

Chapter 2   Bangkok, Thailand

Chapter 3   Kolkata, India

Chapter 4   Six Months Later

Chapter 1

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Pattaya, Thailand

T he old American man with hazel green eyes sat in the business class lounge in Dubai International Airport, having his first glass of Scotch whisky since moving to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, seven weeks ago. He found living and working in Riyadh a completely different experience than living and working in other countries: no booze, no ladies to entertain him in his bed, and strict cultural rules. Of course the old man knew those types of cultural affairs were available in secured Western housing compounds, but he lived in a local Arabic hotel very near to his office. The old man was almost sixty-three years old. He had lived in Hong Kong, Macau, Pattaya, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh for fifteen years, as well as Luzon, Philippines, earlier in his career, and he had been divorced twice. He had been planning and relishing this eight-day trip to Pattaya and Bangkok, Thailand, for several months.

The old American man had spoken to his friend the Indian Hero a few times to beg the Hero to travel to Thailand with him. The old man even offered to pay for the Hero’s expenses. The old American had called his friend to convince him to travel to Thailand since he truly believed the man deserved a relaxing and entertaining holiday with the old man in Thailand. The old man used the term hero as the man’s name because of the definition of hero is a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character. The Hero fully filled that definition in many ways. He had a wife who had not consummated their marriage of twelve years and a gold-digging girlfriend who would not make love with him, and an employer in Abu Dhabi owed to the Hero twelve months of salary. The old man also knew the Hero had written a script and a screenplay and that the Hero and his New Delhi partner were trying their damned best to get the film produced through their Bollywood connections. The Hero and his partner were both using their credit cards to survive. The old man’s goal was to convince the Hero to join the old man in Thailand, where he would be able to find a new nickname for the Indian Hero.

After his first whisky, the old American noticed his friend was online on WhatsApp, so the old man decided to make one more plea to the Hero to join him for a holiday in Thailand. After all, the old man still had three more hours before he had to board his flight. The old man sent a message to the Hero: Son, you deserve the holiday I am offering you!

The Hero responded immediately: I have too much at stake to go to Thailand with you for eight days, old man.

The old man refused to give up, and they chatted for two more hours, but the Hero would not accept the invitation. The old man made one last text to the Hero. Son, you are in serious disarray both financially and emotionally. I promise you that Thailand will heal you.

The old man drank one last glass of Scotch, and then he walked to the boarding gate. As he was about to sit down in the business class seat, the old man heard a chat signal on his phone.

The Hero had sent the old American a message: Old man, my flight arrives in Bangkok tomorrow night at seven.

The old American replied, Best decision you ever made, son. I double-dog guarantee you. I will pick you up at the airport tomorrow night.

The old man found Lon, the driver, in the same location in the Suvarnabhumi Airport where he always did when arriving at the airport. They drove the seventy minutes to the two townhouses in Pattaya that the old man had bought for his ex-wife, Cream. The old man and Cream had been together for thirteen years, but the old man had demanded a divorce one year ago when he discovered that Cream had been using their money to help finance a niece’s debts in Australia. Cream’s mother urged Cream to send the money to her niece. But Cream had not asked the old man or even told the old man until the old man discovered their joint bank account had greatly diminished.

The old man had met Cream in a bar in Nana Plaza in Bangkok. They both fell in love. It took Cream two years to talk the old man into marriage. Like most bar girls, her first husband who had never officially married Cream got her pregnant, and she had a baby girl on her sixteenth birthday. Cream’s family kicked the husband out of their tiny village after he beat Cream too many times. Like many Isan ladies who had similar experiences, Cream’s mother persuaded her to find a job in a go-go bar in Bangkok.

Cream was not happy that the old man had invited his friend to stay at the townhouses, as she had hoped to spend some special time with the old man to convince him to remarry her. Cream’s plan was not unknown to the old American man. Sweetheart, please be nice to my friend. Remember: we are only good friends now.

Okay, tirak. I will.

That evening, the old American was travelling to Suvarnabhumi Airport with Lon when he heard a sound. He asked Lon to repeat what he had said.

The driver said, Old man, I did not say anything. I heard you talking.

Tell me what you think I said.

The driver looked at the old man and said, I heard a huge booming sound. Look at the sky. The old man could see the driver’s eyes getting very big, and Lon loudly said, Look at the sky!

That is what I heard you say, Lon!

Old man, turn your head around and look at the sky!

When the old man turned his head to look out the car window, the spiritual scenery dazzled him. Lon steered to the side of the freeway and parked the car. He was not the only driver doing the same.

The old man and Lon stepped out of the truck, and the old man asked Lon if he had ever seen anything like it before.

Never, old man. No one has. Look at all the cars stopping and the people getting out of them. Everyone must be thinking Buddha gave us this wonderful scenery.

The old man opened his phone and started taking photos of the mysterious sight. He heard the prayers from the Thai people praising Buddha.

Lon was crying when he started again driving the car to the airport. The old man kissed Lon’s cheeks, saying, What a glorious day, Lon. Lon smiled and nodded.

After another seventy-five minutes, Lon and the old American were waiting for the Hero in the area of the airport just outside of the customs exit. The time spent looking at the sky had caused them to arrive after the Hero should have departed the luggage area and travelled through customs to the arrival station.

After thirty more minutes, the old American dialled the Hero’s number.

The old man heard someone answer the phone, but it was not the Hero; a Thai voice was speaking. Hello, is this the Indian man’s friend?

The old American asked the stranger in Thai to tell him the name of the person from India, and when the old man heard the name, the old man said, Yes, is there a problem?

Yes. He has to go back to Abu Dhabi.

The old man asked the Thai agent to explain why the Hero had to return to Abu Dhabi. The Thai agent said, We not give visa for friend you. The old man learned that the next flight to Abu Dhabi was in six hours, and he asked for the telephone number of the man who was planning on sending the Hero back to Abu Dhabi.

The old man fully understood he could not change the agent’s mind, and he realized he needed to find a Thai friend with special powers, so the old man called Cream, who wielded special powers and connections. Fifteen minutes later, the old man was kissing the Hero’s cheek, telling him, Son, welcome to Thailand. Sabai dee krap.

The old man then called Cream to thank her and asked, "Cream, what special powers did you use to get my friend’s visa?

The immigration officer received a call from my nephew, who is a very powerful police colonel in Bangkok. Cream cackled out a laugh. See you soon, tirak.

As the three men walked to the truck, the Hero said the old man, Old man, please explain to me what just happened. I was a villain for two hours and then a celebrity.

Son, just be happy that Cream has very powerful relatives.

The sky was dark, so the Hero could not see Thailand’s lush, green, and beautiful countryside. The two men were quiet as they rode to Pattaya. The Indian Hero chuckled, so the old American man asked the Hero why he was chucking.

Old man, I cannot believe I am actually in Thailand for the first time. I am so frigging excited to be with you. I do hope that your resounding quote Thailand will heal you does indeed heal my mind, body, and spirit. By the way, the last time you were in Abu Dhabi, we had a few drinks together in a bar near Yas Beach.

Yes we did. What about it?

You introduced me to a beautiful Filipina bartender, and you two were really flirting with each other, old man. How is your relationship with her? I forgot her name.

The old man’s eyes glimmered while he chuckled and answered the Hero’s question. The gorgeous lady’s name is Kyla. I have known her for more than five years and had a friend-only relationship with her until she learned I divorced Cream. Kyla had an American boyfriend who is a married man, but she dropped him after my divorce with Cream because, as it turns out, she has some loving feelings for me. We have had an interesting and cordial relationship, but we have only met each other at her bar. I never had a date with her. My holiday now is for twelve days, eight days of which are for here in Thailand, and four days for Abu Dhabi. The time in Abu Dhabi is mainly for Kyla and me to spend some quality time together. But first I need to focus on Thailand.

Wow, old man, do you have loving feelings for Kyla? If so, are you still planning on having fun with the Thai ladies?

Hero, I do have some good feelings about Kyla, but I do not want a relationship for marriage. Remember: I had two divorces already. You know what? I do enjoy being a single man now.

Understood, old man.

The two men rode the rest of the way to Pattaya in the truck.

After a seventy-minute drive, the truck arrived at the two townhouses the old man had bought for Cream. Cream was waiting inside the house when the Hero walked into one of the lovely homes. The Hero was staggered by Cream’s beauty—especially her breath-taking eyes.

Cream looked at the Hero and gave him a Thai "waii greeting before kissing his cheek. The old man did not tell me you were so handsome, Hero she said with a beautiful smile. Your room is upstairs, so take your bags to your room and enjoy a lovely cold shower, and then you can eat the luscious fresh fish I have bought for you."

The Hero was gobsmacked. His face was blushing. Then he realized what name Cream had used when she spoke to him. Old man, does Cream know why you call me the Hero?

The old man had been watching and had noticed the Hero’s infatuation with Cream. Yes, but she does not believe me.

Cream said, Yes, old man, I thought what you said could not be true, but now that I have witnessed his innocence, I believe what you told me is true. I hope the first Thai lady you buy for him understands the treasure she will receive.

The Hero was about to display his displeasure at being the root of the attention when the old man said, Son, do as lovely Cream suggests. After we eat, you and I will drink whisky and smoke cigarettes, and I will play you some music that will enlighten your senses.

That night, the Hero and the old man did just as the old man had promised. They drank whisky, smoked cigarettes, and the old man played old music: Turn the Page by Bob Seger, I Just Dropped In by Kenny Rogers, The Big Bad Wolf by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs House of the Rising Sun by the Animals, Feeling Good by Nina Simone, Back to Black Amy Winehouse, and Planet of New Orleans by Dire Straits. This did enlighten the Hero’s brain and inner senses.

At 2.00 a.m., the old man turned off his phone. Son, I have a busy day planned for us tomorrow. The very first thing will be our daily workout.

No worries, old man. I am an insomniac; I will be awake before you.

After brushing his teeth, the old man used his phone’s contact application and called Kyla. Kyla answered the phone. Hi, Cody. You know I am working, so make this a quick call.

Yes, I’ll be quick, dear. We are now in Pattaya and staying in Cream’s townhouse.

Cody, that’s good, because you don’t have to pay for a hotel. I have to go now. By the way, stay away from the bar girls. I do not want you to get any nasty diseases—especially when you and I will have some time together next week. Okay?

Kyla, Kyla … I will sleep now. Bye.

Good night, Cody.

Ten hours later, the old man was talking to Cream. Sweetheart, I am worried about him. Are you sure he is okay?

Before Cream could answer, the Hero suddenly appeared with his eyes sparkling when he walked out of the townhouse to sit with the old man on the patio. The Hero noticed weights and barbells and a skipping rope on the patio. Did you work out, old man? I slept like a log today, and I never can sleep for more than two or three hours at a time. When the old man said he had waited for the Hero until 10.00 a.m. before starting his exercises, the Hero said, I promise I will work out with you tomorrow.

The Hero never joined the old American man for his daily workout. He slept past noon each day.

The old man told Cream that he and the Hero were going to Pattaya Klang and Walking Street to drink some beers and play pool. Cream said, Okay, but no short-time adventures with the bar girls, tirak.

The Hero asked the old man what Cream meant. The old man said, I will explain later.

Cream knew the old man’s routine when he visited the townhouses, and she had called for two motorbike taxis to arrive at 2.00 p.m.

The motorbikes took the two men to Sukhumvit Road, where the old man told the Hero they would walk the remaining three kilometres to a bar he regularly visited when he ventured to Pattaya. The Hero was thrilled with walking and talking with the old man and was surprised when the old man walked into a bar after what seemed to have been only a few minutes.

The old man ordered Leo beer for them both with ice. The Hero could not imagine drinking beer with ice and decided to tell the old man to forget about the glass of ice. He would drink the beer from the bottle as he had always done.

The pretty bar service girl brought the beers and waved to the old man, speaking to him in Thai. Sabai dee Kap Tirak?

The old man responded in English. Sweetheart, I am good. This is my friend.

Tirak, you are a handsome man. Do you want a lady?

The old man responded, No, not today, sweetheart.

The Hero asked the old man, Did she just ask you if you want to take her?

"No, son. I have been drinking and playing pool at this bar for over ten years, and I have never taken a bar girl from here. She knows that. She was asking