Following Hakim was the only thing Sid and Ravi did when no one thought to initiate a conversation. The silence ruled their mouths. Only sound, however, you could hear was their footsteps. Just a few minutes ago the hope which was submerging in an ocean of falsehood, now it was again getting to see the face of a surface in Sid's heart.

With every step that he took, his heart was flooding with expectation. Hakim turned around and decided to have a word. "The person we're going to meet is a spin doctor." His lips twitched in a smile.

"A doctor?" Ravi and Sid voiced the query at the same time.

Hakim turned around and laughed his head off. "Not a medical doctor, of course. The one who makes video go viral." Hakim turned and kept talking. "The guy's name is Ronit. He's bit eccentric, sometimes could be cocky too, but a very talented bloke."

Makes video go viral; these four words sent a strange, crawling anticipation in Sid's guts. The excitement, however, didn't last for long because as the Joker had said: "When you're good at something never do it for free." It was dubious how much the spin doctor, Ronit, would charge. Concession for students, probably?

Hakim paced up his walking speed—leaving two blocks behind in a jiffy—he stopped at an apartment. On the top, there was signboard "Go Viral." The doors were automatic, the ones that slide open once you stand on the welcome mat. Inside you could see the well-furnished apartment, everything was tidy up. Hakim turned around and looked at Sid. "You wait here, I'll talk to him and see if he can meet you."

Sid nodded while taking in a deep breath. The latter went inside the room which looked orange because of the yellow ceiling lights.

The wheel of thoughts kept on circling in Sid's mind. He purposely kept the expectations low because the idea of getting attached to the result terrified him. He walked back and forth in the waiting room and exchanged looks with Ravi, who within five minutes started catching the glimpses of the clock.

The door pushed open, and Hakim emerged from inside. He sputtered, "C'mon, go ahead and meet him. He's willing to talk."

Again, a spasm of crawling anticipation rose within Sid's heart, he nodded and made a move. Hakim's eyes followed him from the waiting room to the office room. "Hey," was the only word from him that stopped Sid and Ravi. "I know, it'd be awkward to talk about it. But do you have any idea why I helped you?"

Sid shook his head in denial; this thing hit him with the realization that he forgot to give thanks. He observed Hakim's face; it wasn't really looking for a "thank you."

"I think, I can understand how it feels like when no one hears you, and let people judge you without knowing your story." Hakim, as always, ended up in a smile.

Sid gave a curt nod. "Yeah, I can relate to it. Thanks a ton for your help." Even though he felt it's too late to say it.

****

Ronit, who prided himself as a spin doctor, was living a typical life like everybody else. The guy, however, owned an unusual trait that made him a cut above the rest. It didn't take long for him to realize he was not meant to do the stuff that everyone does: study hard and walk on the regular track. He wanted to do something different and didn't wish for social norms to monitor his life. In his teenage, he lived like an Indian who physically lives in India but mentally in America, so much that he faked American accent. But he had the eureka moment at his coming-of-age, he decided to pursue a career which would help him govern others.

He became a spin doctor (nowadays he makes things go viral). He did get success and made several viral videos—mostly political—many clients uncredited his work though. What ticked him the most was, there were a few YouTube channels who didn't pay him well, leave alone giving him credit. The work of spin doctor is to deceive others but his "friends" hoodwinked him. Daily one hour he has to spend on blasted phone calls to get his outstanding payment, but his clients—as a ritual—kept on telling him their tales of woe and promise to pay later. He knew his heart was unnecessarily magnanimous for this selfish world.

One day another friend asked for help and promised to pay later. "Ask not what Ronit can do for you. Ask what you can do for Ronit." The spin doctor's voice rumbled across the apartment as he decided to end his charitable nature. It was high time for him to become all business and don't let his emotions to ruin the income. You see when you have bills and mortgages to pay, so posing all-compassionate like God is not going to sail your boat.

Working for political parties, however, showered him with money. But his kind heart made him feel like white among black (people with the black economy, to be precise). Also, he had to twist facts as per the politician's agenda. Dirty job. It was a fact though Ronit's talent came in handy for those politicians who hired him. But it was acche din (good days) for them, not for him.

Now Hakim told him about these college-students who are in dire need. His heart first came up with a thought to charge fewer fees. A moment later, a blaring voice rumbled in his mind: Ask not what Ronit can do for you. Ask what you can do for Ronit.

Sid entered the room first, followed by Ravi who made sure to close the door. Ronit briskly moved up his cellphone to his ears and pretended to talk. "Listen up, man," he spoke loudly, "I won't even catch a glimpse of your work if you don't pay in advance."—He motioned his pinkie at Ravi and Sid to take seats with the same hand he was holding the phone—" No, I don't want promises... Yes, I know we've worked earlier, but... Alright, I'll wait for two days if I don't get the payment I won't work." He disconnected the mock call. He formed a stern look on his face, trying to convey his uncompromising attitude toward money.

He tried to present the boys with his best professional smile (which was nothing but an awkward movement of lips). "So, guys," he said. "Hakim told me that you guys are in dire need of my help."

Sid manifested an evident natural smile compare to Ravi's stiff one. He fished for words to speak his mind about the situation that has cropped up in his life. The spin doctor leaned back in his chair, placing his right foot on the left leg, there was a chewing movement in his mouth. Ravi mistook it as bubble gum, but it was peanuts, the guy was tossing a peanut in the air and made it sure the peanut fell in his mouth.

"I don't know how to start, but I'll try to explain my situation. I was looking for answers," Sid felt silence pervaded in the room as he started talking, he thought to cut to the chase about the debate competition, but his tongue didn't speak that way. "You know, all sort of inquisitive questions. I've been to a few places to seek those answers but didn't receive satisfactory answers. My hopes, however, were never down despite bad examples I came across. I experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly on the spiritual path I decided to tread. The more I sought answers, the more lost and confused I became. I always felt a divine inspiration was guiding me through this forest of delusion. Eventually, I discovered the bhakti tradition of Lord Krishna. The path where I felt at home, I'm not saying this is the only way. I'm just saying I never believe in anything blindly; I'd been seeking for answers. I never put faith in God, I discovered Him. In fact, I was never looking for God. It just happened that He was waiting at the end of my spiritual quest."

The look on Ronit's face made it clear that he was intrigued. Sid continued, "And now, I'm here before you, I've participated in a debate competition which is controlled by corrupt people. They won't allow me to be in it; I want you to make my story heard by others, and not let others judge me as another religious bloke, brainwashed and indoctrinated into believing stupid things."

"So, do you want me to make you go viral?" Ronit said with focused and saw Sid gave him a nod. He brushed his finger through his hair as a chain of thoughts rotated in his mind. "I can try my best, but ultimately it depends on the people. They are likely to get attracted toward negativity."

"That's why we're here," Ravi said as he realized his presence was becoming redundant. "If people get to know about the truth. It'll change their mind. Just like it did to us. I used to think religions are product of an evil mind. But beyond religions there is spirituality, it is exactly like those bunch of popular motivational speakers say all the time. If they are heard by all by not him (Sid)."

A silent smile manifested on Ronit's lips and within seconds broke across into grin, bursting out with laughter. Sid and Ravi, however, were in no position to feel offended but confused. "'What is popular is not always right," the spin doctor spoke, "and what is right is not always popular,' said Albert Einstein. They say we're living in a post-truth era, the objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeal to emotion and personal belief.

"Religion, in your case, has the worst reputation in people's mind. No matter how hard you try to clear its image, but people will give the nod to popular conception. " He looked at the boys and discovered their faces displayed perplexity. "Confused?"

He got up from his chair and went toward the whiteboard, the one used for PPT presentation. He turned his chair around and landed his elbows on the top rail, making sure he won't trip and fall. "How do you define the truth? What the hell even determine truth? Do we call something as truth just because it is popularly accepted or because it is well-researched? What if I told you 'facts' that are shown to us on TV meant nothing but to program or influence our perception toward the truth, that's why they used to call it as a program." A chuckle came between his monologue, "Now they call it TV series/show and movies."

A mixed feeling manifested on Sid's face; a part was confusion, and part was curious. It was something uncommon the way Ronit unfurling his world to him. The new dimension of reality has been unlocked, this thought make past his mind.

Ronit slapped his palms together to get attention. "So," he said, "I give you two choices. Either we get started with our work (boring), or I'll tell you about the truth which is never shown on the TV or in books or taught in school or college."

A glint of inquisition twinkled in Sid's eyes. He caught a glimpse of Ravi, whose expression conveyed whatever choice his best friend make, it'd be cool with him.

Sid took in a deep breath and said. "Tell me each and everything you know."