My Hero, My Achilles

Cabir was a bully by nature. The bullying is probably still there, but not as dominant as it had been before. Yes, he had done some pretty unforgivable things. I never justify them. I just think it was his own twisted way of dealing with the world...and he got his payback for it as well.

First, the guy lost his image. People made fun of his sexuality, made fun of the person he loved. And as if it wasn't enough to crush his ego and self-esteem, he and his love became victim to a hate-crime.

He lost his love, who walked away when he was not in his senses. With whom he couldn't even have a proper closure. He had to let it go because he didn't have any choice. He didn't complain.

He lost his mom, the only family he's always counted on. Who was his shelter, his sanity, his normalcy, his friend, his bro, his rock. His mom couldn't take him for who he is and he had to walk out of the place that had always been his. He understood the harsh reality. He didn't complain.

Gone are the days when he used to drive his jeep around the campus like a boss. When he didn't have to worry about a place to live, bills to pay...when he didn't have fend for himself because that is not what a 19 year old man is supposed to do. Now he doesn't know where he will go, where will he live or what will he do with his life. His music, which was a passion for him has also become a need, a means to survive now, because passion doesn't pay your bills. He understands. He doesn't complain.

The only thing keeping him sane now is his group of friends, Fab5. When this 19 year old man is trying so hard to sort out all the shit in his life and that too by keeping all his sass and coolness intact, suddenly one friend comes and demands forgiveness for the person who had done it ALL, because it's her Bhai and apparently, he's changing.

He feels hurt. He feels cornered. Abandoned. He snaps, at everyone, at the person who'd promised to always have his back. He feels betrayed and walks out.

He goes on to try to find a house, within his budget, because even though he studies in one of the most expensive colleges in the city, he isn't a crorepati ghar ka ladka. Not anymore.

Then he receives an emergency text from the friend who hadn't had his back a while ago, and he curses. He gets in on the same auto, because his friend needs him.

And eventually, he gives in. He gets upset, frustrated, hurt, but even though it is him who has been wronged again and again he is the one to say sorry. One sorry. Because sometimes this one word does magic. And so it did. It mended the friendships that had almost fallen apart...it made everything so simple. And then he goes on to say, with his usual coolness "What are you doing tomorrow afternoon? I'll accompany you to the police station." He'll let that person, who destroyed the comfort and the happiness and the only love of his life, out because his friend has asked him. If it makes her happy, then be it. If it keeps the only good thing in his life intact, then be it. Why should their friendships suffer for his hurt, his loss, his pain? It shouldn't. So even though the face of the culprit makes him want to strangle him on the spot maybe, he doesn't do anything. Even though he knows the person's true colors, he is not going to argue, not anymore. He simply says "I'm feeling suffocated."

And the next day, he is back with his CoolCa-bir sass, his sarcasm and his jokes. Because that's what his image is. That's how he's supposed to be. That's how he's been fighting all along. He has his vulnerabilities, his weakness where the world keeps throwing poison arrows, but he won't give up being a hero till his last breath. That sass is his armor and he, is my modern-day Achilles.

. . . .

I don't even know why I wrote this thing. Guess I'm high on Cabir today so never mind me.

P.S. In Literature it's a very debatable topic whether Achilles was gay or not 😳 #randomfacts #jussayin

The beautiful irony is that the character became everyone's Bae
after the disclosure about his orientation. Mostly, the reverse happens. Even
the most loved characters loose popularity after such revelations or the
character, if known as anything but straight from the start might not get
popular in the first place. They tried showing gay tracks in some other popular
shows on the big entertainment channels but they did not get dealt with
rightly

What I see is that people love Cabir, I have seen people
raving about him on other social media sites even though they are not
comfortable with the idea of homosexuality. This character is someone who is
making people look beyond just his tag of gay'. The people who do not
understand homosexuality and find it to be weird or wrong look at him and see past
that, see him for who he is. We get the token gay characters on shows who are just
that, nothing else that defines them. When have we seen one f the main
characters on a show being gay and still so much loved. Because he is not the gay
guy' on the show.

We had 70+ episodes before the revelation and he had already
made himself more than just that. He is a protective friend, he loves
intensely, he hates passionately, he is a prankster, he is perceptive and
sarcastic, he is someone who distributes laughter and smiles infinitely, he is
a loving son, a Momma's boy, he is a bully, he is sadistic to the people he
loves and to those he hates, his mind is a creative place and he is an artist,
he is like a new-born spirit who believes in living his life like to the
fullest, either it be during the hard times or the times of happiness and fun
and then he is like this old-soul who is too wise, too experienced and mature
for someone who is only 19 years of age. He believes in partying all night like
any other teenage boy and living in the moment, not letting it be affected by
the bigger, personal issues and dilemmas. Then he is a Man who gives importance
to his self-respect, who has his priority set straight, who doesn't resent his
Mother for being ashamed of him for who he is but who does know that he cannot
live with her because he definitely is not ashamed of himself ..Not anymore! A Man-boy
who has so much hurt, anger and hate
inside of him, who feels he is a winner because he had courage to follow his
heart but who still is disappointed in his love, who knows that he was wronged
and wants to see his offender being punished but who despite being a teenager
boy who hates[And boy, do they hold on to their hate or what], is also a mature
Man who loves too much, cherishes the few things that he still has left in his
life, and is too sorted and wise to let it all go because of the same guy who
stole the things that he doesn't have any more.

He is not as carefree as he used to be, he can't afford it
but nothing can stop him from being the free spirit that he is. So much damage
has been done, so many problems he faced one by one, so many things he lost one
after another and still he continues to be the very guy with unlimited humor,
wit and laughter that he spreads whole-heartedly. He is someone who never
resents the people he loves for being happy, finding happiness and love when
his own life has fallen so royally apart. Because he himself is the one who
encourages them, pushes them towards it and finds love in their love, happiness
in their happiness, anger in their despair, protectiveness in their vulnerabilities.
He lets himself be so vulnerable, he stands there when people judge him for being
who he is and he never justifies himself because he doesn't need to. His people
are at his side so he doesn't need validations from anyone else but can't help
but feel guilty when the people he loves get hurt because of him.

And he is a kameena through and through, he is adorable in his deviousness and in his not-goodness.He is a harami as Ayaz says, he is self-centered, selfish to the world and selfless for his friends, He is Cabir, he is cool, his is wise and a 'chippad' who by the way is also gay, deal with it or don't.Not Bira's headache.

He feels like he will be sick if he stands there, so close
to the person who ruined everything from him but he went there because he loves
too much to let the hate win.He is a human, he cannot forgive and even
expecting him to forgive is so ridiculous I won't even start about it.He cannot
forgive, he explains why he can't and doesn't feel guilty for it and I love him
for that. But he gives in and gives his friend what she wants, something that
is important to her as a sister because he can't lose the friendship, he can't
even think about making a decision which would result in the breaking of his
group of people so he lets go ... He doesn't want to, it goes against his
individuality but he does because he will choose them over himself any day and I
respect him too much for that to resent him for letting it go.Doesnt mean I don't
resent the unfairness of it all, because I do. But seeing from his point of
view, he gave Aliya what he himself wants so bad -His only family by blood back
in his life.This boy, this Man.

After this, he has proved that he can do anything for these
people, as if he hadn't already proved it before. Now the ball is in the other's court. Now,
when things go wrong and everything starts falling apart again because of this
one decision he made, I need to see him let go and break down, I need to see
his rage and his anger, I need to see him vent out till he has nothing left in
him, till he passes out because frankly, it hurts to see him like this.It hurts
to see him force himself to smile when he wants to cry out in frustration and helplessness.
It hurts to see him make other people laugh and lighten up the atmosphere with
his wit when in the inside, he is breaking and doesn't know what will happen to
him and his life, when he is worrying about a roof on his head and paying his
bills and thinking about how to make his Mom proud of him.

He will have resentment towards everyone who agreed for this
bail, who wanted it when that guy comes after them and does more damage to them
individually and as a group.Either it be himself, Manik,Mukti and Nandini or
anyone close to him who suffers again because of the psycho, the resentment
will come out on full force. The tiff wasn't dealt with; they didn't have to.No
one had to draw lines and choose sides and take the matters ahead because Cabir
didn't let it come to that.But it will come to that and the choice will have to
be made and then wont it be interesting. Let us see what Cabir gets back in
return for this ...

In all of this, when Cabir breaks, it has to be in front of
Manik or Nandini - these two people who understand him in their own ways just
like he gets both of them in his own way.CabIni is so precious because we saw
it happening, we saw how they came together and now have their own thing going
on apart from Manik. ManBir is special, and they remind me of that with every
episode. From the time Cabir came running back to Manik, their conversation
about Nandini till the whole Police station debacle and how in tune Manik is
with him, how he was like this constant support on Cabir's back waiting for
Cabir to break. I love to see them being so themselves and seeing Cabir getting
his wit back just by hearing Manik trying to be something other than rowdy,
snarky and kameena in front of him.They bring out the smirks and smiles from
each other just with small words and pointed expressions. The bromance is on
every moment, even when the whole gang is together. And Manik stood by Cabir in
the music room with his hand around his back even while both of them were being
kameenas and teasing my baby. He handles them and they are the only ones who
can handle this guy, whom I trust to handle him and care for him in the way he
deserves and needs. At this point, the breakdown, the resentment and everything
else not pretty and witty, coming out of him won't just be accepted, it will be
welcomed with open hands. His breakdown has been awaited so restlessly and every
time he slides it off and moves on.Oh, how beautiful and ugly it will be.

On a lighter note, MaNanBir is the Mothership of all
freaking ships to ever ship including Aur Jo Bhi Hai'. Ukhaad Lo!😳

- Unres'd

Wow 👏

Brilliant post!

Cabir is one of the most beautifully shown character on the show. And you've done a fascinating job of penning it down.

I love how you wrote down every single bit.

Perfectly written and described. As if it is him speaking out these words.

It was such a pleasure reading this!

Great job!

Loved it!

Hinal 😳

Bira be such a sadist. Having fun at Baba's cost -__-

yes cabir has seen, been there in all the glory n the lows that life has to offer in such short span of time. Yet he doesnt lose his innate sass, wit, jest. He is one character who has truly transformed from the most annoying bully to an adorable wise full of life character whom i can relate to.

I loved your article. Cabir is one of my favourite characters. Rarely do we see such positive vibe, such awesomeness.

I like how you pointed out that he is a 19 year old MAN. That is what he is. He had to grow up fast and how, from 19 year old youngster to a Man overnight.

Taking inspiration from your post, this is what I have to say:

Such sadness inside, yet a happy face

Such heartbreak inside, yet so much love

World has taken everything, but he a generous soul

Is he a boy you ask, no a Man I say

Going headlong into a battle,to make himself a place

Love

MD