I Just Want To Be Average

"The Bresnian province gets its name from the Bresnian family. It's actually an interesting story."

I could hear him grinning. I saw Dia's face lighting up. And I felt my face scrunch.

I knew the story. And I knew I told it better.

"I know," I cut in, and took over. "Taireh Bresnian was the housekeeper for the Baruch family. The Baruch family was the first family of the region. The landlords for generations. The province was actually named after them. But it all changed with the province signing into the republic, and the signing authority being Taireh Bresnian, the guardian of the sole surviving member of the Baruch family, the twelve year old Sairah."

"It was the perfect conjunction of chance and fortune," Dia said.

"Screw that," Pratt challenged. "Dia doesn't believe in the discredited account of the gardener of the Baruch estate. She says it's a baseless conspiracy. I hold faith. Where do you stand Dean?"

I had the answer ready. I was so sure it would be unexpected.

"People vs Vycar Bottling Company. Know the case?"

I was almost smiling as I asked the question.

I was so wrong.

"Of course," the twins answered immediately.

"The people of Vycar county filed a suit against Vycar Bottling Company for fraud," Dia expanded.

"Under the guise of bottling, the company was actually stealing the ground water of the county and selling it for profits, none of which made it to the county," Pratt continued.

"Being the largest employer in the county, the mayor and a considerable population were in favour of the company."

"Adan Faizei, the president heading operations in the county, was the heir of the Faizei family. The beloved son of the county. So, it blew up into an all encompassing feud."

"While the case was proceeding in favour of the company, and the prem.a.t.u.r.e celebrations had begun, the mayor suddenly changed sides, providing evidence for the people. He was a double agent all along. He submitted doc.u.ments to the court that were supposed to be filed as public records but were actually hidden away. Doc.u.ments that shed light on the deceit and the lying."

"And so began the fight of the people. The mayor brought along friends, employees of the company, who released company doc.u.ments."

"Of course, it was the genius of the people's lawyers that got the doc.u.ments admitted."

"So, the people finally won. The company had to shut down the operations in Vycar county. A hit it never recovered from."

"And Adan Faizei, the beloved son, became the face of treachery."

"So, which side do you stand on?"

I could feel the eyes on me. Dia's from the side. Pratt's from the rear view mirror.

I was so wrong underestimating the twins.

"Neither's," I answered honestly. "As the case proves, it was never about the truth. It was about what the lawyers could achieve under the guise of law, within the limits allowed by law. It is the same with Taireh and the Baruch family's accident. The gardener did hear Taireh admitting to causing the accident. But he was no match for the slyness of the housekeeper, and the powerful friends of old Taireh. The gardener was naive, and unable to conceive the truth. It was a much greater conspiracy. It wasn't merely what Taireh had achieved. And all the gardener managed was to give the conspiracy a face that was much too small to birth more than a small ripple."

"So, you do believe there's a conspiracy."

"I don't think anyone doubts that. Not even Dia."

Dia shrugged. The silent answer wasn't really an answer. We wouldn't look away until she gave a proper answer. Sighing, she answered.

"I don't know. Not after what Dean just said. I never thought of it from that perspective."

"And that's not all," I added. "Adrain Baruch wasn't against the republic. He was in fact ready to sign much earlier. And he was friends with the government. So, what was the need to have him gone?"

Jerry finally had something to say as we fell silent.

"Consider what followed. Taireh signed for young Sairah. Had the province named after the Bresnian family. The government signed an agreement with the Bresnian province, taking over the rights for Baux extraction for 99 years. In return, the province would have taxes waived off. That's the first point. Second, a group of families grew powerful in the capital city, and thus grew powerful in the country. Third, a few years later, Taireh's son died to an illness. His wife and daughter were disheartened, and passed away not long after. The heirless Taireh returned the authority to Sairah who came of age. Fourth, ruins of the Nashi civilisation were discovered within the boundaries of the province. Sairah signed over the complete rights to the Fuikasha society. Fifth, Baux deposits in the province proved to be lesser than anticipated, depleting much earlier. But the province had to pay no taxes for the duration of the agreement."

Jerry finished and fell silent. The three of us fell into thought. What Jerry said was much bigger than any conspiracy we could conceive.

"The advantage of hindsight is that it offers greater room for retrospection. Almost everything is laid b.a.r.e, to ensure the truth is deciphered. It is a testament of one's capability, how much is understood."

I had to admit grudgingly that Jerry was impressive. Not just in how much his hindsight explained but also with what he said in the end.

"That's how our classes are going to be," Jerry said.

It was clear that he was speaking to me.

"Not merely advising, but discussing. In this case, I knew more. In others, you might know more than me. We'll be discussing and enlightening all of ourselves. Like Pharaohs', it's Dia's domain."

"That it so surely is," Pratt agreed.

And the two burst out laughing. I couldn't ask what the joke was, because I knew they would say, I'd understand soon. They were so hateful.