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mixture of ignoring us and having not one shred of loving human emotion made you a really lethal creature. The unbearable tension was there everyday of our sick, cancerous lives. We were tense because of your coldness. The oxygen seemed like molten lead – that’s how hard, it felt, to breathe when you were in the same room with us. We were not just scared of you; we were petrified because of your ignoring us. We were hurt because of your hate-filled eyes. That was the sad, fear-filled life you created for your own children.” “I did the best that I can, given my own difficult circumstances,” I replied. “So many times Lara and I tried to talk to you. Nothing interested you. Not one subject interested you. We bored you. And, when, somehow, you would respond to what we were talking about – you would within a few minutes explode in a frenzied rage and scream hideous insults at us! Is that what you define as ‘life’ for any human being to go through? No, woman, that is not ‘life’ as defined by any normal human being. That was pure, unrestrained torture for us. You were a truly skilled, brilliant and professional in giving us every single day, and every single night, buckets-full of the filthiest filth any sick human can imagine.” “If I screamed, it was because you were annoying idiots,” I replied dismissively. Silence. “Do you consider yourself to be a ‘human’ in any way? I mean before you go on to ask me ‘what do I mean by that question’ - I mean, how do you characterise what it is to be a ‘human being’?” “A human being is one who follows the Rules of Life and tries to succeed. Anyone who doesn’t at least try to succeed is a nobody to me. He’s not a proper human.” “I see,” said Noor, sounding slightly sarcastic, “and what exactly are those ‘Rules of Life’?” “These rules simply tell every individual that he or she must succeed in life. They must rise above the rest. It is as simple as that.” “I see, so you consider a person with a modest income and who is also a loving, compassionate and thoroughly decent person not to be a ‘proper’ person?” “Exactly. He’s an idiot who doesn’t realize that he’s an idiot.” “I see. How fascinating,” said Noor, his sarcasm increasing.