earlier in the day, faathumaafulhu, her friend jane and i were walking around in thulusdhoo to meet @onesupguy.

jane and my sister studied together a while ago – they’ve been friends since. and i must admit, it is way less ridiculous to walk around in thulusdhoo with a white person. but dear god, are thulusdhoo’s restaurants expensive!

‘i have therapy today,’ my sister tells me.

‘great,’ i say. ‘by the way, do you ever talk to your therapist about me?’

‘all the time i bet,’ says jane, making my sister laugh. huh, what’s that supposed to mean anyway?

soon, this scrawny, scruffy man hops towards us, beaming. i introduce my sister and jane to him.

‘hi, i am onesup guy and i’d like to be called as such,’ says onesupguy, making jane laugh.

he takes us to his part of the beach. it’s cloudy and the wind is relentless but the waves are tiny in the lagoon. onesupguy gives the girls instructions and then watches them as they maneuver the board in the water.

‘let’s go get a coffee,’ i tell onesupguy.

‘can we just leave them like that? there’s a bit of a current coming in and out of the gap.’

‘they’re good swimmers, man. let’s go.’

and off we move towards golhaa view nearby. onesupguy gets a nescafe mocha and i get a ginger beer and we sit under a sumbrella with our drinks.

‘i saw you shaking sand off from your flip flops like a tourist as you walked,’ says onesup.

‘did i really?’ i ask.

‘i’m just messing with ya,’ he says.

‘man, when are you going to record the album?’ i ask. because as some would know, onesupguy is not just a sup renter, he is also a musician of enviable skill.

‘i don’t know, i’m still learning, i try to devote my time to the study of music when i can,’ he speaks rapidly. ‘you know, to stay sane. i make time for it.’

i nod. a man needs something to retain his sanity in this world of farce.

the wind blows specs of sand into my face and mouth. i sputter, making onesupguy laugh.

‘someone told me my onesup persona is the digital manifestation of my midlife crisis,’ he tells me.

dear god, i think. is husenfulhu MINE?

‘at least you’ve stayed true to your essence,’ i manage to say.

‘yes but what is my essence?’ he asks. then he takes a gulp from his can and begins to flatten it with his fingers. that must have been a rhetorical question.

soon, the girls come over.

‘did you two bring the sup in from the water?’ asks onesup.

‘yep,’ says faathumaafulhu. ‘we’re impressed cos you have just literally one sup, onesupguy.’

jane laughs. she must be one of those few who finds my sister funny.

‘yes, i am what i am,’ says onesup and the girls laugh again. so much laughter it seems obscene.

am i what i am, though, i think as we make our way back to the guesthouse. really, am i?