Story Overview:

“Jonk” (Leech) is a psychological short story centred on an emotionally detached protagonist who receives the grim news of a woman’s suicide attempt from his acquaintance, Saleem. Rather than reacting with sympathy, the protagonist displays indifference and even irritation, revealing his deep emotional numbness and the strained, almost parasitic nature of his relationships. Saleem’s presence seems to exacerbate the protagonist’s sense of suffocation and anxiety, highlighting the draining effect certain people and memories have on his psyche.

As the story unfolds, the protagonist’s attempts to distract himself—from parties to phone calls and movies—only deepen his sense of alienation and guilt. The recurring motif of an unmarked grave and unresolved past relationships symbolises the emotional burdens he carries, which he cannot escape despite the passage of time. In the end, the protagonist is left wandering the city, weighed down by his own emotional baggage, much like a leech that clings and drains, unable to let go or find relief.