The flight -episode 6

The good girl that I'm talking of was about 17 years of age .She worked as a nurse in a  shoddily constructed  hospital at the outskirts of Kashmir. It was the year when The Republic of China barged into its good neighbour India and the war ensued for many days.

It was then when a Chinese army man, injured and oozing with blood was brought to the hospital.
The Indian counterparts wanted to take his life as he had bravely taken life of at least a dozen Indian soldiers.But they were forbidden.So there he was lying unconsciously in a coma like state,  for about a month ,taken care by this lovely looking Kashmiri girl.About a month passed and she had got used to start her morning duties by giving the man a sponge ,making him eat ,sitting resiliently and patiently at his service.The Chinese man had started to speak a bit of Kashmiri and shared how he was forcefully taken in the army,though he wanted to become a painter. He requested her to arrange for some sheets and colours and drew a portrait of her to impress her. They had forgotten that they belonged to enemy countries and would sneak up from the hospital to spend time with each other.

But the destiny had something else in store.

"That Kashmiri lady was your Mother."Sukanya's question was rhetorical.
"Yes ", said Lin in a low sad tone.
So what happened? Sukanya was impatient.
They were forced to go separate ways as the political leaders would have it.After my father was sent back to China after the Embassy's interference,my mother discovered she was expecting me.She became pale and left the North of India and settled in the south -Kerala where I'm going to meet her.It's my face that reminds her of my dad therefore I was sent to the hostel at the early age of six.It was only when I was eighteen that she told me all this.She lost contact with her family and thrived on the love of about three months that she shared with my father.


What did she get by being a good girl ?She should have hated my father for being from an enemy country?Why couldn't she?

Lin's voice had lost its  flirtatiousness .

Sukanya was dead silent.The flight was about to land.All that she could think was how appearances can be deceptive.This Chinese looking man had made her realize that in just about three hours.

The air-hostess announced that the flight was about to reach their destination.As the flight landed and Sukanya walked out of the airport into the waiting arms of her husband:her eyes were on Lin who suddenly interspersed into the maddening crowd.

The flight-episode 5

"So, what's your name ?", the Chinese looking  man asked with a casualness bereft of any real intention to know Sukanya's name.

"It's Sukanya", she replied in a curt , distanced tone.

"So, are you really a good girl, I think that's what your name means, right?"

Sukanya was amazed at the man's response as he was definitely not Indian. She had evaluated his being a North Eastern  but had waved it off because there was a certain foreignness in him.She looked long at his small eyes thinking if she could have been wrong .He, as though reading what was troubling her mind shot ,"I am not an Indian, completely though. My name's Lin, Lin Chang."

"Ohh, so how come you know  Hindi?Even the meaning of my name..."

"My mother is an Indian.So you may call me half Indian, half Chinese"

"Oh really?,"Sukanya was relieved that atleast he was somewhere Chinese and not Japanese, Korean or the other breeds she had nastily called him , a few minutes ago.

She felt the heavy baggage of hatred and discomfort released and her innate belief and trust in people take over.She smiled and when he  questioned her again if she was really a good girl like her name suggested she said,"Yes I am. Have always been one. Never been bad."

While she said that,  a voice from deep inside thwarted the entrails of her soul wanting to break free and yell loudly ,"I am a good girl.Yes I am. But I wanna see how it feels to be bad, I wanna see whether I am happier being a good girl or am I really not that innocent. "
Suddenly another thought came crashing as the lightening that strikes the dark night,"strength of will" and she felt herself numb again.


"I am sure you are,"said Lin in a mocking tone.

"Let me tell you a little story of another good girl", announced Lin.

Sukanya fell silent .She waited for him to begin the story.
                           

The flight-episode4

As soon as she was drowned in the dizziness of the drink, all she could think of was  her dreary , dead life. but life was not always the same fo her.She had been an athlete in her school time, a bubbly,cheerful kind of a girl : what an irony. Her thoughts crossed over some twenty years ago when she was about fifteen years of age.

                                                                 *   *    *

The young  girl was preparing for her first major race. She was in the school ground full of children of all sizes , ages and colours .She took her position and bent down at the starting line.The  physical education teacher called out in a loud, clear voice-- three , two, one and go.

She started running for her life. Ritika , her greatest competitor took the lead which frustrated her more. But she had to prove it to her mom that she could also get the medal. Her mother was an allrounder in her college  and hoarded a shelf full of cups and medallions for races, debates, poetry recitals etc.Though she was good , but she wanted to be the best.It was not her herself but for her mom.She doted on her. So, she ran with such a might that she defeated Ritika easily and gladly hugged her mom waiting for her at the finishing line.

"So, mom, what is going to my gift?", asked little Sukanya, while they were walking down the road after the Prize Distribution ceremony.

Mother casually said,"Beta, you know whatever you want , I would take you that today.I'm really proud of you. But if I were you , I would just ask one thing from God."

"What's that mom?"
'Strength of character"

Her mom went silent and so did Sukanya.She didn't understand what it meant though at that time.

                                                                          *    *     *

Now that she was in this flight ,sitting with this Chinese  looking man, all that she needed was "strength of character " to bear with him. She decided to keep mum, ignore his foolish upstart kind of humour and teach him a lesson in dignity. He had already made her shift her seat rudely , misbehaved and also let her "Dharma Brashta" by letting her eat the sickening non-vegetarian dish.

Now, no more, she told herself quite firmly and looked outside the toughened glass  window.
Outside she saw  magnificent snowlike clouds carpetting the sky.She wished again that she were a swallow or a skylark.The drink had made her tormented, lonely soul relax.

"strength of character "...yes surely I have it in me,she mused...

The flight-episode3

"A wanderer, ahem?, she thought in her mind, is he some Chinese descendant of some fifteenth century explorer who's come to India to set our world right? Or  has he some hidden agenda of  the Chinese government to find out the loops and holes of Indian economy? 
Why should I bother in any case?"

Meanwhile the flight had taken off swiftly and the announcement about the freedom of the sickening belts was also finished.

The air-hostess came  down the aisle with the welcome drinks and some 'shitty' snacks.
The Chinese man called them "shitty".

"Excuse me, Ms" , he said, as soon as he gulped down the veg cutlet that was served to him,"What is this?My snacks were supposed to be non-vegetarian!!.This is blasphemous.You are serving a non-veg passenger with a veg cutlet and the lady here with a ham burger?"

Sukanya threw out as soon as she listened to the word 'ham'." Is it really a 'Ham -burger','she asked furiously.


"Ss ..Sorry m'am,there has been some confusion, I think you are on the wrong seats.My list says that this particular seat number has to be served with non- veg food."Mr.Wong had opted for non-veg food."

Sukanya stared at the Chinese man in disbelief who had disturbed her while she was  reading her book and had nastily shifted her seat in a super confident cheek.
"Mr.Wong,the wanderer! How could you?"I'm a brahmin, infact how can you know what a brahmin is, I think you are Chinese or are you a Japanese or  a Korean? Look , it doesn't matter to me where you are from but because of you my mouth has had a taste of some shitty , fucking crap."

"My apologies ma'am but I think this cutlet was  the shitty thing."

The poor air -hostess , looked at both of them with confused perplexity on her face and finally said,"Sir and  Ma'am , please calm down , whatever has happened , we are sorry about the inconvenience. Let me get another set of snacks for you. And as a complimentary drink ,would you like some sherry ,ma'am?"


"Surely ,I would .I think that's what will calm my senses', brooded Sukanya, and quietly nodded her head in agreement.She had forgotten what happened to her  generally in a state of inebriation.

"What you like to be served, Sir?"

"A chilled beer would suffice."

The flight -episode-2

Her mind wandered off to the morning details before she had reached the Delhi airport.The maid  had not turned up so she had a number of  mundane chores to be finished.The clothes had to be put inside as it was the monsoon going on, the kids had to be bathed and fed and dropped to her parents house.
The milkman  had to be instructed not to deliver the the milk  for a week. Also the house had to be locked properly before coming down the stairs from her third floor flat .

While her mind was boggled with the minor details  from the morning, suddenly she felt a breath near her ear.She was startled to find the Chinese looking man so near her that she almost jumped in her seat. Beholding the quizzical look on her face , the plain looking man retorted,"Ms. Your heel is pinching my foot.Can you please sit properly?"

Embarrased, red with shame she realized that she had been extending a painful squash from her six -inch heel."I am so sorry " were the only words that could come out.

"So ,are you going  for a holiday?",asked the man casually.

"Ya ,kind of.Going to spend some time with my husband in kerala.He is posted there." Sukanya was relieved to find the man initiating the converstaion after what he had been a very embarrasing start of a journey.

"What does he do there?"

"He is an  environmental engineer doing a research on Kerala backwaters and forests."

"Oh, thats a very innovative field I must say",commented the man.

"What do you do?,"asked sukanya coyly.

"Iam a wanderer.
I don't plan a thing
If I want to dance
I better learn to sing."


"The man seems interesting". My time would pass very easily.

The flight-episode 1

"Excuse me ma'am,could you mind shifting to the window seat?", the Chinese looking man said.
She was so engrossed in reading the newly acquired 'fifty shades of grey' ,that it had to be repeated
again in a louder and clearer manner:"Hey miss, this ones mine .Yours is seat no.67 which is the corner one."


Finally, she rose and shifting the paraphernalia-her i-phone, hand bag , the book plus some paper napkins, she gave an apologetic smile to that plain looking man and got up with a nonchalant  attitude.


So, this was the man she was to travel with ?


She was going for a vacation to  Kerala in South India where her husband was posted .The plane had not taken off till now. The air -hostesses in bright red skirts and cream lacy shirts started to perform on the  set anthem. Sukanya gave a bored glance outside. Now she was actually glad that the Chinese man had asked her to change her seat.


But she was a woman of contradictions.


She loved to travel but not alone.She liked company She wanted to discuss the food on the flight, the fake smiles of the air-hostesses,the reprimanding Indian parents witha baggage of naughty children,  the weather outside and the travel i ternary she had planned in her mind. But now that she saw that the man was rude and blunt enough to ask her to shift her seat..she thought it better to keep to herself.As it is,she didn't want to make the first move.


It was a short flight for about two and a half hour bit the time seemed to tick very slowly.....

The twin

His name was Siddharth and people were in awe of him.A successful career as a  CA  in an MNC with a six figure salary,a BMW ,a lovely wife and two small kids whom he loved to death.
But noone knew that he had a twin residing in him:Sid,a bashful ,violent person who could be as dangerous as death itself.

This incident just freaks me out.I happen to be Sid's childhood friend , a confidante , a real chuddy-buddy and more than that,his wife. 

That day he had drunk way too much.The party was noisy and the music almost ripped the ears of the people who stood too close to the speakers.But Sid was away, sitting near the bartender ,ordered drink after drink. He saw her in the distant, a white short dress; she definitely looked hot and inviting.Luckily she came up to the bar and there he shot his one liner,"I think I've seen you somewhere! "

She turned towards him in a seductive way and held his hand,"I work in the same  company so perhaps you are right.You must have seen me at any other offsite like this one."

So the conversation had begun.After an hour long discussion ,it was time to leave.As any other opportunistic man would do, Sid also offered her a lift. She gladly accepted as if waiting to be asked.

"Such are the girls these days: AVAILABLE," he mused,conniving what he ought to do next.By the time he reached her place,he had already planned his next move. If she asks him to come for  a coffee, she's in the game, if not she still has to be in,whether she likes it or not.

Presently the car came to a shrieking halt. Sid like a true gentleman got down to open the door for her.She looked astonishinly awesome in the moonlight.

"Why don't you come up for  a cup of coffee?"
Sid's heart skipped a beat.She was walking ahead of him in an enchanting gait.Reaching near  the lift she paused for a while and looked whether he was following her or not.

Sid was sweating profusely. He wanted to smoke a cigarette badly. As soon as they halted near the door,she fiddled in her handbag for the house keys.Finally she laid the door bare open.

There ,at the entrance stood two lovely kids,waiting for their papa-mumma to come home after the party.

"Why have'nt you been sleeping dearie?,said Siddharth,as it was now him who was back. Sid had stealthily squirmed out of the scene.Nita looked smilingly at the three of them.She was used to such misadventures but was glad that he's always home.

The Seminar

They were contrasts.She was  a bubbly rambler and he was quite silent . We all know how opposites attract and in their case they really did.

She first saw him when she was waiting in the office corridor to attend one of those boring seminars which have become a recent fad in today's corporate world. It was a stupid training session on 'Communication and its right approach'.

"Hah,as if we don't communicate well,"mused Sneha who had been working in this field for almost twelve years by then ."But these bosses do want to torment you by sending you to these training sessions and seminars",she smirked.

"Why can't such seminars be organised in the same branch or the head office where I work? Why do I need to get up extra-early and drive for an hour to this Noida office?Oh no!I generally doze off with boredom in such seminars!!"

Nonetheless,there was no choice.She was representing the head office and she had to attend the seminar with utmost sincere enthusiasm (atleast it should reflect like that on her face).

And so when he went past her ,she randomly noticed his good looks and wished,"I hope such a person is the speaker for today's session so that atleast I'm not bored.

And so it was.As she entered the Conference Room (she was the last one),she noticed that it was noone but him standing at the podium.He was in a pink  crisp shirt (quite metrosexual,she thought ) ; and some dark trousers. Actually ,she was so besotted by his Greek features that she didn't speak when he asked her to introduce herself in the ice-breaking session:"Hmm...Ummm...I 'm Sneha Dalal from the head office ..."Her confidence just vanished  in a lame reply as she felt weak in the knees.She had the same feeling only once before in her life..When she had seen her husband for the first time .

Yes ,she was married with two kids but it really did'nt strike her as something immoral or obnoxiously insane.Things like this happen all the time.People just don't talk about it.She believed in listening to her heart and follow it without any notions of "good" or "bad".That's what she was and she was proud to be herself.Let people say whatever ,it didn't matter to her.She was true to herself.

So ,back to where we were...there she was,totally,completely bowled over by his good looks and imagine what happened then!!

She heard him speak.What a manly baritone.."Ahhh...would I be able to answer ",she thought and participate  and impress all like a winner as usual"?
But  not only  did she answer all his questions and enquiries about the topics but also excelled in the partner role-play activity which he initiated .Her roleplay was very dramatic and used a lot of space.It also had humour which the other groups had not worked on.(as commented by Mr.Anuj Malhotra...that was his name......he  was younger to her..how many years...till that time,she had no idea.)

The five hour seminar ended as if it was just an hour..she wanted more of his intelligent add ons to her not so perfect knowledge (interestingly,before this day she was quite snooty about her knowledge and experience).

Finally ,the seminar ended.She mustered the courage and walked upto him ,took his number ,told him how impressed she was with his skills and presentation and started for home.

                                                         *            *              *

Some days later.

She had to arrange a similar seminar at the head office.She was to be the solo speaker.She prepared all the slides and arranged for a lot of fun games and activities to make it more vibrant.


She entered the Audio-Visual Room where she had about 25 co-workers from various branches waiting for her.She noticed a familiar face in the second row.It was none other than Anuj.He looked very different now,though.He had lost some weight and grown some beard.After the first session ,she w hoped to see him and ask why he looked so crushed by life.But she couldn't.
She didn't want him upset at any cost.

He took her number at the end of the day,showered her with similar compliments about her professional talent and waved her goodbye as they both left in their cars.

                                             *              *                  *

Months have passed . They have become friends .However, they both have many hidden secrets which they  want to share with each other.
The only reason that they don't is because she is married and they know the obligations of the Indian culture.If it were the U.S.,none would have thought about it so seriously.May be in future,they do end up telling each other what lies underneath their formal , professional talks.
I'm  waiting for Sneha to write more so that I can share the news with you.

Simply yours
Sneha 's diary

The Evening Walks

"I still rememeber the days we would take long evening walks together", blushed Suhani.He always had this effect on her.She would smile for no reason, became a poetic dreamer, and would seep back into nostalgia.It  was with Rajeev when she was truly happy, living a life of a chirpy youngster even when she was forty now.

The couple moved towards a  green coloured ,half-rusted bench .Rajeev said enthusiatically, "Do you remember how we first met ?"

"Yes, I surely do Mr. Sharma.That was how she would address him even twenty years ago.You were doing nothing that morning so you were sent to get Chole-Bhature for your guests i.e us,weren't you? "

"Yes ,I was. I didn't realise that I would not only help you with your Sunday brunch but also with the shifting and would be treated like an errand boy by your mother ,Suhani," he laughed as he remembered how they had met.
                                                            *      *       *
It was a  very cold, chilly January morning in 1997.Suhani and her parents were to shift their new house to North Delhi's rising  and well-planned  Rohini leaving their Government  accomodation in R.K.Puram.Suhani had lived the twenty years of her life in South Delhi .

No matter how small her two bedroom  South Delhi apartment was ,she liked it there.She had a gang of friends who would sit out in the evenings on the terrace and have a blast gossiping, sharing their crushes and  playing various games. Suhani didn't want to be shifted to a better, bigger home but as there was no choice she had risen early that day and she was there with her parents to see the newly constructed society flat .

The only excitement was her own room which she was supposed to get in this flat.
So there she was at the Sharmas,  close friend to her father, his business partner.As they had already been living in the flat ,they would go and check their woodwork so that the work at their own flat could be started.

After the normal Namastes and hello-hi's, Suhani noticed him walking down from the furtherst room of the house.He was wearing a bright yellow hand knitted pullover and looked  dashingly handsome with his flawless clear skin and Greek features."Raje, get some Chole-Bhature for the guests,"Sharma Uncle instructed in a polite tone.

"Who is this ?",mused Suhani who wore a bright  sea -green anarkali suit which had a zipper at the back.She was looking elagantly sexy in her hourglass figure and dusky complexion.

"Abhi le aata hoon Bhaiya".So this is uncle's younger brother, thought the lovestruck Suhani and heaved a sigh of relief that he was not a well -dressed driver.

"Why don't you take Suhani with you and show her the play area  and the Auditorium, suggested Uncle Sharma.

"Great ! "

They walked slowly towards the lift. Suhani ,who was generally a shy and demure girl couldn't hide her excitement ,"So what do you do?"

I 'm doing a course in Electronics Journalism from Bharti Vidya Bhawan . I just completed my B.Com(Hons) from S.R.C.C.What about you ?"

"I'm in my last year of English (Hons)".

So,they came back with the hot Chole-Bhature  after getting to know each other well.This was how they had met.

After many a visits they had opened their hearts to each other.Rajeev was in love with a girl four years older to him and Bhaiya and Bhabhi were against the match altogether.He was threatened to be thrown out of the house. Suhani never shown her deeper emotions to him when he was telling her about Priyanka, his girlfriend. After they had shifted, they would take a walk together  after dinner when her parents  would also do the same.As they were family friends they would generally be seen together in society functions ,holi -diwali celebrations which they both abhorred.

Once ,when Rajeev's relationship had been terminated with his older girlfriend, and he had got over it ,he mustered the courage and asked Suhani out for a drive . Suhani so wanted to go but refused ,"It's ten in the night.I think we ought to sleep on time.Rajeev held her hand in his ,looked into her eyes and said, "Just hope you don't  regret this day in your life because I want to confess that I'm falling in love with you.Take your time and tell me." 

That day Suhani couldn't sleep.She thought that she would tell him that they could go for a drive but he should take permission from her parents.They wouldn't disagree, she was convinced.

The next night she was waiting for all of them to go for the nighly walk ritual. Rajeev came and started walking beside her. The elders were ahead and slowly he took her hands in his and asked,"So,whats the plan?Should we then take a ride in my second-hand white esteem or not?"

Suhani gestured that he needed to ask her parents.Rajeev left her hands suddenly and vanished. He wasn't seen for some days.
She kept on waiting for him .
Days changed into months and months to  years.Two and a half years had passed and she knew that  Rajeev was settled in Bangalore and he would  never come back for her.He was so right.She was regretting her decision. She knew that she had bruised his male ego.

She had joined an MNC in Gurgaon as a communication Manager and there were talks going on about her marriage."Get ready,"one Sunday her mother announced. Someone is coming home to meet you ",her mother declared.

"Mommy,I'm not interested, I'm just 25.I wouldn't marry for another two years.

"But you will , once you see the boy.He's quite fair and handsome,"her mother giggled.

Suhani donned on her typical Indian attire undesiredly.Her mind was traumatised .

Her mother called out to her to come to the drawing room.As slow as sleepy snail she walked into the drawing room .As soon as she lifted her disinterested face to wish Namaste to the elders ,she sprang to her feet to see Rajeev with his brother and bhabhi.

"Will you come for a drive with me in my first hand new Honda city?"

Suhani blushed  with ecstasy and replied ,"Yes,why not?"

                                                                  *          *              *

Now that they were forty they would always take a walk with their kids walking behind them.

Rajeev held her not so young hand in his and asked,"Do you want to come for a drive, Mrs.Sharma? Let's grab an ice-cream for us and the kids."Suhani blushed .He always had this effect on her.

The Mission Impossible

She was a perfect cook .Even though people would criticise her as someone who would interfere in people's kitchen,she would go on poking her nose into everyone's affairs,especially telling them how some dishes are made .Never would she realize that she is not wanted , her opinions undesired and her hyperactivity uncallled for.She would go on bragging about the extra expensive cookery classes which she had taken as a young,unmarried Rajput girl whose main motto was to marry someone with a stable backgound and a sound bank balance.

Let me introduce you to her.Her name was Bela Choudhary and her occupation was of a housewife.You must be wondering how being a" housewife "is an occupation ;but let me make it quite clear that housewives work for more than twelve hours a day ,evidently much more than a corporate worker who goes for a nine hour shift on a regular basis.
So here was Bela,a graduate in Hindi  from Delhi University utilising her time in packing lunch boxes,instructing the house-maid and waiting endlessly for her businessman husband.

She was fair,slim and tall.A careful inspector of the kind of things she was buying ,her dealings with the sabziwallas was not at all imposing:"aree bhai yeh matar kya bhav diya ?...Nahin nahin...theek lagao nahin to main kahin aur se le loongi."

This was the usual threat presented to the sabziwallah so he would never fall into the trap.

"Jao bahenji kahin aur se hi lelo."Quite alarmed at the situation and upset with the public humiliation ,she would quietly say,"achcha chalo dedo ek kilo,agali baar dekhoongi" and quietly move to another vendor.
 Today she was in a hurry as her daughter was bringing some friends home for her birthday treat and she had bragged about her mother's culinary skills especially her gajar ka halwa.So she didn't even try to bargain.

Poor Bela was in a mess."Gajar ka halwa in June?"She had cried in disbelief.

"Mom you can arrange this, I know. "Her daughter had shown some extra faith which she never would otherwise(  being a rebellious collegiate, she was never polite with her mother and today she was on the verge of flattering Bela)..How could she disappoint her little angel,"I would surely try it..it doesn't matter if it 'll be made from the exported orange-coloured ,unsweet carrots but I will make the gajar ka halwa and also make sure it has the best taste."

So her search began ..from the mother dairies to the local sabzi mandi to her favourite vendor.But alas,there were no carrots anywhere.What to do now?
The time was ticking . Nicky's friend would be home in about four hours from now,she mused.
Suddenly she had a perfect idea.She quickly paid  the grocer and there she was,at her house ,in the kitchen.

She kept cooking the halwa for about an hour or more .After the completion of the task,she smiled satisfactorily to herself.She went to change and then dressed for the occasion.She wore a lovely pink suit with white flowers embroidered on the neck and sleeves,with a shimmery dupatta to match with it.She wore her small pearl set to finish the decking up.

Ding -Dong.Ding-Dong.The bell rang.

"Sunita,open the door".
The maid opened the door ....Two boys with spiked hair,ear studs and Gucci glasses .Identical faces.Surely they were twins.There was a fat , fair womanly girl whom Bela already knew as Nicky's best friend Savvy;and a squinted boy dressed up as a colorful joker depicting his taste in men rather women:Jyotish was his name.

"Aunty where is our lunch?We are so hungry and we have heard so much about the halwa"

."They are as dumb as my own Nicky.They 'll easily be  befooled,"thought Bela.

"Aunty, I'm sure you haven't been able to make  the gajar ka halwa Nicky was boasting off ,declared the one in courful parroty clothes-Jyotish".

She would have made it"said Jacob."Yes ,I'm sure she has,added the other twin-Judith.

"Okay Okay..see for yourself but first wash your hands and  have the lunch before making your judgements on the halwa."
They all sat down on the dining table and started gulping down the sumptuous meal which she had prepared.The butter drenched alloo paranthas,biryani and raita with paneer chilly masala her speciality.Now was the turn of the  most awaited -gajar ka halwa.

"Sunita.jaldi se woh bada bowl leke aao jisme halwa hai."
Nicky was proudly smiling at Bela".My mom is so great a cook.The halwa is soooo  yummy, isn't it?"
Everyone agreed with a smile because all of them had their mouths stuffed with the orangish red gajar ka halwa.

"But aunty how did you manage to get carrots in this season,asked Jyotish who was sure that it just looked like gajar ka halwa but wasn't that for sure.
Bela shrewdly replied,"Aree dhoodhne se to bhagwan bhi mil jaata hai , yeh to bas gajar thi."

Satisfied that it must be the real carrot halwa , Jyotish also gulped down the last spoon .
"We are going for a movie and I will come back around eight .Savvy will drop me,mamma,don't worry .
                                                                 *       *          *

That night at eight when Nicky returned after watching Mission Impossible -The ghost Protocol,she was on cloud nine.Her birthday had gone quite well.She went on in the kitchen to thank her mom for the lovely treat she had put up for her friends ,especially the not so possible : the mission impossible , the gajar ka halwa.Her mother was not to be found .She asked Sunita ,the maid about her whereabouts."Arre madam to bahar aur kaddu lene gayi hain ,halwa itna bhadhia jo bana tha ,ekdum gajar -halwa jaise.Yahi to kamal hai tumhaari ma ka."

Bhagatji learns driving!!

Mr.Bhagat is my protaganist,my new -old age hero..You might not have seen anyone like him.Such men are not made anymore.
A man of blunt honesty ,family values;highly intelligent,quick,innovative,creative mind ,a good sense of humour .All that he lacked was the sense of worldy wisdom.I sometimes wondered and wanted to educate him with some cleverness and shrewd cunningness.

The incident on my mind is when I got a fortunate chance to see his driving skills,I mean if there were any.

At that time he was a man of thirty -seven .You must be wondering why the hell  didn't he learn to drive till that age.The reason was simple.Mr.Bhagat lived in a world of ideologies.

Ideology No-1:Live a simple life.What simple meant was travelling by autos,buses and metros no matter how much you suffer everyday.(Atleast someone should think of the Mother Earth.)

Idelogy No-2:Keep yourself busy.Busy meant sleeping on weekends,eating a completly unhealthy food and listening to old Hindi film songs and living by them.(Muflisi me maza hai:there is pleasure in being poor.)

Ideolgy No-3:Be different( whatever it may mean).He could argue for anything that he believed in..If people are learning to drive cars at the age of 18 or 20 ,why should he?? 

So enough of a good introduction of my hero-Mr.Bhagat.
Being a Copywriter by proffession ,he lived a busy life .As he started earning quite early in the ninety-ninetees when he just passed out of college(he did English (hons) from Delhi University,)he didn't get a fair chance to learn driving.He was hardly twenty one at that time .He would take DTC buses ,(autos when getting late after the late night shifts).He was quite a genius in creating ads.

Remember the polo ad (the mint with the hole)All due credit to him.The frooti ad(Mango frooti,fresh and juicy)It still resounds in my ears.
What I mean to say is that professionally he was awesome.He went on climbing the ladder of success but never got free time to learn driving.

Mr.Bhagat finally decided to learn driving when he was on a break from his over busy schedule after fifteen years of working nonstop.He owned two cars,two houses and a good bank balance by that time.  He never bothered to learn driving because he always had a chauffer.Once the chauffer left for a break just when he was on one,he finally decidedto try his hands on it.

I just happen to be a good neighbour and a childhood friend.I couldn't do much professionally (I'm a lower divisional clerk in a government school) but I learnt driving ten years back when I bought my first Maruti 800.

So that morning I was coming from my morning walk when I saw him returning from driving classes.I was a witness to his recent classes and was genuinly grateful at the fact that his good sense had prevailed and finally he was taking it up.He shook hands and sweetly said,"Amit yaar,You know its been a week that I have learnt driving ,could you let me practise on your Maruti 800 which you don't use anymore.You see I don't want to ruin my new D'Zire.As I have a Hyundai I10 also , I agreed quite happily.
There came another request,"Could you please sit with me?Won't you help your brother like old friend?"I agreed again.

We sat down :he on the driving seat of my old Green Maruti and I beside him.I told him to start the car.But where were the keys?"But you just opened it?,"I said confidently.He fiddled in his trouser pockets and looked inside the car if he had made them fall.They weren't there.After much of a hunt Mr.Bhgat realized that the key was hanging outside at the car door.How funny ,I thought  taking condescending pleasure in my superiority but was quite unaware of what was to come next.

After a series of trials ,the car finally started."How is the gear put?,"he enquired.I told him that it has to be in the neutral and then shifted to the left above.He did that and the car made a cacophonic sound.
 Wondering why I asked him if he had put his foot on the clutch."Yes ,"he said but I noticed that he also had put his right foot on the accelerator simultaneously.
My car was in trouble.No matter how old my greenie was ,I was still in love with her,afterall it was my first love.
Anyway, finally we were out of the society gate and turned left.I was giving him clear and loud instructions to save my life and his.
"Our life was in danger",was the only thing on my mind.Suddenly I noticed a small tempo coming towards us with a sneering smile.I told Bhagatji,"Yaar Bhagat ab slow karke ,second gear me daal le gaadi ,aur is tempo ko pass karne de".
"I don't know how to come back to the secong gear from the third one."The tempo was almost there .When I looked through the corner of my eyes,I turned stone-still.I didn't know what to do.I shouted in his ears ,"Hey tu break maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrr."

Crash.
Boom.
Smash.
The noise of mirror cracking pierced my ears like a dart.But the tempo had gone .Then why was there this crashing sound??? I noticed that a Santro was behind  us and had smashed my sweetie due to sudden stop by us.
Mr.Bhagat quickly came down and apologised to the Santro driver."Thankfully it is a lady who would not indulge in  a road rage murder,"I thought.
I heaved a sigh of relief and listened to what Bhagat had to say:"This man is new learner ma'am.I was teaching him how to pull a break in emergency situations.It all happened because I wanted to teach him how to drive.The lady made a face and called up someone."

She might be calling a relative or her husband ,I thought,After fifteen minutes of silent wait I saw a police gypsy arrive with a tall policeman shouting ,"Haan darling.key baat ho gayi ??kaunsa sai jisne meri daarling santro ki headlight todi hai?"

Mr.Bhagat pointed at me"Ji sarkaar, yeh Maruti Amit Mishra ji ki hai.Mujhe to driving aati bhi nahi."

The Compensation

She felt lonely.She felt cheated.She felt as if an invisible hand was suffocating her breathing space.

It happened like that.

Aditi's usual mornings were full of excitement.She had  loving parents,a sweet sister Neeti and a responsible brother Aditya. She was in class VIII at that time -the most unfortunate year of her life-1990.That day was a just another day in her life.She dressed up for school.She helped her mother pack her lunch for the three siblings and papa and then started for school.

Aditi's school was at a walkable distance from her home(hardly 3-4 minutes).It was a pleasant October morning.As soon as she reached the school premises ,she was exuberantly delighed to see the gate shut with this"The school will remain closed due to the Mandal Commission Riots taking place all around Delhi till further notification by the government."

"What is this Mandal Commission ,"she wondered for a while and discussed with all her friends going back .None clearly knew.
How could they?They were hardly thirteen or fourteen years of age.
But one thing was sure.It must have been something serious because as they all reached their homes ,their parents heaved a sigh of relief .

Days passed .
The first few days were like summer holidays in October.Surprisingly there was no holiday homework.The days would just pass in idle conversations with Neeti and her mother(she being a teacher was also lucky enough to have this sudden holiday fun).

Mother was glad that they were safely home.She explained to the children that India was burning.
The new VP Singh Government had implemented The Mandal Commission which gave the people from the reserved category a higher reservation in educational institutions and jobs but the other ones, espeacially the middle class and poor yet elite caste general category people were commiting suicides against the VP Singh government to take back their decision.

The hired mercenaries :policemen were using all kinds of ill methods from lathis ,dandas and teargas shells to disperse the angry crowd and defeat themwhenever they showcased their solidarity.

"But why is mummy telling me all this ?How does it matter to me?We are safe at home,"mused the bored Aditi.Neeti was busy in chewing her nail disinterestedly.Aditya  Bhaiya was out with his friends.He recently had made a new girlfriend.In the days of no mobliles and facebook the only way to carry on with a relationship was  meeting secretly which was surely quite a task.They would meet in shoddily made restaurants and public parks due to the strict monitoring of the one hundred and fifty rupees a month pocket money.

As Aditi moved away from her mother so that she may further not be instructed and enlightened about the Current affairs of Delhi,the doorbell rang.It rang and it rang.Which idiot is pressing the doorbell again and again...even mother was losing her calm.

She went up and opened the door.It was Sahil,Aditya's friend.He was in a bad shape .His dull brown complexion was full of dirt ,sweat and blood.His blue shirt was torn at places and his nostrils were oozing out filthy half-dried blood.
"What happened Sahil?,"asked Mother in desperation.
"I'll explain it later aunty.Please come with me."

He held mother's hand and took her out .Just outside the house were standing two hefty policemen with Aditya's body in their hand.Just behind them was a police jeep.
Mother was aghast .Her pale face got paler and fear stricken .She quickly turned back to Aditi who was peeping through the half open door with fear.
"Inform papa  that we are going to AIIMS Emergency."

Aditi saw her mother ,Sahil,and the two policemen leave hurriedly in the jeep.For a moment she couldn't decide what to do.Was she dreaming?

NO.That was real.She mustered the courage to look for the phone book to locate papa's office number.He  who  worked as a Scientist in DRDO .She dialled the number and explained to papa what had happened.

She didn't realize that it was late in the night and the both of them need to eat and sleep.Both the sisters finally made Maggi  at one in the night when mother called them to tell that they would not come and they have to spend the night alone.
They slept hugging each other in the fear of the unknown.

The next morning their maternal aunt came up to pick some clothes of mother and father.
"What has happened to bhaiya?Is he alright?When will mummy-papa come back with him?"
Aditi bombarded Suman masi with her innocent questions.She got no answer though.

The sisters got used to their new lifestylein afew days.The bai would come in the morning to do the dusting ,mopping and utensils.The neighbours gave them food three times aday.Masi would come and go off and on to the hospital.
"Would somebody tell me what had happened?",Aditi's mind was always bothered and tensed .She forgot to smile ,to dance and watch T.V.She would just keep Neeti busy in something or the other.

Eventually Bhaiya came back after one and a half month.
Dead.
He was covered with a white shroud and he carried the same smile on his face which was loved by his girlfriend.The  unfamiliar rites and rituals assosiated with death became known to  the fourteen  old Aditi.How the dead bady was washed,flowers showered and then taken for the final ritual at the Nigambhodh Ghat .
Neeti was the same.She also metamorphosed like her elder sister and consoled mother who had not spoken a word since the day she had gone to the hospital .

Aditi asked papa what had happened to Bhaiya after everone had left the family alone.

Papa was silent for a while and then said,"As per Sahil,Aditya and a few of his friends were sitting atop Rajesh's car and having some fun cracking jokes.At that time the police jeep with four people sitting inside drove up .Mistaking your Bhaiya and his friends to be some sort of hooligans,they fired some random shots.Aditya was the most unfortunate that the bullet hit his head and he fainted.Since the day we had gone to the hospital ,your Adi bhaiya was in a state of coma.We were hopeful but we were not lucky."Papa broke down hugging Aditi .

                                                                       * * *

The doorbell rang with sharp tingling pain.The postman gave a courier to Aditi.She opened the envelope with careful deftness.
It had a cheque  of rupees one lakh for her father with the following note:

'In lieu of the accidental death of Aditya Narayan Sharma,a compensation for his family.'

She felt lonely.She felt cheated.She felt as if an invisible hand was suffocating her breathing space.

Aditi had tears rolling down her soft brown cheeks"Can I celebrate Rakhi and Bhaiya Dooj with this money?She wiped her tears off and woke up mummy to tell her about the compensation cheque.

The Favourite

Aakash was a sharp -witted,brilliant,exceptionally talented student whom others were envious of.He would score an A1 grade in all the subjects and was the teacher's pet.He would enrich the class with his witty questions and sparkle the entire teaching -learning process with his superbly intelligent remarks .Yet he lacked only one thing- a knack for Hindi.But slowly and steadily,he worked on that as well and became a formidable competitor for everyone in his class.

Ms Stuti became his favourite teacher since the day she joined.She  was slim,tall and pretty.Above all she had a hold on her subject.He longed  for the first period to get over to attend her class.As he had recently shifted from kolkata  and had a better hand at the English language than the entire class  , he started  to enjoy more and more attention in her class .It was here that he was the king . He could defeat any Tom,Dick and Harry and reign supreme.Ms.Stuti was not only impressed by his grammatical accuracy but also his flair and vocabulary in writing skills .No doubt he was the best.

"Please pick out the error in this sentence",Stuti announced one day during verbal revision before the Cycle Tests,"I did not finished my work ".
There was complete silence in the class till  secomds ago but now it was as if a hell had broken loose.Amidst the chitter-chatter,there was one conspicuous hand decently raised .It was Aakash.As any sensible teacher would do in such  a chaotic ,noisy situation;Stuti  asked  the most suitable one .He answered in a confident tone ,"I did not finish my work".He further explained to the class that it was a gross  error to put a past tense with did.Did was always accompanied with the root form of the verb. 
Stuti smiled with her dimpled cheek flushing with joy and satisfaction  at the response.She was sure that atleast a few would explain the rule.She was sure that Aakash would.

Each passing day saw a bond being developed between the teacher and the  pupil.Stuti would ask more and more questions to Aakash and he would (rather he could )never be wrong.She nick-named him Mr.Encyclopedia as he would hunt down all the information on each author that they did.

Everything was going fine with Aakash but never did he realise that he was falling in love .Ms.Stuti was his first love.He would peep through the staffrooms to have a glimpse of her glowing ,pretty face. Her soft smile and perfect intelligence had left him smitten.Like a lost lover,he would mumble at his friends' jokes about his plight.All could see into his innocent yet soulful loving eyes.

His condition became more and more deplorable.He started neglecting other subjects for the love of Queen's English.He would meticulously plan what might be asked the next day in Stuti's class.He would get up early in the morning to scrub his sweet face with his mother's walnut scrub and gel his dark hair with his father's gel.He wanted to grow into a man and hold Stuti's hand .He desired to be his saviour ,the knight in the shining armour who would treat her as a princess.

One fine day while Aakash was coming back from the Music room, he heard someone  congratulate Stuti.He thought it was her birthday .He rapidly rushed back to the classroom and sneakingly drew a lovely birthday card for her Stuti ma'am during the boring Social Sciences period.He also planned the way he would give her a red rose,(kneel down ) the next day and apologise for not knowing her birthday date.

Finally the sixth period arrived.
Ms.Stuti entered the classroom .The entire class rose to wish her a good afternoon in a monotonous sing-song voice.Like always,she also replied in a musical tone,"Thank you children.Sit down".
She looked exceptionally beautiful today with a bright white salwar kameez ,matching high heels and and open wavy hair.Her ears were bedazzling with small diamond earrings.
Aakash shyly took his card and went up to her idol.
"Happy Birthday ma'am.May you have a great day".
"It's not my birthday Aakash.Why did you think it's my birthday today?",Stuti exclaimed in startling surprise.
"Maam ,everyone was hugging  and wishing you  in the corridor. And you are not married so it can't be your anniversary.I thought it must be your birthday."

"Oh Dear !! It's so sweet of you Aakash  .You are right that I 'm not married so it can't be my anniversary but you forgot that it could also be my engagement  that they can congratulate me on.I 'm getting married in the month of February.",Stuti shared with her favourite student.

Aakash was  silent,he quietly moved to the desk assigned to him.

The next day when Stuti looked for Aakash , he was not there.Some days passed and still there was no sign of Aakash.
"Is Aakash not keeping well?"she asked the class finally.
Aastha who was the most hyperactive of all spoke",Ma'am Aakash has changed his school."
He has got a scholar badge too.He's now in D.P.S."
                                                                     * * *
Stuti was teaching class IX when somebody knocked at the door.There was a tall,dashing  man standing outside,waiting to be recognized.
"Is it you ,my dearie Aakash  Banerjee?
Yes ma'am ,That's surely me.I'm glad you recognized me.
How could have I forgotten you?There's no one like you even though scores of batches have passed out"
"Did I never tell you?"
"What ma'am?"
"That you were my favourite ".

Aakash quietly opened up a paper bag and took out an invitation.Ma'am I'm engaged.You have to attend my wedding .

There was a smug solace on their smiling faces.

Binny

She loved to ramble.She just couldn't stop herself.She opened her heart to everyone she knew .No malicious intentions,no diplomatic strategies;what should be shared and what should be retained;she  just had no idea.
She  behaved this way because that's what she was.Away from the cunning,cruel world;her world was a world of freedom,of innocence,of trust,of complete lack of superficialities.

Once when she was seven,her father's friend visited them .His name was Mr.Iyer:a typical South Indian man with a thick moustache and a dark ,uneven complexion .He was doing a research on Twentieth Century Criticism .Her father who was a proffesor with The  Delhi University was this man's guide and mentor.

Every other fortnight he would appear at their home to show him the progress made in the research .His mannerism and language  were quite funny to her.She would peep through the drawing room curtain and found the two of them engrossed in  some sort of intellectual discourse.While her father dictatated notes ,Mr.Iyer muttered something in his own language  as if explaining the entire literary history to himself.

It was then once when she barged into the drawing room and questioned him innocently,"Uncle,why do you come here every now and then?Have you no house?Papa and Mummy are  so upset just before  you come .Mummy says that this idiot would again spoil my weekend.Papa says something else and then they start fighting.Why do you do this to my mummy?Everytime you come ,she is always in the kitchen and a very bad mood.Uncle , please go"She finally demanded.

The poor father was smiling sheepishly to curb the embarrassment she had caused."The man would think that I'm uxorious ,hen -pecked ,sissy of a man ",he thought .To save any image that was left ,he
announced,"my lil' girl is a bit stupid and cocky.She speaks what comes to her mind.I hope you don't take her too seriously.
"When the man finally left the next morning,the mother asked her to be presented before papa.She had still not realized what had she done.But when she did come papa said lovingly"My daughter is the epitome of truth and honesty.And mark my words Kanta ,she would always be like this."

Now another incident .

Dr.Bhardwaj ,her father was a man of great likes and dislikes.Teaching criticism and history of literature,he had slowly become a man of opinions.Their next door neighbours were some Mr.and Mrs.Dutt with five children(four sisters and one brother..That's how Indian families were then..hungry for male prodigies).

So it happened that her father had a disgustful  opinion for people who would do nothing else but show off their potted plants .He once announced with irritation,"These Dutts are just like malis,can't they ask their children to study or do something worthwhile.All the time they are just watering the plants -one child, then another- and chatter aloud when I'm reading something.On top of it they play their music as they are in some barber's shop."

The lil Binny was confused.To clarify her doubts,she straightaway went to Dutt aunty the next day and retorted,"Aunty ,aunty are you some sort of malis or  you have some connection with the  barbershop ?I am a bit confused."
She then narrated the complete incident to that four feet housewife who came rushing in as soon as Mrs Bhardwaj came back from her office.Another embarrasement and injury to the parents.After this episode of blatant truth ,Binny was told not to speak what was discussed at home to the neighbours.I don't think she understood why.

Once during the summer break ,Binny went to her mother's office in Cannaught Place.They were to attend an engagement ceremony .
 While meeting the prospective bridegroom of her cousin,Binny remarked,"Simmy,Is this the boy who used to jump dowm your balcony when masi was not there?"
Poor Simmy who was about ten years older than Binny just smirked and smiled at the angry hateful looks given by all the relatives standing there.What a shame,everyone commented in whispers who all had come to the ceremony thinking  it to be properly arranged by the parents and khaandaan.

This was not enough.She would quite easily be lured by all her friends into telling what they were bitching about each other.Binny would tell all,without ant deletions or additions to their scornful,envious remarks.
This was why ,she was loved  yet hated by all in the beginning.Slowly all her friends used to  realize her inability to be nasty and mean towards anyone and they would laugh it off.

Her heart was as pure as a free flowing stream of water.Her wheatish complexion glowed even more when she was sharing to someone. She had no malintentions towards anyone.Most of all she was jubiliant when she was not hiding any stuff.She couldn't.

                                                               * * *

Binny who was now getting ready in a parlour for her wedding was glowing with beauty and radiance.  
Her best friend Ruby who was with her asked her a question,"Hey Binno.Will you be happy with this man?He's so silent and you are so bubbly."Ruby who had met Binny's fiance many times had her doubts about the man."He seems so cold and distant."

"Oh! Ruby,come on.I know him for eight months now.I needed a man who could just listen to me.It's good that he's reserved.Atleast I 'll be the chattering queen of the house,"Binny expounded.

                                                                     * * *

"It has been a year that I met Binny."
Ruby rang the doorbell with a lot going on her mind.
"My bindaas friend should be happy."

A very feeble lady came at the door.She had dark circles under her eyes .What a careless,shabby sense of dress , thought Ruby.This dilapidated woman looked through the netted iron door and finally opened the door.

It was none other than our very own Binny : the carefree spirit,the loved  and pampered by all ,the propagater of truth and honesty;the lovely ,glowing charismatic Binny.
A year of marriage had transformed this chirpy ,rambling girl into a silent witness of things .Ruby hugged her darling friend and they both sat down in her bedroom for a little chat.

"Whats happened to you,Binny?,"Ruby inquired with concern".Does he not love you anymore?Are your In-Laws tormenting you in any way?Please tell."

After a few minutes of  unbelievable silence ,Binny spoke her heart out,"I can't be myself in this house.It's claustrophobic.I can't breathe if  I can't have the freedom of speech and expression .All I am is Mrs.Kaushik and no more.You know ,he loves me but he's always judging me.I can't take this anymore,"She finally broke down into sobs and wetted her friend 's crisp cotton saree.

Ruby was speechless for a while.She then gave Binny this huge lecture about compromise in every Indian wedding.She asked Binny to share all her troubles to her friend,to her.

She knew that Binny needed a listener all the time.May be her husband was not interested in her foolish,frivilous crap .May be he'll take some time to understand her like most of her friends.

                                                                        * * *

That night when Binny waited in the balcony for her husband to come back ,she  promised herself to be happy and give it a good try.At the doorbell ,she rushed smilingly to the door and embraced Lokesh .
"Can't you ever understand,you fool?I 'm not some Mills and Boon hero that you have been dreaming and reading about all your life.I'm tired and hungry.",he blasted her as usual.His pragmatic approach
had killed Binny's carefree spiritedness.

All the excitement  to share the nice time spent with Ruby just vanished from her face.Binny quietly moved towards the kitchen to make tea and some snacks  for her irked husband.

Again that night in the bed when Binny wanted to make the first move,she was pushed aside,"Can't you ever give some space to me?"
She failed to understand him.

He wanted her at his own convenience.
He listened to her when he wanted to.

 He loved her and hated her  and so did she.

smita sharma dabas: He's so lucky!!

smita sharma dabas: He's so lucky!!

He's so lucky!!

It was a Sunday morning.Lazying up in the bed, he looked around if she was there.She wasn't; as usual,she must have woken up at six,brushed her golden brown frizzy hair and headed for a morning jog .She was lovely-green eyes,impeccable peaches and cream complexion,an athletic figure.What else can a man ask for in a wife?
Everyone was so envious of Micheal who had been recently married to this charming woman with stricking beauty.

He woke up with a smile smuggly placed on his thin lips.The last night was awesome,he thought .They had been to Rockman's Beer Island in Ambience Mall to celebrate the culmination of a year of marriage .They had had so much beer that they both laughed and it was quite a task  to reach back home safely.She had ordered fish and chips,a dish she loved despite its calories.He had recently turned a vegetarian because of the high cholesterol levels depicted in his regular medical check-ups .He just ordered some sphaggeti in red sauce.But who wanted to eat?They just wanted to fill their hearts out by looking at each other,making loving movements towards each other,hold each other tightly and just merge into each other.

His thoughts were suddenly broken by a knock at the door.

"Hey darling.so you are up?"

"Yes dear.Would you mind a cup of green tea?",he offered.
"No baby.Just a minute, lemme change ."

Just as Tina turned around to reach the washroom door,she was trapped in his muscular arms.She could sense he was getting naughty again so she swerved and rushed into the bathroom and locked herself in.He kept trying hard,he pleaded and requested but all in vain.

Come out and then I'll tell you,he threatened .

She came out in exact fifteen minutes and found him waiting on the dining table with a full-laid breakfast tray.She always liked the eggs hard boiled and muesli crunchy.

He loved her so much that he laughed at the comments of typical Indian MCP's at his office.
If they would have married someone as adorable as Tina,they would understand.They are all bloody jealous.They eye her from top to bottom on the  Family Days ,whisper out in each other's ears,"Look, how lucky this chap Micheal is.Even though he is nothing but ordinary,he's bagged a fortune in Tina."

It ddin't bother him at all.He was content and happy in the fact that she married him for his intelligence and expertise in his job as a Regional Manager , not for his six figure salary.She had agreed so swiftly and smoothly when he proposed marriage to her that even he was amazed at his good fortune.

The door bell rang.
It must be the driver.
They were to go for a Sunday brunch at a five star hotel as always.They always lived in style,making people J.
He opened the door . Kamlabai entered."Saab ,berakfaast abhi talak rakha hai?

"Arre bai ,tumhe dikhta nahin,maine aur memsahib ne breakfast kar liya?"

"Saab to satak gayele hain ",Kamlabai whispered to Raju,the driver who just entered with the medicine box through the porch.

The driver rankled in pain,"Aissa ichh hota hai jab aapki nayi wife ka first anniversary par hi accident main death hojaye.Saab abhi talak bhool nayi paaya unko,woh thi hi aisich.
Tum jao bai,main saab ko khana khila dega."

The next morning Micheal looked lazily from the bedroom window  ",Why does she have to so be so beautiful?"People will be jealous and say,"He's so lucky!!"

The aquaintances.

When I met him years later,the happiness and careless jocundity had been replaced by a forbidden and hateful logic that I hated in people. The long lost friend had become a stranger ,a not so known aquaintance whom we all shirk away from.As I remembered  him I got lost in the era of innocent chatter ,the endless antakasharis,the loosely ended gossip sessions of our mothers and of mimic games in which we left noone from our elders to the younger cousins and distant relatives .

He was barely five feet five inches tall,a height considered obliquely inappropriate for an Indian male,with jet-black curly hair(so intertwined that I thought a swallow can actually build a house in there),a swarthy complexion with sharp features.What made him attractive was his unique quietness that always mesmerized me and his taste in music and literature.

His present state was similar in physicality,only that his cheek bones were not visible now;yet the glow was visible on the dark ,smooth face.He tapped me from behind and called my nick-name ,'Hey sweety,is that you?You seem to have grown twenty kilograms since I last saw you..was it fifteen years or twenty?'I calculated in my mind and replied,"Oh my God !Is it you cheeku?'Yes surely it was him,I told myself.
It only seemed like yesterday when we both shared our sides of love stories...some completely incapable of culmination and some falsely muddled up only in our heads.Yet we did share our most intimate thoughts,dreams and aspirations.

Now that I found him looking at me with questioning eyes I muttered,"How come you are here?""I'm here for an interview.Having some time I decided to take a quick snack.And you?"
I told him that I worked a few yards away as an editor for a local newspaper and I generally took a tea break at that time.

We were forced into the conversation as the chaiwallah was delaying his one minute promise of tea and samosa.Struggling out of the queue ,  I finally made my way to a greasy table and sat down expecting him to be there in a while.I saw him carrying an idli plate and carefully managing to put it on the table without a thud.I asked him if he was still a bachelor and if he still believed strongly in the innate desire of freedom and complete life-saving live-ins.He laughed off the matter and showed me the picture of his wife on his blackberry and confirmed the loss of his carefree days.

"I was wrong",said he intently; looking straight into my eyes.I gazed at the flie-stricken floor and got up to leave.
"I need to take a meeting with my team",I told him coldly."All the best for your interview and bye".

He called my nick-name again by the time I had  already reached the door .I deliberately didn't turn around lest he should see tears draining my crisp,white office shirt.He will understand ,like the way I had in these years.