Mocking a Tale

April

2011-12-19T19:07:00.000+05:30

Its April. I wait for April all year along.

I wait for the white, pink, blue, peach color to bloom in my garden.

The lilies are blooming.

How I love lilies. The day I knew the first lily in my garden is going to attain her youth, my face had an ear to ear long smile.

I hardly get to see the blooming lilies in my own house immaterial of how I love them, that too under tight scrutiny. Because, someone else loves them more than me or anyone else in the kingdom.

The knights of the king are waiting for every lily in the kingdom to bloom, so that they can pick them for the princess's bath. She has the luxury of lily bathe only 30 days in a year.

Prompt for Nimue's Months of the year Challenge :)

March

2011-12-16T17:53:00.003+05:30

The adolescence was bidding goodbye. Our play dates were changing into secret meetings.

A whiff of cold March air blew my hair on my face when our lips met behind the oak tree that day.

He asked me how I felt like.

I don't know, I said.

He agreed to keep our kisses secret until I found out how I felt about them. I felt good.

He wasn't anything like those assholes in school. Kissing someone secretly and moving around with some hot girl for public display.

He smiled at me every time our eyes met, which happened often during the school hours and after school hours.

Our secret meetings continued, with kisses or without.

He handed me over my first job contract outside the school that day.

If you're going to get me a good job, you have to give me a good kiss before that. I said. He smiled.

Our kisses, and our meetings weren't secret anymore.

P.S. This is reproduction of a dream I had early morning today. :)

P.P.S: Written for Nimue's Months of the Year Challenge

February

2011-12-08T13:43:00.000+05:30

'Its never too late to fall in love.' That's what he said while wrapping the bandage around her arm.

She smiled and looked away, out of the window.

February, the month of love, she thought as her eyes fell on the shrubs loaded with roses in the garden outside that window.

'Maa, you should meet Dr. Agnihotri. He is very nice. He likes you.' He said as he finished dressing the wound on his mother's arm from brush of thorns of roses shrubs.

February. She will turn 50 this February. She nodded at her son for the scheduling the meeting.

Prompt for Nimue's Months of the Year Challenge.

January

2011-12-04T15:35:00.001+05:30

A new year, new hopes and new agendas with new resolutions and some old ones carried forward.
January, you're welcome. I hope you are nice to me, so are the months that follow.
January, you' re cold, but remember to bring me warmth.
January, you're dry, don't forget to bring me moisture.
January, you're the one I look forward to the most, if you're good, the faith in rest being good gets strong.

Dear Januaries of the past, bless the Januaries of the future.

Prompt for Nimue's Months of the Year Challenge! :)

जीना इसी का नाम है... #Day30

2011-11-30T22:01:00.001+05:30

कुछ ढूंढ रही थी मैं. एक पुरानी डायरी. कुछ पुराने फ़ोन नंबर चाहिए थे. कुछ पुराने दोस्तों की याद आई, कुछ पुराने किस्सों की...

कुछ पुरानी तसवीरें मिलीं और कुछ पुरानी बातें ज़ेहन में उठीं...

क्या दिन थे, जब जोश में दुनिया बदलने की बातें किया करते थे. लेक्चर हॉल में बैठ कर अपने महत्वकांक्षाएं साझी किया करते थे. राजनीति बदलने की बातें, सरकार बदलने की बातें...

बातें तो कॉलेज में ही रह गयीं. कुछ दोस्त सिस्टम में शामिल हो गए, कुछ सिस्टम के ग़ुलाम.

आज सुबह अखबार देखा तो एक दोस्त की तस्वीर दिखाई पड़ी. गर्व महसूस हुआ जब खबर पढ़ी. दोस्त ने एक नवजात बच्ची को कचरे के ढेर से उठा कर गोद लेने का फैसला किया था.

बस, कॉलेज के आखिरी दिन, डायरी में उसके लिखे हुए शब्द याद हो आये..

एक शायद उसी ने अपने शब्दों को साकार किया था. जीना इसी का तो नाम है...

Home #Day29

2011-11-29T20:24:00.000+05:30

Your mother has written to you more than thousand times. Your father has told you over hundred times on the phone. Your siblings have been asking you the same everyday over video conferences.

But you've been too busy, stuck with work, engaged in earning, making a living.

Not only your family, but you house misses you too. Come back, my son. You've spent 20 years of your life here, and you can very well spend the rest here too. Like everyone else is.

Don't you miss being with your family, being in your own house?

Minting money was never a priority for this family. Your own country misses you.

Come back.

P.S. Season Finale tomorrow. :)

The Park #Day28

2011-11-28T20:28:00.000+05:30

He stopped walking at the sight of the Karan Park. His feet took him inside on their own. He found himself near the same bench, after about 5 years. He tried to walk away, filled with fury, but couldn't manage. He threw himself on the bench and wept. Wept like he did five years ago. Helpless and feeble.

The past started playing at the back of his mind, like a movie rolls.

This day, that year. He was here, with his five year old. To get fresh air and to spend some quality time with this son. The kid wanted to climb the tree but he was too afraid to let him.

He child threw tantrums and he ignored. He picked the kid up and started moving towards the house When his phone rang. It was his boss calling.

He let his son down on the ground and answered the call, only to turn around to the child's loud scream, finding him bleeding. He had fell off the tree and hurt his head on the bench.

Before he could run to pick his child, the kid had lost his pulse.

Work before everything theory killed his son.

The Journey #Day27

2011-11-27T20:35:00.000+05:30

She looked out of the door. The train looked beautiful in those lights under the star lit sky. The rail tracks telling thousand of stories of hundreds of trains that make their way to their destinations rolling on them.

She wasn't sure whether to step down or not. She had pulled the chain a few minutes ago from the aisle so that nobody knew who did it.

She ran her fingers through her dirty, rough, tangled hair and jumped off the train. She dint know what station was it, what city or town. Her journey had not finished. She had taken up a new journey in the middle of the ongoing one.

P.S. Another 3 days to go! :)

Mounts #Day26

2011-11-26T20:36:00.000+05:30

'Why don't you visit me more often? I like having you here?' My uncle said as we put down our tea cups after drowning the beverage down our throats.

'I am scared of all these animal heads and mounts that adorn your walls, uncle' I replied.

'Nothing to be scared of son! They are dead already. Moreover, they are more scared of human beings even when alive. I see the fear in their eyes and I know when to shoot them.' The uncle consoled me.

'I don't know uncle, I feel their souls are still wandering in this room of yours' I found myself blabbering.

'You talk rubbish.' He was laughing aloud.

'I'd take your leave uncle now.' I got up moving towards the door as I noticed a dead fox's eyes following me.

Rainbow #Day25

2011-11-25T21:24:00.001+05:30

He was screaming in pain. She kicked him in the nuts and ran for her life. It was a stormy night. The sky had decided to fall completely that night. There was nowhere she could go. She took shelter in the bus stand nearby and hid herself in the dark as much she could. She covered her infant with the swatch of the cloth she had in the name of saree.

A shake on her shoulder woke her up. The shoulder shake came from a woman with a nice face and smile. First thing she was a rainbow and then, a bus of certain NGO.

It is another morning, after a dark, stormy, rainy night.

Expressions #Day24

2011-11-24T21:38:00.000+05:30

The air was heavy. They became conscious of each others' physical presence more than anytime before. He held her hand tighter than ever before.

She just smiled. He wrapped his arms around her. She wasn't diffident. Just shy. He planted a kiss on her cheek. She closed her eyes.

He stopped. He dint want it to be one side effort. She opened her eyes. He smiled. She smiled back and pecked him on the nose.

Their lips found each other. Everything else ceased to exist.

Answers #Day23

2011-11-23T20:00:00.000+05:30

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. The usual quarter life crisis. Where is my life heading, whatever happened to my passion, and the job I chose over my dreams is giving me nothing but money, which I don't even get to spend.

I took a day off, just to ponder. I took off to a near by garden, sitting on the bench, I noticed this insect. Crawling on the plant. Struggling its way through the stems, leaves, thorns, flowers of the plant.

This is what I am doing with my life. Struggling. To live. Live the way as life is coming to me.

The crisis is over. I have my answer. I got up and started towards my office.

P.S. This is dedicated to Khule da Rab by Rabbi Shergil and Papon (The Dewarists). There is one line in the lyrics, which means, no matter whatever huge entity I think I am, at the end of it all, I am but only one small insect of your existence, mother nature.

The Window #Day22

2011-11-22T20:23:00.001+05:30

I dragged the side of the curtain a little bit to let some light sieve into the room. The grills on this window are made of wrought iron. They not only don't let people and animals pass through these windows but also preserve bleakness escape from this dull room and let happiness come in.

It has been 20 years I haven't seen the world outside of this room. They say I am insane, I need to stay in. I say, these walls protect me from insanity of the world.

The only peek-a-boo, being this window which encourages me to stay inside.

Sunday #Day21

2011-11-21T20:24:00.000+05:30

The otherwise murky neighborhood was busy in their everyday dull routine. They walked down the road, chatting lazily. It was Sunday. The day off. The day when getting drunk with Sun up was a tradition. The day of making some extra money or even losing their whole week's earnings in card games. They discussed women of the colony, categorizing them into convenient and not accessible.

It was turning out a lazy Sunday. Only, if they got lucky today, they can feast tonight on some chicken. Thought of chicken made them salivate.

It was when a speeding truck hit them from behind. There was blood on the road.

The Valley #Day20

2011-11-20T20:32:00.001+05:30

He applied brakes, dragged a little and frictioned his feet to stop. He unmounted his Royal Enfield and parked it on the edge of the road. Then, he took off his helmet. He turned towards the valley and spread his arms like he wanted to hug the entire valley. He breathed in the pine trees and the beautiful purple sky line.

He was home. This was his home. He could die right away without any regrets.

He smiled at random tourists around and exchanged a few chit chats with them for a few minutes.

He, then, sat on a rock on the edge and took out his drawing book and pencil. A pretty face sketched itself on the blank page in the matter of minutes.

This face was familiar. The face from the drawing book actualized itself into a human figure and smiled at him. She looked so serene. Before he could get up and approach that woman from the drawing book, she jumped off the road and faded away into the valley.

The Light #Day19

2011-11-19T20:36:00.002+05:30

This place looks serene. The day was calm otherwise, except for when a cat caught a crow and the whole crow community mourned over their loss for about an hour. There are too many cats around, but far less than crows.

This house has no power.

The watchman dint want to stay past sunset. I let him leave.

I have lit a candle. It looks beautiful. Only, it goes out every few minutes. Strangely, there is no wind.

If I am found dead tomorrow morning, treat this as my last testament against the candle. It is creepy indeed.

Sands of Time #Day18

2011-11-18T20:15:00.000+05:30

Meet me when the time stands still. Meet me when there is no barrier of life, birth or death. Meet me where we can be two souls, together, beyond the considerations of morning, noon or evening.

Meet me where there is no right and no wrong.

Meet me at the horizon.

Meet me when we have a handful of sands of time, which do not slip through our hands.

Rains #Day17

2011-11-17T20:04:00.000+05:30

I look out of the window. It is drizzling. Rains give me pleasure. Pleasure is a rare commodity these days. Magical how a few drops pouring from the sky quenches thirst of the nature. Nature's way to take care of everything. bringing peace to everything. I wish someday this rain exhausts the fire of a loss burning inside many people like me.

एक पुरानी कहानी #Day16

2011-11-16T20:00:00.001+05:30

कहानी है एक छोटे शहर की. एक बचपन की.

छोटे से घर के छोटे से बगीचे की. एक नीम्बू के पेड़ की और नानी माँ की कहानियों की.

नीम्बू के अचार के साथ ठंडे परांठों की. आम की गुठलियों की, घड़े के ठंडे पानी की.

दूध का गिलास हाथ में ले कर माँ जब पीछे भागती थी, तब की.

पेड़ों पर चढ़ने की, पड़ोस के दोस्तों के साथ पकड़ा पकड़ी खेलने की.

घर के पास के बाग़ में जा कर मछलियाँ देखने की. मौसेरे फुफेरे भाई बहनों को चिढ़ाने की, उनके साथ हंसने खेलने की.

बस कहानियां ही तो रह गयीं हैं अब वो सब बातें...

Bangles #Day15

2011-11-15T20:34:00.002+05:30

Red, green, yellow, orange, pink and many other. These are the colors every Indian woman feels connected with. Ever since early childhood until death.

Rings made of glass. These rings symbolize happiness, prosperity and blessings. They adorn wrists of women. Girls my age get so excited on the sight of them.

My hands are weary. I don't even know if I ever will be able to wear them.

To me, they earn me bread of the day. To me, they are the source of feeding my little siblings.

The Woods #Day14

2011-11-14T22:28:00.000+05:30

Here I am again. On these same pavements, in these same woods. They haven't changed, even though everything else has. 20 years.

The same sieved sunlight. The same winds blowing on to face. The same shadows. The same smell.

This is the place where I last met her. Where I last left her with a promise to return here today. Does she remember the promise? Will she turn up?

It has been two days I have been waiting for her. I feel irritated. I wonder how would have she felt for all these 20 years...

Pumps #Day13

2011-11-13T20:11:00.000+05:30

This pair of pumps is jinxed. One of the most expensive pair I ever bought. Whenever I wear them, I trip.

Also, no matter how many times I clean them, the heels are always dirty. So dirty that I can't tolerate. Leather. Animal Skin.

I have a theory. They come to life when I am not looking. They walk on their own. They visit places I'd never do in my conscious mind.

Where else would they get this dirt from? Why is there blood on them?

They used the skin to make a pair of footwear. But the animal lived on.

P.S. I have gotten rid of this pair.

The Moon #Day11

2011-11-12T21:40:00.000+05:30

Have you seen the moon anytime hoping that someone else might also be seeing it at the same time? Making same figures out of the patches on the moon? Feeling the same breeze on their face? I do that often. Not because I have a lover on a far away land who I promised to see through moon. But because it gives me immense power. Power and pleasure. That someone on a far away land, or probably not that far away land, might be feeling the exact same things I feel.

Someday, I hope soon, I'll find someone of my kind. We'll stare at the moon together and draw Power. The claws will be stronger and teeth sharper. The hunt easy and the hunger satisfied.

Cherries #Day11

2011-11-11T20:39:00.000+05:30

My son brought me to this general store to do grocery shopping. I am new to this country, thus checking out the stores and the operating systems.

Cherries. I stop at the counter and stare at them.

Whenever I see cherries, they always remind me of him. He used to bring them for me at our secret meeting place- the back of the thick banyan tree, only to snatch them from my hand and eat them all.

We grew up together in a small town of Himachal Pradesh. Calling it a town would be an overstatement. A small colony developed for the officers of the Board. My father was an officer too, very much like his.

I don't know about his present or past whereabouts. There was no Facebook or email when we last met. Or should I say when we separated.

'Mom, lets go!' The son wants to go. I pick a handful of cherries and walk towards the billing counter.

Togetherness #Day10

2011-11-10T21:16:00.000+05:30

Back then: She was naive. He was enthusiastic.

Now: She is wise. He is accomplished.

Back then: She had a candid smile. He had bright eyes.

Now: She has an enlightening smile. He has fulfilled eyes.

Back then: She was callow. He was ambitious.

Now: She is refined. He is self actualized.

Back then: They were a perfect couple.

Now: They are a perfect couple.

The only thing that remains unchanged over years is LOVE and togetherness.

P.S. This one is dedicated to my lovely parents, who set the best example of love in front of me, built and keep my faith in the 'institution of marriage' intact. :)

P.P.S. It is an amazing feeling that I've succesfully published 10 posts. Shutter Inspired Micro Shots is 10 days down. Another 20 to go! Cheers!!

Diwali #Day9

2011-11-09T20:24:00.000+05:30

I literally dragged her out of her apartment. She had moved in to the apartment next door to ours, recently. Diwali being my favorite festival, I was too excited. She dint seem too enthusiastic about this whole thing.

Charming girl like her doesn't look good when glum. She must fear crackers was my first guess. But I was hell bent to take all her fears out tonight.

The whole building was adorned like a new bride. Everything was so bright, so beautiful. Only, she was dull. I teased her. She dint reciprocate.

'Are you okay?' I had asked her when I saw she was turning pale at the sight of fireworks. She dint say anything. Until a bomb startled all of us. She screamed and passed out.

She was unconscious, sweating profusely and mumbling. 'let me go, please' was all I could make out.

She dint regain conscious until 3 days.

Now I know, why precisely she ~~was~~ is afraid of Diwali.

The Weapon #Day8

2011-11-08T21:04:00.001+05:30

The nauseating stink led me to open the terrace door and find the corroding corpse of the cat. The neighbors missing Ginger.

I almost puked at the sight of the carcass being eaten by insects and bugs. The watchman removed the dead cat from my terrace and cleaned it.

The neighbor was almost in tears. So was I. She had lost her favorite pet and I had found the weapon that stabbed the pet.

The count now is three since the day I found in my grand uncle's tool kit. I should get rid of it as soon as possible.

The Wait #Day7

2011-11-07T20:37:00.001+05:30

When was the last time you spared a smile at me? When was the last time you bestowed a few minutes at me? When was the last time you read a book to me or shared a cup of coffee? When was the last time you talked about your feelings? When was the last time we stared at moon together or counted stars?

I can't seem to remember.

Everyday, I witness you walk past me, busy in yourself, running errands, in a hurry to reach office. I know its not really your fault. You are busy in making your life better. Get a bigger house, bigger car. May be even a bigger and prettier swing than me.

I hope you do get that all. Only, I will wait for you to have some time for yourself and relax with me.

The Goblet #Day6

2011-11-06T20:56:00.001+05:30

He could smell her somewhere near. He could smell she was hurt and fighting for breath.

There she was, behind that Spruce tree, lying in the muddle of water. Cold water.

He picked her in his arms and rushed towards the house. He kicked open the heavy door and laid her down. She was too feeble. Just enough to point to that direction.

He nodded in a 'No'. He could not give it to her.

She wanted it. She needed it to live.

That would make her a beast all over again.

But he loved his sister way to much to let turn into beast than let her die.

The Goblet of blood was drained into her.

Music of Life #Day5

2011-11-05T20:11:00.003+05:30

'Dekha hai pehli baar, saajan ki aankhon mein pyaar...'

Every passenger in the coup turned their necks as the silky voice reached their ears.

The otherwise snoring train compartment came to life as the guy who looked like a nomad, also dressed like one, sang song after song.

Everyone was enjoying, clapping with every clump of the stringy instrument he had. As soon as he finished singing, he spread out his dirty amber cloth for collecting deserved prize money for entertaining people.

Many people who were dancing a few seconds back went back to snoring and others started advising him 'kama kar khaao...'

He unfolded his white cane and started moving towards the next compartment in the hope of a better lot of people he could entertain.

Black Money #Day4

2011-11-04T20:16:00.001+05:30

I pull the drawer out and there he is. Smiling.
How dubious is that. The man who led a country to independence, the man who taught a country the importance of living a simple life, is the man who allures the countrymen to loot their motherland.

70 years ago, he was the man who encouraged my grandfather to get into politics to make this country a better place to live.
Today, he is the man, who encourages me everyday to make this country a less better place to live.

- A So Called 'Public Servant'

The Shadow #Day3

2011-11-03T20:06:00.001+05:30

'Mom! there is someone in my room! I don't want to sleep in there.' He was panting as he burst open his parent's bedroom door. The mother woke up startled.

She snuggled her little son in her blanket and tried to calm him down. He was sweating profusely and gasped for breath.

The father got hold of his slugger as he tiptoed towards the little one's room while the mother followed.

The son screamed at the sight of the shadow near the window.

The parents closed the door behind them and laughed as they walked back to their room stroking their son's hair.

The shadow laughed too as the door closed.

Best Friend #Day2

2011-11-02T20:11:00.001+05:30

'Say something Priya! Speak up! Get up! You're scaring me!' She was frantically shaking the still body.

She was so happy this morning when she found a shiny packet on her bed. It was the doll she had always wanted. She had dialed wrong number twice in excitement before her best friend's mother's voice finally reached her ears.

Enthusiastic Priya had just wanted to brush the doll's hair when the possessive girl threw the ball at her. Priya fell on the floor. She had been hysterically rocking Priya's body.

It was about time, she realized she had been left with a piece of plastic for a best friend.

The Nostalgia #Day1

2011-11-01T20:30:00.003+05:30

She was cleaning her books closet. Something she has been procrastinating for years. That is when her phone rang. She reached for it and unintentionally dropped the book lying on the table. The book fell open on the floor to reveal two dried roses.

She dropped the phone at the sight of the roses.

Because every dried rose in old books has a story of its own, waiting to be told...

Evidence

2011-10-16T16:16:00.000+05:30

The dead body was found laden in blood. Along side, laid a blood stained knife. The forensic was called. The body was taken for postmortem. The wounds on the body matched with the knife. No fingerprints, however, were found.

A snake was found near the dead body in the postmortem lab next day. The snake refused to leave the dead. The snake was taken in custody, packed in a jar labeled 'Evidence'.

The jar was found broken and the snake was again near the dead.

Karma

2011-09-28T20:29:00.000+05:30

I was 15 when my chastity was first sold to a man of my grand father's age, and then to another man right when I was screaming in pain and laid in a pool of blood. 

And, then, there was no looking back. It was my profession. 

Today, I turn 30. I don't know if I have earned sins in the past 15 years, but probably I saved a few girls from being raped. That should balance my karma. 

________________________________________________________________________

P.S. Prostitution is outright inhuman. But prostitutes are human. If it wasn't for them, the rape index had never seen any boundaries. 

The Definiton- Conclusion

2011-09-24T21:26:00.001+05:30

Read Part 1 here.

____________________________________________

I sieved the tea in two cups and walked towards the drawing room.

'Why don't you chant chai chai chai instead of Neha, Neha' I teased him like every other day. He chuckled. This chuckle was the what I had fell in love with 8 years ago.

'Guess who called me today? Priyanka!' Amit has this absurd habit of asking the question and answering it himself without waiting for me to reply.

'Priyanka? The chitchat aunty journalist friend of yours?' I rolled eyes at him dramatically.

'Yea. Imagine! She ran into Papa and Rewa aunty at the Art Gallery yesterday. Papa introduced Rewa aunty as his friend and she was anxious to know everything about them. She thought she was telling me that my father has a girl friend.' He was sniggering.

'What did you say then?' I was concerned.

'I told her that she needs not worry, if there is a wedding, she'll get an invite.' He was enjoying this matter.

'You're mean Amit! By the way, this thing, about Papa and Rewa aunty is becoming talk of the town. I ran into Mrs. Gaba today. You know, she always has gossips of the world. She knows every damn thing that dint even happen.' I was getting hyper.

'Speaking of which, Neha, what do you say, I like Rewa aunty, and you do too, why don't we ask he to be our Maa first thing in when she returns from her nephew's wedding? She is so nice, and she doesn't have a proper family, especially children, to ask permission from.' He shot at me the question I was dreading ever since the moment I had returned from the supermarket.

I took a deep breath, Amit knew I was trying to relax; the sign that I had a lot to say, and he should collect all his attention for the next half an hour so. He has funny way to describe every action of mine.

'Why, Amit? Why is it necessary for us to ask our elders to define their relationships? I breathed. 'They are mature and experienced and way beyond the infatuation stage. It has to be their decision if they want to stay together or not. They are adults, and we are anyway too young to ask them anything they want to do with their lives. We love them, respect them, and we should let them have the liberty to deal with things their way, like they've done all their lives. Don't you see how fondly our 4 year old son talks about his best friend who is a girl? When two 4 yr olds can be friends beyond the difference of gender, why can't two adults be friends? Why do you think they would want to get married? They probably are just friends, who like to spend time together. We do not have to ask them to define their relationship. It would not be fair.'

Amit was looking at me fondly, like he always does when he needs me to know that he understood.

'I love you Neha' He said and smiled at me.

'I love you, too, Neha Bete.' This was Papa's voice who joined in.

I smiled.

The Definiton - I

2011-09-17T18:32:00.000+05:30

I remember the first time I saw her. That off- white Khadi saree with black border, big black bindi and the big neck piece with wooden beads. She looked graceful in her early 50s.

'Hello bete, I am Rewa Mathur and I just moved in next door.' She was the first one to greet me standing on the other side of the threshold.
'Oh! Hello aunty, please come in' I had smiled and welcomed her inside like a good neighbor.

Not just the neighborhood, but she was new to the town as well being the new appointed principal of the local Government Girl's College; and because she lived all alone, evening tea at my place had become a tradition for her. I had liked her as an individual since the very first day.
She was creative, intellectual and everything you expect from a college principal. Except, she was very soft spoken.

Why was I thinking about her today, because I had run into Mrs. Gaba- the gossip queen of our colony in the grocery store today. She has this style of saying things, that even if you are the most careless person on the planet, they somehow get scribbled on the mind, like writing on the sand, which gets washed away with the very next tide, but stays there unless the tide comes.

My train of thoughts came to a halt when I heard my name being called faintly somewhere in the background. It was Amit, he had returned from the office and was chanting 'Neha, Neha, Neha' in a loop. I know this loop won't pause unless I hand him over his cup of tea.

______________________________________________________
Part 2 coming soon.

The Hunt

2011-08-30T20:15:00.000+05:30

In the broad daylight, she pulled up her window. The sun light pierced through her pale skin.

She let the sun do the burn on her forearm. Masochist, was she? Oh, may be! But the burns did for her what drugs do for the human beings. Relieve her of the mental pain by giving her physical pain.

It was going to be a hunt night. She needed enough drive.

The burning smell of the flesh alarmed him in the lobby. He came running, pulled her off the window and shut it tight.

He had a goblet in his hand, filled with the red liquid that drove their kind.

She smirked at the glance of the goblet, and he, at her burnt skin.

The liquid was poured on the burn and it faded away.

___________________________________________________________________________

There they were. Scrutinizing every one in their vicinity to pick the best, healthiest option with a bottle of beer in their hands, not drinking. Trying to camouflage in the crowd, to not get noticed.

He spotted the hunt. She walked towards him.

'My apartment or yours?' she uttered just in time after the essential formal exchanges. The hunt smiled and said, mine. She made a gesture to her accomplice. He followed them as they moved out of the banquet.

The window panes of the car were down, 'the cold wind is such a turn on', she said only to spot a sneer on her target's face. He pulled the car over near a meadow. They got out of the vehicle. The breeze was playing its part.

The target approached her, she bent to let him kiss her as she saw from the corner of her eye, her accomplice pull the car in a shady spot.

She was getting ready, impulsed by the aroma of flesh, the accomplice moving towards in silent steps, with a thud, she fell on the ground. To see claws, real claws on the hands of her prey.

The accomplice just froze where he was.

They had started from home this evening to get a hunt. Little did they know, they will be the hunt tonight.

The Doll

2011-07-12T13:40:00.001+05:30

There is a kid.

She goes to a super market with her parents. She likes a doll. She wants that doll. Her parents find that doll sub-standard. They do not buy it for her.

They allure her with other things. She loves the doll. She wants the doll very much. She cries.

She goes rebellious. The parents get her all kinds of nice, expensive toys from every part of the world. She doesn't touch them. She wants the doll.

The revolution goes on for years. She barely talks to anyone, she barely eats. She is filled with hatred.

The parents give in. They get her the doll.

She is happy. She is very happy.

Now, she doesn't know what to do with the doll. She locks it in her cupboard and goes out looking for another toy she can cry for.

Full Moon

2011-06-16T21:53:00.001+05:30

Dear Diary,

The full moon is amazingly beautiful. The cold breeze is complimenting the perfect weather. Her hair swagging around with the air has left me awestruck. She looks breath-takingly stunning tonight. I know why I love her so much. I know why she invited me for a night out at this abandoned hill. The way she is looking at me, I guess I am going to get lucky tonight. She has decided to be with me. Tonight, we'll lay together on the ground and watch the stars. I am going to tell her about constellations and she will be impressed. Her eyes look so enchanting, she might just as well hypnotize me. I am writing this down so that I can show her later that I am not just into her physical self, but her self as the person.

Bye for now, she needs my attention more than you.

_________________________________________________________________________

This was the excerpt from the diary of the man found dead in the woods last night. The dairy was spotted by a policeman near his body. He has been identified as Vibhut Khurana, a leading industrialist of the town. The postmortem reports say that Mr. Khurana was killed by a wolf. Many chunks of skin from his body have been eaten. The question now is, if he was with a woman last night, where did the woman go? Does she know about the kill? Is she a witness? Did she flea away scared or was she too killed by the wolf? The hunch by the police is that the woman too, was dragged deep into the forest by the wolf and there could have been more than one wolves out there.

________________________________________________________

She pressed the button of the remote to switch the TV off and bit into chunk of Vibhut's skin.

Game of Cards

2011-05-29T19:20:00.001+05:30

'What if Amar gets to know?' Binita said in a hush voice while collecting bed sheet and wrapping it around herself.

'He wont. he is too busy ogling at other women.' replied Chetan curtly.

'You must get dressed Chetan. Amar must be on his way back home. Dint he say he will be back in an hour or so?' Binita started getting dressed.

'I guess he must be busy in rest room shaking himself. He is not too fortunate to get hooked up in a page three types dinner.' Said Chetan while getting back into his pants.

Binita let a giggle out while doing her hair after satisfactorily checking her saree drape in the mirror.

They were just eating when the door bell rang and Binita opened the door for Amar. She greeted him with a welcoming smile.

'Looks like you guys had a good game of rummy while I was away.' Amar said playfully looking at the deck of the cards placed on the living room table.

'Yes, I won. Thrice.' Chetan said sarcatically looking at Binita who gave him a cunning smile.

'I must leave now and give you and Binita some lone time my friend. Also, Diya must be getting bored at home alone.' Chetan decided to clean behind his back after another game of rummy.

'Thanks for keeping Binita company Chetan. She feels lonely at home while I am away at these business meetings.' Amar shook Chetan's hand and they both hugged like friends.

While driving back to home, Chetan thought about his best friend Amar and his super sexy wife Binita. How rude of Amar to ignore a beautiful woman like Binita alone and not taking her care. When I can read her unsatisfied needs in her eyes, why cant Amar? For a minute, his consious gave him a hard time when he thought about the game he was playing with his best friend and cheating on his wife, but then he thought it was not going to be permanent. Some day or the other, both Binita and him are going to end it. Amar and Diya would never know about it.

He parked the car in the basement and walked towards the lift to his apartment.

'Namaste sa'ab' the lift man greeted him as he pressed the button which would take Chetan to his home.

'Namaste Farukh. How are you? When did you come back from the village?' Chetan was pleased to see Farukh back.

'Bas sa'ab, Yesterday only. It was my sister's wedding.' Farukh was rubbing khaini on his palm with his thumb.

'Acha acha. Did someone come to see me today while I was away?' Asked Chetan out of habit.

'Haan sa'ab, Amar sa'ab came. I told him you were not at home, he decided to wait for you but then, he left some half an hour ago.' Farukh said chattily.

'Amar?'

Chetan went numb. Farukh shook him to say his floor had arrived.

Chetan rang the door bell. Diya opened the door. She looked unusually happy.

'Farukh said Amar came?' enquired Chetan from his beautiful wife.

'Yes, we played a game of Rummy while he waited for you. He won. Thrice.' Diya pointed towards the deck of cards neatly placed on the table.

Chetan smiled at his wife and his luck.

Dead People Inc.

2011-05-21T14:26:00.000+05:30

'I need blood.'

'It's too early.'

'I'm hungry'

'You just ate a whole rabbit'

'Mom, I am growing'

'You are growing to be too expensive. Soon, you'll get us all killed.'

'Mom, we are already dead.'

'Yes, I know. What if the humans discover us?'

'Mom, you are behaving like a sissy human mother, they need to be scared of us. We don't need to be afraid of them.'

'I just want you safe.'

'Really? Ho many times do we have to have the same conversation before you actually stop worrying? And Human think their worries end with their life.'

'All right, I got a squirrel in the store. You can have it for now. Don't ask for anything for another day.'

'Thanks Mom. You're the best.'

Since We Are Being Honest...

2011-04-22T19:47:00.000+05:30

When I said I was going to remember you when you are gone, I meant it. Because I thought you will be gone before it is time for me to move on. But somehow, you stayed single. But I have to move on.

I have been waiting for your reaction. I wanted you to react loud and give 'us' a closure, so that I can escape my guilt of leaving you midway. Also, somewhere down, I wanted badly you to beg me to be by your side because I wanted to reject you.

Why on the face of Earth you haven't said anything? Why, are you okay that I am moving on and you are still out there alone? Did I miss anything? Did I miss seeing you gone?

This has taken my peace away. I have been trying too hard to be mean with you, to provoke you. I know you know it deep down, that I am frustrated because of your 'coolness' about this issue.

May be you are doing this on purpose. To make me feel bad.

I guess you have every right to...

Dhobighat- Not the movie.

2011-02-02T19:15:00.000+05:30

I come out in the balcony with a bucket full of washed clothes.

My husband gifted me a FBI fully automatic washing machine on my last birthday. But I hardly use it. I like washing clothes with my bare hands. Its not because I am too naive to understand how it works, it is because removing dirt from the clothes gives me weird comfort.

I start spreading the clothes on the cables. Mrs. Mehra from the opposite balcony smiles at me. She tries to engage me in a conversation, I smile and come back telling her my phone is ringing.

I come in and spot the dirty duster in the corner, I pick it up and start rubbing the fingerprints from the glass top of the center table.

Will those dirty fingerprints on my body come off ever, I always wonder.

My husband is here. He is going to see water dripping off the wet clothes in the balcony and ask me again to use the washing machine.

He will then ask me to get a dhobi come to our place and collect laundry because everyone does that.

And I will start screaming on the mention of dhobi and faint. Like everyday.

When I did not take Dump in time

2011-01-25T17:32:00.000+05:30

The morning was Cold. The alarm clock snoozed, and I took the first look on my Twitter Timeline.

She was there. Enough reason to make my morning.

I pulled over my quilt.

That was when my phone rang and I realized I had an important meeting to look forward to in office and I was already 30 minutes late.

I splashed water on my face and ran.

Everyone in the conference room looked at me as if I came straight out of my bed. And I had.

I connected the laptop to the projector and thats when I realized I could not wait for the meeting to get over to go to the washroom.

I fumbled in the wires and my laptop jumped from the table and committed suicide.

And, then something in my pants committed suicide.

P.S. This one is for @chulbul_pandi ;)

Another Man

2010-10-22T12:54:00.001+05:30

She was restless. A tear rolled down her eye.
He was clam.
'I know..' he said 'I am impotent' staring at his wife's protuding belly. He stretched out his hand to touch the foot impression of the child that was not his.

She entered with a smile into the labor room.

मेरा घर

2010-10-11T18:45:00.000+05:30

'हाँ मेरे घर आजा, बैठ कर गप्पें मारेंगे..' पिछले हफ्ते ही तो अपनी सहेली से कहा था उसने.

'कल मैं अपनी माँ के घर में थी और आज अपने ससुराल..'

एक रात के अंतराल में उसका अपना घर कहाँ खो गया?

The Femme Fatale- V- The Final Move

2010-10-05T20:34:00.003+05:30

Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Khanna Murder Case Solved

The much hyped murder case of Dinesh Khanna, the branch head of ABC Corp is almost solved claims the local police. He was found dead last week in his bedroom recovered by his brother Dr. Sahil Khanna- a graduate from Harvard School of Medicine, in the early morning.
He died due to an overdose of chloral i.e. a compound formed when brandy and water are mixed. In the first instance it looked like an accident but as the investigations proceeded, the crime scene looked suspicious. When the brother of the deceased was inquired, it was established that they had had an argument on the day of the death.
Though Dr. Sahil Khanna pleads innocent, the case looked shady when the colleagues of Dinesh Khanna confirmed that the brothers had been arguing for the past week in the office premises and it turned out that they had been planning to pin down an innocent girl Ms. Anjali Kapoor, the creative head of the ABC Corp who had an affair with deceased’s brother since past two months.
When Ms. Kapoor was probed, she admitted that she overheard the brothers talking and felt deceived. She had an argument with Doctor Khanna the week before the death and walked out of the relationship. She is reported to be in a trauma due to the broken relationship and is still under medication with a renowned psychologist of the town. However, the court has given a clean chit to Ms. Kapoor while Doctor Khanna is under judicial custody on non- bail able warrant.

Anjali folded and put down the news paper and smiled to her friend Dr. Sameer Mehra- Psychologist.

“Happy?” Sameer poked her.

“Elated” she replied smiling even wider.

“I still find it hard to imagine. A girl of principles like you managed to get the brothers down.” He exclaimed.

“I told you I am going to win this game by hook or crook. They thought they were smart enough to get me. But I got them first.”

“When you asked me about the modus operandi, I was doubtful if you could do that.”

“I had to. I still remember the day when I poured the high concentration chloral into their used brandy from the bottle I took with me in my hand bag on one of my so called dates with Sahil at their apartment. I knew I could be a suspect, therefore the break up drama had to follow a few days later. The modus operandi had to be simple enough for Dinesh to be framed if DOCTOR Sahil had to be the victim. Then all I had to do was to wait and watch. Though I dint know who would die and who will be framed. But I dint mind it either ways. They were both in the line. Albeit I am going to miss those awesome orgasms. And thank you Sameer for all you did for me.” She boasted.

They both laughed aloud.

P.S. I googled a lot to find an apt Modus Operandi, I wanted a cold blooded murder though, but still nothing could convince me. Then I had to settled at the most common one. Please bear with me.

The Femme Fatale- IV- The Affair Begins

2010-10-01T20:27:00.001+05:30

Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Anjali looked at the mirror and adored herself. She looked beautiful in that white summer dress. Her hair set loose fell to her waist. She was ready for another dinner date with Sahil.

When she came out of her apartment, Sahil could not take his eyes off her. She always had looked gorgeous, but today there was something spell binding in her which he could not decipher. “You look stunning” was all he could manage to tell her.

He drove the car in 3rd gear in no hurry. She asked him where they were heading to but he would not tell. There was a heat between them. He drove towards the end of the city to a lonely beach. There was a beautiful set up there- a bonfire, a table for two and soft music. The food was Italian complimented with red wine.

They went for a stroll after the dinner. She took off her stilettos and walked bare feet on the sand. He held her hand and pulled her closer. They looked into each other’s eyes and they were both acquainted with the other’s desires for them.

Their lips pressed and it was immaterial who made the first move. In a matter of minutes they lay on the sand exploring each other’s bodies.

She opened her eyes with the first ray of the rising sun and looked at Sahil who lay peacefully slept by her side, his arms around her. The movement of her eyelash on his face woke him up. He smiled and kissed her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She wanted to keep their affair physical but Sahil was turning out to be a diehard romantic. He brought her flowers, wrote her music discs, took her to movies. She was kind of surprised to see him this way. Nevertheless, she was enjoying being the focus of his attention. “He is a brilliant actor”, she thought at times.

In the days that followed, their affair became the talk of the town. They complimented each other so well. However, only Anjali knew to herself that it was a fake.

“You think you have an upper hand on me if you are seeing my brother?” this came as a surprise from Khanna when she was busy winding up after a hectic day at office.

“Excuse me?” she exclaimed.

“Don’t you dare to fill him up against me” he exhaled the smoke of an exquisite cigar on her face.

"Look, my personal life and professional life are way apart and don’t even talk even talk about you” she was fighting to breathe.

“He will not choose you over me any day” he pushed out.

“Now when you are out in the open against me, let’s see who does he choose” she was finding it hard to not shout.

This conversation made her uneasy. Her mind was racing. “Why did Khanna throw that challenge on her face? They had been playing a game secretly and she had been falling in for that. Now why all of sudden did he act that way? Was Sahil really falling for her? Did he tell his brother about it? Why had Khanna sounded insecure?” Whatever it was, she was game. She was set for the next move.

“I know there is something cold between you and bhai.” Sahil shot at her that evening. “I have nothing personal against him, it’s just the office dynamics you know” she had rehearsed this answer many times. “Are you sure?” he asked. “Of course” she replied. This topic was never brought up again.

Part V- hopefully the concluding one coming soon..

The Femme Fatale- III- The Catalyst

2010-09-24T21:38:00.002+05:30

Read Part 1, Part 2

It all had started a year ago, when the then branch head- Ms. Sunaina Sahni, a divorcee resigned from the company. Everyone in the office was sure that the next boss has to be Anjali. She was hard working and deserving. But the final verdict was in Sunaina’s hand. The day before Sahni’s farewell party, Anjali received a call from her and she was summoned to office after the working hours. She reached the office hastily and was surprised to see Dinesh, her intern coming out of Sunaina’s cabin.
She gave him a questioning look and all he reciprocated was a shrewd smile. As she entered the cabin, she was taken aback to find Sunaina half- dressed sipping scotch. She asked her to come in and have a seat. She was casual. Anjali was still in a shock.
“You must be wondering why the hell did I call you here at this time. Look Anjali, I like you very much, you are a hard working girl and you have a long way to go. Everyone in the office wants you to be the next boss. So did I. But I am changing this decision of mine. I called you here to know the reason behind it. I dint want to back stab you.” She said coolly.
Anjali dint say anything and rushed out of her cabin straight to her car. “So this is it. He has been privately servicing that ‘fair-not-back-stabbing-bitch’ to get the power.” Her mind was racing. She dint want this to happen. “The much awaited, hard earned, well deserved position was so close and someone comes from nowhere and grabs it, rather snatches it. Rascal.” She wanted to call up the company president and letting him know all that was going on. But the conscience inside her stopped her from doing so. It said, “they can go to this low for power, if you too do, what would the difference between you and them?”. She decided otherwise.
The next morning, as expected, Dinesh was announced the un-questioned boss. No one seemed to have been surprised. They all knew it already. Anjali was told that she was the only one unaware of this petty affair going on in her vicinity.
She laughed at herself, “how contradictory is it that a nerd, who I gave no attention to, the one who reported to me, all of sudden has become my boss. I am going to have to report to him now. That Dinesh has out of blues become Mr. Khanna. This is all the game of power which I failed to noticed while I was busy working.”
Dinesh had thrown a small treat- as he called it, actually a lavish expenditure on food on becoming the new branch head. He bought everyone personalised gift- from the office secretary to the office peon, even the watchman was happily blowing his new whistle. Anjali too found a packet with her name on her table. She wanted to throw it away. But she opened it. Inside was hot pink silk lingerie exactly her size. Filled with agony, she marched into his cabin where he sat playing with the revolving chair. She picked his cigarette lighter lying on the table and set the lingerie on fire, stood there staring him until it turned into ashes and marched out with quick steps without even uttering a word.
She started typing a resignation but something inside her head stopped her. She was not going to quit. She was a born fighter. Her dad called her ‘little soldier’. Soldiers don’t quit. They stand back and fight till their last breath. She was a head-strong persona. She decided to stay. If Dinesh was going to throw lemons on her, she is going to squeeze those lemons into his eyes.

Dinesh Khanna changed his personal secretary every two months that is how he earned the prestigious title of "W.K.". One of those frequently changing girls whose names other staff dint even know at time had been creating a scene in the office threatning Khanna to sue him. Somehow he managed to get her mouth shut.
Though Dinesh Khanna tried on her another two times, but he never succeeded. He called her ‘miss-tight-ass’. She ignored him, stayed stern towards him and kept herself busy with her work. She knew that opportunists like him would fall on his knees some time and that will be when she will play him. She waited for that time patiently. Like a lioness waits ready to pounce for her prey to get settled down.

Part IV soon...

The Femme Fatale- II-The Blue Orchid

2010-09-18T21:37:00.001+05:30

Read Part 1

That night, Anjali lay in her bed restless and unable to sleep. She dint want to believe it. Was Sahil a new pawn in the game? Was Khanna that desperate to win her to take the game to next level? She could not mistake. It was Khanna’s voice talking to a shadow when she was returning from the ladies room. He was asking “is she in?”, the other voice replied “seems so”, and he was patting on the shoulder of the shadow saying “you know the next step”. She managed to sneak a look of both brothers coming out in the light.

But she had seen genuineness in those eyes. She could not be wrong in recognising those looks he was giving. The passionate way he held her on the dance floor. She had thought how unlike his brother is he. Sahil was a Khanna too after all. Anything was possible.

There was a battle going on in between her heart and her brain. Her brain was giving her heart a tough time in deciding if it was mere a game and her heart told her constantly that he was not faking. Her brain kept on telling her to back off and save herself.

Amidst the battle there was a third party coming up- her body. She wanted him badly. Even if it was a game, her physical desires for Sahil were not bothered about it. The heart had now a supporter and they over powered the brain and she decided to risk it.

Next morning when she reached the office, she found a bouquet of blue orchids waiting for her in her cabin. It had a note that said “Thanks for a lovely evening. Can I have the pleasure of your company again tonight? Signed- Sahil Khanna” and underneath he had scribbled his phone number.

“How does he know I like blue orchids? This game is well researched.” She thought to herself. She procrastinated calling him back or sending a thank you note. To her surprise, Khanna was being unreasonably nice to her that day. He asked her to convene the meeting she had worked hard to prepare the presentation for unusually.

She called Sahil up during the lunch break and they decided to have dinner together.

“It is going to be a date” Sahil’s words were echoing in her mind constantly. His voice had an appeal hard to forego. Their date was on the dock of a ship- Exotic food and cool breeze.

Later that night she was busy with a report but she found it hard to concentrate on it. Thoughts of Sahil kept coming back to her. He was a real gentle man she wondered. He was not only strikingly handsome, but witty and funny too. He was easy to talk to. She recalled the electrifying ‘good night kiss’ he gave her on the cheek when he dropped her outside her apartment.

She knew he had played his move and now was her turn. Her plan was simple. She was going to fall in the trap and be played. She dint want her opponents to know she was aware of their strategy. And she wanted to manipulate the plan and the players using their own ploy.

Part III coming soon....

The Femme Fatale- The Pilot

2010-09-08T16:59:00.001+05:30

"Morning Ms. Kapoor, a long day is waiting for you my dear." Her boss handed her the 'to-do list' as she reached office and found him waiting for her.

"Morning Mr. Khanna, you know how much I love my work" she snapped his shrewd smile into two pieces with her plain answer.

Anjali was ready for another hectic day at office. Her boss- Dinesh Khanna known as 'womanizer Khanna or W.K.' was a monster. He had recently escaped a molestation allegation from turning into a suit.

Anjali was stern towards him, and saved herself with her dignity and attitude. When he failed to seduce her, he had made her life hell.

She was determined not to quit that job for she wanted to teach him a lesson.

She retired for her desk snatching the list from his hand. A look at the list and she knew that she would not finish it even if she worked for 48 hours nonstop.

Endless work, no coffee or lunch break, she stopped only to answer a phone call on her personal cell phone at 7 in the evening.

Diksha Calling..

"Hello, what r u wearing at the party tonight?"

"Oh Diksha, I am so sorry, I totally forgot.”

"Not again, come on yaar, don’t kill yourself with work"

“I am trying my level best yaar, I’ll be a little late, and haven’t decided what to wear."

"Noways. W.K. is gonna kill you.”

"I know yaar, chal lemme finish this, or I’ll be even late otherwise."

It was the Silver jubilee year celebration of the company she worked for. W.K was the incharge of the branch she worked in and so for the party arrangements. He made sure she could not reach to meet up with the president of the company.

She winded up for the day only to find out no one else was there in the office and she too rushed home, changed into a party dress and drove to the venue of the party.

As she entered, her eyes set on to a handsomely dressed man who stood like a Greek God right next to Khanna. She could not take her eyes off him. The Linen trousers he wore revealed the muscular, well toned calves and his mane looking out from his shirt was appealing her. She hadn’t seen a stunningly attractive guy in ages.

“Finally you are here. I knew you are going to miss the president. Oh you look sexy. When did you buy that dress?” Diksha’s shrill voice dragged her back to her senses.

“Hey, who is that guy right next to Khanna?” she shot at her closest friend from work.

“Oh him? I don’t know but he seems to have attracted everyone’s attention today. Even yours. So he has gotta be something real special” Diksha said.

“Pathetic joke that was” she bantered back.

“Hey Ms. Kapoor. You made to the party. I thought we were going to miss you, but there you are” her mind took a jolt to hear Khanna’s voice all out of the blues, but when she turned around it was the turn of her heart to skip more than one beat on the close sight of the young man who seemed to have trailed Khanna. She wasn’t anymore listening to what Khanna babbled; all her attention was focused on the young man who was responding those looks to her.

“This is Sahil, my younger brother. He recently returned from ‘Harvard School of Medicine’ after his graduation. Sahil, meet Anjali, our creative head. And she has got a really creative head. hehehehe” He laughed at his own joke.

“Hello Anjali. Can I have a dance with you?” Were the words that lewd which came out of his slender lips or was it the way he moved those lips, she wondered when Sahil spoke in a husky voice.

“Sure” she said moving on the dance floor sure of her beauty that day which Diksha had also confirmed.

P.S. Next part coming soon..

Teenage Diaries- The Finale

2010-04-18T13:05:00.001+05:30

Dear Diary,

Shock! This is what I would define this day. All these days have been no less than disturbing. With the arrival of Nitin Sahney came a Tsunami in my life that does not seem to clam down.
When Mumma told me he was not my father, I was kind of relieved. But now that I know who actually he is, I think I hate him more than anything.

15 years of my life. I have been blessed to have the best mother in the world. And today she comes and tells me that she is not my mother. Why? Why did she have to tell that to me?

I went into a state of shock when yesterday she told me that.

Nitin Sahney is the man responsible for bringing me to life. He impregnated my biological mother and fled off because he was not ready for a family. The biological mother too gave up on me when I was born to her best friend who wanted to bring me up and she did take care of me for 15 yrs until Mr. Sahney wanted his legacy back.

Mumma wants me to decide whether I wanted my biological father or her. I decide to stay with her because she is the one I have known to be my own all these years.

No person in the world, blood or marriage can make me give her up. That is because she decided to mother me when my own mother left me.

I love you Mumma.

TTYL Diary.

Love,

Rehmat

Teenage Diaries- III

2010-02-25T07:04:00.001+05:30

Dear Diary,

This current of emotions inside of me doesn't let me settle down. I have never been this confused. Rather, I have never been confused. For a 15 year old girl, who has best mom in the world and has everything that could make her happy, confusion or tension are just words that could be found in dictionary.

But what happened today has shook me. Inside out. I don't know what to do.

I saw mumma in a totally different avatar today. I had never seen this aspect of her personality. I have always known her as a strong willed single parent and a composed lady.

One thing I got to know today for sure is Nitin Sahney is not my father. But who is he then is the question. I cant ask mumma right now. She asked me for some lone time. And as she said, she is going to tell me everything when the right time comes. When will the right time come?

When mumma told me today that she was coming along to meet this Sahney man with me, I sensed it was going to be something huge today. But I never expected her to lose her temper that bad on anyone. She was screaming at the top of her voice. All I could make out was she telling him to stay away from me and this Sahney guy was constantly telling her that she could not stop him.

Mumma dint talk at all on the way back home except when she told me that he is not my father.
This is such a mess. I donot want to see this man again. I donot want to upset mumma. And I donot understand what the hell is going on. This sure is not going to be easy. I see the future with distress.. One part of me wants to solve this mystery and another part of me wants it to end right here. I was a happy kid. I want my life back.

I hear the door creek, looks like mumma has come out..

TTYL Diary,
Rehmat.

P.S. Next and most probably the concluding part coming soon.
P.P.S. Apologies for keeping you all waiting for this long time :D

Teenage Diaries- II

2010-01-27T15:23:00.000+05:30

Dear Diary,
Something strange happened today. Tanay and I were out for shopping in the mall waiting for Sukriti at CCD. Sukriti had to join us there only. As always. Miss late she was. And this man, walked towards me. He asked us if he could join us for a while. The man looked elegant somewhere in his late thirties or early forties. Tanay was suspicious, but I let him stay. He introduced himself as Nitin Sahney, a writer and a journalist. He told us he was doing a story on teenagers that is why he wanted to talk to us.

I dont know, but I liked the flair with what he talked. He asked us if we could spend an hour or so every week with him. Tanay dint seem to mind. Sukriti seemed enthusiastic. I was somehow a little confused.
When I told mumma about the incidence, she told me to never see that man again. I am skeptical. Mumma always encourages to interact with people. But why all of sudden she was so stern and telling me "not to talk to strangers"? Weird it is.
I have never seen her so rigid before. Except when I last time asked her whereabouts of my father. All she said was he wanted to kill me before I was born so they separated.

Does this name Nitin Sahney got something to do with it?

I need to know.

Teenage Diaries

2010-01-13T18:28:00.003+05:30

Dear Diary,

Today was my best birthday ever. Mumma woke me up with a nice smelling cup of coffee and huge poster of Robert Pattinson and a set of the Twilight series. At times I feel awkward talking to her about my admiration for the Edward Cullen's' character. But she says I am her friend, so I can share anything with her.
Sukriti and Tanay were here as expected to wish me birthday and escort me to school. I love them both. To my wonder, Tanay had brought a bunch of Tulips for me, I was expecting chocolates as always. And why did he tremble today while kissing me on my left cheek? We have grown up pulling each others' hair and teasing each other and now all of sudden this hesitation?

Everyone in school says that he is my boy friend. Does he too think the same?
School was good. Obviously, gone are the days of dressing up in casuals and distributing sweets, but yeah, Canteen treat is fun. Whole class was there. Sandeep sir came too. He gave me "How to kill a Mocking Bird." Does he have any idea that I like him?

Mumma kept her promise and was there to pick me after school. She took me, Tanay and Sukriti fro Lunch at Yo! China and some shopping later on. How we love Chinese food. I still have that ear to ear grin as I write this.

The biggest surprise was rather waiting at home. Mumma finally succeeded to make me keep a mobile phone. She bought me Samsung Corby Pink. I could not say no. hehe.. She says she wants to stay connected to me where ever I was.. Sukriti says moms are like that only.

Bade Mumma would be here any time with my favorite chocolate cake. She bakes the most delicious cakes in the world.

I am the luckiest person in the whole wide world to have the loved ones love me so much and have all my wishes fulfilled. Except one. When will I know where my dad is..

And the door bell rings.

TTYL Diary.

Love,
Rehmat.

P.S. This series is first person presentation of a teenage girl. The excerpts from her diary. A total new venture I am exploring. Next part coming soon..

The Confession

2010-01-09T18:33:00.003+05:30

I felt too weak to stand up and walk or cover myself.
He just tore me apart and emptied himself.
I could not see him walk away as if I was just a utility with no emotions.
And before I knew anything, there was blood all around and a broken beer bottle in my hand.

Reality Check

2009-12-30T18:52:00.005+05:30

She hit him hard in the face.
All she felt was rage.
How shallow could he get.
What about the vow to stand by her side?

How could he tell her to kill his own daughter growing inside her womb?

P.S. Save the girl child.

Forever...- The Conclusion

2009-12-20T14:30:00.003+05:30

Time was lingering, weaving them together more tightly. They became inseparable.

It was their third semester and Rohan was among the first few people to get placed.
He got a nice package in an MNC and locally. He was very happy and even happier was Amrita. She too was looking forward for her placement besides her families' pressure of not appearing for them, they wanted to get her married in a decent family as soon as possible as they still dint know of Rohan and her relationship. She dint want to tell them by the time her final semester was over. She was trying every hook and crook to keep her parents from getting her engaged, reasoning them that she wanted to work for sometime and not waste her education.

Happy too had been placed in retail sector and he was over excited to have friends and a job that payed well.

Their last semester approached and it was time to bid adieu to the college. Rohan joined his job and Amrita too found a job in a bank through her father's reference. They had decided to announce their relationship after an year of their respective careers. They knew Amrita's family would have problems initially, but a Little effort will calm them down ultimately.

They were both happy. Rohan was now earning and helping his working mother to get some rest. Amrita was now feeling independent and assuming her responsibilities towards Rohan's family. She knew Rohan's partnership is not going to be a bed of roses for her as she was used to a leisure life but she wanted to be with him and was ready for anything that came in their way.

And something did come in their way. It had just been a few months of their blooming careers when Rohan met with an unfortunate accident that took his right arm.

Amrita did not lose her strength, she stood by him all the time in the hospital, she quit her job, took his care, made him eat, washed him, talked to him, consoled him, and most of all loved him.
Rohan was astonished at her perseverance.

One day at the hospital when she could not control and broke down in Rohan's presence.

"Amrita thanks for everything you have done for me. I will be indebted to you forever for loving me to this extent, but now since I am incapable and handicapped, please go and don't spoil your life." Rohan turned his face away.

Amrita was stunned to hear all this.
All she could manage to reply was "Rohan, had I lost my arm, would you have left me??" and she walked out of the room.

He felt guilty and ashamed. When she came back in the evening to see him, he said he was sorry for what he said. Amrita gave him her brightest of smiles and just said "Rohan, some relationships are forever"...

P.S. As I said, this is a true incident happened to my friends. And I really am charmed by their fairy tale love story. By God's grace, they are now engaged to be married in next February.

Forever- II

2009-12-15T20:31:00.001+05:30

There was an instant bonding between Rohan and Amrita. Happy was happy to be their friend. Being a topper, he had hardly had any friends.

Rohan made them go for movies, Amrita made them eat and Happy forced them to attend the lectures. The trio was happening and studying both together.

While Rohan was a chatter box, Amrita was a listener. He used to go talking for hours and Amrita would listen to him very patiently. He would tell her about his ambitions, his dreams, his plans, his family and what not and Amrita would lend him an ear, she was turning out to be a vessel Rohan could empty himself into.

Their connection was getting stronger with every passing day.

Rohan dint tell Amrita of the attraction he felt towards her but he never failed to convey her that she was his closest friend.

He was aware of the huge social distance between the two families and he was afraid of the status Amrita's father had in the city. She came from a renowned family while Rohan was an ordinary middle class guy who had the responsibilities of a father-less family. Amrita too was sensitive to the consequences of their relationship of more than friendship.

Each day brought them closer. Amrita would look forward to each new day to see Rohan and discover yet another aspect of his versatile personality. She found him a friend, a buddy, a very lively person who could see her soul through her eyes.

Second semester approached and the college trip was announced to Shimla.

They were both eager for the trip as they knew deep down that their intimacy will certainly grow during the outing.
Happy too was excited, for this time he had friends to accompany him.

It was the second day of the trip.

Rohan and Happy were ready for the outing and they dashed into Amrita 's room.

'I am not feeling well guys, I am staying back at the hotel, you should go ahead with others for the excursion.' Amrita said in a sleepy tone, she was ducked in the blanket.

'I am staying with Amrita' Rohan said to Happy.

'Its time you should tell her about your feelings' whispered Happy in Rohan ears and marched out of the room shouting back to Amrita 'I am not letting you spoil my day, and you get well till the time I come back or I kill you.'

'He is a fool' smiled Rohan at Amrita as he walked towards her.

While they talked this and that, Amrita felt an unusual uneasiness in Rohan's behaviour.

'What is bothering you?' she shot at him.

Rohan dint say anything, he just lay his head in Amrita's lap. She knew this had to happen, she answered by keeping her head and holding on to his back. Nothing was said, and nothing was left unsaid. They were both absorbed into each other and noting else mattered at that moment. The corners of their eyes went wet. They were together into a relationship that would last 'forever'.

Next and most probably the concluding part coming soon..

Forever.. The Pilot

2009-12-13T17:30:00.000+05:30

‘I must run or I am gonna be late for the first class’ Rohan thought to himself as he pulled out the stand of his bike in the parking area on the first day of hid Post grad.

As he reached the classroom, he was panting. To his relief, the class had not started yet. He walked inside the class room and neared one of the most nerd looking guy. ‘I should befriend nerd guys to make sure I study to cover up for my grad results.’ He patted his own back for this smart thought though for one second he was thinking of fun he would be missing devoting all is time to studies.

'Hi! I am Rohan, did my B.Tech from SRG College.' He held out his hand towards that guy. ‘I am Happy Sharma, B.Tech University topper' the reply came as happy shook hands with Rohan. He was amazed to look at Rohan. He had an air of mischief.
‘Can I sit with you?’ Rohan asked Happy. ‘Ok, only if you can keep your mouth shut during the lecture’ said Happy.

Rohan was about to say something, but then decided not to and fell on the bench besides Happy. ‘If you need to get a good job, you have to kill the happiness inside yourself Rohan and study’ he scolded himself.

Only then, he was awestruck at an innocent face entering the class Rohan could not take his eyes off her. Those curly eye lashes, those silky hair reaching the waist of her jeans. So simple and yet so beautiful… And she smiled at him. ‘Could someone just jinx you with their smile?’ he was wondering smiling back at her as she approached him.

‘Hi! I am Amrita’, that melodious voice was enchanting him even more.
‘He is Rohan and I am Happy- University Topper in B.Tech’ and Happy stretched out his hand towards Amrita before Rohan could reply. She took Happy’s hand and shook so warmly, Rohan could feel envy growing inside him.

Amrita held out hand towards Rohan too and he took it, only managing a ‘Hi!’

His spell was only broken with a clearing of throat by the professor while entering the class.
‘Welcome class to the first day of your Diploma in Business Management…’ Rohan could concentrate only this much to the professor as he failed to not notice Amrita sitting on the next bench.

Next Part coming soon..

P.S. This is not just another ordinary love story, but inspired from a true incidence.

Lost in Transit..

2009-12-09T19:04:00.004+05:30

"Sagar, there is some problem with this report. I dont know what, but this doesnt seem to all right. Come over and take a look."
Ruhi still looks cute when she scratches her head trying to analyse something. Thought Sagar.
He stood up and moved across the desk towards her while she still was focusing on the laptop screen. He bent down close to her face, removed her spectacles "Enough for today. You look so confused and stressed. Relax. Wanna dance?" He asked her.
"Dance? now?" she looked at him in surprise. He took her hand and played their favorite song on her laptop which she had a shortcut of on her desktop.

I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While you're far away and dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Where every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure

Don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
Cause I'd miss you babe
And I don't want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you babe
And I don't want to miss a thing

He pulled her close and whispered into her ear "Marry me".
She freed herself from his grip, and fell on the chair staring at nothingness.
"What happened? Did I say something wrong?" he was not expecting such a reaction.
"I do not want to get into a relationship of sympathy." She replied curtly.
"Come on Ruhi. This is not sympathy. I am so used to you that I can't even imagine myself without you around." He was comforting her.
"I do not want to get into a relationship of convenience either."
"What are you saying Ruhi? You know we are in love since times immemorial."
"I still love Varun."
"I am not asking you to forget him. I know he always will be a part of your memories. But life doesn't stop. You have to move on."
"I can't move away from Varun's memories."

"But he is no more there and I want you to be a part of my life forever."

"Sagar, give a second thought to what you just said. You have been talking about yourself. You are used to me. You can't imagine your life without me. You want me to be a part of your life. It is all about you. Where am I in it? This is the difference in Varun and You. He taught me that love is giving without expecting. He was there to hold my hand when I was all alone. That unfortunate accident snatched him away. But I still feel him around myself. I see him when I look at Sameeksha."

"I will take care of Sameeksha as Varun would have. You know I love her, and she too is fond of me."
"But you can never be Varun, you can never be her father."
"Ruhi... We grew up together. And we have loved each other since we understood this emotion. I know I was at fault when I went away for my degree. That is when you met Varun. But now, things are back to square one. Varun was a blow of refreshing air who passed away. And I love you. Still. I do not see what has changed."

"Changed? Nothing will ever change. I could not ever return him the selfless love he adorned me with. I can't return him what he gave me in those 2 years even if I loved him my whole life. I say no to your proposal Sagar. I opt out. The way you opted out of me when you went away. Do you know why Sameeksha is so fond of you? It is biological. She is not Varun's Biological daughter." Ruhi snapped.

She could see Sagar floating into nothingness.

She collected her bag and marched out of the office she and Sagar shared, closing the door behind her..

Encounter With Life

2009-12-06T14:07:00.001+05:30

Ah, a break!! Riya thought, none to company with, 'let me treat myself a shopping spree and a coffee, I'll have a cafe-shopping day'.

It was Diwali, and after constant working of hours she had lost count of, she had a free time of her office when all her colleagues and employees had vacated the office to proceed for a Diwali furlough. She looked at her office, the result of her profound toil and effort of 10 years that took to establish her own export house. No regrets she thought, Gratified enough.

Spirited, as she entered an air conditioned shopping mall, her eyes struck on a man- tall, lean and handsome- busy with his shopping at the far corner. She could not believe what she was seeing.

Stopping herself from running, shrieking, she called out reaching that man and engaging him in a bear hug "OhmyGod, Ani.. Is it you? Where have you been all these years?"

Awestruck, he spared himself from the embrace to have a look who was this girl. Recognizing the strange look in his eyes, she said "Its me, Riya. Didn't you recognize me?"
"Riya? Riya Arora? You look so.. different." he mumbled with a managed smile.
"I always have", Riya found herself chuckling back at him when she noticed a tall, pretty and happening and all girl standing by his side with a stern look in her eyes.
And Ani too realized the air getting thicker and addressed that unidentified girl "Ishita, she is Riya, a... long lost friend... and Riya meet Ishita, my wife."
"Oh hi!" Riya said in a tone so friendly, "Ani and I have been long lost friends".
"And I thought only I called you Ani" added Ishita in an arrogant diction.
"Aniket, I meant, so what has been up with your life? Got so much to catch up.." was all Riya could manage.
"Yeah, I have been fine enough, into my own venture and married for 2 years now, see... She makes a lovely wife", Aniket pointed out Ishita when she left them chatting for trying another outfit.
"Yeah, I can make that out." Riya replied, she had sensed an air of uneasiness in Ani's voice. She always did, she thought gloomily.
"How have you been? What are you up to these days?" Ani shot at Riya.
"Just usual stuff, busy with work and all, I have finally set up my drem-export-house if you remember" Riya told him with a swell of pride in her eyes and a hint of sarcasm.
"Oh that's great, really nice. How about personal stuff??" He shot back with growing stiffness.
"Yeah, Mom dad are doing just fine, and Kunal- my brother, he is settled in USA." she replied coolly.
"Hun, we are getting late, remember we gotta go to the Verma's party?" Ishita's voice rang from far behind in Riya's ears.
"Just coming sweetie" Ani responded back.
"It was really nice seeing you Ani...Ket, your wife is waiting." Riya said.
"Same here. Bbye, See you around" and he left, he turned and waived a hand at Riya with a smile.
Riya too returned a faint smile, she stood there, watching him leave, 'see me around when he didn't even bother to exchange contact numbers'.

The flashes of past came rushing to her mind as if a movie was being played in fast forward.
Aniket, Ani and she had been friends since times immemorial. They had grown up together, tearing each others hair, teasing hell out of each other, soothing each other, consoling each other.

More than a friendship was blooming within, they realized, when they were knocking towards their youth. Their first brushes against each other, their first kiss, the night when she lay in his arms as her lover- possessing him and being possessed. She stood there, seeing past, scene by scene being played in the memory lane.

She was over with her academics and could not decide what to do next, when one fine day, Ani broke the news that he was going abroad, for further studies. She never asked the silly question 'and what about us?', she just understood.

But they were part time lovers and full time friends. They would talk everyday, they would talk about the hell stuff , about home- how he missed it, about lot more things. But with time lingering, the busy-ness crept in, and gradually, the everyday turned into often, often into rare ending up they lost contact.

She waited with a hope of him returning back to her, jumped into work, jerked everything other off her life and gave everything to her dream- her own export house. And how successful she was. And how empty...

Not that she did not have the opportunities, she was pretty, vibrant, successful and talk of the town. Who did not want to win her? Her colleagues, associates, clients asked her out. But she ignored. All of them. For a ray of hope, that had survived kindling inside her for these looong 10 years.. That same hope which died today in the encounter with life..

May God bestow his best of blessings on you Ani and Ishita, she wished as she turned away, startling at the call of her name from a distant place.
"Hey Riya"
She turned around to find out a business associate who had become a friend as well over the years.
"Hey Abhay" she said with a wry smile.
"What, of all the places are you doing here? and aloof?" Abhay demanded.
"Making up my mind for a re-incarnation at 35. What say?" she joked back.
"You already look stunning dear lady, you do not need a make-over I believe." Abhay bantered.
"Aww you mean guy, you know how I despise flattery." Riya continued.
"Do you mind even a coffee Damsel!" Abhay said.
"The treat has to be mine, I am the one who is going for re-incarnation" she replied.
"Your wish is my command ma'am" he bragged.
Riya held onto Abhay's outstretched hand and marched towards a new life.
With a new hope...