Subhasis Das's Blog, page 3

The Burnt Letter

 

She skipped her school that morning too and headed straight to the Pataleshwar temple on the outskirts of the little town she lived. Her mom had been suspecting her for some time now and her absent marks on the attendance log was worrying her teachers but nothing seemed to unfaze her temptation to meet him everyday behind the temple. Yes! She was in love, unconditionally.
She fastened her steps as she was late, the sun was way over the woods by then and she didn’t have a watch to check the time but he had and that’s why he always reached on time; he didn’t like to wait and she didn’t like to argue with him. Alas! She couldn’t make it, she saw his cycle outside the temple and almost like a stimulus, she broke into a jog.
He saw her coming but turned away to ignore her, he was miffed of her habit of coming late all the time. She was aware of that very well and also knew how to win him back. She didn’t say a word and sat next to him on the bench under the giant banyan tree. She glanced at him; he was still not looking at her. She took out a guava out of her bag and tossed it in air.
‘You want it.’ She offered.
He shook his head in denial.
‘Ok then! Your wish.’ She took a bite. ‘It’s really awesome; I have never eaten such a sweet fruit.’ She teased him, he loved guavas.
She had a big guava tree at her backyard and every day, he would break into her garden with his friends to steal the fruits. That’s how they had known each other and gradually, fallen for each other. He was seventeen and she was fifteen but from social point of view the gap between them was too large. He was the son of the Zamindar, born in riches and groomed in discipline; she grew in adversity and was the daughter of a Sajori, one who dresses up the bride on the wedding. But their love knew no such boundaries. It was innocent and inane; pure and intense just like them.

‘You don’t love me.’ He said abruptly and that hit her.
‘Never say that again.’ Her voice choked. ‘I never loved anyone more than you.’ Her eyes had tsunamis in them.
Seeing her sob like that was the last thing he wanted to happen, it wasn’t like that it hurt him but the fact that it was very hard to stop if she started crying and then she would count on everything that she did for him and yet he had to say such a lame statement. Her friends had always insisted that rich people don’t have a heart and he was just playing around. They sometimes even say that he met her everyday so that she could bring him her garden’s guava but she never paid heed. Her Mom had beaten her up so many times for bunking school. She fasted every Monday for his good health. How could he even think of something like that? She thought and she burst in tears.
‘I’m sorry.’ He hugged her tightly. ‘I didn’t mean it. I love you.’ He couldn’t bear the torment anymore.
‘Promise me you won’t say such thing again.’ She sniffed on his chest.
‘I promise.’ He smiled looking into her and went on to kiss her forehead.
‘Ok now! Give me the fruit.’ He snatched the guava from her hands.
‘No. No. Not that one.’ She resisted.
‘Why not?’
‘I’ve eaten it.’
‘So?’
‘Don’t you know that’s disrespectful?’
‘It doesn’t matters. We are one.’
‘Still.’
‘Forget it! I brought something for you.’ He took out a title box from his pocket.
‘What’s this?’ She inquired.
He opened it. ‘It’s for you.’
‘Hey! That’s beautiful maang tikka.’ She said excitedly as he placed it on her palm.
‘You know what it is?’
‘Of course, I know. I’m daughter of a sajori.’
‘Don’t say like that.’
‘Oh! Stupid! I mean I have seen such things when I had accompanied Ma to the big weddings. Whose it is?’
‘My Grandma’s.’
‘You stole it.’ She agitated.
‘Na baba! She had given me when she died. She had told me to give it my wife.’ He said.
There was a moment of silence after that. She was so happy that she couldn’t express it in words. She felt blessed not for that dead but precious ornament but the way he said that it was for his wife had turned her world upside down. Might be she was too young but every morning she woke up with just one wish and that day it seemed to be granted. She blinked back her tears and kept staring at him; she was deeply touched by his gesture.
‘I love you.’ She could just utter that.
‘Only that? You won’t give me anything in return.’
She quickly took out the guavas, she had brought for him.
‘Guavas for such a prized thing, that’s not fair.’
‘What you want? I can’t give you anything that expensive.’ She frowned.
‘Oh Girl! You’re so sentimental. I just want a kiss in return.’
She smiled and pecked his cheeks.
‘This won’t do today. Close your eyes.’ He said.
His heartbeat raced as he brought his face closer to her. He could now feel the warmth of her breath. If she felt goose bumps waiting for the next surprise, he was anxious too to go ahead with it, first kiss is always special. He first pecked her lips, might be she had reckoned what was to come but she didn’t protest, she felt butterflies in her stomach. In next moment, she could feel his mouth over hers. He had read about it in many books and had imagined the perfect kiss in his mind a million times and trust me, he wasn’t naïve at all. He smooched her passionately and only stopped when they ran out of breath.
 He was very pleased by his feat and wanted to repeat it but she seemed shocked and he knew why.
‘Don’t tell me now that it was disrespectful too.’
‘No. It wasn’t. I would rather say, it was amazing.’
****
Like every love saga, this one too hit its road block soon when someone saw them together and informed his father. A curfew was imposed on him after that and he was not allowed outside his room even. If that was not enough, his father insulted her mother at the bazaar. Though her mother had always loved and supported her daughter but this time she was harsh. She banned her daughter from going school to put end to her growing steps towards modernity. Humans are social animal and they should be bounded to the society laws. She was very much aware of the fact that this relationship has no future; a daughter of a sajori would never be accepted at a zamindar’s house. Rich and poor can never unite.
She cried all the time and he stopped eating but nothing seemed to touch the radical thinking of their parents. They were punished to suffer till their love died. But their love was not that weak to fade so easily, they were brave hearts and were courageous enough to raze all the barriers between them and get together. They planned to elope to a far city called Calcutta.
He sent her message through his trusted maid to wait for him at the ghat early in the morning, the very next day after the full moon. She didn’t oppose nor did she ask any question, she just trusted him with her life. Though, she felt bad for her mother but she persuaded herself that she would soon return once things here settle down. That night she slept hugging her mother but could she just rest down in peace, the excitement of her adventerous life ahead kept her counting the stars all night and as the stars started to disappear, she knew the time was coming. It was the longest night of her life; she just waited with thirsty eyes for the next morning.
Next morning, she eloped from the house before her mother woke up in the morning. She kept a few of her sari’s in a jhola and left after covering her face with a shawl. She reached the ghat at sharp four in the morning when there were just a few people around; she wrapped her shawl tighter this time feeling very insecure, she covered her mouth with the shawl in such a manner that only her eyes were visible. The eyes that searched for him, all over the place, she was losing out on patience and kept standing at one firm place where her eyes frantically searched just for him. By noon, a hundred of ferries had passed by but he was nowhere, the ghat was filled with people, the people who glared at her with eyes full of suspicion, people who feasted their eyes on her. But she was sure about his coming, she just waited. There was still no trace of him, it was evening now, she shivered in the cold but didn’t even budge an inch, her eyes still waited for his arrival. She waited there till the night; the whole place grew dark and scarier. Suddenly, she felt a hand over her shoulder, she turned immediately with eyes filled with happiness, she thought that it would be him but as soon as she turned, her excitement turned into disappointment. It was the old Majhi.
‘What happened, beti? Where have you come from? And who are you waiting for? It’s late now, you must return home.’
Tears trickled down her cheeks and she said nothing, she was still not able to believe that he didn’t turn up. She felt pathetic but her eyes were still drenched with hope. She made heavy steps back home thinking that there might be some problem on his side otherwise he would have been there with her and they would have eloped to Calcutta.
The moment she entered her home, she received several slaps from her mother and was not even given the food that night.  That night she cried the most, not because of not getting food or by not meeting him at the ghat but because she knew that something would be wrong at his side otherwise he would have never made her wait at the ghat, considering the fact that he had always been punctual but not even for once, she doubted on her love and then another message came to her next day, this time in form of a letter.
Laboni,
I know what you are thinking, I know you would be crying for I couldn’t make it to the Ghat but it was just because of my father. I wanted to come, in fact, I almost left the home with my bag but then Father caught me and by force, locked me inside the room. Laboni, they are sending me to British country to study, far away from you. But trust me my love, we would remain with each other, just trust my love and wait for me. I will return to you. I will be a big man then; nobody would ever be able to snatch you from me. Just trust on my love and wait. I will miss you with every breath that I will take.
Yours,
Anurag.
 
After reading the letter, she pressed the letter against her heart and cried herself to sleep. She wanted to go to him and tell him that she would wait but still she couldn’t do that. With each passing day, her misery grew; she fought with her mother who was trying to get her married. It seemed as if she just lived to see him. She counted days, she shed those million tears, her only comfort was to think of him, she used to imagine herself as his bride, how she will decorate her every part of skin on their wedding day, the maang tikka that he gifted her would be placed right in the centre of her head with loose strands falling over at the sides, she used to dream a life with him, a happy life.
Six years seemed like six hundred years but soon, even they passed.
Soon, she got some news about his arrival, she just went mad with happiness and rushed with her aanchal rubbing against the floor, she didn’t even care enough to wear anything to protect her feet and soon she reached near his Haveli. She waited outside the gate, her heart was pounding heavily after reaching there, she was dying to get a glimpse of him, she wanted to see how he looked now, she wanted to tell him how she cried herself to sleep every night that he was away. This day was something she was waiting for six long years. Now her feet were bleeding because of the long way filled with sharp stones but she didn’t even care enough to wipe it off.
But the moment she saw a blue motor car coming near the Haveli, her heart raced even faster. She saw him taking a step out of the car, he just looked like one of those English Saheb, she started running towards him and was about to shout his name but suddenly, she saw a fair hand holding his hand and soon a girl stepped out of that Motor car. A wave of helplessness overpowered all her expressions. She was helpless now.
“Ma, this is Pratima, your Bouma,” He said to her mother while Pratima touched her feet.
It seemed that her heart was crushed mercilessly by everyone who was present there. While everyone else entered the Haveli, she just stood there with not even a tear trickling down from her eyes; she had no reason to live now. She was shattered. She was completely devastated. This is what the wait of six long years gifted her.
As soon as she reached home, she locked herself in her room and cried her heart out, she was about to end her life when Radha knocked her door, ‘Laboni, open the door. There is a wedding at Chatterji’s house tomorrow.
Would you come with me to decorate the bride?’
Hearing this, her heart missed a beat, the place where she wanted to go as a bride, she would now go there as a Sajori.  She was numb till evening until her mother came and shook her from her numbness.
‘You don’t have to go anywhere. Forget everything. You need to move on.’ She cried and hugged her daughter. She could feel her pain.
‘No. Ma, I have to go. I had to face it, the reality.’
‘Why you want put yourself into all this?’ her mother asked with tears flooding her eyes.
‘Because in these six years, there was just one dream that gave me happiness and that was to decorate myself as his bride. Even though I could not be his bride but still I would live my dream by decorating his bride.’ She said with her eyes focussed on the floor.
‘Laboni, come back to your senses. Don’t you know how much it would hurt you by seeing him getting married to someone else?’ he mother looked at her and asked.
‘Who said that love never hurts? But I need to know how much.’  Her mother knew that her daughter wouldn’t stop. She didn’t persuade her further, for the whole night she sat still on the floor without budging an inch.
And the next morning, she got herself dressed in a white sari with red border, applied a bindi on her forehead and took along all the things that were required to decorate the bride and reached the Zamindar’s house. The house was exactly same as she imagined it, white marbles, huge chandelier; big antique vases at every corner, the Haveli had a royal appeal in itself, everything in that Haveli screamed for its royal nature. She felt so small and insignificant in front of all that glitz and recalled her humble origins and as she was busy in that self pity, her eyes caught the sight of him.
The world seemed to have come to end as they stood face to face but there was sore silence between them. They looked into each other’s eyes, she wanted all the answers to her questions, she wanted the justification for the betrayal, the reason for thrashing her dreams. She didn’t need words to convey all that but anyway; he had no answer only a feeble guilt in his eyes. He looked down in shame; he had neither guts nor the dignity to face her.
‘Where is the bride?’ She asked boldly. He still couldn’t utter a word and brashly pointed towards a room. She walked ahead leaving him behind, remorseful.
She saw the bride and with a smile she went on with her job, she traced the alta on her feet exactly the way she wanted for herself. She drew the best floristic designs with chandan on her cheeks and forehead. She placed flowers in her hair after making pleats and letting a few strands fall loose and finally the topor on her head was so much dazzling, exactly like her own wishes to dress up on the day of her wedding. While decorating the bride, all the memories of her past came to haunt her, she even shed a few tears but wiped them off before the bride could notice them and finally when the bride was ready.
‘I couldn’t be more beautiful than this.’ The bride was amazed to see her in the mirror.
‘Wait! It’s still not done yet.’ She said. She took the maang tikka, she treasured all the years and neatly place on her head.
‘It isn’t mine, I guess.’ the bride said looking in the mirror.
‘No, Anuraag babu gave it to me while I was coming. It’s his gift for you.’ She said controlling her tears.
The bride blushed looking at herself. She was indeed looking the most beautiful bride that night.
‘Thank you for all this. You don’t know how much I am pleased.’
‘It’s nothing Memsahab. It’s my job.’
‘Oh yes! I will pay you big. Wait! I’m coming.’ The bride went outside the room to get the prize for Sajori but when she returned there was no one.
She ran on her way to home, stopping after intervals to cry out her heart. And as soon as she reached home, she locked her inside her room. Her Mother wanted to intervene but she said she wants to spend some time alone. She took out the letter from the wooden box and re read it for the last time.
And a fat drop of tear escaped her eye and fell over the letter. She went to the kitchen where her mother stored grains and took out all the camphor pills from it which her mother kept to keep insects away and then she placed the letter on the fireplace and lit the fire below it. On one side it was the destruction of all her hopes, dreams and love along with the letter and on the other hand it was the wedding of Anuraag, a beginning of his new life.
Next morning, she didn’t open her door even after repeatedly calling. And when her mother lost patience, she called in the neighbours who broke in the door, only to find a dead girl lying on the floor and a burnt letter beside her.

 

Take me with you

A group of five girls- barely seventeen- all dressed in their school uniform, the supposed to be full sleeve white shirt were folded till elbows with each girl having a few buttons of the shirt opened making a silver chain with a tiny pendant visible in the necks of each of them and the navy blue skirts actually didn’t qualify to be called school skirts, they were tiny and low waisted, socks were pulled down and they walked flaunting their streaked hair in air. They were the ‘Ashleys’ from St. John high school. People in the mall gaped at them warily as they made their way to the theatre. As if they cared!

TWILIGHT was on its last installment and they had been quite fanatic about it; they had watched the first and the second part on the first day of release together and so, how could they give this one a miss. With the board exams ahead in few weeks, there was kind of curfew situation back at home but they knew how to break through, today, they had bunked one of their prelim exam for the movie.  They could have watched this movie a day after too!Anyway, finding a twilight fan who isn’t mentally challenged is almost like finding a girl who is sensitive, smart, open minded and sexy at the same time. Impossible!

But then such mentally challenged people are abundant. With that long queue outside the ticket counter, they were pretty sure that they wouldn’t make it by honest ways and they perhaps very well knew what to do about it. You see girls have this big advantage over men; they could get anything which otherwise not being smart and intelligent just by being dumb. Three of them stood at the lobby while two them went ahead to try their luck.

‘I seriously don’t think that they could get the tickets. You should have gone,’ Tanya said worryingly.

‘C’mon! I went last time, it’s their turn now,’ Riya explained.

‘I really get this gut feeling that we might miss this,’ Tanya said.

‘Don’t say like that, it’s heartbreaking. Let’s check what they are doing?’ Riya suggested and they all moved to the counter.

‘Riya!’ Someone called her.

They all stopped and turned. He was waving hands at them from far end of the mall. The sun rays coming in from the glass behind made it very difficult to recognize him. Riya took a few steps at him to have a closer look and when she had reached closer enough, she couldn’t believe her eyes. She was dumbstruck and froze at her spot.

‘Hey! Riya! How are you?’

‘It can’t be true.’

‘Of course, it’s true. Ask your friends to take a pinch.’

‘Who is he? Riya!’

‘I am Rohan. Didn’t she tell you about me?’

They all shook their head in unison.

‘C’mon, I am Rohan, Riya’s boyfriend.’

‘Hey! Shut up! You’re not my boyfriend. I had blocked you long time back, just after we broke-up.’

‘Broke-up,’ Her friends cheered up in excitement and curiosity.

‘It’s nothing like that,’ Riya clarified. ‘I have moved on. It was just a teenage fling. It happens.’

‘Yeah! It happens,’ They giggled naughtily. ‘By the way, where do you come from? Which school or college?’

‘Oh! I am in first year of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Delhi.’

‘IIT Delhi? You came here from Delhi?’ Tanya was astonished. You don’t meet a guy from IIT every day.

‘Ya,’ Rohan nodded.

‘Whoa! You came all the way from Delhi to meet Riya?’

‘So?’ He smiled. ‘You see love has the power to overcome all barriers.’

‘God! You and your cheesy lines, I hate both,’ Riya wasn’t pleased with the attention her friends gave to him.

Actually, she had been way possessive about him and that’s why she never told anyone about him.

‘C’mon Riya, don’t be so rude. He is so nice,’ Her another friend Dona said.

‘Oh really? Do you even know him properly? Ask him why I stopped talking to him.’ Riya hailed at Dona.

‘Ah! That was really stupid of you. I was out to meet my childhood friend which Riya didn’t like. She had been a bit obsessive about me.’

‘Stop lying, it wasn’t like that. I had called when you were out with your so called childhood friend and you lied that you were with your Mom.’

‘What’s big deal in that? Would you’ve liked if I had said I was with my friend?’

‘Whatever. At least you shouldn’t have lied to me.’

‘I lied because you don’t like to hear the truth and I hate it when we fight on such petty reasons.’

‘You were cheating on me,’ She screamed in aghast.

‘No. I wasn’t. Jyoti is just my friend. We were talking about you.’

‘I just don’t care. I don’t want you anymore.’

‘Hey! Hey! Just stop it,’ Tanya interrupted. ‘People are looking at us.’

‘This is what you’ve to do, hurt me like this. You’ve come here to tell my friends how bad I am.’ Riya sobbed. Girls can actually produce those tears at will.

‘I had come here just to see you and this is how you behave on our first meeting,’ Rohan turned away.

‘What? You have never met before,’ Tanya inquired.

Rohan and Riya shook their heads at once.

‘How romantic is that! A relationship blooming completely online and love making its way before not even seeing each other, seems like plot of a Mills and Boon Novel. Wow!’ Dona said excitedly.

‘It’s not exactly that way; we had lot of video chat throughout it.’

‘Okay! That’s even more romantic.’ Tanya said. ‘By the way, what you people used to do on video chats?’

‘Fuck off Tanya! Keep your dirty thoughts with you only.’

Meanwhile, Riya other two friends Sana and Rashi returned with the tickets and they too couldn’t resist themselves from the charm of Rohan. For a moment the movie was completely forgotten, Rohan answered all their curious questions with a smile which was followed by loud giggles and high fives. Rohan had been such a charmer always and Riya knew that very well. Actually, that was reason which had created the insecurity in her and had lead their relationship to fall out but right then she just wanted those girls to stay away from him; she still felt ‘Rohan is just mine.’

‘Aren’t we getting late for the movie?’ Riya remained with her friends.

‘Oh! Yeah! Rohan why don’t you join us?’ Sana offered.

‘C’mon! He can’t come with us,’ Riya protested. ‘This outing is exclusive to the Asheys only.’

‘Ah! Then Rohan why don’t you join our gang too? It’s gonna be fun with us,’ Rashi said.

‘No. how is that possible. It’s a girl group and he doesn’t qualify.’

‘Whatever. We can change that rule for some time. Especially if someone is as hot!’ Tanya said and moved her eyes over Rohan. ‘Who wants Rohan in? Raise your hands.’

All of them except Riya supported. The disappointment was straight visible on her face which Rohan clearly noticed.

‘What girl! You don’t want us to spend time with your boyfriend?’ Sana complained.

‘It’s not liked that. Riya had promised me earlier that whenever I come to the city, She would take me around.’

‘So your first date?’ Sana quipped in.

Rohan nodded.

‘No way. I am going for the movie,’ Riya declared.

‘Riya!’  Tanya pulled her to a corner. ‘C’mon yaar! Don’t be moron, he is so cute. See.’

‘I don’t like him anymore,’ Riya was miffed.

‘It seems Riya is quite adamant for the movie,’ Tanya said. ‘Why don’t you take someone from us out?’

‘Me! Me!’ They almost broke into him like the hungry hyenas. And that only fumed Riya.

‘Hey! Stop that,’ Riya demaned. She pulled a ticket from Neha and tore it into pieces. ‘I’m going with him.’

‘But you said you don’t like him anymore,’ Tanya teased.

‘But that doesn’t mean you have a chance.’ She pulled Rohan’s hand made her way outside the mall.

‘Hey! Hey! Girl! It’s fine now. I am safe now,’ Rohan joked.

‘Shut up. They are not good, you know,’ Riya said, she was still holding his hand. For her, Rohan was so handsome that she just didn’t feel like removing her hand from him. It gave her a sense of assurity of showing the world that he belongs to her.

‘Really? But I thought they are your friends,’ He was smiling.

‘Asshole!’ murmured as they crossed the road.

‘By the way, tell me how you actually find me?’ She asked.

‘Well… what you want to hear? The truth or the lie?’

‘Of course the truth.’

‘But I am afraid you won’t believe the truth.’

‘Why not?’

‘Ok! See, I was to visit my grandparents in Mumbai. I boarded the flight and dozed off. When I opened my eyes I was not in the plane; it was a strange place, I was there in. All around white, seemed boring but was actually pleasant indeed. Then there was a huge gate but I was stopped when I tried to enter. There was a tall man dressed in white standing there. He asked me whether I had any wish to be fulfilled. I thought a bit and then replied him that I had a girlfriend in Kolkata. I love her so much and wanted to tell her that. He smiled at me and after that I don’t remember much but then I was in the mall and you were in front me.’ He said.

‘Fuck! You gonna be loser all life,’ She threw her hand away.

‘I told you. You won’t believe.’

‘Believe what? Your this stupid story? I should have watched the movie instead.’

‘Ok! I am here on some College tour. I tracked your cell phone location through device my seniors had made.’

‘That’s better,’ She twitched her lips. ‘Tell me where you wanna go.’

‘As if you don’t know.’

‘No way Rohan. We are not going to Victoria Memorial.’

‘But I was thinking of Howrah Bridge.’

‘Howrah Bridge? Really?’

‘Ya, I guess that’s the most popular landmark of Kolkata. But then I see Victoria Memorial is a better option.’

 ‘May be not. We are not couples anymore.’

‘Is it mandatory that only couples can go there?’

‘Ok! Let’s call a cab.’

‘No cab. We go in a tram.’

‘Now you’re annoying me. You know how much time it till take.’

‘What’s the hurry girl? Abhi toh pura din baki hai!’

She narrowed her eyes but in another moment she was blushing; after all this is what she had always craved for, his company. Almost everyone from her class was hitched with someone and at times she had felt being an alien. Though she was one the hottest girl in town but her strict parents had actually abstained her from exploring the fantasy of teenage romance. That’s when to kill her loneliness got in this online dating stuff via facebook but then might be due to lack of experience or mere immaturity, she couldn’t actually handle it. So, the thrill of her first date gave her goose bumps.

As they saw the lazy tram approaching them, there wasn’t any hustle in them to board on, they just casually walked in. Trams are actually characterized by their tortoise speed which in fact makes it unpopular among the daily commuters and so over the years it had been turned into a cool hangout for privacy-starved couples and curious tourists. Perhaps, the vintage essence inside makes it a memorable experience where time is just a number.

It was the first time they were together, so even being almost alone there was a kind of awkwardness in them which was coming in between their closeness. The uncomfortable silence between them only made them more anxious as each of them thought of how to break into a conversation. They avoided looking into each other and when their gaze met it only resulted into a little smile full of shyness. And then Rohan finally got something to start with.

‘You see, Kolkatta is the only city in the world which the most varied transportation. Metros, buses, trams, ferry and not forget the richshaws pulled by men; they are all here together and still going strong.’

‘You can say that. Actually, the people here in Kolkata feel very hard to move on,’ she said.

‘Really? So what about you?’

‘What about me?’ She looked dubious.

‘Well… I’m saying do you too have the not-to-move-on attitude in you.’

‘I am not sure,’ She shook her head.

‘I know Riya, you still love me,’ Rohan said in a stern voice as he gradually shifted closer to her.

‘Please Rohan, don’t spoil the mood. I am just here to take you around the city.’

‘C’mon Riya, I know why you’re here. Stop pretending,’ He argued.

‘You want me to go back,’ She hailed at him.

‘Your choice. I don’t need a tourist guide,’ he turned away.

Riya had been always popular for her attitude and arrogance. And such a statement was not less than an insult to her yet she stayed back. However, it did hit her ego badly and Rohan was aware of that but he wanted her to know his importance. It actually worked.

‘You know what?’ He whispered into her ears. ‘When you get angry, you look good but when you smile you’re just awesome.’

The lost trace of her smile was back at her face. He now put his hand forward slowly and clasped her finger. The gesture almost made her skip a heartbeat. Of course, she wasn’t expecting such a thing but she wasn’t complaining even. She wanted it to happen, then continue and not end forever. She closed her eyes; she wanted to feel that thing called LOVE. Rohan had to shake her up and she was completely lost in thoughts resting her head on his shoulder when they reached Victoria Memorial.

The place could no doubt be referred as Kolkata’s Taj Mahal not for it was made in the memory of someone’s love but for its ambience- lush green carpet all around the place, cool shady seats under the big trees makes it a perfect place for lovers to express and feel. And so, as Riya stepped in the park, she kinda felt nostalgic about the fact that even her parents’s love story had blossomed at that very place. Love is actually contagious there, as Riya could feel the automatic urge to get close to Rohan but he seemed rather shy on his part. However, Riya was in no mood to spoil the momentum as she went ahead holding his hand and leaning to him.

Sitting on a corner bench, they talked for hours looking into each other’s eyes, hand in hand, laughing and giggling, neither their stories nor the eagerness to hear more ended. Perhaps, the world around them actually didn’t exist for them anymore and they wished the moment of togetherness just continue to eternity. They were already sunken in deep love.

 Though love happens everywhere in the city but the River Ganga remains an eternal place for romantic souls in Kolkata. Nothing could actually match the experience of a boat ride along the breezy river or just snatching at each others’ ‘jhal-muri’ along the banks. Riya was aqua-phobic and those shaky steps on the boat were just freaking her out of life. She clamped herself to Rohan while he was happier to get her that close. With the cool breeze tugging at her carefully set hair and the nip in the air tickling her beneath their shirts, she felt blissful in his arms watching the sun set far behind those tall buildings. Life could not have looked more beautiful. Love couldn’t have seemed more complete and togetherness couldn’t have seemed more perfect!

It wasn’t the end of the wonderful day yet, she had her dance classes followed by her Tuitions for Boards after school which she all knew wanted to skip. Moreover, her parents were out of town for her dad’s some business tour and were only to return late. So, she had all the time of the world with her to explore the amazing world of romance.

They took a Metro for Esplanade to shop at the New Market, she had always carped that Rohan had no dressing sense and who would have been better than Riya to groom him as she is the Lady Gaga of her school. But all that anticipation just hit a road block as Rohan mentioned that Delhi Metros were way ahead of the ones in the Kolkata, it actually ended up on a dirty argument between them and Riya miffed of Rohan and sat away from him. She felt a lump in her throat thinking of the days when their relationship started to tore apart. Rohan had always complained being her brainless, arrogant, dominating and spoilt Daddy’s girl while Riya had labeled him insensitive and phoney who always took her for granted.  When she finally turned at him as their station was nearing, Rohan was peering at her relentlessly, his eyes reflected regret but Riya didn’t care, she walked down the Metro and then towards the exit. Rohan silently followed.

‘I am sorry, babes!’ He whispered in her ears as they were on the escalators. She gave him a long stare and then turned. Of course, she didn’t want to ruin the day but then she did want herself to be treated.

‘C’mon, Riya! I said sorry,’ He pestered.

‘So?’ She said.

‘We were having a wonderful time together…’

‘But…’ She interrupted. ‘You had to ruin it. Rohan! Is your Delhi Metro more important to you than me?’

‘It isn’t about the Metro? It’s about you Riya! You just want to be all over me.’

‘Ya! I wanted to be because I think you’re mine. But do you care?’

‘Yes. I do.’

‘That’s why you always lied to me.’

‘Riya! Jyoti is just an old of fine. I had told you many times.’

‘Then why did you lie to me on that when you went out with her,’ she demanded.

‘I didn’t go out with her. She had come to my place and I just went to drop her home since it was late in night and when you called Mom picked up the call and told you that I was out with her.’

‘Whatever. You never put in any effort to clear.’

‘I was pissed of your loyalty tests all the time.’

‘And so you thought to end it and move on.’

‘It wasn’t me, Riya! You blocked me everywhere and also changed your number. It was a very hard time for me, I cried all the time, I got in my shell and I didn’t talk to anyone for months. Time went by, life went by and all I could think of was why you were gone. I just wanted you. You were all I wished for, I wanted, I needed. I love you.’

‘I love you too but all this for a Facebook girl whom you never met?’

‘I love that Facebook girl with my life. You would never understand what it took me to reach to you today.’

‘May be you’re right, I won’t understand. A man in white dropped you here; you want me to believe that.’

‘I am not lying, Riya.’

‘You know what Rohan, you’re very funny and that’s why I was so attracted towards you,’ She was almost in tears. Girls actually know it very well how to win on an argument, all they need are those fat drops of tears and the opponent becomes helpless. But Rohan knew all the tricks from book to get away. He pulled her by her hand towards him and grabbed her in his arms, tightly. All their differences melted in that hug and in her heart she made a promise to never let him go, no matter how hard it becomes.

It didn’t matter that they were in the middle of a street and people around them were watching. I told you earlier, for them the world around actually didn’t exist. When they broke their hug, there was tinge of a smile on both the faces. The world of love was at peace.

Rest of the day was as awesome that she almost fell like both of them were characters who jumped straight outr of those ‘Mills and Boons’ novels. They didn’t fight or even argued, not even when Riya bought him a pink T-shirt nor when Rohan said she sucked in those tight jeans. They wandered all along carelessly with hand in hand throughout the streets of the city. Kolkata had so much to offer to them, it’s not called the city of joy just like that. They had such an amazing day in their life and now desperately wanted that the day just doesn’t sees it end. But the time never stops; it was almost 9.30 when she checked her watch.

‘Rohan! It’s getting so late. I need to go now,’ she said.

‘Ok!’ He smiled. ‘I will drop you.’

‘Hmmm,’ She sighed. He called for a cab.

As she sat with him in the cab, her heart almost sank. It was going to end in sometime when she reached her home. She had never loved anything more than her parents but that day she didn’t want to go back to them as she couldn’t stay away from him anymore. If she had always insisted that she just wanted him to hers but all she knew now was that she belonged to him completely. She regretted all those seventeen years of her life that she had spent without him and now she vowed no matter how bad it goes, she would never again doubt his love. That was what she wanted for her life, his love. She realised that he was all she wished for. And even more!

When the cab stopped at her gate, she felt her heart had stopped beating. She clutched him tightly as she could. Tears rolled down her cheeks. ‘Take me with you.’

 ‘Riya, I wish I could!’ He kissed her forehead. ‘I guess you should go now. Your parents must be worried. You’re good girl. You should not disappoint them.’

It took an effort of her life to open the door and get off the cab. Tears were still flowing through her mist eyes.

‘Riya, how was the day?’ He asked.

‘It was the best of my life,’ she blushed.

‘Don’t you think you should thank me for that?’

‘Really? Should I? How?’

‘Well, just a little kiss to say good bye.’

‘I knew it, you would ask for it. You still remain that bloody pervert. But you see I am a good girl. I should not disappoint my parents. Anyway, we have the whole life to kiss each other.’

‘No, Riya. Life is too short. You don’t get second chance for everything.’

‘God! You and your philosophy,’ she leaned on him and pecked his checks. ‘It’s enough for you. I am getting late. Bye.’ She ran towards her house.

As expected, her parents had reached home already and were worried not to see her at home. They had called all her friends but nobody could give them an appropriate answer, of course, nobody could tell about Rohan. They had made their mind to approach Police when Riya rang the doorbell. She owed a lot of answers to them but all she did was to give her Mom a tight hug. Her strange behavior did create a suspicion and when her Mom inquired about it late in the night, she smiled and told her everything about her and Rohan. Her Mom was so happy to know it, her daughter had grown up so big that she had a boyfriend, how did she exactly fail to notice that? Riya slept in between her parents that night after messaging Rohan- ‘you are the best thing ever happened to me. Take me with you.’

 Next morning she woke up late, she had an amazing dream of Rohan but she wasn’t amused a bit about it because the reality was even more beautiful. She checked her phone to see Rohan’s reply but there wasn’t any. Perhaps, her message wasn’t even delivered. She called up, the number was switched off. She unblocked him on Whatsapp to leave a message. He had last seen Whatsapp three days ago. Something seemed really wrong, she felt restless. She logged in her facebook account and unblocked Rohan from there too. She visited his wall; there were thousands of messages and all ended with

‘Rest in Peace.’

Rohan was in the Mumbai bound flight which crashed three days ago.

My friend Debashree

 

I don’t believe in Ghost! I don’t believe in Santa! I don’t believe in God! Because I have never seen them. But I believe in Angels because I know one and she is my FB friend too. Her name is Debashree Nanda (Debs, Dabba, Chomu, Chudial…. Call her anything… she will respond).

Those were the days of Orkut and so you knew who actually were visiting your profile- Debashree Nanda, I saw the name. A girl checking his profile always excites a guy but then I thought, I was a published author, I should be used it. She sent me a friend request next and I couldn’t resist myself from pinging her after all those were my initial days of fame. With a simple ‘Hi’, the conversation began and after one hour, I was thinking how to end it. I was actually feeling guilty because she had told me that she was having her semester paper next day and I didn’t want to be rude either. Anyway, we stopped finally when her Mom called her for dinner and I decided that I wouldn’t go online for next whole week just to save her papers. By the end of that chat session, I knew she was born in some remote town Talcher famous for coal mines, her name was a combination of her Dad’s (Debdutta) and Mom’s (Jayashree) name, she studied in girls school till 12th, she had a younger sister, she was studying BBA, she had four best friends- Aradhana, Sadhana, Abhilasha and Mamta, they called their group- Famous Five and she went to the college in bus. Next day, I logged in Orkut, of course in invisible mode; I had many other visitors on my profile and among them were the above mentioned girls from Famous Five. She scrapped me to accept all the friend requests from her group and insisted on exchanging nos. since I was not regular enough over internet, in return she wrote a nice Testimonial for me.

Four years from there, we are best friends; we talk with each other every day on phone (thanks to Reliance), we are now on FB and like and comment on each and every status or photo of each others, she hails all the frustration from office at me, I cry over her when I fight with my girlfriend.  She knows where I hide the beer cans and cigarette butts at home; I know which of the girls in her hostels watch porn. She is my 3 a.m. friend and I am her troubleshooter. But the best thing about our friendship is that we never had fought with each other, maybe that’s reason that we are just best friends. Though we have small arguments, I mean what I should do if her roommate wants to try Old Monk or her some remote cousin thinks his finance is cheating on him. How would I decide whether she should get a pink or peach color top? In return she complains that she also doesn’t know which one is better Hunk or CBZ extreme, neither she has an idea why my girlfriend don’t like my status on FB but she insists that at least I should be happy that the poor girl agreed to date a moron like me.

But then, it goes sometime irritating, I mean you just can’t put a full stop to her non-stop gossips. However, over the years I have come up with many ways, I simply switch off my cell and say later on that my battery was dead, fake headache or simply act that I’m drunk. It works. Though I am sure she is very well aware of these tricks but again she never complains. At least I got someone in my life who would listen, understand and even support to everything even it’s important or simply crap. Whenever I sit back and go back in the timeline, I actually feel happy and proud about it; life itself is big party with a friend like her.

Dear Ghost, You’re beautiful.

I wasn’t expecting this, but strangely, my network was full. I quickly started my internet and clicked on whatsapp, she was online. Yes! The first thought came in my mind, with whom she was chatting? But then, was it to matter me? She would chat to anyone but not me. She hates me! I don’t know why but it was always difficult for me not to talk to her. However, I didn’t ping her that night, like always since a month, we had an argument last night and she called me a loser. It was now hurting my self respect but the truth was that I still loved her the same because she is the most amazing girl I know, she is my Shona!

Her thoughts hit my mind like a tsunami and pushed me to depression once again. I stretched myself on the bed thinking of the old days. She used to call me after her Mum slept. I don’t know whether her Mum was still awake or not but she would not call that was for sure but I was still waiting. I missed her badly. I searched for the anti-depression tablets but then realized I forgot to bring them. I cursed myself in despair, I couldn’t sleep without them. I had my laptop but it was full filled with horror movies, grudge, mirror, paranormal activity and even Virana. Moreover, I had heard many stories of this place being haunted. Though my dad said these are all tricks of my Uncle to keep people away from the mansion but the negative thoughts gave chills down my body.

I felt scared there alone in that big mansion but something was stopping me to run away. I wasn’t there for some holiday. I was there to die. Yes! I wanted to commit suicide. I didn’t want to live anymore. My life had been big mess since few months and I just wanted to end my all miseries. So, I was there to die anyway but was scared of some ghost. You see, it actually felt awkward to be killed by a ghost. How it be? Painful? Scary? Awful? Or maybe I just didn’t want to be known as killed-by-ghost rather I wanted to be the one- killed-by-love.

I searched in google for the most painless way to die but even google didn’t have an appropriate answer. Anyways, after experiencing death who comes back to write a blog about the feeling? Ghost? Well, I think they just have two things to do, add in members to their club and scaring people around for fun, may be. And actually if they really exist, where were they? I wondered.

‘C’mon! Kill me.’ I yelled at the top of my voice, I was already going high after finishing up a half bottle of RC, neat!  And I after that I exactly don’t remember what happened. When I woke up, half sleep, it was around 3 a.m. just few hours and it would be beginning of another day, I would have survived another day of my wretched life. I was moaning loudly as I tried to get a flashback of the old good memories but it only gave me pain since they were not to return ever again. You see, I could live with her absence but not with her hatred and she hated me with the core of her heart even more than I loved her.

I pulled the bed sheet and rolled to make it a rope. I pushed the bed aside and put a stool below the fan. I stood on the stool and threw the bed sheet over the blades of the fan and pulled down to tie a tight knot. It had been quite stormy day but wind was blowing even more furiously at that moment, the doors and windows were constantly shattering as if asking me to stop. When living people didn’t care about my existence then why these non living things were bothered.

I had made the noose and just when I was about to slip my head in, the power cut off. There was complete darkness but still I could see things visibly. I felt that things were getting quite dramatized. I better do it quickly; I thought and put the noose around my neck.

‘Stop!’ There was this loud voice.

I tried to see who it was but then, it was completely dark. She seemed a young girl; she walked towards me and stood near the stool.

‘Who’re you?’ I demanded.

‘Just come down from there before you hurt yourself.’

‘I asked first, who are you?’

‘Fine! I’ll tell you. If you come down.’

Was her identity that important? Yet I was convinced to come down to know it.

‘What you think you were doing?’ She said.

‘Dear lady, I was exactly doing what you’re thinking?’

‘But why? Are you mad?’

‘Excuse me! That’s none of your business! You didn’t answer me who you’re and what you’re doing in my property?’

‘You seriously don’t know who I am?’ She laughed.

‘Was that question funny?’

‘Yeah! Of course! I guessed you had locked all the doors and gates yet you see me here at this odd time in a stormy night.’

‘Hmm… That’s strange! How you made it?’

‘Could you be so stupid? Haven’t you heard about the Ghost of the Manor?’ She turned away.

‘Yeah!’ I nodded.

‘I am that.’

‘What?’

‘I am the Ghost of the Manor. Haweli ki Chudail!’

It’s not that I don’t remember anything of that but perhaps, what I saw I exactly couldn’t describe in words. As her line ended there was loud thunder as if she had the control. She had a terrifying giggle as she turned at me again. Her face was glowing in that thunder and those big eyes screamed horror, her long hair fluttered all over, I had seen nothing more scary and needless to say, I fainted instantly.

***

When I woke up in the morning, the sun was already over my head. My brain was pounding with pain, hangover from last night. I felt weak as I gathered myself to rise and then I wondered what I was doing on the floor. I recalled every bit from last and concluded that it must be a nightmare since I was thinking about the ghost at the night but then the bed sheet was still hanging from the fan with a noose hanging from it. The stool was below the fan and the bed was moved. It wasn’t a nightmare; I was freaked out but was even curious too. Was she really Haweli ki Chudail?

I wandered all day in the village to get more information about the Ghost. Many people agreed to her existence few even claimed to have an encounter but the good thing was that nobody was sure whether she had harmed anyone. There weren’t even a proper legend about who was she when she was alive and what she has to do with our family. I had even more questions with me by the evening and the only way to know my answers were to meet her once again. But then what if she didn’t show mercy this time to me? Hey! I would have joined her anyway if she had not stopped me last night. I was game for that night.

I did my preparations, got another bottle of RC, torch and an iron rod, just in case. I had my dinner early and then sat for the drink, waiting for the midnight but by the time midnight arrived, I was fucking dizzy. However, I was determined to meet her and moved around to keep myself awake. She was nowhere. I then screamed her name, she didn’t appear. I abused her and called her coward but still other than my echo there was nothing. So, finally I started to believe that it was some illusion. I finished the rest of the drink and stood at the balcony with a fag.

Our Manor was just two storied but in those days when it was built, the ceilings were at considerable heights and me being on the second floor was at par distance from the ground, so the dark thoughts hit again. I wondered what if I jumped from there, yeah! She was online that night too and had not replied to me. So, in another moment, I just put my foot on the railings of the balcony and was just to climb on it.

‘Hey! Stop! What you’re doing?’

‘Haweli ki Chudail!’ I was excited to see and stayed back.

‘Mind your language!’

‘Whoa! That hurt.’

‘Don’t you know how to talk to a lady?’

‘In that case, I’m sorry.’

‘Aren’t you scared of me?’

‘Why should I be? Because you’re a Ghost? Dear Ghost, you’re very beautiful.’

‘Are you hitting on me?’

‘No not at all. It’s like I’ve seen worse than this, my girlfriend without make-up.’

‘That’s funny.’ She blushed and that was genuine one and not to scare me off.

‘I was kidding. She is damn gorgeous.’ I said.

 ‘Aww! That’s sweet. You seemed to be a nice guy. So, what’s your problem then?’

‘Problem?’

‘You tried to commit suicide twice in two days.’

‘Oh! Things are not going well in life.’

‘Why? You broke up?’

‘Well! Not really. We were never a couple. I loved her she didn’t. I tried my very best to let her understand but she is just adamant on her words. C’mon, am I not good enough to be her guy? Whatever, we were once great friends but since I told her about my feelings, she started to avoid me and then things only worsen, we fought almost every day and she hates me now. She doesn’t even reply to messages.’

She didn’t reply perhaps didn’t even react. She seemed lost in her thoughts.

‘Hello! I’m talking to you.’

‘Oh yeah!’ She said coldly. ‘She doesn’t hate you. You see, opposite of love is not hatred but apathy where in you simply don’t care about the other person and that’s what is the most painful part of love.’

‘Whoa! That’s was really cool. You talk awesome. You see I’ really doubt for you being a ghost.’

‘Why so? Look at you; you don’t seem to be a ghost. I mean Ghosts are scary, have see-through bodies, upended feet and then the power to disappear.’

And boo! She was gone as there was no one ever standing in front of me. Yeah! I fainted again.

***

I woke up in the same state just like the previous day but there were answers to my questions. She wasn’t a human for so sure and being a ghost how could she be so nice. Most importantly, why was she saving me? So, for that I need to wait for another night but then what about the day ahead. Well, we had a big orchard behind our Manor; I thought might be I could spend some time exploring it.

It seemed nobody had stepped in for years inside. It had almost turned into dense jungle. There were wasn’t any pathway, grass had covered everything. Creepers and other plants grew carelessly all over, forgot about snakes, I wouldn’t be surprised if I spotted a tiger over there. With the help of a sickle, I made way in and few yards in, I could see those big Mahogany trees worth a lot. For my dad it would be found treasure.

I walked ahead and found a big banyan tree. It must be 200 years old and its structure was so fascinating that I was kindaenamored by it but as I went nearer to it. Suddenly, there was this wind blowing in full fury, the branches of the trees moved aggressively as if they didn’t like my presence but I didn’t care. Finally, I see a pair of legs hanging from one the branches, upended feet.

‘Ok! I got it. It’s you but I’m not scared.’ I said.

Boo! She was in front of me, she had a see-through body.

‘Great! I accept. You’re the ghost but not the scary one.’

‘Just go away.’ She said.

‘C’mon, I thought we’re friends.’

‘Friends?? Don’t be stupid! I can kill you anytime.’

‘Well, I don’t think so that you wanna kill me.’

‘Just go away, please.’

‘Strange huh! A ghost is scared of a human.’

‘You won’t understand my feelings.’

‘Feelings? Ghost have feelings? Funny?’

‘Just because I don’t have body? Heart is only for pumping blood and brain only to control your senses. Rest everything is done by your soul and that’s what I have now.’

‘Wow! That’s interesting.’

‘That’s fact!’

‘Cool! By the way, I wanna ask how you people do it?’

‘Do what?’

‘I mean these flying, disappearing, see-through, picking of stuff and all.’

‘Just told you about soul. Actually, our body is nothing but a mass of bone and flesh; it’s actually the soul which gives it a life. But then, we are so obsessed with our body that we simply ignore the power of soul. When you die, you lose the body and may be then actually, you know what the real thing is but then having said, I would say is it worth it? I mean you’ve already lost a lot more with your body. You lost your people.’

‘Whoa! You talk great! You would have been made into a great politician if you hadn’t…’

‘I know that! That’s why asking you to scrap this thought of dying.’

‘C’mon, you would rather get a company in me.’

‘Who said I’m alone? There are many like me.’

‘Don’t say you people hang out too.’

‘Yeah! We do. Last summer we went to Hawaii. It was really fun, I tell you.’

‘How? Flight?’

‘No.’ She snapped her fingers. ‘Like this.’

‘So, life is actually fun with you guys.’

‘Dude! You forgot we lost lives long back and it’s that crave to get it back is called Moksha .’

‘But then what if you’ve nothing to do in life.’

‘You climbed the Everest?’

‘No.’

‘So, I gave you one reason to live.’

‘Why you’re so concerned?’

‘Ask a blind what eye is? Ask a beggar what money is? Ask a dead what life is?’

‘Philosophy.’

‘Fact again! Ok! I would say dying for that girl is not worth. What you wanna prove her?’

‘It’s not about proving someone; it’s that I have nothing to live for.’

‘Parents?’

‘They love Bhai more than me.’

‘Ok! Let’s agree that you should die. Do you even have that idea, how much it pains?’

‘I will choose a painless one.’

‘Let me correct, death is the most painful thing you may ever experience.’

‘Don’t scare off. Sleeping pills are harmless.’

‘Who said? You see when have those pills and sleep, at some point you need to wake up and then you’re body is already dead and your soul is trapped inside. That’s kinda saving your body from pain but the soul? Anyway, these days those pills are not that strong at most you’ll go to coma and that’s really bad for your family.’

‘Well! I will jump from a building.’

‘And what if you don’t die? You will lose your legs for sure and will spend rest of your life on a wheel chair.’

‘I will jump in river.’

‘You know swimming?’ She inquired. I nodded. ‘Then it’s not of any use. You will never drown.’

‘I will slit my hands and bleed to death.’

‘It will take 2-4 hours, very painful and slow.’

‘I’ll shoot myself.’

‘Do you have a gun?’

‘No! I will burn myself.’

‘Ask yourself, can you do that?’

‘Fine! I’ll hang myself.’

‘Don’t try that dude, saying from personal experience. May be its very popular but it takes lot of power to break your neck and you wanna be called as the crooked neck after death.’

‘Hey! I know you. You’re Radhika. You hanged yourself from some Banyan tree some 70 years back and I guess this is that Banyan tree.’

‘Hmm.’ she nodded sheepishly. ‘But how do you know?’

‘My grandpa told me, Mr. Rajveer Raichand.’

I could see a delight in her expression as she heard the name.

‘So what’s your story?’

‘He didn’t tell you anything.’

‘Umm…’ I shook my head. ‘Nothing more. He said you hanged yourself a week before his wedding.’

‘Ok! So your all answer is just hidden in those lines.’

‘What?’

‘I hanged myself before his wedding.’

I thought about these lines a bit. ‘Whoa! You loved Grandpa and just because he was marrying someone else…’ I trailed off.

‘Yep! Sadly! I regretted, the moment I pushed the stool, I couldn’t even scream for help. My Baba cried a lot, he loved me a lot but what was more painful was that your Grandpa was never able to know about my feelings. Perhaps, nobody knew about it and my Baba lived his rest of his life with a guilt that I killed myself because he scolded last night for not cooking well. I was just 17 then.’

‘Well… I see, you’re still 17.’

‘Very funny! It had been a long wait since then for my Moksha!’

‘Some unfulfilled wish!’

‘Like what?’

‘I want your Grandpa to know about my feelings that I gave my life in crave of his love.’

‘But he died some 4 years back.’

‘What?’ She was stunned to know that.

‘Yeah!’ I nodded. She floated away from me towards the tree. ‘Hey! What happened?’ I shouted at her.

‘Just go away.’ She said in fit rage and then Boo!

***

Strangely that night, I was not thinking of dying. She had kinda convinced me against it. I felt peace as I lay in my bed lazily. I didn’t drink or smoke even. I was missing Mom, rather her food. I thought to call her but then it was too late. It seemed better for me to doze off; I closed my eyes in peace.

‘Hey!’ I heard a whisper and I opened my eyes, she was right over my chest. Her scary curled hair fell on face, she stared at me through grey eyes, and she had a very unpleasant expression on her face. ‘Don’t kill me! Please!’ I was dead scared.

‘It’s fine! Chill! I am not here to kill you.’

‘Then?’

‘Just trying the scare thing for one last time, I’m going.’

‘Where?’

‘I got Moksha.’

‘But how?’

‘Well! That’s a ghost thing. We don’t share with humans. Just came to say a final good bye.’ She smiled. She was still freaking me out but she sailed towards the window.

‘Wait!’

‘What?’

‘What about me?’

‘What about you?’

‘I mean what I should do about my girl.’

‘Well, if you really love her then wait. She will come to you.’

 ‘What if she never returns?’

‘Well, in that case she is a loser not you. Whatever, I have been seeing in you, I feel you’re seriously a descent guy and if she really doesn’t care then, let her go. You will get better girls. Telling you again, suicide is not a solution, when you can’t love yourself then how can you expect someone else to love you. That’s gross! Go back home and enjoy life.’

‘Is it?’ I asked.

‘Yes! I am getting late. So good bye. Hope to see your grandpa there in heaven if he is there.’

‘Yep!’ I smiled. ‘Hey! By the way, dear ghost, you’re very beautiful.’

‘Thanks.’ She blushed.

Boo!

Hum Tum #1

 

Dear Girls, 

What will you do if you find a guy

who loves you with his life?

He drives 30 kms down your place just to see you once, 

He plays guitar, sings and records those songs and send you on Whatsapp 

He scolds you for driving with headphones

He likes and comments on all your posts on FB

He never misses to give you chocolate whenever he meets

He never complains when you keep him waiting for hours

He always asks about your family when he calls you

He is bad at poetry but still he writes poems for you

He calls you Hottie

He picks your call even during INDvPAK matches

He has over a hundred pics of yours in his cellphone.

He calls your best friend if your phone is switched off for few hours

P.S.: He is of your caste, well settled, nice and good looking.

Those lines on her news-feed hurt her, she thought to ignore but then clicked on the comments. More than thirty comments were posted which was above par for a post by a guy. Incidentally, all were from girls and they all have the same opinion- MARRY HIM.

She quickly closed Facebook and stretched herself on her bed. Why he always does that? He loves me, I don’t love him! Can’t he accept that? Why he makes me feel guilty always? Most importantly, what makes him love me so much? She cursed her miseries. Over the days, he had forced himself in her life which had only made her to start hating him. She had always appreciated his unconditional love towards her but then somehow she couldn’t feel differently for him. If for him, she was the love of his life but for her she was just another random friend.

She checked her phone, there were already messages from him. Yeah! He starts his day messaging her good morning and only sleeps when he had wished her good night. Wasn’t he just irritating? She wondered. But then, she knew he genuinely cared for her so she would reply him back but that day, she was determined not to reply him at all and he kept messaging him. She finally burst in anger.

‘What you want?’ She messaged him.

‘Call me. I’m missing you.’

‘No.’

‘Please! Urgent kaam hai!’

Uff, this guy! Reluctantly, she dialed his number and then waited for him to pick the call. He almost picked the call on the first ring itself, he was sure that she would call.

‘Hello!’

‘Hi!’

‘What were you doing?’

‘None of your business! Say what the urgent work is?’

‘Ummm… You’re very pretty.’

‘Is this your urgent work?’

‘Pari! Why you always talk like this?’

‘Because I hate you.’

‘Hate me for what? For loving you?’

‘Don’t start it again!’

‘Did I start it? Fuck! Pari! Why you hate me so much?’

‘God! How could you even ask me that question?’

‘I love you Pari!’

‘Don’t say that! It scares me off.’

‘Baby! Don’t say like that.’

‘I have to go. I am hanging up.’

‘Hottie! Talk to me. Please.’

‘Say. Fast.’

‘How are you?’

‘I’m fine.’

‘What you’re wearing?’

‘Aru! Don’t make things difficult for me.’

‘Pari!’

‘Bye.’ She hung up.

He wasn’t finished yet, he thought to call her again but he already knew what would be her reaction, either she would not pick his call or even if she did, she would shout at him. He walked up to the smoking area, lit a fag to calm down his mind. But it had never helped him, smoke can make your head tipsy for some time but it could never flush out your memories, bad or good doesn’t matters. Perhaps, it’s amazing how quickly your mood change, how deep your heart can sink and how much one person can affect you.

It wasn’t like that she hated him always. Once, they were amazing together. He thought that was love while for her, it was just friendship. They argued over it many times but there was never any outcome, they always ended up blaming each other for their glooms. But then, they never went apart from each other, he found one or other way to stick with her because she was everything he had ever wished for, while from her side even though she denied but she did care for her awesome friend with whom she could share all her problems, gossips and stories, he would listen to them no matter he is tired, hungry or busy.

***

A week later…

‘C’mon Pari! You’re coming home. We can meet right?’ He tried to reason with her.

‘Listen Aru! I am coming home for just few hours. Next morning I’m going to Tirupati with my family.’

‘Are you serious?’ He smirked.

‘I’m hanging up!’ She blasted.

‘Ok! Listen, I will come to pick you up from station.’

‘Are you mad? You think I’m allowed to travel alone. Dad is coming tomorrow to pick me up.’

‘Ok then! There is an idea. I’m missing you a lot. I want to see you no matter what. So, I’m coming to station. We will see each other, we won’t talk not even smile and you go home with your dad.’

‘Are you crazy?’

‘Yes! For you.’

His cheesy lines irritate her to hell. ‘You’re just impossible… I hate…’

‘I hate you… I hate you…’ He cut her. ‘I know that very well, anything else.’

‘Go to hell.’ She hung up again.

Aru’s weird ways had always scared her like a nightmare; it wasn’t like that he would have hurt her. She knew a little sneeze on her side and he wouldn’t sleep that night but then that’s where the fear was, she could just see the obsession but beyond that was an innocent love and strangely, she had knowingly ignored that. You see, we don’t really care for things that we get easily in life. Life always needs to be served hot.

For the next two days, they didn’t talk at all, no ton phone or chat; they didn’t even exchange a message. Though Pari wanted to believe that Aru had actually forgotten about it but she was aware that this was mere silence before the storm. On other end, Aru would endlessly wait for her ping and his wait would always be actually endless. For his all high expectation, Pari had always disappointed him more than Yuvraj’s innings in the final. Finally, few hours before her train, he lost his patience and he called her. She didn’t pick.

‘Dad with me.’ She messaged.

‘Great! Happy journey. TC.’

‘Listen! Aru! I’m not feeling bad about you coming to the station.’

‘Did I say a word about that?’

‘So, you’re coming?’

‘Did you tell me which train? Which coach no.?’

‘That’s not funny!’

‘What you want?’

‘I want you to stay home.’

‘Train details please?’

‘BYE.’

She was offline in a moment. His messages didn’t get a double tick, they didn’t reach and that was indeed a serious bye. He was now in double mind whether to go or not. Two hours in the crowded local train after office and that also just to see her, she wouldn’t even talk, might be not even smile, and was it worth? Anyway, on a reality check, would really he be analyzing such stupid thoughts. When it came to Pari, it was always game on and the only thing that was worrying him was how he would convince his boss to let him leave early. And just then his phone beeped.

‘Duronto, 9.35 pm, B-4.’

‘Nautanki!’ He replied back.

It was all set.

Work? Completed!

Report? Send!

Bag? Packed!

Workstation? Locked!

Local train timings? Checked!

By his calculation he was to reach more than an hour before, he didn’t want to take any chance considering the erratic Mumbai traffic both rail and road. Moreover, he had always loved waiting for her. Actually, she had never reached on time and had always kept him waiting for hours but he never complained but rather he had found a strange happiness in it. In fact, he enjoyed that rush in his blood, his thoughts which would keep predicting about her dress, shoes, hair clips. Ok! Not hair clips, no mystery in them. She only wore pink clips.

It’s actually amazing feeling to search her among the crowd passing, every time someone familiar to her passed, his heart would sink and he would almost jump of his seat only to be disappointed, it just went till the show stopper finally arrived. Actually, his whole world stops when she comes. He had the same mirth in eyes every time like he had for the first time they met. Her along curly hair mesmerized him, those big eyes blocked his senses, her steps skipped his heart beats but he admired her nose most, had she ever noticed that every time they met, he would naughtily pull her nose.

‘Aru!’ His boss came to his desk.

‘Yes Sir!’

‘We have this meeting with the Product Owner. I want you there.’

Aru frowned. ‘Sir! I told I have to go. I have some work.’

‘Well, I guess your work can wait for fifteen minutes, I hope it’s not that important.’ That wasn’t just a statement but an order.

He trudged to the conference room and the meeting started soon but it wasn’t to end that soon. You see, a meeting of fifteen minutes in corporate is a big joke. He kept on checking his phone for the time, he was to reach an hour before and now he was wondering whether he would be able see her. His bewildered look conveyed the frustration in him, if he had it his way, he would have slaughtered his boss in two but then such is life dearies.

‘Let’s take a break.’

Fuck!! It was already 7 pm, probably his last chance to make it but his boss just declares a break. He wasn’t upset, he was heart-broken, he would not be able to see her for next two months straight. But there wasn’t anything he could do about it; in today’s world client meetings are more important than true love. His mobile battery was dying, so he messaged her that he wasn’t coming and switched off his phone. He walked to smoking area for his so called BREAK.

‘Hey Aru!’ Product Owner followed him.

‘Hello Shruty!’ He smiled. He had to.

‘You seemed lost in the meeting, any problem?’

‘Ummm… No not really?’ He shrugged.

‘She is coming?’

‘Who?’

‘Your #ISoDamnLoveHer!’ She blushed.

‘What? How do you know?’

‘Well… May be, I am a client in office but I am also your friend in Facebook. I read all your posts, they are amazing. Boy! You so damn love her.’

‘Umm…’ He looked sheepishly.

‘When is she coming?’

‘9.30 but in Mumbai Central.’

‘Hey man! If you really wish to catch her up then you must leave now.’

‘But meeting?’

‘I don’t think so your boss will question his Client. I’ll handle it. You now run.’ She gave him a high five.

What sucks about travelling is the fluctuating network and on the top the charging points in her compartment weren’t functioning, so she kept her phone away most of the time. But those monotonous view outside window and irritating co passengers, she was mentally drained. At last, she dropped her idea to save battery and picked her phone. There were many messages, she always has them whenever she checked her phone and among those messages there would always be one message from Aru. Generally, his message would be read last but that day she tapped on his message first.

‘I’m stuck in office. I can’t come. :(’

Fuck!! Did she read it well? She read again, he wasn’t coming. How was that possible? Pari was coming to Mumbai and he said he was not coming to meet. She could believe once that Uday Chopra won an Oscar but Aru not coming, can’t be true. She hoped that wasn’t a prank and only way to know that was to play it cool.

‘Ok!’ She messaged but there was just one tick which meant he was actually busy for his phone. He was possibly not coming.

‘That’s good. Anyway, I didn’t want you to come.TC.’ She messaged again after sometime, it wasn’t delivered again. She threw her phone in the bag and looked outside angrily. She wondered was she really that upset about it, maybe not. As if she cares about him, she consoled herself.

On other side, Aru didn’t get a rickshaw to the station and had to run a mile, by his calculation, he could still reach her if he got the 7.30 train. It was to be hectic for him; he needed to change train thrice, Nerul-Kurla-Dadar and that also in peak hours. But then, God was testing him that day, all trains were running 15 minutes late. By the time, he was reaching Kurla, he was squashed like a banana in the crowd, with his huge bag and laptop in it, he was like a tortoise on two feet and to his dismay, he couldn’t get down in Kurla. Going back to his route was a big risk but then did have another option, yes! Taxi from Sandhurst Road but can Mumbai traffic be trusted? He trusted his love.

When he reached Sandhurst, he checked his watch he still had half an hour but there wasn’t a single Taxi and even if any came, they refused to go to Mumbai Central. 10 minutes gone and he was now panicking, finally he saw one and he jumped inside. The driver refused to go and he threatened to complain against him which led to a heated argument.

‘Excuse me!’

He looked outside; a young lady was standing outside. ‘Yes.’

‘My dad is admitted to Jaslok hospital. I am in hurry, I want this Cab.’ She requested.

That Taxi was his last hope but wasn’t more important than someone’s dad. He happily left the Taxi as the lady got it in.

‘Thanks.’ She said.

He smiled.

‘By the way, I heard that you are going to Mumbai Central, it’s on way, I will drop you.’ She offered.

‘Really?’

‘Come in.’

So he finally reached Mumbai Central station and he was late by some 15 minutes but then Pari’s train had yet not arrived. He was overjoyed.He bought a chocolate for her and waited anxiously for the train to come on platform no. 2.

On her side, she had reasoned herself in many ways but she still couldn’t get over the fact that he wasn’t coming. She hated him more, how could he? This is what he meant when he said he loved her with his love. True love? Ghanta!!! All boys are same, he must be hanging around with some chick from his office, Pari was distraught.

‘Pari! Take your bag, we are reaching.’ Her dad said.

‘Hmm…’ She moved lazily.

As the train light appeared from a distance, Aru’s heart beat sprinted to its best. He felt restless now, though he almost spent two hours reaching there but those few minutes seemed eternity. As the train scooted in the platform, he searched for B4 impatiently. Why do trains are so long? He thought and when the train stopped, why do so many people travel in train?He cursed as he found himself lost in the crowd.

Her dad scolded her twice as she moved with a pace of a snail. She was lost in her thoughts, suddenly she had started to miss him. May be she would argue that she didn’t love him but she admired his love. Maybe she didn’t want him to take so much stress but now she was missing. If he was craving for her smile, she was dying to see him. Upset with in yet consoling that it didn’t matter to her anyway, she pulled her trolley bag.

And then…

He was standing just few yards in front of her. She was shocked and automatically, her steps slowed. Was he for real? Of course, told you before, it was impossible that he wouldn’t come and she very well knew that yet somehow she couldn’t even smile back. Her heart sank as he walked towards her, Dad was still beside her. She stopped just a foot before him, she was now scared but he was still smiling and moved on, clutching her hands for a second as he passed by. She sighed and then smiled as she noticed a chocolate in her hands.

She turned and winked at him.

Love is really innocent.

The Hitman Returns

 

 

When I had checked the score last for India’s Innings for yesterday’s match, it was 260 for 2. I didn’t care about Rohit’s score but was anticipating for Virat’s century. C’mon, it’s Srilanka after all, his bunny. And then suddenly, out of nowhere Rohit Sharma wanted this second run when the fielder already had the ball. Result – V Kohli run out 66 (64). I so hate you Mr. Rohit Sharma, I cursed (add few cuss words) and shut my TV. But then a little thought crossed my mind; last time, he got VK run out, he actually went on to score a double century. When I woke up later in the evening, Srilanka were down 4 wickets chasing 405 and Rohit Sharma had contributed 264 of them.

Frankly, somehow I have never liked Rohit. I had this senior in hostel who would claim that he used to play with Rohit Sharma in some cricket academy and he went on to say that once he threw way his expensive pads whose buckles were torn. Rohit requested him if he didn’t want them, could he take them. My senior nodded. Rohit took them to some cobbler who stitched the buckles and next day, he scored a hundred wearing those pads. I don’t know how much true this story was but then I had some personal issues with this senior of mine, so for some stupid logic, I started disliking Rohit too.

He was always annoying to me in some or other way. If he plays as an opener, Sehwag is not making comeback and which shifts Rahane to middle order which means Yuvi is not going to world cup. Both these players are my favourites. In 2009, he hit 26 off the last over and denied my favourite IPL team KKR a consolatory victory. In the Sachin Farewell tournament, he not only made his Test debut but also scored back to back centuries which actually costed two of Sachin’s last innings. When the world was crying not to see Sachin play again, this man was celebrating his maiden Man of the Series. Last year when he had scored 209, I had managed to take my crush out for a date and this year when Rohit was cherishing his innings, I and my crush don’t even talk to each other. Rohit is only good at spoiling my mood.

No matter, I had been a very harsh critic of him. There had been many times that I joined Sri Lankan fans in trolling him for his hidden talent jokes. One of my colleagues broke up with his girlfriend and I consoled him by saying that she wasn’t worth it because she is a Rohit Sharma Fan.  5 0 0 5 4 is actually not some pin code number of some town but his scores from Sri-Lanka tour in 2012. I still remember some commenter said after he got out “Go home Son, you can’t play.” There was this guy in my Facebook friend list with the same name who went on to post –

‘Dear Rohit Sharma,

Stop embarrassing me or change your name.

Regards,

Another Rohit Sharma.’

Rohit is the slowest Indian to score 3000 in terms of innings. If his two double centuries are removed, his batting average becomes 33 and strike comes to early 70. He is hopeless in front of swinging red ball. He had always been accused of consuming too many balls early in his innings and put the pressure on Dhawan and Kohli. He neither has a flamboyant attitude nor an aggressive body language. Neil Nitin Mukesh is more expressive than him. He neither flaunts a cool moustache nor dates a Bollywood heroine. His physique reminds you of some Pakistani cricketer of mid 90s. He is probably one of the most hated cricketers.

So, where does this man settle things? 209 & 264? Yes. He is right now the most trending topic in all social networks over taking Mr. Vadra. #AreYouSerious.

For years we would get excited every time someone entered 170 score but somehow the 194 hurdle seemed beyond reach. Even God took it 21 years to conquer the milestone and it wasn’t surprising actually when Sehwag surpassed Sachin. But then how come this man, No-Hit Sharma! Doing it twice in 12 months. So this was all that hidden talent he had which we had been hearing so often from greats since Afridi was 24 years old. If Ravi Shastri called Sachin a super man for scoring 200 what will he call Rohit? Not only he did it twice but he now took it to point which actually is unconquerable. 33 boundaries is actually difficult to hit even in EA Cricket and he does it live.

You see there is always some sort of connection with some records and some players. Only certain players deserve certain records, those combinations actually become exclusive. They compete with themselves and break their own records. Whether it be Brain Lara scoring 375* and 400* or Sachin’s 49 ODI and 51 Test centuries or Sehwag’s 309 & 319, history repeats itself. Having said that, I need to also agree that every record is meant to be broken and talking about Rohit’s 264, what are the chances that it would be broken in future?

You see to score double hundred; the batsman has to play 50 overs since he would definitely need at least 150 balls to reach there. Preferably, he has to be an opener because a middle order batsman coming so early to bat can’t play so freely. He should have the ability to hit the ball with great timing because after the batsman reaches 150, he needs to hit two boundaries in every over. He should also have variety of shots to counter; yorker, half volley, short ball, leg spin, off spin, googly; the batsman should know to send each one of them out of park. Step out, pick the length early and make sure you always play on front foot. Never get carried away and always know where are the fielders even though you’re playing a blinder. You need not be a good running between the wickets. More you avoid singles, more you stay on strike and also you don’t waste energy on running. Cricket being a team support, you can’t reach such scores without a good support which actually reduces the pressure on the batsman. And last but the most important quality, the batsman has to be an Indian.

Whether Rohit or someone else break this record, it actually doesn’t matter. He has already made to the hall of fame. He just needs to be more consistent especially overseas and justify the faith on him by the selectors because every time, he throws away his wicket with a stupid shot, he is actually doing injustice to those thousands of wannabes who didn’t get chance. I wonder what impact will this innings make on him both personally or professionally. (Hope that Yaami Gautam doesn’t start dating him) But at least he has now two haters less. One is me and the other one is Michael Vaughan.

Rohit Sharma. Take a bow. So proud of you.

About Subho

Subhasis Das (Call me Subho) was born and brought up in a small town- Rasayani, on the outskirts of Navi Mumbai but ask him about it, he will beam and say he is a proud Mumbaikar and if ever happened to doubt that then God help you. He is the lone child of his parents and smugly flaunts that he is pampered and over-cared. He is not a spoilt brat though but he has tough times with his tie.
Like every Indian parents, his Mom dreamt him to be the next Tendulkar while his dad always wanted him to be an engineer. However, his cricketing career was derailed once the big guy from his class shattered his front teeth with a bouncer. He was so scared of that guy that he took refugee under his books and that's when he allowed his biggest enemy an entry in his life ↔ Mathematics. He though claims he was actually good in Maths until they mixed the alphabets in it.  
Till the time, he realized that he wasn't Einstein, it was already late. He was in high school and had never talked to a girl in his life. Teacher's pet, Nerd, Dummy, Geek, Champu and even Asshole, sometimes; he had grown hearing them to all.  High school brought a new chapter in his life; he finally made friends- the rowdy back benchers. A rebel was born and was finding his ways out. Life just went feral after that. His teen years were all about discovering new adventures every day. He declared Physics was more venomous than Mathematics which truly reflected on his mark-sheet. His punishment was a four exile from the comforts of home to a 10 X 10 hostel room shared by three. Yes! He was in engineering. He though felt that was like the best thing ever happened to his life. Really, college is the best time of your life when else your parents going to spend so much money a year just for you to go to a strange town, get drunk every night and take one night stands. And it happened that way, He always felt that he was born smart and education was just ruining him.
 His attendance was always in single digit. He punched his seniors, threatened his teachers, ragged the juniors, teased girls and planted a little bomb which he claims was his third year project in the library, for all these he deserved to be jailed but just got escaped for his innocent face. 
However, he was tamed shortly by his college management with the deadly weapon called term work. He now faced the real and ugly side of engineering- assignments, projects, labs, tests and Maths. When he was finally out of his college, he had lost over ten kilos, he was some seven shades darker, his hair and beard had grown like an ape and he couldn't open his eyes in light but at least he was able to recognize his parents. 
He was an ENGINEER now!
"Main engineer hun. Yes, ab main novel likh sakta hun." 
Two months of rehabilitation in Goa and power yoga, he was normal again. Thanks to the novel thing and the third year project boldly highlighted in his resume, he got a job in a leading telecom company. They thought he was innovative. Few years from there, he is sitting on a comfortable spinning chair in his cubicle, playing with the mouse; thinking- 'Is this really what he wanted to do in his life?'
P.S. - He is learning Guitar these days.

THE BLUE FROG!!!

A place that excites the alcoholics, the music-oholics and the foodies.Housed in a 6,000 square foot defunct warehouse in Lower Parel, I wish all of these warehouses around the city to turn into such awe-inspiring place; the club blends acoustic excellence and lush, opulent ambience design with live performances, inventive cuisine and an excellent bar. It is a place which has something for everyone, gigs happening six nights a week with international artists featured regularly and genres of music range from jazz, blues, funk, soul and afro/latin to electronic, club, rock, folk and lots more. Part of the reason why Blue Frog has proved to be such a successful concept is that it's been created by musicians for musicians.
A huge restaurant like set up facing a decently sized stage that has newcomers and veterans perform. From a top view it resembles a maze with multi-coloured lights all over. "Funky" is the word that best describes the place. Bar and live kitchen side by side. A casual seating area outside for the smokers or those who wish to stay away from the music.

Mumbai Unplugged

                     Mumbai is sleepless yet it is the city of dreams. 
It is touted as the next Shanghai but I think Mumbai is Manhattan, LA, Paris, London, Ahmedabad, Maharashtra, Punjab, Kolkata, UP and Bihar all on one tiny island. It is a concrete jungle to 20 million people and also the only city in the country to have a national park. At one end we have the glamorous Bollywood and at other there is world’s largest slum. Its rough exterior gives way to something rich and pure, complex and unabashed, but only to those who care to look. Life itself is a big adventure here and it requires a certain strength to live here, appreciate the city for what it is, and fall into its groove.I am not sure if someone would fall in love with this place at first sight. Its contrasts and extremities are off-putting- the traffic, honking, crowd, pollution, heat, lack of space and privacy and finally the tormenting monsoon. Perhaps, you have every reason to hate it. But then, as the city draws close one couldn’t stop admiring what the city has to offer. Everyone and everything exists side by side in Mumbai. Big malls with all sort of brands versus the local markets at the best price and street food vendors right outside fine-dine establishments. Take a rickshaw to the premises of a five star hotel, it doesn’t matters. If the Monsoons are hated to crumble the city down but that’s the best time when the city looks most beautiful. (Visit the Marine drive). Sachin and Amitabh both stay here, perhaps Shahrukh and Salman on same street.The meritocracy, the mania, the delusion, the complete lack of perspective, the world’s largest film industry, the Corporates, the sea, the Band Stand, the Hajiali, the Sidhi Vinayak, the sea link, the fashion street, the CST station, the Gateway of India, the Taj Hotel, the Vadapav, the Chowpatty, the Mannat, the local train, the Double Decker, the Shivaji Park, the BMC. There is an organized chaos and a mad energy to Mumbai. The city sinks fangs into you and tries to make you its own and you can’t help it to fall in love with it.
Mumbai makes all dreams come true and that’s why the city never sleeps .

Corporate Atyachar

From being a carefree youth to a corporate slave, the transition happened in just thirty days. Why not it be, after all I had been really working hard on those nine commandments which every Engineers promises before joining any IT company.1.   I have already enjoyed my life in childhood2.   I love tension3.   I don’t want to spend time with my friends (I hate them)4.   I love night duties5.   I love to work on Sundays and holidays6.   I want to take revenge on myself7.   I don’t want to get married before 30 years of age8.   I want to study until my death9.   I don’t want hair on my head
In an easy way, life of an IT professional really sucks. And it wasn’t just me who was unhappy or rather say frustrated; peeping over my cubicle, I could see many useless (useful for clients) heads of the labors, spending day and night for their daily pizzas and burgers. Here most of the people think, ‘Is this really what they want to do in life?’, but the next minute they get a ping from their manager or TL regarding the task update and then they try to recollect, ‘where am I?’. This was actually the common story of all of us but still we were ‘surviving’, rather I should correct it to ‘growing’, how? This question possesses the same gravity as that of question on Indian economy, how is it growing? Exactly!Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise; I knew why I was none of the above. The day started with an 8.30 alarm because my tummy needed that much time to slowly digest the ‘Tandory Chicken’ and beer of last night. So after the beautiful sleep I got up and went to the office. Yes guys! You are right. I deliberately avoided saying, I had a bath and all, because that was optional and depended on the circumstances. You see, the deodorant companies had made life so simple.In office I did lot of Gtalk, Facebook (through proxy sites) and tea breaks, apart from attending meetings, trainings. And yes! I did some work too, if I still had time. Well, about my work- being a software tester my job was just to run few tools on some application and look for bugs or glitches in them. Yeah! It does sound simple and trust me, it’s really that easy but then it could lull a person to sleep with its hypnotically ugly monotony; luckily we had a big coffee-maker which poured hot chocolate too. Life was so dull here and the same routine made me sometime feel that I was in some jail and weekends meant bail. Life became a long wait from one Saturday to another because after Monday and Tuesday, even my calendar said WTF.The other things I observed there was that in the IT world you should always be able to elaborate the simple things complicatedly, if you can do that you really have a good future here. Here you will find people working day and night without looking at Saturday and Sundays and also the people who come to office at 11.30AM and are right there outside the premises waiting for the bus at 6PM. This is the one weird industry, where two people in the same position with same experience can differ drastically in salaries. It’s all about Darwin’s theory- survival of the fittest and being fittest here means being mean, selfish, greedy and politico stereotypes. But still it is fun to be here, to be part of long calls and important meetings, relishing the never affordable food in client parties, playing pool and TT in every ‘two’ hour break after working for 1 hour, enjoying the weekend in sleeping for three days (yes I have included Friday too), working hard outside the office in bench period, banging head due to always changing requirements and never ending clients expectations. And at the end, the long wait of thirty days and finally the awaited sms from the bank- Your Salary have been credited to your account, makes everything worth it. Life is really good here.