Independence day
Independence day… 15th august…. Independence for whom???? I had to wake up at 7 or so…. Waking up so early on a holiday…yes… we all just consider it as a one more holiday… still I am swatantra…. Or to say free… I come to office… why?? Because my client is non-Indian.. so he doesn’t know the value of ‘Independence day’ for us Indians….( whether we ourselves know it is a debatable topic but he doesn’t know that and that’s for sure…)… So I come to office to earn my daily bread and butter… I stay in the office for the whole day… I repent on this because by national holiday we just mean hanging out with friends… or sleep for hours or watch a movie….
In the evening I and my roommates decide to have dinner out and we go to a nearby multiplex for dinner as well as movie… we are totally 6 + 1 and ½ people in a rickshaw which is licensed to allow only 3 + 1… the ½ person who is a child around 5-6 year old is sitting on the driver’s lap… that’s my free country… I go to McD… one more place where we pay to get insulted… we pay 4 times more than the actual value of the food there… and then we wait in a queue just like the beggars outside a party hall waiting for their number to arrive so that they can have plenty of food… We still eat there…. Because of the holiday rush, almost all items there are simply stale they taste awful rather than awesome… but we eat there… because on eves like Independence day we prefer a good looking restaurant be it a multi cuisine restaurant or a world-wide food outlet chain… we don’t give damn to our own India’s Udipi hotels or so.. that’s what we call ‘celebration’…. We are not concerned about the quality… we are concerned about the show-off and the mention of ‘international’ on the things available there….
Then we reach the departmental store…. ‘big bazaar’ which has it’s last day of giving more than 50% discount on purchases…. My fellow countrymen are standing there in a queue… no comments for this because it was simply like the queue at McD… just that the queue there was for the stale food which you buy after paying some handsome price… whereas this queue was to get something cheaper…. People tend to waste money at times… and they go down to any level to save the same.. surprising…
Then we go for the movie… ‘chak de India’ .. What’s there in that? a story of a person who tried to prove to his own countrymen…. That he played for his country and not for his own selfish purpose… the great tragedy of the true sportsman… but we consider just the filmy part… we clap on the dialogues.. we clap for the sports sequences… we don’t give even a little thought to the literally hopeless situation of media in creating hypes…. in the next screen we have the show of another movie named ‘Gandhi my father’ where the most unfortunate part of the life my country’s great leader is depicted… he gave us freedom… and so he couldn’t give much to his own family… but when we come out of the theatre… we say ‘see… he even couldn’t control his own son….’ When we comment like this… doesn’t the whole purpose of his fights, his sacrifices go in vain ?…. When his own countrymen can’t acknowledge his greatness… why did he fight after all? But again no comments….
We return to our home …. Again the same intended 3 seater but now actually used as a 7 seater vehicle is ready…. We reach back… on this route we see a car parked at the side of the road…. Two guys… can be termed to be the youth or to say the future of this nation are puking…. Others are still enjoying the liquor in the car…. And these are not just the guys… even girls are accompanying them… again this is a national day… they should celebrate it… it’s their choice as to how to celebrate it…
We return to our home… it’s the sleeping time… of course tomorrow again there is office…. We have to reach on time…. My country …The Independent India just turned senior citizen today… is it??? does it have even the enough maturity level of a 22 year old youth? When we see all that youth running for international restaurants…. Queuing for some cheap things… taking out literally insensible meaning from things when the intended meaning is miles away… assuming that celebrations only mean drinking/smoking…. Spitting/throwing garbage at the corners of roads rather than in dustbins… just one question arises in mind…. Are we the responsible citizens of the country for whom our great forefathers brought the freedom sacrificing their family life… their blood …at times their lives?
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
ALVIDAA
ALVIDA
One evening on my company campus, while I was returning to my cubicle from the canteen, I saw her at the gate. A small pain rose in my heart.
Who was she? Was she my girlfriend? No… I am still single. Was she my friend? No… we never even talked to each other… then was she one of those people in my company whom I just knew by face and was completely unaware of their names or anything else about them? No… I was knowing her, I was knowing her name, I was knowing where she worked, but was she knowing me even by my face?
I saw her first time in our company bus from Chinchwad. Her cute and a very sweet smile and simple yet beautiful face attracted me instantly. I think this is what they call ‘the love at first sight’. I was so attracted to her that I simply stood there for a moment or two rather than rushing to the back of the bus to catch an empty seat.
This happened almost everyday. The first thing I would do after getting into the bus was to look at her. It had become my habit. It was sort of a good morning for me. I liked it and in fact I longed for it. Weekends were just tortures when there was no bus travel and hence no glimpse of her. Some very much unknown but a very sweet feeling inside me used to tease me every morning I saw her. Was it love or just infatuation… whatever… I was enjoying it…
I wanted to get introduced to her, wanted to talk to her, wanted to have a friendship with her that would have helped me to understand her, probably get closer to her, but I simply lacked the guts for the same. I simply couldn’t gather that courage to talk to her. My feelings remained unuttered and simply unconveyed.
And one day, my friend who was her colleague got that bad news. She was leaving the company in the next week. I was shocked. I couldn’t even imagine my travel by the company bus without her. ‘Will we ever meet or at least see each other in future? Should I go to her and talk to her at least once before she leaves?’ Such questions simply rocked my mind for days and nights together. I was lost in them.
And today she was there at the gate leaving me forever. The harsh reality of parting from her which I was trying to avoid was in front of me now. She was there standing just 10-15 feet away from me. I felt like going to her, hugging her close and open up my mind… but again I thought… what was I going to achieve by that? She would be leaving and probably in future we would not even see each other… then why should I do that and embarrass her? I simply kept calm, killing my feelings about her forever… it hurt… but that’s life..
Our usual bus for Chinchwad arrived soon… she got in… I also wanted to go but somehow I couldn’t dare to enter that bus. I simply stayed at the gate plainly looking at the moving bus, trying my best to control the tears that were ready to get out of my eyes the next moment… while my heart was crying like anything for her….
One evening on my company campus, while I was returning to my cubicle from the canteen, I saw her at the gate. A small pain rose in my heart.
Who was she? Was she my girlfriend? No… I am still single. Was she my friend? No… we never even talked to each other… then was she one of those people in my company whom I just knew by face and was completely unaware of their names or anything else about them? No… I was knowing her, I was knowing her name, I was knowing where she worked, but was she knowing me even by my face?
I saw her first time in our company bus from Chinchwad. Her cute and a very sweet smile and simple yet beautiful face attracted me instantly. I think this is what they call ‘the love at first sight’. I was so attracted to her that I simply stood there for a moment or two rather than rushing to the back of the bus to catch an empty seat.
This happened almost everyday. The first thing I would do after getting into the bus was to look at her. It had become my habit. It was sort of a good morning for me. I liked it and in fact I longed for it. Weekends were just tortures when there was no bus travel and hence no glimpse of her. Some very much unknown but a very sweet feeling inside me used to tease me every morning I saw her. Was it love or just infatuation… whatever… I was enjoying it…
I wanted to get introduced to her, wanted to talk to her, wanted to have a friendship with her that would have helped me to understand her, probably get closer to her, but I simply lacked the guts for the same. I simply couldn’t gather that courage to talk to her. My feelings remained unuttered and simply unconveyed.
And one day, my friend who was her colleague got that bad news. She was leaving the company in the next week. I was shocked. I couldn’t even imagine my travel by the company bus without her. ‘Will we ever meet or at least see each other in future? Should I go to her and talk to her at least once before she leaves?’ Such questions simply rocked my mind for days and nights together. I was lost in them.
And today she was there at the gate leaving me forever. The harsh reality of parting from her which I was trying to avoid was in front of me now. She was there standing just 10-15 feet away from me. I felt like going to her, hugging her close and open up my mind… but again I thought… what was I going to achieve by that? She would be leaving and probably in future we would not even see each other… then why should I do that and embarrass her? I simply kept calm, killing my feelings about her forever… it hurt… but that’s life..
Our usual bus for Chinchwad arrived soon… she got in… I also wanted to go but somehow I couldn’t dare to enter that bus. I simply stayed at the gate plainly looking at the moving bus, trying my best to control the tears that were ready to get out of my eyes the next moment… while my heart was crying like anything for her….
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Travel by the Mumbai Local
Travel by the Mumbai Local
Just imagine… Your right hand lying on someone’s shoulder which after around 10 minutes you come to realize belongs to the third person on your right, is holding your bag. Your left hand or to say complete left arm is somehow lost somewhere just like your right leg and in case you try to turn your head to track the two, the hair of the person on your left start brushing your face with the most foul smelling hair oil. You leave that attempt. Then you try to move your hands and legs .. I mean at least you give your brain the order to do so.. so that at least by the movement you might be able to guess the exact location of your organs. While doing so even your brain is so confused that it tries to move your left leg instead of right one and you come to know that the leg is simply somewhere in the air and you are currently in no direct touch to the floor below.
Welcome to Mumbai locals.. at a time around 9-10 in the morning or probably 7-8 in the evening.. The situation is the same except for the sky outside, which is black or white but again it is hardly visible from inside the compartment.
I currently Live in Chinchwad and travel by bus to office and sadly I miss that entire thrill I used to enjoy when I was in college. At that time, I used to live in Thane. My college was in Vidyavihar… at a distance of around 20-25 minutes from Thane by our beloved locals. It would be my pre-decided plan to catch usual 8:15 a.m. local to Vidyavihar. This local used to start from Thane and thus used to have lesser crowd as compared to others which would come fully packed from the stations before Thane. I traveled by that particular local for 4 years of my engineering, as I was loyal to her even she was so… never did late … never got cancelled… never made me repent to make the decision of catching her.
The journey used to start something like this…. I, always late for the local to catch would run on the bridge just like a male rabbit would behind a female rabbit… ( don’t ask me why of all I chose rabbit here… but the way I used to jump over the obstacles in between and maneuver my way to the platform number 3 can be compared to just a deer or rabbit.. and since rabbit is good looking one….). So finally for the 8:15 local I used to reach exactly at 8:16. Now again there was a catch here.. the digital clock on the bridge used to show the timing of 8:19 whereas the one on the platform used to show 8:16… Einstein would have congratulated me for running by the speed of light to go into the past… at the end, the local would follow none of the three timings… it used to leave by around 8:17 in my watch.
I used to get into the compartment… first class compartment.. although a bit expensive, I used to prefer that one for the reason that first class guaranteed of people who would have bathed at least once a week… which was not at all possible in second class compartments. Getting into the compartment was never so difficult in fact I always used get a good place to stand mostly under the fan which would provide some sort of ventilation if working that too if some air would be able to enter the compartment in spite of the crowd.
The train then used to leave Thane with the slowest speed it could gather. The first station was Mulund, where I don’t know why but people thought every local is the last local and there is no other local that will come on that route. People would run into the compartment just like the animals in the movie Jumanji… I think the director of the movie must have traveled by that local and got the idea of the it… we used to laugh everyday on that style but those Mulund people never left their habit.
The next stations would simply go unnoticed as there would be damn crowd already inside the compartment making us almost hugging each other, sleeping on others’ shoulders and at times simply get hair oiled by brushing them with neighbor. I would like to salute Indian Railways for the great social work they are doing of bringing people together… in today’s world where one person even doesn’t talk to other properly without any reason, co-travelers in locals are almost sleeping on each other’s shoulder.
Then there used to come our staion..Vidyavihar. Every person even though sure that the person next him is definitely getting down at VidyaVihar would ask, ‘ Vidyavihar?’.. Now this is not a question as such.. as per English grammar, this so-called question has no meaning at all, but the particular word would convey the purpose to the other guy and simply he would nod to it. I still remember the day when a person asked my friend from behind, ‘VidyaVihar?’ and he simply replied, ‘No.. Gaurav’.. the whole compartment burst into laughter…
We never got out of the compartment on our own will. Someone from behind used to push us out or someone on station willing to get into would simply pull us out to make some room inside.
This saga continued for 4 years of my engineering. Now it has almost been a year or so, that I shifted to Pune, and couldn’t get any thrill in the journey to office. Last weekend while I was traveling to Thane from Kalyan I experienced same things; it brushed up all those memories of travel… Although my whole body was paining… I felt good somewhere deep within… I was back in my old days… I enjoyed it.
People not at all familiar with the life in these Mumbai locals may think me as a complete mad but really try to travel by these for a week or so…you will get used to them and start liking them. This is the place where people can make friends, play cards, exchange feelings, try to catch glimpse of girls in the ladies compartment… and all that in an hour’s time or so.. salute to you Mumbai local….
Just imagine… Your right hand lying on someone’s shoulder which after around 10 minutes you come to realize belongs to the third person on your right, is holding your bag. Your left hand or to say complete left arm is somehow lost somewhere just like your right leg and in case you try to turn your head to track the two, the hair of the person on your left start brushing your face with the most foul smelling hair oil. You leave that attempt. Then you try to move your hands and legs .. I mean at least you give your brain the order to do so.. so that at least by the movement you might be able to guess the exact location of your organs. While doing so even your brain is so confused that it tries to move your left leg instead of right one and you come to know that the leg is simply somewhere in the air and you are currently in no direct touch to the floor below.
Welcome to Mumbai locals.. at a time around 9-10 in the morning or probably 7-8 in the evening.. The situation is the same except for the sky outside, which is black or white but again it is hardly visible from inside the compartment.
I currently Live in Chinchwad and travel by bus to office and sadly I miss that entire thrill I used to enjoy when I was in college. At that time, I used to live in Thane. My college was in Vidyavihar… at a distance of around 20-25 minutes from Thane by our beloved locals. It would be my pre-decided plan to catch usual 8:15 a.m. local to Vidyavihar. This local used to start from Thane and thus used to have lesser crowd as compared to others which would come fully packed from the stations before Thane. I traveled by that particular local for 4 years of my engineering, as I was loyal to her even she was so… never did late … never got cancelled… never made me repent to make the decision of catching her.
The journey used to start something like this…. I, always late for the local to catch would run on the bridge just like a male rabbit would behind a female rabbit… ( don’t ask me why of all I chose rabbit here… but the way I used to jump over the obstacles in between and maneuver my way to the platform number 3 can be compared to just a deer or rabbit.. and since rabbit is good looking one….). So finally for the 8:15 local I used to reach exactly at 8:16. Now again there was a catch here.. the digital clock on the bridge used to show the timing of 8:19 whereas the one on the platform used to show 8:16… Einstein would have congratulated me for running by the speed of light to go into the past… at the end, the local would follow none of the three timings… it used to leave by around 8:17 in my watch.
I used to get into the compartment… first class compartment.. although a bit expensive, I used to prefer that one for the reason that first class guaranteed of people who would have bathed at least once a week… which was not at all possible in second class compartments. Getting into the compartment was never so difficult in fact I always used get a good place to stand mostly under the fan which would provide some sort of ventilation if working that too if some air would be able to enter the compartment in spite of the crowd.
The train then used to leave Thane with the slowest speed it could gather. The first station was Mulund, where I don’t know why but people thought every local is the last local and there is no other local that will come on that route. People would run into the compartment just like the animals in the movie Jumanji… I think the director of the movie must have traveled by that local and got the idea of the it… we used to laugh everyday on that style but those Mulund people never left their habit.
The next stations would simply go unnoticed as there would be damn crowd already inside the compartment making us almost hugging each other, sleeping on others’ shoulders and at times simply get hair oiled by brushing them with neighbor. I would like to salute Indian Railways for the great social work they are doing of bringing people together… in today’s world where one person even doesn’t talk to other properly without any reason, co-travelers in locals are almost sleeping on each other’s shoulder.
Then there used to come our staion..Vidyavihar. Every person even though sure that the person next him is definitely getting down at VidyaVihar would ask, ‘ Vidyavihar?’.. Now this is not a question as such.. as per English grammar, this so-called question has no meaning at all, but the particular word would convey the purpose to the other guy and simply he would nod to it. I still remember the day when a person asked my friend from behind, ‘VidyaVihar?’ and he simply replied, ‘No.. Gaurav’.. the whole compartment burst into laughter…
We never got out of the compartment on our own will. Someone from behind used to push us out or someone on station willing to get into would simply pull us out to make some room inside.
This saga continued for 4 years of my engineering. Now it has almost been a year or so, that I shifted to Pune, and couldn’t get any thrill in the journey to office. Last weekend while I was traveling to Thane from Kalyan I experienced same things; it brushed up all those memories of travel… Although my whole body was paining… I felt good somewhere deep within… I was back in my old days… I enjoyed it.
People not at all familiar with the life in these Mumbai locals may think me as a complete mad but really try to travel by these for a week or so…you will get used to them and start liking them. This is the place where people can make friends, play cards, exchange feelings, try to catch glimpse of girls in the ladies compartment… and all that in an hour’s time or so.. salute to you Mumbai local….
Saturday, July 7, 2007
SOME DIARY PAGES
SOME DIARY PAGES
Some characters and incidents in this story are imaginary and any resemblance of them with any dead or living entity should be considered as coincidence.
Date: 15-Jan
HE:
I wait everyday till 8.00 in the office even if there is no work. All of my teammates ask me why; how can I tell them that I don’t wait for any personal or official work but the only reason why I wait is the ‘secretary’- a girl in my 8.00 p.m. Chinchwad bus. ‘Secretary’ is not her real name, it’s sort of a code name given to her by me and my friends. Truly speaking, I like her. She might not be one of those who look like Aishwarya Rai or Preitty Zinta, but she is cute and simple and that’s the reason I like her. For past 6 months I have been staring at her in the bus, while going to office and coming back from the office. When I get into bus, somehow my eyes search the whole bus just to have her glimpse.
I never had a girlfriend till now, not that I don’t like to have friendship with girls but somehow they usually prefer tall-dark-handsome qualities in their boyfriends, out of which I possess none. I don’t want to jump to any relationship like this with the secretary but at least just a friendship, is it possible?
I want to talk to her. I want to have friendship with her. I know her name, for I had seen her ID card one day. But I don’t have the guts to talk to her. I even don’t know whether she knows me even by face. I know, no one can help me here; no-one other than myself, but I simply have no guts. At least someone probably a common friend, might at least formally introduce us to each other.
SHE:
There is one guy in my office bus. His name is Niranjan. I think he likes me, for me and even my friends have observed him many times staring at myself. Even when he gets into the bus, rather than searching for an empty seat, his eyes search the whole bus for me. Don’t know why but I kind of like it. Sometimes the feeling of knowing that someone loves you is far better than actually loving somebody. I didn’t have any affair till today, not that I didn’t like or love anyone, there was a guy in my college, whom I liked a lot but somehow he stayed away from me, not that he didn’t like me but probably because I am not that beautiful and he wanted someone much more better than me.
This guy, Niru, that’s what his friends call him, I had heard it once in the bus; he seems to be interested in me, not sure about love as such but friendship might not be bad. At least the guy seems to be descent one. I would like to be his friend, but how can I go forward? Afterall he is the boy, he should come one step ahead …not me.
Date: 16-Jan
HE:
My roommate told me to approach her and get introduced to her all by myself. It’s not that easy; this is not a college, what if she complains about this to higher authorities? No, I can’t take this risk. Someone else better introduce her to me. God, can you help me please?
SHE:
My cousin told me to show some sign to him that I am ok in having friendship with him. I think he is afraid to come forward. I’ll give him a good friendly smile tomorrow, when he gets into the bus. I hope he understands and decrypts my signal. God, can you please help him?
GOD:
Now should I come into this picture? Both of these human beings are acting as if they are in a big problem. Although not for me, I had made life so simple for you, just added a bit of emotions there and see how complex you have made it. Now that I am the god, you must have been expecting me to intervene and have some miracle, but no; I won’t interfere here. I have created this world with some fixed rules and everything is just working as per that. Why should I just interfere and break my own rules thereby disrupting the balance of this whole system?
Date: 17-Jan
HE:
Today when I got into the bus and looked at her, she returned back a cute smile. Was she serious? I don’t know; probably she must have told her friends about me and they must have been making fun of me and that’s why when I got into the bus she started laughing and I misunderstood it for smiling. Such a fool of me. Damn, her friends must be having fun discussing things about me.
SHE:
Today when he got into the bus, I smiled at him. But he seemed to be more puzzled than pleased. Is he really interested in having friendship with me or not? I really don’t know. Why am I thinking so much about him? Have I started liking him? Or is it just like you just get used to some things as a habit, and then you unknowingly start liking them? I think it’s the latter case here. Please god please let that guy be a descent one. My sixth sense says he is a descent guy. I think he must have got puzzled because of the smile I gave him. It wasn’t my fault, for I showed him that I am interested in friendship. Now the ball lies in his court. Will he dare first to talk?
Date: 18-Jan
HE:
I am damn confused. I don’t know what to do. Every day everyone around me is bombarding me with some tactics to approach her but nothing seems to suit me well. My roommates even started taunting me that I can’t have a girlfriend or at least the guts to approach the gal. I am leaving it now on luck. I will just continue whatever is going on; let the luck take us wherever and however intended.
Date: 25-Jan
HE:
Nothing unusual or special happened in the last few days. However, today I thought something interesting might happen. The bus was about to start the back-home journey today when she and one of her friends got into the bus. They were searching for a place to sit. I was alone on a seat of three. I was thrilled that she would sit on the same seat beside me. But she just came, momentarily paused at the seat, turned to her friend and just went past; to sit on the last seat. I couldn’t see the expressions on her face clearly but what I saw was a face filled up with hate or some similar feeling that clearly showed expression such as whatever might happen, I am not going to sit beside this *****. It was really heartbreaking. It was the biggest insult I had suffered till now. Am I so hopeless?
Date: 26-Jan
HE:
Today, there was public holiday so I got lot of time to think and analyze the situation. What was my fault? I haven’t done anything wrong. I didn’t ever talk to her, I never tried to flirt, I never gossiped about her except for my close friends. I am even sure that none of my co-travelers in the bus know that I like her. Whenever I stare at her I take necessary precaution as not to be too obvious. I don’t want to embarrass her in any way. When I am trying my best for this, then why did she have such cruel expressions on the face?
I think either she knows now that I like her and stare at her and she doesn’t want to encourage me or simply, she just hates me for no reason, just like many of my classmates who hate me for no reason.
I don’t know what to do now, but either ways I think she just doesn’t want me to be anywhere around her. She just hates me. Just one more failure. Does it hurt? Yes it does, but I am very much used to it. I’ll try my best not to look at her. I don’t want to do anything that she doesn’t like. I will try to forget her as if she was just one more dream in my life which simply didn’t come true. Probably, I don’t deserve to be with her. This is fate afterall. I will have to obey it.
SHE:
Today was a holiday. So I couldn’t see him, although I wanted to. I actually wanted to apologize for whatever happened yesterday. I got into the bus and searched for the seat. He was sitting alone on the seat for 3, it was a good chance for me to sit with him and have a word or two. I was just thrilled. I was about to sit on the same seat when Kruti said something. I didn’t hear it properly so I turned to her. She said, ”See, Raghav is there, he has reserved seats for us.” I just hate that Raghav, he is always ready to flirt provided the other person is a girl. Whenever I see him, somehow I try my best to be as away from him as I can, I even show hatred to him directly on my face but this guy simply ignores this. I don’t know why Kruti likes him so much.
So the point is I went to the seat that Raghav had reserved specially for us. I felt really bad for Niru, but if I would have denied Raghav’s offer and would have sat on Niru’s seat; it would have just been too obvious. He must have felt embarrassed. Poor guy.
Date: 27-Jan
SHE:
Today he seemed to have lost in thoughts. When he got into the bus, surprisingly he didn’t search for me. He even didn’t look up. He just went straight to the last seat and started reading a novel. I tried looking at him once or twice but he didn’t lift his head at all. I think he is hurt, I am feeling sorry, but what can I do? When we got down at the office gate, I purposefully lingered a bit more at the gates to give back him a smile, but I couldn’t spot him in the crowd. Niru, I am sorry, please be normal again.
Date: 28-Jan
SHE:
Today I saw him in the food court. He was there with two girls and was chatting, laughing, cracking jokes. He seemed to enjoy the company. Is he also a typical boy who just wants to have as many girls around him as possible? Is he a typical flirt? Does he want me also to get included in that group for showcasing?
Probably the two girls were just good friends of him. At least I hope so. Please god please let those be his sisters or just friends, nothing else.
Date: 3-Feb
HE:
Since that evening thing has happened, I have left staring at her. I don’t know but some inner voice is telling me to keep away. I am not a street walking beggar to be treated like this. She might consider herself whatever she might think of. She is beautiful, indeed, but that doesn’t mean she can insult me like that. I have sward not to look at her again anymore and just to avoid her looks.
But I can’t stay like this. I just like her and want to be with her. She has committed a mistake, but wasn’t that a bit natural. She doesn’t like me and doesn’t want to encourage my feelings about her. Simple isn’t it? That’s it. A complete halt for my feelings and my dreams, but I don’t think I can manage not to have even a look at her. Will I be able to do it?
There is some saying, ‘Oh god, change the situations around me to favor me. At least give me the strength to change it. If I can’t change it, at least give me the strength to bear it.’ Oh God, please listen to me.
GOD:
You don’t remember me when you are happy or contempt, do you? When there is a problem or a really difficult situation, then you start remembering me or praising me, don’t you? I still won’t interfere here. My world is a complex entity with each and every thing or event properly planned for some specific future as well as past reason. Why should I interfere and break the balance of all these systems myself?
Date: 14-Feb
HE:
By the time I am writing this, Valentine’s Day is already over. It doesn’t matter anyways, since nothing unusual has happened today. The day had been very much like other 365 days in the year or probably last 21 valentine’s days in my life. I was hoping that I at least get to catch her glimpse but fate didn’t seem to favor me even this much. Due to this night shift, I am even deprived of her glimpses. Today, I even lingered a bit at the gates at the usual bus timing to watch her, but she didn’t turn up. I think god wants to signal me to keep away from her. My insult that day was the first one and now this was the second one. Ok god, I got it.
SHE:
Valentine’s day is over but I couldn’t manage even to see him today. I thought today he might come to me and have a talk, but he didn’t. Even he is not traveling nowadays by the usual bus. Did he change home or worst the company itself?
Today all my teammates have gone out with their valentines and I am alone back home. That’s why I left the office early and came straight back to home. If that evening thing wouldn’t have happened, probably today I would not have been alone. I think the fate doesn’t want us together. Probably so. Ok god, if this is what is intended for me, ok; I accept it, obviously I anyways don’t have any alternative, but still.
Date: 27-Feb
HE:
I was working in the night shift for the whole month so had to travel by cab rather than bus. I used to work from 4.00 p.m. to 2.30 a.m. so naturally I had lost contact with almost all people working in dayshift except for my teammates who would surrender the charge to me while leaving for the day. For the whole month I didn’t travel by bus. Obviously didn’t see her. She works in the adjacent building only, but I don’t know where her cubicle is located exactly and anyways even if I would be knowing that, I don’t think I have that much guts to approach her.
For almost a month I didn’t see her, but I didn’t feel any desperation to see her. I was unbelievably aloof in this case. Was it the effect of that evening incidence?
Date: 28-Feb
HE:
Today, the office had planned to screen a movie in the campus. I had seen it but thought of enjoying it with friends in the open air. I took the permission for an hour from my boss and went for that. The dialogues were not much audible on the lawns, but it was fun to watch the movie in an open air theatre like that. I was to leave the place to return to my cubicle and turned around when I saw her standing there just around 10 feet away from me.
I don’t know why but my heart started speeding a lot higher than even Michael Schumaker’s Ferrari. She just smiled at someone in the crowd at my back, tried her best not to look directly to me and just left the place. I stood there for a minute or two just wondering what had happened.
Why did she smile? Did she feel good that I am still in the same company only or she didn’t even take notice of my presence and really smiled at someone in the crowd at my back? But we were so close that it was practically impossible for her to just ignore me.
SHE:
I saw him today, at the movie screening. Thank god he is still working with this company only. I thought of smiling at him and greeting him. I was so happy to see him, I wanted to ask him where he was for so many days, whether he was not well, had he changed his house or was he using bike for the transport, but again I didn’t ask a single question. I stayed calm. I didn’t want to embarrass him again.
I don’t know what I feel about him, but somehow whenever I see him, I do feel better. I hope he starts travelling by bus again. Everyday we can see each other in the morning and wish each other a very good morning without any words or smile but just with a plain look.
Date: 5-march
HE:
I resumed my normal duty today. It was good to see all those familiar faces once again after so many days. Of course my eyes were searching only one face out of that but still.
Just like my normal schedule, I got into the bus. She was sitting there with the same plain look on her face, nowhere even a single line of recognition, but when she saw me, her face reflected a small smile. It couldn’t escape my notice. Was she happy to see me back in the bus? I don’t know about her, but I was definitely happy to see her.
SHE:
I was so happy, I tried my best to conceal my happiness but I felt like getting up from my seat and just sit beside him and talk, talk and just talk to him. Hey what’s this? What’s happening to me? I never felt like this for anyone. Is this just sympathy for that evening thing or is this love? No chance of it. I don’t believe in this love at first sight or so. We don’t know each other, we don’t know anything about each other, how can this be love? Probably just infatuation… whatever it may be… I am loving this feeling very much.
DATE: 7-March
HE:
Today can be called as the luckiest day of my life. I talked to her face to face for the first time. Rajesh, my friend had some work in Nigdi today and was travelling by our bus and surprisingly he knew her well. They were collegemates during the degree. He introduced us formally. I was so happy, that I just forgot that sometime back she just avoided sitting beside me. Everything in my brain, all my nervousness, and hatred for her as well as for my loser …all was just washed up.
Now I can talk to her, I hope I can turn this chance to success. Oh god, thanks a lot… Rajesh was just like an angel sent by you.
SHE:
Thanks a lottt god…. I am so happy. Even he was. I could easily make that out from his face. It was just so bright. He still has feelings for me. Thank god, I thought after that day I kinda lost him, but no. Now we can talk to each other officially. No problem of who is first … we are friends now. God you are great.
Rajesh:
Today I was travelling with Niru, my projectmate. Even my best friend in college was traveling by the same bus. It was a really pleasant surprise to see her after a couple of years or so. I think my transfer to Pune will result in some good thing. She has become more beautiful than she was in our college days. Damn.. why the hell did I neglect her in college when she had crush on me… I hope she is still single, not even committed or so. I would like simple girl like to get settled in life. Now I am well settled in job, should go forward with love matter also.
When I introduced Niru to her today, somehow her face lit up as if she was eager to have a word or two with him since many days. Niru’s condition was no different. Do they have something between them? I hope there is nothing of such sort. Oh God, thanks a lot that you made me meet her, I hope you help me once again to make her mine. Please just keep Niru out of this.
GOD:
If you get only happiness then you don’t feel its value, do you? That’s why everything is planned in such a way that whenever you get happy you should understand its true value. I haven’t done anything special here. It’s all just happening as predefined.
Date: 10-March
HE:
Since Rajesh has introduced us to each other, the days have been very good for us. I mean I didn’t talk to her or so, but at least we exchange smile regularly. Let’s see whether I can sit beside her sometime and have a word or two.
Date:12-March
HE:
I sat beside her today in the bus while returning from office. We were chatting a lot, on no specific topics as such, but I really enjoyed her company. She is really a cute, simple and sweet girl. She said she will be reserving a seat for me in the morning bus. Let’s see whether she really keeps her promise…
Date:16-March
HE:
Since last few days, she had been reserving a seat for me in the morning as well as in the evening bus. We both seem to enjoy each other’s company very well. I decided to take a step forward today. I asked her for a cup of coffee in the afternoon. I was a bit depressed about what she might reply but surprisingly, she said yes without even thinking for a moment as if she was actually waiting for such a move from my side. We decided to meet at 4 near the café inside the campus.
She didn’t turn up. I don’t have her cell number so I even couldn’t call her and ask why she did so. It was so embarrassing for me to wait there just alone. Did she do it purposefully? Why? I could make out no sensible reason.
If she would be having a meeting or some office work, she should have informed me. She didn’t call me. My extension or even cell number was available with the telephone directory. Did she do it for the only reason that she wanted to show that she doesn’t care for me and prove her importance?
SHE:
Today there happened a real disaster. The servers were down and I was so busy in recovering them, debugging the code that I almost forgot I had my first ‘date’ with Niru. I suddenly remembered it just before going to a meeting at 2 and I was sure that I can easily finish off with the meeting by 4 and meet Niru, but no. The destiny had some other plans. I had to be in meeting till 5. I even couldn’t phone Niru and inform him that I am not coming. When the meeting was over, it was already 6. He must have left for the day. He was going to Mumbai today, so he must have left early.
What can I do? I wanted to meet him and apologize face to face. Mail or phone won’t do. I hope we meet on Monday. I’ll explain him everything. He is a nice guy. He will understand me properly. I am hoping so, obviously I don’t have any other option at least till Monday.
Date:19-March
HE:
I left for the day early today at 6. I had travelled from Mumbai in the morning and so needed rest or was it just to avoid her since she travels by 8 o’clock bus? I don’t know the reason but I felt like just avoiding her.
SHE:
Where is he? He must have come from Mumbai in the morning and joined directly, that’s why he wasn’t in the morning bus, but why not in the usual evening bus at 8? Probably he was tired. Let’s hope he meets me tomorrow morning. He will listen to me and this time I will invite him for a coffee or so.
Date: 21-March
HE:
Yesterday, she explained me the whole thing. How stupid of me? I was thinking really absurd things about her. She is such a cute girl; it was not her mistake that she had to attend the meeting. I was kind of ok when she gave me the explanation. The conversation after that just went normal as it used to be earlier. Whatever that might be I am not going to ask her out anymore.
Date: 22-March
HE:
What the hell… what does she think of herself? Today she invited me for a coffee at 4. I went there on time. I didn’t want to miss it but again she didn’t turn up. Why? Is she just stressing how important she is and how unimportant I am for her? I felt like calling her there only and just ask the reason why is she playing games with me like this. I decided to ask this for full and final what the matter was, but she didn’t turn up even for 8 o’clock bus.
Date:27-March
HE:
I couldn’t see her for last 5 days. Did she come to office? Isn’t she feeling well? I hope she is alright. Oh God, please protect her.
Date: 10-April
Rajesh:
Her father was seriously ill. As a family friend I helped a lot. She couldn’t go to office for a week or so, but I helped her in conveying the matter to her seniors. I think this last week helped me a lot as in building a rapport with her and her parents. Fate has given me a good chance to get closer to her, I will do so.
Date:25-April
SHE:
Today I met Niru finally after so many days. I thought he might be still angry about the coffee thing, but to my surprise, he was a bit tensed as to why I was not coming to the office. I explained him that daddy was seriously ill. He enquired about dad’s health and then simply changed the subject to turn my attention to somewhere else. He was just trying to take me out of the tension about dad’s health. He is such a mature guy, I knew he would understand.
Date: 20-May
SHE:
Niru and I have been going out for a long time now. I have started loving him. I think even he is serious about this relationship but he is younger than me and I don’t think he is ready for any commitment at this stage of his life, but mumma and dad are pursuing me for marriage; what should I do? Should I ask him?
Date: 22-May
SHE:
Niru told me today that he is leaving the company. He has got an admission to MBA in a College in Mumbai. It’s really difficult to be away from him at least for 2 years. Should I ask him for a relationship? Will he be ready for that or he just wants to wait till the completion of his MBA? But I can’t wait that much. I think I’ll better ask him straight about the commitment let’s see what he says.
Date: 23-May
Rajesh:
Today I proposed to her. She didn’t show any expressions as such on face and asked for sometime to think about it, but I know she must have be just too happy for she had crush on me in our college life. I think she will say ‘yes’. Just that I need to confirm that Niru doesn’t come in between. Everything should go smooth otherwise. Even her and my parents would not have any problem in fact they would be happy if she and I get into the most beautiful relationship.
HE:
Today she called me up and asked to meet for a coffee at our usual place, but later suddenly she called up to cancel the meeting. I don’t know why. She sounded stressed a bit on phone so I concluded it to be the result of work pressure. But when I saw her in the evening in the bus today, she was in a bit off-mood. I don’t know why. She then just held my hand. I think she wanted to say something but she was not able to. I couldn’t even understand what she wanted to say but I kept mum. When my stop came nearer, she released my hand. I asked her whether she was alright. She didn’t reply anything else than ‘yes, just fine’.
I tried calling her in the night after dinner, but she didn’t pick up. I think she must be stressed because of the work and must have slept early. I hope nothing is wrong. Oh god, please take care of her.
SHE:
Today was the most dreadful day for me. Rajesh proposed to me. My mood was off. I loved him in college but he didn’t seem to pay any attention to me. At times he literally avoided me. Later somehow I just managed to overcome that feeling. I loved him, but he didn’t. There are no conditions in love afterall. I tried my best to forget feelings about him, at least suppress them. He never seemed to like me. Then why now? Has his feelings really changed ? or he is just playing games with me?
I was going to propose Niru today. It would have been the most crucial moment of my life and this guy, Rajesh just turned off my mood. I was literally shocked to hear from him. Not that I don’t like him but now that a couple of years have passed when we had no contact and even Niru is there in my life. Much water has flown down the bridge. I don’t know whether I still love him, and I also don’t know whether Niru is ready to have a commitment as such with me. I am just confused. Oh god, please help me. Show me some way. Why didn’t you device any automatic system to solve such problems?
GOD:
Automatic system ? Wow!!! All these software engineers think alike. They think just the computerization of every system solves most of the related problems. But real life is not so simple. The real life is much more complex thing to handle. In arithmetic you have 1+1 =2; but in real life you may have 1+1 as anything but 2. That’s life.
About the automatic system to solve the real life problems, I have given you humans one such machine. Some call it heart, some just brain. I gave you the ability to think. You can take decisions based on your prior experience, your conscience and you can very easily use it to make decisions and I am sure even she will find out a way in this ambivalence because even if she does not trust my creations, I do.
Date: 24-May
SHE:
Yesterday after so many days I cried. I cried a lot. I was completely lost in dilemma. I was not able to think properly. What should I do? I loved Rajesh a couple of years ago but he didn’t, at that time. Now he loves me but I love Niru. Rajesh wants to settle down in life and he wants me to be with him. Niru has not planned something of that sort, he is just going to complete his MBA first and then will think of getting settled. Rajesh , he is of my age, very much mature; whereas Niru is younger, a bit of immature but that suits his age. Rajesh, my family knows him very well and will be ready perhaps eager to include him in as my husband; whereas Niru, I haven’t told anything about him to mom or dad yet.
But I love Niru a lot, probably more than I used to love Rajesh in college days. How should I make a decision? Based on feeling for love or based on my future, the practical aspects for my life? Where should I go? Oh god, please help me. I need you immensely. Please please, help me make the decision.
Date: 30-May
HE:
Last few days just flew past like a stormy wind. All those processes I had to undergo in order to leave the company, just because I wanted to pursue better career in MBA rather than staying here and stagnating. A few more days and I am off to achieve my dreams.
Just the problem is, I don’t want to leave her, my love, my secretary. I really love her. Since when my infatuation turned into love was unknown even to me. I don’t want to leave her but I can’t even stay here. Even I am doing MBA in Mumbai not even here in Pune. Will she wait for me for at least 2-3 years which I will need to complete MBA and get settled?
I have said goodbye to everyone, it was not that difficult; but it’s definitely not the same with her. I don’t know whether I will be able to say her goodbye and how I am going to do that.
SHE:
I have made my decision. I don’t know how to convey it but I will have to do it. One of the two hearts is going to get broken but there is no any other way. I have made my decision and I’ll stick to it. Oh god, please give me strength to bear everything.
Date: 6-June
SHE:
Today was Niru’s birthday and also his last day in Pune as well as in this company. He left in the evening for Mumbai. It was really a heartbreaking moment to see him parting, especially when both of us were completely aware that we might not see each other in future. I had made the decision; the only problem was how to convey it to him. I chose to be practical than just blind in love. People give you cool gifts on your birthday but what I gave him was just a shock, a damn big shock. He didn’t say anything except for ‘congrats’ and ‘good luck’ but his face told me everything he wanted to convey. I cried there standing in the whole crowd of his friends who had gathered to wish him luck and goodbye. He couldn’t cry out but if possible, he could just have wept then and there.
I said him sorry that I chose Rajesh over him. What he replied was surprising. He just replied, ‘No need to say sorry. It’s your life, you have complete right to make a decision and you are mature enough to do so and you have made a wise decision. We were friends and will be, but please don’t expect me to keep a contact with you. I loved you and I really loved you from the bottom of my heart. Now whenever I will think of you I will not have anything else than love in my mind and I think same might be the case with you; and that won’t be right especially when u will be a married woman; married to someone else. So this is our last meet. Thanks for the friendship and the feeling of love that you gave me. Best luck for your future life.’ And he just went inside the bus.
Was he so aloof or he just tried to sound so as not to make me feel worse about our parting? I think for all those days that I spent with Niru, I still couldn’t understand him properly. Anyways Niru, what the truth is that I loved you. I loved you like anything but the decision I made was based on practical aspects of life. My decision will prove to be better for both of us and I am damn sure of it. I had started writing diary since when I had seen you for the first time, now since you are not there in my life, I am going to discontinue this practice. This is the last page of my diary. Best luck Niru, for your future. Love you. Bbye.
HE:
This was the worst birthday of my life when I broke up with my love. It can’t be termed as a breakup as such but we parted; we parted forever with a promise not to cross the other’s life anytime in future. I felt like crying; but boys don’t cry, do they? Yes they cry, but secretly….and that’s why I am crying now. The whole page is wet because of my tears. Anyways this is the last page. I have decided not to write this diary anymore. This diary had come into my life with secretary, and since secretary is no more with me, what’s the purpose of this diary? Secretary, just wanted to say best luck for your future. I Love you. Bye.
Rajesh:
Finally, today is that lucky day for me. She said yes. I am so happy. She is mine. Finally my dream has come true. Oh God thanks a lot. You have made my day, in fact my life. Very few people get to live with someone they love; I am one of those lucky ones. My happiness has no bounds. I am very very happy today.
Niru left the company today, I don’t know whether we will be able to meet each other in future. I had gone to say good bye and wish good luck to him. He was talking to her. When I saw her face, I again felt some pain in my heart. Are they both having something? If so, why did she say Yes to me? Are they trying to cover-up something? Or is she playing games with me? Or am I coming as an odd between the two? I could see tears in Niru’s eyes when he left her and got into the bus. Her condition was no different, in fact she literally cried. She seemed to recover after a couple of minutes but the way she was looking somewhere into the vacuum, her face clearly was clearly telling her diligent attempts to control tears. Oh god, please show me the way. I hope I didn’t do anything wrong by proposing her.
The way they both were talking to each other didn’t show any sign of quarrel or fight between them. Then why they separated? Or they shared some feeling for each other and none of them just bothered to express it? Whatever the situation might be, she has said ‘yes’ to me; must be for some reason, whatever ; she is mine now. Niru is her past and she will forget him; in fact she will have to. Whatever the case may be, I love her and that’s it.
GOD:
Ok. Here is the end of this story, not a unique; in fact a very very common one. You might be expecting me to interfere in it at the eleventh hour and change the ending so that either; before the bus starts, She runs to the bus and gets into it and goes with Niru to Mumbai or probably when the bus is about to leave, Niru jumps out and hugs her or Rajesh feels something wrong and just takes her on bike and follows the bus just to stop it and make her get into the bus for Niru and so on? Nopes. This is not a hindi film. This is a real life story and not a reel life one.
She took the decision wisely after evaluating each option she had. She had thought practically in every aspect. Won’t interference by me be just injustice to her thoughts? Won’t it be a betrayal to her trust that the option she chose is the best one? Won’t it be just a wrong deed on my side and that too just to please some others without any particularly sensible reason?
As I said, I have made this world with some predefined rules. The balance of this world totally depends on the events that are happening every now and then. No event is of more or less important than the other. Every moment, situation, event has some sort of purpose and so stands of equal importance. The purpose might not be directly related to you but it can also affect you indirectly. As said before, I had already decided not to intervene and I stuck to my word. Now you will say that it’s me only who decides everything ultimately. Yes. Indeed true but that’s what my point is. I decided her fate to be with Rajesh, that’s it. I hope you understand; in fact I am sure you will … again that’s what your fate says….
THE END
-Regards and Thanks,
Niranjan Khandekar
The Disclaimer
Hi friends,
Some characters and incidents in this story are imaginary and any resemblance of them with any dead or living entity should be considered as coincidence.
Date: 15-Jan
HE:
I wait everyday till 8.00 in the office even if there is no work. All of my teammates ask me why; how can I tell them that I don’t wait for any personal or official work but the only reason why I wait is the ‘secretary’- a girl in my 8.00 p.m. Chinchwad bus. ‘Secretary’ is not her real name, it’s sort of a code name given to her by me and my friends. Truly speaking, I like her. She might not be one of those who look like Aishwarya Rai or Preitty Zinta, but she is cute and simple and that’s the reason I like her. For past 6 months I have been staring at her in the bus, while going to office and coming back from the office. When I get into bus, somehow my eyes search the whole bus just to have her glimpse.
I never had a girlfriend till now, not that I don’t like to have friendship with girls but somehow they usually prefer tall-dark-handsome qualities in their boyfriends, out of which I possess none. I don’t want to jump to any relationship like this with the secretary but at least just a friendship, is it possible?
I want to talk to her. I want to have friendship with her. I know her name, for I had seen her ID card one day. But I don’t have the guts to talk to her. I even don’t know whether she knows me even by face. I know, no one can help me here; no-one other than myself, but I simply have no guts. At least someone probably a common friend, might at least formally introduce us to each other.
SHE:
There is one guy in my office bus. His name is Niranjan. I think he likes me, for me and even my friends have observed him many times staring at myself. Even when he gets into the bus, rather than searching for an empty seat, his eyes search the whole bus for me. Don’t know why but I kind of like it. Sometimes the feeling of knowing that someone loves you is far better than actually loving somebody. I didn’t have any affair till today, not that I didn’t like or love anyone, there was a guy in my college, whom I liked a lot but somehow he stayed away from me, not that he didn’t like me but probably because I am not that beautiful and he wanted someone much more better than me.
This guy, Niru, that’s what his friends call him, I had heard it once in the bus; he seems to be interested in me, not sure about love as such but friendship might not be bad. At least the guy seems to be descent one. I would like to be his friend, but how can I go forward? Afterall he is the boy, he should come one step ahead …not me.
Date: 16-Jan
HE:
My roommate told me to approach her and get introduced to her all by myself. It’s not that easy; this is not a college, what if she complains about this to higher authorities? No, I can’t take this risk. Someone else better introduce her to me. God, can you help me please?
SHE:
My cousin told me to show some sign to him that I am ok in having friendship with him. I think he is afraid to come forward. I’ll give him a good friendly smile tomorrow, when he gets into the bus. I hope he understands and decrypts my signal. God, can you please help him?
GOD:
Now should I come into this picture? Both of these human beings are acting as if they are in a big problem. Although not for me, I had made life so simple for you, just added a bit of emotions there and see how complex you have made it. Now that I am the god, you must have been expecting me to intervene and have some miracle, but no; I won’t interfere here. I have created this world with some fixed rules and everything is just working as per that. Why should I just interfere and break my own rules thereby disrupting the balance of this whole system?
Date: 17-Jan
HE:
Today when I got into the bus and looked at her, she returned back a cute smile. Was she serious? I don’t know; probably she must have told her friends about me and they must have been making fun of me and that’s why when I got into the bus she started laughing and I misunderstood it for smiling. Such a fool of me. Damn, her friends must be having fun discussing things about me.
SHE:
Today when he got into the bus, I smiled at him. But he seemed to be more puzzled than pleased. Is he really interested in having friendship with me or not? I really don’t know. Why am I thinking so much about him? Have I started liking him? Or is it just like you just get used to some things as a habit, and then you unknowingly start liking them? I think it’s the latter case here. Please god please let that guy be a descent one. My sixth sense says he is a descent guy. I think he must have got puzzled because of the smile I gave him. It wasn’t my fault, for I showed him that I am interested in friendship. Now the ball lies in his court. Will he dare first to talk?
Date: 18-Jan
HE:
I am damn confused. I don’t know what to do. Every day everyone around me is bombarding me with some tactics to approach her but nothing seems to suit me well. My roommates even started taunting me that I can’t have a girlfriend or at least the guts to approach the gal. I am leaving it now on luck. I will just continue whatever is going on; let the luck take us wherever and however intended.
Date: 25-Jan
HE:
Nothing unusual or special happened in the last few days. However, today I thought something interesting might happen. The bus was about to start the back-home journey today when she and one of her friends got into the bus. They were searching for a place to sit. I was alone on a seat of three. I was thrilled that she would sit on the same seat beside me. But she just came, momentarily paused at the seat, turned to her friend and just went past; to sit on the last seat. I couldn’t see the expressions on her face clearly but what I saw was a face filled up with hate or some similar feeling that clearly showed expression such as whatever might happen, I am not going to sit beside this *****. It was really heartbreaking. It was the biggest insult I had suffered till now. Am I so hopeless?
Date: 26-Jan
HE:
Today, there was public holiday so I got lot of time to think and analyze the situation. What was my fault? I haven’t done anything wrong. I didn’t ever talk to her, I never tried to flirt, I never gossiped about her except for my close friends. I am even sure that none of my co-travelers in the bus know that I like her. Whenever I stare at her I take necessary precaution as not to be too obvious. I don’t want to embarrass her in any way. When I am trying my best for this, then why did she have such cruel expressions on the face?
I think either she knows now that I like her and stare at her and she doesn’t want to encourage me or simply, she just hates me for no reason, just like many of my classmates who hate me for no reason.
I don’t know what to do now, but either ways I think she just doesn’t want me to be anywhere around her. She just hates me. Just one more failure. Does it hurt? Yes it does, but I am very much used to it. I’ll try my best not to look at her. I don’t want to do anything that she doesn’t like. I will try to forget her as if she was just one more dream in my life which simply didn’t come true. Probably, I don’t deserve to be with her. This is fate afterall. I will have to obey it.
SHE:
Today was a holiday. So I couldn’t see him, although I wanted to. I actually wanted to apologize for whatever happened yesterday. I got into the bus and searched for the seat. He was sitting alone on the seat for 3, it was a good chance for me to sit with him and have a word or two. I was just thrilled. I was about to sit on the same seat when Kruti said something. I didn’t hear it properly so I turned to her. She said, ”See, Raghav is there, he has reserved seats for us.” I just hate that Raghav, he is always ready to flirt provided the other person is a girl. Whenever I see him, somehow I try my best to be as away from him as I can, I even show hatred to him directly on my face but this guy simply ignores this. I don’t know why Kruti likes him so much.
So the point is I went to the seat that Raghav had reserved specially for us. I felt really bad for Niru, but if I would have denied Raghav’s offer and would have sat on Niru’s seat; it would have just been too obvious. He must have felt embarrassed. Poor guy.
Date: 27-Jan
SHE:
Today he seemed to have lost in thoughts. When he got into the bus, surprisingly he didn’t search for me. He even didn’t look up. He just went straight to the last seat and started reading a novel. I tried looking at him once or twice but he didn’t lift his head at all. I think he is hurt, I am feeling sorry, but what can I do? When we got down at the office gate, I purposefully lingered a bit more at the gates to give back him a smile, but I couldn’t spot him in the crowd. Niru, I am sorry, please be normal again.
Date: 28-Jan
SHE:
Today I saw him in the food court. He was there with two girls and was chatting, laughing, cracking jokes. He seemed to enjoy the company. Is he also a typical boy who just wants to have as many girls around him as possible? Is he a typical flirt? Does he want me also to get included in that group for showcasing?
Probably the two girls were just good friends of him. At least I hope so. Please god please let those be his sisters or just friends, nothing else.
Date: 3-Feb
HE:
Since that evening thing has happened, I have left staring at her. I don’t know but some inner voice is telling me to keep away. I am not a street walking beggar to be treated like this. She might consider herself whatever she might think of. She is beautiful, indeed, but that doesn’t mean she can insult me like that. I have sward not to look at her again anymore and just to avoid her looks.
But I can’t stay like this. I just like her and want to be with her. She has committed a mistake, but wasn’t that a bit natural. She doesn’t like me and doesn’t want to encourage my feelings about her. Simple isn’t it? That’s it. A complete halt for my feelings and my dreams, but I don’t think I can manage not to have even a look at her. Will I be able to do it?
There is some saying, ‘Oh god, change the situations around me to favor me. At least give me the strength to change it. If I can’t change it, at least give me the strength to bear it.’ Oh God, please listen to me.
GOD:
You don’t remember me when you are happy or contempt, do you? When there is a problem or a really difficult situation, then you start remembering me or praising me, don’t you? I still won’t interfere here. My world is a complex entity with each and every thing or event properly planned for some specific future as well as past reason. Why should I interfere and break the balance of all these systems myself?
Date: 14-Feb
HE:
By the time I am writing this, Valentine’s Day is already over. It doesn’t matter anyways, since nothing unusual has happened today. The day had been very much like other 365 days in the year or probably last 21 valentine’s days in my life. I was hoping that I at least get to catch her glimpse but fate didn’t seem to favor me even this much. Due to this night shift, I am even deprived of her glimpses. Today, I even lingered a bit at the gates at the usual bus timing to watch her, but she didn’t turn up. I think god wants to signal me to keep away from her. My insult that day was the first one and now this was the second one. Ok god, I got it.
SHE:
Valentine’s day is over but I couldn’t manage even to see him today. I thought today he might come to me and have a talk, but he didn’t. Even he is not traveling nowadays by the usual bus. Did he change home or worst the company itself?
Today all my teammates have gone out with their valentines and I am alone back home. That’s why I left the office early and came straight back to home. If that evening thing wouldn’t have happened, probably today I would not have been alone. I think the fate doesn’t want us together. Probably so. Ok god, if this is what is intended for me, ok; I accept it, obviously I anyways don’t have any alternative, but still.
Date: 27-Feb
HE:
I was working in the night shift for the whole month so had to travel by cab rather than bus. I used to work from 4.00 p.m. to 2.30 a.m. so naturally I had lost contact with almost all people working in dayshift except for my teammates who would surrender the charge to me while leaving for the day. For the whole month I didn’t travel by bus. Obviously didn’t see her. She works in the adjacent building only, but I don’t know where her cubicle is located exactly and anyways even if I would be knowing that, I don’t think I have that much guts to approach her.
For almost a month I didn’t see her, but I didn’t feel any desperation to see her. I was unbelievably aloof in this case. Was it the effect of that evening incidence?
Date: 28-Feb
HE:
Today, the office had planned to screen a movie in the campus. I had seen it but thought of enjoying it with friends in the open air. I took the permission for an hour from my boss and went for that. The dialogues were not much audible on the lawns, but it was fun to watch the movie in an open air theatre like that. I was to leave the place to return to my cubicle and turned around when I saw her standing there just around 10 feet away from me.
I don’t know why but my heart started speeding a lot higher than even Michael Schumaker’s Ferrari. She just smiled at someone in the crowd at my back, tried her best not to look directly to me and just left the place. I stood there for a minute or two just wondering what had happened.
Why did she smile? Did she feel good that I am still in the same company only or she didn’t even take notice of my presence and really smiled at someone in the crowd at my back? But we were so close that it was practically impossible for her to just ignore me.
SHE:
I saw him today, at the movie screening. Thank god he is still working with this company only. I thought of smiling at him and greeting him. I was so happy to see him, I wanted to ask him where he was for so many days, whether he was not well, had he changed his house or was he using bike for the transport, but again I didn’t ask a single question. I stayed calm. I didn’t want to embarrass him again.
I don’t know what I feel about him, but somehow whenever I see him, I do feel better. I hope he starts travelling by bus again. Everyday we can see each other in the morning and wish each other a very good morning without any words or smile but just with a plain look.
Date: 5-march
HE:
I resumed my normal duty today. It was good to see all those familiar faces once again after so many days. Of course my eyes were searching only one face out of that but still.
Just like my normal schedule, I got into the bus. She was sitting there with the same plain look on her face, nowhere even a single line of recognition, but when she saw me, her face reflected a small smile. It couldn’t escape my notice. Was she happy to see me back in the bus? I don’t know about her, but I was definitely happy to see her.
SHE:
I was so happy, I tried my best to conceal my happiness but I felt like getting up from my seat and just sit beside him and talk, talk and just talk to him. Hey what’s this? What’s happening to me? I never felt like this for anyone. Is this just sympathy for that evening thing or is this love? No chance of it. I don’t believe in this love at first sight or so. We don’t know each other, we don’t know anything about each other, how can this be love? Probably just infatuation… whatever it may be… I am loving this feeling very much.
DATE: 7-March
HE:
Today can be called as the luckiest day of my life. I talked to her face to face for the first time. Rajesh, my friend had some work in Nigdi today and was travelling by our bus and surprisingly he knew her well. They were collegemates during the degree. He introduced us formally. I was so happy, that I just forgot that sometime back she just avoided sitting beside me. Everything in my brain, all my nervousness, and hatred for her as well as for my loser …all was just washed up.
Now I can talk to her, I hope I can turn this chance to success. Oh god, thanks a lot… Rajesh was just like an angel sent by you.
SHE:
Thanks a lottt god…. I am so happy. Even he was. I could easily make that out from his face. It was just so bright. He still has feelings for me. Thank god, I thought after that day I kinda lost him, but no. Now we can talk to each other officially. No problem of who is first … we are friends now. God you are great.
Rajesh:
Today I was travelling with Niru, my projectmate. Even my best friend in college was traveling by the same bus. It was a really pleasant surprise to see her after a couple of years or so. I think my transfer to Pune will result in some good thing. She has become more beautiful than she was in our college days. Damn.. why the hell did I neglect her in college when she had crush on me… I hope she is still single, not even committed or so. I would like simple girl like to get settled in life. Now I am well settled in job, should go forward with love matter also.
When I introduced Niru to her today, somehow her face lit up as if she was eager to have a word or two with him since many days. Niru’s condition was no different. Do they have something between them? I hope there is nothing of such sort. Oh God, thanks a lot that you made me meet her, I hope you help me once again to make her mine. Please just keep Niru out of this.
GOD:
If you get only happiness then you don’t feel its value, do you? That’s why everything is planned in such a way that whenever you get happy you should understand its true value. I haven’t done anything special here. It’s all just happening as predefined.
Date: 10-March
HE:
Since Rajesh has introduced us to each other, the days have been very good for us. I mean I didn’t talk to her or so, but at least we exchange smile regularly. Let’s see whether I can sit beside her sometime and have a word or two.
Date:12-March
HE:
I sat beside her today in the bus while returning from office. We were chatting a lot, on no specific topics as such, but I really enjoyed her company. She is really a cute, simple and sweet girl. She said she will be reserving a seat for me in the morning bus. Let’s see whether she really keeps her promise…
Date:16-March
HE:
Since last few days, she had been reserving a seat for me in the morning as well as in the evening bus. We both seem to enjoy each other’s company very well. I decided to take a step forward today. I asked her for a cup of coffee in the afternoon. I was a bit depressed about what she might reply but surprisingly, she said yes without even thinking for a moment as if she was actually waiting for such a move from my side. We decided to meet at 4 near the café inside the campus.
She didn’t turn up. I don’t have her cell number so I even couldn’t call her and ask why she did so. It was so embarrassing for me to wait there just alone. Did she do it purposefully? Why? I could make out no sensible reason.
If she would be having a meeting or some office work, she should have informed me. She didn’t call me. My extension or even cell number was available with the telephone directory. Did she do it for the only reason that she wanted to show that she doesn’t care for me and prove her importance?
SHE:
Today there happened a real disaster. The servers were down and I was so busy in recovering them, debugging the code that I almost forgot I had my first ‘date’ with Niru. I suddenly remembered it just before going to a meeting at 2 and I was sure that I can easily finish off with the meeting by 4 and meet Niru, but no. The destiny had some other plans. I had to be in meeting till 5. I even couldn’t phone Niru and inform him that I am not coming. When the meeting was over, it was already 6. He must have left for the day. He was going to Mumbai today, so he must have left early.
What can I do? I wanted to meet him and apologize face to face. Mail or phone won’t do. I hope we meet on Monday. I’ll explain him everything. He is a nice guy. He will understand me properly. I am hoping so, obviously I don’t have any other option at least till Monday.
Date:19-March
HE:
I left for the day early today at 6. I had travelled from Mumbai in the morning and so needed rest or was it just to avoid her since she travels by 8 o’clock bus? I don’t know the reason but I felt like just avoiding her.
SHE:
Where is he? He must have come from Mumbai in the morning and joined directly, that’s why he wasn’t in the morning bus, but why not in the usual evening bus at 8? Probably he was tired. Let’s hope he meets me tomorrow morning. He will listen to me and this time I will invite him for a coffee or so.
Date: 21-March
HE:
Yesterday, she explained me the whole thing. How stupid of me? I was thinking really absurd things about her. She is such a cute girl; it was not her mistake that she had to attend the meeting. I was kind of ok when she gave me the explanation. The conversation after that just went normal as it used to be earlier. Whatever that might be I am not going to ask her out anymore.
Date: 22-March
HE:
What the hell… what does she think of herself? Today she invited me for a coffee at 4. I went there on time. I didn’t want to miss it but again she didn’t turn up. Why? Is she just stressing how important she is and how unimportant I am for her? I felt like calling her there only and just ask the reason why is she playing games with me like this. I decided to ask this for full and final what the matter was, but she didn’t turn up even for 8 o’clock bus.
Date:27-March
HE:
I couldn’t see her for last 5 days. Did she come to office? Isn’t she feeling well? I hope she is alright. Oh God, please protect her.
Date: 10-April
Rajesh:
Her father was seriously ill. As a family friend I helped a lot. She couldn’t go to office for a week or so, but I helped her in conveying the matter to her seniors. I think this last week helped me a lot as in building a rapport with her and her parents. Fate has given me a good chance to get closer to her, I will do so.
Date:25-April
SHE:
Today I met Niru finally after so many days. I thought he might be still angry about the coffee thing, but to my surprise, he was a bit tensed as to why I was not coming to the office. I explained him that daddy was seriously ill. He enquired about dad’s health and then simply changed the subject to turn my attention to somewhere else. He was just trying to take me out of the tension about dad’s health. He is such a mature guy, I knew he would understand.
Date: 20-May
SHE:
Niru and I have been going out for a long time now. I have started loving him. I think even he is serious about this relationship but he is younger than me and I don’t think he is ready for any commitment at this stage of his life, but mumma and dad are pursuing me for marriage; what should I do? Should I ask him?
Date: 22-May
SHE:
Niru told me today that he is leaving the company. He has got an admission to MBA in a College in Mumbai. It’s really difficult to be away from him at least for 2 years. Should I ask him for a relationship? Will he be ready for that or he just wants to wait till the completion of his MBA? But I can’t wait that much. I think I’ll better ask him straight about the commitment let’s see what he says.
Date: 23-May
Rajesh:
Today I proposed to her. She didn’t show any expressions as such on face and asked for sometime to think about it, but I know she must have be just too happy for she had crush on me in our college life. I think she will say ‘yes’. Just that I need to confirm that Niru doesn’t come in between. Everything should go smooth otherwise. Even her and my parents would not have any problem in fact they would be happy if she and I get into the most beautiful relationship.
HE:
Today she called me up and asked to meet for a coffee at our usual place, but later suddenly she called up to cancel the meeting. I don’t know why. She sounded stressed a bit on phone so I concluded it to be the result of work pressure. But when I saw her in the evening in the bus today, she was in a bit off-mood. I don’t know why. She then just held my hand. I think she wanted to say something but she was not able to. I couldn’t even understand what she wanted to say but I kept mum. When my stop came nearer, she released my hand. I asked her whether she was alright. She didn’t reply anything else than ‘yes, just fine’.
I tried calling her in the night after dinner, but she didn’t pick up. I think she must be stressed because of the work and must have slept early. I hope nothing is wrong. Oh god, please take care of her.
SHE:
Today was the most dreadful day for me. Rajesh proposed to me. My mood was off. I loved him in college but he didn’t seem to pay any attention to me. At times he literally avoided me. Later somehow I just managed to overcome that feeling. I loved him, but he didn’t. There are no conditions in love afterall. I tried my best to forget feelings about him, at least suppress them. He never seemed to like me. Then why now? Has his feelings really changed ? or he is just playing games with me?
I was going to propose Niru today. It would have been the most crucial moment of my life and this guy, Rajesh just turned off my mood. I was literally shocked to hear from him. Not that I don’t like him but now that a couple of years have passed when we had no contact and even Niru is there in my life. Much water has flown down the bridge. I don’t know whether I still love him, and I also don’t know whether Niru is ready to have a commitment as such with me. I am just confused. Oh god, please help me. Show me some way. Why didn’t you device any automatic system to solve such problems?
GOD:
Automatic system ? Wow!!! All these software engineers think alike. They think just the computerization of every system solves most of the related problems. But real life is not so simple. The real life is much more complex thing to handle. In arithmetic you have 1+1 =2; but in real life you may have 1+1 as anything but 2. That’s life.
About the automatic system to solve the real life problems, I have given you humans one such machine. Some call it heart, some just brain. I gave you the ability to think. You can take decisions based on your prior experience, your conscience and you can very easily use it to make decisions and I am sure even she will find out a way in this ambivalence because even if she does not trust my creations, I do.
Date: 24-May
SHE:
Yesterday after so many days I cried. I cried a lot. I was completely lost in dilemma. I was not able to think properly. What should I do? I loved Rajesh a couple of years ago but he didn’t, at that time. Now he loves me but I love Niru. Rajesh wants to settle down in life and he wants me to be with him. Niru has not planned something of that sort, he is just going to complete his MBA first and then will think of getting settled. Rajesh , he is of my age, very much mature; whereas Niru is younger, a bit of immature but that suits his age. Rajesh, my family knows him very well and will be ready perhaps eager to include him in as my husband; whereas Niru, I haven’t told anything about him to mom or dad yet.
But I love Niru a lot, probably more than I used to love Rajesh in college days. How should I make a decision? Based on feeling for love or based on my future, the practical aspects for my life? Where should I go? Oh god, please help me. I need you immensely. Please please, help me make the decision.
Date: 30-May
HE:
Last few days just flew past like a stormy wind. All those processes I had to undergo in order to leave the company, just because I wanted to pursue better career in MBA rather than staying here and stagnating. A few more days and I am off to achieve my dreams.
Just the problem is, I don’t want to leave her, my love, my secretary. I really love her. Since when my infatuation turned into love was unknown even to me. I don’t want to leave her but I can’t even stay here. Even I am doing MBA in Mumbai not even here in Pune. Will she wait for me for at least 2-3 years which I will need to complete MBA and get settled?
I have said goodbye to everyone, it was not that difficult; but it’s definitely not the same with her. I don’t know whether I will be able to say her goodbye and how I am going to do that.
SHE:
I have made my decision. I don’t know how to convey it but I will have to do it. One of the two hearts is going to get broken but there is no any other way. I have made my decision and I’ll stick to it. Oh god, please give me strength to bear everything.
Date: 6-June
SHE:
Today was Niru’s birthday and also his last day in Pune as well as in this company. He left in the evening for Mumbai. It was really a heartbreaking moment to see him parting, especially when both of us were completely aware that we might not see each other in future. I had made the decision; the only problem was how to convey it to him. I chose to be practical than just blind in love. People give you cool gifts on your birthday but what I gave him was just a shock, a damn big shock. He didn’t say anything except for ‘congrats’ and ‘good luck’ but his face told me everything he wanted to convey. I cried there standing in the whole crowd of his friends who had gathered to wish him luck and goodbye. He couldn’t cry out but if possible, he could just have wept then and there.
I said him sorry that I chose Rajesh over him. What he replied was surprising. He just replied, ‘No need to say sorry. It’s your life, you have complete right to make a decision and you are mature enough to do so and you have made a wise decision. We were friends and will be, but please don’t expect me to keep a contact with you. I loved you and I really loved you from the bottom of my heart. Now whenever I will think of you I will not have anything else than love in my mind and I think same might be the case with you; and that won’t be right especially when u will be a married woman; married to someone else. So this is our last meet. Thanks for the friendship and the feeling of love that you gave me. Best luck for your future life.’ And he just went inside the bus.
Was he so aloof or he just tried to sound so as not to make me feel worse about our parting? I think for all those days that I spent with Niru, I still couldn’t understand him properly. Anyways Niru, what the truth is that I loved you. I loved you like anything but the decision I made was based on practical aspects of life. My decision will prove to be better for both of us and I am damn sure of it. I had started writing diary since when I had seen you for the first time, now since you are not there in my life, I am going to discontinue this practice. This is the last page of my diary. Best luck Niru, for your future. Love you. Bbye.
HE:
This was the worst birthday of my life when I broke up with my love. It can’t be termed as a breakup as such but we parted; we parted forever with a promise not to cross the other’s life anytime in future. I felt like crying; but boys don’t cry, do they? Yes they cry, but secretly….and that’s why I am crying now. The whole page is wet because of my tears. Anyways this is the last page. I have decided not to write this diary anymore. This diary had come into my life with secretary, and since secretary is no more with me, what’s the purpose of this diary? Secretary, just wanted to say best luck for your future. I Love you. Bye.
Rajesh:
Finally, today is that lucky day for me. She said yes. I am so happy. She is mine. Finally my dream has come true. Oh God thanks a lot. You have made my day, in fact my life. Very few people get to live with someone they love; I am one of those lucky ones. My happiness has no bounds. I am very very happy today.
Niru left the company today, I don’t know whether we will be able to meet each other in future. I had gone to say good bye and wish good luck to him. He was talking to her. When I saw her face, I again felt some pain in my heart. Are they both having something? If so, why did she say Yes to me? Are they trying to cover-up something? Or is she playing games with me? Or am I coming as an odd between the two? I could see tears in Niru’s eyes when he left her and got into the bus. Her condition was no different, in fact she literally cried. She seemed to recover after a couple of minutes but the way she was looking somewhere into the vacuum, her face clearly was clearly telling her diligent attempts to control tears. Oh god, please show me the way. I hope I didn’t do anything wrong by proposing her.
The way they both were talking to each other didn’t show any sign of quarrel or fight between them. Then why they separated? Or they shared some feeling for each other and none of them just bothered to express it? Whatever the situation might be, she has said ‘yes’ to me; must be for some reason, whatever ; she is mine now. Niru is her past and she will forget him; in fact she will have to. Whatever the case may be, I love her and that’s it.
GOD:
Ok. Here is the end of this story, not a unique; in fact a very very common one. You might be expecting me to interfere in it at the eleventh hour and change the ending so that either; before the bus starts, She runs to the bus and gets into it and goes with Niru to Mumbai or probably when the bus is about to leave, Niru jumps out and hugs her or Rajesh feels something wrong and just takes her on bike and follows the bus just to stop it and make her get into the bus for Niru and so on? Nopes. This is not a hindi film. This is a real life story and not a reel life one.
She took the decision wisely after evaluating each option she had. She had thought practically in every aspect. Won’t interference by me be just injustice to her thoughts? Won’t it be a betrayal to her trust that the option she chose is the best one? Won’t it be just a wrong deed on my side and that too just to please some others without any particularly sensible reason?
As I said, I have made this world with some predefined rules. The balance of this world totally depends on the events that are happening every now and then. No event is of more or less important than the other. Every moment, situation, event has some sort of purpose and so stands of equal importance. The purpose might not be directly related to you but it can also affect you indirectly. As said before, I had already decided not to intervene and I stuck to my word. Now you will say that it’s me only who decides everything ultimately. Yes. Indeed true but that’s what my point is. I decided her fate to be with Rajesh, that’s it. I hope you understand; in fact I am sure you will … again that’s what your fate says….
THE END
-Regards and Thanks,
Niranjan Khandekar
The Disclaimer
Hi friends,
Thanks for spending your time in reading my story. Thanks for all the feedbacks and encouragement. I had never expected that I will get so much response for the story.
Regarding the characters and the incidents in the story, the characters Niru i.e. myself and the secretary are very much real ones and even the incidents are real. At least from Niru’s point of view, I have depicted them as they have happened. Regarding Secretary’s point of view, I have tried my best to explain the things, although at times I think I had been just too optimistic. The character Rajesh is completely fictional and hence the incidents after his entry in the story are also completely imaginary. I don’t know whether Secretary has read my stories, ‘some diary pages’ as well as the one on my blog. I mean if she works in a secure zone, she might not be having access to it. The whole thing is that, my feelings are still not conveyed.
I have never spoken even a word with secretary although I wish to, at least once before she leaves the company… I would welcome some Rajesh to introduce us, no matter even if at the end he gets along with her, at least I will be able to talk to her.
At the end, it doesn’t matter whether Niru leaves the company or secretary, the end result is just the same that Niru and secretary don’t get along. Just that for me, there would be no one to travel for by the 8.15 p.m. Chinchwad bus …
Thanking you all once again. Sorry if I have hurt anybody unknowingly by my story.
-Niru
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
The lucky Friday
The lucky Friday
Curiosity kills the cat – a very old proverb. I never believed it. But some things you never believe till you experience themselves. It was last Friday that taught me the lesson once again.
It happened so that Niru – the hero of this story was working in the night shift that day. It was around 12.30 a.m. when I think he finished his work. He seemed to be relieved from the tension he was bearing since an hour or so. Although the work was over, his shift was going to be till 2.30 that day… It was Friday, since not 13th, it proved to be very much lucky for both of us.
Niru soon got bored with the mails. The time was very much wrong to call up someone just for the sake of time pass. I think this poor chap doesn’t even have a girlfriend to call up at any point of time.
That’s why he soon started looking for some other ways to pass the time. He started reading a novel. Now it was my turn to get bored. I had no other work to do. There was no one else on the floor. So I started playing my old games. I just switched on a monitor. Again switched it off, picked up a phone and called up to the neighboring extension on and so on. It was really funny to pass time like this with no one getting much curious about the things happening here. Thank god for the full moon’s night that time because of which I was getting more and more fun doing this but soon I was bored even of that. I was also not feeling much sleepy that day so I decided to start playing with the chairs. I was extreme cautious in not making even the smallest sound which would have disturbed Niru… but after all I am not GOD… mistakes were bound to happen…
One of the chairs I was swirling round and round suddenly went out of control and bumped on the wall beside it. A big sound… and definitely Niru was disturbed. He rose from his chair, looked at the direction of sound but found no one. He was amazed. He left his book on the table and came towards the chair I was playing with. The chair was still swirling round and round. He was puzzled and decided to inspect what had really happened there and that’s where he made a mistake of his lifetime….
It was full moon’s night. I prayed for him to come as near to the chair as possible. The chair could have been the medium for us. He came near to chair and even moon was just about to get behind a cloud when I used all my strength and just pushed him aside which made him to fall down. He looked lot more puzzled than before. I was constantly looking at the moon from the window. This was a golden chance for me. ‘I should make a quick move before he gets up alone just that this moon should come out of the clouds’, I thought.
Just duration of around 2 seconds, but it seemed to me like 2 years…When the moon was out from behind the clouds revealing a full cute circle, somehow I felt charged, a new feeling entered me. Niru was still lying there, trying desperately to get up. I think he had a major injury when he fell down. I went to him, hoping that the moon will still be out of the clouds at least for some time to help me out of this situation.
“Niru, take my hand and try to get up.”, I said. He looked puzzled. Someone suddenly arising from nowhere and offering help that too by calling you by your pet-name without any prior introduction would definitely scare anyone.
“Don’t be afraid. Just take my hand and get up.” Though reluctantly he gave me his hand to get up and Niranjan Khandekar performed probably just last mistake of his life. As soon as he accepted my help, he got up very much smoothly but that was not all. Something very very mysterious happened. I could see myself getting into his body and his soul coming out of it… obviously to make a new entry, there has to be some empty space…
Last expressions I could see on his face were that of getting puzzled, being afraid of something unknown but I am sure as soon as he must have understood the transformation, he must have felt definitely better. The same way I had felt around 3-4 months ago when in a very much similar situation, a strange soul had entered my body throwing me out.
It had felt bad, even worse at times to see your own body in someone else’s control. There were lots of people around me but none of them was able to communicate with me. It was worst especially when I could see my body with me outta it behaving very much like me. Being such a roaming soul without his own personal body and that too when the time for death for the body hadn’t yet arrived. It was boring at times because of the loneliness, but still I enjoyed it quite a lot. For temporary reasons I had achieved freedom from the boring works of coding, debugging and so on, but after all I was a soul of a software engineer and at times felt a real urge to do some programming work… but that was not possible at all.
Soon I had realized that in a full moon’s night especially when the moon is not covered by the clouds, I gain some powers, though temporarily, I can touch things, I can interact with them, I can take any form, I can talk to people. I tried to do so earlier, but the guys around me just fled away thinking of the tiredness making them to face the hallucinations.
Sooner I started roaming around the new buildings nearby. There were lots of friends there. Although all souls looked similar, some were completely different in appearance. These ones had some divine powers. One of such divine ones taught me the art of getting into a new body. Just the condition was that the body in which my so-called re-incarnation was to happen should have come forward to take my help in some case where in return I was allowed to take up that body.
God bless the brave guy Niru. He rescued me. I am happy. Now I have got a new body. I liked it. Of course I don’t have much other option now because when I entered this body somehow I just forgot the technique of making my soul free or exchanging from one body to the other. Whatever that might be… but now I have started loving this body. I was a bit tensed that how I was going cope-up with daily life of Niru, because I was not at all aware of his personal life but his brain helped me a lot. No one has yet even thought of the soul getting changed.
I am sure Niru can see me… I mean his real soul. He must be happy though that now he is completely free of the boring things of this mortal world. He will enjoy it for some days. As soon as he gets to know about the divine souls, he also will get the technique of re-incarnating into another body and will be back with some other body. After all it’s just a matter of a few weeks probably.
Really the Friday was very much lucky. I got a new body and Niru became free temporarily though from the cruel mortal world. He will soon find a new body and start his life once again. Really it’s rightly said… whatever happens… it happens for your good only.
Curiosity kills the cat – a very old proverb. I never believed it. But some things you never believe till you experience themselves. It was last Friday that taught me the lesson once again.
It happened so that Niru – the hero of this story was working in the night shift that day. It was around 12.30 a.m. when I think he finished his work. He seemed to be relieved from the tension he was bearing since an hour or so. Although the work was over, his shift was going to be till 2.30 that day… It was Friday, since not 13th, it proved to be very much lucky for both of us.
Niru soon got bored with the mails. The time was very much wrong to call up someone just for the sake of time pass. I think this poor chap doesn’t even have a girlfriend to call up at any point of time.
That’s why he soon started looking for some other ways to pass the time. He started reading a novel. Now it was my turn to get bored. I had no other work to do. There was no one else on the floor. So I started playing my old games. I just switched on a monitor. Again switched it off, picked up a phone and called up to the neighboring extension on and so on. It was really funny to pass time like this with no one getting much curious about the things happening here. Thank god for the full moon’s night that time because of which I was getting more and more fun doing this but soon I was bored even of that. I was also not feeling much sleepy that day so I decided to start playing with the chairs. I was extreme cautious in not making even the smallest sound which would have disturbed Niru… but after all I am not GOD… mistakes were bound to happen…
One of the chairs I was swirling round and round suddenly went out of control and bumped on the wall beside it. A big sound… and definitely Niru was disturbed. He rose from his chair, looked at the direction of sound but found no one. He was amazed. He left his book on the table and came towards the chair I was playing with. The chair was still swirling round and round. He was puzzled and decided to inspect what had really happened there and that’s where he made a mistake of his lifetime….
It was full moon’s night. I prayed for him to come as near to the chair as possible. The chair could have been the medium for us. He came near to chair and even moon was just about to get behind a cloud when I used all my strength and just pushed him aside which made him to fall down. He looked lot more puzzled than before. I was constantly looking at the moon from the window. This was a golden chance for me. ‘I should make a quick move before he gets up alone just that this moon should come out of the clouds’, I thought.
Just duration of around 2 seconds, but it seemed to me like 2 years…When the moon was out from behind the clouds revealing a full cute circle, somehow I felt charged, a new feeling entered me. Niru was still lying there, trying desperately to get up. I think he had a major injury when he fell down. I went to him, hoping that the moon will still be out of the clouds at least for some time to help me out of this situation.
“Niru, take my hand and try to get up.”, I said. He looked puzzled. Someone suddenly arising from nowhere and offering help that too by calling you by your pet-name without any prior introduction would definitely scare anyone.
“Don’t be afraid. Just take my hand and get up.” Though reluctantly he gave me his hand to get up and Niranjan Khandekar performed probably just last mistake of his life. As soon as he accepted my help, he got up very much smoothly but that was not all. Something very very mysterious happened. I could see myself getting into his body and his soul coming out of it… obviously to make a new entry, there has to be some empty space…
Last expressions I could see on his face were that of getting puzzled, being afraid of something unknown but I am sure as soon as he must have understood the transformation, he must have felt definitely better. The same way I had felt around 3-4 months ago when in a very much similar situation, a strange soul had entered my body throwing me out.
It had felt bad, even worse at times to see your own body in someone else’s control. There were lots of people around me but none of them was able to communicate with me. It was worst especially when I could see my body with me outta it behaving very much like me. Being such a roaming soul without his own personal body and that too when the time for death for the body hadn’t yet arrived. It was boring at times because of the loneliness, but still I enjoyed it quite a lot. For temporary reasons I had achieved freedom from the boring works of coding, debugging and so on, but after all I was a soul of a software engineer and at times felt a real urge to do some programming work… but that was not possible at all.
Soon I had realized that in a full moon’s night especially when the moon is not covered by the clouds, I gain some powers, though temporarily, I can touch things, I can interact with them, I can take any form, I can talk to people. I tried to do so earlier, but the guys around me just fled away thinking of the tiredness making them to face the hallucinations.
Sooner I started roaming around the new buildings nearby. There were lots of friends there. Although all souls looked similar, some were completely different in appearance. These ones had some divine powers. One of such divine ones taught me the art of getting into a new body. Just the condition was that the body in which my so-called re-incarnation was to happen should have come forward to take my help in some case where in return I was allowed to take up that body.
God bless the brave guy Niru. He rescued me. I am happy. Now I have got a new body. I liked it. Of course I don’t have much other option now because when I entered this body somehow I just forgot the technique of making my soul free or exchanging from one body to the other. Whatever that might be… but now I have started loving this body. I was a bit tensed that how I was going cope-up with daily life of Niru, because I was not at all aware of his personal life but his brain helped me a lot. No one has yet even thought of the soul getting changed.
I am sure Niru can see me… I mean his real soul. He must be happy though that now he is completely free of the boring things of this mortal world. He will enjoy it for some days. As soon as he gets to know about the divine souls, he also will get the technique of re-incarnating into another body and will be back with some other body. After all it’s just a matter of a few weeks probably.
Really the Friday was very much lucky. I got a new body and Niru became free temporarily though from the cruel mortal world. He will soon find a new body and start his life once again. Really it’s rightly said… whatever happens… it happens for your good only.
SECRETARY IN MY OFFICE BUS
SECRETARY IN MY OFFICE BUS
“Diya, I love you. I love you like anything. I love you from the bottom of my heart. Whatever I do I do for you. Look into my eyes and tell me, do you love me? Diya, tell me do you love me???” some typical dialogues from a Hindi movie and she definitely gonna get impressed… One or two more sentences and then she is mine… I look towards her face. Her eyes now filled with tears. Diya Mirza finally saying Yes to me…She wants to say something but somehow she is fumbling for words. Finally her lips open up to speak the best words I have ever heard in my life till today… her lips open just to say… “It’s time to wake up… the time is 6.40…”
Damn! Once again… This was the bullshit talking alarm of my cell… I don’t know why these cell companies can’t hire women who have a bearable voice... ok I am not demanding the wakeup voice to belong to Asha bhosle or Lata Mangeshkar (if it is so, everyone gonna keep listening to it and no one will ever wake up…) but at least a voice which is at least of kind of bearable??? But no... I think these people are just confident about “Laaton ke bhoot baton se nahi maante….” And since they can’t give us the kicks, they take revenge by hiring women with the worst voices ever for recording the alarm sound. The whole thing is that this is the way my so-called ‘good (!) morning’ starts…
Soon after performing some really WWF stunts to get into the bathroom and toilet each of us - me and my five roomies somehow manage to complete all the morning chores in time and set for the office ( how we manage to complete everything on time is still a puzzle and can be a subject of someone’s PHD…). We all are Software Engineers (Please don’t make any faces.. we people are not sooo bad… life is ok lets say at times quite a lot good for a software engineer like me…) and yaa… we work for a highly reputed IT company.
Aha... now this is the real start of our day. Walking a couple of yards , then waiting for the bus (which is always late when we are on time and vice versa), reaching office by that bus which was I think bought during the pre-independence times and now each and every part of the bus just does the work of relieving the horn. Ya ya I know not much adventurous or exciting journey as expected, right? But this was just the background. The main reason for this travel to be bearable is Secretary….. Puzzled huh? Let me explain….
I still remember that day…I had just shifted from our company provided accommodation to this house after finally (only those bachelor guys who spent hours in searching for a good rental house and have experienced the societies saying they want only gals or families… will know the significance of this word) getting a rental house. It was my first day in the office… as I got into the bus, a sweet girl was sitting there on first seat talking to her friend and smiling in between. Her specs were just an addition to her beauty. First cute girl I saw in Pune living near my area, working in my company and that too traveling by same bus as mine and most importantly her face uncovered… yes... these Pune girls … they cover their faces like the robbers just set to rob a national treasure. So the point is that her face was fully visible. She was not a miss universe kind of girl but was fairly cute and sweet to stare at. Good... so at least we don’t need to search for some other time-pass for spending the travel time every morning and evening.
As expected there was no seat available that can be said ‘near’ to her. I think she was the only angelic kind of girl there in case of looks and so I think everyone was looking at her only. I also joined the community of stare-rs. I didn’t know her name and even her ID-card was hidden beneath her dupatta so it was not possible for me to catch even a glimpse of it to get her name. This was a serious problem and had to be dealt with urgently. So in the evening when we got back from the office, we- me and 2 of my roomies who travel to phase-2 called for an emergency meeting. The main agenda was to get her name. The very next day the three agents were trying their best to catch a glimpse of her name on her ID-card. I was very much sure about the capability of all of us and was damn sure that I gonna have her name with me by the end of the day…
But my luck was not so easy on me. This angel was even smarter than all of my agents. Somehow she just managed to hide her Id from all of us. Even Yogendra – the most experienced person in case of love who has got a good experience of 2 years in love and is a champion in helping the people in need, couldn’t get the name. He was more frustrated than me because of the failure. I still kept cool ‘cause this was not the first time for me. Till today I have met with dozens of such so-called angels and have got nothing except a sarcastic smile. So I was a bit cool but it seems my friends were more enthusiastic than me in getting her name for me. Since everyone was committed honestly to his own girlfriend I was sure that they were doing this just for the sake of their friend. Then Sanjay a newcomer in case of love, committed happily to his girlfriend came out with a brilliant idea. “Ok Niru (That’s my nick name… all my friends think my actual name –Niranjan is too long to call by so they gave me this nick-name.) Now it’s our duty to get her name for you, but even if you get her name then in case we want to talk about her we won’t be able to do it man. So, the current solution is to give her a pseudo-name.” Yes. Sanjay is a genius. The idea was definitely a good one. If we get a name like this for her she is not going to understand anything even if we talk about her on her face. So now the current mission was to get a perfect pseudo-name. Now only two brains were available here. Not that Yogendra lacks one but now he was busy in fighting with his girlfriend on phone and from experience we were quite sure that this gonna continue at least for 3 more hours.
“What about Secretary???”, Sanjay again. “Whaat??? Secretary?? What makes you to get that name for my cute, sweet angel??”, I screamed, but Sanjay was adamant. Once he decides something to do he carries that out whatever might be the case. Even he had a mouthful of explanations for the same. “See, she is pretty and just think if you are chairman of a company and you have a secretary and this is her, then will you ever bunk office?” “No way!!!”, I thought. Actually the name was not that good … my angel and that too a secretary? No chance of it. She can be a PM or CEO but a secretary?” “Ok. Then you give me a better name”, said Sanjay. I thought hard but somehow no name struck my mind. “After-all Secretary is not a bad name” I said. “Not bad??? It is the best name.” So finally the name was finalized. It was Yogendra who found out her real name 2 days later and in return took a Cadbury temptation from me. But we continued using the secret name only.
Actually this would have been a perfect start for romantic and adventurous love story. One day I dared and went ahead to talk to her. Later we became quite a lot good and then very close friends. She started reserving seat for me just besides her in the bus. We started calling each other before leaving the office. Even we didn’t realize how our friendship slowly changed into love. Now she is my girlfriend. Yes… We are happily committed to each other and this was my short cute love story.
No. The last paragraph was bullshit. Yogendra gave me the real name. But what next ? I am not that kind of a person to go to a girl you like, introduce yourself and start talking to her. So the result is that I am still waiting for a person who knows both of us and introduces us to each other. Till today, me, Yogendra and Sanjay have been commenting about her, regarding her dress, her style and all, but amongst us. These two have also been teasing me for sometime now. But I have not yet dared to talk to her personally. It has been around 5 months now that I saw her for the first time, but till today neither she gave me a smile when I looked at her nor I did. Everyday when I get into bus my eyes unknowingly just search for her. I look at her, at times even she looks back at me but we don’t exchange even a smile. Then I look for an empty seat nearer to her but never next to her. The journey to and from the office begins and also ends like this everyday. Nothing has changed since the day I saw her for the first time. Everything is just same. The only thing changed that in the morning nowadays is secretary has replaced Diya Mirza. All other things continue along with the pathetic alarm voice “It’s time to wake-up……” ….
“Diya, I love you. I love you like anything. I love you from the bottom of my heart. Whatever I do I do for you. Look into my eyes and tell me, do you love me? Diya, tell me do you love me???” some typical dialogues from a Hindi movie and she definitely gonna get impressed… One or two more sentences and then she is mine… I look towards her face. Her eyes now filled with tears. Diya Mirza finally saying Yes to me…She wants to say something but somehow she is fumbling for words. Finally her lips open up to speak the best words I have ever heard in my life till today… her lips open just to say… “It’s time to wake up… the time is 6.40…”
Damn! Once again… This was the bullshit talking alarm of my cell… I don’t know why these cell companies can’t hire women who have a bearable voice... ok I am not demanding the wakeup voice to belong to Asha bhosle or Lata Mangeshkar (if it is so, everyone gonna keep listening to it and no one will ever wake up…) but at least a voice which is at least of kind of bearable??? But no... I think these people are just confident about “Laaton ke bhoot baton se nahi maante….” And since they can’t give us the kicks, they take revenge by hiring women with the worst voices ever for recording the alarm sound. The whole thing is that this is the way my so-called ‘good (!) morning’ starts…
Soon after performing some really WWF stunts to get into the bathroom and toilet each of us - me and my five roomies somehow manage to complete all the morning chores in time and set for the office ( how we manage to complete everything on time is still a puzzle and can be a subject of someone’s PHD…). We all are Software Engineers (Please don’t make any faces.. we people are not sooo bad… life is ok lets say at times quite a lot good for a software engineer like me…) and yaa… we work for a highly reputed IT company.
Aha... now this is the real start of our day. Walking a couple of yards , then waiting for the bus (which is always late when we are on time and vice versa), reaching office by that bus which was I think bought during the pre-independence times and now each and every part of the bus just does the work of relieving the horn. Ya ya I know not much adventurous or exciting journey as expected, right? But this was just the background. The main reason for this travel to be bearable is Secretary….. Puzzled huh? Let me explain….
I still remember that day…I had just shifted from our company provided accommodation to this house after finally (only those bachelor guys who spent hours in searching for a good rental house and have experienced the societies saying they want only gals or families… will know the significance of this word) getting a rental house. It was my first day in the office… as I got into the bus, a sweet girl was sitting there on first seat talking to her friend and smiling in between. Her specs were just an addition to her beauty. First cute girl I saw in Pune living near my area, working in my company and that too traveling by same bus as mine and most importantly her face uncovered… yes... these Pune girls … they cover their faces like the robbers just set to rob a national treasure. So the point is that her face was fully visible. She was not a miss universe kind of girl but was fairly cute and sweet to stare at. Good... so at least we don’t need to search for some other time-pass for spending the travel time every morning and evening.
As expected there was no seat available that can be said ‘near’ to her. I think she was the only angelic kind of girl there in case of looks and so I think everyone was looking at her only. I also joined the community of stare-rs. I didn’t know her name and even her ID-card was hidden beneath her dupatta so it was not possible for me to catch even a glimpse of it to get her name. This was a serious problem and had to be dealt with urgently. So in the evening when we got back from the office, we- me and 2 of my roomies who travel to phase-2 called for an emergency meeting. The main agenda was to get her name. The very next day the three agents were trying their best to catch a glimpse of her name on her ID-card. I was very much sure about the capability of all of us and was damn sure that I gonna have her name with me by the end of the day…
But my luck was not so easy on me. This angel was even smarter than all of my agents. Somehow she just managed to hide her Id from all of us. Even Yogendra – the most experienced person in case of love who has got a good experience of 2 years in love and is a champion in helping the people in need, couldn’t get the name. He was more frustrated than me because of the failure. I still kept cool ‘cause this was not the first time for me. Till today I have met with dozens of such so-called angels and have got nothing except a sarcastic smile. So I was a bit cool but it seems my friends were more enthusiastic than me in getting her name for me. Since everyone was committed honestly to his own girlfriend I was sure that they were doing this just for the sake of their friend. Then Sanjay a newcomer in case of love, committed happily to his girlfriend came out with a brilliant idea. “Ok Niru (That’s my nick name… all my friends think my actual name –Niranjan is too long to call by so they gave me this nick-name.) Now it’s our duty to get her name for you, but even if you get her name then in case we want to talk about her we won’t be able to do it man. So, the current solution is to give her a pseudo-name.” Yes. Sanjay is a genius. The idea was definitely a good one. If we get a name like this for her she is not going to understand anything even if we talk about her on her face. So now the current mission was to get a perfect pseudo-name. Now only two brains were available here. Not that Yogendra lacks one but now he was busy in fighting with his girlfriend on phone and from experience we were quite sure that this gonna continue at least for 3 more hours.
“What about Secretary???”, Sanjay again. “Whaat??? Secretary?? What makes you to get that name for my cute, sweet angel??”, I screamed, but Sanjay was adamant. Once he decides something to do he carries that out whatever might be the case. Even he had a mouthful of explanations for the same. “See, she is pretty and just think if you are chairman of a company and you have a secretary and this is her, then will you ever bunk office?” “No way!!!”, I thought. Actually the name was not that good … my angel and that too a secretary? No chance of it. She can be a PM or CEO but a secretary?” “Ok. Then you give me a better name”, said Sanjay. I thought hard but somehow no name struck my mind. “After-all Secretary is not a bad name” I said. “Not bad??? It is the best name.” So finally the name was finalized. It was Yogendra who found out her real name 2 days later and in return took a Cadbury temptation from me. But we continued using the secret name only.
Actually this would have been a perfect start for romantic and adventurous love story. One day I dared and went ahead to talk to her. Later we became quite a lot good and then very close friends. She started reserving seat for me just besides her in the bus. We started calling each other before leaving the office. Even we didn’t realize how our friendship slowly changed into love. Now she is my girlfriend. Yes… We are happily committed to each other and this was my short cute love story.
No. The last paragraph was bullshit. Yogendra gave me the real name. But what next ? I am not that kind of a person to go to a girl you like, introduce yourself and start talking to her. So the result is that I am still waiting for a person who knows both of us and introduces us to each other. Till today, me, Yogendra and Sanjay have been commenting about her, regarding her dress, her style and all, but amongst us. These two have also been teasing me for sometime now. But I have not yet dared to talk to her personally. It has been around 5 months now that I saw her for the first time, but till today neither she gave me a smile when I looked at her nor I did. Everyday when I get into bus my eyes unknowingly just search for her. I look at her, at times even she looks back at me but we don’t exchange even a smile. Then I look for an empty seat nearer to her but never next to her. The journey to and from the office begins and also ends like this everyday. Nothing has changed since the day I saw her for the first time. Everything is just same. The only thing changed that in the morning nowadays is secretary has replaced Diya Mirza. All other things continue along with the pathetic alarm voice “It’s time to wake-up……” ….
GOOD FRIDAY
GOOD FRIDAY
“Niru, Call for you…”, this was Rahul. Truly speaking, I don’t like such interruptions when I am busy in some really important work and especially when I was chatting on messenger with my special friend regarding the Valentine’s day celebrations…but my experience says this is the time my PM calls me to discuss something about the project. So anyways I got to the phone a bit reluctantly. “Ya, Niranjan here”, “Hey Niru, What about a movie today?”. Damn…. This was Sanket, my roomie. He was interrupting me in some of my very very important works. But anyways, you have to suffer sometimes (almost always in my case) because of your friends.
“Which movie maan? This Fame Akurdi is showing just 3 films. I had enquired yesterday. They are showing GURU, Salaam-e-Ishq and Black Friday. I have seen the first two. So me coming only if you people going for Black Friday”. “Obviously yaar. We also have seen the other two. So we are going tonight for the 10.15 p.m. show. Done”. “Done”, I said and literally slammed the phone down. I actually didn’t like the idea to spend the 3 hours of my snoring time in watching some art film based on the Mumbai ’93 blasts rather than having some cool imaginary dreams and on the top of that discussing the plan about it leaving my chatting window unattended for whole 5 minutes. Till then she had gone offline. I cursed Sanket like anything and started for some other person available for chat.
It was around 9.35 p.m. when we reached the Chapekar chowk. This is the place where we could get a rickshaw to the theatre. There were 3 of us, me , Paras and Sanket. I have observed one thing always; when we have to go to Chinchwad Station, the rikshawwallas are ready to go to the theatre and when we want to go to theatre they want to go to the station. After waiting for a whole of 5 minutes there were 2 more people and a rickshaw Walla ready to go to Fame. I really don’t know how much powerful the engine of that rickshaw was but it was simply able to reach Fame with a total 7 big and heavy masses each weighing around a century. It was Thursday so the crowd was very much less. We got the tickets easily and I think we were the first ones to reach the hall and occupy the seats.
Watching the ads in this theatre is also a good experience. Cool ads, cool models, and cool jingles attached to these ads. And then there was the National Anthem. The theatre has to show this before each and every movie. We like it. This anthem clip consists of all super people including Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and even A.R.Reheman. The anthem was over and now just a few moments for the actual movie to start when a large group of around 15-20 people entered the hall. They were all in white clothes and talking to each other in loud voices and at the same time, occupying the seats arbitrarily.
Truly speaking we didn’t like their arrival. They seemed to belong to some political party and such a group arriving for a sensitive movie like Black Friday was definitely not a welcoming thing. But anyways we didn’t have any choice so we just ignored them, the only thing the so-called white collar people would do in such a situation.
The movie started soon and the dialogues, music and the cinematography just made us to get so much involved in the movie that when a person yelled to the top of his voice with a bad word, first of all we thought the Police officer in the movie is yelling at the convicts. This guy had just entered the hall and bad words were coming out of his mouth just like water from some leaky tap. He again was in white shirt and we simply assumed him to be belonging to the same previous group. Again we ignored him and started watching the movie again. But this guy was not much cool like his friends as we thought. He was continuously passing some comments about the dialogues in the movie. Cursing a particular community and also yelling at their symbol of worship.
Everyone was getting disturbed, not because the dialogues of the movie were not audible because of this moron’s unnecessary comments but he was unnecessarily commenting on them, their lord, which would have been really hurting if anyone of them would be present there. But again we the so-called white collar people were just quiet hoping that he will shut his mouth sometime later. But he didn’t. The comments’ frequency went on increasing and that too each time using more and more cheap comments. We didn’t do anything. We now had just mastered the art of filtering out those unwanted comments and listening just to the movie.
There was the height of his nuisance when he started yelling at the community’s lord. He didn’t stop for around 4 minutes and the language he used was just getting worse as the seconds went by and finally a guy spoke up, “hey you please shut your mouth. And behave yourself.” “Who was that telling me to shut my mouth? Come here and try it yourself” and then there went a long Rajdhani Express of some of really worst words almost all of them were completely new to us. The brave guy who dared to speak up rose and started walking to that nuisance when one of his friends just said in a voice clear to everyone in theatre, “Wait till the interval. Just watch the movie now. We’ll tackle this later.” The guy again sat down and started watching the movie.
We thought this was just a threat to the nuisance guy and were sure that nothing gonna happen next, just that we will have to curse our luck that our timing for viewing the movie was bad. Soon there was the interval and we were about to move to the snacks counter to get some refreshments when we noticed the white-clothed group was moving towards the nuisance. We didn’t anticipate anything and neither he that he was sitting on his seat comfortably without bothering anything. There were 2 friends of the nuisance accompanying him there and now they were getting alerted that the whole group of 10-15 people was standing surrounding them. One guy I think the brave one went ahead and gave him simply one tight slap… I think they slap definitely softer in those saans-bahu serials since the sound of that slap was so powerful that even the maintenance persons in the theatre left work and run to the group. Then there were some questions asked to the nuisance, the questions which had no purpose and also were not intended to have any answer. People were asking him why he was delivering such bad words and why he was disturbing the others and before he could even open his mouth he would have got minimum a couple of slaps and before he could recover from that some more questions were ready with even more slaps.
It was around 3 minutes and around 15-20 slaps that he somehow managed to apologize and leave the hall. He straight away went to the toilet to wash his face. I think till then the whole effect of the liquor he had consumed had completely disappeared. He was there with eyes filled with tears trying to wash his face, when someone again asked, “Why the hell were you making such comments? Are you out of your mind?” “Sorry sir. I said sorry already. I am really sorry.” And this was the last time he spoke anything. The brave guys’ group was now in the toilet and now they were asking him the questions in their own style. He was now completely strengthless and was now just trying to escape from them. But people were not allowing him to let him go so easily. They were beating him just like anything. It was this group that threw him out of the theatre and then only came back to the cinema hall to watch the remaining part of the movie.
It was a completely memorable experience. We really liked this. Although the nuisance was punished more than he deserved, but when such sensitive matters like religious beliefs are being attacked by the people, not all of them consider them just to be the words to be ignored. Some might take it harsh and since we have a very long tradition of taking A’s revenge from B, this can result in a total chaos. There are always some people in the society who have some prejudices about the things happening around them. They view each event from that point of reference and they also try to convince the others about their views. Generally the youth is very much susceptible in such matters. If the anti-socials are able to captivate the youth’s brains then it’s really difficult to take them out of it. Especially while the movie had some really disturbing scenes and dialogues and really it meant for mature audiences only, people forgot to make sure that the maturity is not merely dependent upon the age but the mental capacity of the person. If a grown-up like the nuisance can behave in such a completely irresponsible manner then the criterion for viewing the movie should be changed from 18 and above to above normal maturity level.
I just wanted to congratulate all those people who showed the daring to throw that nuisance out of the theatre. I am not commenting whether India is awaking or my thinking power is not that much but whatever happened there was indeed good and showed a good sign of youth coming out against the wrong things. It’s usually normal practice for people to ignore things till they don’t become a big nuisance and physically hurt you and till then the things are turned worse at times worst as they are almost beyond correction. Timely control of these things is of utmost importance and that’s why I would like to congratulate all those who made the later part of the movie really better in the absence of those moronic comments. Really the Black Friday showed us a Good Friday.
“Niru, Call for you…”, this was Rahul. Truly speaking, I don’t like such interruptions when I am busy in some really important work and especially when I was chatting on messenger with my special friend regarding the Valentine’s day celebrations…but my experience says this is the time my PM calls me to discuss something about the project. So anyways I got to the phone a bit reluctantly. “Ya, Niranjan here”, “Hey Niru, What about a movie today?”. Damn…. This was Sanket, my roomie. He was interrupting me in some of my very very important works. But anyways, you have to suffer sometimes (almost always in my case) because of your friends.
“Which movie maan? This Fame Akurdi is showing just 3 films. I had enquired yesterday. They are showing GURU, Salaam-e-Ishq and Black Friday. I have seen the first two. So me coming only if you people going for Black Friday”. “Obviously yaar. We also have seen the other two. So we are going tonight for the 10.15 p.m. show. Done”. “Done”, I said and literally slammed the phone down. I actually didn’t like the idea to spend the 3 hours of my snoring time in watching some art film based on the Mumbai ’93 blasts rather than having some cool imaginary dreams and on the top of that discussing the plan about it leaving my chatting window unattended for whole 5 minutes. Till then she had gone offline. I cursed Sanket like anything and started for some other person available for chat.
It was around 9.35 p.m. when we reached the Chapekar chowk. This is the place where we could get a rickshaw to the theatre. There were 3 of us, me , Paras and Sanket. I have observed one thing always; when we have to go to Chinchwad Station, the rikshawwallas are ready to go to the theatre and when we want to go to theatre they want to go to the station. After waiting for a whole of 5 minutes there were 2 more people and a rickshaw Walla ready to go to Fame. I really don’t know how much powerful the engine of that rickshaw was but it was simply able to reach Fame with a total 7 big and heavy masses each weighing around a century. It was Thursday so the crowd was very much less. We got the tickets easily and I think we were the first ones to reach the hall and occupy the seats.
Watching the ads in this theatre is also a good experience. Cool ads, cool models, and cool jingles attached to these ads. And then there was the National Anthem. The theatre has to show this before each and every movie. We like it. This anthem clip consists of all super people including Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and even A.R.Reheman. The anthem was over and now just a few moments for the actual movie to start when a large group of around 15-20 people entered the hall. They were all in white clothes and talking to each other in loud voices and at the same time, occupying the seats arbitrarily.
Truly speaking we didn’t like their arrival. They seemed to belong to some political party and such a group arriving for a sensitive movie like Black Friday was definitely not a welcoming thing. But anyways we didn’t have any choice so we just ignored them, the only thing the so-called white collar people would do in such a situation.
The movie started soon and the dialogues, music and the cinematography just made us to get so much involved in the movie that when a person yelled to the top of his voice with a bad word, first of all we thought the Police officer in the movie is yelling at the convicts. This guy had just entered the hall and bad words were coming out of his mouth just like water from some leaky tap. He again was in white shirt and we simply assumed him to be belonging to the same previous group. Again we ignored him and started watching the movie again. But this guy was not much cool like his friends as we thought. He was continuously passing some comments about the dialogues in the movie. Cursing a particular community and also yelling at their symbol of worship.
Everyone was getting disturbed, not because the dialogues of the movie were not audible because of this moron’s unnecessary comments but he was unnecessarily commenting on them, their lord, which would have been really hurting if anyone of them would be present there. But again we the so-called white collar people were just quiet hoping that he will shut his mouth sometime later. But he didn’t. The comments’ frequency went on increasing and that too each time using more and more cheap comments. We didn’t do anything. We now had just mastered the art of filtering out those unwanted comments and listening just to the movie.
There was the height of his nuisance when he started yelling at the community’s lord. He didn’t stop for around 4 minutes and the language he used was just getting worse as the seconds went by and finally a guy spoke up, “hey you please shut your mouth. And behave yourself.” “Who was that telling me to shut my mouth? Come here and try it yourself” and then there went a long Rajdhani Express of some of really worst words almost all of them were completely new to us. The brave guy who dared to speak up rose and started walking to that nuisance when one of his friends just said in a voice clear to everyone in theatre, “Wait till the interval. Just watch the movie now. We’ll tackle this later.” The guy again sat down and started watching the movie.
We thought this was just a threat to the nuisance guy and were sure that nothing gonna happen next, just that we will have to curse our luck that our timing for viewing the movie was bad. Soon there was the interval and we were about to move to the snacks counter to get some refreshments when we noticed the white-clothed group was moving towards the nuisance. We didn’t anticipate anything and neither he that he was sitting on his seat comfortably without bothering anything. There were 2 friends of the nuisance accompanying him there and now they were getting alerted that the whole group of 10-15 people was standing surrounding them. One guy I think the brave one went ahead and gave him simply one tight slap… I think they slap definitely softer in those saans-bahu serials since the sound of that slap was so powerful that even the maintenance persons in the theatre left work and run to the group. Then there were some questions asked to the nuisance, the questions which had no purpose and also were not intended to have any answer. People were asking him why he was delivering such bad words and why he was disturbing the others and before he could even open his mouth he would have got minimum a couple of slaps and before he could recover from that some more questions were ready with even more slaps.
It was around 3 minutes and around 15-20 slaps that he somehow managed to apologize and leave the hall. He straight away went to the toilet to wash his face. I think till then the whole effect of the liquor he had consumed had completely disappeared. He was there with eyes filled with tears trying to wash his face, when someone again asked, “Why the hell were you making such comments? Are you out of your mind?” “Sorry sir. I said sorry already. I am really sorry.” And this was the last time he spoke anything. The brave guys’ group was now in the toilet and now they were asking him the questions in their own style. He was now completely strengthless and was now just trying to escape from them. But people were not allowing him to let him go so easily. They were beating him just like anything. It was this group that threw him out of the theatre and then only came back to the cinema hall to watch the remaining part of the movie.
It was a completely memorable experience. We really liked this. Although the nuisance was punished more than he deserved, but when such sensitive matters like religious beliefs are being attacked by the people, not all of them consider them just to be the words to be ignored. Some might take it harsh and since we have a very long tradition of taking A’s revenge from B, this can result in a total chaos. There are always some people in the society who have some prejudices about the things happening around them. They view each event from that point of reference and they also try to convince the others about their views. Generally the youth is very much susceptible in such matters. If the anti-socials are able to captivate the youth’s brains then it’s really difficult to take them out of it. Especially while the movie had some really disturbing scenes and dialogues and really it meant for mature audiences only, people forgot to make sure that the maturity is not merely dependent upon the age but the mental capacity of the person. If a grown-up like the nuisance can behave in such a completely irresponsible manner then the criterion for viewing the movie should be changed from 18 and above to above normal maturity level.
I just wanted to congratulate all those people who showed the daring to throw that nuisance out of the theatre. I am not commenting whether India is awaking or my thinking power is not that much but whatever happened there was indeed good and showed a good sign of youth coming out against the wrong things. It’s usually normal practice for people to ignore things till they don’t become a big nuisance and physically hurt you and till then the things are turned worse at times worst as they are almost beyond correction. Timely control of these things is of utmost importance and that’s why I would like to congratulate all those who made the later part of the movie really better in the absence of those moronic comments. Really the Black Friday showed us a Good Friday.
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