Coincidences happen!

I am in this new world because of my nature to experiment with things, to challenge the life. Don’t know if it’s for good or bad, I am here.

Europe, a world I have been fantasizing about since the time I have seen Kajol and Sharukh khan’s Dil wale Dulhaniya le jaenge. I never wanted my story to be like that, you never know it might be one, but to see Europe was a passion since then.

Today was the first weekend. I had read in namesake book, where googol goes out with a map, looking at things. I wanted to do something similar. I saw the maps and told Priya I am going out. Luckily or unluckily , I reached halfway and realized, I forgot the map……..no don’t worry, I would have freaked out, if the way would have been long, but this distance was so short from place I was living that, I thought, ohk lemme just hang around and explore.

I saw a big supermarket kind of store in front of me. Thought let me go and check out something. I hanged around and finally I went up to pick the favorite things of mine. My first and last love and I guess the only love “Chocolates” .As I did and stood at the billing counter, I realized, I had forgotten my wallet somewhere, I went back and searched few places, and luckily got in one. And then when I was standing, a young boy came and kissed me and said “you look pretty” and I was smiling. And then suddenly everything that was in my hands fell. Things were messy, I thought I am extremely tired, and I should go back home.

When I was going back home, from far I saw someone coming, a face so familiar, I knew it was him, it was Rahul. I started moving ahead in his direction and he was moving faster towards me. Then I stopped at the signal to cross the road, when he just crossed across me, and winked at me. I didn’t know how to respond? Should I be happy that I saw him after so many years, that too in this unknown world where I didn’t expect to meet him, or be sad for the very same reason? Before these thoughts ended in my mind, I turned to call him, and found no one was there. I was smiling, I realized I was hallucinating. I went to my home, temporary home, where everyone was planning something and was shocked to see to back so soon.

As soon as I reached home, Prem, mocked at me, “I am going out, tell her the plan for tonight” and he went out. Prem is my best friend and Priya’s brother. I am here because of the encouragement and inspiration he has given me. He hates me for being so good, and keeps shouting “ tujhe pata hai because you are so good, you get hurt in life”. Take life a little easy. When I go and tell him I don’t want to get married now, he would encourage me, “mat kar shadi, no one can force you to do that”, and if someone does, mera ek friend lawyer hai, we will take his help.” And I would shout “enough, I need to utter a world and you would give all possible solutions, just listen, just shut up and listen when I am tensed, I will find my own solutions by talking things, and he would put a finger on his mouth and laugh, I forget what I was talking also because of his stupid responses.

I looked at Priya taking things from the bag I got from the store, asking “what plans?”She was hesitating initially “yaar we were planning that we may go out for eemmm dinner”, I looked at her “eemmm dinner is a bad idea, I am not joining then”, I knew she was lying, and was trying to hide something. As soon as I said I am not coming, she knew Prem would fume up at not telling me the truth because it was his idea. She said “we are going to a disc”. I looked and said “a very bad idea indeed”, and went to keep things I bought in the place it should be. She shouted back “its Prem’s idea” I said “so what, idea is bad, whomsoever’s it is.” She didn’t know what to say. We cooked food, generally Priya is over the phone, and I am with the books or lappy doing office work. We both do a less of talking.

At 3 again, Prem pitched “you guys not ready?” I looked up and said I am not coming. Priya was ready in her one piece gown. His nautanki started, “see I wouldn’t have bothered, if you aren’t coming, but the entry for couples is free. Priya is coming with her Bf and I also wouldn’t be able to go, if you don’t come”, I smiled, what do you want to say? I said, I am not saying, I am requesting “please come along, I know you don’t drink, but you can always accompany us, right?” he knew I have never been to a disc in India itself, I said in europe?” he was like, “I can assure, people are decent and I am there with you anyways,” I said” that’s what I am scared about”. Finally I agreed, I got ready and joined them.

The moment we entered we all sat in a round table. Prem looked at Priya and then me. I said, go ahead and enjoy, I won’t come again to get you the entry. We ordered things to eat and then people started coming in. I realized the party was starting late, and if these guys would have told me that, I would have never joined in.

Music started banging on the head; they finished three to four bottles of hard drinks and getting me the soft drink along. I run away from English songs, but the party was organized by an Indian and that too a Punjabi, no doubt, Punjabi songs were to play. I was getting nervous if Prem and Priya and John, all would get too high, I even don’t know the way back home, or even the place I went inside dance floor searching for them.

I pulled back Prem, and brought him back to the table, and asked, I said I want to get back home. He was like “Why, just now we have started having fun”. He realized I was tensed, he understood my thoughts and said “you are thinking, if I get high, how would we go back home, right?”and said “ohk, I am not having any more drinks, I am just dancing, some more time and then we would get back home, ohk? I said “alright I am waiting”.

By the time I was waiting, I again saw Rahul entering. Already my mind was banging, and seeing him again here, made my thoughts go back to the thoughts of my past. I looked at Prem, he was thoroughly enjoying. And so were his sister and the friend. They both came back and john ordered in for some more drinks, two for two of them and asked me some name “ohk for you” I was so tensed that I said “hhhmm ohk” . I didn’t realize that he wasn’t aware that I don’t drink hard drinks and ordered one more me. I drank without realizing it. One more , one more and I finished , till I didn’t lose my sense. I went to Prem and we started dancing, and I saw him coming near me, I pointed him to Prem and said “ dekh who yahin hai”, as Prem was my best friend, he knew everything. And rest all is done.

I got up in the morning, it wasn’t Priya’s home, but she was next to me in the bed. My head was aching, I shouted “Priya get up”, where are we? I got to go to office.” She replied “Sunday hai, soa ja”. I said Prem “kahan hai? hum hain kahan?”. Priya replied “we are at his home, Prem must be in his room.

I went out looked at the Hall, with a dining room and open kitchen. I went near the kitchen opened the fridge and drank a bottle of water. And I heard Rahul saying “Hey Hi, good morning”. I looked at him confused “Hi John, seems my hangover is still not got over, and he asked “do I look like John?” I thought that was Prem and he looks like him because of hangover, I said “Prem sorry, mera itna headache ho raha hai, aaj kya day hai?” he said “Sunday”. I was like “thank god, by the way teri awaz bhi mujhe Rahul ki awaz ki tarah lag rahi hai, I will go mad, let me sleep for some more time. As I turned back to go to Priya’s room, I saw Prem and john coming out from other room.

I tightly closed my eyes, Prem shouted,” are you alright?”, I shouted, what was that drink, that John got for me?” he looked at John, and he said some name, and Prem shouted “God, she don’t drink Hard drinks” and I shouted “ was that one?”. Prem is like “chill maar , jo ho gaya so gaya”. I said “thanda paani lakar if you will pour on my head na, tab bhi I won’t be able to chill, you know what, I was already hallucinating about him and this hangover is worse. I am seeing him everywhere, I was able to hear his voice also now”, I turned back, pointing to the place where I saw Rahul “see I saw him, right there in the kitchen”. When I turned to Prem and john, Rahul also was standing with them, I was numb for few minutes, and they all were laughing madly.

I went near him, I touched him on his cheeks, I knew he was real; I gave him a real tight Slap. John and Prem stopped laughing. I gave Prem also a tight slap and went to the room where Priya with tears in my eyes.

She was like “ Aaj Sunday hai, so Ja”. I just didn’t know what I have to do. Prem came and woke Priya and said, Chal aaj Monday hai, he was still smiling looking at me. I asked “where are you taking her?” he smiled back “to pour a bottle of water, she won’t get away with this normally”.

And when Prem went out, he entered the room. I wanted to move out as well, Rahul caught my arm and pulled me back, I need to talk to you. I was really angry at him “anything left to talk? I don’t think so.” He was like I felt the same till last night, but not after hearing to what you were blabbering when you were drunk. Damn now I don’t remember what I was saying also. I snapped back, that may not be the truth, I was drunk, leave me, I got to go home.

And he said “you remember you used to say, a person says the truth when he is drunk” and wantedly you used to call me, when I used go out for drinks with friends. He instigated me to talk, I said “and you used to say, I don’t talk when I am drunk”. He started “but you have always been different from me, you cried like a baby yesterday”, I felt frustrated, “let me go, I don’t remember anything” and he shouted back, “then listen that’s what I want to tell you”. Prem opened the door “guys everything ohk ?” we both talked at the same time I said “ not ohk”, and he said “ ohk, leave us alone please” . I shouted, “Prem take me back home”, he said “let him talk, you talked your entire bit yesterday.” He said I am sorry, I thought you got married and that’s why never tried talking to you all these years. I didn’t speak anything. He wanted me to, but I knew talking a word means I would land up crying.

I had to be rude; he has hurt me so much. I had cried days and night, I troubled my family, I was running away from marriage, all this for a guy, who didn’t know how to fight his family, for him career was everything, who didn’t know what love meant. I suffered in all the embarrassments, all for just one things that I loved him. In return what I had got was, “I want to focus on my career, and we don’t have a future”.

I shouted back the same words “I want to focus on my career and we don’t have a future” and I moved out of the room crying and I wished I should never see him again in my life!

Note: The story is purely imaginative and any resemblance to any person or incident is fictions.

The Story Begins!

I opened my eyes, and there I saw daddy dear standing in front of me. He smiled; I was scared at first what to do? I didn’t feel like leaving mom, tried closing my eyes back, so that he would think, I have slept again, and go back. But no, I soon as I closed eyes; he went near mom and kissed her in forehead, saying, “ Thank you, you have given me the gift of life”. Enough I couldn’t resist, that’s my mom, how can I share her with you daddy dear, and I started screaming and crying loudly at the pitch of my voice.

Didn’t know I have called for a bigger trouble by doing so. Grand mom (mom’s mom) entered, and she picked me in her hands, not bad, I was comfortable, I smiled at her and said “ Hi Granny, I am here to take all the revenge and beating you have given to my mom, since her childhood” and soon she found her saree wet, I laughed madly, she had no option but to smile at me, and then dropped me back near mom. I smiled, I don’t understand whenever I smile, why everyone shouts loudly, so I tried crying again, and round of another grand mom.

Grand mom are fun to be with, but I miss mom, I shouted “leave me alone, I want to see her, who all these days have been singing to make me sleep, when her voice have been so sweet, I knew she would be no less than an angel from God’s own land”, but I can see her only if these people let me see her.

I started to cry again, now daddy dear took me in his hands. Grandpa (mom’s pop) came near, he just gave a small kiss. I asked “ Nanu Choclate lekar denge aap”? He said “hmm, hhmm”. I like him, he is very sweet, and he will be getting me chocolates. I was relieved finally daddy would take me to mom, but no, bua dear enters to click my photos with daddy dear. “ Array life padi hai, khhech lena photo, but now let me look at mom”, no they are taking me ever farther from mommy, I had no option but to scream and cry aloud. Then bua dear took me in her arms and introduced me to my brother. I smiled at him “ Hi”, he smiled back saying “ Hi”, I replied in smiled “when I will grow old, we will play cricket, ok?” he whistled back “ fui fui” I liked my brother.

But my priority now is to look at mom; instinct said “ if I cry no one will take me to her. I smiled, tried jumping out from Bua arms, and there entered mama, mami dear. I greeted with smile, and expected mama would take me to mom, and he did. “Yes I love him” but what is this, mami took me from him and put near mumma in the bed, I wanted to look at her, “hello wait, let mumma take me in her arms, I want to look at her eyes, her face, where I have just heard her voice which was so serene.”

No one was listening to me, now the right time started, I started crying at the loudest, without stops, and yes finally, mommy took me in her arms, I winked at her, I said “thank you”. “ I couldn’t wait these nine months to look at you, your voice is so beautiful, could you please sing that appu ko ninni aayi re song for me that you have been singing all these while?” she took me, gave me a gentle Kiss, I smiled at her.

When I was doing all this private talk with mommy, I heard another big cry, very similar to my own, and then suddenly I was handed over to daddy dear and mom picked the other one. I looked in that direction, now mommy was kissing her. And when daddy placed me in the crib with her, I realized that was my twin. I stared at her, she gave a hug back. I love her but we both had been fighting all these months, on deciding who would see mumma first, she did it.

So what I realized by these people’s talk I am the older one. “He he you have to call me didi lifelong”. I gave her a tight kick saying, “ now you handle all these uncle aunty grandpa granny and daddy dear, let me sleep. I am tired”.

Stages of life

Stage one:
He asked: Hey, where are you? Reached home?
My reply: No still with friends, studying, would take couple of hours.
He said: Take care, reach home and message me.
Stage of friendship

Stage two:
He asked: Where are you? Did you reach home or not?
My reply: I am outside. I will reach home soon, I am not a baby, don’t worry so much about me.
Stage of initial love

Stage three:
He asked: Where the hell are you? Why haven’t you still reached back home?
My reply: I will, why do keep a track of everything I do?
Stage of matured love

Stage four:
He asked: When will you reach home? Shall I come to pick you? Will you eat and come or we will go out for dinner?
My reply: I am still hooked up in meetings. No need to come to pick, but you better cook, don’t have energy to go out after coming home, neither do I have time to eat at office.
Stage of initial married life

Stage five:
He asked: When will you reach home? Drive back carefully? Message as soon as you start.
My reply: Yeeaaaa(little irritated)… I would drive carefully…would take some more time to start from here.
Stage of settled life

Stage six:
He asked: At what time will your work get over?
My reply: I guess around 8.
At 8 oclock,
My reply: I am leaving for home, will reach home in an hour
His reply: I am already waiting downstairs come.:-)(Waiting with the kid in the car)
Stage of kids, he want me to be with the kids as long as I can, he don’t want me to waste an hour in travel being away from the kid.

Stage seven:
He asked: When will you come back home? Shall I send the driver to pick you?
My reply: Yes, my work would get over at 8, send the driver.
Stage of mid forty

Stage eight:
He asked: When will you come back? Where are you, reply as soon as you read the message?
My reply: Sorry I forgot to read the message, I am on my way back home, would reach soon. Don’t worry.
Stage of early 60’s

Stage nine:
He asked: Where are you? When will you come back?
My reply: I am in heaven waiting for you. Now I am not going to come back, you have to come to me!!!:-)

A walk to remember

It was the second saturday of the month. But this Saturday was different from last Saturday or last few Saturdays.

I was sitting at the fence of basket ball court and watching them all play. They were happy, they were all the same, they didn’t know that Rahul who was once one among them is no more today, as they have been told that he has been adopted, and he has got parents, as it happens with many of them.

As I was thinking how Rahul could have been saved if he would have been taken to hospital on time, tears were falling down my cheek, wondering why no one did anything. Suddenly a smart looking young fellow came and asked, “thinking about Rahul”, I looked up at him with tears in my eyes and couldn’t see him properly, and I just said, I am sorry, but I haven’t seen you here before. He said “yes I have come here after a long time, but why are you crying” I snapped back “that’s none of your business and I don’t have to discuss as I don’t know you.” he smiled back saying “if it’s for Rahul, feel happy, as he is with parents in the heaven today” and before the fellow could say anything, I broke down into tears, I got up and moved out to the park.

When I was going, Sister Mary got me a photo of Rahul and me that I had asked for, in which I was running with him in his wheelchair and he was so happy, that he hugged me tight and gave a tight Kiss, saying you look like my real sister. Rahul was 6 years old and his entire family was going on a vacation where they all met with an accident and entire family had died, and he was the sole survivor, but he lost he legs and wheel chair had become a part of his life. All the other children in the orphanage had never seen their parents, so the pain they faced was less as compared to Rahul because often I had seen him, looking at the photos of his family and crying.


I left for the day. It is a place where I go to feel that life has been so grateful to me that I have a healthy family, parents, sister, her family and her kids, money, a good career, a good education which my parents gave me. Yet there was a time when I used to be unhappy thinking about small things in life. But when I used to go to this place, looking at the children, I forgot small things and enjoyed what I had. But it so happened that I had got attached to the kids here so much that, orphanage had become my third home, first my own home, where my parents are there to scold me that I still get up late, I don’t cook, I am careless. And second is my office, my table, my friends and my work, which is my passion, and this is my third home.

I reached home, my first home. I have told mom dad that I have office on second Saturdays and would come early. Because they are old that I found it difficult to explain them why I go to orphanage. The very idea of it had fumed my parents saying, what has happened to you? They might find this as one reason why I am not getting married or whatever bad would happen, this would be the cause, so I choose not to tell them this secret.

Then as usual I forgot things, focusing on my work at home and at office and in the last week of same month, someone called me from orphanage saying “an old student has come, so we are all celebrating his birthday, you can join us if you want”. I was happy; I anyway had wanted a break as, so I agreed. I packed off from office soon, as usual I got a “globe and made a small tree painting”, tree is a symbol of Parents according to me and globe is to show to children that entire world is one family; you are not alone in this world. As soon I switched off the ignition “all kids ran to my car, they knew birthday and didi is here means loads of sweets and chocolates” I got out and handed over to them all the sweets and gift still remained in my hand. They all screamed chalo, cake cut karenge, Vishal bhaiya ka birthday hai aaj. I shouted chalo chalo, let’s go fast, mujhe bhi cake khana hai. And as we ran to the place, I found that young chap with the birthday cap on his head, was waiting to cut the cake. I dint know how to react, and all kids started shouting happy birthday to you, and he had cut the cake and so I joined the kids in singing. Later all screamed, didi apne gift do na, I handed over the gift and said, “I assumed it to be a kid, so the gift is according to it”. He smiled and said, “I am still a kid, thank you”.

Then we cut the cake, the kids started to eat and dance. As I was watching them Vishal came and said “coming for a walk”, I said “ yea ohk but if you promise to forget how I behaved that day with you, since I was really upset”, he said “ Alright”.

We went in the ground of the orphanage and started walking and I asked, are you heading the orphanage? He said, “no, I was an orphan, when bought here, but now have a big family and a big responsibility, I don’t run it but was a part of it. And now it’s my part”. I said “great” and he was like “I heard from sister Mary that you come here often, if you don’t mind would like to know about you. I said, “My life is completely opposite to you. I have everything in life, yet I used to feel, there is something lacking, I used to be hurt by betrayal of people, so I wanted to learn to live life, which I learnt from the kids here and that’s why I come here”. And then I told him about members in family, my parents, my sister and everyone, and his obvious response was “I am jealous”. I said, “I am sorry”. He was like don’t be sorry, and but that’s why I said being with family is better even if it’s in heaven as in case of Rahul, you must have felt bad, why I said that ways that day, but I know what it means to miss the family”.

And then I also discussed about my professional life where I am working, what do I do, and when I asked him what does he do? He smiled and said, “I get money to give stupid suggestions”. I responded “A consultant” and he was like “look everyone knows what a consultant does” and we laughed. Mean while the kids had joined us in the ground and we all went to basketball ground and started playing and I said bye to everyone and took leave. He still was playing, I waved to everyone, he waved back, and I left the place.

I went home, no doubt it was late than my usual time, and as usual , when I went inside, my mom started shouting, and when I am very happy, only thing I do is to “Jadu ki Jhappi” at least my parents get convinced with that like the kids. And I switched on the laptop to check mails, when mom asked, “you had your dinner? I said “haan office me Kha liya”. Mom banged the glass of milk on table and said” you remember you got your interview tomorrow?” I shouted back “Haan Yaad hai” and when mom went out, I hurriedly open my mail to see the timings, date and venue, which I had completely forgotten about. Even now exams or interview always made me nervous. I kept thinking what to do? I opened the websites and started to read, but could not concentrate.

Next day I reached the new office for interview half an hour before. I have a problem of reaching much before time, as I have had bad experiences of missing my flights. The secretary led me to the interviewer’s room; I didn’t get time to read the name board. She led me and said,” Sir has gone out, would return in sometime, may be if he is driving, he would take a phonic interview, if he is not able to reach office on time, and is that okay with you?” I gulped “I said I can wait till he comes” and secretary replied, “he doesn’t like to make people wait, I will connect you in the phone after 30 minutes, pointing towards the white color phone kept there” and she closed the door. I wished I were outside, would have been observing people here and there. I got up; I took a notebook and pen, in case it was going to be phonic interview. When I was about to get up, my eyes caught the globe; I started rotating it and went back to memories of the day before.

Suddenly my mobile rang, with a loud caller tune, I was taken aback and thanked god that it rang now, that I got to know, I have to put it on silent mode. I attended the call. It was from dad to ask, if I have reached the venue of interview. After the call, I remembered for all my school exams, dad would drop us both and wait till our exam would get over. I and my sister (Twin) would come out chattering about the answers, and by the time we would to the place where dad is, I would say mere 2 mistakes hai and I will get this marks and she has five mistakes and get this marks. Funny were those days. And dad would ask “pass ho jaoge” we would scream in chorus” papa full marks se two marks kam aayenge and you are talking about passing” and he say “ ohk good good”, come lets go home.”

Then I had put my phone on silent and started to move around, just to calm myself and I looked at that painting, looked very similar to what I make. And when I was just looking at it, the white color phone rang. I ran and took the call. And smart voice spoke, “hey sorry I am getting late, lets start with the interview, and I would reach there soon in person” and he started “ tell something about yourself” and I started with my usual “ blah blah blah” and then what profile you had in your last organization” I explained and by the time I finished the answer, the door opened loud and I turned with a jerk. And it was a moment of silence………………….Vishal was there. He shouted “hey hi”, I didn’t answer thinking the call is still on”, I waved my hands weekly. He said, “You can put back the phone. Before I could say something, secretary came behind him and said “sorry mam”, since Sir has come, I had just disconnected the call.” I was speechless. He must have thought I am one of the dumbest fellow, on my behavior, had I not talked to him day before. But I can also say, this confusion came because I met him the day before or whatever!

Finally I spoke, when I realized what was it going on “ were you the one taking my interview on phone?” he said “ Yes Mam and You can join tomorrow ”, would you like to go for lunch now?” I smiled back asking, “ interview?” he said “ I have already got your answers yesterday when we were walking” I laughed back “lets go for lunch, I am extremely hungry” and started describing my nervousness of attending this interview and we laughed like hell!

Note: The story is purely imaginative and any resemblance to any person or incident is fictions.

Making the right choice or left with no choice! Which is better?

I woke up with the smell of the wet mud immediately after the mild rainfall, and I went across the window looking at the open ground and I saw few young kids playing in the ground and few beneath the tree.

I was watching their actions and saw two girls playing in the ground, running and catching each other. And beneath the tree were three kids playing, two boys and a girl. As I was observing the actions youngest one being the naughtiest would often run outside the tree to get wet in the rain drizzling and two elder siblings pulling him back inside the tree saying don’t get wet and eldest brother wiping the water from the youngest one after every attempt of his to go out in the rain and play.

I looked beyond, to a level higher at the tree, which was waving in all possible different directions, welcoming the rain with the colors being the brightest, the leaves completely fresh. It got on itself all the mild showers and the place below being the dry as compared to others. I kept my eyes moving in all three possible places, the tree, three kids under the tree and two girls playing outside. And within few seconds the rainfall had become heavier, the tree no longer was able to keep the showers to itself and the place below started getting wet and so were the kids under tree and the younger one started smiling to it and the other two kids started out to run in search of a shelter and the girl crying thinking what would happen to the younger brother, shouting at him to come back in the shelter. At the same time I noticed the two girls, they started rejoicing the rain and started playing or rather started dancing in the rain. The two elder kids searched a shelter to avoid getting wet and the younger one joined the girls to rejoice the life.

As I was watching the event I was wondering this is not just an event but this is life. Tree being parents, or rather protective parents who try to give shade to their children as much as possible and there would be a day when rainfall is going to be heavier that a parent would be unable to protect their children and let them out to learn on their own. Then you would be directed by your siblings, and the choice comes to us ultimately as to how I want to enjoy the life or be stressed in the scene of remaining protected. And by the time parents realize that they shouldn’t have protected the kids, patjhad ka mausam aa jata hai , the season where the trees shed leaves at times due to circumstances or at times destiny makes it happen. I believe the way girls lived their life was better, as they choose to live happily in the rain and the drizzling and accepted both with equal happiness.

Suddenly I got up and found myself crying hugging a painting of a tree of mine and realized I was one under the shelter trying to be protected always either by the parents or by siblings or by friends & relatives.

And In the evening when I was contemplating on my dream I went and stood at the chaat wala shop in the office and went and told, “Give me one samosa” and he said “madam samosa nahi hai, wada paav de dun?” I had no choice to make to I happily agreed and said yes for wada paav. Then I understood if we have no choices to make, life would be much easier as we would accept things if not to choose the right things like the two girls in my dream!