*) - Ambiguous
Love
(Avi Rapstar)
Jai was a sincere student in a college in New Delhi.
Focused on his studies, he was also passionate about music. Because of his
average looks, he never tried to enter the high profile singing contests of
college which were fiefdoms of the sons, daughters, nephews and nieces of
Principal and Vice-Principals.
For his hobby, he used to write songs and poetry and
his limited friends-circle cheered for him. Usually he was singing the songs of
Rhythm & Blues (R&B) genre. Or he was involved in comics and
superheroes.
Though a good student, sometimes in lectures, he was
lost in his poetry and songs while in lecture. Often he missed things while
other students are writing notes. But he did not need to worry about missing
because always ready to help him, was the good natured Tina. She was a happy,
positive and cheerful girl. Tina‘s best friend Renu also a good friend of Jai.
Though best friends, Renu and Tina were polls apart.
Renu was more involved in studies while Tina always maintained balance between
studies and having fun that college life.
One day, Tina requested Jai to give her some
commerce notes. Jai happily agreed and said, “Of course you can take my notes!
It is not every day when Jai Anand gets to help Tina Tiwari.”
Next day, Jai needed his notes back. So instead of
writing the notes, Tina photocopied the notes and returned the notebook to Jai
saying it would take long read and write as the handwriting of Jai was not
readable. Jai asked her, “If my handwriting was so bad, why did you borrow my
notebook?”
Tina replied, “Because you were the only student who
sincerely attended all lectures.”
The final semester exams of Second Year were coming.
Tina asked Jai, “Do you have the Time Table? I will not be coming to college
regularly from tomorrow!” Jai replied, “From next month, I will also study at
home! If I get the time table, I will call you! Can I have your phone number?”
Tina replied, “Boys are not allowed to call at my
house!” Jai asked, “Why?” Tina said, “You don‘t know how conservative my
parents are!”
Few months later, exams happened. On the last day of
exam, Jai, Tina and Renu met each other. All of them were relieved that their
exams had gone well. Jai and Tina were not aware that they were seeing each
other for the last time.
After the results were out, Tina was out of college.
She was studying her third year in another college. Now she was out of touch
with Jai. Nor she was talking to Renu, her best friend on regular basis.
Jai was upset whether Tina‘s parents took her out of
college due to their conservatism. Focusing on studies, Jai forgot about Tina.
After college, Jai went to Mumbai joined a
post-graduate course of Video-Production. He got in touch with Renu through a
social networking website. They used to chat regularly. After the completing
the studies, Jai joined an ad-agency which was into event management. Jai was
shooting and editing videos there.
One day, while chatting with Renu, Jai was reminded of
Tina. He asked Renu to link her to Tina‘s profile. Renu dropped the bombshell
on Jai by telling him, “Tina is not in my friends-list! Missing for past one
year, she got me into trouble!”
Jai was shocked, “No! Tina was a very good person.
She could never get you into trouble! You were her best friend!”
Renu said, “Tina eloped with a 50-year old man! Her
parents caught hold of me in a bid to find her! I was not even aware of Tina‘s
act!”
Jai was shocked. Tina had been an obedient daughter
to her parents. She was always strict about her principles of honesty and
sincerity. Such act by Tina was difficult for Jai to believe. He did not reply
Renu‘s last chat. Renu asked, “What happened? Are you shocked like a broken
hearted lover?”
Jai said, “No! I never saw Tina that way! I knew
about her parents! She would have never accepted a guy like me! But this is
something difficult to believe!”
Moving on with life and job in Mumbai, Jai had
forgotten about Tina. However, after this conversation, there was not a single
day when thoughts or memories related to Tina would not come into his mind.
Sometimes in office, sometimes at home, he was wondering where Tina would be or
how she would be.
One day, while returning home from office on his
bike, Jai urgently needed to take a pee. However, he could not find any public
toilet nearby. When he could not hold any longer, he found a lonely road and a
huge bush at a corner of the road. While relieving himself, he could see a
railway track that was on the opposite side of the road. Suddenly, a train
passed by and Jai was shocked to see a girl jumping from the train.
Zipping up his pants, Jai ran towards the railway
tracks. Train had gone. By the time, the girl was unconscious. Jai turned her
and was shocked to see that the girl was Tina. He wondered, “What is Tina doing
in Mumbai? And why did she jump from the train?”
Next moment, his inner conscience told him, “This is
not the time to wonder! You must take her to hospital!”
Jai wrapped his handkerchief on the head of Tina to
stop bleeding. Using his belt, he tied Tina‘s hands and put her on his bike. He
put her tied hands around his neck and sped off to the nearest hospital. He got
Tina admitted to the hospital and went home. Next day, he took half-day from
office and went to hospital. Tina had regained consciousness, thanking doctor.
Doctor saw Jai and said, “You should thank this young man who brought you
here!” Tina was shocked to see Jai. Jai offered Tina come and have a walk with
him. Tina agreed.
Sitting
on a large stone, looking at Arabia sea, Tina told her story. Jai was standing
behind her, listening. Tina told the following story to Jai:
Tina‘s parents were very
conservative! They made her leave college and got her admitted to another
college because that college was closer to home. Earlier, she used to travel in
Metro Rail and an old man patiently heard her stories about the restrictions
that her parents had put on her. Tina‘s anger always simmered inside her because
in college, she cannot share this with anyone. Not even with Jair or Renu.
That old man often saw me in
train and observed my sadness. He started calling her “beti” told her to tell
him her problems. Tina was happy that she could share her problems with
someone. Old man was always sympathetic and he motivated her to be positive! Tina
and her new friend exchanged numbers and talked secretly!
[DICLAIMER: In English, “Beti”
means daughter]
Old man said that had Tina been
his family member, he would have given her every freedom that girls of her age
had! Tina fled from house in search of freedom which she found with that old
man! She was happy with all the freedom she got with him! He brought her to
Mumbai! She could go to any restaurant she wanted! She could watch TV as long
as she wanted! She could watch any TV show! Only later she realized that it was
not freedom when the old man imposed his own restrictions on her!
Tina was a prisoner! She was
given food when the old man wished! He forced himself on her! Violence and
forced sex became a part of her daily life! Tina tolerated all this as she had no place to
go. Then one day, a miracle happened! Old man arranged good food for her! He took
her for a movie! He apologized for everything that he had been doing for past
few months! He said that in order to make it up for every bad thing he had
done, he would take her for a vacation! He said that they would have to go to
New Delhi from Mumbai and there, we will take flight to UK! Tina was given a
ticket and a coach number! On railway station, he asked her to get into train
while he would buy snacks! The bogey was empty! Train started moving when an
Arab sheikh came there and said that his men had messed up the mechanism of
chain that could be used to stop the train! Sheikh said, “The man who brought
you here got bored of your body! So I paid him a handsome price and asked him
to give you to me! He agreed! He sold you and I paid extra to book this entire
bogey for us which is our honeymoon suite! When train stops! We will take a
flight to Dubai!” Tina was shocked to hear that. The sheikh was undressing
himself. Tina ran and jumped from the moving train. This is where, Jai had
found her.
Jai
dropped Tina back to hospital. When she was discharged, Jai took her to his
office and asked her to wait at reception. He talked to Mona, one of his
colleagues to arrange an accommodation for Tina. Mona lived in a house as a
paying guest with three other girls. So Jai thought that this could be a
perfect place for Tina. In Indian society, Live-In Relationships are frowned upon
despite being legal. That is why, Jai could not ask Tina to live with him.
Jai paid
the rent of Tina with his salary. Tina could not go back to New Delhi as her
parents would not accept her.
Jai
talked to his boss and got Tina, a job in the office. Jai started teaching Tina
everything he did in the office. Tina got her first salary and now she could
pay her rent.
Jai and
Tina started working together. Jai asked Tina to call her parents, talk to them
and celebrate upcoming Diwali with her parents. Tina refused as she was scared.
She said,
“Don't call my parents! Because of me, they were embarrassed in society! If I
go back, they will be more embarrassed! I can never go back. I will celebrate
Diwali alone!”
Jai felt
bad for Tina. He said, “You can celebrate Diwali with my family! I got you job!
This is the best way for you to thank me!”
Tina: How can I celebrate with you!
Your office mate lives with me. What about other girls in that house! They
would spread rumors that we are dating.
Jai : You don‘t need to tell them what
will you do on Diwali! They do not need to care! They need to go to their
hometowns to celebrate with their families.
Jai
decided to cheer her up and told her to join him for lunch in a restaurant.
During lunch he asked her to come to New Delhi with him. On the day of Diwali. Jai
and Tina were in New Delhi at Jai‘s house. Jai did not burst crackers. He
shared sweets with Tina.
Some
other guests came to Jai's house. Jai‘s parents entertained them. Jai took Tina
to the terrace of building from where the sparks in the sky could be seen by Tina.
She was happy.
Tina
asked Jai to sing something as she had not heard him singing for years. Jai
loved superheroes and started singing a song from Spider-Man 2 by The Ataris.
Jai
sung:
The
Lights went out in the city tonight
So
close your eyes
Gaze
up in the heaven
And
see if you can point me out.
If
I could have one wish tonight
I
wish before the sunrise
To
bring me back to you
Bring me back to you.
We
spend our whole lives searching for
All
the things that we want
But
never really care for what we have
Be
careful what you wish for
As these stars are fading away.
Tina
clapped after the song and appreciated the beautiful voice of Jai. Then she
said, “I really wish I could celebrate Diwali with my parents!” Jai told her, “I
asked you to call them. You refused! Take my phone! Call them! Talk to them!
Your mom will certainly forgive you as she gave birth to you! We are in the
city where your parents live!”
Tina
took Jai‘s phone. She was about to dial the number but she stopped.
Jai
asked, “Hey! What happened?” Tina said, “I can't do this! Why can‘t I have what
I want?”
Jai told
Tina, “You heard my song and forgot it! You think about what you want but never
care about what you have!”
Tina
replied, “I had got used to live without friends. Violence was something I
suffered everyday. After a long time, an old friend got me job so that I could
be independent. This gave me a reason to be happy. Now this happiness pricks as
I forgot to be happy.”
Jai said,
“You were always happy and cheerful and cheerful in college! You always smiled!
The artist in me was charmed by your smile! You need to be my old friend! I can
give you many reasons to smile in office.”
Tina
said, “I feel I need to go back to the lonely life as your friend was a good
girl. I became bad by fleeing. I am not worthy of your friendship. If I return
to my parents, they will kill me.”
Jai
said, “Please don't say that! I have few friends! I value your friendship! I
promise I will never ask you again to go to your parents! But you don't need to
go back to your old life.”
Just
then Jai's phone beeped. Jai's brother was calling. He said, “Dinner is ready!
Both of you should come down now!” Jai and Tina went for dinner. Jai was busy
with the lovely food but Tina‘s eyes were on Jai while she was eating.
After
dinner, to cheer up Tina, Jai took her to terrace again.
There Tina
said, “I enjoyed the dinner! You have a lovely family! I wish I could have such
warmth in my house! I have no reason to be happy!”
Jai
replied, “Actually, you have two reasons! One is me, a friend who is ready to
help you. Other is your job!”
Tina
just smiled. She did not say anything. Jai asked, “You still don‘t want to meet
your parents? Is there anything I can do to make you change your mind?”
Tina
said, “One more song for me! If I enjoy it, I will think about it!”
Jai
started dancing like R&B singer Ne-Yo, singing:
I
don't play no games (I don't play no games)
So
when I'm in that thang (when I'm in that thang)
Come
see what I mean (see what I mean)
See
what I mean, owww (see what I mean)
Said
lil' mama put me on (baby put me on)
Bet
I'll have you gone (bet I'll have you gone)
Come
see what I mean (see what I mean)
See
what I mean (see what I mean)
Come
see what I mean, come come come
Tina
said, “Today you have many friends! Will it be possible for you to rekindle old
friendship?” Jai said, “My good friends are still few and you are one of them!
You became bad but there is good inside you. You need to awaken it.” Jai asked Tina,
“You have net in your phone?” Tina said “Yes!”
Jai
downloaded the song Everything by Lifehouse in the phone to cheer up Tina. Jai
played the song on the phone and said, “Come! See my dancing skills! Join me
for dance.” Tina hesitated. Jai said, “This is just a dance. Tina danced with Jai
with the song playing in her phone.” Tina asked, “Why did you want to dance
with me? Is everything OK?”
Jai
said, “Perfect!” Jai did not know what Tina was thinking. But he was thinking, “I
made her so happy. Now I hope God brings happiness in my life.” The dark sky of Diwali night was shining with
the sparks of fire crackers, Jai and Tina looking into each others' eyes.
Jai
asked Tina, “Does your father has a gun!” Tina said, “No!” Jai said, “Then he
cannot kill you! Come with me! It is not every day Jai Anand gets to help Tina
Tiwari!” Jai took Tina to her house on his bike! Tina‘s mother was shocked to
see Tina. The plate filled with diyas (earthen lamps) fall from her hands. She
ran and hugged Tina. Tina‘s father came out and he was visibly shocked and
angry. Then he ran and hugged Tina.
Jai was
happy to watch this family reunion.
THE END.
*) - Anecdotes
(Srishti Yash Mudaliar)
The Unexpected Help!
It was sunny month of March in the year 2007. I had just
finished my examination for the second year of my graduation. The days were
zealous and that day I was just waiting for the result of my audition I gave
the day before for the “Indian Idol”, a television reality show for the
emerging singers and finally I got a text inviting me to collect my
registration number and the entry pass for the main audition at Mumbai. So, I
was left with a sudden plan to visit Mumbai. Usually my mother accompanied me whenever
I moved out of town but she was a little busy and left me with my backpack at
the station. I could not get a confirmed sleeper reservation in such a short
notice. I cursed the mothers and sisters of the railways and just got my
tickets and boarded the train with lots of zeal, nervousness and anxiety. It
was for the first time that I was traveling alone and all that was in my mind
was the picture of my relative coming to pick me up at the other end. It was an
evening train and soon people started bringing down their sleeper berths. Soon
the berth above my seat was laid and I was left with no place to sit. A
generous lady let me sit by her side as she slept. But since the birth above
was laid I had to sit bent and the bending caused me ache in the neck.
"You may...sit here if you don’t mind”, a voice came
from the double windowed berth couplets that are found on the either sides of
the passage alley. "This seat is higher and it would be easier for you to
sit here." It was a youth in early twenties. Why would I mind after all, a
more comfortable journey? I jumped into his seat and asked, though very
unwillingly, since I did not want to lend him a chance to change his mind,
“Won’t you sleep?” He told me he’d do that later. He then kept reading comics.
I wasn’t sleepy either. He had original Lee Falk Phantom tales and I asked him if I can see some. He gladly showed
all. He took off his luggage and showed me more from his collection. He said he
got them from Delhi. He was from Allahbaad, he told. His name was Rohit Kumar.
We got into conversation and he started telling me his history. He liked my
company, seemed. I was also amused by his funny accent and decent and
informative talks that ranged from comics to Tata and Bidla. “Where are you
going?” he finally dared to ask, though he hadn’t asked my name yet. I told him
that I was going for the audition of “Indian Idol” that would be held the next
morning. “Oh! You must be in the need of some rest, then.”, he said and
suddenly moving aside he said, “Please feel free to sleep.”. I hesitated (at
least I acted so); after all it was his seat and berth. “I would get enough
time to sleep at my uncle’s 'morrow. I don’t have to go out. I can manage with
a little sleep tonight. Please feel free to sleep.” Without waiting for him to
change mind now I occupied the whole berth while he sat in a little place in
the corner. He shut the window near my ears and said “You shouldn’t catch cold
or you cannot give your hundred percent in the auditions”. He also lent me his
blanket since I didn’t have any. Soon I fell asleep. I remember seeing him
sitting in the same manner as he did before I slept, when I was alerted as the
train paused at a station and I was woken up for a while. I have a huge bed at
home and the berth was a little uncomfortable for me and I had a habit of
throwing kicks in sleeps and I accidentally kicked him off the berth. I soon
realized what I did but pretended still being asleep. I waited for his
reaction. I thought he is going to wake me up. But he didn’t! He sat there,
down on the floor of the alley. I pretended unaware and occupied the whole
place and stared enjoying my cozy sleep. I slept sound for hours.
It was around four that I heard a din and woke up. I saw
another boy of Rohit’s age arguing with him. As soon as he saw that I’ve woken
up he started, “Get up!! Get out!! This is our seat!” This boy was Rohit’s
friend who boarded the train at some stop; I still don’t know what stop! I was
irked by his behavior and told him that his friend himself asked me to get the
berth. Soon we started fighting a typical Indian verbal war. He scolded Rohit
for letting a stranger occupy his place and accused him of trying to impress a
girl. People trying to gooseberry in the matter kept eying Rohit in suspicion.
A woman even asked me if he bothered me. Rohit kept explaining him things and
tried to calm them all down. In anger, I refused to leave the place and the
friend kept insisting Rohit to ask me to leave the place at once. Rohit was
perplexed and couldn’t choose between both and rather tried to settle the
matter. But there was no scope of settlement. Soon the T.C. was called. I thank
God by that by the time he showed I went and took a seat below an emptied berth
that I unchained from its holders and the T.C. didn’t have any major issue
regarding my illegal occupancy. He calmed both of us and went away. After the T.C.
parted I gave a last blow to the ‘irritating friend of Rohit’ as I then called
his name in my mind and abused all his sisters and in turn he targeted women
from my state, women from the whole country and Pakistani women. “Khadoos!!” I
named him and after that whenever I talked about him to anybody I referred to
him by this name
The berth I now occupied was vacant and I slept until I
unboraded the train in the morning. Rohit came to say sorry to me. In anger I
said “Thank you BROTHER! It was not your fault. You only tried to help.”, while
his angry friend dragged him back and scolded him again for talking me. I
noticed that Rohit wasn’t upset over being referred to as ‘brother’. I became
sure then that he wasn’t trying to ‘impress a girl’ as his friend suspected but
was trying to help a needy. He came to me as a help. And this UNEXPECTED HELP
made my journey easier and comfortable and of course I could do better in the
auditions than I could have done otherwise.
A year and a half passed. It was December 2008. There was a
minor communal riot in my city and some tourists and localites were detained. By
that time I had graduated and had joined as a journalist in a newspaper in the
city. I didn’t qualify above the level called ‘top fifty’ in the show, so I was
back to the city. I was being trained in reporting at that time and went to
interview the commissioner of police with one of my seniors. A curfew was
declared in the city and some the detainees were not even allowed to make
calls. As soon as I entered the commissioner’s cabin I saw Rohit and his friend
sitting in front of him. “Rohit Kumar!” I said. “Do you know him?” asked
commissioner Mahatme. I restrained for a while but then some sudden instinct
made me tell that I knew him. The Commissioner lived in my neighborhood and
trusted me. He asked me a few questions about Rohit and I answered. “Aah!! So
this is exactly what he told us!! So we believe that the identity he gave is
his and genuine!! And we shall let him go!!” he said. “She also knows me!!”
said his friend. Commissioner Mahatme asked me his name. I didn’t know!! So I
couldn’t tell! I knew him by one name ‘khadoos’. But I couldn’t tell them that he
was ‘khadoos’, could I?” “My name is Prajwal Kumar!” he said. “Shut up!! I
don’t trust you and can’t let you go unless I hear from your kins!” warned Commissioner.
They then asked Rohit to fill up some papers and relieved him.
When asked, Rohit told us that they had come to the city for some
sort of assignment they got from their office. He had to travel for work, I
knew! They were victimized by the riot and their luggage and belongings were
lost. They were detained along with the communists and other victims and they
were unable to prove their identities and they were not allowed to make calls
so they were not let free. I took Rohit to the head office of our newspaper. We
helped him get tickets back to his place. We also called in help for Prajwal.
But his people took several days to come and rescue him. He was detained for 21
days. It is quite difficult for the non criminals to stay in captivity for such
a long period. He suffered a little depression, we were told later. He paid for
his unfriendly behavior while Rohit was rewarded for his kindness.
Later, in 2009, I started with my post graduation and went on
a study tour to Mumbai with my class. In the train I chose this double windowed
side berth as we had the whole compartment booked and we could choose. Late in the
night we were all asleep when a commuter boarded the train. I never realized
that he was sitting besides my feet in my berth until I kicked in him down in
sleep. I woke up and so did my classmates, teachers and the other passengers
since I gave a cry “Who, who?” The poor young fellow looked flabbergasted and
everybody looked at him in anger. “What did he do?” asked some suspicious
passengers in anger. He replied with innocence “I sat at the little space by
her feet. I didn’t know it was a girl!! I swear!! And...” “And what??” asked
other passengers. “..and she kicked me down in sleep”, he said. Everybody
laughed and believed him. It was cold month of December and I was wearing
several blankets so he really couldn’t have made who was sleeping. I saw that
the bogie was full with passengers and their luggage and he had almost no place
to sit, not even the floor. “Koi baat nahi bahiya!! Baith jao”, I asked him to
sit where he sat before. He hesitated but on being insisted also by others he
happily sat down on it. I slept again. That day I was reminded again of Rohit!
***
A Keepsake
When I was in my junior college years I had a friend called
Shweta. This girl Shivani was her friend. This Shivani was jealous of many
people and she never liked me for unknown reasons, though she told me several
times that she was fond of me. We were never into verbal arguments but I knew
what she did on back!! “B****!” I’d call her. Most of the people hated her
because teachers liked her though she was not a good student. So there were several conceptions and misconceptions
regarding her. Everybody hated her. Some hated her for she caused them
blasphemy, they said. I hated her for she was rich and pretty. She’d try to
behave good with me but I was always aware of what lurked behind and so we
never became friends despite being classmates. I seldom approached her. But
she’d come and talk. She’d always appreciate my dressing style. She loved a turquoise
colored pendant I had and would always seek asking me let her wear that!! Now
why but would I let her take my jewelry when she could afford much more than I
had?
One day we had terribly good news in the college and all of
us were happy to hear that she is leaving for Lebanon. Shweta was her close
friend. She took me with her to see her off... 'The scum is finally out!!', I
wondered. I was told by classmates that I got two marks short of the full score
in the practical examinations in the previous years for she bitched around
creating misunderstanding between me and the teacher assigning the marks. So, I
hated her more, though I still don’t know what was the ‘misunderstanding’ that
she created and which teacher misunderstood!!
For the first time in two year I saw her crying. She hugged
me as if we were best buddies. I felt irritated by her artificiality but the tears
moved me. I gave her my turquoise pendant that she liked. ‘Oh!! What is this??”,
she asked. She was surprised to see me give her what she always wanted but I
never gave. ‘A KEEPSAKE!’ I said. “Oh!! Oh!! You loved it so much!! You never
gave it to anyone!! And now you’re giving it to me. I am overwhelmed”, she said
and shredded a gallon more of tears before she boarded and flew off. Shweta
said that it was really nice of me letting her have one of her favorite things
as she parted “She seemed very emotional
so I couldn’t resist!!” I said with a proud smile. That pendant cost less than
ten bucks and I didn’t use it anymore and that I found nothing cheaper to gift
her was the real reason though.
Several years later I completed my studies and was working
for an international publishing firm then. I managed life with the few bucks I
earned. I was also doing my graduation in literature. Meanwhile I started
seeing a guy and as time passed I fell in love with him. Life seemed changed.
New hopes bloomed and the forlorn was lost. But my schedule was very busy those
days and I had to refrain from seeing my boy. The differences arose and I
couldn’t keep up with the relationship for long. Soon we broke up. I was very
upset with this and was not able to concentrate on my studies. I was worried
that I am not going to do well in my upcoming exams.
There was a swine flu outbreak and people with high immunity
against swine flu were in demand. I was one of them and since I had quite
enough free time after I broke off the relationship, I once visited camps to
assist doctors. I demanded a neat and clean hospital and so was assigned duty
at a rich, privatized hospital. Though I was a student of biology, I wasn’t
into pathology. So I was given some paper work. While checking the list of the
patients I found a name Shivani Pandit, 23 years. In shock and astonishment I
asked for the details of the patient and found that she is my old classmate. I
was told that her case was serious and she was almost loosing life. After I
finished my assigned work I waited for the visiting hours and went upstairs to
see her.
She was lying semi-unconscious. I fastened my mask more
firmly and went in. “Hey!!” I hailed her “Remember me?”, I asked. She
immediately recognized me. We started talking of the old days. She then started
with her sorrow. She said that she doesn’t want to die this young and that
she’d miss her parents. “This”, she showed my pendant, she was wearing it “you
gave me as a keepsake, but what keepsake has this life to give me?? Can
I at least take a photograph of my mother as I go? They say I’ll forget her
when I die. I don’t want to forget her”. She started to cry loud. Nurses rushed
in. she told them she was alright but she fell unconscious. A nurse sped up her
saline bottle and injected a few doses into it and asked me if I can stay and
alarm her when the bottle is about to empty. I agreed to stay and sat besides
her reading a magazine.
I wasn’t reading then actually but staring at the book, my
mind was thinking. I thought of the situation I was in and the reality of life
and wondered, “Why shall I upset my head for my lost boyfriend? I am not going
to carry him to the heaven, am I? In this world, there is nothing to get upset
over, nothing is permanent. When I die I leave everything that I horded, here. Everything
comes from earth, goes back into it! All I can do is leave mark here. My little
achievements would accumulate to form something that would help my future
generation that would live, after I go. I must move on and only try being
constructive! Working for the society!! That would be life!! Expectations are
useless! Even when I achieve material happiness, I leave it here. My name
lives, my work lives, but nothing lives forever for me!”
I
jotted down
A
Keepsake
02/12/2011
By Ms. Srishti Mudaliar
The force of the air is sweeping me away,
From my land, it’s environs, under siege of these fences,
Then why the same air does bring to sway,
The sweet smell of the soil over my senses?
The memories are all that would be accompanying me,
As I move, though much more was that I hoarded,
Of the same land that supported me, while I ran upon the
monsoon spree,
And a blur memo that the same gave my survival all that it
needed.
My land is not so arid, but is trying to conceal the pain,
The pain, similar to that in my heart,
It needs me, but makes no effort vain,
To stop me, as I proceed to part.
This mighty land has got my words and acts,
The stupendous figures that I carved on the rocks of it,
That would kindle into its heart, the percept of those beautiful feuds and pacts,
That’s why it smartly scuttles begging for time, more a bit.
The “memories” I carry would vanish as soon,
As I get lost into another element,
But, this coarse land doesn’t whither to place, upon me its
dusty boon,
Nor does this air agree to get stacked into my perpetual
garment.
A delicate urge I play on my fiddle,
Le’mme scrape a bit out of this hardened landscape,
Gi’mme a club or a dagger li’l,
Let me dig out an eternal lump, a “keepsake”.
After a short while, Shivani woke up. I called in nurses to
take off her saline supplement when the dose was complete. After that I talked
a little with Shivani. She talked of her nearing death. All she wanted is to
take the memories of the beautiful days she spent, she said. “No one can take a
thing from here”, I told and suggested, “We can leave our glory, but we can
take nothing!! Tuten Khamen wanted to take his gold with him. He buried it
along his corpse. The gold is still there!! But he isn’t!! He was a great king.
His name lives. You cannot take, but you can give. And ‘m sure you’d live more
to give more”. I started to head for home. “You’ll live!! God bless you!” I
said to the girl as I shut the exit door.
I gave my papers for the literature. I forgot the things lost
and only thought of that could further be achieved. Three months later I read in
the newspaper that I’ve cleared my examinations with good grades. Along side I
read a headline “Swine flu victim survives.” “So the b**** survives!! Ha ha!!”
I said. I was really very happy all the day.
***
The milkman
Our milkman Shyamlaal has an amusing personality with a very
cute sense of humor. He never rang the bell. “Vahini DOODH!!” he would shout
and someone would open the door to get the milk. Vahini means sister-in-law in Marathi.
And all the ladies in the locality were his Vahini. One day he delivered us milk
with astonishingly thin consistency ‘Shyamlaal!! Kal se DOODH ki jagah PAANI
aawaaz lagana” (Hail “Water delivery” instead of “milk delivery”), my mother
teased him. We expected him to get mad on being sarcastically criticised and
thought that he’d start with a funny argument. To our amazement, he didn’t! He
only smiled shy in reply. He did not give any justification or made arguments
and went home in as jolly a mood that could ever be! Only thing he did was the
next day he came to deliver and shouted “Vahini PAANI”
“Packed milk is adulterated” was the belief of people at my
home. So Shyamlaal continued his service. One day I went on short drive with
family. Suddenly I noticed someone very familiar “Is that Shyamlaal?” I asked.
We put our car to halt and observed from distance. We saw Shyamlaal in his
usual white dhoti and his white cotton shirt. He had a few packets of packed milk
with him. He tore them open with his canines and emptied into his delivery
cans. And then what we see!! He collected
a bucket full of tap water, emptied it into the delivery can and mixed it well
with the milk in it!!
“Hail Shyamlaal” shouted my cousin. My mother nodded her head
in disgust and said, “Iss Shyamlaal ka kuch nahi ho sakta!!” (No one can help
Shaamlaal!). And I sat down to write my rhymes “The Milkman”
Result
Judge's Rating : Srishti - 80/100 (40/50), Avijit - 75/100 (37.5/50)
Members Poll : Srishti - 12/19 (31.5/50), Avijit - 7/19 (18.5/50)
Word Limit Penalty (Minus 10) - Srishti Yash Mudaliar
Combined Final : Srishti - 61.5/100, Avijit - 56/100
Srishti Yash Mudaliar wins the match and qualifies for Round 3, Avijit Misra is eliminated from Freelance Talents Championship.
Judge - Mr. Vivek Goel (Artist, Publisher @ Holy Cow Entertainment)
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