The coffee is getting cold
'Jingle bells, jingle bells jingle all the way' her phone rang. She smiled and saw that it was Ariel who was calling her. Ariel and Rina were friends for some time now. Although they were introduced to each other just more than two years ago by some common friends, their friendship had steadily grown ever since and not only were they fond of each other's company but also trusted each other immensely.
"Hello there, long time no see. When did you come back from your trip, and did you bring anything for me?"
"What is it with girls and gifts? I got back last night only. Can you make it for some coffee?"
"Sure, I still haven't had my morning cuppa yet, why don't you come over to my place now? I'll have some hot coffee ready by the time you come"
"Excellent idea, be over there in fifteen minutes." He disconnected the phone. He better have brought me a gift she thought.
After more than fifteen minutes later the door bell rang. Obviously it would have to be Ariel.
"You're late mister" she said as she opened the door.
"Will I be able to bribe thee with some chocolates and a wonderful new bottle opener?"
"The chocolates will make me fatter you know"
"I guess that means I am forgiven for being late" and he stepped in to the wonderful smell of freshly brewed coffee. Apart from their taste in wine, and food they shared a common love for coffee.
"Ah, that smells wonderful, freshly brewed and with hazel nuts too."
"You're welcome. Sit; tell me about your trip"
"Switzerland was amazing, although the client was less amazing. He nagged about a whole lot of things until he realized that the delivery was what his team had wanted and not what he had thought which cost him a bunch of euros more."
"So all in all a profitable trip for you then"
"Yes you can say that. Listening to an old man hag is hardly a price one has to pay for a good profit."
They sipped their coffee for quite some time. Rina took time to look at the bottle opener she had just received.
"You're taking an awful long time to examine it you know"
"Speak for your self; you are taking an awfully long time to finish your coffee."
"I've been thinking some thing for some time now"
"What?"
"Since when do you think we've been having coffee?"
"What? What have you been drinking?"
"The coffee you made, seriously tell me how long do you think we've been having coffee together?"
"For over a year I guess"
"And how many times more are we going to have it?"
"Seriously, what have you been drinking?"
"I'll come to the point then, I find it hard to be just a friend with you R. I know this may seem out of the blue to you but like I said I’ve been thinking about it for some time now. Every time you're around you make me feel special. I've never felt like this so long for any one you know. I am asking you out. I love you Rina"
This did come out of the blue for Rina. She did consider Ariel as a very close friend but nothing more. So obviously she was taken aback by this. She found it hard to think in any different way about him. Sure he was there for her all the time but it some how didn't feel like love. His company was more than enjoyable but she never felt that spark she thought she'd feel for some one she thought she'd be in love with. She remained quiet for some time.
"You know my coffee is getting cold waiting for your reply."
"You've already finished your coffee. Honestly speaking I’ve never thought like this about you A, I always thought of you like a good friend. In fact I don't even fit your so called profile of your ideal match. You for one wanted some one who is older than you, some one with spectacles."
"Life isn't always about what we want. So what if you don't have spectacles or that we're of the same age. I love you."
Some more silence followed.
"Has this got some thing to do with my smoking? I know you don't like my smoking, but you know I don't smoke that often anyways. It's only when I am stressed out flat."
"Whom are you favoring Ariel? I didn't even think about this. But you make a good point you know."
"I am favoring us Rina. Think over it"
"Smoking and come of your other quirks apart I just don't feel like love with you. You're about the closest a friend one can have but..."
"Like you said your self Rina, you don't fit the profile of some one I thought I’d fall for. Perceptions change” He cut in.
"Give me some time; I need to think it over. But I still don't think your way on this."
"Don’t worry, I’ll be waiting for it R."
One year later
She was sitting in the gallery of the room sipping some coffee thinking how things would have been different had she made a different choice. She felt a hand run through her hair, and smiled. He came closer and kissed her. He was right; her perception about love had changed too. Ariel sat down. She smiled and said
"Your coffee is getting cold honey"
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Story : Rush
RUSH 1 _PROLOGUE
Sipping over his coffee, he couldn’t help but smile looking at the couple before him. The two were obviously much in love with each other and enjoying every moment of it while they laughed and chatted away on coffee. This was something he wished to be a part of with some one special for a long time. The trouble was that that special person did not seem to be that much interested in him and that he couldn’t think of how to make his moves. This was his third coffee. Insomnia and an addiction to caffeine do not go well together. It was eleven in the night and he was surprisingly still there.
This was one of those new cyber dens that sprung up. Apart from housing the latest games, consoles and equipment these new dens also served as a café with varieties of drinks and thing to munch on. His vacations were going on, having just cleared his higher secondary schooling. Getting a job at Zodiac was the best thing that had happened to him. Not only was he paid great here, but he got a chance to demonstrate his avid gaming skills to others and get some decent competition if it came around. One such person that he was attracted to for the past few months was a woman named Sharon. The two had been introduced by the owner of the den once when there was a casual frag session going on. He was used to lurk around her to get her attention but it all was not enough. In spite of his prodigious skill and his liking for here all they were was acquaintances. How much this was going to change.
His phone rang and it was Simone. His Bhabhie (elder brother’s wife) was one of his best friends. Just six years older to him at twenty three, she had married his elder brother Sid only six months ago. The two got along so well that people would think that if it hadn’t been for their age difference and his brother they would have been married for sure now. Life however is just like that.
He grudgingly answered.
“Yeah, I am coming.”
“No, No what’s the need to come? Why don’t you ask Mr. Sen to give some quarters there? This will be very comforting for you.” She was angry on him at him coming late at night to home. She was being sarcastic too. Not a good thing. He had a bad feeling about this.
“Come on honey, you’re sounding like mum.”
“Don’t you dare get that started on me. Get your self back here fast or I’ll behave like her too.”
And the phone line went dead. He got up to pay for his coffees, but it was Mrs. Sen at the counter today. She treated him like a son. “Come on San dear, you know I don’t charge you for this. The least I can do to help you get her.” She smiled. She was one of the few persons along with Simone and his sister who new about his intentions.
“You’re spoiling me Auntyji. What will happen of the time when I do not work here any more? It’s only six weeks till the admissions begin.”
“That will dealt with then sweetheart. Now run off or Simone will be after my head.”
It paid real well in life to have such great company around you. He soon left for home only a kilo meter away, stopping only to buy some dark chocolates. Simone was a sucker for them. She however it seemed had different plans. Nidhi, his elder sister was to come from the United States the next day. This was her bi-annual trip back home and her husband and two girls would come along too. Harry, her husband ran a business that dealt whit the sales of computers, their peripherals and other new coming products. The two had been introduced to each other through common family friends and it was an arranged marriage. A marriage that was now a successful and would be a long lasting one. Their two little girls Mira and Rima were the apple of everyone’s eyes. Things had to be in order by the time they would arrive. San didn’t like all this. He thought that since they were all part of the family it didn’t matter much. He was none the less missing his favorite person. The two were close; she was like a mother to him. A soul mate who he could turn to for advice and a shoulder. A position he was wanting to share with some else too.
He opened the door with his own set of keys. Simone was waiting there for him in the hall. Sid gave him a look which meant that he was in deep trouble
“Late again. What new story are you spinning now?” She knew why, what was the point of asking?
“I was held up at the Zodiac. I was getting some work done.”
“Even when it was supposed to be over by eight?”
“See, when you know certain things then what’s the point in going over these matters?”
“What matters, and what does she know?” Sid interrupted.
“None that concerns you!” he replied with some bite.
“But what concerns me is that I asked you to do some thing” Simone was not to be drawn away.
“Here, I got the ingredients that you asked for. I had bought them in the evening it self.”
“So you want me to stay up all night, getting the cake right?”
“Come on, there’s still twenty four hours till they come. Besides all you need to do is decorate the cake. I can smell that you’ve already baked it. Here and I got some chocolates for you to add in it and share some of it with us.”
She noticed that he had bought her favorite brand.
“No more of your antics now. GO to your room, and we’ll not be having this chocolate. You sure know how to keep us all waiting for your honored presence my lord”
“Come on now, I’ve told you all to not wait for me”
“No more of this, do what she said” Sid was getting bored.
Evidently outnumbered, San retreated to his room. An insomniac, he still had hours before falling asleep. SO he turned his lights off to give the impression and started solving some Sudoku puzzles on his cell phone. He wanted to switch on the television too but that would attract the wrong kind of attention. He just changed to some other game. Some sessions and hours later, he heard some noise from the hall. Putting his spectacles on and arming himself with a bat he made his way to the hall, wondering who it could be. The dim lights were on, and some noises were coming. Sounded like there was more than one person. As he sneaked in he saw that the chocolates were being devoured.
“So, did you plan to leave some for me or hog it all up alone? And you bro, her partner in crime against your own brother! What has this world come to?”
“Stop being so noisy, and shove them down your throat. You’ll wake mum up.”
“That’ll be trouble for sure.” Simone chirped in.
“Why do you keep doing this? You know I don’t like your staying out and up late. IF you so want then I’ll speak to her. You know I can try and convince her.”
“I’ve told you before; I don’t want you to do it. I want it done on my terms, my efforts.”
Sid was getting the drift of it.
“So whom are we talking about? Is it that girl what was her name, Kavita?”
Kavita was the girl whom San had once been going out with. They decided to take it to the next level and got very physical. But then it seemed that that was there was there between them. He had decided to break up and done so with a Dear Jane letter. That brought back memories how mum was mad when she came to know of the details.
Both of them had taken it a bit getting used to. But there was no bad blood between them, and were just friends now. She had moved on to another person while he had troubles doing so. It was not because he wasn’t over her but for the fact that he still couldn’t approach the one he wanted.
Sharon was a friend of Simone’s. He didn’t know much about what she did, where she was and all but he knew that she was a great person and much like the one he would dream of. After all he had been lurking around her for some time now. Simone was aware of all this. Having done psychology she could read his mind. He was none the less happier to confide in her. She had offered to help him by giving a better introduction and give him her numbers and all. He on the other hand wanted it to be on his own.
“So, you’ll be going alone this time too I presume?” Sid asked.
“But obvious, I am her favorite brother.” He replied with a grin.
“I don’t get it. Nobody is making an arrangement to receive Nidhi Didi and it seems unanimous that he’ll go to receive her. He who has not done anything either.” Simone commented.
“You’ll see that when he goes to receive her. He won’t be able to sleep till then. He’s even got the rooms for her and the kids ready this morning.”
“Hhhmmmnn… I am impressed, and surprised that you do some work. How do you bully the entire family into your plans? Besides you don’t even have a driving license. What if some cop catches you?”
“Hey there is more to me than what you can read. College can only get you so far. Besides I can drive pretty well and there are ways around cops and their patrols.”
“Well, thank you for the chocolates then and next time onwards you better not be late. Not unless you bring chocolates and can go around mum.” She got up, gave him a tight hug and a small peck on the cheek before she started to leave for her room.
Sid said, “Lucky you.”
“Don’t lucky me. You get a whole lot more from her.” San said after he left for his room. It was good that the lights were dim, he had been blushing.
RUSH 2 _ 2 YEARS LATER
Two years had passed and a lot had changed during those two years. Much to his shock San had found that Sharon was a teacher at the college he had joined and she had proceeded to take some of their subjects. She seemed a totally different person when ever she taught. At times he’d think whether he had made the right choice in falling for her and there were times outside her professional life that he would feel affirmed that she was the one. Meanwhile Sid had gotten a job in a soft skills development company and was constantly on company tours. Simone had decided it was better if they shift to near San’s college as she would be getting a job there as a counselor. He didn’t know that if this was good news or bad. His personal and professional lives were getting all mixed up.
It was the second year of his college and the work load was ever increasing. The students decided to perform a mass absence from the college to take an unofficial break. Rumors were abound that the authorities were aware of it. They didn’t care much. If they had been so studious this event wouldn’t have been planned in the first place. San was in the canteen having some iced tea and a burger when Edina came and hit him on the back.
They were school mates and had come to the same college.
“Damn you man, why’d you have to hit so hard?”
“Why did you have to bunk the lecture in the first place? It’s the second one you’ve bunked this week. Keep this rate on you’ll surely be detained or get library hours.” An eighty percent attendance was compulsory to attend the exams.
“As if I care a shit. Math was never so boring. I was even out of the coffee beans today. It takes an effort just to stay awake there”
“What ever, buy me a diet coke”
“What the hell do you drink the diet stuff for? It tastes so bland. You are so in shape too”
“Well got to keep the shape. Am going to meet him tonight”
“You and your taste in men. I’ll get you your coke, but you’ll be drinking it alone I guess.”
“Why, what happened?”
San handed her a can, “Well Simone’s coming this way and if she finds out that I am bunking lectures again I am in for it big time then. Gotta run off to the library before it stops renewing the books. Not here one whole week aren’t we?”
“I don’t get it, you don’t let her find out that you bunk lectures and yet you are gonna participate in the mass bunk for the whole week?”
“The mind works in mysterious ways my friend. I’ll deal with her later.”
The rest of the day in college went as uneventful as possible. He managed to stay awake in the lectures that had followed. Well it was also due to the fact the last one was Sharon’s. He was more interested in looking at her than what she had to teach. He knew what she was teaching anyways so it didn’t matter much. She was in a good mood to teach without having to tell off some one for not paying attention or not answering to questions. He went home once his lectures were over. He was alone though as his mother had gone to some friend’s place and Sid was off to some tour. Simone still had two more hours to come home to so he decided to change in to something more comfortable and put on some of his favorite music. As time passed he began to feel the pangs of hunger. Simone was late today. He thought that she would have been held up due to some staff meeting and so he decided to make some snacks himself. He made some sandwiches and opened a new bottle of cola. Just then there were some noises from the gate. So she had finally come. It was a good thing he had prepared some extra ones. When the door opened he found that she was not alone but Sharon had accompanied her home.
“Good, you brought company. I prepared some extra ones.”
“Well, she’s your professor; give her some respect.”
“So are you, I am not wishing you Good evening.” He replied tongue in cheek.
“It’s ok Simone; we know each other from times before this.” Sharon said. He smiled.
“Ok, I surrender. Just wait for me I’ll change and come. Make your self at home”
“So what’s the latest thing you’ve done? I am so out of touch with the digital world now.”
“Nothing big just created some new skins for the game models. And then there’s your assignment to do too.”
“The one you made last week was real good. Pity they thought that it was out of course.”
“What can I say? We have a good teacher in class.”
“Stop flattering me. You never need my lectures there. You know all that is being taught anyways”
“He knows a lot of things; it would better if he put his brains to better use.” Simone came in as Sharon helped her self to some sandwiches.
“What’s better than this?”
“Well you could stop bunking lectures for one.”
“So you noticed me leaving the canteen today. Well I have enough attendance to appear for the exams.”
“And for the mass bunk too?”
“So you people know?”
“Yes, and so does the principal. You guys better watch your steps” Sharon said
“We shall see. Principal or no we are going to bunk. Period. I’ll leave you all to your selves. Mum’s come back anyways. It’s her at the gate. Better set my hair or she’ll be after that too. The principal calling home is all I need to have her madder at me”
Just then his mother entered.
“Good evening Auntyji.” Sharon wished her.
“Good evening dear. Why don’t you all make it compulsory at the college to have a proper haircut? This boy has no sense of dressing.”
San got up and left for his room. “Here we go again. Some other time ma”
RUSH 3 _ AT HOME
San was sitting in his room when Simone came in.
“You ought to be studying right now you know.”
“Studies are boring”
“Nothing new coming from you. Come down dinner’s ready. There are a few surprises for you.”
“Ooh, is mom not going to get mad at me?”
“Well that and some thing else too. Get ready and come quick.”
Well he didn’t know what the other surprise was, but got ready none the less, although that didn’t involve much except putting on a t shirt. He liked his hair ruffled anyways. He got up and followed Simone to the dining room.
“Do you stay this fashionable all the time?”
He didn’t expect to find Sharon there so it took him be surprise.
“I didn’t know you were going to stay back.”
“In your hurry to go back to your room you failed to notice that I had brought my bag along.”
“Sorry, my bad”
“Well he’s always in such a hurry that he forgets to comb his hair properly too.” His mom cut in. “You might as well sit down to eat.”
He sat down across Sharon, next to Simone where Sid ought to have been sitting. However as Sid was away for the weekend he took the opportunity of observing Sharon from apart. The food was prepared as usual today too. Rice, pulses, fried potatoes, salad and papad.
“Lovely potatoes ma, you’ve added garlic just the way I like it. Although I guess you should gone for some thing grander going by the company we’re having over for the night.”
“Oh don’t worry about me, there’s no food like home cooked food. No special arrangements required for me. Besides what makes you think that I am here only for the night? I plan to make my stay here till this Friday. As it is you guys will not be coming for the lectures so Simone thought I should come over for the week.” Sharon replied.
“Yup, at least this way we’ll be able to keep an eye on him for the week. You’ll get a first hand view of how much he studies and how much he slacks.” Simone joined in. Evidently this was going to be an eventful week for him.
“Thank you Aunty that was an awesome dinner.”
“Now how about some awesome dessert too? I had some Ice cream to be set in the refrigerator last night, it should be done by now. Dark Chocolate with cookies.”
“I didn’t know until today that you are good at so many things apart from computers.”
“Why, thank you”
“Well I’ll pass,” Mom interjected, “I can’t bear that bitter taste. I don’t know how the two of them manage to enjoy it. Simone, have you made arrangements in the guest’s room?”
“Sharon’s sleeping with me tonight. Sid isn’t here any way so there won’t be any trouble.”
“Good, at least this way San won’t stay up late and bother you if Sharon’s there with you. You lot have fun, I’ll turn in.”
After a chorus of good night, the three of them were left to themselves in the hall to eat ice cream. It was decided that they’d watch a movie before the sand man would get to his work. A romantic movie was on, and normally San wouldn’t be sitting there watching it and be playing on his computer instead but some how today he didn’t seem to mind. After the movie ended they sat there discussing what they’d be doing the next day. From the yawns coming from the two women he realized that it was soon time for them to sleep. Simone asked Sharon to go up to her room and get changed while she finished her last bit of chores. San exchanged a good night with her. After turning off the television, putting the pillows in their place and tiding up the table Simone decided to join Sharon. With a smile and peck on her cheek San went up to his room. He found it hard to sleep, and about an hour later he sent a text message to Simone:
I get it that you planned this all on purpose. Thank you. It was a pleasant surprise. It means a whole lot.
Little did he know that there were more surprises waiting for him.
RUSH 4 _ THE BREAKFAST BEFORE THE SURPRISE
The alarm rang at six am on Saturday morning, but he was already awake by then. To be true he had hardly slept at all. He brushed his teeth, washed his face, put on his shoes turned on the music on his cell phone, and went for his daily early morning jog. The fragrance of the early morning was scintillating and served as an excellent getaway from the emotions building in him. About an hour later he was back home, hoping that what had come to happen last night was not a dream. He picked up the newspaper and read his forecast for the day, ‘You are feeling scared of the emotions building inside you. The stars however are clearing the deck for a new phase in your life.’ That felt good. His mum came out following the daily ritual of morning prayers. He bowed his head a little, and she stroked his head as a sign of blessing.
“You’re up early today”
“Didn’t sleep that well last night. Here read the paper, I’ll make some breakfast. Will some egg sandwich and juice be fine with you?”
“Don’t why you like eggs so much. Just let the eggs boil properly “
Boiled egg sandwich was one of his personal favorite. He started to wash and peel off the fruits to make the juice while he had put some eggs to boil. He took the time the eggs took to boil to get a shower, and get ready. After saying his daily prayers he came back to the kitchen to find Simone and Sharon already present there, breaking open the boiled eggs from their shells.
“Good morning, if you don’t mind I like to make the sandwiches my self Simone, it’s not that you get the morning off always.”
She smiled, “You’re such a sweet heart, what’s mum doing?”
“Reading the newspaper. By the way ma’am would you like your juice sweetened or sugarless?”
“You don’t have to call me Ma’am here San, Sharon is fine. Just like I said yesterday, you and I know each other from times before. A bit of sugar will do for me.”
He almost blushed at this mention. Simone and Sharon were busy talking amongst themselves. Meanwhile he sliced the eggs, and prepared the sandwiches, poured the juice from the juicer in the glasses, and took out the ketchup.
“Sharon, why don’t you go out to the garden and sit with mum while I help him bring out the breakfast?”
The moment Sharon was out of the kitchen, San gave a big hug to Simone.
“Thank you, thank you, and thank you for bringing her here.”
“I’d rather have your hugs than receiving messages on my cell phone right in the middle of the night.” He grinned. “You might as well do your bit if you want to impress her. The cooking and fitness part go real well.”
“Well, apart from the fact that I have good brains too.”
“That’s my boy.”
The breakfast went on pretty well. He was managing to get her attention and it seemed that if the stars were really going to do their work, a new phase was about to begin after all.
RUSH 5 _ THE SURPRISE
“That was a nice breakfast you’ve made San”
“ Glad to know you liked it Sharon.”
“Well wish he’d put in as much effort in preparing for exams. Don’t know what is with this boy, not that he doesn’t know anything or his brains don’t work. He’s got ample amount of that and they seem to be working in places they shouldn’t.”
“Maybe he is just not interested enough.” Great now even Simone was pointing guns at him.
“Oh he’s is interested all right, I’ve taught him and I can tell that. He does have good brains but he doesn’t commit them properly. He knows more that half his seniors and if I were to give him a problem I can bet that he’ll come up with a solution to it. His assignments and projects are wonderful too but when it comes to exams I don’t what happens to him.”
“Nobody know what happens to him then. Such a brilliant lad, and one would think he would be fare off better.”
“Sigh, this is why I don’t like parent teacher meetings. Everyone seems to be pointing their guns over here.”
“You could do well to improve your grades a little. We know that you know your stuff, but when it comes to getting a job they follow the grades. They don’t know how much you know. For them grades are all that matter.” Mothers always tend to worry about their children he thought.
“Besides what’s the point of being gifted if you can’t make good of it. It’s as good as letting it go waste.”
”Aha, so you agree that I am gifted.”
“But what’s the point of having a lot of potential if you can’t get some definitive results from it.”
Things weren’t going exactly as he had planned, but a call from on the phone saved him. Simone got up and answered the call. She seemed to be talking to some one she knew as she was smiling all the way through her conversation. She came back some time later and asked, “Are you free today noon mom? There’s a good movie on.”
“Movies are no longer my cup of tea dear; I find it hard to stay awake through most of these new movies. You and Sharon have a go at it.”
“You talk as if they don’t make any quality movies now mum.” San interjected, after all he was getting to speak for once.
“You might as well take him along, don’t know what he’ll do over here if left alone. Mind you boy, don’t be worrying them.”
“What? Me and worry them? I am such an obedient and sincere boy.”
Everyone laughed.
“Ooh, and can I drive? Please, pretty please? I’ve even got my license now. Swear I won’t drive rashly.”
“Ok if that’s what it takes to keep you down. Mind you, drive safely.”
Sipping over his coffee, he couldn’t help but smile looking at the couple before him. The two were obviously much in love with each other and enjoying every moment of it while they laughed and chatted away on coffee. This was something he wished to be a part of with some one special for a long time. The trouble was that that special person did not seem to be that much interested in him and that he couldn’t think of how to make his moves. This was his third coffee. Insomnia and an addiction to caffeine do not go well together. It was eleven in the night and he was surprisingly still there.
This was one of those new cyber dens that sprung up. Apart from housing the latest games, consoles and equipment these new dens also served as a café with varieties of drinks and thing to munch on. His vacations were going on, having just cleared his higher secondary schooling. Getting a job at Zodiac was the best thing that had happened to him. Not only was he paid great here, but he got a chance to demonstrate his avid gaming skills to others and get some decent competition if it came around. One such person that he was attracted to for the past few months was a woman named Sharon. The two had been introduced by the owner of the den once when there was a casual frag session going on. He was used to lurk around her to get her attention but it all was not enough. In spite of his prodigious skill and his liking for here all they were was acquaintances. How much this was going to change.
His phone rang and it was Simone. His Bhabhie (elder brother’s wife) was one of his best friends. Just six years older to him at twenty three, she had married his elder brother Sid only six months ago. The two got along so well that people would think that if it hadn’t been for their age difference and his brother they would have been married for sure now. Life however is just like that.
He grudgingly answered.
“Yeah, I am coming.”
“No, No what’s the need to come? Why don’t you ask Mr. Sen to give some quarters there? This will be very comforting for you.” She was angry on him at him coming late at night to home. She was being sarcastic too. Not a good thing. He had a bad feeling about this.
“Come on honey, you’re sounding like mum.”
“Don’t you dare get that started on me. Get your self back here fast or I’ll behave like her too.”
And the phone line went dead. He got up to pay for his coffees, but it was Mrs. Sen at the counter today. She treated him like a son. “Come on San dear, you know I don’t charge you for this. The least I can do to help you get her.” She smiled. She was one of the few persons along with Simone and his sister who new about his intentions.
“You’re spoiling me Auntyji. What will happen of the time when I do not work here any more? It’s only six weeks till the admissions begin.”
“That will dealt with then sweetheart. Now run off or Simone will be after my head.”
It paid real well in life to have such great company around you. He soon left for home only a kilo meter away, stopping only to buy some dark chocolates. Simone was a sucker for them. She however it seemed had different plans. Nidhi, his elder sister was to come from the United States the next day. This was her bi-annual trip back home and her husband and two girls would come along too. Harry, her husband ran a business that dealt whit the sales of computers, their peripherals and other new coming products. The two had been introduced to each other through common family friends and it was an arranged marriage. A marriage that was now a successful and would be a long lasting one. Their two little girls Mira and Rima were the apple of everyone’s eyes. Things had to be in order by the time they would arrive. San didn’t like all this. He thought that since they were all part of the family it didn’t matter much. He was none the less missing his favorite person. The two were close; she was like a mother to him. A soul mate who he could turn to for advice and a shoulder. A position he was wanting to share with some else too.
He opened the door with his own set of keys. Simone was waiting there for him in the hall. Sid gave him a look which meant that he was in deep trouble
“Late again. What new story are you spinning now?” She knew why, what was the point of asking?
“I was held up at the Zodiac. I was getting some work done.”
“Even when it was supposed to be over by eight?”
“See, when you know certain things then what’s the point in going over these matters?”
“What matters, and what does she know?” Sid interrupted.
“None that concerns you!” he replied with some bite.
“But what concerns me is that I asked you to do some thing” Simone was not to be drawn away.
“Here, I got the ingredients that you asked for. I had bought them in the evening it self.”
“So you want me to stay up all night, getting the cake right?”
“Come on, there’s still twenty four hours till they come. Besides all you need to do is decorate the cake. I can smell that you’ve already baked it. Here and I got some chocolates for you to add in it and share some of it with us.”
She noticed that he had bought her favorite brand.
“No more of your antics now. GO to your room, and we’ll not be having this chocolate. You sure know how to keep us all waiting for your honored presence my lord”
“Come on now, I’ve told you all to not wait for me”
“No more of this, do what she said” Sid was getting bored.
Evidently outnumbered, San retreated to his room. An insomniac, he still had hours before falling asleep. SO he turned his lights off to give the impression and started solving some Sudoku puzzles on his cell phone. He wanted to switch on the television too but that would attract the wrong kind of attention. He just changed to some other game. Some sessions and hours later, he heard some noise from the hall. Putting his spectacles on and arming himself with a bat he made his way to the hall, wondering who it could be. The dim lights were on, and some noises were coming. Sounded like there was more than one person. As he sneaked in he saw that the chocolates were being devoured.
“So, did you plan to leave some for me or hog it all up alone? And you bro, her partner in crime against your own brother! What has this world come to?”
“Stop being so noisy, and shove them down your throat. You’ll wake mum up.”
“That’ll be trouble for sure.” Simone chirped in.
“Why do you keep doing this? You know I don’t like your staying out and up late. IF you so want then I’ll speak to her. You know I can try and convince her.”
“I’ve told you before; I don’t want you to do it. I want it done on my terms, my efforts.”
Sid was getting the drift of it.
“So whom are we talking about? Is it that girl what was her name, Kavita?”
Kavita was the girl whom San had once been going out with. They decided to take it to the next level and got very physical. But then it seemed that that was there was there between them. He had decided to break up and done so with a Dear Jane letter. That brought back memories how mum was mad when she came to know of the details.
Both of them had taken it a bit getting used to. But there was no bad blood between them, and were just friends now. She had moved on to another person while he had troubles doing so. It was not because he wasn’t over her but for the fact that he still couldn’t approach the one he wanted.
Sharon was a friend of Simone’s. He didn’t know much about what she did, where she was and all but he knew that she was a great person and much like the one he would dream of. After all he had been lurking around her for some time now. Simone was aware of all this. Having done psychology she could read his mind. He was none the less happier to confide in her. She had offered to help him by giving a better introduction and give him her numbers and all. He on the other hand wanted it to be on his own.
“So, you’ll be going alone this time too I presume?” Sid asked.
“But obvious, I am her favorite brother.” He replied with a grin.
“I don’t get it. Nobody is making an arrangement to receive Nidhi Didi and it seems unanimous that he’ll go to receive her. He who has not done anything either.” Simone commented.
“You’ll see that when he goes to receive her. He won’t be able to sleep till then. He’s even got the rooms for her and the kids ready this morning.”
“Hhhmmmnn… I am impressed, and surprised that you do some work. How do you bully the entire family into your plans? Besides you don’t even have a driving license. What if some cop catches you?”
“Hey there is more to me than what you can read. College can only get you so far. Besides I can drive pretty well and there are ways around cops and their patrols.”
“Well, thank you for the chocolates then and next time onwards you better not be late. Not unless you bring chocolates and can go around mum.” She got up, gave him a tight hug and a small peck on the cheek before she started to leave for her room.
Sid said, “Lucky you.”
“Don’t lucky me. You get a whole lot more from her.” San said after he left for his room. It was good that the lights were dim, he had been blushing.
RUSH 2 _ 2 YEARS LATER
Two years had passed and a lot had changed during those two years. Much to his shock San had found that Sharon was a teacher at the college he had joined and she had proceeded to take some of their subjects. She seemed a totally different person when ever she taught. At times he’d think whether he had made the right choice in falling for her and there were times outside her professional life that he would feel affirmed that she was the one. Meanwhile Sid had gotten a job in a soft skills development company and was constantly on company tours. Simone had decided it was better if they shift to near San’s college as she would be getting a job there as a counselor. He didn’t know that if this was good news or bad. His personal and professional lives were getting all mixed up.
It was the second year of his college and the work load was ever increasing. The students decided to perform a mass absence from the college to take an unofficial break. Rumors were abound that the authorities were aware of it. They didn’t care much. If they had been so studious this event wouldn’t have been planned in the first place. San was in the canteen having some iced tea and a burger when Edina came and hit him on the back.
They were school mates and had come to the same college.
“Damn you man, why’d you have to hit so hard?”
“Why did you have to bunk the lecture in the first place? It’s the second one you’ve bunked this week. Keep this rate on you’ll surely be detained or get library hours.” An eighty percent attendance was compulsory to attend the exams.
“As if I care a shit. Math was never so boring. I was even out of the coffee beans today. It takes an effort just to stay awake there”
“What ever, buy me a diet coke”
“What the hell do you drink the diet stuff for? It tastes so bland. You are so in shape too”
“Well got to keep the shape. Am going to meet him tonight”
“You and your taste in men. I’ll get you your coke, but you’ll be drinking it alone I guess.”
“Why, what happened?”
San handed her a can, “Well Simone’s coming this way and if she finds out that I am bunking lectures again I am in for it big time then. Gotta run off to the library before it stops renewing the books. Not here one whole week aren’t we?”
“I don’t get it, you don’t let her find out that you bunk lectures and yet you are gonna participate in the mass bunk for the whole week?”
“The mind works in mysterious ways my friend. I’ll deal with her later.”
The rest of the day in college went as uneventful as possible. He managed to stay awake in the lectures that had followed. Well it was also due to the fact the last one was Sharon’s. He was more interested in looking at her than what she had to teach. He knew what she was teaching anyways so it didn’t matter much. She was in a good mood to teach without having to tell off some one for not paying attention or not answering to questions. He went home once his lectures were over. He was alone though as his mother had gone to some friend’s place and Sid was off to some tour. Simone still had two more hours to come home to so he decided to change in to something more comfortable and put on some of his favorite music. As time passed he began to feel the pangs of hunger. Simone was late today. He thought that she would have been held up due to some staff meeting and so he decided to make some snacks himself. He made some sandwiches and opened a new bottle of cola. Just then there were some noises from the gate. So she had finally come. It was a good thing he had prepared some extra ones. When the door opened he found that she was not alone but Sharon had accompanied her home.
“Good, you brought company. I prepared some extra ones.”
“Well, she’s your professor; give her some respect.”
“So are you, I am not wishing you Good evening.” He replied tongue in cheek.
“It’s ok Simone; we know each other from times before this.” Sharon said. He smiled.
“Ok, I surrender. Just wait for me I’ll change and come. Make your self at home”
“So what’s the latest thing you’ve done? I am so out of touch with the digital world now.”
“Nothing big just created some new skins for the game models. And then there’s your assignment to do too.”
“The one you made last week was real good. Pity they thought that it was out of course.”
“What can I say? We have a good teacher in class.”
“Stop flattering me. You never need my lectures there. You know all that is being taught anyways”
“He knows a lot of things; it would better if he put his brains to better use.” Simone came in as Sharon helped her self to some sandwiches.
“What’s better than this?”
“Well you could stop bunking lectures for one.”
“So you noticed me leaving the canteen today. Well I have enough attendance to appear for the exams.”
“And for the mass bunk too?”
“So you people know?”
“Yes, and so does the principal. You guys better watch your steps” Sharon said
“We shall see. Principal or no we are going to bunk. Period. I’ll leave you all to your selves. Mum’s come back anyways. It’s her at the gate. Better set my hair or she’ll be after that too. The principal calling home is all I need to have her madder at me”
Just then his mother entered.
“Good evening Auntyji.” Sharon wished her.
“Good evening dear. Why don’t you all make it compulsory at the college to have a proper haircut? This boy has no sense of dressing.”
San got up and left for his room. “Here we go again. Some other time ma”
RUSH 3 _ AT HOME
San was sitting in his room when Simone came in.
“You ought to be studying right now you know.”
“Studies are boring”
“Nothing new coming from you. Come down dinner’s ready. There are a few surprises for you.”
“Ooh, is mom not going to get mad at me?”
“Well that and some thing else too. Get ready and come quick.”
Well he didn’t know what the other surprise was, but got ready none the less, although that didn’t involve much except putting on a t shirt. He liked his hair ruffled anyways. He got up and followed Simone to the dining room.
“Do you stay this fashionable all the time?”
He didn’t expect to find Sharon there so it took him be surprise.
“I didn’t know you were going to stay back.”
“In your hurry to go back to your room you failed to notice that I had brought my bag along.”
“Sorry, my bad”
“Well he’s always in such a hurry that he forgets to comb his hair properly too.” His mom cut in. “You might as well sit down to eat.”
He sat down across Sharon, next to Simone where Sid ought to have been sitting. However as Sid was away for the weekend he took the opportunity of observing Sharon from apart. The food was prepared as usual today too. Rice, pulses, fried potatoes, salad and papad.
“Lovely potatoes ma, you’ve added garlic just the way I like it. Although I guess you should gone for some thing grander going by the company we’re having over for the night.”
“Oh don’t worry about me, there’s no food like home cooked food. No special arrangements required for me. Besides what makes you think that I am here only for the night? I plan to make my stay here till this Friday. As it is you guys will not be coming for the lectures so Simone thought I should come over for the week.” Sharon replied.
“Yup, at least this way we’ll be able to keep an eye on him for the week. You’ll get a first hand view of how much he studies and how much he slacks.” Simone joined in. Evidently this was going to be an eventful week for him.
“Thank you Aunty that was an awesome dinner.”
“Now how about some awesome dessert too? I had some Ice cream to be set in the refrigerator last night, it should be done by now. Dark Chocolate with cookies.”
“I didn’t know until today that you are good at so many things apart from computers.”
“Why, thank you”
“Well I’ll pass,” Mom interjected, “I can’t bear that bitter taste. I don’t know how the two of them manage to enjoy it. Simone, have you made arrangements in the guest’s room?”
“Sharon’s sleeping with me tonight. Sid isn’t here any way so there won’t be any trouble.”
“Good, at least this way San won’t stay up late and bother you if Sharon’s there with you. You lot have fun, I’ll turn in.”
After a chorus of good night, the three of them were left to themselves in the hall to eat ice cream. It was decided that they’d watch a movie before the sand man would get to his work. A romantic movie was on, and normally San wouldn’t be sitting there watching it and be playing on his computer instead but some how today he didn’t seem to mind. After the movie ended they sat there discussing what they’d be doing the next day. From the yawns coming from the two women he realized that it was soon time for them to sleep. Simone asked Sharon to go up to her room and get changed while she finished her last bit of chores. San exchanged a good night with her. After turning off the television, putting the pillows in their place and tiding up the table Simone decided to join Sharon. With a smile and peck on her cheek San went up to his room. He found it hard to sleep, and about an hour later he sent a text message to Simone:
I get it that you planned this all on purpose. Thank you. It was a pleasant surprise. It means a whole lot.
Little did he know that there were more surprises waiting for him.
RUSH 4 _ THE BREAKFAST BEFORE THE SURPRISE
The alarm rang at six am on Saturday morning, but he was already awake by then. To be true he had hardly slept at all. He brushed his teeth, washed his face, put on his shoes turned on the music on his cell phone, and went for his daily early morning jog. The fragrance of the early morning was scintillating and served as an excellent getaway from the emotions building in him. About an hour later he was back home, hoping that what had come to happen last night was not a dream. He picked up the newspaper and read his forecast for the day, ‘You are feeling scared of the emotions building inside you. The stars however are clearing the deck for a new phase in your life.’ That felt good. His mum came out following the daily ritual of morning prayers. He bowed his head a little, and she stroked his head as a sign of blessing.
“You’re up early today”
“Didn’t sleep that well last night. Here read the paper, I’ll make some breakfast. Will some egg sandwich and juice be fine with you?”
“Don’t why you like eggs so much. Just let the eggs boil properly “
Boiled egg sandwich was one of his personal favorite. He started to wash and peel off the fruits to make the juice while he had put some eggs to boil. He took the time the eggs took to boil to get a shower, and get ready. After saying his daily prayers he came back to the kitchen to find Simone and Sharon already present there, breaking open the boiled eggs from their shells.
“Good morning, if you don’t mind I like to make the sandwiches my self Simone, it’s not that you get the morning off always.”
She smiled, “You’re such a sweet heart, what’s mum doing?”
“Reading the newspaper. By the way ma’am would you like your juice sweetened or sugarless?”
“You don’t have to call me Ma’am here San, Sharon is fine. Just like I said yesterday, you and I know each other from times before. A bit of sugar will do for me.”
He almost blushed at this mention. Simone and Sharon were busy talking amongst themselves. Meanwhile he sliced the eggs, and prepared the sandwiches, poured the juice from the juicer in the glasses, and took out the ketchup.
“Sharon, why don’t you go out to the garden and sit with mum while I help him bring out the breakfast?”
The moment Sharon was out of the kitchen, San gave a big hug to Simone.
“Thank you, thank you, and thank you for bringing her here.”
“I’d rather have your hugs than receiving messages on my cell phone right in the middle of the night.” He grinned. “You might as well do your bit if you want to impress her. The cooking and fitness part go real well.”
“Well, apart from the fact that I have good brains too.”
“That’s my boy.”
The breakfast went on pretty well. He was managing to get her attention and it seemed that if the stars were really going to do their work, a new phase was about to begin after all.
RUSH 5 _ THE SURPRISE
“That was a nice breakfast you’ve made San”
“ Glad to know you liked it Sharon.”
“Well wish he’d put in as much effort in preparing for exams. Don’t know what is with this boy, not that he doesn’t know anything or his brains don’t work. He’s got ample amount of that and they seem to be working in places they shouldn’t.”
“Maybe he is just not interested enough.” Great now even Simone was pointing guns at him.
“Oh he’s is interested all right, I’ve taught him and I can tell that. He does have good brains but he doesn’t commit them properly. He knows more that half his seniors and if I were to give him a problem I can bet that he’ll come up with a solution to it. His assignments and projects are wonderful too but when it comes to exams I don’t what happens to him.”
“Nobody know what happens to him then. Such a brilliant lad, and one would think he would be fare off better.”
“Sigh, this is why I don’t like parent teacher meetings. Everyone seems to be pointing their guns over here.”
“You could do well to improve your grades a little. We know that you know your stuff, but when it comes to getting a job they follow the grades. They don’t know how much you know. For them grades are all that matter.” Mothers always tend to worry about their children he thought.
“Besides what’s the point of being gifted if you can’t make good of it. It’s as good as letting it go waste.”
”Aha, so you agree that I am gifted.”
“But what’s the point of having a lot of potential if you can’t get some definitive results from it.”
Things weren’t going exactly as he had planned, but a call from on the phone saved him. Simone got up and answered the call. She seemed to be talking to some one she knew as she was smiling all the way through her conversation. She came back some time later and asked, “Are you free today noon mom? There’s a good movie on.”
“Movies are no longer my cup of tea dear; I find it hard to stay awake through most of these new movies. You and Sharon have a go at it.”
“You talk as if they don’t make any quality movies now mum.” San interjected, after all he was getting to speak for once.
“You might as well take him along, don’t know what he’ll do over here if left alone. Mind you boy, don’t be worrying them.”
“What? Me and worry them? I am such an obedient and sincere boy.”
Everyone laughed.
“Ooh, and can I drive? Please, pretty please? I’ve even got my license now. Swear I won’t drive rashly.”
“Ok if that’s what it takes to keep you down. Mind you, drive safely.”
Poem : Mother's Signs
As the drops fall
I wonder
Whether they are meant to cool us
Or the cries of
Those above us.
When the wind blows
When I feel it in my hair
I feel like some one caressing me
And yet at times
It stings.
When I put my hands through the bushes
I like the feel
Of the softness
Of buds, flowers and leaves,
The texture of the stem
And yet some times
Splinters upon me feed.
When the sun beams
It fills me up
With the warmth
To battle the frost
To destroy the darkness within
And yet at times
It burns
And dries me up.
I guess we must all
Read the signs
Of how mother nature
Warns us of where
Our steps lead.
I wonder
Whether they are meant to cool us
Or the cries of
Those above us.
When the wind blows
When I feel it in my hair
I feel like some one caressing me
And yet at times
It stings.
When I put my hands through the bushes
I like the feel
Of the softness
Of buds, flowers and leaves,
The texture of the stem
And yet some times
Splinters upon me feed.
When the sun beams
It fills me up
With the warmth
To battle the frost
To destroy the darkness within
And yet at times
It burns
And dries me up.
I guess we must all
Read the signs
Of how mother nature
Warns us of where
Our steps lead.
Poem : Like a Bee
This was inspired by a good friend of mine.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Like a bee she buzzes by,
Over here once
Enchanted by the beauty of the flower
And then away to another one.
In a striking black dress,
Every eye in the room turns
Hoping to catch a glimpse
Of the lady who dances to the tunes.
Everyone else seems to be dancing
But not her,
She seems to be enchanting;
Her each step speaking,
Telling here story
Just like a bee.
They say it takes two to tango,
Those who’ve seen her
Mesmerized by her grace
Seem to join in
Dancing along in another realm.
For when her words come out
Or her eyes blink
They get transported to another world.
Reminiscent of the fragrance that lingers
Even after she passes by
As if she is the flower
She is in search of.
Like a bee she buzzes by
Over here once
And then away
Leaving everyone
Hoping they were the sweetest flower
______________________________________________________________________________________
Like a bee she buzzes by,
Over here once
Enchanted by the beauty of the flower
And then away to another one.
In a striking black dress,
Every eye in the room turns
Hoping to catch a glimpse
Of the lady who dances to the tunes.
Everyone else seems to be dancing
But not her,
She seems to be enchanting;
Her each step speaking,
Telling here story
Just like a bee.
They say it takes two to tango,
Those who’ve seen her
Mesmerized by her grace
Seem to join in
Dancing along in another realm.
For when her words come out
Or her eyes blink
They get transported to another world.
Reminiscent of the fragrance that lingers
Even after she passes by
As if she is the flower
She is in search of.
Like a bee she buzzes by
Over here once
And then away
Leaving everyone
Hoping they were the sweetest flower
Poem : Travel by a train
I travel a lot by trains given the fact that i commute weekly from Home to college.
________________________________________________________________________________________
They say that not travelling
Is like reading only one page of a book,
But if feel that not having
Travelled by a train is
Like having read only one book.
The train gives many sights
From the hustle and bustle of the station,
People running here and there
Carrying heavy bags and grinning children,
To the tranquillity of the passes
With their swindling turns,
And the peaceful green foliage
Or may be the dark tunnels
That echoes the hopes
Of those who travel within.
Flying a plane may only
Show you the clouds
But travelling in a train
Let the wind blow in
Ruffle you hair, fill up your lungs
With scents of flowers and fruits
That you pass along,
Or the taste of the purity
Of the rivers that flow below
That make you want to
Jump along with the kids,
Get all wet young, once again.
Don’t stop with just one book,
Another train for a new journey awaits.
________________________________________________________________________________________
They say that not travelling
Is like reading only one page of a book,
But if feel that not having
Travelled by a train is
Like having read only one book.
The train gives many sights
From the hustle and bustle of the station,
People running here and there
Carrying heavy bags and grinning children,
To the tranquillity of the passes
With their swindling turns,
And the peaceful green foliage
Or may be the dark tunnels
That echoes the hopes
Of those who travel within.
Flying a plane may only
Show you the clouds
But travelling in a train
Let the wind blow in
Ruffle you hair, fill up your lungs
With scents of flowers and fruits
That you pass along,
Or the taste of the purity
Of the rivers that flow below
That make you want to
Jump along with the kids,
Get all wet young, once again.
Don’t stop with just one book,
Another train for a new journey awaits.
Poem : The moonlight
One of the few romantic poems I have written.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Hands in hands and heads resting on each others shoulders,
Seated near the bustle of a road
And yet so untouched, so immersed
In each others’ company.
He looks at her and like always
Is mesmerized by her sight,
Her face glowing quite like the moonlight.
The moonlight brings together many,
All enchanted by their lovers
For its charisma feeds the thumping
That longs for the heart of other.
The moon does not burn itself
To dispel the cold and darkness,
The moon may only reflect
The aura of some one else
But it is that reflection
That brings together
Many hearts in this world.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Hands in hands and heads resting on each others shoulders,
Seated near the bustle of a road
And yet so untouched, so immersed
In each others’ company.
He looks at her and like always
Is mesmerized by her sight,
Her face glowing quite like the moonlight.
The moonlight brings together many,
All enchanted by their lovers
For its charisma feeds the thumping
That longs for the heart of other.
The moon does not burn itself
To dispel the cold and darkness,
The moon may only reflect
The aura of some one else
But it is that reflection
That brings together
Many hearts in this world.
Poem : That little stretch
THis is one of the poems that had me deeply involved on a personal and emotional level.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Like a cigarette that burns and smokes
Not only itself but the smoker
And a few innocents if he’s careless enough
It burns me from the inside
Slowly but surely.
Some times pushing, some times depressing
To see that how
I’ve let the proverbial sins take over.
Everything comes at a price,
Nothing is free.
Imagine a personal hell
Far different from what you’re told about.
The pain not physical
Yet almost unbearable.
Some say it’s because I’ve fallen
While others say that
I chose to be where I am
While the rest of the world rose.
Imagine a thousand seeds,
All throbbing inside you
And then bursting together
Taking you wave by wave.
I hope that this is the last one,
And one seed finds the audacity to stay
Ands start all over again.
I bow down, fold my hands and pray,
Hope that I find the strength,
That this is the last stretch
And I don’t end up starting all over again.
It’s my personal hell,
I am praying for deliverance
And hope that this little stretch
Finally comes to an end.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Like a cigarette that burns and smokes
Not only itself but the smoker
And a few innocents if he’s careless enough
It burns me from the inside
Slowly but surely.
Some times pushing, some times depressing
To see that how
I’ve let the proverbial sins take over.
Everything comes at a price,
Nothing is free.
Imagine a personal hell
Far different from what you’re told about.
The pain not physical
Yet almost unbearable.
Some say it’s because I’ve fallen
While others say that
I chose to be where I am
While the rest of the world rose.
Imagine a thousand seeds,
All throbbing inside you
And then bursting together
Taking you wave by wave.
I hope that this is the last one,
And one seed finds the audacity to stay
Ands start all over again.
I bow down, fold my hands and pray,
Hope that I find the strength,
That this is the last stretch
And I don’t end up starting all over again.
It’s my personal hell,
I am praying for deliverance
And hope that this little stretch
Finally comes to an end.
Poem : Unhinge Me
This is a phase all teenagers go through at some point in their life.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Unhinge me and let me go.
Why must I always cling,
Why must I
Always depend on you?
I want to fly
And explore the world
That lies beyond
What I circle about you.
A world that I can
Only see from afar,
But yet not be able to experience.
I want freedom, independence.
Unhinge me,
And let me soar.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Unhinge me and let me go.
Why must I always cling,
Why must I
Always depend on you?
I want to fly
And explore the world
That lies beyond
What I circle about you.
A world that I can
Only see from afar,
But yet not be able to experience.
I want freedom, independence.
Unhinge me,
And let me soar.
Poem : Wronged
Like a blast of ice,
That freezes metal
And makes it so cold
That it nips on mere touch
Your eyes gaze upon me.
It’s not that hate fuels them
But it’s the love that pours so generously from them,
Or maybe it’s my guilt
That pricks me from within
Because I know that you love me
And you’ve been wronged.
That freezes metal
And makes it so cold
That it nips on mere touch
Your eyes gaze upon me.
It’s not that hate fuels them
But it’s the love that pours so generously from them,
Or maybe it’s my guilt
That pricks me from within
Because I know that you love me
And you’ve been wronged.
Poem : The Chains
Many people curse
The chains that
Bind prisoners
For it is these chains
That stand
In the way
Of his escape.
Chains that weigh
Upon the conscience
Of those who have sinned
Chains that tarnish
The hands of
The beauty that tempts
But has some one
Thought of
The chains
That drag themselves
For having held
Those innocents
Whom it had to imprison
And suffer along
For being helpless
And have them be
Sinned upon.
The chains that
Bind prisoners
For it is these chains
That stand
In the way
Of his escape.
Chains that weigh
Upon the conscience
Of those who have sinned
Chains that tarnish
The hands of
The beauty that tempts
But has some one
Thought of
The chains
That drag themselves
For having held
Those innocents
Whom it had to imprison
And suffer along
For being helpless
And have them be
Sinned upon.
Poem : The Leaves fall
One day i was going to my college and a downpour of leaves from the trees brought me this along with them.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
The leaves that are dried up
Rustle and face
The ever blowing wind
And sooner or later
Give up and
Fall down.
The green leaves
The ones that are
Fresh and anew
Live and strong
Feel jealous of
The flowers that
Welcome thy beloved
And they too
Praise her
By falling down.
Leaves are
After all leaves
And leaves fall down
_______________________________________________________________________________________
The leaves that are dried up
Rustle and face
The ever blowing wind
And sooner or later
Give up and
Fall down.
The green leaves
The ones that are
Fresh and anew
Live and strong
Feel jealous of
The flowers that
Welcome thy beloved
And they too
Praise her
By falling down.
Leaves are
After all leaves
And leaves fall down
Poem : Throw a stone
This one came to me when i was skipping stones in puddle of water after rains
_________________________________________________________________________________
A Little boy throws
A stone in the lake
And causes ripples
On the tranquil surface
Or does the stone
Not plunge
But go
Skipping ahead to
The centre of the lake
And silently does drown
Into the very lake
It has now conquered.
_________________________________________________________________________________
A Little boy throws
A stone in the lake
And causes ripples
On the tranquil surface
Or does the stone
Not plunge
But go
Skipping ahead to
The centre of the lake
And silently does drown
Into the very lake
It has now conquered.
Poem : I Seek
This was written few years ago on the occasion of friendship day.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
From the darkness that lies dormant within my heart,
To the holy light of friendship you spill upon my every part.
From the days of victory, success and joy,
To the ones of loss, distress, and being treated like a small boy.
I seek something desperately that I need to survive.
From all the highs, lows, ups & downs,
To all the other things too that didn’t count.
From all the things that felt as if it took days,
To all the time that disappeared in a haze.
Someone out there saw too it that what I seek , I do find.
To prevent my life from going into an uncontrolled trance,
To prevent my thoughts from being only stray bangs,
To prevent myself from being just another disposable freak,
A balance in my life is what is what is seek.
Thank you oh dear friend for helping me find how much ever of what is still do seek!
_____________________________________________________________________________________
From the darkness that lies dormant within my heart,
To the holy light of friendship you spill upon my every part.
From the days of victory, success and joy,
To the ones of loss, distress, and being treated like a small boy.
I seek something desperately that I need to survive.
From all the highs, lows, ups & downs,
To all the other things too that didn’t count.
From all the things that felt as if it took days,
To all the time that disappeared in a haze.
Someone out there saw too it that what I seek , I do find.
To prevent my life from going into an uncontrolled trance,
To prevent my thoughts from being only stray bangs,
To prevent myself from being just another disposable freak,
A balance in my life is what is what is seek.
Thank you oh dear friend for helping me find how much ever of what is still do seek!
Story: THe dream
I wrote this story long time ago when I hadn't ventured in to fiction. Hence you are likely to find it a bit whimsical and well not so good.
_________________________________________________________________
THE DREAM 1
You are this common everyday Yahoo! 360er, who just posted his (or her as applicable), latest entry, and then fell off to sleep. You are however having a difficult sleep. You seem to be shifting in your bed un-comfortably, and sweating hard. All of a sudden, you wake up. Sweat is trickling down your face and you heart is beating hard. It's miracle you didn't get a heart attack! It was highly unlike you. Normally you slept well, and never had such dream. In fact you can’t even remember what you dreamt about, you seem to forget the more you think, but only get flashes of demonic realms, and pain, and hell. To hell with it you think! You say your daily prayer.
You look around, everything seems fine. There's your room, your bed and everything! You look at the time, and it's Nine in the morning, sh*t you'll be late for your job. But then you realize it's just another Sunday and so no harm done. Your honey's woken up and you smell some thing delicious from the kitchen. You get up, get fresh, and move down to the kitchen.
You see your sweety's back, s/he's preparing some thing to eat, and the kids are out playing. S/he asks: "Been up late Dear? Sit down, breakfast's ready. It's your fav. Today" IT seem so good, like a perfect day. Just as you pick up the lid of the food tray in front of you, you get the shock of your life. Served to you are a severed umbilical cord, and half a fetus’s face, floating in a bowl full of cooked, and spiced blood!(Yuck!) You throw the dish away from you, and yell "Holy sh*t", and then your honey turns, and asks, "What happen didn't you like it? I spent all morning preparing it for you!"
Something does not feel right, and soon a trickle of tear flows down your honey's cheek. It's no an ordinary tear, it's blood, and a wicked smile! Darn. You run for it like hell, through the open kitchen door from where your kids enter, Hell, they seem a spawn of hell than kids. You don't know what to do, and run aimlessly till your legs carry. You don't know what to do, and stop @ the local phone booth, and call for a friend.
The phone rings. You hear the caller tune of your friend. It’s the voices of people screaming in pain, with a maniacal, sadistic laughter in the back ground. Instantly you drop the handset of the phone, and think that you are doomed, and don’t know what to do. For the first time in your life, you seem, scared, alone and helpless! And then out of the ordinary you hear the bell of the temple or church, or the mosque or wherever you go to.
There’s still hope. There’s still GOD!
You run off immediately to your place of worship. God can save you! You enter through the grand door, and find the head in meditation. You say “Swami Ji (or Father, or Maulvi ji or whatever applicable). I feel scared; it seems as if the devil has taken over. Help me. Save me!” and you weeping, you kneel down. The head, puts his/her hand over your head and says, “Don’t worry my child; He accepts all those who given in to him. The Devil has been waiting for you. Your time has come”! You look up; he has no eyes, just two endless voids.
Crap! You’re doomed, and you run to only collide with the mirror on the wall, and you hurt your arm and it bleeds due to this. As you look down in to the broken pieces you see your own demonic reflection. It takes over you and you join in the maniacal laughter.
TTTTRRRRRNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG…….
The alarm goes off. You wake up with a start sweating and heart beating like hell. That was the worst dream, no nightmare of your life! You see your honey carelessly turn and turn off the alarm and drift back to sleep. S/he seems fine. You get up, and touch your self, and look into the mirror, everything’s fine. It was just a Bad Nightmare, nothing else. Screw it. You say your prayers, and go to get fresh.
Your honey’s eyes open, and there is the same malicious grin in those evil eyes, your nightmare has not ended, it’s just begun. And you’re brushing your teeth carelessly thinking how lucky you is that it was only a dream.
How wrong you are!!!!
THE DREAM 2: SECRETS REVEALED
The Names:
Female Y! 360er with the weird dream: Tammy!
Her Husband: Todd
Tammy gets fresh, and wakes her husband and kids up. She goes down to the kitchen to prepare some breakfast. It’s her Birthday today, and yet no one had bothered to wish her!
By the time breakfast was ready, Todd was reading the morning paper at the breakfast table, and the twins were fighting over on who was to be served first. Their elder brother had left early in the morning for his fitness regime, way before others had woken up. Breakfast was strictly vegan; Tammy still had gory memories of the fetus head in the bowl of blood! Just as Tammy was about to clean after the delicious break fast , the twins began” Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to Dear Mama, Happy Birthday to you!” It was all a surprise, and now Todd had come up with an elaborate present neatly packed from behind the paper. It was all planned, she thought; wish the third kid had returned by now.
He was the eldest and her favorite kid easily. Tammy still remembered how her gynecologist informed her that after her 2 failed attempts, she would never be able to conceive. Yet, miraculously after six months, a heart broken Tammy found out that she was pregnant! She paid extra care during that time so as not to harm the baby. Yet, with still three months, Tammy was admitted to the hospital. Complications had developed, and the doctor would need to extract the baby. After many complications, the baby was successfully taken out, but that was only the beginning of his struggle. He had developed an arterial blockage, an only after hours grueling surgery, was he declared safe. When Tammy was finally allowed to look at her first kid, it was as if the Goddess of Creation was looking down upon the most beautiful angel ever! It was not that she didn’t like the twins too, but somehow she felt more bonded to him.
At that very abrupt moment came the school bus, and the kids went for it. Todd came forward with the present, and asked “Do you like bugs sweetheart?” Bugs? Todd knew for sure that Tammy down right hated them. Todd opened the box to reveal that it contained some sort of deformed 6 inches carnivorous caterpillar out of hell, with fangs and proboscis ready to strike. It instantly leapt for Tammy but she managed to defend her self with the pan in her hand, deflecting the worm to the ceiling. She was shocked! Had her dream been a reality? Right then, the bug fell down on her, and slipped in through her shirt in to her bra, going direct for the heart.
Then out of no where came voice “Oh no you don’t! You don’t get to violate my mum right in her own kitchen!” Jim: her eldest son, the miracle baby entered; and some how with a raised hand, he telekinetically held the worm still. Todd turned. With the wave of his other hand Jim hit Todd with such a powerful telekinetic gust that Todd went crashing head first in to the Kitchen window. Then with both his hands, he brought the worm out, and seemed to want to tear it apart. The bug screamed so high, that the glassware in the kitchen began to crack. Then as if with surgical precision, the bug was sliced in 2 halves with an invisible scalpel, only to reveal its filthy insides as it fell down.
Tammy was confused! All this was too much to take in. Was she still dreaming?
No! It was real, Hell had broken loose!
PS: Tammy B was the inspiration for the bug thing , with her caterpillar in the bra incident!
THE DREAM 3: EVIL REVEALS IT SELF
Jim goes up to Tammy, and whips out a package of gift from under the table.” Happy Birthday Mom, hope I came on time.” Tammy was utterly flabbergasted, she didn’t know what to say or do. Al this seemed too much altogether at once. Demons are out to take over the world, and she’s even dreamt about it in advance; talk about all the weird Déjà vu! Her own husband is possessed and her eldest son seems to have some sorts of special powers!
Todd seemed to have finally recovered, and he did not seem any happy about what had just happened. In a total look of anger, he was walking up to Jim, muttering some sinister incantation. Jim, ”It’ll do you no good. I am way to quick and powerful than you for that. Meanwhile, you may go tell that bitch that you’ve failed her, and that I’ve made my choice in sticking with Tammy.” This seemed to have enraged him further, a pulsating vein was easily visible now on his forehead, “How dare you change sides, and insult Her Majesty on top of that. I’ll see to it personally that once she is the ruler of this world, I get to personally strip you of your powers, and punish in the most brutal way. Jim, “In case you’ve not forgotten that your majesty once was my mother, so I may call her all the names I may. Don’t test my patience; there are enough windows and doors here for me to go on about an hour more breaking your head with each.”
“There will be no need for that.” Everybody turned, standing in front of them was the queen of evil, Queen Frosty her self. {Sorry Frosty, but the name goes perfectly well with the character’s cold heart! Don’t mind please} she went on, “Todd, you seemed to have disappointed me. You were specifically warned that my son would be a trouble, but you happened to have rusted over the eons you worked with me. Don’t forge that I forgive no mistakes!” As she said this, she moved forward, and with one swipe oh her hand, she sent streaks of bright light towards Todd, which sliced him up neatly in to several pieces! Evidently, Tammy flinched. Frosty went on in rants of laughter with words such as ‘weak hearted’ easily were being made out. Jim decide to move up to Tammy, and held her hand. It shivered. Not taking any offence, Jim went on, “This as you would have noticed, is Queen Frosty, the Mistress of all evil. I was once her son, but I got so attracted to you, that I decided to be reborn as a complete human. Having all this powers is only a side effect of my previous life. Don’t worry; I will always be by your side!” Somehow all this felt highly re-assuring, but the chilly presence of the queen was highly troublesome. Jim noticed. “You will of course leave now as I assume, coz you seemed to have done both the jobs you’ve come for.” “Both my jobs,” replied Frosty,”you have not lost your touch.” “Yes, that is something that will always be there with me. Mind you, you do seem to have mellowed down, that is something that may not be in your favor, when we meet next time. I can easily remember, the last guy that failed you was force-fed boiling oil.” Smiling and with a blinding flash, she teleported off to her grand palace, scheming her next move.
Just as he turned to face Tammy , to fill her up with all the missing details, WHACK! He got one tight slap from her right across the cheek that left one not so pretty mark. Tammy put up her usual I_AM_GONNA_KICK_YOUR_ASS_FOR_THIS rant. He had in a way kept her in the dark for all this time.
THE DREAM 4 : THE REASONS
Tammy was going on with her rant on how she was kept in the dark all this while, and that how she should have been better informed that her hubby was not all what he seemed. It was the first time she was so mad with Jim, in fact it was the first time he had ever managed to get on to her nerves ever. Needing her to stop, and calm down for him to have his say, and as cunning as he was, he said, “You should get mad at me more often now, it kinda makes you look cute!” The words had the desired the effect, and she immediately fell silent. Then out of nowhere she hugged him with all her might, with cheeks rolling with tears just like a mum does to a son who’s just returned from war.
All this many emotions he had not expected, and one Kodak moment later, he was ready to tell her almost everything she needed to know. He motioned her to go and take a seat in the hall, as he followed her after picking up something to eat and drink along all he had to say. After al he had years worth of things to tell her. Tammy was now all ears, and gestured him to begin.
“As you would have already gathered that Frosty was once my mother, as you yourself are now. She is hell bent on eradicating love from this world, and believes that the only way to do so is total domination. She is one of the most powerful and mean evil spirits that has existed almost since the creation of humanity. She has no corporeal form in our world, so she possesses the body of others who succumb to her. This poor lady will be enslaved with her until someone doesn’t destroy this body to free her.”
“During her initial years, she fell in love with a fellow spirit called E. {don’t mind please Mister E.} Out of their love I was born. Some time later however, E. decided to take on the archangels, and in a fight with Uriel, he fell in to a pool of holy water, and was fully cleansed much to her rage. This took a very bad effect on her, and she is now trying to eradicate love for that reason. It was this particular love that prevented me from turning fully evil!” Tammy immediately caught this, “Fully evil? What are you then, good or evil?” “Let’s just say I am a good soul but with a teeny hint of evil!”
“Yet some how in your life before this, I fell in love with you. Yes. I decided to be re-born as a human in your this life to be with you. When she learned this, she messed it all up so that I may receive motherly love from you in this life so as to teach me a lesson. It was kinda obvious that she would attack some time or the other, and knew about Todd too, I just was waiting for the right time to tell you. I just didn’t want to scare you before it all took place.”
Some how Tammy felt a whole lot weird now. Was the one she was supposed to be married to instead of Todd instead born of her very womb? He was talking so calmly about it as if it was all in a day’s work and bloody normal. “Don’t worry though,” continued Jim “you are my mother this life, and we’ll let it stay that way. No sweat.” Tammy however had other things on her mind “But what about her now? You’ve definitely got great powers; you can get rid of her can’t you?” sounding concerned, and hopeful at the same time.
“I am however a human now, she is still as powerful as she was. Both of us have our limitations.” He replied as he ran his hand across the mark that was left by the tight slap he had moments ago got from Tammy for the very first time. She flushed. Smiling and sipping some more fruit juice, he went on “Destroying this one body will only give us time to find some way to contain her before she finds another host, and then all this starts all over again. We will have to gather all our strengths, and face all weaknesses if are to face her.” Jim had now fallen silent as he ate some bread and butter. Silence is a powerful weapon. It sinks your word straight in.
Tammy racked her brains for anything she may have missed. “You told her that she had accomplished both her tasks. What were they?” He smiled in a sarcastic way, “By executing Todd in such a violent way she not only scared you enough to improve her prospects in the future, but also grew more powerful from the fear she arose in you. Fear, anger, hatred and all such things grow her more powerful. The results will of course not be so nice as you will experience much to your cost.”
“But you can fight her can’t you? You aren’t afraid of her. You’ll take her on.”
“Yes, I believe it will amount to that eventually, but the last time we seriously fought ended kinda in a no contest, and that too when I was way more powerful as a non human.” He decides to go out and bask some sun while he could. She followed. “My only concern is how you’ll fare when you’ll face her in the future.” That was however answered by an eerie feeling. The sun suddenly went dark, and the earth shaked, and slowly bean turning to hell on earth. She spoke, “I guess we’re about to find out.” Then in front of then appeared Frosty, suited for battle along with a very barbaric, strong looking demon warrior thirsty for blood, human blood. All this happening too soon, Jim hadn’t even fully prepared Tammy yet. Just as Tammy moved, with a snap of Frosty’s fingers, chains appeared out of thin air, and tied her up. It was worthwhile Frosty believed to let her live, and watch Jim die a gruesome death for committing the mistake of falling in love.
As the warrior moved forward for his obvious prey, Jim sent a gust of Telekinesis towards him, which it much to his dismay countered effortlessly. Thinking of something else, he ripped out an entire section of the road with his powers, and launched it towards it with all force. It merely raised its hands and with some concussive energy beam disintegrated the projectile in to dust. Having no other choice left, Jim then summoned on to him a magnificent scythe made purely of energy. He had now to face the prime warrior of hell hands on!
THE DREAM 5: THE CONCLUSION
There have been not so many events across the ages that all the powers that be have come to witness first hand : corporeal or incorporeal, visible or invisible, close or distant, existent or not. This was one of these not so many!
Jim watched and thought over, scythe in his hands, focus steady on his opponent. He was thinking it all over, contemplating his next move. The opponent was way more powerful than he had expected, and he himself was inarguably a human. This power imbalance was not the least of his concerns, but at the same time, it was not his most either. The entire human existence as we know it was at stake. Screw that, above all Tammy was at stake. He was ready to fight till the last of his essence to ensure that the love of his life would remain safe, unharmed, and of free will. And for that he was ready to succumb to one of mankind’s greatest shortcomings – DEATH!
Shunning all doubts and fear aside he leapt forward scythe blade first to strike the warrior. Instead he just connected with the blade of his opponent. With one gigantic swipe, it hit Jim, sending him several feet away crashing in to the walls of his house. Luckily for him these were made of timber not concrete. Still motivated, he sent forward an even more powerful gust of concussive force, which this time met its target. Much to his dismay however it only thrust the warrior back by a few steps.
All this seemed too dramatic for Tammy to just watch. She was visibly struggling against the chains that bound her, to free herself and help in way possible. Frosty on the other hand was enjoying all this, just as an even more sinister thought came to her mind.
“You wish to fight and successfully defeat me, while you can’t even take care of my minion! Looks like you could do with some more motivation.” And then with another snap of her fingers, some of the chain links binding Tammy began to sear. The pain and agony were too much, and Tammy creamed like a banshee set on fire!
“NO!” yelled Jim, as Frosty then stopped this extra pain. This enraged him to a new level, and then a force of a great magnitude erupted from his body directed at the warrior. It tried to block it, but instead the force not only shattered its blade in to many pieces, but also flipped the demon off the ground, flat on the ground. Then as the fallen warrior got up; with one great energy strike with his scythe Jim, ruptured its hide, mortally wounding it. Then after taking his time to cool down, he turned his attention finally towards Frosty. “You’re next.” Frosty came forward, “Yes finally the moment I’ve been waiting for all this while, to teach you a lesson for all your misdoings. First I’ll do away with all the distractions.” She raised her hand and pointed it towards Jim. Expecting some thing from it, he went in to a defensive posture. However it was not him that was the target. With her psionic powers, she launched one of the broken pieces of the blade right at Tammy. It happened all too soon to counter. The blade hit Tammy, impaling her straight in to the heart!
Jim ran and managed to get hold of her before she’d hit the ground. Neither said anything as their eyes conveyed what was needed. Tears began to emerge Tammy’s eyes and she was no more with him. Just as the first drop of tear hit the floor, something happened that even Frosty experienced. Jim’s heart stopped beating. He turned. “If you won’t le others have their own peaceful world, I won’t let you have yours.”
His still heart began to grow darker and darker, and for the very first time the evil in him was now awakened by the rage and the loss of his beloved. All the dark energy from the world soon began to channel towards him, collecting in him making him more powerful than Frosty had ever been. But all the goodness that was in him, and all the evil him began to clash. It was like matter and anti-matter together. Soon Jim released from him an enormous explosion that slowly encompassed the whole galaxy and left nothing behind. Frosty was finally defeated but at a price!
Soon nothing was left of this Milky Way but endless void. Then two stars blue in two different shades began to light. God had now the task of recreating the human world so that the souls may now unite. God had found his new Adam & Eve
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