Religion has been existent since mankind and has always been the driving force for our actions . It is so strange that there are so many religions and the corresponding beliefs in place and most of them claim that their path is to the road to divine blessings of the almighty. Such has been the affects of these religious practices that there have been wars in the name of religion for centuries and to some extent we see rifts and fights in the name of religion even today.
It makes one wonder what is right and what is wrong. Is going to a temple with folded hands in front of a lord the right way to worship? , or bowing your head in front of almighty at a mosque, or a gurudwara.or a temple …the list goes on. There are sacred places of each and every religion and there are innumerable visitors thronging to these places. Now isn’t it true that each of these places has that something different about them that people go there in huge numbers, be it the Makkah and Madina for the Muslims, Amarnath and Shirdi for Hindus, various churches which the Christians visit; we all would agree that there is a certain kind of divine presence in each of these places that people find their wishes fulfilled ,hearts and minds cleansed and sins forgiven. Isn’t the huge list enough fact that God or Allah or Bhagwan isn’t some one who is bounded by the walls of a mosque, temple or a church. Isn’t it still clear that god is still listening to you, even if you call yourself a Hindu, or a Muslim or a Christian or Buddhist etc? The only explanation I have for this could be that we haven’t realized or understood the almighty god, his grace and his divinity even after years of existence of the mankind.
But then there are other people who believe that the concept of god was created by mankind as an explanation for all the things man never understood. The diseases, floods, calamities and anything which has harmed mankind where looked upon to as the wrath of gods anger. Today with the help of technology there has been a better understanding of most things, but what still makes us believe that god is not just a concept is the very idea of creation of this world which is so perfect and harmonious. Each and every thing here has a purpose of its own and is been doing that for years. The rising and setting of the sun and the moon, the blue sky, the green trees all seem to have settled down in a particular harmonious existence. Can we say that all this is just a chance, because a few gases mixed? Or some things happened just by co incidence? The creation of man was just a fluke? Each and every part of our body has a meaning, a job, to enhance our chances of survival, is this all a fluke? Or the creation of the almighty, who with his great powers has created a masterpiece called the world.???
These questions if answered can change the face of humanity in a good way or a bad way and probably that’s the reason why these answers are still not with us, because it would disturb the harmony, the balance we live in. Remember we need both the good and the bad to coexist to maintain this balance.
While we ponder on the same questions which the mind has asked for years and years, let’s get back to religious places. Of all the stories behind these places and explanations as to why these places are special, there is one thought of rational explanation which seems to be the most convincing. The most striking thing one notices about the sacred places is the peace, the silence. Probably it’s the atmosphere which cultivates a desire in us to work to fulfill our wishes and hence we feel our prarthanas or duas or prayers have been answered. This leads to one conclusion that whatever it may be about the name of the religions or the way of prayers or your beliefs….the creator resides in the heart of his creation.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Skilled to cheat and rob
I had read an article in the newspaper about soft skill training being imparted to the Pune police; little did I know that I would be experiencing the difference so soon. I left for the Pune station; the rains were pouring down mercilessly on me and may others. At the rani lakshmi bai chowk i saw a signal in green and having been stuck in the traffic for long enough i had accelerated but unfortunately I couldn’t get through. I stopped just ahead of the signal and noticing that the signal was red I started backtracking. Well I heard a whistle where one of the traffic policemen asked me to stop where I am (as if I could go somewhere??). I did. He came to me and asked for my license and P.U.C which I showed and then demanded me to handover it to him. I asked him the reason but he refused to tell and snatched the key from my bike and asked me to report to the sahib standing at the corner.
Well guess what? I was charged by him for crossing the signal at the red light. I told him that I hadn’t. Had I done it I wouldn’t have been talking to me now. He smiled (remember soft skills!!!) and said that I have ALSO been for waiting at a pedestrian crossing. I explained that I was backtracking it was one of his officers who stopped me. He said he did understand the situation and said
“ Hame order aaya hain ki din main 200 pawti phadne ka” ( with a smile again)
Well I paid him his hundred bucks and he let me go even if the signal was red (Value for money you know). Guess our department has been given targets and stuff like that but Is some one monitoring the way these ppl are working???
Well guess what? I was charged by him for crossing the signal at the red light. I told him that I hadn’t. Had I done it I wouldn’t have been talking to me now. He smiled (remember soft skills!!!) and said that I have ALSO been for waiting at a pedestrian crossing. I explained that I was backtracking it was one of his officers who stopped me. He said he did understand the situation and said
“ Hame order aaya hain ki din main 200 pawti phadne ka” ( with a smile again)
Well I paid him his hundred bucks and he let me go even if the signal was red (Value for money you know). Guess our department has been given targets and stuff like that but Is some one monitoring the way these ppl are working???
Monday, August 11, 2008
Thank god for the lost Test match!!!
It’s the 11th of August 2008. I am sure this is a day a few of us would remember for a long long time. Well this is a day where our country stood up in applause for Abhinav Bindra. An unknown person staying and practicing in the docs for years and years could be passed out as any other guy till now. Well now here is the turning point of his life. I am still not sure to call it a turning point because this country can be very cruel to Olympians, they are dusted and forgotten very soon.
There is one thing which definitely favors him is his timing. As we all know that the Indian cricket team was playing a test match today( I am sure no one knew Bindra was). Had the cricketing team been in a better position or probably won it then Bindra would be just a small window in a four window TV screen on a news channel where three of the windows would have shown either Sachin, Laxman, Bhajji or Kumble. Today he is the centre of attention but the cricket soap opera would start tomorrow and each and every ball bowled, every run scored would be bisected and studied and I am sure Bindra would not figure anywhere in this list till Indian government decide to honor him with something.( That would probably be announced at the end of the Beijing games) For us to grow then we will need another Bindra like performance for the Indians to forget cricket for another day. Since the test is over and the Indians would resume to their daily routine, it’s the best time to strike and do it for the country which is craving for more non cricketing sports heroes. . It isn’t impossible but it’s still very optimistic to ask for another medal and the only realistic(is it?) hope comes from the old warhorses Lee-Hesh. I have my fingers crossed, and till then…..
…..Thanks to the lost test. Thanks to the Sri lankans, thanks to Muralidharan and Mendis and finally thanks to Bindra for making it happen.
There is one thing which definitely favors him is his timing. As we all know that the Indian cricket team was playing a test match today( I am sure no one knew Bindra was). Had the cricketing team been in a better position or probably won it then Bindra would be just a small window in a four window TV screen on a news channel where three of the windows would have shown either Sachin, Laxman, Bhajji or Kumble. Today he is the centre of attention but the cricket soap opera would start tomorrow and each and every ball bowled, every run scored would be bisected and studied and I am sure Bindra would not figure anywhere in this list till Indian government decide to honor him with something.( That would probably be announced at the end of the Beijing games) For us to grow then we will need another Bindra like performance for the Indians to forget cricket for another day. Since the test is over and the Indians would resume to their daily routine, it’s the best time to strike and do it for the country which is craving for more non cricketing sports heroes. . It isn’t impossible but it’s still very optimistic to ask for another medal and the only realistic(is it?) hope comes from the old warhorses Lee-Hesh. I have my fingers crossed, and till then…..
…..Thanks to the lost test. Thanks to the Sri lankans, thanks to Muralidharan and Mendis and finally thanks to Bindra for making it happen.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
तारे ज़मीन par
This moment right now there is an Ishaan born some where. This small Ishaan is like the first rays of the sun. Though the sun in all its might would bring more light than any single ray but it is always the first rays which are the most cherished. Why is it so? I wonder and the answer is very simple, it’s a symbol of new beginning, a new start to something great and magnificent … as magnificent as the majestic sun. That’s how our Ishaan is a beginning of something magnificent.
This small Ishaan grows and starts crawling on the ground spreading its light of innocence all over the room and our hearts. It cry of laughter is the most sweetest piece of music ever heard by any of us and we go on live on the dream which Ishaan has brought along with him. When he cries we pacify him and make sure that he sheds no more tears, his place is not where others are and he is not supposed to cry, he is amongst the winners not those who cry. As he smiles at us after he opens his eyes we see a reassurance, “Yes I will fulfill your dream, and your wishes” We smile back satisfied and with big dreams in our hearts for this lovely Ishaan.
As he grows, things are not turning out the way we want him to. He is not quite getting the grades we want him to get, probably much lower than that and we wonder what’s wrong with him. Where did we go wrong? Maybe the answer is in this very beautiful story I was narrated by my teacher
“I was walking early in the morning on the wet grass, the dew drops below my feet where comforting them. But I stopped and turned around when I was at the centre of the garden. Every where I turned to I saw pearls. These where nothing but sun glazed dew drops and then I wondered…”
Yes we do not have to think ahead of this but my mind wandered and I wanted some one to tell me where these dew drops go after a few moments? And then I again wonder if this is Ishaan’s fate also. My minds may shout a loud no but yes this is what his happening to our Ishaan. The heat of sun rays are so strong that the dew drops just evaporate in a few minutes and that leaves us with nothing, absolutely nothing!!!
Let their minds flow like a free river, I promise you every river bank they touch would be greener than it could have ever been. It is this free river which will fulfill your dreams and would also live a life of its own. One day this river would flow from a very high peak and bystanders can only see and admire the might of this river.
Then where do we fit in? what do we do? We have the most difficult job to do. We have to listen and listen, because it is them who can make magic with what they have and its you who will enjoy it. You never know what they would say or do. They would probably bring you a thought or on idea which no one can ever do.
And just in case if you are thinking who Ishaan is, just touch your heart.. wait its saying something… It says “Its me”
This small Ishaan grows and starts crawling on the ground spreading its light of innocence all over the room and our hearts. It cry of laughter is the most sweetest piece of music ever heard by any of us and we go on live on the dream which Ishaan has brought along with him. When he cries we pacify him and make sure that he sheds no more tears, his place is not where others are and he is not supposed to cry, he is amongst the winners not those who cry. As he smiles at us after he opens his eyes we see a reassurance, “Yes I will fulfill your dream, and your wishes” We smile back satisfied and with big dreams in our hearts for this lovely Ishaan.
As he grows, things are not turning out the way we want him to. He is not quite getting the grades we want him to get, probably much lower than that and we wonder what’s wrong with him. Where did we go wrong? Maybe the answer is in this very beautiful story I was narrated by my teacher
“I was walking early in the morning on the wet grass, the dew drops below my feet where comforting them. But I stopped and turned around when I was at the centre of the garden. Every where I turned to I saw pearls. These where nothing but sun glazed dew drops and then I wondered…”
Yes we do not have to think ahead of this but my mind wandered and I wanted some one to tell me where these dew drops go after a few moments? And then I again wonder if this is Ishaan’s fate also. My minds may shout a loud no but yes this is what his happening to our Ishaan. The heat of sun rays are so strong that the dew drops just evaporate in a few minutes and that leaves us with nothing, absolutely nothing!!!
Let their minds flow like a free river, I promise you every river bank they touch would be greener than it could have ever been. It is this free river which will fulfill your dreams and would also live a life of its own. One day this river would flow from a very high peak and bystanders can only see and admire the might of this river.
Then where do we fit in? what do we do? We have the most difficult job to do. We have to listen and listen, because it is them who can make magic with what they have and its you who will enjoy it. You never know what they would say or do. They would probably bring you a thought or on idea which no one can ever do.
And just in case if you are thinking who Ishaan is, just touch your heart.. wait its saying something… It says “Its me”
Thursday, December 20, 2007
It's a lucky day
I was eagerly waiting for the match to take off. It was Celtic vs. AC Milan from the champion’s league. Kaka is one of my favourite and he was going to play after a long time. You guessed it right I am a football freak. Well the built up was getting bigger and bigger. Every player was getting analysed from Gattuso to Pirlo, from kaka to Inzaghi. The built up was not only for the match but much more than that. The results were coming. Not some examination results but I had applied for a promotion at office. I work at a call centre located some where in pune. In recent times pune has made a name for itself as an I.T and B.P.O hub. Ours was one of those struggling to put its nose ahead its competitors. I could be promoted to the position of a Manager. I would then be counted as one of the big shots of our office.
I was keeping an eye on the watch. I was waiting for the match to begin and also expecting a phone call. I knew my team has been doing well in recent times. From being a lowly ranked team on our process to a top ranking one, I had seen it all through. I got a great combination of people going in my team. The game never started (I mean it did but I had slept long before it) and I did not realize when my phone rang. I rubbed my eyes, the clock said 3 am and the first half of the game was already over and both the teams where tied at nil. Maybe the game was nothing but just an over hyped contest and I should not even bother about it (It’s a case of sour grapes). I tried to reach for my phone
“1 missed call” it announced
I checked the phone. It was Amol, my hands started shivering. I knew the news was coming. Before I could think of anything else, the phone started vibrating again. It was Amol again.
“Hullo”
“Hey Sameer Amol here” he said as cool as a cucumber.
“Buddy I got some bad news for you”
“What?” I knew this was one of the most cliché methods to announce good news and I prayed it to be the same
“See the bad news is that you have been fired, you are no longer our T.L”
“What shit are you talking about man….?” I knew it its good news
“You S.O.B you have been promoted right so you had to be fired as a T.L”
I shouted in excitement.. My house echoed with my own shriek.
“Wo…wooo. Don’t shout so loudly, s.o.b come over here we all deserve a treat from our T.L after all it’s gonna be his last week as our T.L.”
“Sure thing bro, give me some time I will freshen up and then leave”
“Ok but leave early we all want to have chat with you”
Amol was one of the senior members of my team and one of my best friends. He had joined a good six months after me but we became great friends when we were working for the same team. From then I had moved on to become a T.L myself and I made sure that he was a part of my team. He took care of every thing in my absence and was probably going to take over the team.
I was moving all round my house in excitement. I wanted to inform some one about my achievement. I called my parents but no one answered the phone. I dialled my elder brother in the U.S. I knew he would answer as it was evening time out there.
“Yes Sameer tell me” he said in an accent.
“Brother I have become the manager out here.. Man I am excited”
“What’s your salary going to be like?” he cut me short
“Ummm…. some where around 50 grand per month.”
“Remember I gave you an offer last month to come down here at the U.S. I will make sure you get at least double that salary. The advantages…you work like a human being during day time and then you have a better scope to grow and then probably you might also get a wife”
“Samar listen to this…. I told ya I am happy working here in India. It’s the best place in the world. I still work like a human being; it’s a misconception you people have, the work conditions here are great and regarding my marriage, I am happy being single”
I realised Samar had already hung up, very much the way irate customers hang up when they do not get what they want. Well that’s how my life goes….
My elder brother Samar had settled in U.S a good four years back (after completing his M.B.A). He got promoted twice and has been earning a lot of money. My family is an affluent family around this place. My dad was an insurance office’s division manager. He had come from times who believe that there are only three kinds of jobs you can do at night, that of a prostitute, a watch man or a crook. It took me years to explain him that we are none of those. (He never changed his thinking though!!!!). I moved out of the house. Since then I have been living alone. It was difficult initially but with time I have learnt the nitty gritties of bachelorhood. Well the other major talking point of my life is my marriage. I am 29 years and that’s the cause of concern for my parents and brother also.
Good news, you got it right a love of the past; bad news, not interested in her any more. It was not one of those tragic love stories which ended so spectacularly that I could write a book on it which could sell for years to come a la Eric Segal, but not all stories are straight out of the books but mine had its own share of emotions
“ You are not getting the point” Tahseem said firmly
“Now what is that I don’t understand”
“Think about our life after marriage if you continue with this job”
“What could be wrong, you know something I find the picture very rosy”
“Shut up Sameer, its not funny….. think about it when I come finished up with my work, I would want to talk to you for some time telling all what happened at office and instead of that what would I get? You would be getting ready for your job we would not get time to have a dinner or lunch together” she turned towards me “ Sameer is this the rosy life you are talking about”
“Honey half the problems are something which can be solved by mutual understanding” I held her hand and whispered softly “ Don’t you love me jaan”
She slowly nodded her head “ Its about time I take a firm decision” She turned towards me with a very firm face “ Listen Sameer I want you to decide the job or me”
I was not surprised, I knew it was coming, but there was a part of my brain which said that it would not come and did not allow me to prepare for it
“Listen Tahseem, its not very easy”
“What’s not easy to decide?”
“Come on you know what I mean, its not easy for me to leave this job after so many years I know I would not adjust anywhere else and the time I have spent in the company is my investment, how can I leave everything just like that”
For me it was not easy to leave the job just like that. But it was not difficult for her and she did just that, she left me just like that. Its strange, I have been living in this world for so long but there are so many things which I still have to learn for example how to do things just like that, how to not accept people for what they are, What’s stranger is that I have so many good examples in my family and some friends who are masters in these fields and I never learnt a single thing from them. One of the strange things about bachelorhood is that you never get what you want, when you want it. I always spend half of my time at home looking for my keys, then my jacket (I have been blessed with at least six jackets... I will not deny the fact that there could be more but I just lost track of them) and the list goes on. After a vigorous and frustrating search, I must add, I found all the stuff I wanted and left for office. I have a Maruti Zen. I had brought that car when it was considered to be a prize catch of its times, Today it is anything but that. It seemed to have a mind of its own and it took me an hour of pleading to start the car (Guess that’s what my life is about). As I accelerated the car towards the main gate I found the gate locked. I honked loudly, the watchman slowly walked outside his cabin slowly rubbing his eyes. It took him a little while to realize what he had to do but finally he did sort himself up and went towards his cabin again to get the keys. It was strange (as everything with me is); it reminded me of something not very long ago… I was ringing the door bell to my house. It took a while for my mom to open the door.
“why the hell do you do this shift?...isn’t there any other job in town that you can do other than this”
It was one of the things which I used to hear everyday… I had always wished that some one would ask me how was your day at work...may be some one from the house could just sit besides me and listen to the kind of work I do but all I hear is this
“Did you submit your resignation?”
“No dad not yet”
“How many times do I have to remind you that …huh listen do you want to make a career or not or you want to continue with this rotten job of yours”
“Dad! this job is giving me my bread and butter and to a lot more people. Don’t call this rotten” “Listen you want bread and butter I will give you that as long as you want but stop doing this job”
“Dad what’s wrong with you?”
“I wanted to ask you the same thing…what’s wrong with YOU don’t you want to lead a normal life don’t you want to be respected by the society and live life like a normal human being”
“I am living an absolutely normal life make no mistake about it and what did I do that the society will not respect me for”
“You are a kid son! you know when I talk to some of my friends at the park I feel ashamed to tell that my son works at a call centre, every ones son or daughter is well placed and is earning in lakhs every month and look at my son earning a measly 20 thousand that too after sacrificing all the sleep and health of his”
“What do those earning lakhs have to do with my job…? I don’t know what you are trying to say that but let me make this clear to you today I will not resign”
I could see my mother crying standing behind the door and could see the disappointment and anger in my dad’s eyes. That was the last time I rang the doorbell of my house… I moved out of the house since then. The watchman managed to open the main gate after looking through the bunch of keys. I could see him mumbling while I drove the car outside the society gates. Despite me having arguments with my dad I still loved him a lot. The only reason I moved out of the house was that he never understood me. He wanted me to do what my elder brother did. I am sure I would have introduced him to you. He is that “schol” kind of a person…. He was once challenged by his professor to complete some shit question paper he had set and my bro completed that and since then he has been getting all kinds of scholarships one can think of. My parents expected me to do everything like him and I guess that’s the problem, I was not him. My cell phone rang again. Speak of the devil and the devil is here. Yes it’s my legendary brother Samar. “I think you are over with your patriotic bullshit” he asked
“If you think that you will call only after my patriotism is over then don’t try to call me again, and for god sake don’t call it bullshit”
“Cool down bro and think practically, you can have a much better life out here, dude a manager out there will not earn even a shit percentage of what he earns here” “Alright let me think practically. You want me to come to a different country after leaving my job here because; Yes! Uncle Sam would be waiting for me arms wide open. That’s practical enough. You want me to come to the country where people think India is a country of snake charmers! That’s practical. You want me to come to the country where they think we people are taking away their jobs and look at me in hatred that’s practical enough and yes if you want me to think a little more practically then I really don’t want to come in a country where people would resist talking to me only because I am not white.”
“You have these things every where. Don’t you say that he is a south Indian , he’s a north Indian and things like that, dude that’s everywhere and what is it that India is giving you today that you don’t want to leave” This brought a smile to my lips, it was strange that my brother asked me this question. I knew it was his green card which was asking me this “Answer me Sameer what is it that India is giving you today?”
“You know something Samar, my country is asking me the same thing today... What have you done for me? And today my head goes down. Samar you don’t even deserve to ask that question” He hung up again! Probably Samar had cursed me when he hung up because the car has shut down again. The first thing I would do now is trying to get a car soon. I went through the cell phone to check whom I could call to get help. The contact list always tells you a story, one of the contact’s in my list reminds of me of something The discotheque was bustling with people and well that’s not my kind of party. Amol dragged me to the floor a couple of times, but my stint there did not last long for two reasons one I am a bad dancer and two I am a bad dancer. I was looking around for my place. There was a small sofa where I could place my lazy ass and spend some time for my Johnny walker. From here I could get a full view of the dance floor. It’s a pleasure watching people dancing and also people trying to dance but eyes where searching for some one special and well did not take long. There was a beautiful girl just standing among a group of guys. Well it seems the guys did not turn out the way she expected them to be and well she managed to drag herself away from them. She slowly found her way to the lounge and (look at my luck!!!) she sat just next to me. It takes quite some courage to speak up to a girl I guess “dint enjoy the dance huh” She was surprised “sorry?”
“I mean you did not seem to enjoy the dance…..or maybe the people”
“I guess so” “So what do you do?”
“I actually do a lot of things and it would be easier for me to tell you what I don’t do?”
“Go ahead Miss talented’
“I don’t talk to strangers” Those words still ring in my head as those where some of the first words I shared with Tahseem. Well we went on to see each other some time later, when we met at a family get together and you know what had happened later.
Before I could dial any number the car started (You guys forgot today is my lucky day!!!!). My phone rang again
"Where the hell are you?", asked Amol
"You know my car right..."
"yeah...hey listen Pramod sir wants to talk to you"
"yeah sure"
"Hey congrats Sameer...great to hear that even you have got promoted...remember once, I told you stay patient ...things will come to you"
"Yes sir .. I do remember that, that’s one advice which I am never going to forget"
"Hey Sameer I have to get back to work … I will talk to you as soon as you reach here alright?”
“Sure”
A glass could be half full for one person and at the same time the glass could be half empty. That is how one can feel when he talks to two different people. A while ago I was talking to my brother Samar and now a few words by Pramod Sir…they just changed the whole mood.
Oh I forgot to tell you Pramod sir is one of the executives who take calls on the floor. He is much older than all of us. He is one of those people who I look up to if I was in any kind of doubt. I still remember when I was new he used to sit on the workstation next to mine and help me out whenever he could. He was the person behind my first appreciation call
“Hey dude listen I don’t know if you are even talking in English alright..are you an Indian by any chance?……”
“Yes sir I am an Indian but sir this is no reason why I would not be able to help you sir…”
“oh yeah…but listen dude you aren’t helping me”
“Sir, just give me one chance… see sir you said that you had made the pay..” Pramod sir stopped me there “Listen Sameer that guy has paid money and now when you say that he hasn’t he would get angry try and think from his perspective”
“sir but he is talking about me being an Indian..”
“listen you solve his problem today, talk to him in an understanding manner and I can promise you next time he calls he would like to talk to an Indian”
I went back to the call
“sorry to keep you waiting sir”
“Hope you have solved my problem”
“Sir, as of what I understand... you had made the payment”
“Well I did… you are repeating this since I called … is that all you know in English?”
“I am sorry sir” I took a deep breath I started looking into my monitor trying to see what I could get to help this person while he kept abusing me of me being an Indian. Pramod wrote a note and asked me to read it
“Mr jones I see that you have been making your payments regularly, and again I am pretty sure you would have the payment this time around”
“but you say your god damned computer doesn’t show the payment”
I realised I have to calm him down “ yes sir, my computer doesn’t show that but that doesn’t mean that you haven’t made the payment, what has happened is probably the payment did not show up on our system due to some technical reason I am sure……”
Mr Jones was calm, I explained him that these are technical things which happen and I took the necessary action, albeit Pramod sirs help. He was happy at the end of it
“Son, I am sorry I kept shouting at you I never gave you a chance to talk but I am happy that you have solved my problem. I have learnt that Indians are very very polite and you never back answered. I am glad that I was able to talk to one of you special people and would like talk to a manager and tell him how good you were…and yes son I hope he would be an Indian too”
I was happy to hear that, Pramod was right and yes Mr. Jones still calls and I have observed that he even asks our colleagues in U.S to transfer to India because he was fond of us.
I still have the call recorded in my workstation and I listen to it whenever I could. It was a great feeling when people think that we have made a difference to their lives.
I had reached the office। I went ahead and parked the car( before it would shut down again). You know guys it feels different today.“Hello sir” the watchman said“How are you sir jee”“Good…. Its always a pleasure to see you here”I smiled and went ahead towards the floor. As soon as I entered the floor, I saw Amol“Hey Sameer” he shouted. I raised my hand and asked him not to make any noise. He came and hugged me
“Congrats buddy … all of us were waiting for you”
“Hey thanks, Amol get back to work. I will talk to you later”He sat down reluctantly. There were quite a few handshakes but nothing much. I thought there will be people who would congratulating me but probably things still haven’t changed.
“hey Sameer”
“pramod sir!!”
“Sameer you seem lost”
“nothing sir…its just”
“Hey listen, I want to talk to you”
“Sir, do you have a break?”
“I guess Manager sahab you can give me a break”
He smiledWe went to the terrace. That’s the place where most of us go to because of the fresh air there.“ So Sameer what’s wrong? Today you have been promoted and you don’t seem to be happy at all”
“No sir I am happy”
“My hair isn’t black, it’s white. I guess that’s enough proof for you that I can understand a few things better than others… come on you can tell me”
“You know sir, I have worked hard. In fact…very hard. There have been a lot of sacrifices from my end, but today I don’t have anyone to celebrate. Its seems like my life is an absolute zero.”
“Think again Sameer. Today you are at a position where a lot of people just dream of”
“But what’s the use. I don’t have anyone with me. My parents, Family, Love… today I don’t have any one standing besides me today. I am at a position which a lot of people see in their nightmares”
“Listen in life there are a few things you get without working for them and some things you get after working very very hard. I know about your parents. See they are angry with you. You have to talk to them, apologize. Sometimes it’s not necessary that you have to be wrong, but by not doing what you are supposed to, you would do wrong, I would say you are still doing wrong. Talk to them Sameer, they are your parents.”I nodded my head. What Pramod Sir has said was absolutely correct.“And son, love … marriage these things happen only when they are destined to. Don’t be impatient. One element cannot make life. It has to be so many things. Be proud that you have achieved a lot in your career. Take a break now and get back to your personal life. Work as hard as you have worked here. You will be successful” There was a glint in his eyes.
“I hope I haven’t put you to sleep with my lectures. Anyways I have to get back to work” As he got up to leave the rest of my team mates hurried in through the terrace door. They hade a cake in hand“congrats Sameer” Shouted everyone in unison.I must say I was surprised. Pooja pushed forward“We have got something for you” She gave me a packet which was gift wrapped. I opened the packet. It was a photograph of the whole team. It was framed and there was every ones signature on the frame. Then they handed me another packet. It was a card which said all the best. Amol had given me an album which had all my photographs from the time I had joined the company. I was gifted something after so long!!!. What was more touching was the emotion attached with it.Probably I had been wrong all the while. I am not a loser. I am not a zero. There are people who respect me. It’s just that I am lacking in a few things in life. I promise I will work on it. Everything will fall in place.All of a sudden everything went quiet. I was far away from the crowd and the noise. I could see the sun slowly rising above the horizon.
I was keeping an eye on the watch. I was waiting for the match to begin and also expecting a phone call. I knew my team has been doing well in recent times. From being a lowly ranked team on our process to a top ranking one, I had seen it all through. I got a great combination of people going in my team. The game never started (I mean it did but I had slept long before it) and I did not realize when my phone rang. I rubbed my eyes, the clock said 3 am and the first half of the game was already over and both the teams where tied at nil. Maybe the game was nothing but just an over hyped contest and I should not even bother about it (It’s a case of sour grapes). I tried to reach for my phone
“1 missed call” it announced
I checked the phone. It was Amol, my hands started shivering. I knew the news was coming. Before I could think of anything else, the phone started vibrating again. It was Amol again.
“Hullo”
“Hey Sameer Amol here” he said as cool as a cucumber.
“Buddy I got some bad news for you”
“What?” I knew this was one of the most cliché methods to announce good news and I prayed it to be the same
“See the bad news is that you have been fired, you are no longer our T.L”
“What shit are you talking about man….?” I knew it its good news
“You S.O.B you have been promoted right so you had to be fired as a T.L”
I shouted in excitement.. My house echoed with my own shriek.
“Wo…wooo. Don’t shout so loudly, s.o.b come over here we all deserve a treat from our T.L after all it’s gonna be his last week as our T.L.”
“Sure thing bro, give me some time I will freshen up and then leave”
“Ok but leave early we all want to have chat with you”
I was moving all round my house in excitement. I wanted to inform some one about my achievement. I called my parents but no one answered the phone. I dialled my elder brother in the U.S. I knew he would answer as it was evening time out there.
“Yes Sameer tell me” he said in an accent.
“Brother I have become the manager out here.. Man I am excited”
“What’s your salary going to be like?” he cut me short
“Ummm…. some where around 50 grand per month.”
“Remember I gave you an offer last month to come down here at the U.S. I will make sure you get at least double that salary. The advantages…you work like a human being during day time and then you have a better scope to grow and then probably you might also get a wife”
“Samar listen to this…. I told ya I am happy working here in India. It’s the best place in the world. I still work like a human being; it’s a misconception you people have, the work conditions here are great and regarding my marriage, I am happy being single”
I realised Samar had already hung up, very much the way irate customers hang up when they do not get what they want. Well that’s how my life goes….
My elder brother Samar had settled in U.S a good four years back (after completing his M.B.A). He got promoted twice and has been earning a lot of money. My family is an affluent family around this place. My dad was an insurance office’s division manager. He had come from times who believe that there are only three kinds of jobs you can do at night, that of a prostitute, a watch man or a crook. It took me years to explain him that we are none of those. (He never changed his thinking though!!!!). I moved out of the house. Since then I have been living alone. It was difficult initially but with time I have learnt the nitty gritties of bachelorhood. Well the other major talking point of my life is my marriage. I am 29 years and that’s the cause of concern for my parents and brother also.
Good news, you got it right a love of the past; bad news, not interested in her any more. It was not one of those tragic love stories which ended so spectacularly that I could write a book on it which could sell for years to come a la Eric Segal, but not all stories are straight out of the books but mine had its own share of emotions
“ You are not getting the point” Tahseem said firmly
“Now what is that I don’t understand”
“Think about our life after marriage if you continue with this job”
“What could be wrong, you know something I find the picture very rosy”
“Shut up Sameer, its not funny….. think about it when I come finished up with my work, I would want to talk to you for some time telling all what happened at office and instead of that what would I get? You would be getting ready for your job we would not get time to have a dinner or lunch together” she turned towards me “ Sameer is this the rosy life you are talking about”
“Honey half the problems are something which can be solved by mutual understanding” I held her hand and whispered softly “ Don’t you love me jaan”
She slowly nodded her head “ Its about time I take a firm decision” She turned towards me with a very firm face “ Listen Sameer I want you to decide the job or me”
I was not surprised, I knew it was coming, but there was a part of my brain which said that it would not come and did not allow me to prepare for it
“Listen Tahseem, its not very easy”
“What’s not easy to decide?”
“Come on you know what I mean, its not easy for me to leave this job after so many years I know I would not adjust anywhere else and the time I have spent in the company is my investment, how can I leave everything just like that”
For me it was not easy to leave the job just like that. But it was not difficult for her and she did just that, she left me just like that. Its strange, I have been living in this world for so long but there are so many things which I still have to learn for example how to do things just like that, how to not accept people for what they are, What’s stranger is that I have so many good examples in my family and some friends who are masters in these fields and I never learnt a single thing from them. One of the strange things about bachelorhood is that you never get what you want, when you want it. I always spend half of my time at home looking for my keys, then my jacket (I have been blessed with at least six jackets... I will not deny the fact that there could be more but I just lost track of them) and the list goes on. After a vigorous and frustrating search, I must add, I found all the stuff I wanted and left for office. I have a Maruti Zen. I had brought that car when it was considered to be a prize catch of its times, Today it is anything but that. It seemed to have a mind of its own and it took me an hour of pleading to start the car (Guess that’s what my life is about). As I accelerated the car towards the main gate I found the gate locked. I honked loudly, the watchman slowly walked outside his cabin slowly rubbing his eyes. It took him a little while to realize what he had to do but finally he did sort himself up and went towards his cabin again to get the keys. It was strange (as everything with me is); it reminded me of something not very long ago… I was ringing the door bell to my house. It took a while for my mom to open the door.
“why the hell do you do this shift?...isn’t there any other job in town that you can do other than this”
It was one of the things which I used to hear everyday… I had always wished that some one would ask me how was your day at work...may be some one from the house could just sit besides me and listen to the kind of work I do but all I hear is this
“Did you submit your resignation?”
“No dad not yet”
“How many times do I have to remind you that …huh listen do you want to make a career or not or you want to continue with this rotten job of yours”
“Dad! this job is giving me my bread and butter and to a lot more people. Don’t call this rotten” “Listen you want bread and butter I will give you that as long as you want but stop doing this job”
“Dad what’s wrong with you?”
“I wanted to ask you the same thing…what’s wrong with YOU don’t you want to lead a normal life don’t you want to be respected by the society and live life like a normal human being”
“I am living an absolutely normal life make no mistake about it and what did I do that the society will not respect me for”
“You are a kid son! you know when I talk to some of my friends at the park I feel ashamed to tell that my son works at a call centre, every ones son or daughter is well placed and is earning in lakhs every month and look at my son earning a measly 20 thousand that too after sacrificing all the sleep and health of his”
“What do those earning lakhs have to do with my job…? I don’t know what you are trying to say that but let me make this clear to you today I will not resign”
I could see my mother crying standing behind the door and could see the disappointment and anger in my dad’s eyes. That was the last time I rang the doorbell of my house… I moved out of the house since then. The watchman managed to open the main gate after looking through the bunch of keys. I could see him mumbling while I drove the car outside the society gates. Despite me having arguments with my dad I still loved him a lot. The only reason I moved out of the house was that he never understood me. He wanted me to do what my elder brother did. I am sure I would have introduced him to you. He is that “schol” kind of a person…. He was once challenged by his professor to complete some shit question paper he had set and my bro completed that and since then he has been getting all kinds of scholarships one can think of. My parents expected me to do everything like him and I guess that’s the problem, I was not him. My cell phone rang again. Speak of the devil and the devil is here. Yes it’s my legendary brother Samar. “I think you are over with your patriotic bullshit” he asked
“If you think that you will call only after my patriotism is over then don’t try to call me again, and for god sake don’t call it bullshit”
“Cool down bro and think practically, you can have a much better life out here, dude a manager out there will not earn even a shit percentage of what he earns here” “Alright let me think practically. You want me to come to a different country after leaving my job here because; Yes! Uncle Sam would be waiting for me arms wide open. That’s practical enough. You want me to come to the country where people think India is a country of snake charmers! That’s practical. You want me to come to the country where they think we people are taking away their jobs and look at me in hatred that’s practical enough and yes if you want me to think a little more practically then I really don’t want to come in a country where people would resist talking to me only because I am not white.”
“You have these things every where. Don’t you say that he is a south Indian , he’s a north Indian and things like that, dude that’s everywhere and what is it that India is giving you today that you don’t want to leave” This brought a smile to my lips, it was strange that my brother asked me this question. I knew it was his green card which was asking me this “Answer me Sameer what is it that India is giving you today?”
“You know something Samar, my country is asking me the same thing today... What have you done for me? And today my head goes down. Samar you don’t even deserve to ask that question” He hung up again! Probably Samar had cursed me when he hung up because the car has shut down again. The first thing I would do now is trying to get a car soon. I went through the cell phone to check whom I could call to get help. The contact list always tells you a story, one of the contact’s in my list reminds of me of something The discotheque was bustling with people and well that’s not my kind of party. Amol dragged me to the floor a couple of times, but my stint there did not last long for two reasons one I am a bad dancer and two I am a bad dancer. I was looking around for my place. There was a small sofa where I could place my lazy ass and spend some time for my Johnny walker. From here I could get a full view of the dance floor. It’s a pleasure watching people dancing and also people trying to dance but eyes where searching for some one special and well did not take long. There was a beautiful girl just standing among a group of guys. Well it seems the guys did not turn out the way she expected them to be and well she managed to drag herself away from them. She slowly found her way to the lounge and (look at my luck!!!) she sat just next to me. It takes quite some courage to speak up to a girl I guess “dint enjoy the dance huh” She was surprised “sorry?”
“I mean you did not seem to enjoy the dance…..or maybe the people”
“I guess so” “So what do you do?”
“I actually do a lot of things and it would be easier for me to tell you what I don’t do?”
“Go ahead Miss talented’
“I don’t talk to strangers” Those words still ring in my head as those where some of the first words I shared with Tahseem. Well we went on to see each other some time later, when we met at a family get together and you know what had happened later.
Before I could dial any number the car started (You guys forgot today is my lucky day!!!!). My phone rang again
"Where the hell are you?", asked Amol
"You know my car right..."
"yeah...hey listen Pramod sir wants to talk to you"
"yeah sure"
"Hey congrats Sameer...great to hear that even you have got promoted...remember once, I told you stay patient ...things will come to you"
"Yes sir .. I do remember that, that’s one advice which I am never going to forget"
"Hey Sameer I have to get back to work … I will talk to you as soon as you reach here alright?”
“Sure”
A glass could be half full for one person and at the same time the glass could be half empty. That is how one can feel when he talks to two different people. A while ago I was talking to my brother Samar and now a few words by Pramod Sir…they just changed the whole mood.
Oh I forgot to tell you Pramod sir is one of the executives who take calls on the floor. He is much older than all of us. He is one of those people who I look up to if I was in any kind of doubt. I still remember when I was new he used to sit on the workstation next to mine and help me out whenever he could. He was the person behind my first appreciation call
“Hey dude listen I don’t know if you are even talking in English alright..are you an Indian by any chance?……”
“Yes sir I am an Indian but sir this is no reason why I would not be able to help you sir…”
“oh yeah…but listen dude you aren’t helping me”
“Sir, just give me one chance… see sir you said that you had made the pay..” Pramod sir stopped me there “Listen Sameer that guy has paid money and now when you say that he hasn’t he would get angry try and think from his perspective”
“sir but he is talking about me being an Indian..”
“listen you solve his problem today, talk to him in an understanding manner and I can promise you next time he calls he would like to talk to an Indian”
I went back to the call
“sorry to keep you waiting sir”
“Hope you have solved my problem”
“Sir, as of what I understand... you had made the payment”
“Well I did… you are repeating this since I called … is that all you know in English?”
“I am sorry sir” I took a deep breath I started looking into my monitor trying to see what I could get to help this person while he kept abusing me of me being an Indian. Pramod wrote a note and asked me to read it
“Mr jones I see that you have been making your payments regularly, and again I am pretty sure you would have the payment this time around”
“but you say your god damned computer doesn’t show the payment”
I realised I have to calm him down “ yes sir, my computer doesn’t show that but that doesn’t mean that you haven’t made the payment, what has happened is probably the payment did not show up on our system due to some technical reason I am sure……”
Mr Jones was calm, I explained him that these are technical things which happen and I took the necessary action, albeit Pramod sirs help. He was happy at the end of it
“Son, I am sorry I kept shouting at you I never gave you a chance to talk but I am happy that you have solved my problem. I have learnt that Indians are very very polite and you never back answered. I am glad that I was able to talk to one of you special people and would like talk to a manager and tell him how good you were…and yes son I hope he would be an Indian too”
I was happy to hear that, Pramod was right and yes Mr. Jones still calls and I have observed that he even asks our colleagues in U.S to transfer to India because he was fond of us.
I still have the call recorded in my workstation and I listen to it whenever I could. It was a great feeling when people think that we have made a difference to their lives.
I had reached the office। I went ahead and parked the car( before it would shut down again). You know guys it feels different today.“Hello sir” the watchman said“How are you sir jee”“Good…. Its always a pleasure to see you here”I smiled and went ahead towards the floor. As soon as I entered the floor, I saw Amol“Hey Sameer” he shouted. I raised my hand and asked him not to make any noise. He came and hugged me
“Congrats buddy … all of us were waiting for you”
“Hey thanks, Amol get back to work. I will talk to you later”He sat down reluctantly. There were quite a few handshakes but nothing much. I thought there will be people who would congratulating me but probably things still haven’t changed.
“hey Sameer”
“pramod sir!!”
“Sameer you seem lost”
“nothing sir…its just”
“Hey listen, I want to talk to you”
“Sir, do you have a break?”
“I guess Manager sahab you can give me a break”
He smiledWe went to the terrace. That’s the place where most of us go to because of the fresh air there.“ So Sameer what’s wrong? Today you have been promoted and you don’t seem to be happy at all”
“No sir I am happy”
“My hair isn’t black, it’s white. I guess that’s enough proof for you that I can understand a few things better than others… come on you can tell me”
“You know sir, I have worked hard. In fact…very hard. There have been a lot of sacrifices from my end, but today I don’t have anyone to celebrate. Its seems like my life is an absolute zero.”
“Think again Sameer. Today you are at a position where a lot of people just dream of”
“But what’s the use. I don’t have anyone with me. My parents, Family, Love… today I don’t have any one standing besides me today. I am at a position which a lot of people see in their nightmares”
“Listen in life there are a few things you get without working for them and some things you get after working very very hard. I know about your parents. See they are angry with you. You have to talk to them, apologize. Sometimes it’s not necessary that you have to be wrong, but by not doing what you are supposed to, you would do wrong, I would say you are still doing wrong. Talk to them Sameer, they are your parents.”I nodded my head. What Pramod Sir has said was absolutely correct.“And son, love … marriage these things happen only when they are destined to. Don’t be impatient. One element cannot make life. It has to be so many things. Be proud that you have achieved a lot in your career. Take a break now and get back to your personal life. Work as hard as you have worked here. You will be successful” There was a glint in his eyes.
“I hope I haven’t put you to sleep with my lectures. Anyways I have to get back to work” As he got up to leave the rest of my team mates hurried in through the terrace door. They hade a cake in hand“congrats Sameer” Shouted everyone in unison.I must say I was surprised. Pooja pushed forward“We have got something for you” She gave me a packet which was gift wrapped. I opened the packet. It was a photograph of the whole team. It was framed and there was every ones signature on the frame. Then they handed me another packet. It was a card which said all the best. Amol had given me an album which had all my photographs from the time I had joined the company. I was gifted something after so long!!!. What was more touching was the emotion attached with it.Probably I had been wrong all the while. I am not a loser. I am not a zero. There are people who respect me. It’s just that I am lacking in a few things in life. I promise I will work on it. Everything will fall in place.All of a sudden everything went quiet. I was far away from the crowd and the noise. I could see the sun slowly rising above the horizon.
You know guys …॥it’s my lucky day.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Leave me alone
Rahul was checking if everything he needed was there in his bags .He slowly dragged them out, one by one. His parents were watching him struggle with his luggage, they did not want to help him out, and their hearts would not allow them to do that. It was their only son who was leaving. Rahul managed to get hold of a rickshaw; he was making sure if all his bags were in the rickshaw when he felt a huge arm go around his shoulders, it was his dad
“Son, try and forget all what has happened?”
Rahul nodded and sat in the rickshaw, he did not allow any one to come along with him to the station he wanted to be alone. He got in to his compartment and the train took him along with many others.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Rahul took the keys of his room form the old gentleman
“I don’t know if you would like the room or not”
“Don’t worry sir I will manage.”
The old man smiled. Rahul knew a lot more was to come when he saw that smile. He picked up a newspaper on his way back to his room.
After sometime there was a sound at the door, Rahul’s roommate was there at the door. Rahul got up pushed forward his hand
“Hi I am Rahul I am going to trouble you here for the next few days”
“Yeah great” the guy rolled his eyes and went to take a shower.
Rahul did not like it, he thought it was very rude but what could he do about it? Everyone cannot pamper you right?
Rahul was wandering around in his room; he had to attend his college from tomorrow and did not know how he would go there, when he noticed his room mate’s college I card.
“Sameer Bhatt” good name thought Rahul.
Rahul was noticing Sameer that guy came out after the shower changed into his night clothes, took a book to study for sometime and slept and during this time he had not spoken one word. It’s a breach of the code of conduct for humanity isn’t it??
The night had taken over and Rahul was fast asleep. Sameer was feeling very restless; these times of loneliness haunt and strangle Sameer. He was looking outside the window; the moon was being chased by the dark clouds, however fast the moon ran the dark clouds finally won. That’s the truth about life; memories always catch up on you. The wind blew hard at his face
“Here they come”
The early morning sunrays slowly spread over Rahul’s face, he got up twitching his nose.
He saw Sameer was already ready and was leaving for the college.
“Bro …” shouted Rahul
Sameer stopped and turned in anguish “What happened?”
“Listen bro, I do not know how to get to the college.. So if you could please drop me there …” nothing seemed to be happening “only for today” he added and folded his hands.
“Alright only for today” Sameer replied “I am waiting near the bike”.
Rahul rushed to the bathroom took a shower as quickly as possible, put on crushed clothes and ran below. Sameer was already waiting there tapping his feet
“What took you so long?” asked Sameer.
Rahul found him rude, he did all the running and this is what he gets. “Cant he just keep his complaining out of his life ?” Rahul thought.
Sameer was one of the worse drivers Rahul had ever seen or rather sat behind. The wind blowing had brought Rahul’s cheek to his eyes…at least that’s what he thought.
“Dude” Rahul struggled to get some sound from his throat “are we planning to go to the college or are you planning to go there” Rahul pointed to wards the heavens.
“Get down the bike now”
“What?”
“see if you cannot stop commenting the way I drive my bike then please get down……..
Rahul kept listening like a small kid been brought to discipline by its teacher
They reached the college much before time. There was hardly a soul there; except for an old watchman (Should he be counted among the live souls roaming or dead one’s Rahul is still not sure). Sameer had vanished in thin air..
“so now what do I do all alone in this jungle, no chicks around here….” He said scratching his head… “Life is kinda difficult.”
The college was an East India company headquarters before independence, this building could give shivers to every person worth his salt, at least that’s what Rahul thought. He looked around for any modern structures and he had prepared himself to believe that the most modern building could be around 50 years old.
After a haphazard search for 15 minutes he finally found the auditorium which was not old (that was a pleasant surprise!!!). The auditorium had a huge wooden door which squeaked when pushed to be opened, and boy was it not loud. This was nothing new as this is what happens in colleges like these. The college looks good only if there is an event which is going to happen and the auditorium had a good part to play in it. Despite its poor outer look the auditorium was reasonably good from inside. The floor was neat and had a thin carpet throughout which was hiding the real material of the floor. It had a lot of seats and it had an ambience of a Roman amphitheatre, the only difference being that this one had a roof and that made it look majestic. Wild thoughts started haunting Rahul. He had a wild imagination but never so wild, he could see students being left helpless in front of lions and the professors sitting at one corner laughing their way to glory and the poor student could not do anything. Rahul could not bear the pain and miseries of the poor student, and that’s when he saw someone sitting at the far corner of the auditorium.
“Now I know why I was getting those weird painful and what not ideas….guess whose here the Maharaja of all the pain miseries and what not ….”
“Whats up weirdo?”
“What???” asked Sameer
“Nothing.. What are you doing here?” Rahul noticed some amount of pain in Sameer’s and if he was not wrong he saw a stray tear rolling down his cheeks.
“Can I ask you the same question” Sameer shot back
“Well I pay my college fees and I think I have the right to go to the college auditorium at my free will”….(“ got back to the monster yipeeee” Rahul thought)
Sameer got up and got going.( “did I do it so well?”)
“Where are you going?” he asked
“I don’t think the college pays me to answer all your questions?”
Now that was rude wasn’t it.
xxxxxxx
Days passed by and things did not seem to work out. Everyday Rahul kept trying to get a little friendly with Sameer and he ended up doing exactly the opposite. Rahul never thought that it could be so difficult but you never expect life to be easy do you?.. who knew that this could have happened to Rahul, but that’s how things are that’s how life is.
“Thinking about how unfair life is??” asked the old man
“Yes uncle, but tell me one thing how do you know everything?” asked Rahul throwing a stone in the puddle in front of him.
“Like I have always been telling you I am not one of you. I am different …”
“Let us not discuss that again.. Now tell me what to do?”
“You know I never have an answer to that” he said with a glow on his face. Rahul had always noticed that he always had a heavenly glow on his face and his white robes always reflected purity. There was something about this man which brought peace in Rahul’s heart and soul. It was strange Rahul never knew who he was and how he always appeared from no where and disappeared in thin air, or rather he’s just got used to it (expect all the crazy things from Rahul).
Before Rahul could say a word the guy had done what he always did, he had disappeared again
“Thank you, I was enlightened after that great conversation dude” shouted Rahul. He got up and started walking towards his room. The sky was heavy with dark clouds by now, there was a flash of lightning every now and then and finally it started to pour down. Every drop touching his body, every flash of lightning took Rahul somewhere, somewhere he never wanted to go again. He sat on a bench near by, covering his face trying to run away from something which was inside him, deeply rooted and refusing to leave him alone.
He felt some one keep his hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see who it was; it was the same old man, the man with a big heart, Kalb al Kabira…
“Finally you got my name”
“What’s your name?”
“Kabir, good name isn’t it?”
Rahul was glad that the old man was there with him again, and yes he also thought that Kabir was a nice name, but it sounded a little too young for him.
“Rahul tell me something” he said interrupting Rahul’s thoughts
“Huh ... what?”
“What is the thing that troubles you the most?” he asked
“Memories…some of the memories which bring me a lot of pain”
“I want you to think about them again.”
“And why is that?”
“The answer is simple; life is like a coin with two sides”
“Yeah and my coin is gone for a toss….”
Kabir was smiling “good answer but like I was saying life has two sides to it and your memories are no different”
“How can there be a good side to it, and if there is something what could it be I wonder, the best thing is that I met you for the first time, but that’s bearable at maximum not good” Rahul smiled at Kabir and continued “ now I understand my coin also has two sides bad and worse”
Kabir had disappeared again, Rahul was smiling, and he got up from the bench and went to his room. Rahul’s burden had lightened but only for a while.
Sameer was hiding his head from the rain under a small tapri , it is something like a tent the only difference being that it is used by the financially disabled as a home. He was staring at his Davidoff slowly burning away, all it left was ASH. He turned the packet and saw a small tag on it; it said “Smokers Die Younger” a wry smile came to his face. It was the same tag which took him to smoking. Today he knew with every drag, he might lose a few minutes of his life “just wished it took out a little more than that”.
He threw the butt and stepped out of the tapri and went to his bike. The rain was slowly soaking him. He stepped on his bike and zoomed away. He kept driving as fast as he could, trying to runaway from himself.
Rahul sat on his bed feeling just a little but numb because of the rain. He sipped his coffee reading the Men’s world; it was telling all the quick ways of getting a good six pack abs. That got him thinking…” six pack huh…I wonder how many chicks would fall for that” and there the magazine had an answer to that also it said “57.7% of the women want a guy who has a good six pack”. Rahul raised his eyebrow 57.7 chicks in hundred “I will let Sameer keep that 0.7 girl and I will keep the 57” Rahul chuckled.
Sameer pushed the door open; he was completely soaked with rain. He had a cigarette burning in his mouth. He threw it from his mouth on the floor and crushed it with his leg. Sameer changed, his head still wet. He pulled his blanket and went straight to sleep.
“Well I guess then I will have to keep that 0.7 also, I cannot let her suffer at the hands of this monster” Rahul said with a very innocent face.
Rahul noticed Sameer’s face getting red, especially near his nose. He was catching fever and that too a bad one. He touched Sameer’s head; he definitely was catching flu. Rahul looked around, he poured the bottle of cold water he had got in a bowl, soaked a clean handkerchief in it and started rubbing Sameer’s head with it.
“Never did this thing before but got to take care of this guy, he is absolutely out of his mind. Man I really don’t understand…how can a person become so emotionless, so rigid doesn’t even care about his life neither about those around him. He is living in a world of his own.”
Rahul was right.. Sameer was in a world of his own, he lived there, and wanted to die there never wanted to get out of that place and that seems to be the only problem.
Rahul checked Sameer’s temperature, it was still 400 C. It was going to take some time to go down. Rahul turned towards the watch, It was 2 in the morning, he saw the hands of the watch slowly moving ahead. He had only winked once or twice but now he could not focus on the watch anymore, he rubbed his eyes trying to focus on it 10 AM it said; He got up astonished … he did not even realize when he fell asleep.
“Where is Sameer?” he asked himself. Sameer was not there on the bed. Rahul got up from his chair looked around in the room but could not find him. It seems Sameer had got up and left for college probably.
“Man that guy is a crazy nut he’s gone to the college; he’s running high temperature man”
At that moment Sameer came in to the room, he was wearing a long rain coat over a warm woolen jacket, but he was still shivering
“Where were you buddy?” asked Rahul
“Son, try and forget all what has happened?”
Rahul nodded and sat in the rickshaw, he did not allow any one to come along with him to the station he wanted to be alone. He got in to his compartment and the train took him along with many others.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Rahul took the keys of his room form the old gentleman
“I don’t know if you would like the room or not”
“Don’t worry sir I will manage.”
The old man smiled. Rahul knew a lot more was to come when he saw that smile. He picked up a newspaper on his way back to his room.
After sometime there was a sound at the door, Rahul’s roommate was there at the door. Rahul got up pushed forward his hand
“Hi I am Rahul I am going to trouble you here for the next few days”
“Yeah great” the guy rolled his eyes and went to take a shower.
Rahul did not like it, he thought it was very rude but what could he do about it? Everyone cannot pamper you right?
Rahul was wandering around in his room; he had to attend his college from tomorrow and did not know how he would go there, when he noticed his room mate’s college I card.
“Sameer Bhatt” good name thought Rahul.
Rahul was noticing Sameer that guy came out after the shower changed into his night clothes, took a book to study for sometime and slept and during this time he had not spoken one word. It’s a breach of the code of conduct for humanity isn’t it??
The night had taken over and Rahul was fast asleep. Sameer was feeling very restless; these times of loneliness haunt and strangle Sameer. He was looking outside the window; the moon was being chased by the dark clouds, however fast the moon ran the dark clouds finally won. That’s the truth about life; memories always catch up on you. The wind blew hard at his face
“Here they come”
The early morning sunrays slowly spread over Rahul’s face, he got up twitching his nose.
He saw Sameer was already ready and was leaving for the college.
“Bro …” shouted Rahul
Sameer stopped and turned in anguish “What happened?”
“Listen bro, I do not know how to get to the college.. So if you could please drop me there …” nothing seemed to be happening “only for today” he added and folded his hands.
“Alright only for today” Sameer replied “I am waiting near the bike”.
Rahul rushed to the bathroom took a shower as quickly as possible, put on crushed clothes and ran below. Sameer was already waiting there tapping his feet
“What took you so long?” asked Sameer.
Rahul found him rude, he did all the running and this is what he gets. “Cant he just keep his complaining out of his life ?” Rahul thought.
Sameer was one of the worse drivers Rahul had ever seen or rather sat behind. The wind blowing had brought Rahul’s cheek to his eyes…at least that’s what he thought.
“Dude” Rahul struggled to get some sound from his throat “are we planning to go to the college or are you planning to go there” Rahul pointed to wards the heavens.
“Get down the bike now”
“What?”
“see if you cannot stop commenting the way I drive my bike then please get down……..
Rahul kept listening like a small kid been brought to discipline by its teacher
They reached the college much before time. There was hardly a soul there; except for an old watchman (Should he be counted among the live souls roaming or dead one’s Rahul is still not sure). Sameer had vanished in thin air..
“so now what do I do all alone in this jungle, no chicks around here….” He said scratching his head… “Life is kinda difficult.”
The college was an East India company headquarters before independence, this building could give shivers to every person worth his salt, at least that’s what Rahul thought. He looked around for any modern structures and he had prepared himself to believe that the most modern building could be around 50 years old.
After a haphazard search for 15 minutes he finally found the auditorium which was not old (that was a pleasant surprise!!!). The auditorium had a huge wooden door which squeaked when pushed to be opened, and boy was it not loud. This was nothing new as this is what happens in colleges like these. The college looks good only if there is an event which is going to happen and the auditorium had a good part to play in it. Despite its poor outer look the auditorium was reasonably good from inside. The floor was neat and had a thin carpet throughout which was hiding the real material of the floor. It had a lot of seats and it had an ambience of a Roman amphitheatre, the only difference being that this one had a roof and that made it look majestic. Wild thoughts started haunting Rahul. He had a wild imagination but never so wild, he could see students being left helpless in front of lions and the professors sitting at one corner laughing their way to glory and the poor student could not do anything. Rahul could not bear the pain and miseries of the poor student, and that’s when he saw someone sitting at the far corner of the auditorium.
“Now I know why I was getting those weird painful and what not ideas….guess whose here the Maharaja of all the pain miseries and what not ….”
“Whats up weirdo?”
“What???” asked Sameer
“Nothing.. What are you doing here?” Rahul noticed some amount of pain in Sameer’s and if he was not wrong he saw a stray tear rolling down his cheeks.
“Can I ask you the same question” Sameer shot back
“Well I pay my college fees and I think I have the right to go to the college auditorium at my free will”….(“ got back to the monster yipeeee” Rahul thought)
Sameer got up and got going.( “did I do it so well?”)
“Where are you going?” he asked
“I don’t think the college pays me to answer all your questions?”
Now that was rude wasn’t it.
xxxxxxx
Days passed by and things did not seem to work out. Everyday Rahul kept trying to get a little friendly with Sameer and he ended up doing exactly the opposite. Rahul never thought that it could be so difficult but you never expect life to be easy do you?.. who knew that this could have happened to Rahul, but that’s how things are that’s how life is.
“Thinking about how unfair life is??” asked the old man
“Yes uncle, but tell me one thing how do you know everything?” asked Rahul throwing a stone in the puddle in front of him.
“Like I have always been telling you I am not one of you. I am different …”
“Let us not discuss that again.. Now tell me what to do?”
“You know I never have an answer to that” he said with a glow on his face. Rahul had always noticed that he always had a heavenly glow on his face and his white robes always reflected purity. There was something about this man which brought peace in Rahul’s heart and soul. It was strange Rahul never knew who he was and how he always appeared from no where and disappeared in thin air, or rather he’s just got used to it (expect all the crazy things from Rahul).
Before Rahul could say a word the guy had done what he always did, he had disappeared again
“Thank you, I was enlightened after that great conversation dude” shouted Rahul. He got up and started walking towards his room. The sky was heavy with dark clouds by now, there was a flash of lightning every now and then and finally it started to pour down. Every drop touching his body, every flash of lightning took Rahul somewhere, somewhere he never wanted to go again. He sat on a bench near by, covering his face trying to run away from something which was inside him, deeply rooted and refusing to leave him alone.
He felt some one keep his hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see who it was; it was the same old man, the man with a big heart, Kalb al Kabira…
“Finally you got my name”
“What’s your name?”
“Kabir, good name isn’t it?”
Rahul was glad that the old man was there with him again, and yes he also thought that Kabir was a nice name, but it sounded a little too young for him.
“Rahul tell me something” he said interrupting Rahul’s thoughts
“Huh ... what?”
“What is the thing that troubles you the most?” he asked
“Memories…some of the memories which bring me a lot of pain”
“I want you to think about them again.”
“And why is that?”
“The answer is simple; life is like a coin with two sides”
“Yeah and my coin is gone for a toss….”
Kabir was smiling “good answer but like I was saying life has two sides to it and your memories are no different”
“How can there be a good side to it, and if there is something what could it be I wonder, the best thing is that I met you for the first time, but that’s bearable at maximum not good” Rahul smiled at Kabir and continued “ now I understand my coin also has two sides bad and worse”
Kabir had disappeared again, Rahul was smiling, and he got up from the bench and went to his room. Rahul’s burden had lightened but only for a while.
Sameer was hiding his head from the rain under a small tapri , it is something like a tent the only difference being that it is used by the financially disabled as a home. He was staring at his Davidoff slowly burning away, all it left was ASH. He turned the packet and saw a small tag on it; it said “Smokers Die Younger” a wry smile came to his face. It was the same tag which took him to smoking. Today he knew with every drag, he might lose a few minutes of his life “just wished it took out a little more than that”.
He threw the butt and stepped out of the tapri and went to his bike. The rain was slowly soaking him. He stepped on his bike and zoomed away. He kept driving as fast as he could, trying to runaway from himself.
Rahul sat on his bed feeling just a little but numb because of the rain. He sipped his coffee reading the Men’s world; it was telling all the quick ways of getting a good six pack abs. That got him thinking…” six pack huh…I wonder how many chicks would fall for that” and there the magazine had an answer to that also it said “57.7% of the women want a guy who has a good six pack”. Rahul raised his eyebrow 57.7 chicks in hundred “I will let Sameer keep that 0.7 girl and I will keep the 57” Rahul chuckled.
Sameer pushed the door open; he was completely soaked with rain. He had a cigarette burning in his mouth. He threw it from his mouth on the floor and crushed it with his leg. Sameer changed, his head still wet. He pulled his blanket and went straight to sleep.
“Well I guess then I will have to keep that 0.7 also, I cannot let her suffer at the hands of this monster” Rahul said with a very innocent face.
Rahul noticed Sameer’s face getting red, especially near his nose. He was catching fever and that too a bad one. He touched Sameer’s head; he definitely was catching flu. Rahul looked around, he poured the bottle of cold water he had got in a bowl, soaked a clean handkerchief in it and started rubbing Sameer’s head with it.
“Never did this thing before but got to take care of this guy, he is absolutely out of his mind. Man I really don’t understand…how can a person become so emotionless, so rigid doesn’t even care about his life neither about those around him. He is living in a world of his own.”
Rahul was right.. Sameer was in a world of his own, he lived there, and wanted to die there never wanted to get out of that place and that seems to be the only problem.
Rahul checked Sameer’s temperature, it was still 400 C. It was going to take some time to go down. Rahul turned towards the watch, It was 2 in the morning, he saw the hands of the watch slowly moving ahead. He had only winked once or twice but now he could not focus on the watch anymore, he rubbed his eyes trying to focus on it 10 AM it said; He got up astonished … he did not even realize when he fell asleep.
“Where is Sameer?” he asked himself. Sameer was not there on the bed. Rahul got up from his chair looked around in the room but could not find him. It seems Sameer had got up and left for college probably.
“Man that guy is a crazy nut he’s gone to the college; he’s running high temperature man”
At that moment Sameer came in to the room, he was wearing a long rain coat over a warm woolen jacket, but he was still shivering
“Where were you buddy?” asked Rahul
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