~~~Midnight Cup~~~

Previous Post :- http://jasmit-arora.blogspot.com/2010/12/beginning.html

Jasbir was as usual late from his office.. he rang the door bell as he came..

his room mate.. who was on call with her girlfriend living two blocks away.. he came an opened the door.. winked at him.. and gave a fake kiss on fone to his girlfriend.. and then moved to his room.. normal scene that Jasbir was now used to..

his other room-mate was totally Skyped.. never ever he saw him talking without being in front of his laptop..

he looked at his watch.. it was Christmas today.. and found that almost everyone were connected to their gifts that Santa gave them years ago.. he went to both the rooms.. and said.. "Merry Christmas dude.." and both of them just waved at him.. with a smile.. but no one came and hugged him tight and say.. "Merry Christmas to u too bro.. cheer up.. life will change.. happiness is around somewhere.. :)"

he so much wanted to feel happiness again.. he thought.. Shruti might be very happy at her place.. as she never called him after she got married.. he also wanted to smile.. but felt no reason to do so..

he lied down on his bed.. closed his eyes..

the pictures of past started flashing.. school days.. with friends.. parties.. that night after 10 years.. the other morning.. and one common face in all.. Shruti's.. he suddenly rose.. and took out his pullover.. his gloves.. opened the door and went outside his home.. switched on his bike and started riding..

it was bone freezing cold outside.. and then started cursing himself.. and then headed towards the 24 hour cafe shop.. somewhere near the IT park of the city..

he parked his bike .. and went inside.. and then he saw.. whoa.. all tables occupied..

just when he was about to leave.. a couple stoop up to leave.. so a set of couch was now all vacant.. and he calmly placed himself on it..

he ordered a cafe latte for himself.. and suddenly saw a girl in Santa cap wearing red cotton jacket.. in sexy shorts and high boots.. pushed opened the door.. and shouted loudly.. "Merry Christmas people.. oh.. every one has got love with him.. good you.. " and then she tumbled on the floor..

she was totally drunk.. partying somewhere all night.. and then she thought to come and have a cafe.. to lighten up her mood.. after the breakup she had 2 hours ago.. in the disc.. where her now Mr. EX.. tried to do something something with her getting her drunk.. and she slapped him..

then he pushed her in some cab and asked the driver to drop her where ever she says..

this is not what Jasbir thought.. this was something that the girl said to him after she came to her senses..

oh yes.. she was on the floor..

as she fell down.. Jasbir rushed towards her.. and with the help of the staff.. picked her up and put her to the couch opposite to where he was sitting..

she opened her eyes after 5 minutes of feet and palm massage.. had some water.. and then Jasbir ordered a Mocha.. without sugar for the lady..

"u alright now..?" Jasbir asked her..

she just smiled.. pain was clearly reflecting in her eyes.. just when she was about to cry.. Jasbir took out his handkerchief and offered her.. and she shouted again.. "I am not crying..."

he laughed and kept it back.. "So.. what makes you so happy on this Christmas night..?..!"..

and then she said what I wrote above.. and on listening to this Jasbir tried to console her.. but then she broke down.. obviously she was on a high.. and that made her totally losing her sadness.. her pain.. that he calmly listened to..

by then her Mocha was served hot to her.. and she slowly started getting back to normal..

then they laughed.. shared some jokes.. and then she said .."your eyes tell that you are alone.. away from someone.. ur heart seems scattered and your smile curves dont reach ur eyes.."

"hmmm.. seems you closely observe people.."

"yes.. I do.. i like knowing people.. their feelings.. and hey.. tonight we share same.."..

Jasbir looked into her eyes.. they were beautiful.. then to her nose.. it was cute.. and her lips had the tenderness of rose and freshness of dew. then he looked at his watch.. it showed 5 A.M.

He then said..

"Wow.. thats a lovely view.." and she looked outside the glass walls of cafe.. it felt as if moon has got brighter for the moment.. light blue the morning was.. she was again smiling.. and with happiness in her voice she said.. "certainly it is.."

he said.. "I was talking about you..".. and she turned and looked at him..

"do you try your cheesy lines with everyone.. if yes.. then I wonder how you are single.." and she was smiling again..

he blushed.. and she caught him with pink cheeks.. "okay.. I give you another chance.. dont lose this one.."

to this Jasbir gave a deep thought.. and then said.. "had you been single.. I wud have never let you be.." and she immediately said.. "o yes i am single..".. and then she covered her mouth.. and this time he caught her shy of her words.. she tightly closed her eyes.. in disbelief to what she just said..

and then she felt her hands touched by Jasbir.. he held her hands.. and said "there is no hurry.. I understand the phase u r in.. its not even hours and i said something like that to you.. my mistake.. but u r so true.. so real.. so beautiful.. but yet as a dream to me.. u remind me of the feeling i used to feel once.. love.. and shared that with you.. forgive me if i am anyhow the reason .. for even the least bit of pain you have gone through..".. and then he took his hands back.. and asked the staff to come with the cheque.

he cleared the bill and stood up to leave.. she also stood up.. she was silent.. she came with him to the parking lot where he kept his bike.. and then said.. "can i have your number.. so that i can call you sometime when i have decided..?"

"yes sure.." he said and gave his number..

"do you mind dropping me home.. i live nearby only..".. and he agreed and rode to her place.. and then he looked in the mirror.. it was tilted a bit and clearly showed her face... and he saw her watching at the mirror.. their eyes told everything that was in their heart.. through the mirror..

and then they reached at her place.. "hmm.. you dont live too far from my place.. i live just few kilo meters away.." and he tried to smile.. but couldnt.. then he said.. " call me sometime.. I will wait.."..

and then he rode.. but suddenly he stopped.. took a U turn and came back.. she was still there..

he said.. "hey.. my name is Jasbir.. and yours..? Atleast I would like to know the name of the girl for whom I felt something.."

she smiled.. she knew whats her decision would going to be.. and she said.."Shruti.. my name is Shruti.. and I will call you soon.."..

listening to this his heart skipped beats.. the time seemed immovable .. and the moment froze..

he was looking into her eyes as her voice with her name echoed in his heart... she turned.. waved goodbye to him and went inside her home.. he also drove back to his place..

he went inside his room.. and lied on his bed.. and then his phone rang.. he picked it up.. "Hi its Shruti here.. ur Christmas friend.. and I would love to meet you again.. just to say you something.. because.. I think I love you.. will call you again.. " and she dropped the call..

he closed his eyes.. because the dream just began..

~~~ Beginning ~~~

Previous Post :- http://jasmit-arora.blogspot.com/2010/10/again.html

Shruti got married. Not to Jasbir..

It was a long painful time that she covered alone to subside the feelings she had for Jasbir.. she just could not let memories of her only love die in her heart.. she took up a busy routine after her marriage..

she started doing a job that required her at late hours of the day in the office.. it was because more she was with her husband.. more she felt herself responsible of breaking Jasbir's heart.. She knew Jasbir loved her.. only her.. It was her weakness that couldn't let them be together.

it was this one sunday when she woke up early morning and found her husband sitting on an arm chair with a diary in his hands.. in the verandah which was lit dim with yellow bulb.. she wore her pink satin robe and walked down to him and found him sleeping..

she took the diary from his hands... and then a dry petal of rose slipped from between the pages on her feet.. she picked that up and placed it back between some pages.. she never knew her husband wrote.. and what was this single petal of rose was doing inside is diary.??

some questions that needed a definite answer started arising.. and then she opened the diary to serach for answers..

she went back to her room and read that diary word by word.. line by line.. date by date and page by page. Then she turned to the page that still had the shine of the fresh ink that coloured the paper this night.. and in that he wrote "I still love her.. may be she would never know.. but now i dont even want her to.." and that was it. Todays thought was all summarized in two lines.

she now knew that the life is not always fair to all.. it doesnt only have colours black and white but also the shades of grey in it.

she had rarely spoken to her husband in these past few years.. but today felt a need to tell him that what he feel today for the past.. matters a lot if you are not happy..

she took a pen and wrote and wrote on that page till the last line. within minutes she saw she had written all what she needed to convey to him.. she went downstairs again and left the diary in his hands..

in the morning when he woke up.. he saw the diary.. he saw a fresh petal of rose was peeping between the pages.. and he opened it to that page where it was kept by Shruti after writing on the page where he left last night.

it read..

"A petal of flower is very soft when its a part of the bud. The deepest colour is reflected that time.. and as the time passes the smell takes over.. the petal blooms to the most beautiful shape.. making you gift it to someone you have fellings for.. I too was gifted with many.. by one..

but when you pluck the petal out from the flower.. it hardly lives any day longer.. its essence is lost.. one can only say that it was a part of some flower which is now with someone unknown..

i read everything written in these pages.. and found that there is nothing worse than a sad heart..

into a shell when you hide yourself.. you also remain unoticed.. just like I wasn't able to know you.. many others would have also lost the chance..

There was a time when me and him used to walk together in the winter nights with hands in hands.. we used to look in each others eyes and silently say "I love you".. and then when eyes get wide with the smile.. we knew that we will forever be together..

we spent magical nights and wonderful days.. we used to walk in rains but never ever we felt we were wet as we were already drenched with the love for each other.. we felt only death can now part us.. we felt the warmth of sun enlighting our life.. and calmness of moon holding our moments..

it was always a pleasure to be with someone you know who wants you and only you in his life.. and being away is million times the pain.. I always felt.. that just like a starnger he wud call me someday from somewhere.. and say to me "I love you" again.. but that has never happened.. because i have kept myself in a shell..

he is not here but i feel his presence everywhere.. his love has become the shadow of my heart.. and i know you are feeling the same way..

its not about the feelings we share.. its all about what we dont share.. and that keeps us far from the truth.. frm the person who might be good.. who might love me more than i thought..

so when you feel like there is something you want to say.. hold my hands.. look into my eyes and say it to me.. I will never say No.."

After he read this.. he was cold.. he slowly closed the diary.. opened the window and looked towards the blue sky.. closed his eyes.. thought for a moment and then went to the bedroom..

he took Shruti's hands in his' ...she slowly opened her eyes.. and looked towards him.. and then he asked her.. "Do feelings change..? do people change..? memories fade..? and someone to whom you have not talked for months.. if he wants to love you.. and kiss your pain away.. would you allow him to..?"

"yes.." she said and hugged him.. and they kissed their way to their new begining.. that fresh rose petal.. spread the aroma.. beautifully..

~~~STEP~~~

Vikash couldn't sleep last night. His parents had come to Delhi.. to see a girl for him..

Whole night he thought.. imagined how life could be.. an unknown girl.. complete strangers.. what wud he say to her.. what wud he ask?

he smoked his whole pack of Milds that night.. even had some whisky that his friend brought from Goa, but the anxiety wasn't less till now..

he sat at the couch staring outside his window.. with questions in his mind all over..

"Utho Vikash.. chalo taiyaar ho jaao.." (Get up Vikash.. get ready..) his dad told him tapping his hand.. "Did't you sleep last night..?? and whats this..?" his dad asked him showing the buds on the floor and the ash that dropped from the ciggi.. "Clean all this.. I dont want your mother to see all this.. and please grow up now..!! you are going to see a girl today.. act mature.."

Vikash hardly could hear or understand anything.. he looked lost.. he stared at the ground and then at his father's face.. he could see his father's lips moving.. but words couldn't reach his ears.. or brain .. may be because it was busy in questions rising since last night..

it was a deadlock occurred there.. he dint know what to do.. what will happen.. what was his father saying??.. "Oh God.. why dint you call me to heavens last night in my sleep only??" Vikash said to himself..

he went inside his washroom.. looked at the mirror.. stared in his own eyes.. and felt something strange..

a sense of confidence was rising in his eyes.. yes he wanted to get married.. yes he wanted someone in his life.. whom he could love..

only the thought of which girl..?? whom he has not seen ever in his life..?? again same questions hovered his thoughts...

he splashed cold water on his face.. his mind calmed down.. he came out.. and wore a simple white shirt with faded blue pair of jeans.. some perfume.. some gel in his hair.. the canvas he bought last month.. watch.. and was now out of his room.. had some cold water.. he called his friend who got married last year.. but he dint pick up his call.. tensed now.. he went to washroom again.. washed hands.. some water on eyes..

suddenly he went back to his room.. opened his almirah.. picked the wallet he forgot to take last time.. opened it and looked at the photograph.. his with his grand father's and wished he could have been here at this point of time.. he cud have hugged him and felt relaxed.. put his Parker pen in his pocket.. closed his eyes for a moment and left the house with his parents.. to meet the girl Roshni..

..........................

they reached the going-to-be Bride's home.. the father welcoming everyone with traditional Namaste and smile on his face..

Vikash saw few girls and found everyone beautiful and charming.. giggling with some actions.. and one of them constantly on her cell phone.. like a secret agent.. talking.. sorry.... whispering something .. that might have been uphill task for the other person to even hear properly..

everyone entered the house... Vikash was nervously looking around the room.. and then suddenly one more girl entered home.. shouting on cell phone.. "yes baba.. I am at home now.. now drop the call.." and on hearing this that secret agent put her cell back in her hand bag..

Vikash asked to himself.. that who was this another girl.. and the answer was she was Roshni.. in Pink Kurta embroided with pearls.. paired with blue denims and lot of colourful bangles..

"Hi Vikash.. Roshni here.. you have come here to talk to me... and I hope you know that we are supposed to agree on this relationship..! So..? Ready to get married..?".. saying this she forwarded her hand ... friendly gesture.. for a hand shake.

Vikash closely looked at her.. she looked beautiful.. never in his life he thought that he cud have such beautiful girl as his girl friend.. he blankly shook hands with her..

He looked at her face.. her face white as milk.. her eyes deep black.. her lips with the most sexy shade of pink colour on it.. small ear rings.. till that time his hands were still holding her hands.. and then he noticed the bangles she wore..

so many colours.. he touched them.. and then looked at Roshni... and asked.. "You love colours... dont you..?" .This was not the question that she was expecting.. she softly said "Yes.. why..? and how did you know..?"

Vikash just smiled and said.."You are wearing may be 100 colours at this moment.. at that point of time when I believe everybody is tensed.. about this relationship.. whether it will be a Yes or No.. but you are colourful from your heart.. from your soul.. I see joy and happiness in each of your words..

I dont know what to ask.. I dont know what to say.. but now I know that you are one such girl whom I can really marry.. I know that I want my life colourful.. I am tired of all Black and Whites.. and I want a companion like you.. to colour it in the most beautiful way.. my life.. "

hearing this Roshni was speechless.. she looked at her parents.. then Vikash's parents.. then she turned around as looked at her friends.. their jaws already dropped.. actually everyone went into a shocked state.. no one had ever seen such a quick arrange marriage's first meet turning into a Yes..

Vikash was still holding her hand.. she looked at Vikash.. his eyes read true.. she felt the sense of commitment in his eyes.. the one who will never ever leave her alone.. one who will love the way she is.. and the one who will always understand her like the way he was doing now..

she smiled... closed her eyes.. and said Yes..

~~~Meeting Up~~~

"Hey Dad.. m going.. will see u at dinner.." Amit screamed as he ran out of house..

His dad just replied.."OK.."

he picked up his bag.. and left out in hurry.. it was only an hour that he came back from London.. after 2 years..

as he went out.. he started running towards the cab stand.. where he could get the cab for the point he discussed with Saakshi.. to meet at.. when he wud be returning from London..

he got the cab and asked the driver to move as fast as he can for the sector-2 hill.. he couldn't wait.. he looked at his watch.. almost every minute.. "Fast.. fast dude fast..".. he shouted driver every minute..

and he looked at the big gate.. that just crossed by .. making him realize that the point is very much near...

he opened his bag.. and checked if the present is safe or not.. that he brought and thought of gifting it to her after they meet up..

he reached the point.. got down from the cab and asked the driver to leave while he cleared the fare..

he sat down on the large hump of hay in the bushes.. he looked around the place and felt as if he travelled back to time.. the picturesque view made him nostalgic as he went back to visualize the memories.. of Saakshi..

he remembered that day when he first saw her in the freshers party.. it was a dull afternoon.. he could not enjoy that day much.. all of his friends were busy with their girl friends.. and he was alone standing there with a glass of drink in hands listening to some uninteresting answers and facts spilled out by freshers in a desperate attempt to win the title..

he aaarrghhed at his fate.. and went out for another drink.. and saw one beautiful girl clad in a red-green silk saree.. he went near her.. and asked her name.. she looked at him as if he asked her whether she is single or not.. with a look of disgust and without answering she disappeared from the scene..

then as he turned back he saw a girl smiling.. who burst out out into laughter after seeing Amit's saddened face..

"Hi.. my name is Saakshi.. section B.. you are from section C right..?" she said to Amit..

"Hi.. Amit here.. yes from section C.. but I din't ask your name.. I asked her name.. and she went off.. she is also from section B .. isn't she..? ".. Amit answered back with his eyes still on the girl.. whose name he couldnt know..

"Hmmmm.. ya she is.. joined this year only.. her name is Payal.. but why are you so interested in her.. if she isnt..?" Saakshi asked..

"Well.. asking name means I am interested in her..?? Excuse me..!!"..

"Well.. Amit.. then why did not you ask my name..?"

"mmm.. because.. mmm.. may be I was too busy looking at her.. she looks damn beautiful.. oh my God.. what charm.. she's so sexy.. oops.. sorry.. Saakshi.. nice name yours is.."

"ha ha ha.. Amit.. you are a kid... come lets go inside.."

and they walked inside that boring hall again where some question answer round was going on.. for Amit it was getting intolerable .. he asked Saakshi if they can go some where else where he can feel peace..

in real he wanted to go to the place where his firends were.. though Saakshi was not her girlfriend, but on seeing Amit with a girl would definitely have given his friends an answer for the question they often put to him..

they came out of the hall.. and moved towards the parking stand..

"Saakshi.. can we go somewhere..? I am not liking this place and all.. somewhere peaceful.. park.. restaurant... anywhere but not here.. please.."

"hmmm.. okkk.. not to restaurant.. then I would order something.. and you will have to pay.. and i will not like that.. if you want to go some where peaceful.. I have a place that i can show you.."

"Cool .. lets go.." and Amit took out his bike and Saakshi sat behind her with her hand on his shoulder..

Inside his heart.. he already started liking Saakshi.. for her simplicity, for her way of dressing.. for her choice of colours.. for her smile.. for her deep black eyes.. for her velvety voice.. for her pink complexion.. for her frankness.. for she sitting behind him..

he rode to her directions.. and crossed many lanes.. many turns.. and finally they stopped near a small hill.. lush green grass every where.. small hump of hay between the bushes..

he stood still.. gazed around the sight.. and then looked at Saakhi.. who standing with her eyes closed.. feeling the wind that passed through her.. Amit found this moment extremely beautiful.. he held her hand.. she opened her eyes.. smiled and winked at Amit.."Like this place..?" and Amit nodded..

he came to present..

he looked at his hands.. he checked his cell phone again.. to check if she called.. then his watch.. and then got off the hay.. and started walking ..

from the distance he saw a girl coming.. whom he immediately recognized.. he stood still and watched her coming towards him..

"Wow.. Amit.. you look handsome.. ahaa.. London makes every one so cool haan..? so.. how you talk now..? wassup and all..?" and Saakshi laughed.. he too smiled..

he turned around.. and started walking to other direction.. opened his bag... took out a small box.. the thing that he brought from London.. just for Saakshi.. Saakshi was confused.. she followed him.. but before she neached near him.. Amit turned around again.. and went on his knees..

Saakshi stopped there only.. eyes wide open.. he raised his hands with a samll blue box in his right hand.. and then opened it with his left hand.. it had one diamond ring inside..

Saakshi covered her opened mouth.. she was about to scream.. tears were already in her eyes..

"Will you marry me?.. Saakshi..? and before you ask anything.. let me tell you everything.. I loved you since that day when we first came here.. since that day you are the only girl who have resided in my heart.. i wish to live with you since that day.. i wanted you to take in my arms that day only.. but God only knows why i dint do it that day only.. may be i dint had the courage.. but now i couldnt keep this thing to myself any more..

you remember you used to say.. there is someone who used to call you at midnight.. blank calls.. that someone was me.. I loved your voice at such midnight.. and you innocently saying hello hello.. hahaha.. and then i wrote my diary.. and after these many years i saw.. i had your name in every page of my entries.... I said to myself.. gosh.. i love her.. then i decided that I will confess my love for you the day I will come back to India.. to the place where we first went out..

aaarrrghh.. what am I saying.. hey Saakshi.. I love you.. Marry me.."

Saakshi stood there.. she listened everything.. now smiling and crying.. she forwarded her hand.. he put the ring on her finger.. stood up and gazed in her eyes.. and kissed her hands.. "Saakshi.. will you.."

and before he could complete his question again.. his lips were sealed with the kiss from Saakshi.. that went for a long time.. and after that Amit dint had anything to ask.. and they remembered the old time as they walked around the place.. with hands in hands.. and love for each other in their heart..

~~~AGAIN~~~

Previous Post :- http://jasmit-arora.blogspot.com/2010/08/on-that-night.html

It was early morning.. around 5 A.M. when Jasbir's cell started ringing.. It rang once.. then twice.. thrice.. but all calls went un-attended..
Shruti.. she never had to make so many calls.. Jasbir always respoded.. midnight sleep.. office meeting.. whatever be the situation.. Shruti always got an answer from him before she tried for 2nd time..

But today was something different.. almost like yesterday...

Last night when she called.. Jasbir threw the fone hard on the floor.. Shruti coundnt even complete what she wanted to say.."Jasbir.. I am sorry.. please listen to me.. I.."

Almost 30 hours .. and she couldnt sleep.. she desperately wanted to talk to Jasbir... who by no means was answering to her..She knew she was wrong.. she knew Jasbir loved him much more than she could ask anyone in her life.. but she never expected him to react in this manner.. not answering her call.. not calling her..

few months back.. Jasbir told her.."Shruti.. I love your voice.. the way you speak.. the way you call out my name..I love to listen each word of yours.. and.. I love to see your eyes when you speak.. they go so deep when u have heart in your words.. I love to see your lips.. when you speak.. and when they join.. I feel its me and you who are meeting each other.. in ur every word.."

but now.. he wouldnt talk to her.. wouldnt meet her.. he said her once.."The day i will get to know.. you wont be mine.. i will end my life.. there is no point in living.. like a dead man." and it was then the second time when Shruti slapped Jasbir.. after that he promised.. he would never do that..

she couldnt wait more.. she rushed towards Jasbir's home.. she reached there in about half an hour..

pushed the door bell.. and his grandfather came out.. she touched his Grand Pa's feet.. and asked about Jasbir.. and got the news that he dint come from office yet.. she tried calling him again.. but found that the mobile was ringing somewhere inside.. inside the house.. she very well knew the ringtone.. it wasnt changed since she had once set.. when one day they were sitting in the park... it was her favourite song.. that they both heard amlost 100 times that day.. with one earphone in each of their ear.. their heads and heart joined..

she rushed inside the house.. following where the sound came from.. she went inside the bedroom.. and found that he left the mobile at the home only... his Grand Father came from behind.. said to her.."O mobile ghar te chhadd gaya.. main almaari wich rakh dittaa.. kii gal ho gayi..? enni subaah..?" (he left mobil at the home only.. i kept it in almirah.. but what happened..? early morning..)..

Shruti.. she had now tears in her eyes.. she hugged his Grand Pa... and cried her heart out.. she told everything.. that happened just 2 days back.."Dadaji.. you might not be knowing.. my father has arranged my marriage to a guy of our community.. my sister.. she did love marriage few months back.. but now she is going through a very tough phase.. she is getting divorced.. my father was very worried.. and without asking me.. fixed my marriage to his friend's son.. i dont like him at all.. I love Jas.. I got him back after 10 years.. that night when i saw him.. I felt I got my life back.. I have lost him once... I dont want to lose him again..

dadaji.. we met 2 days back.. I said everything to him.. he asked me to run away with him.. he said he could not live without me.. I said.. this cant be done.. just for my own sake of happiness.. I cant ruin my parent's lives.. your family reputation will also be at stake.. they will lose the confidence of living happily.. walking their heads up.. shame is not the gift that we are ought to return for their love towards us.. after that we never talked.. its been 2 days.. he has not called.. he is not picking my call since yesterday.."

Dadaji consoled her.. patted her back.. and asked her to calm down.. gave her a cup of tea.. and asked her to wait till he arrives.. they can then clear everything.. that is stuck between them.. and asked her to pray to God.. HE will help..

then after few minutes.. Shruti's cell started ringing.. his dad called.. definitely.. finding his daughter missing .. he would be worried.. she picked up the call.. "Shruti.. where are you..? Come home.." He said only this much.. and dropped the call..

she touched Jasbir's Grand Pa's feet again.. and asked for his blessings.. and left for her home..
as she went inside.. she saw Jasbir in her room.. looking at the pictures Shruti had framed in her room.. on her table.. one of them where when they were at the beachside.. hands in hands and beautiful sunset in the background..

her dad followed her in the room.. "Jasbir came so early in the morning.. looking for you.. and you wre not here.. this is not good.. I am telling this for the last time.. stop all this now.." and he left the room murmuring something..

Shruti's eyes were all wet.. the kohl had totally disppeared.. making black streaks on her cheeks.. she was still crying.. and crying she went on knees.. her face covered in her hands.. she was hurt.. she couldnot marry the guy she loved most.. her father wont let her..

Jasbir went to pick her.. wiped her tears.. and made her sit on the bed.. and gave her some water..

"I've talked to your Papa.. I have said him that we will not do any such thing that will put a shadow of shame on their lives.. I just came to say this to you.. I couldnt sleep since 2 days.. everytime when you called.. I thought what to say..? I had nothing left in my life.. after I came to know that you wont be... " and he stammered.. he recollected his words.. stopped his heart from crying.. and continued.. "I will live the way I have lived past 10 years.. with you in my heart... without you in front of my eyes.. but I want you to be happy.. happy for your parents.. for your life.."

Shruti was still crying.. she couldnot stop.. her whole body ached.. tears were all dried up.. crying she clutched Jasbir's hand.. and said "sorry..".. Jasbir had a long look of her face.. and he left..

~~~RIDE~~~

As a hard day finished at the work for Ravi.. he prepares himself for leaving the office.. excited about the following holidays.. an extended weekend..

but to make sure he dont have to land up office again.. he worked till 4:00 A.M. .. pending work has now the status Completed.. laid back on his chair..hands behind his head he closed his eyes to feel the satisfaction.. happiness converted as a smile on his lips.. he slowly stood up.. took the bag in his hand and moved towards the basement parking where his bike was parked..

he opened his bag for the keys.. but keys fell down from his pocket.. confused.. he smiled at his stupidity.. picked up the keys.. switched on the ignition of his bike.. and kicked..

suddenly the light of the basement went off.. it was total dark there.. so he put the headlights on.. but then generator started roaring.. and light was all there..

he moved out of the building.. guard bidding "good night sir.."

it was pretty rush at that hour of the day.. call centres timing were little late in the day.. but as he moved forward.. he found before he used horn.. every one cleared the way.. cars, trucks, cycles.. pedestrians..

it was not a usual sight for him.. he felt special.. he was still very happy that he completed his work.. and now has 3 days to enjoy..

and while driving.. he moved with the turn to catch the highway... after a distance.. he found someone from behind was using dimmers .. might be.. needed to overtake him..

he tried to adjust his rear view mirror.. but found that the vehicle stopped.. so dint bother and continued driving..

few Kms ahead.. he passed a troup of banjaras.. and as he moved forward.. crossed a guy.. who on seeing Ravi.. shouted "Saaahab Jii..." .. loud enough to make Ravi stop.. he turned his bike.. and moved back to him.. but to his surprise.. he found that guy standing still.. he dint move... talk.. he stood with his eyes wide open.. and suddenly those eyes started burning..

buring.. with red flames..

Ravi was horrified.. he threw the bike.. and started running.. without even looking back.. but then thought that going on bike would take him out of the place much faster way..

so he stopped and turned back.. but then when he saw something that he could not believe on earth would have been possible.. bike was floating in the air.. and was slowly moving towards him..

he saw that the man.. with burning eyes was now almost like a stone statue..

the bike came in front of him... and ignition headlight everything went on in a split of a second.. bike came much closer to him now.. and then.. he felt someone's breath on him.. heavy breaths.. and from the invisible he found a face of a woman appearing to him.. who seemed to be sitting at the back of his bike.. her eyes were red..

she wore a black gown.. hairs straign down to her waist.. she seemed to float an inch above the pillion.. very similar to the way as bike was to the ground..

she looked at Ravi and smiled.. who was standing there as a piece of shit and wished someone could clear him from this sight..

she walked in the air and came to him.. hold his face.. which was already blue after watching all this.. his eyes matching the colour of his face couldnt bear more.. so he closed his eyes.. and then he suddenly felt as if something passed through him.. through his body..

the woman was trying to hug him.. but couldnt.. she get passed through Ravi everytime she tried.. Ravi stood there silently.. she then again smiled.. and stared in his eyes..

this time he dint close and stared directly in her eyes.. she started crying..

Ravi felt somethinng different.. he saw himself into a dark world.. it was dark everywhere.. nothing he could see except this dark lady.. but then he realized he was in the air.. much much above the surface he used to walk on..

he couldnt understand what was happening to him.. and suddenly he started seeing spirits all around him.. women... beautiful women.. with red eyes.. all trying to touch him.. but could do nothing and passed through him..

he felt as if this was his last day (or night may be..).. but then the woman who was with her all the time.. pushed all spirits away.. and pushed Ravi to the ground..

ravi touched the ground.. and started running again.. towards his bike.. and found that woman again.. she flew towards him.. tried to kiss his forehead.. this time her tears fell on Ravi's eyes.. and with the first ray of the sun.. she vanished..

................

after the holidays.. he was again travelling through the same road..

he found that the ride is something different again.. he saw below.. he was floating in the air..

he smiled..

he looked in his rear-view mirror.. found nothing.. but 2 red eyes gleaming in the darkness of night..

he left his handle.. and tried to hold the hand that tried to hold his shoulder.. and felt divine..

~~~Words~~~

Wednesday.. some day of August.. a month when sky is mostly covered in grey.. had some deep impact on Dev's life.

A life that had lost all the meanings for being happy.. Dev looked as if married sorrow and taken 7 births of promise.. though he wished that this could be his last birth..

17 years of age and so much pain.. this is not natural for a young boy who goes to school.. rides during rains.. plays during summers.. parties at evenings and somehow manages to pass in English during the terms..

this guy.. Dev doesn't deserve such a low life.. that too specially when he had the most beautiful day of his life just 2 days back.. on Sunday.. the first Sunday of August that world popularly call as Friendship day..

Dev, Arun, Vikram, Ashish, Naina and Gul.. friends as I knew them.. had some very different story behind each of them.

This special Sunday was planned out very perfectly by Dev. He managed 2 roses ( for the girls ), 1 Card and some amount of money for the fuel and dinner party from his Rs.50 monthly pocket money, that he saved since 4 months.. just make this one sunday special..

it was evening.. and his heart had already started racing fast.. he had called up 5 people at his place.. and was waiting for them.. and then Gul and Naina arrived (they used to go together only, when it came to visiting friends.. who felt insecured.. nobody knew..) and after few more minutes rest 3..

vikram knew very well what Dev's heart was going through .. he was the one who pushed Dev to talk to Naina... whom Dev loved staright from his soul.

dev look into Vikram's eyes.. impatience and worry clearly reflected.. but Vikram patted his thigh.. suggesting to cool down.. Dev tried to smile.. be a good host for the evening.. but could hardly speak.. his voice has certain numbness attached to it.. and gravity of his feelings pulled him down..

he constantly looked at Naina.. the girl of dev's life.. thoughts.. dreams.. future.. present..

Naina.. big eyes.. dusky complexion.. shoulder length hair.. divine smile and voice of dev's heart.. Naina.

Salwar kameez.. somewaht like skin colored with some Peach colour embroidery.. she looked Goddess to Dev.. who could hardly keep his eyes off her.. Naina kept noticing this but only smiled.. and everytime she smiled.. Dev heart stopped for that moment.. just to slow down the time.. and cage that moment for longer period...

6 people.. 3 bikes.. dev asked naina to come with him.. and she smilingly agreed..

what about the rest 4..? I dont know..

It was drizzling when they stepped out of Dev's home.. but decided to reach the restaurant as soon as posible.. for the dinner that was planned weeks before.. as the 2 bikes left.. dev suddenly wend inside the house.. and came back with a rose..

"Naina.. mmm... Happy Friendship Day to you.." and Naina blushed.. Pink overtook the sensous dark tone of her.. and Dev felt divinity during all these moments..

while they started for the restaurant.. the drizzles were now big drops of water.. falling hard on them.. It was sure that the rest 4 of them would have definitely been at the place and reserved the table.. so Dev slowed down his bike.. Naina clutching his shoulder felt relaxed.. and Dev drove the speed at which even running person could overtake..

He adjusted his rear view mirror to look at naina.. he cud see pearl drops of water on her face.. eyelids.. lips.. with she smilingly looking at the mirror..

they were talking through eyes and listening through hearts..

After they reached the venue.. they saw all 4 of them standing outside..

Dev asked them to go inside.. and order some snacks and coffee.. and as Naina started to walk with them.. he hold her hand..

Vikram took everyone inside as dev said.. and asked dev and naina to dry up and then step in..

Dev took out the handkerchief and gave to naina.. she wiped herself up.. thanked Dev and returned the Handkerchief..

Dev folded that piece of cloth and put that back in his pocket... and then he took out the card he bought.. and gave it to Naina..

Naina was surprised.. she was not expecting this..may be she was.. she had smile on her face but worry in her eyes.. some question.. why.. what.. me..? why..?

"please read it.." Dev could only say this much...

naina opened the card.. and read.. till the end.. folded it and put it back in her handbag.. and walked inside..

After that whole evening she never met eyes with Dev.. who looked nowhere else but her face.. that denied to show any smile later that eveving.. she finished her dinner and left with Gul soon..

Dev...!! His sleep vanished.. his dreams broken.. His present ached his heart and he wished he had no future.. no life.. He died every second..

Monday.. Naina dint come to school.. He tried calling her.. but she wont answer his calls.. he cried whole night..

Tuesday.. Naina came to school.. but refused to talk to Dev... he stood outside her class during whole recess. she dint step out of the class.. dev was awake whole night.. without any life in him..

Wednesday.. some day of August.. Today..

Dev dint go to school.. remained on his bed whole day.. refused all his meals and snacks... all the friends coming and going.. he dint talk much.. Vikram asked him to relax and then again a bell rang.. his Grandfather came and told him that some girl has come to visit him..

Dev went out and sprang back to life on seeing Naina.. he almost cried.. but hold back his tears..

"You dint come to school today..?" Naina asked Dev who was smiling ear to ear..

"I had no purpose coming there.. you woudnt talk to me.."

"I was searching for you today.. i need to ask you something.. and i want you to answer truthfully.." Saying this Naina took out the card Dev gave him on Sunday.. "i want you to read it.."

"read it..?.. but why.."

"because i want you to.. .. see Dev.. i too like you very much.. you know that.. dont you..? I dont want any thing hidden between two of us.. everything to be transparent.."

And suddenly the light went off.. 7:00 P.M. Load shedding..

a moment of silence and then Dev started saying..

"Dear Naina..

Its not about how you look.. how you talk or how you walk.. its all about how you make me feel..

It has been weeks since i realized that i cannot do with my life without you..

This might sound strange to you but i cant believe any thing could be more beautiful than you.. more heavenly than your company.. every day when i see you smile.. i fell for you.. everyday u make me know the wonderful meaning of love.

Youe are the perfect meaning of happiness to me..

I fear of the moment when you will go away from me.. I think i might forget breathing that day..

Naina.. i want to be with you all my life.. I want to die holding your hands only.. seeing into your eyes..

something has changed my meaning of life.. that "something" is your love Naina..

i dont know whether you love me or not.. but i totally believe.. i wont be able to love anyone now.. after knowing you.."

Naina was shocked.. Dev said each and every word exactly he wrote on the card.. she then hold his hand and kissed him..

dev was taller than her.. so she stood on Dev's feet.. Dev hold her to her waist.. and they kissed again..

After few moments when they opened their eyes.. they were wet.. with the happiness that drenched them few moments back..

~~~SOMETHING~~~

"Oh dear GOD..!!".. Varun looked towards the sky and screamed.. " I love this... I absolutely love this.. Thanks buddy.." and gave a thumbs up to infinity..

"It has started raining...".. Priya came shouting from behind.. she ran beside Varun.. went few steps ahead , took an umbrella out of her expensive but not-so-expensive looking bag.. a small umbrella.. with 3 folds technique that sprangs with a touch on a button.

Soon she was under an umbrella and Varun watching her.. all smilingly.. he adjusted his leather overcoat and went near her..

"h..h..h..hey.." Varun stammered his first words to Priya.. he cursed himself neatly and clearly in his heart.. "i..i..i.. it's raining.. y..y..you mind if i share this umbrella..?".. he said.

Varun was very good at this.. talking to a person and to himself.. at the same moment..

"haan..?... ok.. but i will move left from the next turn.." priya said and pulling varun under the umbrella..

Priya was a nice girl.. beautiful.. Big blue eyes.. rendered with Kohl... smile big as anyone's heart.. voice smooth enuff to melt you down..

worked in same company as Varun's.. different projects though.. but sat few cubicles away.. shared glances once or twice.. thrice maybe.. few smiles.. and that was enuff for Varun to lose himself for her.. Varun loved to fall in love.. he was never afraid doing so.. he was the person who thought one person shud always be in love.. he had loved many women in his life... as he used to say.. 1 for each year is his average count of falling in love.. but this time he thought Priya was the only girl he was searching for (he thinks same for every girl he falls in love... quite a falling person..)

"Left..? Ok.. i also need to go left.." Varun said..

"But you go there naa..??" Priya said showing the right turn..

"but i need to go there today.. some work.." varun this time.. showing left..

"ok.." she smiled and started walking.. Varun accompanied.

"Its raining so heavy na...? my bag.. " priya said clutching her bag to protect it from any drop of water that fell near it.. there was a kind of sorrow in her voice.. varun felt as if she wud break down to tears.. he almost smiled on her innocence.. "hey u laughing haan..??".. and she punched him..

"No.. no.. mmmm.. dont worry.. nothing will happen to ur bag.." varun said laughing..

"Priya.. I need to say you something.." he just saved himself from stammering again..

"Yes.. say.." Priya responded .. without looking at him.. walking slowly now..

"Priya.. do you know.. there is a guy in our office.. who thinks that you are very beautiful.."

"is it wrong..? am i not beautiful..? haan..?"

"no.. you definitely are.. but does that mean you will say him No if he asks you for a coffee..?"

"whats wrong in a coffee..?.. why he thinks so..?"

"i dont know.. may be he thinks such a beautiful girl when seen with an ordinary guy.. u know.."

"no.. no.. that is not the case.. i m not at all like that.. i dont mind in friendship.. u know.."

"hmmm.. may be i will tell him to ask you out for a coffee.."

"yes tell him.. but not on weekend haan.. i have to stay at home then.."

"ok.. ok.."

"what else he says about me..? have i ever seen him..?.. "

"he thinks you are very beautiful.."

"ohhhooo .. that i have heard.. what else he says.."

"he thinks you are too sophisticated kind of girl.. you know.. not that approachable.. one who can slap anytime.."

"he really thinks so..? mumma... i never slap anyone..! why would i..?"

"yaa.. why wud you.. but i think you might.."

"why..??" Priya shouted.. so loud that Varun heart stopped for a moment.. then a gush of air.. blood and guts flowing thruu it..

"i think he loves you.."

"what..? is that true..?? he told you..? or you only think.."

"i think i know.."

"hmmmm... should i go out with him then..?. it wont be good na.."

"you can try once.. he might be saying true.. you can judge.."

"hmmmm.... varun.. if he proposes me..? i dont know what to do.. u know.. no one has ever proposed me yet.. may be everyone thinks same about me.. but believe me.. i m not like that.. i have never been into any relationship.. i dont know how to handle all this.."

"dont worry.. he is a very good person.. he will love you very much.. take good care of you.. will give you each happiness you deserve.. you know he loves your eyes so much that he cant see tears in them.. and most of all he loves your smile.. he says it bridges your eyes through your cute nose.."

"aawww.. he is so cute.. hey varun tell me na.. what else he says abt me..?"

"he says .. you look like lily everytime.. fresh.. white.. pure.. he feels he is breathing.. only to see you smile.."

"really.. he loves me so much..? but why hasn't he said anything to me..?"

"as i told you.. he thinks you deserve much better than him.."

"okk... let him decide n tell".. Priya said and suddenly stopped near the coffee shop.. the one close to their office..

"what happened..? coffee..?" Varun was surprised..

"yes.. you wanna join..?"

"hmmm.. okk.." Varun thought himself to be the luckiest guy.. he never thought he wud be having coffee with the most beautiful girl of the left wing of the 3rd Floor of the building.. he was again talking to himself..

Inside he saw Saurabh sitting .. with some book in his hands.. sipping cafe mocha..

he was surprised to find saurabh here...

"varun.. he is saurabh.. he asked me for coffee in the office.. and see i am late now.. you are very bad.. Saurabh sorry haan.. varun was talking so much that i walked slow to listen.. and now i am late.." priya said folding her umbrella three times again..

"hey Varun..!!! hi man.. how are you..?.. dude.. i finally asked her out.. you wont believe.. she so easily said yes.. i thought she never would... i would have definitely died there only had she said NO.."

"Saurabh.. dont worry yaar.. she is not the kind of girl you think.."

"but you know how much.."

"yaa yaa.." varun interuppted as saurabh tried to explain again how much he loved priya..

"VARUUNN.. u dint tell me earlier.. that guy was Saurabh..?.." Priya.. who was listening to these guys for so long was finally in senses... "Saurabh.. is it true..?"

"yes Priya.. i love you.. i dont know what Varun has said to you.. but.. i love you.. I have no measures how much.. how deep.. how wide.. take it as deep like your eyes.. wide as your smile.. pure as you yourself.. and.."

priya suddenly started crying.. .. "saurabh.. please.. dont .. "

"what..?.. dont what..?" saurabh looking srprised.. looked at Varun.. who was already standing there clueless.. staring at everything as if someone mocked his heart again.. all he could see that his one more love is not his own again.. it was not the first time .. :)

"dont stop saying..".. priya continued.. ".. i want to hear whatever you have to say.. you know na.. i have never heard anything like that.. "

"Priya.. my words cannot define my love for you.. but beleive me.. i love you.. and i promise you.. this is the last time you are crying when you are with me.." This made priya smile eye-2-eye..

Varun came out of the cafe.. alone.. it had stopped raining.. he looked again at the sky.. shook his head.. and started walking to the right... talking... to himself obviously..

~~~ GIFT ~~~

"When are u leaving office?".. A hurried Avi was screaming on phone as he couldnt hear Sharan because of the loud announcements at the platform for the trains that were either standing or were arriving the station.

"Dude I cant hear you.. text me.. i will wait near Ram Bhai's.. just like you said.. where is it actually..?".. Avi said and disconnected. He collected his luggage and started walking out of the platform that was totally steamed up with the beautiful girls, even at such hour of the day.. where in his hometown.. at this hour people were about to complete their 3/5th of the GOOD NIGHT sleep. He instantly fell in love with Mumbai..

The beep sound hardly audible with the mix of vibration alert told Avi that Sharan had replied back. It read "will be there in 10 minutes.. keep the gift safe.. ask any auto rickshaw driver.." and that made Avi skip his beat. His bag had fallen thrice in the 37 mtr distance of his 1st platform walk at the mumbai platform. Someone or the other pushed him every second.. he felt as if he was driving in the one way traffic .. opposite direction..

He swiftly moved out of the platform and first thing he checked if the gift was safe, that Sharan asked him to bring.. Avi had been to Italy for his project work.. lucky chap.. that was his 3rd trip in 2 years and this time.. Sharan asked him to bring the RM .. Remy Martin.. cuz Avi had described it too loudly in his earlier mail to him.

"Bhai.. ye Ram bhai ki dukan kahan hai?".. an auto wala who looked a friendly person encountered a question from a non mumbaikar looking guy..

he smilingly answered "aage jaa k pehle right pe duusra dukaan.." Avi thanked.. and hurried towards the Ram Bhai's... and thats when his cellfone started ringing.. Sharan was calling.. he picked up..
"Where are you..?" Sharan asked as if he was falling from a cliff and Avi was late in throwing the rope to save his life..
"i am about to reach.." and while Avi said this he took the right turn and saw Sharan grinning hard.. sitting on the hood of his 2 year old Audi and clapping in sheer joy..
"Padhaaro majaraaj.." and he stood on the hood.. and saluted Avi in Army style.. that almost made a dent on Audi and on Avi's heart too as he loved expensive cars.. an then suddenly Sharan jumped on Avi.. making him fall on the ground with his luggage.. he hugged him tight in his arms.. and after a minute of drama.. he stood up..

"Where to..?" Avi asked..
"Nariman.." prompt reply by Sharan.. "Gift..?".
"Its there.."
"Perfect..!!" and then Sharan opened a box type compartment under his seat and bring out 2 glasses.. and winked at Avi..

Avi only smiled.

The shiny black Audi sped towards Nariman point, synchronized with Avi's Heartbeat.. and then it stopped..

"Bring the bottle.." said Sharan as he moved towards the hundreds metre bench facing the sea and the live glowing city at the other end of it.. with the Glasses he also took out the jar filled with ice that he collected before the nearby shop after he left his office..

Avi took the bottle out.. wrapped in the shining purple paper.. already describing the executiveness of that drink..

"come here dude.." Sharan said as he dropped cubes of ice enough to fill the glass till top..

Avi had never felt this good in India.. specially after he joined the job..
he went to the stone bench sat beside the glasses full of ice.

Sharan took the bottle from his hand.. opened the cover and poured a nice amount of spirit in both the glasses..

RM steamed the ice it seemed.. smoothly making way between the rocks it gladly settled at the bottom.. Avi was smiling after long time.. He was all the time sad after he left India..

"How is She?" Sharan asked before raising the toast.. question hard enuff to answer and good enuff to make Avi stop smiling..
"i dont know.." Avi said with the coldness of ice in his voice..
"ok.. lets raise the toast.. For the moments we never discussed.."said Sharan and clanged the glasses and Avi gulped down the whole thing in one go...

Sharan made another one for him again..

"Hmmm.. you told her..?" another question from Sharan..
"yes.."
"ok.. thats good.. so what she said..?"
"she said.. she cant marry me.."
"but why..? it seems u have been in love with her since your last birth.. or may be last to last birth.. "
"she dont care about it anymore"
"what the fuck.. you guys even made out.. i remember you took my Esteem.. that christmas night.."
"Sharan.." Avi blasted .. filled with emotions..
"ya Avi.. i remember you coming back in the morning to the hostel room.. and jumping with happiness.. you said me Thousand times that she said you I love You only for ONCE for the moments you have given her.."
"We have grown up since then.." Avi said .. completing his second one too..
"and what exactly do you mean Growing UP..? there is no growing up.. its always falling deeper in love.." Came the rare words of wisdom from Sharan as he finished his first glass..

Sharan prepared drink.. 3rd for Avi and 2nd for himself..

"so what is the reason..?" Sharan seemed unstoppable that night..
Avi doubted if Sharan had some list of questions..!!

"I am not of her Caste.. I am Manglik.. I will die if she marries me.. My Shani is pretty strong that will tear apart our fate if we marry...".. came a reply that stunned Sharan ..

"Who believes in this crap..? you or her..?"

"Her father.. her mother.. her aunts.. her uncles.. her neighbours.. every other person they know or heard name of.. their Shiv maharaj and now she too.."

"bloody hell.. how suddenly..?"

"i dont know.. she called me 2 days before i left India.. and said.. she would be getting married in 2 months.. she told me the reasons.. and hung up.."

"whom she getting married to..?"

"she dint tell me the name.. said i knew him.."

"so..?"

"So she dint want me to know or be anything of her life.. "

"Avi.. lets go to her place.. and sort out the matter.. i have heard she has shifted to Mumbai.."

"what to sort out..? there is nothing to sort out.. i dont love her anymore.. i dont want to love her anymore.. if she doesnt want.. then thats it..!!"

"what..? are you sure..? i mean.. u mentioned her in ur every mail.."

"yes.. but now.. its all over.. i dont want to see her face again ever in my life.. poor guy who is marrying her.. he wud never know what kinda girl she was.. soft n subtle.. you know she hated color Pink.. she loved maroon lingerie.. she loved to kiss more than doing anything else.. she loved to watch cartoons .. we used to watch it for hours with she lying on my lap and i fiddling with her hair.. she used to bite my finger when i rolled them on her cheeks or lips.. and then she wud look into my eyes.. and smile.."

"here .. have another one.." Sharan handed Avi his 4th glass of the early morning.. it was around 4 A.M. now..

"she used to call me every hour to know how i have been doing in that hour.. and all cud say was.. i spent that hour remembering all the words she said me in the last call.. she covered my thoughts.. my dreams.. my reality.. fuck Sharan.. I loved her most.. i love her most.."..

Sharan could see Avi was on verge of breaking tears in his eyes.. he patted Avi's back..

"She loves you too.." Sharan said. comforting Avi..

Avi looked at him.. surprised...

"yes Avi.. she too loves you very much.. she called me yesterday and told.. that you never called her after she said its over with you.. you never mailed her while the time u were in Italy.. you never tried to show her that you still love her.. you never tried to know whom she getting married to. will she ever be happy.. u never cared enuff for her.."

"Fuck off Sharan.. it was her call.. i never said its over.. she said.."

"she said to know how much you want her in your life.. you never let her know her importance in your life.. you never tried to show that she is the person for whom u can fight the world... How cud she marry you if she was not sure that you loved her.. what answer she could have given her conservative parents who asked her every day..?"

"she said all this to you...?"

"No.. you said... you right now said... you dont care whom she getting married to.. you dont care about anything eh? She said she is broken.. and hurt.. I tried to convince her.. that you still love her.. that you mention her name in your every mail.. but she wasnt convinced.."

"then..?"

"she wanted you to say it yourself.. she wanted to hear it from you.. in your voice.. and thats the reason i have kept her on call from the time we are relishing RM.." and then Sharan winked.. and took out his cellfone.. that showed the call timer moving every second.. almost 2 hours..

Avi snatched the fone and started crying loudly.."Shreya.. i love you.. i love more than anyone in this world.. i love you more than anyone i have met after or before you.. Shreya.. please come back.. i want to meet you.. i want to touch you god damn it.. please Shreya... " and he continued crying..

he went on knees .. he was feeling the guilt.. he knew he was wrong..

And a voice came back from behind.."I love you too.." Shreya was there.. she was always there.. before Sharan and Avi arrived.. sitting in her car with black windows.. watching and listening them..

Avi stood up.. hugged her tight.. kissed her forehead.. eyes.. cheeks.. fingers.. and lips. He knew she loved it.

while this continued with the sun peeking from horizon indicating morning.. Sharan with his RM , 2 glasses and Ice jar.. moved inside his Audi.. turned on the music and left behind 2 lovers .. and an idiot..

~~~ On that Night ~~~

"Jasbir... just look whether this video has come out proper or not.. and please drop me a mail just before you leave.. i will check out in my BlackBerry and will reply you.. i need to take Nisha, you know my sweet daughter to her friend's b-day party..

you try to reply me by 11 PM.. ok..? Thanks.."

and Kabir rushed out from the office. He dint try to look at the dismal reaction on Jasbir's face. He dint try to notice that Jasbir dint want to remain in the office on late Friday hours.. He dint want to look at the filthy politician's video that had just come out from an anonymous source showing how he lead the new female actor to his bed, promising her the lead role which she is truly capable of doing on screen, for the new movie which is to be made of his black money which he told was hidden under his bed..!

Jasbir was least excited about the revelation this video could bring out the next day after it gets published on front page and highlighting once again the copious wealth under his belt without his name in public. He mailed Kabir just after 20 minutes .."Video is NOT ok... need to edit a few parts.. see you tomorrow for a quick discussion on it.. may be by 10 AM" He knew that this message would ensure Kabir's peace of mind getting disturbed, the way he has been doing it with him since 3 years and 5 months..

This was the second job for Jasbir.. earlier he used to work for an MNC in a reputed IT sector.. and he loathed that life too... He always knew that the life he is leading isnt taking him anywhere.. not at least towards happiness.. He got into media.. eyes filled with glitters of glam and fame of people who most of them were leading an unusual life, that astounding life which every common man dreams of.

he looked at his watch gifted by his grandfather; it showed 10 PM.. locked his PC.. picked his bag and started walking to get a cab..

The moment he stepped out from the AC building.. the sweetness of air filled his mind.. For a moment he closed his eyes.. took a slow deep breath and with a smile opened his eyes.. after feeling the beauty of night..

Smilingly he moved out of the gate, removed his tag and zipped inside his backpack.. and waved his hand for a taxi to stop..

"Kitthey saabji..?" Old Taxi driver asked.

"Sector 3.. lane 9.."

"aes wele..?" "(at this hour... in a surprising tone..)" .Yes... Taxi Driver in delhi are mostly punjabis, or they speak punjabi normally.. or they speak punjabi on seeing a Punjabi guy. This was the latter of the cases.

"Koi problem haigi taan main dujji taxi ley lavanga.."( if you have any problem.. i will take another cab..)

"naii jii sardaar ji.. baitho.."

and he sat in the cab.. listening to the melodious Jagjit Singh .. the verses of Shabad Kiirtan.. that made Jasbir uneasy..

"shabad band kar dawo.." (please stop the shabad being played)..

Driver easily read the pain on his face and stopped the kiirtan.

"haanji.. bus ethhey ruko.." Jabir asked cab driver to stop near a small white gate.. at lane 9..

The clouds had already started making noise.. he knew it would rain that night.. he was waiting for it... he knew .. had he been working on the video.. he would have missed the moment he waited every year on this day...

He quickly made the payment and swiftly walked under the tree.. opened his bag and took out the steel cylindrical pot in which he used to carry tea.. poured in the cup shaped cap of it.. and started taking sips.. Taxi slowly moved away from the scene..

soon he found a drop of water falling in the cup.. The gift was here..

Yes it had started raining... he moved out from the tree shade... lift his face up and let droplets fall slowly on his forehead, cheek .. on his closed eyes... he wanted to cry.. but couldn't. He wanted to run .. fastest as possible till he dry his lungs out of breath.. he wanted to fall on his knees.. and yearn for the loss. He felt pain.

July.. this month was very special for Jasbir... and particularly this day.. 10 years back.. he got the definition correct.. that no one could ever explain to him.. The definition of Love..

High school time it was... Jasbir returning from the extra classes never knew that we would meet someone that will change the meaning of his living...

he saw a girl in a white salwar suit trying to do something with her bicycle at the corner of the road.. he stopped and found that she is the girl from the same tuition class he was returning from.. he inspected and found that the chain slipped of from the chain wheel and she was not able to move her cycle.. he immediately sorted the problem, showing the girl the mechanical genius side of his..

he then offered to company her till the end of the lane.. to which she smilingly agreed.. she was very pretty when she smiled.. she was always pretty and Jasbir knew that he had already fallen for this pretty tuition-mate of his.. and soon it started raining... the girl started running with cycle in her hands.. quickly waving bye to Jasbir and entering into the last house of the lane.. and saying "thank you..."

"No problem... see you tomorrow.." Jasbir replied..

And then it became a routine affair... Jasbir was sure that he was in love and always tried to dig an opportunity to be with her...

but this couldnt last for more than 6 months... differences cropped up.. they chose different college.. career.. priorities.. partners... and reasons for being happy...

but one of the decisions went wrong for both of them.. The reason for being happy... they never knew that happiness was around them when they were together.. Air.. clouds .. weather.. always had a soft part to play when Jasbir tried to move his story forward..

It thundered ... hailed storms.. they day she moved on leaving Jasbir behind.. far away from her life...

................... Everything was like a flashback... Jasbit rose up.. went under the tree.. took his bike off the stand.. and started to drive from the lane he went every night..( he left his bike on this lane every night.. so that he could come and pick it up.. a reason to cross this lane every day..)

but then he stopped.. at the end of the lane... and what he saw was, a girl in her late twenties was standing holding the small gate.. wearing white shawl.. her thick black hair sticked to her face and rain falling on the ground first touched her face and then silked to the ground off her long black locks..

he switched off the bike so that she wouldnt notice... but it was in vain... he saw her opening the gate and coming towards him... as she came nearer, his memories started getting a recall.. she was her..

he thought she wouldnt recognize him... after 10 years he looked tired.. beard moustache and turban covering most of his face... but she now stood close to him..

as close.. that he always tried to be with her.. she removed Jasbir's glasses to look into his eyes (she immediately knew he was Jasbir).. and stared directly into them.. long enough to make Jasbir realize the moments they have lost.. the happiness they could have created being together..

".. I.. I... I..... I am... I.. I.. I was.." and as Jasbir tried to explain, he was shut with a hard slap on his face... and before he could recover from that.. he felt the most beautiful kiss on his lips that he always begged from his fate...

Under the sky showering love again, instead of thunders... this night was enlightened by the purity of the love they had for each other.. tears rolling down the cheeks... they kissed the happiest moment of their life..

The moment of re-discovering their love..

which was sweet.. sweet as the first childhood love.. sweet as kissing your love under the rain that brought them together again..

and sweet as telling her once again.. "I love you.." and she accepting .. not by saying YES.. but just by another warm tender kiss.. silently explaining "I love you too.."

~~~ Cherry ~~~

It was a normal December Sunday.. sunflowers in the garden were bright and yellow.. happily facing the Sun.. the pigeon was calmly hanging on the branch of the tree that went high upto the next floor of his bungalow where his bedroom window opens to a scenery with mountains in the background.. and almost a frozen lake during this time of the year.

he thought he would have a cup of coffee, with some freshly baked cookies by Jane (his wife), chocolate ones were his favorite. But it was unusual.. it was almost 9.. she never slept till then.. he thought.. and went to bedroom upstairs but to his surprise,he found Jane missing from the room.

what could have happened..? where she went..? he put on his maroon robe and went in search for Jane, the woman he loved most in his life. looking to his watch he realized that he is missing her more with every second that passes by. Tears started rolling from his eyes while he walked.. he had been to almost each place that he knew his wife could have gone..

sometime later he went back home.. feeling lost and hurt by the way this morning has treated him.. Jane.. Jane.. ah.. Jane.. he cried in his heart... he was dying to see her but couldnt find her anywhere.. he went inside his bedroom.. pulled out an album.. their marriage's.. flipping through pictures.. he came across a picture that they took on their honeymoon...

Jane was always fond of trains.. she wanted her honeymoon trip to be full of train trips.. she loved to see the world beside her window.. than below. in the evening during one of their country stops.. they sat in a coffee shop and ordered a "cafe de lavaza cherro ne". when the drink came she saw it had cherries crushed in the drink.. with coffee down below covered with cream with a cherry on the top of it. It was very delightful for her to have that kind of coffee as the "cherry on top" phrase turned true for the first time in her life..

soon they finished their coffee.. they talked about all and everything.. left nothing.. but about love. the cream moustache covered Jane's lips and she licked a part of it. Smith was all smiling.. Jane was such innocent and beautiful.. they talked through eyes.. they kissed..

after moments they separate.. she was all red. and he had happiness filled in his heart.. he said.. "Jane you smell like cherry.. " she blushed.. "Jane.. you also taste like cherry..".. to this Jane had a hearty laugh.. and they kissed agian... and a fotographer took a pic.. and handed over them a special moment.

soon he saw that the pic was getting drenched by his tears... he shouted aloud.. Jane..
----
-------
Jane woke up.. perturbed to what happened to Smith.. she tried to wake Smith up.. to ask him.. if he is alright..? Smith hurriedly sprang on his bed. He opened his eyes.. and ahh... that was some relief.. his Jane near him... and soon the alarm started tweeting "Good morning.. its sunday.. 7 AM.." ...

oh it was a dream.. he was shocked.. and relieved at the same moment.. he was all sweating because of this nightmare.. he hugged Jane.. and he kissed her.. he had tears in his eyes.. the fear of losing Jane even in his dreams made him cry...

he cried.. he kissed.. and then hugged Jane... with all affection and love.. she hold him close to her heart.. and after few minutes he said.."Jane.. u smell like cherries".. and then he kissed her.. "U also taste like cherries..".. to which Jane smiled.. and went to kitchen.. to prepare some freshly baked chocolate cookies and coffee..

Paths to Past.. II

these days i am all surrounded by thoughts of my past. i am again reconnecting with people who hold a valuable part in my life.

most of all, with my family members.. I wasnt the best son.. i wasnt the best grandson and i wasnt the best brother. Though everyone told me that i am very close to hearts of them.. but when i was at home.. under their guidance.. i always thought of myself.

but as i moved out of home.. i realized what i lost in those most precious years..!! Those years when love was showered all over me,I kept standing under a roof.. and now i want to get drenched in same love again.. but my work.. my life isnt giving me that opportunity again..

My grand mother.. i call her DADIMA.. she is very old now.. and she is not literate enuff to read what i have written here.. my be my dad or my bro will narrate this to her... say her that i love her very much.. more than every one feel i do.

going 2 decades back.. i remember, she giving me a head massage every sunday afternoon.. when i used to wash my hair.. she used to move her cold fingers in my hair.. and so relaxed i used to feel. in the sunny afternoon of winters.. she used to sit with me and tell me many stories.. regarding her life.. regarding our culture.. regarding the life. She is the one who taught me to believe in GOD. She had a heart so soft that she never let dad raise hands on me... always standing like a wall between all the difficulties and me.

i loved to hear her when she used to say anything about her marriage experiences.. but used to hate her when she told me that i will also be married one day.. ( i hated girls at that phase of my life ).

many years have passed now.. now i see her once in 6 months... and it feels like heaven when i hug her.. I feel the love.. i see the love that comes out of her eyes when she looks at me. i still love the "prashad" she prepares for me.. i still love the "aaloo paratha" she makes only for me..

i dont blv in God now.. but people around me say i should thank to him for giving me such a wonderful life.. i thank Him for giving me such wonderful persons in my life.