~~~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..