Tuesday, May 31, 2011

4.Pyrrhic Victory

      “The first and best victory is to conquer self; to be conquered by self is of all things most shameful and vile.”
    -Plato


An hour had passed by. Pratham fell asleep in Akanksha's lap. She had no clue what had gone wrong, and in 7 years of marriage, she had never seen her husband express like this. She never questioned him. She had come to terms with reality accepting her marriage to a person who was forced into it. So was she, at some level.

She sat there still. She tried to feel her feet, but they had gone numb. She looked at Pratham. He seemed at peace. She did not move, lest he might wake up.

She rested her back on the wall and moved her fingers through Pratham's scalp gradually moving them through his hair. She could not decipher the silence, the cry and the engima that persisted in the room.

Thinking about what must have happened, she slowly went to sleep.

After sometime, she got up and realised that she had an ache in her neck. She flexed her muscles and looked at her lap. Pratham was not around. She found a paper that was kept next to her. She opened it and read it. It was the suicide note that Pratham had written.

Akanksha panicked, as she read the letter. She was taken aback, but at some level she empathized with Pratham, because there were times when the same thought had crossed her mind too. She was fed up with her life, because she wasn't living a life that she had dreamt of.

She gathered herself and immediately barged out of her bedroom to look for Pratham, fearing he might have done the unreasonable.

As she rushed into the drawing room, heading towards, the kitchen, she saw Pratham standing in the balcony. She heaved a sigh of relief and went towards him.

They had never spoken much. As she approached him, he sensed her presence and turned around to acknowledge her. She stood besides him holding the letter in one hand and then resting it on the railing.

After a few moments of silence she looked at Pratham. Pratham looked back and smiled. She was clueless. He had never smiled the way he did that day. It was a sad smile, the saddest that she had seen. But she felt a warmth.

"Your read that", Pratham asked.

Akanksha nodded.

"I had left this morning to commit suicide", Pratham declared.

A chill went down Akanksha's spine. She reacted to the jitter and nodded again, then looking down, and then at Pratham again.

"But I failed this time too.", Pratham added.

"This time too...means what?", Akanksha mustered her strength to utter these words.

She added, "did you...did you...?",

"No.. this was my first and last. And I have decided that I won't kill myself", Pratham spoke as he understood what Akanksha was trying to ask.

"But why did you do it?", Akanksha asked, as tears rolled down.

Pratham smiled. Again the sad smile resulted in a strange twinkle in his eyes.

"It was necessary, probably. To make me feel the way I do now", he said.

Akanksha kept looking at him, trying to understand what he was saying. She believed that nothing would go wrong now. Pratham's smile conveyed that to her.

"I think I have finally won- My battle - With my own demons. I was running away from everything. You, kids, life, myself.", Pratham said, sounding a bit louder than before.

Akanksha thought what made Pratham talk about all this.

"Now I am going to start again. It's not too late, is it Akshu?", Pratham asked.

She loved it when he called her that. She had no clue what he was saying.

Pratham held Akanksha's hand that rested on the railing and said "I have to go now."

"But...", his wife appeared scared.

"Don't worry. I will be back." He said and thought, " I have lost enough. Not anymore."

Saying this, he grabbed his jacket and left.

Akanksha was still puzzled. She couldn't put things in place. 7 years of marriage and she still couldn't make out what this man was all about. She had put all that she could, but in vain. All of a sudden, she found her efforts bear fruit. She was falling in love with this man.

She thought, she needed to know what her husband was going through. She knew he had no friends. No friends who would  listen to him. He wouldn't talk to her, so she thought she would befriend him in someway, so that he speaks out, and she gets to know him better.

After 7 years of togetherness, the real bonding had finally begun.

...to be contd

Back to Chapter 3: Quietude

Onto Chapter 5: One more chance

Monday, May 30, 2011

3 .Quietude


"...these are the times of dreamy quietude, when beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean's skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember, that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang.”
-Herman Melville


He closed the door of his bedroom, leaving the lock open, threw his sack on the bed and strolled around. He looked at his wedding picture, beautifully framed. It hung on the wall only to make him realise that he was a loser. He never realised what he had got into. Nor did he realise what he had lost.

He looked for his phone in his pocket. Silently. Then becoming panicky.

He hit his thigh, where his pocket ended. Hit his chest where is shirt pocket was placed, neatly stictched, holding nothing.
 

He checked his back pockets and hit his buttocks hard turning towards the table and taking out the frustration on the table. He knew he did not have his phone with him.
He just was just taking a chance. And this time, there was no hope, no chance that his phone would be with him. He had is life back and he wasn't thankful. Or was he?

He found himself reliving a conversation from the past.

"The day I die, and if I know I would be dying, I would have 3 people called for", said Jenny.

"Who?", Pratham asked.

"The three loves of my life", replied Jenny creating a mystery.

"Who are those three?", Pratham sounded curious.

"You will know you are one, if you get a call. Don't worry", Jenny chuckled and hit him on his chest.

"Ouch. That hurt, Jen", Pratham played with Jen's face.

"And what do you think will I do when I die?", asked Pratham looking into Jen's eyes, looking at her lips time and again and then pushing her hair back.

"The day you die, I am sure you will have no one around", Jen laughed as Pratham joined her too..

This shook Pratham. He indeed had no one when he had decided to die. Not even himself. His conscience seemed lost. His mind had no sync with his heart. It hurt him. He sat silently and looked for something.


He looked for himself. Was he indeed dead? The real self?
He lay on the bed and matched his thoughts to the rhythm of the screeching fan. He wanted to stay quiet. He couldn't. A lot of voices spoke.


"Daddy, what will you get for Soham when you return from Singapore?", asked Sania

"I will get him a karate suit, so that he learns how to fight and be strong", answered Pratham as he hugged Sania.

"And for me?", Sania asked, "Get me a barbie doll", she answered her question herself.

"I will sweetheart, and what else?", asked Pratham.

"For Mumma, get a hairband. I threw at the street dog yesterday and now she puts this hair clip and it hurts, when she sleeps next to me", Sania demanded.

Pratham looked at her with care and replied, "I will", then he looked at Akanksha, giving a pale smile.

"Daddy, come back soon. I will wait for you", Sania said.


The look in her eye shook Pratham. Something stirred him and he began to weep. He let the tears flow. He tried to remember what gift he had brought for the kids. He couldn't remember.

He thought he mustn't have brought anything. His toddler son and 4 year old daughter were not the apple of his eyes. He loved him as much as a dog loves his pup, or even less.

He realised all this and lay on the bed allowing the tears to flow.

The solitude reminded him of his shallow heart, his selfishness and his insensitivity. He decided to put and end to the sound of his breathing and disolve himself in the quietude.
But beneath this resolve, there burnt a fire to prove that he could be brave, atleast once. He wanted to prove to no one else but himself that he could do it.

He realised he was falling asleep. This time he didn't wanted to sleep over anything. He woke up, sat on the bed and threw the pillow away. He started crying  loud, then louder, until Akanksha heard it.

She knocked on the door, shaken. She had never heard him cry. She had always heard him speak in one specific tone, with not much modulation or change in emotion.

She opened the door, understanding that it wasn't locked. She came inside, not knowing what to say.

She went closer to Pratham. He looked at her.

"Come here", he gestured.

She went closer, not feeling a thing, wondering what was wrong.

"Sit here", Pratham mustered all the courage to say these two words.

Slowly he held her hand, as she looked cluelessly at his face gauging the intensity of his sorrow, analysing the reason for the tears.

Shivering, shaking, he slowly lay in her lap and cried profusely. This was a surrender for him. A surrender of Ego.

...to be contd


Friday, May 27, 2011

2. Retreat

 “The bigger the real-life problems, the greater the tendency for the discipline to retreat into  
                  a reassuring fantasy-land of abstract theory and technical manipulation.”
                                                                                     - Tom Naylor



"Should I prepare some tea for you?", Akanksha asked.

"Yes. I have a very very bad headache", answered Pratham.

He sulked as he looked at his drawing room. He recollected the effort he had put to ring the door bell. More so, to revert his decision of committing suicide.

He recollected...

"What are you doing Mister? Get down imediately", a lady police yelled at him.

"Are you fed up with life too, like I am, with the highway traffic?", she kept shouting.

"Assholes like you have no courage to face life", she said and hit him with her stick.

Pratham felt the hurt. He said nothing.

"What a stupid, idiotic man you would be, who selected this place to commit suicide", the lady police kept shouting making him realise that what a fool he was to attempt suicide on such a busy highway.

"Coward. You should have burnt yourself to death, suffering every single blister on every single cell of your body", she said.

Pratham spoke nothing.

"Atleast you would get an idea what your family would go through once you get lost forever", she sounded mad.

"I am not asking you not to die, it's your personal problem. But don't you dare commit suicide here. This is under my jurisdiction. I don't want another case registered. Go back home and burn yourself to death.", she hit him harder.

"Coward", she yelled. "Get lost now", she added.

"Tea", Akanksha offered Pratham.

He seemed lost.

"Pratham, Tea", Akanksha reinstated.

She realised that her husband was as usual lost. She had tried very hard to strike conversations with him. But he never spoke. They never conversed, like an ideal couple should have.

Pratham kept looking at the ceiling. He felt pathetic for not being able to take one proper step towards his destination. He thought that he was indeed a coward. He could never be brave to start something, nor was he brave enough to end something - his life.

He thought about what he had written in the suicide note. About chances. He realised life had given him chances. Not once or twice, but many times. He never cashed on them. This new life was another chance too. An opportunity to prove himself again.

In his mind he had put in all he could, all efforts, all courage, and live the way he wanted to. But it only remained a dream, a virtual reality. He could not put it into actions. He detested himself for being so complacent with so many things in life. Especially love.

He relived a conversation.

"Pratham, do you love me?", asked Jenny.

"Jennifer Peterson, I love you. I love you a lot", said Pratham with an air.

"Marry me please", proposed Jenny.

"This is strange. A lady proposing a man?", mocked Pratham.

"I don't care Pratham, whether I propose or you. We both want this, don't we?", said Jennifer.

"A man's job is a man's job lady", Pratham went on, on a lighter note.

"I am serious Pratham. I want us to get married.", said Jenny.

"Slow down, sweetheart", Pratham avoided that talk.

"I want an answer now", demanded Jenny.

Pratham was dumbstruck.

"Say something Pratham, please", Jennifer was about to breakdown.

Pratham said nothing.

"Pratham.. Pratham...", he heard his name being called and this broke his reverie.

He saw Akanksha standing in front of him. He looked at her, saw her blabbering. He couldn't make out what she was saying. The voices in his mind were louder than Akanksha's.

"Pratham", she called out again.

"Yes", he gathered himself.

"The tea has gone cold...", Akanksha said.

"No problem", he said, lifted the cup up and gulped it down in one go.

"I will take a nap", he declared and picked up his sack, carefully, placing his hand on the zip where he had kept his suicide note. He looked for his mobile and realised that he had thrown it on the road and had forgotten to pick it up.

He walked towards his bedroom leaving behind every thought of defeat and thinking about how he could sleep over everything and wake up fresh. But that was, again, just in his mind, efforts being miniscule.

While entering, he looked at Akanksha and said, "Leave me alone for sometime".

This wasn't new for Akanksha. She nodded in affirmation, picked up the cup and headed towards the kitchen thinking how she could set her life straight....


..to be contd

Back to Chapter 1: Suicide

Onto Chapter 3: Quietude

Thursday, May 26, 2011

1. Suicide

"Suicide sometimes proceeds from cowardice, but not always; for cowardice sometimes prevents it; since as many live because they are afraid to die, as die because they are afraid to live”
- Charles C. Colton


Dear whoever,

This is the supposed end of my life. My physical existence. I am getting rid of everything. Every single wish, every single dream, everything that i earned, everything that I learnt. Everything. It ends here.

I have nothing to share. No one to share with. My children are a mere duty which I performed post marriage. My wife is good enough to take care of them. I am sure she will have a better life once I am gone.

I blame no one, but myself. And to certain extent life, for not giving me the courage to utilise the chances that came my way. I have no regrets. Just one, I wasn't brave enough.

Had I been brave I would have had enough reasons to live for. Enough people to live for.
Now that there are none, I am leaving behind everything and taking this plunge.

No one is to be held responsible for my suicide. NO ONE.

Sincerely,
Pratham



He wrote the missive and looked intently at the vast sea flowing under the bridge on which he was standing.

He heard incessant horns, mighty trucks passing by the highway, people yapping on phone. The crowd seemed to disappear slowly, as he tucked the letter in his bag, zipped it and kept it near his feet.

"Pratham Beta... your milk.. it's getting cold. Finish it up soon, come on", he heard his mother's voice.

"Getting late for school... Rush Pratham...", he heard Parag bhaiyya's voice.

"Beta, Don't forget the prasad", his grandmother's voice caught him.

"Where's my school diary, I need you to sign my leave card, Daddy", Pratham recollected.

"Daadi.. I'll return and have the prasad.. Chhodo naa", he pictured himself talking to his grandmother.

"Parag Bhaiyaa. 2 min.. bas aaya.. on my way..", he looked around as if someone was waiting for him indeed.

"Pratham.. Jaldi aa..", he heard his brother's voice.

"Come soon...", voices echoed.

He looked around, as a tear dropped. He wiped his cheeks, eyelids along with the drops of sweat on his forehead. He was not sure whether it was tension or jitters that he was getting before commiting suicide, or was it just the usual Mumbai weather.

His receding hairline clearly exposed the sweat which accumulated due to the humidity. He wiped his forehead again pushing back the minimum hair he had on his head. He looked at the vast sea. He gauged the distance, and wondered where did it exactly meet the Indian ocean.

He took a deep breath and realised that his mobile was in his pocket. He took it out. Looked at the wallpaper.

"Sania, Soham, am sorry!", he said as he threw the mobile on the road.

He climbed the bridge, took a deep breath and...



..to be contd.



Chapter 2: Retreat

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Surprise!!

"Betty, You remember the cup cake that Gramma made the other day?"

"Yeah.. What about it?", Betty demands.

"I ate it all up", Ken sounds apologetic.

"You said you would keep some for me", says Betty grudgingly.

"But it was yummy and I couldn't wait till you came", explained Ken.

"Will she make some more for me, If I ask her?", says Betty candidly.

"I don't know", replied Ken.

"Why don't you ask her to, Ken. She will make some more for you and you can then share it with me", suggests Betty.

"What's you favorite chocolate, Bett", asks Ken.

"No. It's alright. You needn't give me a chocolate instead of the cup cake", says Betty.

"Tell me no. What is your favourite chocolate?", asks Ken.

"Umm... No", says Betty.

"Ok, shall I tell you my favorite one?", says Ken.

"Yeah?", Betty looks clueless.

"Rocker", Ken says it in style.

"Rocher it is Ken, Rocher", Betty corrects him.

"I don't know the entire name, but they taste delicious", says Ken, "Come let me give you some".

"You have 'em?", asks Betty enthusiastically.

"A box full", Ken sounds excited.

"Grampa... Betty's here"

"Yes Kids... I am on my way"

"Grampa, can we give Betty ..."

"Shhhh... Yes.. Make her sit down"

"Betty sit... This is for you", Ken hands her a box full of chocolates and 6 cupcakes.

"Wow.. you said you had none left for me", Betty sounds excited.

"It's called a Surprise", says Ken.

"What is a Surprise Grampa?", asks Betty

"Ferrero Rocher and Cupcakes for you", says Ken proudly.

Betty smiles.

"Thats what Grampa gave Gramma Yesterday and Gramma made cup cakes surprise for Grampa", says
Ken.

"And I saved some for you", adds Ken.

"Wow... But what do you mean by Surprise?", Betty asks as she relishes the Ferrero Rocher and
Cupcakes.

"Grampa, what is a surprise?", asks Ken.

"Nothing Kid. It's a just a gift"

"But it wasn't a birthday, nor an anniversary, then?", asks Ken.

"When there isn't one, what you give is a surprise", answers Grampa.

"Alright.. Betty Ferrero Rocher is yummy. Isn't it?"

"It sure is. I love it", says Betty.

A Great Comeback

"Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia".  I totally live by this statement. There was a time when I was in class 6 and was so impressed by the lessons of moral science that I had decided that I would never lie in my life.

I still stick to that one thing, except when I write.

I still remember Ma'am Julie Dee telling me, that when you write essays you should imagine the unseen, the impossible and then write it down. You should not fear to write all lies.

We were given a topic "An autobiography of a book" and I had no clue what would I write. I thought as much, that I wasn't supposed to lie because, Ma'am Julie was my Moral Science teacher too.

But she made us imagine something. She said essays are something which do not necessarily happen to us. They happen all in a different world, with different people, different setup. You need to write about things which never happened, and make them sound, like they did. And the best would be to make them sound so convincing that the readers relate with you. That's the talent of a good essay writer.

I ended up scoring an average of 8 out of 10 in all my essays until standard 12. All the leads to imagination and the idea of going beyond the reality and imagining the perfect world, the impossible things, the surreal incidences was triggered by Ma'am Julie. All that I can write today, a part of the credit goes to her, some to my Mom, some to Sonali Tai (the person who made me write my first poem) and to all my teachers.

The credits also go to all the real charaters in my life who perfectly fit in my virtual world of imagination and stand as inspirations.

That's where it all began and it's been going pretty good. I have always made it a point to make others express through writing. Writing eases out a lot of things.

Some of my friends have heeded to this advice and some haven't. I still keep getting views and opinions (varied ones) on my email, but when I ask them to blog, they turn out be really lazy asses.

A similar thing happened when I asked Varghese to start blogging. It started with 1 blogpost each week, to 1 blogpost per month to 1 blogpost a year and then there was this huge hiatus.

Finally I think the writer's instincts have been triggered and Varghese is back with a bang. I am writing this post here not only to officially promote his blog, but also to tell everyone what a pleasure writing is.

This is one thing you need not be good at, coz everyone, by birth is good at expressing. Just that you need to write it down and care least about the opinions. Because once you write it down, it feels good. Trust me.

All my blogger friends, please get back to the writing business and be assured that you would love it, as much as I do.

This one's to a great comeback!!

Cheers Varghese!!  *clink* 

Varghese's blog --> Expressions Unlimited
 

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Guest Post : ABHH

How does obscure optimism work..huh?

I have been surprised with some amazing ABHH flowing through my inbox. There is so much to write about and wonder "Aisa Bhi Hota Hai!?"...

But meanwhile, the cakewalk for the week is taken by Pri, by her "crisp" ABHH and by Rajesh by his "kind" ABHH :D :D

Here we go..

Pri's ABHH:

Yesterday I had asked for a can of Sprite in my office cafeteria...

When I saw the coupon, this was written on it: 

 'DITE COCK                 Rs.20/-'

Batao, Aisa Bhi Hota Hai!! :D :D


***

Rajesh's ABHH:

Yesterday I was buying dahi from a shop where Sodexo coupons (Meal Pass) are accepted.
When I came out a decently-dressed guy came to me, looking very worried..

He asked , “Sir mein apne jijaji se milne aaya tha, vo Mila nahi… subah se kuch khaya nahi, thodi madad kardo”

I was gonna shu him away.Then he said, “Mere bacche ke liye kuch khane ke liye paise dedo”
Main gadha senti ho gaya!

 I felt sad for his kid… (I know most of the times they are fake :P)

I thought I’ll give some money, checked my wallet, no change!  100 rupee note was there, I was not going to give Rs. 100…

Then there were some Sodexo coupons as well :P :P

I gave him a Sodexo coupon worth Rs. 50, pointed to the exact shop from where I had bought dahi and told him, “sirf isi dukaan se khane ka kuch bhi lelo 50 rupai ka and yeh de dena” (thought he could buy some biscuits, cake for the kid)

He was troubled.

To say the least he said “25 rupai dedo”

Me - “lena hain toh lo nahi toh jao”

Him – “thik hain thik hain isi dukan se na", he asked.

me – “haan”  (pointing)

So for the first time “mein SODEXO coupon bheek ya daan mein diye” :P :P

Aisa bhi hota hain :D

***

Let it flow.. :)
 

Friday, May 20, 2011

Consolation

Whenever I am stressed out, or under pressure, or bothered by something I get a variety of motivational messages from my dear friends. They sure try to cheer me up and bring me back to my usual self.

Last night was just another bad day and this friend of mine sends me this sms this morning after a few preceding enquiries

She writes :
"Itna load nahi lena life mein. Life par chadhke baitho, life ko apne par chadhne mat do.. "

Then she writes:
"Aaj shaam ko Rs.1000 mere account mein daal dena. Itna paisa mein itnaich motivation milega"

and then the message continues...
"Saali, mini.... Aansu ki dukaan, cheer up..."

Icing on the cake happens to be this..
"Chal, ab kaam kar,Vehshi Darindi"

 (I could never use "Vehshi Darindi" ever, in any of the conversations. Seems it is the new Vampire series on Star One which is making an impact!! :D)

I wondered, what the hell was that... Love was oozing out of that one expletive that she used.  I laughed out loud.. I still am laughing as I type this post..

I realised one thing.. With friends as crazy as this, around.. it's difficult to stay mad!

Meri zindagi me..Aisa Bhi Hota Hai!! :D
 

Thursday, May 19, 2011

"I don't know"

"Where's Grampa?"

"I don't know!" (Betty laughs)

"And Gramma?"

"I don't know!", she drags her statement in a tune.

"What are you doing here?"

"I don't know!", she says sweetly.

"What's wrong with you?"

"I don't know!", her smile vanishing.

"Graampaaaaaa"

"Yeah kiddo, on my way....What is it?", Grampa looks at Betty.

"I don't know!" (Betty chuckles)

"Betty, stop that. Will you!"

"Ok!"  (Betty shuts her mouth instantly)

"Grampa, where's my baseball kit?"

"I don't know son!"

"Eh!!"

"Betty, you tell me!"

(Betty stays mum)

"Have you seen it?"

(She says nothing)

"Yes or no?"

(She looks at Ken and shrugs off)

"Tell me"

"I DON'T KNOW" , she yells and goes away.

"Grampa, I think the first time she said I don't know, I liked it more than what she said now"

"You did?"

"Yeah. It was really sweet. Where's my baseball kit, by the way"

"I don't know", Grampa mocks.



PS: This one is dedicated to Khushi who has uttered the cutest "I don't know" eva!! :) 

Music Does it Again

I had a tough day yesterday. Mentally. I overdo it at times it seems. I desperately needed a break. Ideally on such occassions, I start playing a song randomly on my playlist and allow it to ease me out.

But yesterday, I was kinda forced into it in a very very sweet way.

Like I mentioned earlier also,  dedicating songs is something that makes a person feel really really special. I was given that special feeling yesterday and I have no words to express the gratitude. :)

I felt like I was on cloud # 9, with all the lovely dedications. There were 10 songs, each with certain explanations, which I am not going to let out here.  It almost told a story with some nice bollywood tracks.

Meanwhile, the songs which are now a part of my playlist are..

1. Wo Pehli Baar Jab Hum Mile

2. Wo kaun thi...nazar milake jaan le gai jo

3. Hum se tum dosti kar lo, Yeh Haseen Galati kar lo

4.Tera Mera Rishta Purana..

5.  Tu hi meri Shab hai...Subah hai..Tu hi din hai mera.. Tu mera rab hai..jahaan hai..tu hi meri duniya..

6. Chal Chale Apne Ghar, Aye mere humsafar.. Bandh darwaaze kar, khud se ho bekhabar...

7.  O..Saathi re... Din Doobe naa..

8. O mere sona re sona re sona re.. de dungi jaan juda mat hona re

9. Aaj kal tere mere pyaar ke charche kar zubaan par, sabko maalum hai aur sabko khabar ho gai

10. Aji Rooth kar ab, kahaa jaaiyega, jahaa jaaiyega hume paaiyega

In rarest of rare possibilities I got a few of my favorite songs as dedication. I cannot express how elated I felt.

The mind relaxed, heart rejoiced and soul felt contented.

Ultimately, Music did it.. I ended up having a fantastic evening yesterday. :)
 

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Our Virtual Family

My mother has adopted three daughters in my absence. They are all virutal. And she is so involved in their lives, that she forgets her real daughters at times too.

I ain't jealous or anything. But I am wondering what Momma is upto. Now these daughters visit her every weekday from 7.30 to 9.30 pm, more regularly than I do. And these TV bahu ranis and betis are so addictive that Mom has actually been living the virtual life for quite sometime now.

I kinda lied, when I said I am not jealous. I actually am. Because she doesn't expect anything from them. They appear perfect to my mom, and I? Don't even ask me about it!! :|

So the three daughters are
1. Suhana from Sasural Genda Phool
2. Archana from Pavitra Rishta
3. Akshara from Yeh Rishta Kya kehlata hai


My mom loves Suhana the most, and she has been so so sad, considering that Suhana has been detected with some brain tumour thing. 

The other day I call my mom up to ask how were things with her, and she replies "Arre baad me call kar, Suhana ko Brain tumour detect hua hai"

I replied dramatically, "Kyaa?? Nahiiii... Ye nahi ho sakta maaa"

"Ruk ja thodi der. Break me call karti", she said and hung the phone.

I couldn't stop laughing. But I kinda felt bad that Suhana had that Tumour thing.

She was indeed like an adopted daughter to my mother. Meanwhile, I called up my sister and decided to talk to her. She is an "Anti-Soap Opera" kinda soul.

"Palli, wassup?", I ask.

"Kuch nahi re. Rona dhona shuru hai", she replies, sounding low.

"What? Aisa kya hua?", I ask.

"Arre wo Suhana...", she begins and I reply "Oh..." and we both end up having a hearty laugh.

Like Suhana's pain wasn't enough, Mom took Akshara's bank incident to heart.

So I call her post Sasural Genda phool, thinking she'd talk to me, and she replies, "Arre bohot interesting chal raha hai. Bechari Akshara Bank locker me ek din se bandh hai".

The tension and restlessness in her voice was so so amazing. I ended up laughing again.
"Break me call karti", she said, like always.

Now her third adopted daughter, Archana, is fortunately going through some good and happy times. She is expecting. So my mom remains tension free from 9 to 9.30 pm. Aah! Some relief!

So this drama goes on everyday. From 7.30 until 9.30. pm. That's when we live a totally different life, a virutal one. Icing on the cake being, my mom discusses this with my aunty.

And they end up wondering what will happen in the lives of these betis and bahus on TV.
There might be a new adoption very soon. I don't know. Depends on what more virtual things the TV throws.

Meanwhile Momma, take a break and watch Roadies for a change.. I insist.. You will feel much better! :D :D :D

Monday, May 16, 2011

200* not out..

The Obscure Optimist (me) has been able to successfully keep up the blog and publish 200 posts, this one being the 200th.

I am happy that the blog has been rolling, considering a few tough times, when I hit the writer's block, and sometimes the writer's block hit me.

But on and off, expressions have kept flowing, overflowing at times, and this pretty old thing is now loaded with 200 posts.

The label "Aisa Bhi Hota hai" is widely read and I feel really glad when people tell me how much they like it. It makes me happier because people take inspiration from it and happiest when people contribute.

This 200th post is dedicated to Maloo, who has contributed to one of the best ABHH so far..
Here it goes..

My office extension (phone) was not working for over a week.
I raised a requisition for it on 'I-serve' in the morning.


Post lunch, when I got back to see the status, there was a comment update,

“Comment:  We tried to reach you on extn  but couldn't get thru.
Please call us on 5262 to understand the issue.”

Batao, Maloo ke saath Aisa Bhi Hota Hai...

@Junta: You are most welcome to share your ABHH with me and the readers..

You know what you have to do.. just Counter Comment and I might just put together the assorted ones and make a new post, and try reach 300 by the end of this year...

Meanwhile.. Jaisa Bhi Hota Ho, Just laugh and be merry.. :)

 
 

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Lyrical Mess

I woke up this morning, and decided to listen to some retro music. So I populated my playlist with my favorite songs and left for work.
 
Now, what usually happens is, I kinda suck at remembering the lyrics of the songs. I usually have no idea what comes next, and I end up making my own lyrics, and sometimes end up making my own new song.
 
So today I did the same thing.. almost... :D
 
While walking towards my pickup stop, this beautiful song begins and I start singing with it...
 
"Aao na, Gale Lagao na..
lagi bujha do naa
O jaane jaa...
Tum ne jo agan lagai hai,
toh chhooke dekho na..
kahaan kahaan..."
 
And then the next line follows...
 
"Dekho......"
 
and I continue singing...
 
"Nadi ke kinare...panchhi pukaaare...kisi pannchi ko..."
 
I realise, that Ashaji is singing something else....
 
I try to catch up with it and again she sings, "Dekho"...and I decide to wait and listen carefully to what the actual lyrics are...
 
and she sings on... "Seene me kaisi, hulchul machi hai... O saajna... na na na na"
 
And I switch off my player. Wait and think about the messing up which I'd done.
 
 
I sing the song again, in my mind...
 
At "Dekho" I pause, think and go on
 
"Nadi ke kinaare, panchhi pukaare...kisi panchhi ko..."
 
Now I was not getting, which song the latter one was... I keep wondering, whack my brains out...
 
And sing the song entirely, from that sentence... The second song..
 
"Dekho, nadi ke kinaare
Panchhi pukaare...
kisi panchhi ko..
Dekho, ye jo nadi hai...
Milne Chali hai...
Sagar hi ko..
Ye pyaar ka hi saara hai karvaan...
 
too oo too oo..."
 
And then I remember the song finally, and it happens to be the "Kaisi hai ye rut", from DCH.
 
Jeez, I wonder, this was sure a brainer.. And i sigh "Aisa Bhi Hota Hai", wo bhi subah subah!! :D :D

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Fathom me



Picture Courtesy: Pooja Cornelius

A romantic love
A romantic hate
A scribbled page
A clean slate

A curious stare
A subtle askance
A pleasant thought
A dreamy glance

What's in my mind?
What can you see?
Look closely, if you can
And Fathom me

A stylish look
A self click
A musical drama
An intense flick

A hidden smile
A naughty wink
A nostalgic memory
Where my heart sinks

What's on my face?
What sets me free?
Know if you must,
You should Fathom me

A mix of colours
A new frame
A tinge of black
A new name

A sundry background
A fresh hue
A positive outlook
A clear view

What's the color?
What magic is she?
If you want to know
Come, Fathom me


Monday, May 09, 2011

Weekend Glee

Weekend was fun. Though there's a lot to write about, but filhaal, there are two instances where we laughed our asses out!

***

Jincy and Johnson, the rockstar couple came over to Pune to spend the weekend with us. We happened to click some pictures and later we analysed all of them.

Maloo said something very intriguing, "A photographer is not a good phototaker, he is a good moment catcher."

We all agreed.

Johnson kinda agreed a lot and gave a counter - compliment to Maloo , "Arre, main tere baare me kuch alag hi sochta tha. Par tu toh bohot intelligent nikli ."

Maloo instantly replied, "Thank you Thank you"

I thought about it and laughed out loud.

Johnson seemed happy that atleast I got the joke and gave a hi-five.

Maloo looked confused. She asked , "Why are y'all laughing? Kuch alag kaha kya aapne?"

We laughed harder and claimed that Golden words are just repeated once, but I decreased the value of the words, by repeating them and then Maloo laughed too.

Tashan ke chakkar me, yaaron, Aisa Bhi Hota Hai... :D


***


After a crazy sunday, and an awesome snack treat at Good Luck Cafe, Maloo and I headed for home. Maloo was riding the vehicle.

We avoided all the signals and took a route from all the small lanes, until we reached the main road. At the crossroads we realised, that a right turn was not allowed.

Maloo asked me, "Right turn is not allowed. Kya karu?"

I replied , "Signal pe ruk, dekhte hai. Right le lenge."

"Arre, look at the board, it says no right turn", Maloo emphasized.

"Left lene me koi matlab nahi hai", I pondered.

"Hmm", said Maloo.

"Do one thing, Take a STRAIGHT TURN", I replied.

Maloo burst out and I kept wondering..

STRAIGHT TURN!!! Grrr...!! What was I thinking...??

Aisa Bhi Hua tha, Aisa Bhi Hota Hai... aur na jaane Aisa Kab tak Hota Rahega :D :D

Sunday, May 08, 2011

And she wouldn't let me drive..

Everytime I visit home I end up having a fight with mom. And this time there was a huge one because she just wouldn't let me drive my Dhanno (Our Car).

"You already drive me nuts, and you want to drive the car too, without license?", she'd ask.

I would reply, "How can one License from RTO determine whether I can drive well or not?"

Despite she telling me not to barge into difficult situations, I drove dhanno and went to pick her up from work.

"How did you come?", she asked. She could clearly see me sitting on the driver's seat in dhanno.

"Mom", I acted smart.

"You don't have a license Mini. How can you be so careless", she reprimanded.

"I drive very confidently, and the maamu would never know that I don't have a license", I replied.

She sat next to me, her heart almost in her mouth, remembering all the Gods possible.
But she sat with this subtle smile. We did not speak until we reached home safely.

"So?", I asked.

"Theek Thaak chala leti hai, lekin gaadi bilkul akele nahi le jaana", she acted all motherly.

After giving her the proof of the finest driving ever, she says not to drive anymore. I got really pissed and it led to one of the craziest arguments ever and finally she said ,"Jo karna hai kar"

Which implies, "Dare you do it". And I was not allowed to touch the car, without somebody with a permanent license accompanying me.

So I wondered, had I been in her place, what would have I done? I sure would have done pretty much the same thing. If my daughter ever got caught, she might have had to pay some exorbitant fine for not having a license, she might have got hurt because of not knowing the skill properly, the traffic hawaldaars would have misbehaved with her, and this would have hurt me the most. Why, because I would never want to see my daughter suffer because of anything.

Empathising, kinda, made me understand my mum's point of view and reminded me of one of her patent dialogues.

"You will understand, when you have one.", she'd say.

"What?", I'd ask.

"A daughter", she'd reply with all anguish possible, thinking about what a brat I turned out to be.

I seriously think, if she can mother someone like me, for over a quarter century now, she's got to be the best Mum in the whole wide world.

I give her a really really tough time. I say so because, I haven't applied for the license yet, and I am gonna take Dhanno on a drive this time too. :D

We might end up having another crazy argument. But all in all, Mom, we were destined to be mother and daughter, and like she says "Nibhana padega ;)"

I feel so lucky to have you.. Momma :*

Happy Mother's Day!! :D

Saturday, May 07, 2011

Dum'best' Charads

We are khandaani champs in playing Dumb Charads. There are times when I just look at
this cousin of mine, in a particular way, and before I start enacting she guesses, "Teri
Meherbaaniyaa".

And the others would wonder,  "how on earth could you do that??"

"Sunai diya na tujhe, jab main naam bata rahi thi?", the other cousin would ask.

"Nahi re. Sach me. Kuch nahi sunai diya", we would defend.

We are that good! B-)

So the other day, my sister,Pallavi, had a bad day at guessing movies. (Just one of those days when easiest of easy movies seem so tough)

So momma started enacting..

She broke the words into 2. And started enacting.

"Hindi movie, 1 word, breaking into two halves, the first half, in english", Pallavi decoded the actions, and concluded.

Mom opened her mouth wide, and held her hands to her ears and stretched her jaws, closed her eyes and enacted the word.

Pallavi started guessing. "Shout, scream"

Mom prompted Pallavi to say more words on similar lines.

Pallavi then guessed, "Danger, Fear, Scare, Loud, Noise, Trauma"

Mom got really agitated. Pallavi was saying all possible synonyms, but not the exact word. The time was ticking away.

So mom took another way, she made a round figure on the ground, and enacted as if she is jumping into it.

Pallavi asked, "Are you jumping into something?"

Mom gestured with her hands, asking "What?"

Pallavi said "Kuaan?". She asked in Hindi.

Mom showed a thumbs up which meant the english word for Kuaan.

Pallavi said "Well". There she was. Mom heaved a sigh of relief and then asked her to say the words which are similar sounding to "well"

Pallavi began, "Bell, sell, tell, pell, rell, dell, mell, gel, shell, fell"

Mom again looked helpless as she waited for the correct word, and Pallavi just wouldn't say it.

Then mom again repeated the same gesture of shouting and screaming, and finally Pallavi called out "Yell".

Mom seemed relaxed. But this was just the first half. The second half of the word was still remaining.

So she began. She turned her hands just the way we move them while we drive.

Pallavi called out "Steering?"

Mom prompted her to speak on similar lines.

Pallavi said "Car"

Mom asked her to hold that word and merge both the halves.

"Yell - Car !!", Pallavi wondered.

Mom looked at me, and then at her.

Pallavi looked confused.

I had lost it by then. I said, "What's wrong Palli, it is so simple now. You've forgotten Dumb Charads, what a shame."

"Yalgaar", she sighed.

And there, the champ in Dumb Charads was getting back to business after 2 long years..
 

Friday, May 06, 2011

No Orientation

I am doing all random things, these days, without orientation. (Now don't get the word wrong, it has some literal meaning too :P ).

I thought before I get to some serious writing I should clear up some pending stuffs, like...

1. I have been wanting to learn "Character Dheela hai" song by heart.

2. I am keeping up with my sister blog --> Views and Previews. It's been really really long that the poor thing stood stranded.

3. I am blog hopping and catching up with blog buddies, whom I haven't visited since long.

4. I am back on Indiblogger. I hadn't updated it since so so long.

5. I got a really busy schedule too, so I thought I'd finish off my work, and then sit and blog.

6. I am working out these days.. :D., so I am usually short of time.

So once everything falls in place and I am not left with a "No orientation" state, I shall get back to some serious writing. Until then I think, it would be the usual Aisa bhi Hota Hais and Favorite Songs...

Right now, my current favorite, is.. you guessed it... "Character Dheela hai" track from the movie Ready.

Salman Khan does these awesome things, and I feel so good about all of it. Here are the lyrics..

Kudiyon ka nasha pyare nasha sab se nasheela hai
Jise dekhoon yahaan woh husn ki baarish me geela hai

Ishak ke naam pe karte sabhi ab raas leela hai
Main karoon toh saala Character Dheela hai


ho ! Main karoon toh saala Character Dheela hai

Ladko ka nasha pyare nasha sab se nasheela hai
Jise dekhoon yahaan woh husn ki baarish me geela hai

Ishak ke naam par karte sabhi ab raas leela hai
Main karoon toh saala Character Dheela hai


Ho ! Main karoon toh saala Character Dheela hai

Like It Like It...

Hai simple sa yeh formula, Hai love ka funda khokhala
mujhe bas pyaas tu hi de, cool cool cool rehta hai

Kisi ka haath thaam ke, hridaya kyun baad naam ke
I love you forever koi, fool fool fool kehta hai


Isey peene se hai matlab, ye yovan santreela hai
Fark padta hai kya baahon mein, munni hai ya sheela hai

Ishak ke naam par karte sabhi ab raas leela hai
Main karoon toh saala Character Dheela hai


Ho ! Main karoon toh saala Character Dheela hai

Yeh charcha Facebook pe hai, mazaa bas ek look mein hai
Hassi chehre ko toldi, baar baar baar baar karta hai

Jo dil ka photo frame ho, wahan photo kyun same ho
Calendar hi tarah usse, roz roz roz roz change karta hai


Kamar patli ho jitni bhi mazaa utna nasheela hai
Chalega jo bhi hai aankhon ka rang kaala ya neela hai
Ishak ke naam pe karte sabhi ab raas leela hai

Main karoon toh saala, character dheela hai

Ho ! main karoon toh saala, character dheela hai

Kudiyon ka nasha pyaare, nasha sab se nasheela hai
Jise dekhoon yahaan woh husn ki baarish mein geela hai
Ishaq ke naam pe karte sabhi ab raas leela hai

Main karoon toh saala, character dheela hai

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Hide and Seek


Now one of my friends (I am not naming him for confidentiality sakes ;)) had taken a week off from work and had given a bahana that he would be going out of station, but he was staying back in the city.

So we planned to go for a movie last weekend and asked him too. This conversation took place between Pri and this friend, say M.

Pri: Movie chalega.

M: Kounsi?

Pri: Shor in the city

M: Nahi, Main public places me nahi ja sakta.

Pri: Kyu?

M: Maine office me jhooth bol kar chhutti li hai.  Agar movie me office ka koi aa gaya toh panga ho jayega. Isiliye 5 dino se ghar se bhi nahi nikla hu.

Pri: Ghar se bahar kyu nahi nikla?

M: Kisi ne dekh liya toh?

Pri: Toh helmet pehenke nikalta.

M: Ye idea pehle batana tha na, Pri. Kya yaar, tu bhi!

I totally adore M, for doing the most interestingly dumb things time and again...

Jee haan....Aisa bhi...Hota hai!!!  ;)

if there were no dreams

  if there were no dreams the permanence would slowly take over and the little escapes into the terrain of subconscious existence would deli...