Girlfriends - Part 4

Girlfriends - Part 1        Girlfriends - Part 2          Girlfriends - Part 3

"Do you think our men would also

try and have affair?"

"I think that's a distant dream

They're happy with our love and care"

"Then why do we look for more

for someone who would understand?"

"Men are men, they have their limitation

They don't have an emotional gland"

"That's indeed funny but

what would another man do?

If you have an affair outside

Would he really understand you?"

"So you mean, they all are same

there's no point cheating poor Ed"

"Yes, very much, I think that too

I'd rather love to be with you instead"

"Oh, yes, Imagine, how wonderful it'd be

if we shared our life everyday

you'd know what I really mean

when I just begin to say"

"And you would help me cook supper

and compliment my culinary so fine"

"I'd rather learn a few Italian pieces

And make the family dine"

"We could go shopping every month

and we needn't hurry up for home"

"There'd be times when we'd eat out

and never regret eating alone"

"Sigh! What a beauty

would life be then"

"we'd be so happy and gay

without these boring old men"

to be contd...

Girlfriends - Part 5

Girlfriends - Part 3

Girlfriends - Part 1             Girlfriends - Part 2

"Talk about that handsome guy

I still remember his face

He'd smile so sweet and walk so right

With a gleeful pace"

"Did you read the letters he'd sent?

He loved you back dearly too"

"Oh did he? this is unbelievable!

Did he speak about it to you?"

"He told me he would talk about it

Once he is rich, with brawn

He went to the gulf to seek his destiny

and so his life went on"

"Oh poor me, what a wonderful crush

was that man to me

And how about the brown haired guy

Everyday, whom we would see?"

"Poor thing he died last summer

his daughter befriended mine

she sold his house for a crore or more

and bought a textile line"

"How interesting that we still talk

about our crushes and the past"

"What's wrong about it, if we have our men

whose humour wouldn't last"

"Yeah, how I wish I could

love my man any less

I would have an affair or two

and put him in a mess"

"I think so too, what if,

we try and find someone

we can ring up Mickey and ask

if we could still have some fun"

"Old lady, you are

spoiling my reputation and stance"

"Shut up, you spoilt sport, be a game

Let's take one more chance"

....to be contd...

Girlfriends - Part 4

Girlfriends - Part 2

Girlfriends - Part 1

"Your children don't stay with you?

Have they forsaken you for good?

It's a pity that the new generation

Are disrespecting the piety of motherhood"

"No no, it is not the case,

I seriously have no time to spare

I get so busy with my grand kids

For them I really do care"

"Aah, that's good, because my kids too

Are lovely, rich and nice

My little one's son is such a brat

and the elder one is smart and wise"

"40 years have passed, since we dreamt of

nice family, flair and fun

and everytime I think i've accomplished

it feels I've just begun"

"Ohh, you couldn't be more correct

When you say all this so true

I like my days of sinister madness

the time I spent with you"

"The discussions on life, the dreams so real"

"The careless wandering on the unknown streets"

"The numerous fights, the uptown guys"

"The blind dates and midnight treats"

"You remember at one point I fell in love

with the guy who sat next to me?"

"The chemistry class was therefore fun

I could, oh - so clearly see"

...to be contd.

Girlfriends - Part 3

PS: To distinguish different speakers and their dialogues, refer to the double quotes.

Girlfriends - Part 1

Once upon a time, not very long

There we two old, best friends

One was plump, the other was strong

On each other they'd depend.

"My man gave me dentures,

on  our anniversary last year"

"What? Didn't you hit him hard and strong

how could he do that dear?"

"I told him buy me diamonds

but he said my wrinkles shone

He would give them for sure he said

but I'd have to wear them on my own"

"My hand wouldn't reach my ear

let alone be my neck

I asked him to get me a mobile phone

that wasn't pretty much the heck"

"You, lucky old woman, you still demand

my man has lost his speech

he never listens nor talks much

but opens his mouth to preach"

"In this very garden, lady,

Remember how we spent

the wonderful days, the golden dusks

amidst the wintery scents"

"So, tell me how's it like,

your children - good and fine?"

"Yes, I mean... I don't know..

I really don't get time..."

...to be contd.

Girlfriends - Part 2

New Chic in Town

I am very very happy today. My sweetheart friend had a baby girl!!
Here's to Jincy and her little angel...

Jab bheja maine message
Toh aaya sabka reply
Jincy ko beti hui
Toh Heroine hi hogi Bhai

Soch rahe hai saare
Dikhegi kiske jaisi
Jincy ya Johnson?
Uski Aankhen hogi kaisi

Aaj pehla din hai tera
Meri jaan, araam se hoja settle
Dhoodh pi le, strong ho jaa
Then prove your mettle

Chhoti chhoti ungliyaan teri
Hawe me yu ghumana
Phir bade hokar hum sabhi ko
Un par hi nachana

Teri pyaari pyaari aankhe
Chehre par cute sa nose
Pink pink se gaal honge tere
Like two buds of rose

Jab tu hospital se wapas ghar jayegi
Tab humko phone lagaana
Apni sundar sundar aawaaz me
Either hasna, rona ya gaana

Aaj sab meri taraf se
Ek ek dairy milk khao
"Jincy ke ghar aayi ek nanhi pari"
Sab log ye gaana gao..

CHUDAIL

Right! So this was nostalgia. I was discussing the other day with a friend what all crazy things we did when we were kids. One of them was calling the Chudail and hear her wash clothes.

How to call a Chudail?

1. Take a small piece of rag. (Analogous to the cloth to be washed)
2. Take some strands of hair (Anybodys.Do not expect a Pantene user to give you those strands :D)
3. Take a small piece of washing soap, precisely Rin (Chudail prefers Rin)
4. Take some water (one needs water to wash clothes, you see ;) )
5. Take a piece of stone (Clothes were earlier washed on a washing stone... Ask the Grandmoms!)
6. Take some Sand or mud. (Don't ask me why. It's a ritual! That's it!)

Put all this in a mug and pour water till the sand/mud is wet, entirely.

Invert the mug and put it upside down, covering all these contents.

Sing the following song in total Sur and Taal.. olrite?

"Aap jaisa Koi...mere zindagi me aaye...
Toh baat banjaaye...
ha ha ha baat ban jaaye"

Now, put your ear to the mug.

You will hear the Chudail wash clothes. The Chudail has arrived!!! :D

Now this isn't for the weak hearted, so avoid this, if you are scared of cockroaches.

And those who manage to call and hear the Chudail - Congrats, you are a part of the Hilluminati.. :D :D

Typos

I have been making innumerable typographical errors and I am really mad about it.

I am sorry.

The typos are happening not just on the blog, but also in the mails that I send.

I usually think what I've written and edited is perfect, but it turns out to be horrible when I read it the 3rd or the 4th time.

Worse, when readers point it out, I realise how lame I have been with grammar and spellings. Though, I appreciate  the corrections wholeheartedly.

I think it's pretty much the situation in my life too.

I write. I think it's perfect. But I leave some typos and then it becomes nasty! Because in life, there is no 'Ctrl + Z'.

I wish I could proof-read my life!

I am Corrupt

I usually claim medical reimbursements from my office for which I need to produce medical bills. This time I forgot the medical bills in Nagpur and in order to claim my reimbursement, I thought what could be done.

So I went to the chemist close to my place and requested him, "Bhaiyya Rs.2500 ka ek bill bana dena" (Please  make a bill of Rs. 2500)

He replied, "Nahi madam".

I wondered why did he say no, he usually does it for other people.

"Arre bhaiyya, 5% le lena", I offered.

"Nahi madam", he again refused.

"Par pichhle hafte hi toh aapne mere saamne ek bhai sahab ko bill banake diya", I questioned him because he was doing someone else a favour and was refusing one to me.

"Nahi madam, abhi chhod diya", he replied.

"Kyu bhaiyya, 5% de rahi hu na main", I insisted on giving him 5% of the total amount of the bill.

"Nahi, bola na madam. Main Anna Hazare ke Paksh me hu", he said.

I felt like hitting my head with a broom, right then. I had not imagined in my weirdest of thoughts that this is actually what they call "corruption".

I felt very very bad and wondered, is it imbibed so deep? I was, rather I am a staunch supporter of Anti Corruption, but until now, I thought of it at a broader level. I thought only the politicians who had crores of Rupees in their bank accounts were corrupt and they should be penalised in order to bring about a difference.

I think, if I want to see the change, it should begin with me. I vowed to keep a check on my conscience. I am Corrupt and I don't like it, because giving a bribe is corruption too!

Aisa bhi hota hai, yaaron, aur ye bilkul theek nahi hai..  :(

Movies that I'd love to watch alone

There are some movies which you wish you could watch alone. No, am not talking about the ones in blue color :P  This is a family blog!

I am talking about the ones which make you cry or laugh or ponder and introspect,  the dialogues are so poignant that you want to hear them over and over again.

Some scenes where you wish it was you, instead of the actor, some songs which take you down the memory lane.

They might not be your favorite movies, but you love to watch them alone.

I have a list of such movies because of some or the other special factor.

I am listing down 5 of them.

1. Swades:

I had seen this movie in the theatre, with my friends and we had a good time discussing about how else can electricity be generated. I saw it again on TV with my family and we talked about the graceful sarees that Gayatree Shroff wore. The next time I saw it, I couldn't finish it for some reason.

But when I saw it during my stay in Germany, alone, I got its true essence.
No matter where you are, how happy you are, how lavish your lifestyle is, your motherland is your motherland boss!!

I prefer watching this movie alone, or may be with someone who wouldn't stare at me if I shed a tear or two, or sing in a high pitched tone, matching the Saawariya Saawariya song!

2. Dil Chahta Hai:

Some parts of the movie are really fun to watch with friends. But the during the scene when Sid slaps Akash, and tells him that every relationship has a limit and one should not cross that limit, you feel like empathising, without extra comments from a co-watcher. You want the dialogue to sink in deep.

Also,"Tanhayee" is meant to be heard alone, seen alone and felt alone. The solitude which pops up eminently amongst the presence of so many characters in the movie is really delightful.

There was a time when I would have so many people around, but still feel lonely. That was the time when I saw this movie and it eased me more than the presence and help of a friend. This was the time when I introspected about my approach towards life. I think I learnt a lot during this phase. Some philosophies just work well, at a particular point of time, in life.

I can watch this movie any number of times, but alone!

3. Kal ho na ho:

There are some parts in the movie that you would want to forward and watch the sensitive part all by yourself.

When the sad version of kal ho na ho begins, one tends to relate with the situation and feels bad about some random departure of a person from his/her life.

The title song of the movie is best enjoyed unaccompanied.

It suits perfect when you've lost a loved one, or you know you are going to (not necessarily through death).

At the end of the day, this movie taught me to value relationships and life. And everytime I watch it, I tell myself "Haso, Khelo, Jiyo, Khush Raho...kya pata Kal ho na ho"

4. Sadma:

 I have never seen this movie alone. I have seen it on the television with family around, always. It would usually happen, that during the climax of the movie, mom would get up and offer tea to everyone, to avoid the incessant flow of tears, which is obvious. And we would flip channels to avoid the expressions of distress.

This movie has a very very deep meaning at so many levels, Love being one.

I think letting go is the toughest part, but the strongest sign of Love. I hope I learn that to the core!

I would want to watch this movie from start to end, all alone, someday!

5. Jaane bhi do yaaron:

I love to laugh out loud at any scene, every scene in this movie. There are some who actually don't find certain scenes funny. But I enjoy this movie crazily.

This movie should be watched alone, if you hate people commenting on every scene. The movie has enough punch already and the least you want is extra comments and stupid giggles from a person who is keeping you company!

Goof-ups and make-ups? Life from a funnier perspective cannot be better than this hilarious flick!

Which are your Favorite Lone-Entertainers??

I feel like watching one this weekend.

And I pick, Sadma! :)

Tum mujhe yu bhula na paaoge

How I wish I was born in you Era, Shammi ji. I would have watched your movies first day first show!

How adorable you seem, when you romanticize with your leading ladies. The naughtiest actor ever, in your era, you became a prime example of a brat-cum-lover.

ShamsherRaj Kapoor is no more. He was a legend, an actor different from his peers!

His songs have always been a part of our growing up phase. Mom's favorite hero was Shammi Kapoor. He still is.

He was our favorite too. The smile on his face, the forceful attempts to let his hair remain on his forehead, the askance, the famous style of dancing, his gestures, the look, his expressions, demeanor, were all class apart.

Even today, if we hear "Aaj kal tere mere pyaar ke charche" or "Tareef karu kya uski"  or “Aaja aaja main hu pyaar tera”, we feel like tapping a foot and singing along.

He has left behind beautiful movies and a great a work for us to appreciate.

My top 5 favorite songs featuring Shammi ji are

     5. Baar Baar dekho hazaar baar dekho

ye dekhne ki cheez hai humara dilruba

Taali ho...

4. Badan pe sitaare lapete hue

oh jaane tamanna kidhar ja rahi ho

zara paas aao to chain aa jaaye..

3. Ehsaan Tera hoga mujhpar

dil chahta hai wo kehne do

mujhe tumse mohabbat ho gayi hai

mujhe palkon ki chhaon me rehne do..

2. Ye chand sa roshan chehra zulfon ka rang sunhera

ye jheel si neeli aankhein koi raaz hai inme gehra

Taareef karu kya uski jisne tumhe banaya..

 1. Tumne mujhe Dekha Hokar meherbaan

Jhuk gayi ye zameen Tham gaya Aasmaan

Jaaneman Jaane jaan

Tumne mujhe Dekha..

RIP, Shammi Kapoor - Tumse Achha Koun Hai!!

The 'U' factor

The other day my Team Leader was telling me about her 2 year old daughter who has learnt a new way of calling people.

The 4 year old guy in her apartment is called "Rishi Dadu", instead of "Rishi Dada".

And instead of calling her father "Baba", she calls him "Babu".

Now, "Aai-Baba", in Marathi culture, are out of fashion, my TL says, so she imbibed in her daughter to call her Mumma instead of Aai but she couldn't force her enough to call her father Pappa, instead of Baba.

After repeated attempts, instead of Baba, she started calling her father Pappa.

But that eventually became Pappu.

Now, the fathers, usually, are Pappus for their darling daughters, aren't they?

What's the price?

A friendship's day card - Around 50 bucks. Make it 4 - 200 bucks!

Petrol required to go to the shop, then to the post office to post -  Around 40 bucks

Stamps, Courier Charges - Umm... A total of 150 bucks? Ya! 150 bucks

Buying a letter pad - 60 bucks

A new pen - 50 bucks

Writing Letters - 2 hours (Time is money!)

Waiting for a reaction - 2 - 5 days (So much time is a lot of money!)

A thank you phone call from a friend - Some more time!! But a "Wow" finally!

The look on the face of your friend, the excitement, the tears, the joy - Priceless!

I couldn't be there to wish you personally, but I hope you know what you all mean to me!

Thanks for being such Perfect Friends!

And it rained Love - Part III

And it rained Love - Part I  

And it rained Love - Part II

                                                                                                       ***

"tere aane kii jab Khabar mahake

tere Khushbuu se saaraa ghar mahake"

 

“Thane waale… Utaro”, the bus attendant called out.

Raghav woke up, startled.

“Smriti”, he called out, sounding stunned.

“WE'VE reached Thane!”, he thought about what he said, “I mean YOU'VE reached Thane”, he thought about it again coming out of his afternoon nap, which got converted into a sleep, and exclaimed, “I'VE reached Thane? What the F***?”.

Smriti woke up and asked the bus attendant to help her with her bag.

“Raghav, Come down. We can think about what can be done next”, Smriti suggested, sounding sleepy.

“Yeah. I had an important meeting at 5.30 in the evening”, Raghav said.

“And now it is 6, and it’s raining cats and dogs”, Smriti said looking at her watch, as they got down from the bus.

“Oh Shit shit shit. How did I sleep through Lonavala? Did he not call out?”, Raghav asked.

“I have no idea. You know, I would have reached Dadar, had you not woken me up at Thane”, Smriti said.

“Let me make a call”, Raghav said, taking out his mobile phone, and then realizing that it would be insane to use his mobile in such a cloudburst.

“Let’s go there”, Smriti pointed towards a shop. She noticed Raghav and chuckled. It was an interesting situation. She wondered how he would manage now.

Raghav dialed a number. “Hello. Yaar, Panga ho gaya”, he said.

“I slept through Lonavala and reached Thane. This is where I woke up realizing I missed my stop. What’s the status?”, he enquired.

“The workers had to give up their leaves to come to the site today. I feel so bad”, Raghav spoke to the person on the other end.

“Chal ek kaam kar, Rohit, Take them out for dinner. I will reach there as soon as possible. Ok?”, he said.

“Are you sure?”, he retorted after what the person on the other end spoke.

Smriti watched keenly as Raghav spoke on the Phone. She wondered how he managed to so conveniently speak the truth and get away with the situation. The smile on his face conveyed that everything was alright. She thought about his humanitarian aspect and felt good.

“So Smriti, I need to get a ticket to Lonavala now, from here”, he noticed her staring at him. He smiled at her.

“Why don’t you come to my place? It’s raining cats and dogs, and it seems you’ve handled things pretty well?”, Smriti offered.

Raghav thought about it for a moment, and completely drenched that he was, he opted to go to Smriti’s place.

“Hope your parents wouldn’t mind”, Raghav asked.

“Not at all”, Smriti said, as she called a taxi.

They did not speak much in the taxi. Smriti looked at Raghav and he gave back a smile. They looked out of the taxi and wondered what was so special about the rains. There was a beautiful silence amidst the chaotic traffic and the musical rains.

***

“Which floor?”, Raghav asked as they got into the lift of Smriti’s apartments.

“9^th”, Smriti replied.

On reaching the 9^th floor, Raghav looked around. Out of the 4 Doors he saw, he concluded the one with the name “Shri. M.K.Khanna” would be Smriti’s house. He was right.

Smriti rung the door bell and was welcomed by her mom.

“Hi mumma”, Smriti said.

“Aao Beta. Heavy rains no!”, Mrs. Khanna sighed.

“Mumma, this is Raghav”, Smriti introduced him.

“Namaste Aunty”, he greeted.

“Namaste beta, aao”, she greeted back.

They entered the house and Mrs. Khanna started talking, sounding formal.

“Smriti, come here beta. Meet Naina Aunty”, she said.

Smriti greeted her mother’s acquaintance and as the guest noticed Smriti and and the guy with her, she exclaimed, “Raghav,. Tum idhar?”

“Mummy, aap?”, Raghav asked.

“Anita, this is my son, Raghav”, Naina, introduced his son to Smriti’s mom, looking excited and perplexed at the same time.

“Beta, do you know each other?”, Raghav's mom asked.

“Mom, what’s going on?”, Raghav asked.

Smriti went to her room, as her mother followed her. Raghav’s mother told her the purpose of her visit to Mrs. Khanna’s place.

After a brief explanation, Raghav’s mom finally asked him, “Smriti kaisi lagi?”

Meanwhile, Smriti’s mom discussed with her the present ongoings and asked her, “So, how do you find Raghav?”

After some time, Mrs. Khanna came out and saw Naina waiting for her. They both smiled, their smiles turning into a laughter.

Both exclaimed at the same time, in a total Punjabi style, “Toh Rishta Pakka?”

“Aur kya?”, they said and hugged each other.

Smriti looked out of the window and wondered how serendipitous the meeting was.

Raghav couldn’t believe that he had fallen in love with the girl with whom his marriage was being arranged!

That day, in a small corner of the Mumbai, it rained love, a happy love.

***

And it rained Love - Part II

And it rained Love - Part I

                                                                                 ***

"muddat mein vo phir taazaa mulaaqaat kaa aalam
Khaamosh adaaon mein vo jazbaat kaa aalam "

“Another cutting? How come you guys have so much appetite for tea?”, Smriti asked.

“It’s not about the appetite. It’s more about the weather, you see”, replied Raghav trying to sound rational, and not romantic.

“I see”, she chuckled and liked the intended pun.

“Seems, the bus is here”, Raghav, noticed a Volvo bus and approached the Bus driver to confirm whether it was the same bus he was supposed to board.

“I think the same bus goes upto Thane too”, Smriti said, picking up her bag.

“It sure does”, Raghav sounded confident.

Smriti and Raghav boarded the bus and like it was to follow, they took the seats together.

“Finally!”, exclaimed Raghav and smiled, looking at Smriti.

“Yeah!”, she inserted an affirmation and smiled back.

“So, what made you come to Pune?”, Raghav started a discussion.

“There was a recruitment drive and I stayed back at a friend’s over the weekend”, Smriti said.

“Great. And your family?”, he asked, wondering whether he was asking the right questions to a girl whom he had met, a while ago.

“I stay with them in Thane”, Smriti replied, doubting his intentions, but stretching the discussion, she asked, “How about you?”

“My parents stay in Mumbai. And I work in Pune”, he said.

Smriti, looked at him wondering whether he knew her, or she knew him. It seemed like they knew each other, but there was no acceptance of the fact.

“So you were born and brought up in Mumbai?”, she asked.

“Not really, I went about the entire country, completing my education. They would throw me out of schools, you know”, he mocked.

She giggled. As if she knew he wouldn’t have been an obtuse kid, she popped another question, “So you have an army background, huh”

“Wow! What a guess!”, he looked stunned, and added, “What, you HR people read minds or lives, or what?”

“Umm.. Not exactly. That was an easy one”, she preserved her comment.

“And you? Bringing up and all in Mumbai?”, he asked.

“No. I studied at St.Joseph’s Jabalpur. Then my graduation in Pune and Post graduation in Mumbai”, she summarized.

“I see”, he beamed.

“I think he will play the same old movie now”, Smriti said, as she saw the bus attendant start the TV and load the DVD.

“Which movie?”, Raghav asked.

“Break ke baad”, Smriti sounded bored.

“What is it about?”, he asked.

“Ohh, well, it’s about the hero and heroine being together since childhood then taking a break from a relationship and then getting back together in the end”, Smriti told him the plot in one simple sentence.

“Ah. Boring. There should have been some variety”, Raghav said.

“Variety as in? You mean, the actor should have had another girl?”, Smriti questioned.

“Naah. Not that. The plot, I meant”, Raghav said.

“Guys usually are very unsettled, when it comes to girls. But in this movie, the guy is a one woman man. And I like the character very much”, Smriti opined.

“Umm. I would not like to agree with you, but are right. Guys are pretty unsettled”, Raghav said.

“How about you?”, Smriti asked, getting personal.

“I appreciate the relationship I am in, and I value commitment a lot”, he said. He paused for a while and noticed Smriti gawking at him and immediately he added further, “Not that I am in one”

“Hmm”, Smriti replied, “I like that”, she said.

“Have you been to this new Italian restaurant in Andheri?”Smriti changed the topic, avoiding any personal questions.

“I don’t like Continental food. I am a die hard Punjabi and I thrive on butter chicken”, Raghav explained.

“Oh wow. Then come over to my place sometime, Mom makes amazing butter chicken”, Smirti said, getting comfortable with the conversation and the conversant.

“That’s really sweet of you”, Raghav replied.

Smriti smiled, realizing the extent to which the conversation had extended.

“Movie”, Smriti pointed towards the TV, taking a break from the conversation.

Raghav opened his ‘Sea of Poppies’ and flipped through the pages to find his bookmark. He continued reading as he noticed Smriti engrossed in the movie.

He closely observed Smriti time and again. The side features of her face were very pleasant. He loved the way her nose pointed out of her face and her eye lashes moved in slow motion. He noticed her smile, which came regularly, as she heard the dialogues of the movie.

He watched her hands play with the key ring on her mobile phone.

Watching this girl, Raghav slipped into a siesta. He had just fallen in love.

to be contd..

And it rained Love - Part 1

"aap aaye janaab barason mein
hamane pi hai sharaab barason mein"

"Excuse me", he said, looking for help.

She looked perplexed wondering whether he meant to talk to her.

"What time is the bus to Lonavala?"

"I think it will come in half an hour", she replied.

"Ok. Thanks", he smiled.

They stood gaping in different directions.

“I think it’s about to rain”, she broke the silence.

“I think it already is”, he retorted.

She held her dupatta over her head, gazed at the sky and started looking around for shelter.

“There”, she pointed towards a shed and carried her bag guiding the fellow traveler behind her.

By the time they reached the shed, it had started to pour, the rains almost drenching them.

“I think it will be worse in Mumbai”, he said.

“Yeah. July, August and September have always been worse”, she said.

He smiled. “Raghav”, he offered a handshake, introducing himself.

She looked at him for a moment, the hazy face of a stranger, becoming clearer, as she wiped her face and eyes.

“Smriti”, she returned the handshake. “The hands are wet, sorry”, she whispered modestly.

“That’s alright”, he said, looking at her intently, trying to recollect something.

“You are on a trip to Lonavala.. alone?”, Smriti asked.

“No, I have a team there already”, Raghav replied.

“I see. Team Outing?”, she asked.

“No no. I am an architect. I have a project going on there”, he replied.

“I see”, Smriti smiled, observing him intently.

“How about you?”, Raghav asked, “Going to Mumbai?”, he added further.

“Yeah. Thane. I work there”, she replied.

“Software Engineer? Huh?” he presumed.

“Close! I am an HR, in a software company”, she replied, validating his guess.

They both seemed to be in a conundrum. The kept looking at each other, and then took away the glances.

“I think, the buses are running late, because of the monsoon”, he said, interrupting the sudden discomfort.

“Yeah, You bet”, she verified.

“Tea?”, he offered.

“I wish I get some coffee”, she replied.

“Let’s try…there”,he pointed towards a small tea stall around 10 feet away.

“Bhaiyya, 1 chai, 1 coffee”, he ordered.

“Sir, coffee nahi hai. Chai chalega?”, the vendor said.

He looked at her, and gave her a helpless look. She smiled and said, “Haan, bhaiyya, 2 Chai dena. 1 mein chini kum”, she added.

He smiled at her. She smiled back and asked “Was that funny?”

“No, not at all”, he replied, trying his best not look or sound offensive.

“Sahab, baithiye”, the vendor offered two cups of tea and gave them two plastic chairs to sit on.

Raghav said, “This is great. Rains, and a steaming cup of tea! Wow”

She smiled.

“I assume you prefer coffee over tea”, he asked.

“Right”, she smiled and sipped tea from her cup.

“Bhaiyya, ek aur cutting”, Raghav ordered, as he gulped the last sip from his cup.

The rain had just started to pour, the aroma of tea leaves had just started to rise, and the conversation had just begun too… 

to be contd...