Farmhouse (part1)

It was Jatin s birthday. He along with his friends Sanjay ,Chetan, Janvi, Saakshi were at Sanjay s farm house to celebrate his birthday.

“Chootu. You fool!! You brought the wrong cake. This one has no name written on it.”

“Why are you blaming me? You too were with me Chetan. And Saakshi had asked you to get it, and be careful. Not me. But it looks more tasty.”

“Stop it you two. Do not fight. He ll be here anytime. What can we do now? There s no way to get the cake that we had ordered for and we do not have any cream to write his name.” said Janvi.

“I have an idea.” Said Sanjay.

“no thanks Sanjay. We know what you mean when you have that evil smile on your face. We are happy without your ideas. Keep them for yourself”, said saakshi with a “strict no” expression on her face.

Janvi added “yeah we know what your plan is. Let me guess. Tooth paste?”

“Tooth paste is a good idea. But come on Jatin is my friend too. I would not used tooth paste to write his name on his 25^th birthday cake. I would use cream. Jatin always gives us so small piece of cake. I ll write his name with cream, shaving cream and make him eat the whole cake” said Sanjay with wink and a smile but everything faded away when 3 angry faces glared at him, and he decided not to meddle with them.

“Relax guys. It is us that matters not this silly cake. With or without his name, it still is his birthday cake. And like you said Chetan, this looks more tasty. And Sanjay stop calling him Chootu. We are all adults not. How would he feel if tomorrow you call him chootu in front of his girlfriend?” said Janvi

Chetan could not stop blushing. The farm house was about 100km from the city. The city in which they all spent their childhood. The city in which they were educated. It all started from their school days. Chetan was the shortest of them all and hence named chootu, initially to tease and make fun of him and later on… well it became his pet name. Janvi was the only sensible, sensitive person in the group. It was during these days that they had decided that they would spend a couple of days each year at this farm house. The location was very good. It was peaceful. There was a lake nearby where they could swim, and go boating. And it would be a good break from the busy, hectic and tensed city life. And this time they had a reason to celebrate.

Jatin was not upset when he saw the cake. He was in fact happy with the cake. And so at 12 they lit the candles. Janvi was always against blowing out candles. “light represents life. It should always be on. Blowing it off according to me is taking out life from someone”, she always said. They usually listened to Janvi. But this time they were not in total control of their mind. Alcohol too had a say and jatin blew off the candles. Chetan could sense disappointment in janvi s face.

“I am sorry Janvi. I could not resist this time. Here… you have the first piece of cake....” said jatin taking a piece of cake towards her. But when the cake was about to touch her lips he said “ Sorry jaan, the cake looks toooo tasty. Guys everything but this cake is yours.” And swallowed the chunk of cake that was supposed to be for janvi.

Before they realized what was going on, Jatin was on the floor fighting for breath, face turning blue. And before they rushed him to the village s government, Jatin was no more.

journey part 4

“Stop it Prateek. don’t give me that wicked smile. I am really getting tensed now.”

“Ha ha. Chill. I am as normal as you are. This is still a situation created for you. And you have not yet given your answer.”

“You said you love me. And that you would not be able to see me going to someone else. But even now you wont be able to prevent me from going away where I had to go. Even now if you kill me I would not be coming with you, but I would be going to him, like he has already decided.” 

There was a pause and then she continued again “This anyways is my last journey on earth, no matter you decide to kill me or let me go. In some days I would be starting my new journey, new life. You would just prepone the dates of my journey by a couple of days. I am not getting married. I broke up with him as soon as I got my medical report. I am here for few more days now.”

There was a long silence and for the first time Prateek took the initiative to break it. “What should I say!! You have really changed a psycho killer into a good person.”

She managed a smile.

Then again after a long silence Prateek opened up “Tanu, some of what I said today is true.”

“What? You seriously are a Psycho serial killer?” said Tanu giving a grin.

With a serious tone Prateek said “No Tanu. About me being madly in love with you. All that is true.”

“Oh thank you for letting me know. Now I know that there s someone who s madly in love with me. I will happily accept death.”

Prateek was irritated. “Stop it Tanu. I am serious. It s not the killer who s talking. I really do love you.”

“I understand Prateek. And about the last thing I said, it is true too. This really is my last journey. I am counting my days, or rather hours. But seriously, thank you for letting me know how you feel. It feels good when you come to know that there are people who really love you.”

There was pin drop silence again. No one spoke. They decided it was better to get some sleep. And ended their day.

It was still dark. Sun was about rise. Prateek had no sleep that night. Only one thought kept coming to his mind ‘How can she so calm and peaceful knowing that she barely has time?’

Just then he herd her voice. “Good morning. Where are we? In hell of heaven?”

“We are still sharing a long journey. Who might have dreamt that The merciless psycho serial killer could be changed by just a single talk?!” said he, trying to be as playful as she was.

“Tanu I want to thank you for the most precious time I had in my life. I was under depression. I had even thought of ending up my life. That was the reason why chose this train. I knew that this train would be deserted, and that I could do what I wanted to do. But you came into what was supposed to be the last day of my life. After listening to you I realized that my problems are nothing compared to the problem that many others have. And that my solution is a foolish one. You gave me a new life. You gave me new spirit. You showed me new path. I will always remember you as the lamp that gave light to my life. Thank you….”

Journey part 3

Anyone would be shocked after being shot by such a question. Within a short time Tanu s smiling face was back.

“hmmmm that depends. What would the murder weapon be?”

“Do you think it matters? Ok then lets see… what if I activate a bomb right under our seat and make it explode while we are talking?”

With the recent bomb blasts the word ‘bomb” had a very terrorizing effect on everyone. Probably for a moment Tanu imagined a bomb being present under her seat. ‘What s wrong with me!!! He s such a simple, soft and harmless person. He s just kidding.’

She started laughing. “Mr ‘Psycho Serial Killer’. you are forgetting one important thing. All you want is to kill me. If you use bomb even you ll  get killed. You must really be Psycho to kill me by detonating a bomb under this seat.”

“Of course I am psycho. Why else would I keep killing people. I know that I would die. But may be I am will to….”

“why would that be?”

“Hmmmm let me think…. Ok here it goes. I was madly in love with you since we were studying. But I could never tell you. I had always thought that one day would tell you. But now I realize that it is too late. You are getting married to someone else, which I can not stand. So I decide to kill you. There are couple of reasons why I decided on bomb. Firstly it ll be over before you knew. You would not even know it happened. So that before you death I see your smiling face as we sit here and talk. Secondly all these days I have been living with one reason, to tell you how I feel. With you no more I would not have any reason to live. So I would anyway join you, now or later. And finally I would not get change to live you, but atleast I could leave with you.”

Tanu was dumbstruck. For the first time in the many years that he had seen her, smile was missing from her face. He took pity on her and said. “Ok lets stop. I see that you are scared.”

“No I am not. I was thinking about how I could save myself. You want to kill me, its ok. I understand, although it is not normal to kill a person whom you love, it is acceptable from a psycho serial killer. But why kill all others on this train?”

“Innocent victims I guess. Cant help. Their bad luck that they chose this train. I made my plan after I came to know about your travel plan. I thought it was perfect. Because it s a newly introduced one, not so well known, a bit odd timing, and a weekday. I had expected an almost empty train. Well actually there are very few travelers. And if you didn’t know their family would get compensation for the accident.”

“What!! You think that would make their family happy? Look at that person. His parents might be well-off, and he might be their only son. Of what use would a bit more money be to them when they do not have their son. There s a newly wed couple going to make their home, an you would kill them before they even stated a new life?”

“Hey. Get a grip. It was your idea to create a situation. It s just a situation.”

There was silence. Then “hey you said you were madly in love with me. And you are planning to kill me. Don’t you think I deserve to know that someone was madly in love with me before I die?”

He did not know what to say. Then he went on his knees took her hand and said “Tanu ever since met you on the first day of college, I wanted to talk to you, I don’t know why, but I developed feelings for you, I fell in love with you. I still love you.”

In typical filmi style Tanu said “Oh Prateek why didn’t you tell this earlier. Something could have been done, now you are too late.”

“Hw could I have told you? I had never talked to you. Do you realize that this is the fist time that we are talking to each other? I know I am too late. That s the reason I am doing this. Do not worry Tanu. It wont hurt you. You wont know when and how it happened. It will all be over before a blink of eye.”

She was again scared. “Prateek please tell me that this is still a proxy situation. And that you are not serious about this.”

There was a wicked smile on Prateek s face

to be continued...

Journey part 2

In the years that had passed she had not changed. The same charismatic smile, the same bright eyes, the same girl in total. Prateek was totally lost in her, brought back to his senses when he heard it again “Do you mind?”. A small nod was what he could give her. She adjusted her luggage under her seat, made herself at home and finally looked at him, examined his face for the first time.

“Hi” she said trying to start a conversation. 

He tried his best give her a good smile but nothing could match her s. ‘All these years when I wished for someone to join me you did not make it happen and now when I want to be alone you are sending a very beautiful girl?’ said he to his fate.

“Prateek. Right?” she said.

‘Oh my God!! She remembers me. She also knows my name!! Am I dreaming or are you really playing something with me?’

“Yes I am Prateek. How do you know me?”

“We were in the same college remember? I am…..”

“Tanu… I am sorry, Tanushri.” he said with a bit embarrassment.

“Ha ha. Its alright. Yes I am Tanu, that s what my friends call me….”

‘Patience my boy, is what I always like. You have waited patiently waited for such a long time and I guess now you deserve this’ said Fate to him with a little wicked grin on his face.

The very next moment Prateek forgot that in this journey he wanted to spend time with himself, and got lost in Tanu s voice, or rather got lost in Tanu.

Prateek probably had the best chat of his life. Then suddenly he asked “Tanu where are you working now?”

She was quite for sometime. Then with a smile said “oh well, I have a lot of free time now, making full use of it. As of now I do not work.” looking at his concerned face she smiled again “chill!!!. Why are you getting tensed. I am the one with no job.”

“are you not worried?”

“hmmm I have savings which will help me survive for quite sometime. I will be able to find a way. don’t you worry. And anyways I believe that one can not overcome a tough situation until one learns to accept the truth that there are many such hurdles in life and one has to overcome them. Because only after you accept the bitter truth you start working to overcome it, until then all you do is keep asking the same question over and over again ‘why me God?’…”

It was Tanu who broke the silence again. “ok forget it. Lets talk about something else. Or lets play a game. Situation game. One creates a situation, and the other has to face it ok? You start.”

“hmmm ok give me a minute.”

“ok here s your situation. Take the current situation itself. You some how get to know that I am a psycho serial killer on loose. And that I have decided that you are my next prey. How would you react?”

to be continued....

A Journey(part1)

Prateek always loved traveling by the railways. He had different reasons at different stages of life. When he was a kid he liked railways because he could eat a lot of snacks. When he grew up he liked it because he could hope that some cute girl might come across his compartment and join him for the journey. He even had debates with friends about bus being better or train for a journey. He could never forget his friend s argument. His friend had said with a worst sense of humor “I love railways for one reason. If you die in an accident while traveling your family would get some money.” 

Prateek s argument was that in a bus there would just be 2 seats next to you where as in train there would be atleast 5 seats around you which would increase the probability of a girl joining you for your journey. But may be due to his fate, probability never changed for him. It was always 0. 

Well that was in his teens. But railways is not just that. You come across people kinds, people from all places and it is good to interact with them. In fact it even feels good to listen to a conversation. Journey of a few hours, where you meet varieties of people, some might leave a lasting impact on you, some might change your opinion about something, some might stay in touch with you, some might become your friends, some might inspire you, some might get inspired by you, and well, may be many you might just forget. But life is not about these people whom you forget, but it is about the rest of people.

All that was past. But today is different. He had particularly chosen this train. This was a newly introduced train, not very popular yet, an express, as he wanted it to be fast. A deserted one since it was a weekday because for a change he did not want to meet anyone new. Or rather he did not want to be disturbed by anyone.

Fate plays funny games with you. When  you calculate the probability to be more it proves you wrong and assigns 0 to you. And when you finally decide that all your calculations were wrong, that you always had 0 probability irrespective of 2 or 5 seats around you “Fate” makes a “come-back” entry telling you that you might have had 0 probability with 2 or 5 seats around you, but you are lucky when there s just 1 seat opposite to you. …. Getting confused? Well… read on!!

The compartment was almost empty. Which is so not natural, because most of the times you do not get place to sit. The only sound was that of wind. Prateek was lost in thought when heard a voice “Do you mind?” which obviously meant that someone had decided to intrude his privacy which he had so much yearned for. ‘the whole train is empty and why does this person want to sit right in front of me? Never mind, I ll find myself a better place” thought he.

How would you feel if you all throughout your student life you wanted to talk to someone, and share your feelings with that person, but you never got that chance; and now when all you crave is isolation, that person drops right in front of you!!! That is exactly what Prateek felt. 

to be continued....

a lesson

That was the first time(and the last) I was leading a group on a small trek. And now if I look back I feel so scared. Anything could have happened!! I was totally not prepared. None of them had brought water as much as I had instructed. I did not carry first aid. No packed food!!! We started out late…. Wow!!! So many things that I should have avoided. Luckily we returned happily!!

Well this write up is not mainly about that trek, but it is about something which I felt worth learning from that trek(this can be learnt from all treks).

None of us were experts in trek. 2 of my friends had never been on a trek and probably never walked for a long distance too. It getting very sunny. Before reaching midway one of my friend was exhausted. Another was like “where have you brought us? I don’t see anyone around. There are not arrow marks. You should have hired a guide.”. all I could say was “dude we have to get to the top of the hill and there s only one path, which we currently are following. don’t worry we ll reach the top. We ll not get lost.”

Within some time they lost hopes “we are never going to make it. Lets return before we get further lost and exhausted.”

I didn’t want to leave without reaching the peak. And so they said “ok we ll go till that point and if we do not see the peak we are returning”

That’s when we saw the peak…

Many times in life it so happens that we try hard for something to happen and lose hope when we are inches away from what we waned to happen. All that is required bit of patience and that final push even when you have lost hope…

victory is sweet

His face was peaceful. He had a very good smile. Although he had few scratches on his face he looked as handsome as he had ever been. Looking at calm face one could not say that he had just returned from a ruthless battle field. He could have been suffering from the enduring battle but a smile after all has the power to hide anything. “How are you feeling son?” asked a rough, commanding yet empathic voice.

“At last I will be able to spend sometime with her.” he said. And shut his eyes again.

Last evening…

“Gentlemen!!! It is time for you to leave behind your ‘Gentleness’ , your ‘ruthlessness’ is eagerly waiting for you. They have seen how gentle you are trained be, but not how ruthless you are trained to not to be. This is time for you to show them that you are capable of being the most gentle of all men and at times the most ruthless too.”

“Remember that this is real life. You do not get a ‘take 2’ like one gets in moves. This is not like in movie where in a bullet knows who the hero is. In movie bullet always runs away from hero, or even if it hits him he miraculously survives, even if it has pierced his heart or head. Here if it hits you, it gets you. If you want to win, aim first and shoot first, before you become your enemy s target.”

“We have been taught to, work to win. I expect you to win the battle and be here right on time for breakfast tomorrow morning, or lose your life trying to win the battle. I shall not accept anything else. And I am confident to meet you all for breakfast tomorrow morning right on time. So meet you all tomorrow morning for breakfast then!!”

“Sir?” said a very confident, soft yet clear voice.

“Yes captain?”

“With your permission sir, may I ask the cook to keep a feast ready for breakfast?”

The tense had eased out of everyone s face. Everyone had a smile now.

“Yes you may, Captain. But I promise you one thing. After having tasted the sweetness of victory you will find tomorrow s feast very bland.”

The commanding office said to himself ‘that s my boy. Good going. I will be waiting for you for breakfast tomorrow.

The men did as they were ordered. “win the battle or lose your life trying to do so”.

Next morning, the occupants of few chairs at the breakfast table were missing. Few were in the infirmary and few others had…….

Our captain was in the infirmary, the commanding officer, his father sitting at his bed side, holding his hands, hoping that his son would come again victorious from the second battle - the battle of life and death.

Our captain sleeping peacefully, had a smile on his face. Looking at him one could easily say that he was having a pleasant dream. And wake up soon, and be on his feet. Someone beckoned him. He could not tell who that was. He was still. And then gradually the shape became clearer, he could not however see the face. But he was sure that it was a very familiar face. The figure was slowly moving towards him. Now it was bit more clear. He could not believe it. How could it be. He never thought he would see her again. Such a pretty smile she had. He forgot all his pain. All he could do was look at her and smile back at her. And then she said “Promise me that you ll never leave me again”. he reached for her. Held her gentle hands and said “No. I ll never leave you alone. From now we will always be together.”

The office had an envelope in his hand, addressed “mom and dad” by his son - our captain. It was a page from his dairy, last night’s date and time -

“Hi mom, hi dad

I wish that you never get to read this. But however if you are reading this, then it means that I am…. dead. Dad I promise you that I would have obeyed all your orders. And I hope to have made you proud of me.

Mom, Dad, I love you both. I will miss you a lot…………..

………………………………...........

………………………………...........”

At the end it said “now I can be with her forever”

As promised, the captain had followed the orders in all possible ways. Few of his companions were alive because of him. He had really made his father a proud father and a proud officer….

PS: This story might not be based on a real life story, but I am sure this resembles the story of many brave men. War is bad. War brings miseries to everyone. Yet they fight. As selfless as anyone can be..… A tribute to the brave men, defending their people, selflessly.

PPS: Felt like writing this after listening to this speech by Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw

What a man!!!