A Mysterious Mind -- ( Part I )

Day 1

I felt someone staring at me. I turned back and saw no one. My wife was in the bath when I left; there was no way she could have come out so quickly to send me off. Apart from a lonely crow cawing on top of a tree and a cat running stealthily chasing something I couldn’t find anyone else.

I kick started my bike. I still felt that someone was staring at me. I looked around again but saw no one. The crow and cat had gone. I moved my bike.

We moved to this new house, which was little away from the city couple of months ago. My wife was happy with the house. The house had lot of open area for gardening and holding barbecue parties during summer, which were difficult to find in city homes. Though this came at a high cost it was worth it to be away from the pollutions of the city. I zoomed through the foggy highway and forgot about who would have been staring at me.

The day went fine without any other incidents.

Day 2

I went into the bath as my wife was preparing breakfast. I turned on the water. The warm water felt good. As I was lathering myself I heard a knock outside.

“What is it?” I asked.

No one replied. I continued lathering myself. There was another knock.

“What’s it honey?” I shouted through the running water.

No response. I turned down the water and opened the door but found no one outside. I murmured and dried up.

In the breakfast table I asked my wife “Why did you knock the door while I was in the bath?”

“Who me? I didn’t knock” she replied.

From her looks I knew she was not playing prank but I thought I heard the knock very clearly. As time passed I started doubting my own theory. It could be any thing that could have caused the sound wind, woods creaking as they expand, water running. I concentrated on my breakfast and got ready to leave for work. I looked outside through the window and saw that sun was still not fully out.

“See you honey” I kissed my wife and walked towards my bike. I heard my wife close the door behind me. I again had the feeling that someone was watching me. A cold wind blew and I adjusted the zipper of my jacket to my neck. I lifted my head up and found a shadow move away from the window of our penthouse.

“Did I really see some one? Could it be my wife?”

My wristwatch indicated that I might be late for an early meeting, which was scheduled that morning. I kick started my bike and zoomed through the darkness.

Night 2

As I parked my bike I could see the television running inside my house. I looked up at the penthouse window unconsciously but didn’t find any one there. I had forgotten about the whole issue with meeting after meeting consuming my time at work. I knocked the door and my wife opened the door with a big smile. I hugged her and lifted her with one hand and walked inside.

At the dinner table I asked her “Today morning I thought I saw someone at our penthouse window. Did you go there?”

“No I didn’t go there honey.”

“May be my eyes deceived me. Every day when I leave I get a feeling that someone is watching me”

“Don’t try to scare me with your tales”

He thought may be it was all his imagination.

After dinner he went to the penthouse and found nothing strange. He climbed down the stairs when he saw his wife entering their bedroom. He walked towards the bedroom. The door to the bedroom remained closed. A few moments back when he saw her enter the room it looked like the door was open as she didn’t make any attempt to open the door. He touched the knob to the door and found it to be extremely cold. Then he realized the house was awfully cold.

He turned the knob and entered in “Honey”.

There was no one inside the room.

“Did you call me” his wife came inside the room from outside.

“I though I saw you come inside?”

“No I was in the kitchen”

“But..” my voice trailed off.

“What is happening to you” she played with my hair.

I pulled her down on bed and we made love.

( To be Continued .... )

Train - UNRESERVED!! PART THREE

PART THREE :

Hour Two!!!

In an hour, there came a blind beggar in rags, who, to my surprise sang my favourite song and I realized that amidst all difficulty, there were happenings which were interesting and entertaining. I could vaguely remember a Eunuch who clapped hands and demanded for money fully knowing that all of us were firmly bonded to the small areas allotted to us and one person’s move would make three passengers on the diagonals to collapse like a pack of cards. It was quite strange as to how the above two people got space for locomotion between compartments. Something reminded me of the Hollywood movie “The Mummy” where the villain tiptoes into the heroine’s room in the form of fine sand through the keyhole and the scene where the library bookshelves fell like a pack of cards in a circular fashion. I knew that I was correlating my real life too much with the movie, but I loved it :)

Hour Three!!!

Time passed by in a rotten manner and I hated myself for being idle for nearly two hours though I had managed to make few conversations with a middle-aged man about the Campus Interviews in Engineering Colleges and the Reservation for OBC s. The 50,000 saree old woman’s grand-daughter seemed to like me so much as she loved me making funny faces that she pulled my hands and insisted me to sit down with her in the tiny space left out. ‘Poor Girl’, I thought. I can see her enormous love for me though the vacuum area was minuscule. I remembered how the little girl was refused a place at the end of the seat by a dogmatic fellow passenger an hour ago. The typical human mind-set, I thought again. Meanwhile, a person near the door managed to buy food packets for our family in one of the stations. I ate like a starved person struck in famine, which was so evident from the mirror which reflected the manner in which I finished the food packet:) Through the mirror, I had occasional glimpses of the guy with whom I almost fought with for my bag in the melee. I giggled to myself churning those moments in my mind.The train was nearing its destination and I heaved a sigh of relief by that very thought. My novel was still in my hands and I clutched my two bags and had a final look at the mirror. I looked dishevelled, but WHO CARES !!! :) It had been a tiring journey with three hours of standing in the same place and I swore that I will never make this UNRESERVED decision once more in my life. I made a huge call to my dad from the far end of the compartment and looked for my exhausted mom. I took her bag also and got down from the train. Standing in the platform, I felt I was breathing after a long time. I waited for my parents to get down from the train. We didn’t exchange even a single word between each other. We sat on the platform bench for a long time in profound silence ..

Train - UNRESERVED!! PART TWO

Hour One !!!

Three hours of gruelling travel ahead of me made me get reminded of the Theory of Relativity and I cursed myself for the instantaneous spark of knowledge, which certainly was useless as far as that moment was concerned. Rather, it had made me realize the arduousness of the situation. I had everything in the train which I wished to have in my life, and mind you, I am not paradoxical. I had everything I wished there, a mirror where I can see how gorgeous I look, my favourite novel with a nerve-racking climax yet to be covered, my mobile, my parents beside me and of course a handsome young man in the same compartment to make the scene comprehensive and a reminder that all those right things were put in the wrong place! Conversely, I was standing in front of the washbasin mirror with the dog-eared novel clasped in my hand so that it would not fall down and get trampled in the chaos, my dad whose face I never saw since I boarded the train till then, but heard him seriously debating about Lalu Prasad Yadav with a fellow passenger whom I guess was also standing with him.Akin a crowded Chennai town bus, the train continued the journey in its own way and I felt as a victim of the situation. I consoled myself by the fact that I was standing in front of the mirror (though forcibly :) ) and that I can check out how I look like in demanding situations. But I never dreamt that it could be a worst nightmare of witnessing how I deteriorate slowly as time ticks by.Few characters get embedded in memories no matter how much are irrelevant. I can remember some striking characters in the train – a inverted-pot shape headed man standing near me, busily reading the newspaper though he had no place to turn the pages and that kept him confined to one folded page, an old woman in a “50,000 colours” duplicated saree and her charming grand daughter who opened a packet of Biryani, trying to feed the kid and a slim girl in her teens, listening to her favourite music in the I-pod. I wished I were a Barn Owl so that I can observe people in 270 degrees!!!

Train - UNRESERVED!! PART ONE

The word "Unreserved" with regard to trains seemed to be remote until THAT DAY when me and my parents had to return back from Chennai to Ariyalur on a fine Saturday afternoon with an unplanned and unexpected change in schedule... I mean, a ' supposed to be ' fine Saturday afternoon!Five big baggages of which two large ones hanging down hopelessly down my shoulders, I should say I wasn't ready at all for the departure .. We looked at the chart to know the timings of each train and finally ended up buying three tickets from Tambaram to Ariyalur in Pallavan Express . I had bought a couple of magazines to read while travelling and a half read Sidney Sheldon novel in my hand bag.. We were informed that the train will depart within four minutes it arrives at the station..Five baggages and the heavy crowd thronging made my head spin... Everyone there had a mission in their mind I guess , to get a place to sit .. I mean, to rephrase it in my language . "a place to stand " .. and for hell sake, it was a Festive Season.. I wondered how my poor mom would be able to board the train in this heavy crowd ..I could hear the sound of the train coming and I turned hard to have a glimpse of the arriving train .. You know, the sight of the approaching train can send butterflies in stomach , no matter how many times you have seen it.. And I expected Butterflies again this time and that thought made me rub my eyes only to see numerous heads blocking my view :(The train halted with a horrid screeching sound and I found people from nowhere pushing me aside in unknown directions and swarming like bees towards the door which had to be opened by people inside. I gulped which lasted only halfway down my throat and the next nano second running towards the reserved compartments, the train being a West-Build one. In a next few nano seconds , I found myself inside the train , pulling my bag towards me which got caught in the mely between a lady and a (smart) guy .. Well, I guess I am getting into very intricate details .. lol. I then understood that it was cunningness in the passenger's eyes before boarding the train that I clearly misunderstood as curiosity ..With people squeezing inside the tiny place left out, I never knew till then that two and half people can stand in a 30 cm * 30 cm area , well.. Forgive me for that "Half" :) I have to be accurate in this description .. Finally , I searched for a trace of my mom's presence . SHE WAS THERE ! PHEWW !!! My dad was missing , but god had blessed him with a divine high voice which made me identify his presence.

India Victorious ... Blissful words !!!

From a bowl out to lifting the cup – India victorious would be an apt title for this T20 world cup. The scene was just perfect for the final. I decided to watch it in office canteen with all my friends. It turned out that half of the office was thinking likewise! The stage was set. And I am lucky to have lived through the match since my heart was pounding at 1000 beats per min. The client who visited our office was amazed at the howling and screaming that was happening. What would he know about an Ind – Pak final. In fact nobody would right.

I can’t remember watching one.Only India could have brought a game like that to such a close finish. But luckily they didn’t choke as they usually do. And at the end they gave me one of the most memorable days of my life. Might sound weird how a match can be so important to one’s life. But yes, for me it was a memorable day. And I am sure it would be the same for a million cricket fanatics like me. It’s alright for sharukh miya to campaign for hockey in chak de.

But it had to be cricket which brought the whole nation to the edge of their seats and leap up in joy. I understand other games have to be given importance too. But cricket is no more a game in our country, right?And I also sincerely hope Indian fans behave better next time when our team looses. The concept of either raising them to the skies or stamping them to the dust is not what is called for.Hail the game. Hail the Indian team.

An Inspirational video

Favourite videos -2

IF IT HAD RAINED FOR SOME MORE TIME.............................

IF IT HAD RAINED FOR SOME MORE TIME............................. (SHORT STORY)


Today, Hindu Newspaper Headlines :( January 25th)

“Youth killed as Bus run over him- Yet another victim due to lack of subway”

Time 6.00 Pm Indian Standard Time: (January 23rd)

Have you heard of Nairobi before reading this line? If your answer is yes, any one of the three points given below should be true.

1) You should have been recently memorizing the capitals of all countries as you are fancying your chances in taking part in some quiz competition.

2) Your favorite subject in school should have been geography.

3) You must be a cricket fan.

If you are wondering what a cricket fan has to do with cricket, then since now and then cricket matches are being played in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, I felt cricket fans would have heard of this capital city in the Dark Continent. And today one such cricket match is all set to take place in Nairobi – a one day international between India and Australia. The match should have begun by now. In fact it should have begun at 2.00 Pm Indian standard time. But rain in the morning meant that match had to be delayed. With the cricketers sitting in the dressing room trying hard to avoid looking anxious and with the sports channel covering the match telecasting some old matches, rain God ‘Varuna’ decided to call off the rain. And the players are now all set to enter the field.

A flat in Anna nagar, Chennai, Time 6.00 Pm Indian Standard Time: (January 23rd)

“I will do it later ma” screaming the fourteen year old teenager came and sat in the sofa in front of the television set. When he said “I will do it later”, he was referring to the task of cleaning the small dust gathered in the kitchen. His mother had asked him to do it for quite few days now. But he had some how managed to keep on postponing the work. This avid cricket fan was prepared to watch the cricket match in Nairobi but the rain there meant he was disappointed. He felt irritated and kept on doing some silly things before he thought he could use the time meaningfully by doing that task, his mother gave few days ago. Just as he was about to start the work, the rain had stopped in Nairobi and the match was about to begin. So he shouted the statement in the first line of this paragraph and came to watch the match, as the dust in the kitchen remained there happily.

In the same flat in Anna nagar, Chennai, Time 8.00 Am Indian Stanard Time: (January 24th)

She was cooking in the kitchen. She had salt in one hand, which she wanted to put into one of the dishes, when she noticed that gathered dust. She had asked her son to clean it few days ago, but he is yet to do it. “He is always like this, and I cant scold him also. His Dad will immediately jump in support of him”, she thought within her mind. She decided to clean it herself. And she cleaned it too. Unfortunately in the process, she forgot about the salt and the dish went to the dining table without the salt.

He was very upset. The alarm clock had ditched him once again. He was supposed to be in the meeting by 9’0 clock. It’s such a crucial client meeting. Before that he also has to dodge the heavy traffic to reach his company “Jagadha Agro Products”, where he is the Accounts officer. With all these things weighing heavy in his mind he came to the dining table.

Few moments later, the dishes in the table were flying in the air. “Can’t even eat good breakfast” shouting he left the dinning table. With the car key playing few minutes of hide and seek with him, he left the house, with the absence of the salt in the dish serving as a very good catalyst in changing his irritant mood to that of anger.

A small rented house in Anna nagar, Chennai, Time 6.00 Pm Indian Standard Time: (January 23rd)

His uniform had been kept folded in one of the shelves. He is the bus driver in the MTC (Madras Transport Corporation). Tomorrow morning he has to report to duty at morning 5’0 clock in Ayyapanthangal Depot as he has to drive the first 17M bus leaving from there to Parrys. He usually used to sleep by 9’o clock whenever he has early morning duty, but today with the India Australia match being so interestingly poised, he couldn’t help but watch the entire match. When he finally slept after the presentation ceremonies were over, the time read 11.30 Pm in the clock.

Jagadha Agro products, Vadapalani, Chennai. Time 9.00 Am Indian Standard Time: (January 24th)

His eyes were very reddish due to the lack of sleep for the past few days. How could he get to sleep when he has so many problems? He needs fifty thousand rupees immediately. He had lost the marriage jewels of his younger sister and he is yet to inform the parents about it. He couldn’t even think what will be their reaction, if he says it to them. He had tried getting money from many places, but he was not able to. At last one of his friends said that his relative who is working as a accounts officer in Jagadha Agro Products has agreed to lend him the money. He is waiting for him. The receptionist has said he would be here by 9’o clock usually.

He saw him, his friend’s relative coming. He went and stood in front of him and said “Sir”.

As you know he was already late for the meeting and in sense of anger caused due to lack of salt in his break fast and felt very bad when this guy came and disturbed him as he was rushing to the meeting and shouted, “What man! Your eyes are so reddish. Did you really lose your sister’s jewels or you drank with the money you got by selling those jewels. If I had been in your place I would have committed suicide by now. Get lost. ” To be fair to him, he did not really mean it. His mind was filled with frustration and he just wanted to let them out. So next minute he said “Okay. Come in the afternoon”, but then he was not there to listen to it.

He was walking slowly along the road. He felt very dejected. He was crossing the road, when the words “If I had been in your place I would have committed suicide by now” started to echo in his ears. He saw a bus coming fast towards him. He decided enough is enough. He went and fell in front of the bus.

That bus was 17M. The driver of the bus had slept late last night and it is taking its toll now as he is driving his second trip. He saw a guy falling in front of the bus few microseconds later due to the drowsiness he had. That few microseconds was all that mattered. The bus ran over him.

END:

A stranger standing there remarked, “These MTC bus drivers are always like this. They drive so rashly”. His friend countered it, “I don’t think the driver is at fault here. What can he do if some one goes and falls right in front of the bus”. Another person who came down from the bus said, “This bus driver was driving very rashly right from the start. He was about to hit an auto just few moments before”.

Each one was giving their reason for the death of that guy. As we saw earlier, The Hindu cited the lack of subways as the reason for his death.

But only us, who have read the entire story know that, if only that Accounts officer had not got angry, if only the driver had applied the breaks few micro seconds earlier, , if only the driver had not felt drowsy, if only the Accounts officer’s wife had put the salt in the dish, if only the driver had not felt drowsy, if only the Account’s officers son had cleaned the kitchen the day before, if only the driver had slept at the correct time the day before,

If only in Nairobi, which is thousands of kilometers away from Chennai, it had rained for some more time.

Last Three Calls

12th July 2007


"someone pick the call...."
she(sameera) came running out of her room and picks up the mobile..
hello
> hai sam...this is riya here
yap riya tell me
>what are you doing today evening??
nothing...jus wiling away time as usual
>as ever...(laughs)listen...why don't we meet?? i am bored.
i know sweety...cool,will catch up at "barista"
> fine..6 o'clock..ok?
perfect..will be there.
>listen...call that stupid also.
ha ha ha..sure..of course i will .. we need some entertainment, don't we.
>ya ya(both giggle)see you then...bubyee
>byee.

Riya..sameera's best friend. both neither did their schooling together nor college not even neighbours!

hello
> hey sam...waz up?bored!
> really?? chal..will meet up theni know..thats why i called you.
> coool..rahul is always here to entertain you baybey.(laughs) shut up n be there by 6.
> sure your highness. anything for you.bye best friend
> bye sweetheart

now thats rahul.sameera's best friend. lkg to college together ,same class same bench. riya?? yap thats rahul's girl.
sameera . a science student.her fav pastime was reading books.how many of us are really contended with what we have? even i am not..i expect more from life.sameera is an exception. her father passed away when she was just days old. her mother brought her up. a very bold lady who was one of the victims in the mumbai serial blasts.there are too many real life tragedies. this one i am going to tell u is one amongst them.
rahul and sameera both did their schooling and college together. there was nothing each other did not know about each other. every silence was a perfect understanding. but then again they knew it was not love.love...well it was..like we love our mom, dad. pure n true!


12th jan 2007


sameera was waiting near her apartments. her phone rings.
> where the hell are u rahul??m on my way..pls pls wait sam..ill be there in 10 minutes
> ok!sam was a little frustrated.rahul: soryy sorry sorry...sam: finally you reached!! now can you tell me where are we going?
rahul remained silent.
> rahul!!! where are we going???they reached a beautiful place...there were candles lighted. and place little decorated.and breeze mild. which carried the smell of perfumes.
> rahul...whats this??

rahul got out of the car and opened the door for sam. she was still confused. she got out and gazed around. rahul walked and sam followed him.

> rahul..(her voice was fervent)...rahul turned and looked at her from a distancerahul i'm scared.!! she said.

rahul smiled and came back to her and took her hands.
RAHUL: i never knew you feared!!
sam: shut up! and both smile
they reach a place near a wonderful little pool.with a table carefully decorated.

> rahul...whats this?
happy birthday sam.
two voices say.
sam turns around.
rahul : sam this is riya!

> you idiot .. i knew it was riya.. she hits rahul affectionately
hi riya.so you fell for him as wellriya smiles. and that evening was a time when no one forgot, how love is supposed to be.



11th july 2007


" o dear god, i beg for your mercy on all those who have sinned and forget to ask forgiveness,shower on us your blessings dear lord, Amen!"


it was the same day when sameera's mother passed away. she stood before the year old grave and tears rolled down her cheeks." ma...life is so hard without you! i miss you so much. rahul is there but then he has his own responsibilities,riya and his life"she broke into tears and lay her head on the cremation" ma..at times i feel so alone..i am left alone. but then how can i ask anyone ?why did you leave me ma? i miss you "
she controlled herself ,wiped her tears and got up. turned around and looked. there was someone who had been listening to her.


> nilu...(her voice still shivered) she smiled...
"how are you" ?i am fine .. (his voice was rough)
> when did you come to india??today morning..
i went to your home and din find you.so came here.
> you still remember? (he remained silent)
nilu..aka..nilesh chatterjee. college friends, rather say more than friends.nilesh always thought sameera was falling for rahul and it made him averted to sam. before sam could tell him anything. nilesh told her


10th july 2006(college)


>nilu...wait.yes sam!
> i wanted to talk to you.about what?
> actually..rahul was telling me..i should tell you
rahul rahul rahul always..listen sam..im leaving to the states. i may not return
>(sam stood shocked)when?
in half an hour.
(pretends to smile) okay...alright..i ...i will leave now then.
she turns back..tears roll out of her eyes.she walked silently.


11th july 2006(sam's home)

sam get up...you are late for college.
> maa..plss..let me sleep na..sam..i m getting late. i ve to go quiet far today.
> where? (still her hear inside the pillow)office work baby..now gettt up.
>mumaa..(she gets up) i m not going to college. you go to office.
ill be home. i will cook food.

are you sure?? ok then..i have kept breakfast on the table..milk in the fridge..and keep the plate in the sink....(sam interrupts)
>maaa..i am not a baby..
i am grown up now.(her mom comes close to her and holds her face)
grown up indeed..muaah..take care.
i will be back by night. bye
>bye maa..


11th july 2007


> and then i heard about the bomb blasts. my mom used to take that train.
i did not want to believe she's dead.but she was.(tears rolled down her cheeks.)
i am sorry sameera. i did not want to leave. i thought you and rahul...
> i know nilu. but before i could tell you. you went away.

both silent and walked till the parking.

sam..i don't know if you still have same feelings for me..but i have. will you marry me?

> sam looks at nilu..nods her head.sits inside the car and drives away.he stood smiling..


12th july 2007

sam where are you?
> m on my way riya. i will be there in 15 minutes.alright..
nilu is here already.> ok i am jus there.cya
bye.
that was the last call she attended.


sameera chaturvedi. d/o ramashankar and neelima chaturvedi.passed away in an accident on 12th july 2007 at 6.20 pm. overrun by a private bus in which few college students were on tour. completly drunk along with the driver.

few mistakes we do. takes someones life.

'' i will always love sameera"- nilesh

Paavam Payan

This was my chance to make my proposal. So, I quickly replied, “Hey! I wish you were my bride!”

“What? That must be the joke of this millennium? This is flirting at its height” – She replied with a smile.

“Well! Why not? Let me ask you straight ‘Will you marry me?’”

“Oh come on! You don’t know anything about me”

“I mean it. I’m serious. “

She paused for a while…

“I need some time to think about it. Can I let you know tomorrow morning?”

“Sure!” – I was so happy. I believed that she did like me.

“Before going to bed would you like to join me for a glass of milk?”

“That’ll be my pleasure”

“Oh! I forgot that I already drank one of them. I guess I have only one left with me” -She took out a small pet bottle having flavoured milk.

“I’ll let you have it. You are my V.I.P today”

“Is it? Thanks. I wish I was your V.I.P for the next 50 years…ha ha ha” – I relished the drink.

“By the way Anita, its 11:00 P.M now, I’m eagerly waiting to hear you say pleasant words tomorrow morning. Good night and sweet dreams!” – I climbed the upper berth.

“I hope that the dawn brings you all good things in life!” – She replied.

The Next Day…

“Wake up! Wake up!” Someone was shouting near my ears and patting my back.

Ouch! I had a terrible head ache. I was hardly able to open my eyes. As I slowly came out of my slumber I realized that I had reached Chennai an hour ago. The first thing I remembered was Anita. I forgot to ask her phone number. But, to my surprise, I found no one in the compartment except for the T.T.R who woke me up. As I got down from the berth, I was shocked to see that all my luggage were missing including my cell phone, wrist watch and the gold chain that adorned my neck.

Raged for a moment I yelled at the bottom of my voice “T.T.R, I’ve been robbed!!!”

Later I was accompanied by the T.T.R to the RPF.

The policeman who took down my statement said, “You should have been a bit more careful sir. You know a lot of such incidents are reported nowadays. Did you eat something that was offered by a stranger?”

“Yeah! A girl offered me some drink”

“Then, she must have been the culprit! Being an educated guy you should have been a bit more careful. This is not the first time that we come across this incident. We have received a series of complaints about an unidentified young woman who performs this act”.

For Heaven’s sake! I was shocked when he said these words.

It is only then that I realized that she was after my money. I couldn’t believe such a clever lady with superior intellect involving in a theft like this. She deceived me with her intellect and of course her beauty. I fell a prey to her like an insect getting trapped in a Pitcher plant. It’s very hard to understand people and their true intentions. I paid the penalty for flirting with a stranger.

The ingenious lady drove me to ‘Deception point’ and taught me a valuable lesson in life with a price. Yes, my first salary!



——–THE END——–

Paavam payan

It was my fortune that I got my train ticket confirmed at the last minute. After all the tension, I finally got into the coach and settled down. I thanked God for getting my ticket confirmed otherwise I would have had a very tough time traveling from Bangalore to Chennai. I was traveling back home to visit my parents and give them my first salary. It’s 9:00 P.M now. I’ll have to hold on for another 11 hours to get back home and meet my friends and family. I was looking outside the window thinking of all my appointments tomorrow. “Excuse Me!” – I heard a lady’s voice. As I lifted my face, I was startled to see a beautiful young lady with her luggage. As I was gazing at her face she said;” Could you please help me with my luggage?” “Sure!” – I helped her settle down. For the first time in my life I had the opportunity to travel with such a beautiful lady. She had a very innocent face, much like the one who gets bullied at school. I was of the conviction that beauty was only a relative theory till I saw her face that proved I was wrong. She took out a book from her bag and started reading it. I was curious to know the title of the book to know her taste. I had a stealthy peek and found out that it was Dan Brown’s ‘Deception Point’. I’ve read that book. ‘She has a very good taste’ - I thought. I was looking at her eyes go through the lines of that book and admiring her elegance. I didn’t believe in love at first sight till this moment of my life. When she looked at me I used to turn my face away. This went on for quite some time “Hi! My name is Seetha”- She introduced herself. (Is she talking to me? I couldn’t believe it. It seems to me like a dream come true) “I’m Gautam ” “So, Gautam why did you turn away when I looked at you?” “Me…I didn’t look at you. Are you kidding me?” (That was the worst lie I ever told all my life). “You must be an admirer of Dan Brown if I’m correct?” – She asked me. “Yeah, I like his works. Especially ‘Deception point’ the one you’re reading now “ “Mmm…I see but, you said you weren’t looking at me?”- She replied back with a smile. I was trapped by my own words. I blushed. ‘Me and my big mouth’ “You can have it if you want to read, you need not have strained your eyes so much!” – She gave the book to me. ‘What a perceptive girl!’ – I was wondering how she would have noticed me. “You must have already read that book I suppose!” “Yeah, some time back when I was in college. But, how did you know that?”-I asked out of surprise. “The way you admired Dan Brown giving Deception Point as a typical example made me ask that question.” I was secretly admiring her intelligence. ‘That’s my girl’ – I thought. “You’re so clever” – I remarked. “Men always think that good looking women don’t have brains” – She replied back with a smile. I didn’t know what to say for that comment. To change the topic I started to talk about my job and family, “I did my graduation in Engineering. I’m currently working for that renowned MNC at Bangalore with a handsome pay. I’m the only son in my family. Traveling to Chennai to get their blessings and give them some gifts from my first salary. Parents are looking for an alliance…. (I glanced coquettishly at her face when I uttered these words). I may probably get married the next year.” “So, will you invite me for your marriage?” – She asked.


( To Be Continued ……………..)

fwd mail with edits..

The Wind !!

The wind that blows in gardens of flowers

Has a lively scent

Just like those happy flowers that bloom

Whose fragrance, to air, is lent..

The wind that blows across the graves

Has a deadly calm

Just like those who sleep within

After lives of storm

The winds that blow across the fields,

The winds across the seas

The winds that blew on battlefields

And later witnessed peace

In the changing world of men

The wind, oh, does that change?

When everyone runs after gold,

Is drifting randomly, strange?

The flowery scents and deadly calm-

To wind, oh, neither belongs

It merely spreads, echoes the place's

Joyful and morbid songs

The wind and I are much alike

None anger me nor annoy..

For, when you're sad i'll empathise,

With you, I'll smile in joy..

I m waiting for u !!!!!!!!!!

i don't know what to tell you,my words are silent ..
i wish i had held you closer.
the moments are just memories now.


these roads reminded me of your hands..
which held me tight by your side.
i stand alone here today..but somewhere deep inside ..
your touch still keeps me going on for the day.


i remember the first kiss today.
you held me close and promised you that day.
the sweetness of your kiss the fragrance of yoursstill stays in my sleeve.
i hold on to them when i feel low...


wish i were close to you to tell you what you really mean to me,..
a lifetime would be less to show you how love is supposed to be.
i hide from the sunshine and the showers..
i look forward for a day which would be ours..
where i search your soul and melt away..


days are few..like its giving us a clue.
days would return...like the morning dew..
love would be in the air...
when i would meet you.