Happy Anniversary !!!

Kris came home from work. Yet another hectic day at office was over. He threw his bag in the corner and just crashed on the bed. He looked at the digital clock hanging on the opposite wall. It displayed 9th Dec 2011 - 7pm. He closed his eyes.
"Its been an year", he thought as a drop of tear escaped through the corner of his eyes.

=======

"Hi Kris, Where have you reached?", an excited Jia asked holding her cellphone close to her ears. "Just 15min more. Will be home soon.", Kris replied.
"Ok baby. I am at grandma's place. Will also reach there in 15min. Come sooooooon. I will be waiting. Bye.", Jia said dropping the call.

It had been more than 3 years since Kris and Jia had been married. They had their intial couple fights, some out of jealousy, some out of thoughts-mismatches etc, but everytime they fought, one of them always made sure that the fight ended within a few hours. Relationships are like a rubberband. When its pulled from each end, its bound to break. One person always has to let go, loosen the hold for the rubberband to stay intact. And this is what Kris and Jia followed.

Kris reached home. Jia had not reached home yet. Today was something special. Today was there marriage anniversary. He carefully removed the box from his bag and placed it on top of the cupboard. The door bell rang. Kris opened the door and saw Jia enter closing the door behind her. Next moment, they were hugging each other tightly with Kris lifting Jia in the air.

"Happy Anniversary baby.", Jia said stealing a gentle peck on the lips.
"Happy Anniversary to you too.", Kris said hugging her even more tightly. After a nice long hug for a couple of minutes and changing into more comfortable clothes,

"Listen...I got to tell u something", Kris said sounding very serious.
"What happened baby? What is it?", Jia replied worried.
"Why dont you sit on the sofa?", Kris said putting his hand on her lowerback and gently moving her towards the sofa.
"Tell me baby, What happened?", Jia said getting even more worried now.
Kris made her comfortable on the sofa and sat on the ground near her legs.
"There is this woman....", he started slowly avoiding eye contact by putting his head down.
Jia's heart had started thumping faster and louder.
"Wat is it Kris? Tell me. You are scaring me now.", Jia said trying to get his attention.
"There is this woman I am falling in love with. She is so wonderful. She makes me feel so happy all the time. She makes me feel so alive. I just could not stop myself from falling for her. She is so charming. Her laughter makes me want to kiss her everytime.", Kris replied in one breath.

Jia was stunned at what she was hearing. It had been three years and not once had she even got a sniff of something about all this. How could her Kris do this to her? How could he cheat on her? Why? So many thoughts running through her head. Mixed emotions. Anger, Sadness, Her heart was shrinking with the pain, Tears were going to burst out anytime from her eyes. Today was their anniversary. Why did Kris had to choose this particular day to tell her? Her head was getting flooded with so many thoughts leaving her speechless. She just kept gazing as Kris spoke.

"Hold on a sec", Kris said walking towards the cupboard. He removed the box. Removed the content and handed it to her.
"Here. This is that woman.", Kris said looking at her.
Jia looked at what she was holding. It was a beautiful mirror held inside a wooden border with the names Kris and Jia carved on each side.
"Isnt she hot ?", Kris said winking. She heaved a sigh of relief, smiled and started hitting Kris who was on the floor laughing away. Jia sat on him as he lay on the ground and kissed him fiercly, then gently biting his lips.
"Aau..Ow..", Kris screamed gently.
"Hehe....I love you", Jia said looking in his eyes.
"I love you more", Kris replied hugging her as she slept on him.
"I got something else for you baby", Kris said breaking their five minutes of sleep.
"What is it? Dont you dare fool me again", Jia replied giving him a fake angry look.
"Haha...no..get off me, sit down and turn around.", Kris said.
He then removed a black satin cloth, and tied it around her eyes from behind.
"What are you doing", Jia replied excited. "SShhhhh.......Just be quiet",Kris whispered in her ears.
He then removed a small box from his pocket and removed a diamond necklace. He sat behind her, slowly moved her hair away to expose her bare neck, put the necklace around it and kissed her hair. He then quickly removed the satin cloth from her eyes. Jia was extremely happy. She took the newly gifted mirror and looked at the necklace.
"WOWWW", she said and turned back to hug Kris.
"I love you soooo much Kris", she said looking at him with extreme love in her eyes.
Kris smiled and said, "Promise me, you will never leave me".
"I am yours baby. Always yours.", Jia replied.

===========

Kris opened his eyes to hear the phone ring. He looked at the time. It was 9pm. He had dozed off for couple of hours.

"Hello", Kris said.
"Hey buddy, what ya doing?". It was Raj, his office colleague on the other line.
"To be honest....i was sleeping!", Kris replied.
"Oh.. Hey...I am throwing this party tonight. Want to join for a drink?", Raj said.
Kris thought for a moment and replied," Uhhh .. Not today Raj, not feeling too good".
"Oh ok...no probs buddy... catchya tomo at work.", said Raj cutting the call.

Kris sat there on the bed just staring at the empty space. He was feeling hungry but somehow had no mood to eat. He got up from his bed and went to wash his face. Drank a glass of water and then switched on the TV.

The TV series LOST was going on.
He heard the exchange of dialgoues.

"just because two people...love each other...dosent mean they are meant to be together."
"Why are you doing this?"
"If i never meet u.......then i will never have to loose u."

Kris changed the channel.
Some romantic movie was going on.

"Don’t you love me?”
“More than yesterday and less than tomorrow".

He switched off the TV and went to have a smoke in the balcony.
He remembered telling to his friend one day who had asked him,"why do u smoke buddy?".
"Well...cigarette...helps me to avoid loneliness ...i think ..someone is burning like me too....", he had replied with a wink.

As he lit the cigarette, he heard a lady scream,
"Jia.....Jia beti come here."
It was some random mother shouting at her baby daughter in the garden below.
He looked up at the sky and smiled smurkishly nodding his head sideways.


Why was life being so cruel to him? The more he tried to get over Jia and her memories, somehow or the other fate or destiny or whatever it is that defines our lives kept reminding him all the more. What had happened just now was not the only instant. He was having such small "encounters" or sightings or some bloody damn thing which kept bringing her memories back again and again for the whole year now.
It was as if someone, so called God had stabbed him, killed him and was stabbing him again and again just for the fun of it.

He lit another cigarette and just stood looking at the night sky. His mind was trying to force him to think about nothing, but his heart always did the opposite.

Jia had left him. Somehow things had not worked out between them as a couple. Then why was he still thinking about her. He knew was that even though he could somehow manage to "exist without her, he could never really "live". He would still like to see her again, to say what he never had said when they were together. To hold her hand and tell her that he loved her very much, more than himself, more than anything or anyone else in this world and he was ready to do anything to make it work. At times, he hoped that one day Jia would just show up at his door and hug him again and never leave him again.

He remembered reading a book - The Zahir, where it was mentioned that each individual in this world has that one person who is made for him/her, that one soul-mate, that Zahir. Kris had understood that no matter what he did to keep himself from not thinking about Jia, no matter how distracted he kept his mind, his Zahir always won, it was always there, making him think, “I wish she was here with me.” His Zahir was Jia.

He knew he had made some mistakes and may make even more, but it was Jia and only Jia he adored. Funny as it may sound, though Jia was so far away from him, she was getting more closer to his heart each passing day. And this was never going to change.
He was going to love her forever.

Kris threw the cigarette bud away.
Went inside his room, lifted the frame holding Jia's pic from his table.
"Happy Anniversary baby!", he said kissing the forehead.

He picked up his cell, called Raj.
"Hey buddy, change of plans. So....Where is your party?", Kris said forcing a smile.

Nadaan Parindey

This song is dedicated to all those people who have experienced True Love in their life. To those who had held their loved ones in their arms one day in one year and perhaps have no one to hold on to on same day next year. To those who rememeber each and every moment spend with loved ones as if it were like yesterday. That touch. That surprises. That romance. That love. That moment.
If they have their love along with them, well and good.
If they dont, then also they should be happy to have had that chance once.

In the movie ROCKSTAR, love is defined in a very strange but so real way.
The movie starts with a dialouge with Ranbir saying in hindi...translated below..
“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I'll meet you there".

These are written by a poet named Rumi. These look like simple lines but they have such a deep meaning which only two people in real love can understand. Love which is transcedental. Love which is heavenly. Love which comes from the soul.

Also would like to quote another line from the same poet as below.
“Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along.”

Such a simple line but with such a deep meaning. No matter what this society will do. No matter what this life, this luck, this destiny will do, two people in "Real" love can never ever be separated. That "Real" Love is above all these things and will remain FOREVER.

Rockstar Movie ....MUST watch. !!

Now coming to my fav song these days....Nadaan Parindey. Parindey means Birds. The song depicts a situation comparing the loved one to a bird and asking it to come back to its home.
The situation in the movie when the song is played and the way it has been picturised is so lovely that it gives me goosebumps each time i see it.
URL : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttIKsnxPrMY

======================

Oh nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja..

Oh nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja..

Oh nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja..

Ghar aaja..
Ghar aaja..
Ghar aaja..

Kyun desh videsh phire maara
Kyun haal behaal thakha haara

Kyun desh videsh phire maara
Tu raat beraat ka banjaara

Oh nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja..

Ghar aaja..
Ghar aaja..
Ghar aaja..

Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja

Sau dard badan pe failey hai
Har karam ke kapde mailey hai

Kateein chahe jitna
Paroon se hawoon ko
Khud se na bach payega tu..
Todh aasmaanon ko
Phook de jawaanon ko
Khud ko chupa na payega tu..

Koi bhi le rastaa
Tu hi hai tu berastaa
Apne hi ghar aayeha tu..

Oh nadaan..
Oh nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja..

Ghar aaja..
Ghar aaja..
Ghar aaja..

Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja

Kaagar kaagar
Morhi itni araj tohse
Chun chun khahiyoo maas

Kaagar kaagar
Morhi itni araj tohse
Chun chun khahiyoo maas
Arajiya re khahiyoo na
Do nain mohe
Khahiyoo na do nain mohe
Piya ke milan ki aas
Khahiyoo na do nain mohe
Khahiyoo na do nain mohe
Piya ke milan ki aas

Oh nadaan..
Oh nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja..

Ghar aaja..
Ghar aaja..
Ghar aaja..

Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja….


Here is to all those birds out there.
Come back to your loved ones someday.
Come back to your home someday. :-)

Time Of Our Lives....

Lovely Song. Happened to stumble upon it while watching a TV Series.
The song plays in the background. The lyrics are so touchy.
Separation from friends / loved ones, break ups etc are always painful. Sometimes bitter.
But this song depicts it in a very "practical" manner. And on a happy note to move on...to let go.
Must listen.

URL : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFPhEn6ifV0

===============================

This is where the chapter ends
And new one now begins
Time has come for letting go
The hardest part is when you know

All of these years
When we were here
Are ending
But I'll always remember

We have had the time of our lives
And now the page is turned
The stories we will write
We have had the time of our lives
And I will not forget the faces left behind
It's hard to walk away from the best of days
But if it has to end, I'm glad you have been my friend
In the time of our lives

Where the water meets the land
There is shifting in the sand
Like the tide that ebbs and flows
Memories will come and go

All of these years
When we were here
Are ending
But I'll always remember
We have had the time of our lives
And now the page is turned
The stories we will write
We have had the time of our lives
And I will not forget the faces left behind
It's hard to walk away from the best of days
But if it has to end, I'm glad you have been my friend
In the time of our lives

We say goodbye, we hold on tight
To these memories that never die
We say goodbye, we hold on tight
To these memories that never die

We have had the time of our lives
And now the page is turned
The stories we will write
We have had the time of our lives
And I will not forget the faces left behind
It's hard to walk away from the best of days
But if it has to end, I'm glad you have been my friend
In the time of our lives

I'm glad you have been my friend
In the time of our lives

The Routine...

It was getting late. Rishi was finishing up preparing the last few documents he was supposed to be submit by the end of the day. Working late in office had kind of become a daily ritual these days for him.

"Why do you work so late? ", people used to him almost everyday.
"Oh I love my job", Rishi used to reply with a smile. But deep inside he knew that the real reason was something different. He really had nothing else to do at home. Was alone in the new city he
had shifted to. He thought the new job, new city, new place, new people around would make him forget his past. But sometimes the past just keeps creeping up on you even if you dont want to. In the initial days, those thoughts of the past kept him awake most of the time. But then he had somehow succeeded in finding a way to help get rid of the insomnia he suffered from. And he was going to do just that this night as well.

"SHOUT". the big neon light blinked in the distance. It was the name of the disc, much similar to disc in his hometown.The reason he visited was this was the only disc cum bar which was closest to his house. So no matter how drunk he got, he knew he would reach home safe. He entered, with the gaurd at the gate saluting him. "Salaam Sir", he said. Rishi nodded. Rishi was a regular here and always tipped the guard when he left. Hence the proactive respect came for him each time he visited here. Rishi entered the dark place, lit only by a few lights burning here and there just barely bright enough not to trip over anything. Music was playing loudly. Crowd jeering. There was a reason by the disc was named "SHOUT", People always seemed to be shouting at every single hit the DJ played. Even if they have heard that same song a million times before. The other reason was the music was so loud you literally had to SHOUT or scream at the person next to you. The guys and girls loved it, since it gave them a chance to get close enough to smell each other and probably steal a kiss in the dark.
Rishi headed to the bar section ignoring all the people who were dancing away like crazy.

"The usual?", the bartender asked. "Yes please.", Rishi replied without a smile.
He checked his watch. It was 10:30pm. He scanned around the place. Girls in scantily clad dresses , Guys mostly wearing black. Dancing. Laughing. Jumping. Everyone seemed so happy. He observed the girls properly in his usual manner. Became dissapointed and turned to the drink in front. None of them had that same appeal he longed for. He looked at the glass in front of him. Scotch whiskey on the rocks. This was all he drank every single day here. He never counted the number of glasses. All he did was keep looking at the time. The moment the clock hit 11:30pm, he paid the bartender, got up from his seat and left. This one hour of time was when he would "try" to clear his mind blank. Try and think of nothing and just drink, one glass after another. It was like a game he played with his brain. Trying not to let it think about his past. Sometimes he won. Sometimes he lost. As they say, Sometimes the only way to get rid of an unpleasant feeling is to replace it with another unpleasant feeling. Then he would leave. Tip the gaurd. Get in his car. Drive home and sleep.
This was a daily routine and it really did help him get the good night sleep which everyone wants. As he sipped on this 10th refill, trying to win the game with his mind, he heard a voice.

"Hey", the voice said. he turned to his right to see a girl sitting next to him.

"Hey to you too", he replied back just for formality not sounding interested. The girl smiled and moved a seat closer.

"I came here two weeks back and noticed you sitting here, drinking alone. I come here today and here you are again. Sitting here drinking alone", she smiled.

"Its a small world isnt it?", Rishi replied emotionless.

"Hi, my name is Ruby", she said coming closer to him whispering in his ears. Her hair smelt good. She smelt good. The scent was so familiar. He had smelt it before and he remembered on whom. But Rishi did not respond. Just kept looking at the blank space in front of him and sipped on his glass.

"Well that is a rude way to treat a girl approaching u?", Ruby replied.

Rishi was now getting irritated. Its been more than 3months since he is visiting this bar and no one cared to disturb him in his daily routine "game". And here was this girl sitting next to him. "WHAT do you want?", Rishi replied stressing on the word What.

"Just a conversation", Ruby replied.

"Well... i dont have anything to say. So please. Thank You. Go find someone else to talk to.", Rishi replied in a calm and composed manner.

"Fine", said Ruby walking away. "Is he gay?", she asked the bartender loudly just to get some reaction. Rishi heard it but remained emotionless as always. Once again he continued the game of fighting with his past.But somehow, now he was loosing the fight. Visions started flashing in front of him. Visions of Niharika. The girl he loved.

"Go away. I am not talking to you", Niharika said angrily.

"Haha...sorry baby. I swear I was not looking at her", Rishi replied laughing.

"Shut Up. I saw you staring at her from top to bottom. What haan ? Raping her using your eyes? Go Get lost", Niharika replied.

"Hahaha...No baby. Sorry Sorry. Wont happen again. I love u only baby. Why dont you trust me? Even if i scan other girls, dosent mean I will run away with them? Atleast I am not scanning other boys na ?", Rishi replied with a wink.

"Nooooo. dont say that. Scan girls, its fine. Dont talk about being gay", Niharika replied with both of them laughing and holding hands again.

Rishi and Niharika were together for past 7 years now. They loved each other very much. Small fights like these were common. Rishi being a guy always had his eyes wandering when a nice hot chick passed by. But he knew deep inside none of them would love him like how Niharika did. And hence he was always loyal to her. Niharika too had many guy friends, which made Rishi jealous sometimes. They often fought about it, but always ended up being together within hours because they had become so inseparable. They could not stay without each other. They could not spend a single day without each other.

"You need a refill sir?", the bartender asked breaking Rishi out of his vision. His trance. "Huh....ya..yes.....please...thanks.", Rishi replied. The noisy sound of the disc and people shouting came back to him. Rishi checked his watch. It was 11:30pm. Time to leave. Rishi paid the bartender, tipped him too. Walked about. Today he didnt feel that good. He felt drunk. He was not able to walk properly. This never happend to him before. He walked out. Tipped the gaurd as always. Walked slowly to the parking lot, when a car sped towards him. THUD !!!. The car almost hit him head-on.
"SON OF A B*T#H", Rishi shouted falling on the ground. The car just turned around him and sped off as Rishi lay staring in the air. Everything around him was getting dark as he closed his eyes.

"No. Please dont go", Rishi said crying, holding Niharika's hands. They were standing on the railway platform.

"Promise me, you will come back as mine.", Rishi begged still holding her.

"Dont worry jaan, I will handle this. Everything will be fine.". Niharika replied getting on the train.

"I am sorry Rishi, but I cannot do anything now. Please try to understand the situation. I have to go", Niharika replied. Rishi remained quiet. Niharika looked at him and hugged him tightly. Rishi responded back by hugging even more tightly.

As Rishi was waving her goodbye. He felt a pain in the heart. Would this be the last time he would be ever seeing Niharika? Would this be the last time ever he would ever have hugged her? He thought to himself. "No" he thought. She said she will come back. She will be back.
Niharika had to leave town. Her parents had arranged her meeting with a guy. She had to see him for formality. She had planned to reject him anyway. But that was not meant to be. Once she reached her home, situations were different than she had expected. She was not allowed to call anyone. She was not told that this was not just a meeting but an engagement. Relatives had been invited from all over the state. It was a grand function. And she had no other
option but to go ahead with what her parents had planned. She could not spoil her parents name by doing something stupid. She had to surrender. Rishi was devastated when he came to know the news of Niharika's engagement. His worst fears had come true. He would be loosing her forever. He would be loosing her to the stupid rules and ethics of this society and this country where two people in love are not allowed to be together all on the basis of
caste, religion, region and society.

Rishi opened his eyes. He was lying in a room on the bed. He looked around. But this was not his house. "Oh you are awake", Ruby said handing him a glass of water.

"Youuuuuuuu???" , Rishi said holding his head which was hurting so much.

"Yes. Its me.", Ruby replied.

"Wha....what happened...?", Rishi enquired drinking the glass of water.

"Well, When i left the place with my friends, we saw you lying on the road in the parking lot. We tried waking you up, but you were unconscious. Then my friends helped be bring you to my place, since i told them i knew you. Dont worry. I did not touch you", she said winking.
Rishi checked his watch. It was 7am.
"Thanks. But i need to go.", Rishi replied."Thats it ? Thats all I get for helping you? Mann..You are something. Atleast you should offer me a dinner tonight with you." Ruby said smiling.

Rishi started checking if all his things were there with him. He checked his wallet first for Niharika's pic which he still carried with him and then for the money. Everything was in place.
"Thanks but I never asked for your help. You should have left me there on the road.", he said heading to the door.

"How ungrateful can someone get.?", Ruby said smirking as Rishi opened the door.

"Btw, who is Niharika?", Ruby asked. Rishi stopped and turned back.

"What did you say?" , he asked.

"WHo is Niharika?", Ruby enquired again.

"How do you know Niharika?", Rishi asked getting suspicious.

"Well....you were talking in your sleep yesterday and must have mentioned her name atleast 12times.", Ruby answered. Rishi kept quiet.

Looked at her firmly and said, "No one". and slammed the door when he headed out.
The sun had come up and Rishi started walking towards the disc to get to his car and then home.
"I have no one here baby without you. I am all alone. You were everything to me. I really dont know what to do?" Rishi was crying on the phone.

"Please Rishi. Be practical. Its all over now. You need to move on and let me move on too. Dont worry you will have time to forget me and find some other girl. Think about me. I am here talking to you and within a few days I have to marry someone else.", Niharika replied.

"Please baby. Please dont do this. Please come back", Rishi begged.

"Sorry Rishi, Got to go now. Talk to you later", Niharika said dropping the call.

She had tears in her eyes. She knew what she had done to Rishi was wrong, but she was helpless. Rishi sat there crying still holding on to the phone. He knew Niharika's helplessness. But still he was begging.

Rishi got inside his car and headed home. He had to get ready and head to work. He thought of Ruby. He decided that next time when he meets her, he will buy her a drink or something for helping him. Then he tried to think about him and Ruby being together as a couple. Somehow it did not match. This happened with every other girl. But he knew that one day he had to choose someone, even though he didnt want to. It had been years now and yet Rishi was not able to move on. Each time he looked at another girl, his mind started comparing her with Niharika. The eyes, the hair, the smile, the laughter, the smell. Rishi's mind was so full of everything about Niharika that he was not able to allow anyone else to enter his life even after so many years. Initially he tried his best though, flirting with girls. Now he had all the freedom to scan them, talk to them unlike before, but each time he tried doing that, Niharikas thoughts came to him. Then he decided to stop it completely. He decided to isolate himself from the world and concentrate only on his work. He shifted base to a new city inorder to forget her, but memories are sometimes so tough to let go. He thought about his life. Where it was heading.

Life is a bitch when the only person you can think of belongs to someone else. But then life is such.

"Good Morning Rishi", the receptionist smiled as he entered the office.
Rishi smiled back without replying and got to work.

Yet another day at work.

And yet another night at the "SHOUT" was awaiting him.

Boys Don't Cry...

Was just watching one episode of "How I met your mother".
And this song comes in the background at the end of it. Just a few lines of the lyrics made me search for the song and find it. Its the lyrics of the song that have such a deep meaning and which touched my heart.
Its always like this in our society. Boys should not cry. Atleast not in public. No matter how much pain they are in. They always have to hide those pain and those tears. Poor Boys. :-)

---------------------------

I would say I'm sorry
If I thought that it would change your mind
But I know that this time
I've said too much
Been too unkind

I try to laugh about it
Cover it all up with lies
I try and
Laugh about it
Hiding the tears in my eyes
'cause boys don't cry
Boys don't cry

I would break down at your feet
And beg forgiveness
Plead with you
But I know that
It's too late
And now there's nothing I can do

So I try to laugh about it
Cover it all up with lies
I try to
laugh about it
Hiding the tears in my eyes
'cause boys don't cry

I would tell you
That I loved you
If I thought that you would stay
But I know that it's no use
That you've already
Gone away

Misjudged your limits
Pushed you too far
Took you for granted
I thought that you needed me more

Now I would do most anything
To get you back by my side
But I just
Keep on laughing
Hiding the tears in my eyes
'cause boys don't cry
Boys don't cry
Boys don't cry



URL : http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=450425333539707212

Rains

We had this poem and story writing contest in office, during the rainy season this year. There was a word limit and a time limit too. I made an attempt at it. I wrote these things in a couple of days. These are not the best stuff I have written but then I guess they had to be dumped somewhere.


TGIM ( THANK GOD ITS MONDAY )
-------------------------------------------
Monday was a Holiday from office and it was raining heavily. Aditya was hoping the rains should stop soon.He had already made big plans for the day. Biggest perhaps. He had decided to propose to her today."Huh... Goddd.. why these rains cant stop?", he cursed to himself, soon getting distracted by the phone ring "Nivedita calling". His heart skipped a beat like it always did for the past 2 years. She was someone he could share everything with.She even knew all about his past. And thats what made her special.

"Hi", he said picking the call and hoping she would not cancel the plan."What should we Adi?", she enquired."Lets just wait for sometime. If the rains stop, I will come and pick you up.", Aditya replied."Ok. Cool." was the reply as she cut the phone.

Aditya prayed to God like he always did. Having an imaginery conversation."Cmon man. This is it. Its been 2 years since we met. I know had my chances and I missed them. But this time i really want to.Please stop the rains God"



Just then he heard another lightning. And the pour increased. Aditya smiled with anger. A strange mix of emotions."Ok Fine. This is it. You want to test how badly I need her. Fine.", he said storming out of the house.
"Dude.. where the hell you think you are going in this rain", his roomie shouted."Be right back", Aditya shouted back.
Aditya was not knowing what he was doing. But yet he started his bike. Got completely drenched in the first 1minute he drove.Reached Nivedita's place. Rang the bell. The door opened. It was Shilpa, her roomie.She looked surprised.
"Adi !! What are you doing here ?"

"Uhhh .. Hi ... is Nivedita there ?" , he asked.

"Yes, but why are you wet. What are you doing here?", she again asked with her mouth open. "uhhh.. just call Nivedita please.", Aditya screamed.
Nivedita came to the door.

"Adi!! , what happened to you?, what are you doing here", she exclaimed.

"I need to tell you something. Can you come out to the stairs for sometime.", Aditya said wiping his face. "Sure".
He took her to the nearby stairs.

"Nivedita. I really dont know what I am doing here at this time and in this condition.I actually had planned a lot of things but then since the rains just wont stop, I thought i come up here and tell you myself."He kept quiet getting lost in the beauty of her eyes just like the first day he saw her.
"OK", replied Nivedita. "Go on".
"Huh... yaa so i was saying. uhhh...So the thing is, I had planned that after the movie, we would go to sea shore and eat the nice hot roasted corn and the bhajjiya and the .... " , he kept quiet.
Nivedita was quiet too as Aditya stared in her eyes.
"I have been thinking about you Nivi. Thinking a lot. No matter how hard I tried to neglect and prevent your thoughts from coming into my head, I just couldnt stop them. Everytime, everyplace, everywhere I go, you are always there right there in my thoughts, my dreams. I always feel very happy around you. But my past comes to haunt me all the time. I was afraid all this time. But today I was getting a feeling that it was now and never."
Nivedita listened with a little confused state but a state of complete calmness.
"I have lost the ones I loved, Nivedita. I was so scared of this darkness in love, that I stopped to search for the stars anymore. And thats why I decided to live my life on my own. Without love, ignorant of the fact that you were shining over me all this while. But now ....I realised that I am not afraid anymore!! I am not scared of getting hurt anymore. I realised that I was not afraid of loving anymore."
Nivedita was quiet.
"I love you Nivi", he ended after a pause.
"I know this might not be your fairytale proposal. I dont have any flowers or gift to suprise you with. Neither am i on my knees.Neither am i dressed correctly and I am soaking wet. But Whatever i have said was something I wanted to say for a really long time now.And i make a promise that no matter what you reply i would always be there to stand by you and care for you and ...."

Nivedita couldnt stop her tears from rolling out.

"I love you too", she replied interupting him and kissing him on the cheek.
Then there was a pause and then a laughter followed by another silent moment looking at each other.
Aditya looked outside. It had stopped raining.
"You still want to go to the movie and the sea and eat the roasted corn?" , Nivedita asked."Yes", he replied smiling.
"It has stopped raining. Go dry and change yourself first. Let me also get ready.", Nivedita said.
Adtiya ran down the stairs, started his bike, looked up at the sky and smiled. "Thanks for the rains and thanks for the holiday today", he said to God and drove back to his house.




TEARS OF GOD
------------------
In the lane so dark, he walked alone
His heart was heavy, as the moonlight shone.
His mind was confused, lost was his soul
He had prayed so hard, yet missed his goal.
A vision of memories of a time gone by
Flashing in front made him sigh.
Even the Gods seem to be crying, feeling his pain,
To let him know, it began to rain.

As he sat on the bench with eyes all wet
Contemplating a reason. Was it the rain or the pain.

The night had passed, the sun was in sight
He smiled as he felt the warmth of the first light
The chirping of birds, the fresh smell of the wetted earth
He seemed to have been given a whole new birth
The cold, but gentle breeze touched his face
The dark clouds of sorrow had moved away with grace
He looked up at the sky and the Gods he did thank
For washing away his tears, and clearing his mind blank.

With a new beginning and a bucket list
He decided to be alive and not just exist.

Confrontation Zone...

SCREEECH ! BANG ! THUD !

"Arjun. Wake up Arjun." , said a voice.

Arjun opened his eyes. He was lying flat on the ground.

"huh.. whaa... ", he stood up on his feet.

He looked at himself, saw he was wearing white. All white.
But why was he wearing white?? He was not wearing white 5min back.
He looked around, everything around him was pure white. There was nothing else he cud see.
There was no one else he could see.

"Where am I", he murmured to himself.

"The question you should be asking is not where you are, but what are you doing here". The voice again spoke.

Arjun tried to recollect what he was doing. Yes. He was driving. Driving back home from work.
He was thinking about Naina. Then thinking about "not thinking about Naina".
And then there was this big truck which came in the front. Oh he hated trucks so much.

"Who are you", Arjun asked the voice.

"I am God."

"Huh,....Haha ... Hahahhahaah God?? ", Arjun started laughing loudly.

"Why are you laughing Arjun?"

"HUh .. nothing.. I mean i used to have conversations with God before. But not like this.
so just shut the crap and tell me where the hell am I ?", Arjun was furious.

"You are in the confrontation zone."

"Confrontation Zone ?? Wats that ? AM i dead or something? ", Arjun enquired.

"No Arjun. Not yet. You are in that last stage from where I decide whether and where I shud send you further?"

Arjun suddenly seemed to realise the situation. He remembered the impact he had with the truck.
Then he just blacked out. The next thing he remembered was waking up in this strange place.
So perhaps what this voice was telling him was indeed the truth.

"Ok. So what do you want from me God? You know we havent spoken in years.", Arjun smirked.

"Yes. Arjun. I know. Why did u leave me ? Why did you abandon me like this?"

"Oh...dont you know why ? I thought you are supposed to know everything. Didnt i even tell u why am i doing this to you?", Arjun said angrily.

"Havent I given you everything you wanted Arjun? Right from the time you were born"

"Most of the times, yes. But all those things never really matter. They were things which gave me momentary happiness. Yes. I was happy with all the favors you have done for me whenever I have asked them from you. But.... " , Arjun said the last word in a very low voice.

"But what Arjun?"

"You know WHAT.", Arjun rebuked.

"Naina??"

"Yes... Naina.", Arjun seemed to be getting furious now.

"Wasnt that a miracle?"

"Yes God. It was. It was the best, infact the only miracle which seemed to have happened to me. You made it happen. You listened to me and my prayers and made it happen. Then why God why ?? Why did u end everything? Why did you ...", Arjun was crying now.

"My job is to bring people closer. Its their job to decide to live together"

"But you also create situations right ? You created the situation when we both fell in love. You created that chance. You made it happen. Then when everything was sailing smoothly, YOUUUU created another situation of helplessness for both of us. You bloody brought us closer and you are the one who separated us. Why do you give so much happiness to some person and then snatch it all away in an instant. WHY THE HELL DO YOU KEEP PLAYING WITH OUR LIVES LIKE THIS", Arjun said shouting and wiping his tears.

God was quiet.

"What happened? Nothing to say now?", Arjun rebuked.

"I am hurt Arjun. I really dont know wat to say. I have done so much for you all these years and I am hurt that you abandon me for one thing which..."

"That ONE THING...was what mattered to me the most in my life so far. So yes. YES i abandoned you. Huh...cmon God Dont you know how much....
JUST HOW MUCH we both had prayed to you to make things better. How much I had prayed to you for not doing the thing you did. We had a deal - You and Me.
I kept my side of it. I was even prepared to give more of my time to you in the future. I was going to surrender my soul to you. But you did not keep you end of the deal God.", Arjun was furious.


"You didnt have to surrender you soul to me. I stay in your heart anyways."

"No God. You dont. Not anymore. Only one person stays in my heart and is going to stay there forever and you know who i am talking about. I am sorry God. But each time i look at you now i see a failed person. I see someone who is not capable of making right and just decisions. Someone who has betrayed me. Someone who has failed me. Someone for whom i did so much and yet for reasons unknown to me , abandoned me. I didnt leave you God. You left me when i wanted you the most. HUh...dont u even remember God that till the LAST day. the last bloody day when a normal person would give up hope on everything. I still put my trust in you. I still prayed to you in the hope that you will listen to my prayer...atleast on the last day you will make something happen that Naina would not get separated from me. But you did not. You just.... You took her away. YOU left me ,,,here... ALONE", Arjun said.

God was quiet.

"You abandoned me God. You were my only hope. I was a person lost of any purpose to exist anymore. Two of the people whom i considered to be part of my soul. Two of the people who were the only ones i ever thought about or cared about. You and Naina left me together. I dont blame Naina. But i will blame YOU. You took her away from me and I had to go away from you. And i was lost God. I was lonely. I didnt have anyone to turn to. I was left with lots of questions. And i did not have any answers. I was left there to cry alone. No one to even share the immense pain i had in my heart. No shoulder to cry on. I thought of doing something bad to myself but I could not. There are other people out there who needed me to be alive. I was in my own world of misery God. I was falling in this hole of darkness of sorrow with no hand to reach out to. I could not even look at your face God. Coz it made me more angry on you. After all that we had between us how could you leave me and Naina so helpless."

Arjun was quiet now. The initial anger seemed to have subsided.

"DO you know Arjun that Naina has not given up on me yet? She worries about you. She even prays for your happiness and well being."

"Yaah. Am sure she does.", Arjun replied.

"What do you want from me Arjun?"

"Oh, I think you know EXACTLY what I want. But i really doubt you will ever make that happen. Listen God. I am sorry. But I have totally lost all faith in you. I have lost all faith in faith for that matter. I really do not know what is right or wrong. What is good or bad. I dont even care if you exist or not. You dont exist God. you are just man-made. You know what I have even removed you from my daily talk. I dont say words like 'Oh God', 'God bless' 'Holy' etc like I used to say before. ANd I made a mistake to realise this too late. I should have taken some "Action" when things were going wrong for me instead of Waiting for you to help me. You dont even help. You just play around. You dont even exit. Why am i even having this conversation", Arjun replied.

God was speechless.

"Ok God. fine. Here is the deal. You know that I have just one prayer on my mind, one wish in my heart right now. I have no idea if you will ever make that come true. But till then,.....till then God, promise me you will take care of Naina. Promise me you will keep her happy always. Promise me you will keep her smiling and laughing always. Coz she has given me so much happiness which i could never repay her back. She had given me so much love, which i could never repay her back. She meant the world to me then and even now. I love her. Even more than you God. So promise me.", Arjun said in a calm voice.



"I promise"


Arjun opened his eyes. He was lying flat on the ground. The road.
The sound of cars honking, people shouting.

"You ok brother?", an unknown face asked.

"Huh ..yaa...", Arjun replied seeing someone lifting his bike for him.

"You are lucky dost, you didnt get much hurt.", another unknown voice spoke.

Arjun sat on his bike. Drove home slowly.

Went home. removed his shirt. He was safe. No scratches on the body except on his left arm.
Blood was oozing out from the mud filled wound.
He washed it with dettol and cleaned it up.
As he was drying the wound, he noticed that the wound made a mark of "N" just above the elbow. Arjun smiled.
Strangely, the wound was not paining at all. Perhaps the pain in the heart was already so much that no amount of physical pain caused any problem.
He went to a doctor. Got some injections and bandages done and came back home.

He looked at the picture of God in his rack. He had not touched it for years now.
It was covered with dust and a couple of cobwebs around it.
He picked it up, cleaned it and placed it back on the rack.

"This is for the promise you made to me God. Dont expect anything else from me.", Arjun said looking at the pic for one last time.