Gossip

“How is your new tenant doing”. I asked.

She lowered her voice as if telling a top secret.

“The girl’s headaches are getting worse.  She sleeps till noon . She tells me ,doctors and medicine are not helping. I told her ,to see one eyed baba, he can do miracles. “

I smiled,”women,these days,I tell you.”.

“She must be 35 or so ,single and has a perfectly curved, hot body.   She is very flirteous as well. She may be having men swarming about her, but she must be very lonely on long nights.  Also,  have you seen ‘Our Sonu’ looking at her, mesmerized  by her beauty and start up success. ” I gossiped

“No no bhabhi Our Sonu is only into studies.  He is a devotee of Hanumana.  He does not see women ,like that. “Meena started explaining. qa

“I dont think she is ill after what I saw yesterday.” It was my turn ,to lower my voice to tell a secret. 
“She sneaked out at night went up on your terrace, and took a stroll . She fished  out two bottles of beer from her bag. “

I widened my eyes even more to tell her the next part.

“She had just started drinking, when ‘Our Sonu ‘came up . He didn’t wanted to join her but she coaxed him to . She literally took the bottle to his lips.
He is also a kid no. What does he know about the ways of the world.  She forced him, touching here and there, what could he do. Poor thing ,’Our Sonu’  had to drink with her.  “

Meena wiggled with unease, in her place. Blood flushed from her face.Water was runnig but she had stopped washing laundry a long time ago.

I continued ,ignoring her reaction .

“They giggled away in the night and then moved on to the farther end of the terrace. Then the giggling and talking abruptly stopped and they went inside,Together. “

After a few minutes of pause, as if in a completely unrelated matter I stated in a voice so low
“I usually see wrappers of condoms in her garbage.” 

Even in my barely audible tone she understood what I meant, and she better understood what I suggested.

“You tell me Meena why would a single lady require condom?”
Oh! the innocence in me when I asked that question.

I had just suggested that her teenage son has been drinking and hooking up with a woman much senior to himself.

She collected her unwashed laundry and left making an excuse that she had put food on the stove.

It took 30 hours for the tenant to leave. It took 36 hours for ‘My Mister’ to realise that she had left.
I felt a little sorry for her. She had to leave, because  of my, half true and half cooked up story .
What could I do ? After ogling for days ‘My Mister’ had started flirting with her. And before it went to the next level….

Widowed Bride

The beautiful bride stood in the doorway as ,the chords hit her favourite Jazz number.She walked elegantly down the isle with the high notes playing in the background.
The groom gave her a hand and she stood by him at the alter when the music stopped.
They exchaned woes.
She lifted her veil.
They kissed.
The moment their lips parted the groom dropped to the floor.

He died before anyone else could reach out to him ,at the alter.

The bride fainted. Bridesmaid rushed to her with a glass of water.

The young bride was now a widow.

There was an investigation and a funeral.

They never found the source of poison.

That was because, they never checked for it in the auburn coloured lipstick the bride was wearing that day. Neither did they checked the water which the bridesmaid had brought her ,for anecdote.

The widow was declared the heiress of one of the largest million dollar company .

Rising

He had just finished his business with a little kid. Now he was prawling in the corridor like a lion searching for his next hunt. He found another meekling laughing with his friends and minding his own business. ‘He seems to be new in yhe school’ he thought. Meekling pocketed whatever he was holding in his hand.

He approached the meekling with a grunt ” Give me that. ”

’’No that is for me” came the stern reply.

A single negative syllable was enough to raise the stakes on his ego.

He caught hold of the meekling’s collar and rattled him fiercely. His other hand raised forming a fist, ready to punch.

Meekling trembled and reached into his pocket. This was the cue for others to come into action.

He felt sharp teeth on the hand which was holding the collar. He realised he was being bitten by another meekling. He let go off the collar and howled in pain. It was not just any bite, his skin and muscle tissue had been diplaced from that very spot.

Before he could overcome, he received a kick on his butt. He toppled to the ground, face down. As soon as he hit the ground, his two hands were bound by two of the meeklings. Another sat on him. Then, there were blows from all direction.
He was beaten black and blue with hands feet and a bat.

“You have bullied all of us for a long time. Now you won’t dare to raise your voice let aside your hand. ”

He could not stand up. He gasped for air.

The meekling gave him a cruel smile tapped his pocket and said :

“Its all about the choclate.”

Maya

“Thanks”

“Here comes a big one’.”
She dug her fingernails in his flesh. He supressed a wince ,himself.
“Breathe! ”
“Breathe! ”
“Long and deep breaths! ” He said mimicing what was taught in the classes.

‘I can’t see her in so much pain .’he thought tucking her hairs behind her ears.

He took a towel and wiped drops of perspiration from her forehead. He also wiped tears of helplessness from the corner of his own eyes.

” Only ‘baby’s father’ is allowed in the labour room. ” she said sadly.

“Are you sure, you dont want me, to call the father. ?”

She smiled, “you dont know who the father is. ”

“If you would just tell me, I will call him. ”

“If I tell you his identity,you will kill him.”

“I think, I will.”

“Aaaaahhhhh”. She screamed with pain.

“Sir, we are ready. Baby is on its way. “The nurse informed him.

He squeezed her hand and stood up to leave.
“We have prepared ourselves for this day. You can do this. It will be over, soon, and then three of us will go home. ” he soothed her.

He turned to go out.

She held his hand and said

” DAD. Thank you.”

Secrets

Her hands started to tremble . She was in the middle of pickling raw mangoes,on a hot summer afternoon.Without glancing at the watch she knew, ‘it was time’ . She stood up,washed her hands and silently sneaked into the backyard.Although there was no one at home she was very cautious and quite ,as per her habit .

It was time to ‘live’ for 10 minutes .From the pallu of her saree she produced a single white cigarette,lit it and puffed it in silence.Thinking of nothingness, she felt tranquil.

She was lost in her world . This was her ‘me time’. She has done it for 21 years.This was her big and only secret .

Today,she didn’t heard husband coming home ,or calling her. He came straidght into the backyard and was in for a surprise . He caught her ‘red handed’,smoking in her own house.

*********
There was a family trial. Her husband ,son and daughter gave her the looks of contempt.

“What are you teaching, to the children? “Her husband questioned .
‘At least I am not teaching them to judge their own mother.’she thought, but remained mum.

“Only Downgrade women smoke in our society.” This was her husbands next taunt.

‘For celebrity women, who choose smoking ,it is a matter of style. ‘She thought but remained mum.

She passed her son’s room,and heard her children talking.
“How can she do such a thing? What will people say? “She heard her daughter complaining.

‘Oh! She is afraid of her reputation with the people.’She’, who paints the town red with her so called boyfriend.’She thought but remained mum.

“Smoking is not good for her health. “Her son expressed his concern .
‘So Says the person who comes home totally wasted on the weekends as if drinking is increasing his life span.’ she thought but remained mum.

At the dinner table judgement was passed.” You will never smoke again said her husband in his husky ordering voice.”
She remained silent.

*********
She didn’t appear in the backyard for 3 days. On fourth day she appeared,precisely, at her usual time. She took 3 ciggerates ,out of her pallu,placed it in front of her,and lit the first one. She sighed with the first puff ,and then smoked three of them in peace.

How did they came around ? He asked curiously.

“The biggest fear, in our world,is the fear of a scandal.Everybody have their secret , I keep mum until they let me have my way.”she mused

“You spied on your family? ” He asked

“I am a simple housewife . I don’t know any better than cooking, cleaning and doing laundry.” She laughed.

“You are their mother and wife you surely won’t compromise them. ” He asked

“They were on the verge of doing the same for me. Now they are not sure about my intentions. I have a secret pact with all of them individually.” She explained

” May I know their secrets” He pushed a little more.

She thought about the receipt for a gynaecologist clinic in her son’s pocket,and wondered whom he had taken there.
She thought about love notes for her daughter not only from boys but also from very fancy girls. She wondered why her daughter has such alternate interest.
It was difficult to find something on her husband, but she could retrieve some notes from his drawer . She wondered if he was taking a lot of money as bribe to get working done faster in his office

“No!” She said with finality

“No need. I know most of them.” He smiled with satisfaction.

“Nothing goes amiss your hawk eyes, in my home.”She tilted her face to look up to him, and smiled.

“I am at such a position.” He answered from his balcony on the first floor, where he spend most of his day.

Camping

“Wake up.”

“Mmmm… Don’t poke me.”

“Get up you sleepy head and go back to your tent.”

“You are mean.”

“I am practical.Now put some clothes on, and leave.”

“Okay! I am going.”

“*Murmurs* I took less than 2 seconds to snap it open. You are taking forever to hook it back.”

“Relax there is still time for the dawn to come. Robbie drank too much last night . He will be sleeping like a log.I will quitely go and snuggle beside him.”

“Your husband,my best buddy, is sleeping in the tent on the right. Your children ,my ‘god children’,are sleeping in the tent on the left and you are so carefree.”

“Why do we do this then. Year after year ,you visit us .As a ritual we plan a camping trip ,and then you gift me the most mesmerising magical night .A night of pure passion .”

” You regret it?”

“No! Never . It’s an escape.I love my family ,but this camping trip is a treat for myself.”

“So will we meet again next year?”

“Yes ,same place , same magic.”

“Till then adios amigo”

The sweet little girl

Tamara sat at the far end of the class .She had a beautiful face with golden hairs and a charming personality. She was not a troublemaker, yet she was not one of Mrs browns favourite student.

Many a times she has heard Mrs brown talking to her mother “She is very sweet and gentle. She is a good girl and regular with her homework. “

“Still Sasha is her favourite pupil . I love her. She is the best teacher ever. What can I do so she would like me more.” Tamara thought

* * * * * * *

Class!,day after tomorrow we will be auditioning for the role of Cinderella for the school play. This is the script. Whosoever wants to audition report to me after school in the auditorium” announcing so Mrs Brown passed the printed paper around the class .

“I will come prepared .I will give my best shot. I will be Cindrella in the play. I will please her and will become her favourite student. I will not let Sasha do the role” Tamara resolved to herself.

* * * * * * * *

Tamara was practising late into the night, her mother peeped in

“You are doing it beautifully darling. you know all the lines by heart .Don’t Fret about it .Take some rest. You will surely get the role.

* * * * * * * *

After the audition it was time for the result.

“Sorry Tamara though you know the dialogues very well ,your dialogue delivery and expressions are not very good. You need to work on that. Try again next year darling.”Mrs Brown said.

to the class she said ” Sasha will be doing the role of Cindrella this year.”

Mrs Brown is always favouring her and is partial to others.

Disheartened ,little Tamara sat in the auditorium watching Sasha forgetting and fumbling with the script. While Mrs Brown was busy directing the play, Tamara found her handbag and took out something,which would not be missed by her.

* * * * * * * *

At home , she locked herself in the room and took out the zip lock from her backpack. Inside the zip lock there was a hair of Mrs Brown which she had taken from a hair brush in her hand bag. she took out the hair and placed it neatly on her desk. she then took out other ingredients from her drawer and sat to work.

When she was done ,she smiled, satisfied with her work .

” I am going to have a baby” she remembered an elated Mrs Brown’s announcement a few weeks back.

“She is never going to like me.She is not fond of me .I am not her favourite. “Thinking so, her sweet face became red with anger. She took out a pointed needle and forcefully pinched the voodoo doll created with Mrs. Browns hair in the Belly.

Mesmerising

Beautiful singing

She sings in English, hindi and is playing the piano.

https://soundcloud.com/user-530317949/fix-you-x-savaan-mashup

5 Minutes of my life

I bumped into my ex boyfreind in the market place. He was wearing ,the same, beautiful smile on his handsome face. His deep passionate eyes ,that used to make me go weak in my knees ,were still beckoning. My heart skipped a beat ,and I was quite out of breath while talking to him.One look at him was enough to resurface all the passion and emotions which I had buried deep down.

For a second,I wondered ‘what if ‘us’had happened. What if I had not parted ways with him?’

“Why not now?”I blurted out to him.

He read my mind. He took me in his arms and kissed me passionately.

“Come with me, to my land. ” he whispered in my ears.

Before I could answer a lady covered in abaya and hijab walked up to us. She was beautiful. She was no more than 17 year old.

He talked to her with a very sharp tone ,in his mother tongue. She shuddered with fear.He glared at her, and she left with a bowed head.

“One has to control his wife.”he said apologetically.

I stood there frozen to my spot.

She is my third wife . She is from my homeland, so she is very naive.This time I have bought all three of them ,on my business trip. He explained.

I looked at him wide eyed.

“They are getting on my nerve.I have to discipline them”He complained.

Without another word, I turned my back to him and fled like a chicken running for his life. Making my way through the crowded market place ,my mind raced as fast as I was running, still wondering ‘What if………. ‘ .

A dream which never came true.

via Silhouetteji

I am very close to my grandmother. I visit her as often as my busy life permits me to. She always treats me like a queen. We talk about our experiences, we fight over modernisation. We are just like buddies with a huge age difference.

I never really knew about my grandfather. I asked my mom and granny thousands of time but nobody ever gave an answer. This has always been a mystery for me.

This time when I reached granny’s place I had a mission. It was to know more about my grandfather. I asked her permission to check into her things. She allowed me to ransack her house. I did the same, but could not find any picture or letter or anything connected to him not even his name.

I sat dejected on a sofa. She came to me and asked “How do you know, he even existed.”

“I know.” I retorted.”There is that picture on your wall .”

“Bring it to me.” she said sitting in her arm chair.

I came to her with the picture.

“Now tell me what do you see in this picture?”

“It is a silhouette of a bride and a groom in the fields. It is one perfect wedding picture, two people in love, looking deep into the eyes of each other, the beautiful sun setting behind them. They are committed to be together for life.” I told her.

“How do you know they are bride and groom? “ she questioned again.

“I can make out from the silhouette. The bride is wearing a dress; she has a tiara and a veil. She is also holding a bouquet of flowers. The groom too is in his tux. There is no doubt, they are bride and groom.

May be you are right, I thought so too.

What are you saying? This is you.

Again a short laugh was the only answer I received.

She stood up made some tea for herself and me.

I will tell you a story. Now that you are big enough to know the truth

There was a girl. She was ambitious and had dreams .She wanted to have a great career. Also she wanted to fall in love and get married. She was well educated, with a good satisfying and well paying job. She had her share of crushes, lovers, boyfriends and breakups. The only thing left was to get married and settle down. That girl was me.

In Indian society, if you do not get married at the “right age “it is difficult to find a match. My parents never gave up, on finding a groom for me, but they passed away in the middle of their search. My relatives too got tired and gave up. The only thing I wanted was, to marry for love and not marry some random guy because he earned well and can fulfil my requirements. I was capable of paying for my own needs. People too, wanted to marry me for my status in life but nobody wanted to marry me for myself and for the sake of love. A few times, I fell in love, and ended up hurting myself and my feelings.

“Thus, my dream of happily ever after, never really happened. “

At the age of 40, when I was still unmarried and no future prospects of some miracle to happen, I made a decision. I adopted a girl child, raised her, educated her and loved her. You may think that after all this I had stopped believing in love. That is not at all so .I still believes in true love. For instance, when your mother met your father I knew it was true love. They were meant to be together.

You were never married? I don’t have a grandfather? I asked again.

No.

So whose picture is this?

This is not a memory that I savour. This was my dear dream that never came true.