Last stop

The wind blew my hair all over my face.. It was chilly but pleasant.. The rush of air against my face felt good.. It quickly dried away my tears.. Tears which kept rolling down my cheeks..


Things, places, people pass by so soon in the train.. Its all just a blur.. Like memories.. A dash of colour, a ghost of a smile.. Train travel always made me philosophical.. The travel didn't appeal to me anymore..

The train rumbled on the bridge.. I could see the vast black expanse of the sea below.. There seemed to be no bottom to the blackness.. What would happen if I jumped in..? Would someone hear the quiet splash I would make as I hit the water..? Would I be missed by family and friends..? Would I have left something unfinished..? Have I told people how much they mean to me..?


The bottom-less darkness beckoned me.. It showed me an end to all my worries and problems.. I smiled to myself.. "Aaja gufaaon me aa, aaja gunaah kar le.." was playing in my head, for God alone knows, what reason.. Will my jumping be considered a crime..? Questions again.. The questions in my life never seem to end and the answers to most of them haven't been available.. If I jump, I will not have to think of answers to questions at all.. Wouldn't that be a relief..?


A voice in my ear said.. "Aur ye tha film 'Aks' ka gaana..which was based on the Hollywood movie - Face/Off.. Aap sun rahe hai Morning Masala Mallishka ke sang.. Agla gaana hai film 'Force' ka, jise gaaya hai KK ne.. 'Khwabon khwabon khoye khoye.."


And I opened my eyes.. it was a bright day and I was on my way to work.. The girl sitting in front of me smiled at me and said.. 'Last stop - Thought I should wake you up.'

The Appointment

What would he have to say? Will he be gentle this time? I was apprehensive what the evening was to bring. When I looked at the mirror, I saw a worried face looking back at me, large eyes rimmed with a hint of kaajal - hair tied back in a pony. Tendrils escaped and refused to stay put. I tried to smooth them into obedience, but they were a stubborn lot. It was TIME!! I didn't want to be late today and give him a chance to be displeased.

As I walked down to meet him, my mind wandered to our last 'appointment'. The disappointment in his eyes as he looked into the mirror at me had me on the verge of tears. How could he talk with such scorn.. After 2 years, how could he not see that certain things don't change..

I had reached - I stepped in and our eyes met. He gave me a bright smile and directed me to a chair. How I hoped, he would say something different today! I sat down - he handed me a wrap - removed the clip from my hair and smiled at me in the mirror - "So, what can I do for you, m'am?" - "You suggest, what would suit me" - I waited with bated breath for his reply. Slowly, he shrugged his shoulders - ran fingers through my hair and said "You've got wavy hair - neither straight nor curly - ONLY a Step-cut will suit you!"

And I realised, some things never change.. STEP-CUT it is.. ;)

Zor ka jhatka!!

Surya smiled that beautiful smile of his, which makes me go weak in the knees every single time. His eyes twinkled with mischief and I knew he had something on his mind. Something naughty - Something which would make him smile wider.. Hahaha.. I couldn’t stop laughing at his apparent restlessness.

He caught hold of my hand and took me away from the throng of people. He held on tight as if to assure me that he won’t leave me alone, that he will be there for me..

Suddenly, Sultan materialized out of thin air and ran towards me to attack. He had a two-pronged weapon in his hand. Surya tackled him and tried not to let him get near me. They tumbled on the ground and fists were flying, while I stood in the background like a helpless starlet. Every punch Surya received went right through my heart.

Surya fell on receiving a shove from Sultan – Sultan ran triumphantly and pinched my nose with the clip – I screamed in agony – My valiant Surya got up and hit Sultan where it hurts the most.. and Sultan crumpled down in a heap..

Surya looked at me with joy in his eyes and I picked him up in my arms and we both danced around to the music of “Zor ka jhatka.. haaye zoron se laga!”

P.S. Sultan was still wincing in pain because of the ‘zor ka jhatka’!!

P. P. S. – Surya is a 3-yr old J

Him..

She looked out of the window. It was the day she had been waiting for.

She looked onto the streets. What was keeping Him? Most of the Others had turned up..some last night..some early morning...

She looked out expectantly at the empty patch of road. Oh! Where was He?

She had woken up early, worn her beautiful new saree..

Glass bangles tinkled merrily on both her hands..

The bindi on her forehead twinkled as if winking at someone..

There... now.. she could hear the drums announcing His arrival. Happily, she looked at the procession..the boys beating the drums...in the front.

And...there He was.. sitting grandly, with a beaming smile and the head of an elephant! Yes, the Elephant-God had arrived..Ganpati Bappa Morya! Clad in a red dhoti..with his favourite - the modak held in one hand. One hand holding a conch, one holding the chakra.. and the fourth raised to bless his devotees. The people danced with the joy of his coming...everybody was rejoicing.. be it the 70 yr-old grandpa or his 40 something son.. and joining this melee..was a 2 year old dressed in a dazzling white kurta-pyjama dancing away to glory..He tried hard to follow the steps of the others. He couldn't quite match them but he did what he could by putting up his arms.. shaking his legs.. and jumping up and down. Oblivious to the indulgent grins around him.

The women and the girls made up the party from behind.. distributing prasad to people who came up to ask for Ganesha's blessings..

The procession arrived..and the idol was installed. There would be pujas everyday.

And.. finally Ananth Chaturdashi would arrive. It was the day she dreaded. He would leave that day and wouldn't return for a year! He would go again with the throng of people surrounding him, shouting "Morya..re Bappa Morya re...Ganpati Bappa Morya..Pudchya Varshi Laukar Yaa". The people requesting Him to come back the next year.

She sadly looked away..the happiness she derived from His arrival would always be driven away by the sorrow of His departure.

Memories

“Paagal!!! Kuch bhi kya bolti hai.. I will kill you..” – This was followed by a loud shriek and giggles..

Next I hear is a beep and my friend has cut the call. The giggles and the loud chatter continued.. I was in the train travelling back from work and a bunch of teenage girls were responsible for this “noise” pollution. I called her back and before I could say something, the background score started and B-E-E-P.. the call is cut again!

The 2 ladies sitting in front of me start laughing after seeing at my exasperated expression. I tried giving dirty looks to the ‘chuckling chicks’, to no avail. They go on and on. How can they talk so much and at such an irritating pitch! No peace even in the train. I was praying they get down as soon as possible, so that I could close my eyes and relax a bit.

“Paagal!!!!” And it starts again -

CC 1 - Arey problem 9 ka solution me, maine kuch to gochi kiya hai yaar – Did you get the right answer?
CC 2 – Kya tha question? Let me see.. Of course, ye to XXX sir ne karaaya tha class me! Don’t you remember, bozzo?!
CC 3 – (nodding sincerely) Yeah.. yeah..
CC 1 – When? Mujhe kyu yaad nahi..
CC 2 – Paagal!! It was the day.. Vishal had worn that nice black shirt.. and we were all saying he’s looking good..”
CC 3 – Eh?
CC 1 – Oh.. I remember thaaaaaaaat day, but.. haan, he was looking really good na.. he has Ranbir jaisa smile.. but he needs a hair-cut yaar!! By the way, did you guys see Ishita today? That top was so not suiting her, yaa..
CC 3 – Meri ma! We were discussing problem 9, I suppose.. and oh-shit.. it’s Ghatkopar already – get down!! Go.. go.. go!
CC 1 – Oh, yeah.. Byeeeeee.. Kal 8.42.. ok.. Bye
CC 2 – Yeah.. Bye.. Sambhalke ja.

And, suddenly I couldn’t stop smiling to myself.

I recollected the day, 2 years back, when I was travelling with 2 of my friends in the morning and one grumpy aunty said to another – “How much these girls talk! Didn’t even let me sleep. Ruined a perfect morning nap!” Of course, she was referring to us.. and one of us cattily remarked – “If people want quiet and peace, they shouldn’t travel by Mumbai’s local trains! It’s public transport, for God’s sake. We will talk if we want to..” And all 3 of us laughed..

This incident just made me miss those fun-filled days articleship days..
When all of us travelled together, pulling each others’ legs..
When random and abrupt plans were made for outings and all joined..
When we met almost every day at the station and talked and laughed..
When every alternate day, someone would be made the ‘bakra’ who would foot the bill for the chat/ ice-cream/ sandwich party..
When notes were exchanged, doubts were solved and bitched about our seniors..
When people were paired and teased to death..
When gossip was shared and speculated about..

Those days were amazing 3 years of my life – Had the most fun, unforgettable moments and made great friends..

THE GULMOHUR

I don’t know what draws me to it..but I surely have started noticing it everywhere I go. Almost as if it is waiting for me so that I can admire it - The Gulmohur Tree..

It is this year that I can’t help noticing the way the very green leaves turn into flaming red flowers just before the monsoon. It looks as if the tree is on fire..shades of orange and red..and an occasional yellow. And there is always a carpet of these bright colours below the tree. It is soooooooo pretty!!!!

There is one Gulmohur at my bus-stop which I keep on looking at..while waiting for my bus which arrives according to IST.

There was one in my college ground. The red on the very brown earth used to look..er…hmm..lovely..I used to feel like getting out of the library and sit under the tree with my books spread around and a light breeze playing..with the mynahs chirping happily. Zzzzzzzzzzz…I am daydreaming.

There is one just at the corner of the road where I take a turn. Again as if expecting me to stop and just look admiringly.

Hmmmmm…I look out of the window. Onto the Yeoor hills…all green..very green..and there it is…a tree on fire..here..and hey..there too..trying to hide itself behind the vast green foliage.

The flower of the tree is also a beauty. Five petals - each one as bright as a flame..yellow merging into the orange..the orange merging into the red. Actually a flame is blue and yellow..I guess..what the heck!! IMAGINE IT! ;)

And there are five “things” other than petals. I have no idea what it is. Some rectangular pointy things..as kids..we used to scrape off the red part on it..and that part would be a little sticky. We would stick that onto our nails..and pretend to be witches and monsters. WOOOOOOOOOOOOO…

Moral of the story: I like the tree :D

The girl in pink

A girl in a pink salwar kurta walked in front of me. As tall as me, long hair, she was walking ahead with sure steps. She reminded me of someone. As usual, in such cases, it takes eons to realize who she reminds me of and by that time the name comes to mind – poof!, I have forgotten, why in the first place was I thinking of that person.

Anyway, there she was walking some 15-20 steps ahead of me.. Then, it hit me. Of course, she reminds me of P – a colleague in the place I earlier worked. Just a minute, she doesn’t remind me of her. It is HER! I was extremely sure – of course, it is her. (Pls note that all these conclusions were being made at the distance of about 20-30 feet.) She worked nearby, so it had to be P. Oh, P! I hadn’t met her since 3 years.. such a long time. Let me have fun. I took out my cell-phone, dialed her number and P picked the phone – and the girl in pink also picked up. No doubt left in my mind, that it indeed was P.

Conversation –
M: Hi P, where are you? Long time..
P: Hey.. yeah.. I am fine.. I am in the office yaar!
(I hear the sound of the wind blowing..)
M: You sure? Are you not walking towards X railway station, in a pink salwar-kurta?
P: No, I am not. I am not in pink today and where are you?
(I note a trace of suspicion in her voice.. Somehow it enforces my belief that it indeed is P and she is lying to me for some reason :P)
M: P – Don’t lie yaar, I can see you walking ahead of me and you are on the phone talking to me. Don’t take me for a fool. I can even hear the wind blowing. How can that be if you are in the office?
(Detective K at work, you see.. comes from reading too many mysteries.. That’s a title given to me by a friend – don’t even try to ask the reasons for the same)
P: Arey M, I am sitting in my office, right next to the pedestal fan. What is wrong with you! Wouldn’t I know where I am??
M: Jaane de P, I know it’s you – I will come upto you and then you will have to stop lying. See you in a minute.
And Detective K sprints ahead, bumping into somebody’s suitcase – hurting her knee.. ”Ow!” – Making a taxi break suddenly..”Krrrrrrrrr..”
.. and she is almost near P – when she notices..

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... The girl in pink is still talking on the phone.. (As you might have noticed, I stopped referring to her as P)

And there ends ~M~ a.k.a. Detective K’s super-confident discovery! ;-)

Yeah, it was someone else. I called up P and apologized to her. She laughed and she laughed.. and she laughed.. yeah, she couldn’t stop laughing.