Sunday, 27 September 2015

Feverish


No words can explain, the way I'm missing you

“I am missing you very much”

Laughing she says “Sleep”

I had something else in mind. I have a hundred and two Fahrenheit level of fever and I am coughing profusely but still I need to write this one.

***

“Do you have a pen?”

It’s like I asked the most shocking thing ever. Wide eyed, she first looked around her to be sure that it was her I asked to; then after a brief moment she replied: “No!”

I felt sorry for myself for asking the question anyway.

I searched in my bag again hoping for a miracle to find a pen to write. Ideas don’t come by easy but when they start flowing, you got to take note of them. Who knows, bit by bit...those ideas may lead to a great story.

“Sweetie, pass me the pen please” seemed like her dad or uncle; who cares anyway...all I was concerned about was the pen I asked for.

She slowly looked inside her bag and then took out the pen to give to her whatever related guy. You Evil girl!

I looked straight at her. What the hell man! She knew what she did. Maybe that don’t talk to strangers has being very deeply hardcoded in her brains.

“Train thirty minutes alasyanga vastundi”

I stayed long enough here to understand the conversation among those fellow passengers, that the train was late by thirty minutes. Soon the announcement followed delaying it by ten more minutes. 

Just Great!

I was exhausted and I have a fever. I decided to take a crisp nap meanwhile resting my head on the one of the station pillars.

***

There is very passionate story about the water and the uvula. For him, she was nothing short of his everything. Day in day out, water would quench her thirst...to be with her. But that quenching was never quite enough for poor uvula.

Hot tasty burgers, crispy nuggets, Biryani...she just loved the touch of them as they slithered by her piece by piece. She was quite fanatic but then she felt the chill that shot through her making her really uncomfortable.

Water was very good at heart. He loved her so much. He offered his help only to see her happy. She was relieved to see him by her side.

One gulp, two gulps. Water was ecstatic to make her happy. But what happened next just broke his heart.

She asked for more fanatics’. The more she got the more she desired. Now she didn’t need the water anymore. Somehow coke came into picture and he was sidelined or ignored briefly.

Salt and lemon were very good friends with water.

“Dude, why are you chasing after her? You will suffer”

Water seemed foolish. He replies: “She needs me as badly I need her. She just doesn’t know yet.”
Chilled Coke, soda, beer, whisky...she loved them all.

“Who needs water mixed in these lovely times? I would rather have them raw.”

And she gulped as they again slithered past her. She felt the frenzy going through her. The waves started hitting her. She felt good...but that dehydration was slowly draining her of which she was completely unaware. She gulped some chilled coke. It felt good.

The water watched in distance. He wanted to help her dear uvula but simply couldn’t for she didn’t need him. She was happy though, about which the water was quite satisfied about.

“Maybe she doesn’t need me anymore” felt the water.

But the story was still not finished.

She got sick. She went sore. Even her dear coke couldn’t save her from her current predicament. It made her sicker. Suddenly those tasty delicacies, slurpy drinks became danger for her.

This came into the water’s observation. He went crazy. His dear one was sick and he couldn’t do anything about it. He went to the salt and pleaded for his help.

“Let her be sick, why do you want to go back to her again?”

“She needs me, please help me this onetime”

***

“That was one crazy dream!”

 I woke up to sudden ring on my phone. It was her. I checked the time...It’s been only half an hour that I had been sleeping while writing my story.

“Are you okay? You didn’t really sound that well”

When she calls back to says this line, and then you know that you are one lucky guy. Ahh...Sweet.

“Not really” and the cough started ruining my speech.

“Gargle...and take Honitus” her voice had more honey in it. God, I hope you are reading this (wink).

I went to the kitchen. Poured a glass of water and went to add salt.

“Water and salt” I laughed as I turned on the gas.



The story was still incomplete and so I continued to write.

***

The snarling sound of the raging engine woke me up. My head was hurting. It felt like hundreds of drums banging in my head.

“Em Ayendi ?” That translates to what happened.

“Nothing” I replied involuntarily. But then I realised.

Hey! I just replied to that evil girl. The train won’t wait for my sulking to finish, so I just boarded the train. It was pretty empty for a seven thirty evening train. I got side lower though and oh the evil Satan lord, that girl had the upper one. Has the good God gone on vacation?

I had to bear her as she just sat there. Poor me...I just wanted to lay down for some much needed rest.

“You don’t sleep in train?” I couldn’t resist asking her this; on which I got this reply

“I sleep when I have to”

“Miss Pushpalata?” The ticket checker asked for the ticket. I literally laughed by hearing the name.

“What’s so funny about it?” she glared one eye towards mine. But I found the name really funny.

After the checker passed us I asked her, “So do your friends call you Pushpa?”

She didn’t seem to like that either.

I thought you can be involved with anyone if you are a bit funny. I guess I was quite wrong here.

But it didn’t end here. After some brief time she replied: “My friends calls me P”

Like seriously...P? What is logic here...I am simply unable to decipher this unusual thing of alphabet naming. Damn...some weird people the world has.

“So you write novels and stuff” she seemed interested. And why won’t she be. She hid the damn pen.

“Yes...I write” I replied.

“I am sorry for the pen. I thought you were some weird guy asking for a mere pen.”

I was tired and I don’t have the energy to sulk much. So I replied: “it’s okay”

“Why don’t you tell me a story? I kind of love them too”

Why does this girl leave me alone?  I wondered.

“One minute” I took two sips of Honitus and a Calpol and then started off with the narration.

“Have you ever heard a feverish story?”

***

Someone just shook me vehemently.

“I think you reached the station?”

“Huh?” I was looking haplessly trying to understand the situation.

“umm...station” Miss P. She woke me up for my stop.

“Oh...shit” I jumped out of my seat and grabbed everything to just run for the door.

“Hey...the train will have an engine change, so you still have about half an hour to get down.”

I told you this girl was pure evil.

“Great Timing” I was amazed though at the speed I woke up and ran towards the door.

She smiled and said “I liked your story”

This made me smile too. I thanked her and got down the station.

While I was going away from the coach she shouted back at me.

“Hey!”

I yelled back: “What now?”

“I would have preferred water too”

I heard the horn. It was time to leave. I smiled at her and waved back. Bye!

***

Quite feverish indeed! I guess it was just enough to complete a story.

I closed my laptop and checked my phone.

“Good night” she said an hour ago.  I got to sleep now.

The fever started on a Monday morning but the cough is still there.

I hope Honitus works


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Thursday, 3 September 2015

The Extant

 “Can I lay by your side?”

Yaeba! I love that smile, unravelling those double tooth of hers. It melts my heart like a hot chocolate lava cake.

 Did you ever come across one girl; never lose her!

“Go home”

“No...I am here now. I will be next to you; take care of you. I will make sure you are all right”

Smiling she says “I will be fine”

*******************************************************************************

Manish: “I have one weird observation”

Me:“Oh god”

Manish: “What?”

Me: “No...Nothing; you may continue”

Manish: “Yeah, so you know we are good friends right.”

Me: “Is that even a question?”

Manish: “He he...right; But think of the scenario of girls”

Me: “Uh huh...I am listening”

Manish: “I mean consider those three girls there...they seem to be very good friends like us...good friends”

I knew about which three girls he was talking about. I had been looking at them since the moment we arrived here.

Me: “What is your point?”

Manish: “Not yet”

Me: “I guess that’s okay?”

Manish: “It surely is...now if am not wrong, wherever they go, you would always find them together 
right?”

Me: “Yes maybe?”

Manish: “It surely is. Again those girls would surely have their boyfriends”

Me: “And what makes you say that?”

What’s with boyfriends? It is like those spoiler alerts which you never want to hear until you have seen the actual movie!

Manish: “Oh...don’t get your hopes up. Have you looked at them? Beautiful, fair girls are rarely single and the way they are giggling; they surely are one pair each.”

Me: “Umm...so?”

Manish: “So the boyfriends become good friends too cause they have their girlfriends to impress to right?”

You too agree right?

Me: “What choice do they have?”

Manish was smiling sheepishly.

Me: “What’s so funny about it?”

Manish: “Funny, because it is never the other way around!”

Me:“Man!”

It took some brief moment to grasp his thought process.

Manish: “What a weird thought right?”

Me: “Yeah...it sounds more like you need some kind of help, like thought!”

Manish: “He he...it just crossed my mind”

Me: “God...what more crosses your mind?”

Manish: “Many more weird things I suppose...he he”

Me: “So why did you call me here?”

Manish: “First you take me to my wife. I have a birthday to celebrate!”

“Oh...yes” I forgot but it’s nice to play like you remember it.


I carried him from the bench to the wheel chair nearby.

It’s been four years since the day he lost his legs. Saving one’s life...my life; by putting him on the line.

Me: “Damn, you are so heavy”

Manish: “Put me down then...I can even crawl and get up. No problem”

Sometimes we just utter out the first thing that comes to your mind without thinking about who we 
are with, how would they perceive your thoughts. Same happened with Manish.

Me: “Umm...I didn’t mean to...”

Perhaps he understood that I was trying to joke around or it was getting a bit embarrassing for both of us.

Manish: “Yeah...fine. Just put me back in my chair, fast. She should still be sleeping when I return home.”

****************************************************************************

Leaning against the back of the chair, he clutched his chest as he coughed and battled for breath. He had never experienced anything like this before. It felt like he had a blockage in his airways and he couldn’t take in any air.

Feeing numb, he found an urgent sense of purpose for he knew he must call the hospital where he knew she lay gravely ill.

 “I am sorry. We tried our best”

The Doctor’s words pierced straight through his heart. The heart which was grasping for air was suddenly not grasping anything at all.

Numbness kicked in and suddenly there was no meaning of life at all.

Manish: "Hey, sit down for a moment”

Me: "What are you talking about..sh..sh..” Unable to control the tears I let it loose. Manish understood too.  

Anger, confusion came along.

Me: "All this is my fault. I should have been there”

Manish: “Gaurav, it’s not your fault. Now sit down for a moment and listen to me carefully”

Me: “Sit down? How the hell can I sit down now? What are you even taking about?"

I barged out of the hospital having no clue to what I was up to. It felt like a dream that I needed to desperately wake up from. Everything seemed so unreal around me.

I could hear the distant “Gaurav...Gaurav” plea from Manish. I was completely losing it. My head started to spin.

Perhaps I was getting a stroke or I was close to death for I felt a bright light before me. It felt like the gates of heaven were opening for me. I would be together with Akshatha again. I spread my hands wide open for her to embrace me again.

Then a sudden jolt changed everything. I was pushed away five to six feet from my place of embracement. I felt cheated. But then I slowly came to senses; the sight was hazy no more. I could see a carrier truck beside me with Manish some thirty meters away.

Shocked over what I had caused, I struggled to get up and then rushed back to him. He was still breathing with his eyes open. Whispering to me he says:

“I can’t feel my legs”

I would never forgive myself over what I had caused to Manish and everyone around me.

**********************************************************************

“Happy Birthday” we sang in unison.

Smita was overjoyed over her husband giving her the surprise.

Smita: “I love it”

Manish: “Well...anything for you hon.”

It isn’t unusual for events in your everyday routine to trigger a strong emotional reaction, because different events can be reminders that your loved one is no longer with you.

The same happened when I was standing there watching Manish and Smita celebrating with their two lovely kids. Putting a smile on their family is the least thing I can do or at least be a part of it.

I joined them soon.

Me: “I am sorry I could not bring any present”

Smita: “Ahh...no present from family Gaurav. You are my sweet brother”

I smiled vaguely.

Suddenly, Smita came up with a beautifully coloured thread and tied it around my wrist.

Me: “What’s that for?”

Smita: “Today is Raksha bandhan too!”

I felt embarrassed now.

Me: “I am a terrible brother”

Manish (laughing): “Indeed you are”

Me: “Again, I am sorry I have nothing to give you right now”

Smita: “Oh...again? I am telling you I don’t want anything”

Me (smiling): “Fine”

Smita paused for a while and then spoke: “But still as a sister I should get something in return right?”

Me: “Oh...yes...umm...you should”

Smita: “hmmm”

Me: “hmm what?”

Smita: “Let me think”

She looked at Manish and they both nodded in agreement. I was not getting it.

Me: “Tell me what can I give you in return?”

Smita: “There is something I...in fact we want you to do”

Me: “Uhuh...to do what?”

Smita: “I want you to be happy”

It was clear now. Do I not look happy? Yes I clearly do. But deep down it was never the same after Akshatha. I know it and they too feel it.

She continued: “All we want from you is to settle down now. I will be good for you”

Me: “hmmm”

Smita: “You you will keep it as a promise right? Brothers should never back away from their promise(s)”

Me: “I will think about it”

Manish: “You realise losing her was not your fault right?”

Me: “Yes; but at the same time I can’t forgive myself for past mistakes”

There was a hush between us.

Manish: “Guilt is a poison Gaurav. See I am still whole right. My life has never been wonderful like this now. So why are you letting yourself down?”

Me:  “I don’t know”

Manish: “You know I forgave you a long time ago”

Me: “Thank you Manish”

Manish: “But not for what you did the other day!”

Me: “huh...about what?”

Manish: “About what? Dude you rejected Avantika!”

Me: “Oh...that...he he...she is a weird girl”

Manish: “Common man...even I would have hit on her”

Smita(unimpressed) : “Hit on what?”

And we all shared a laugh.



Smiles are contagious; you catch it like flu.

So start smiling and laughing as much as you can. Have a hearty laugh over every amusing situation. Laugh even at yourself and smile at the simplest pleasures in your life.


Because a smile is a curve that sets everything straight...wink ;)

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