Unexpected Love

They say you always find love in the most unexpected places and from the most unexpected person. As beautiful as it sounds, he thought it would be equally impractical an occurrence in anyone’s life. But, that day, Anil Mishra was proven wrong. As he sipped on his daily dose of caffeine, sitting by the large window pane, watching the rain drops dance away in glory as they spatter all along the earth, he reflected back on the most significant day in his life. One that to the last breath of his life, he will savour.

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“Do not run, the floor is wet, you will trip.” He yelled as he cautiously sprinted behind her to make sure he is not far away if she slips.

“Anil sir, do not worry, I am a strong girl.” She smiled while looking behind but running ahead.

No sooner did she turn she banged into a tall and lean matured man, probably in his 40s, presumably on his evening walk. Isha was so happy today, she gave out a huge smile to the gentleman as if nothing had happened and marched ahead in merriment along the beautiful Marine Drive in Mumbai on a wet July evening.

“Sir, I want kulfi.” She stopped in excitement at the sight of a kulfi vendor.

“No way Isha, you know you have a sore throat right, it is not....” Anil stopped abruptly as he looked at Isha and suddenly reality struck him in his head like a knife-poke.

“Ok Isha, come baby, which flavour you want?” He lifted her merrily in his arms so she could see all the available flavours.

“Bhaiya, give me malai kulfi, big one.”

Anil handed the money to the kulfi vendor and they walked along the queen’s necklace happily embracing the beautiful weather. Isha was a charming 5 year old girl who lived at a shelter home for destitute and homeless kids. It was run by a government funded NGO situated in the dusky and dense lanes of Dahisar, a distant suburb in north Mumbai.

“Anil sir, look the waves are splashing all over the road, wow, let’s go there.” She pleaded.

Anil, who had run away from his hometown Meerut to Mumbai to make a living when he was 18, used to work part time at the NGO, teaching the kids basic life lessons. He had a tattered past and had experienced all the hardships a small kid can ever go through. His mother had passed away as soon as he was born. His father, an old school orthodox who turned into an alcoholic soon after his wife’s death, blamed Anil for all that had happened. He and his family considered Anil an unlucky life and treated him as a liability. If not for his grandmother’s insistence, Anil’s father would have long abandoned him. Anil grew up amidst a lot of negativity and coarse around him, but he survived it all only under the influence of his grandmother. She would teach her all the good things when he was a kid, which he often fondly remembers even today and imparts the same wisdom to the kids at the NGO. Life however had other plans for Anil, for as soon as things were getting better, his grandmother died and left behind a lifeless soul that was always ridiculed and never loved. He left soon after for Mumbai, never to look back.

“Careful baby, do not run. Go easy.” I insisted she holds my hand while walking.
Isha relished the opportunity to play under the strong waves that were lashing along the boulders and splashing above the seating pavements to drench all the people walking along the stretch. Anil carefully looked at her from a distance, feeling a sense of bliss and at the same time sadness at the apparent turn of things that he knew was to come. Isha jumped and splashed along the pavement while getting completely drenched and cheerfully running around. She was never this happy ever in her life. She was a picture of heart wrenching purity, one that makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time.

“Anil sir, you are so nice. Thank you for bringing me here. I love you. I am very happy today.” She hugged Anil tightly while still smiling gleefully.

“I am not nice beta, you make me nice! Be like this forever...” Anil twitched his words again, almost fumbling through the last few words.

He lifted her in his arms and hugged her real tight. He felt every single atom of his strong body cry out in aguish as he gave in the most compassionate hug he had ever given anyone. Small tears slowly started dripping along his cheeks mixing with the rain drops and the splash of the waves.

“Come sit here.” He walked her towards a slightly drier patch of mortar and made her sit along the pavement, facing the sea. He sat very close alongside her, hands firmly protecting her from the side.

Isha noticed tears in Anil’s eyes and in her innocent voice asked, “Anil sir, why are you crying? Are you not happy like me?”

There is something about the purity and candidness with which kids talk. No matter how stone-hearted a man can be, an innocent question from a small kid can simply melt a man to tepidness. Anil was in a similar situation today. He had no answer. He could not tell the truth to Isha since that would steal away all the bliss that she was surrounded with today, something he did not want. Sometimes being kind is far more important than being right, this was one such situation.

“No one has ever told me ‘I love you’ in my life, and you just did today. It made me emotional, which is why I had few tears in my eyes.” Anil said while still battling to hold back his tears. Anil was a sensitive person and he thought to himself he would always be candid and himself with people who he loves.

“Anil sir, your mummy-daddy did not love you?”

“My mummy passed away as soon as I was born beta. I only might have spent a few seconds with her, and my daddy did not love me because he considered me unlucky and always cursed me for everything bad that happened at our home. Only my grandmother used to treat me nicely, but she also left me soon.” Anil looked at her straight in her eyes and said it all out. He had never shared this with anyone else in his life. He had never got an opportunity either.

“Sir you are very nice person. Your daddy is unlucky, not you.”

His heart melted, he could not hold back his tears once again. Isha leaned slightly forward and looked at Anil’s eyes and while wiping his tears went on to say, “Sir, you have lived some time with your mummy-daddy but I don’t even know my mummy-daddy, but I am still happy.”

“I do not have anyone in my life Isha beta, no one after I came here to Mumbai. I only work as a clerk in the bank and in evenings I am with you and other kids at the school. After whatever that had happened to me when I was a kid, I have never trusted anyone in my life so I never got close to anyone. All I loved and enjoyed doing was spend time with you Isha beta, because I love you so much, but now even you...” Anil let out a huge sigh, but controlled his words and stopped as soon as he realised what he was about to say.

“Anil sir, that is not true. There is someone who loves you more than anyone else. I know that person. He is very sweet and is ready every day in the evening to take me to doctor uncle. He takes me out to have kulfi and chocolate whenever I want to. He is so nice that he laughs when you laugh and cries when you cry. You know who it is?” Isha got up to stand as she said the last few words as Anil held her hand to help balance her.

“It is you Anil sir.” She said with a huge smile on her face. “See, only if you love yourself will you love someone else and someone else loves you back. I know you love me sir, and I love you too sir, so that means that you first love yourself so much. Anil sir loves Anil sir.” She let out a huge grin and giggled hysterically as she completed her words.

Anil was so touched by this response that he hugged her tight and smiled gleefully while staring at the sea. He was a picture of sadness and remorse all his life but today for the first time he found love at the most unexpected place from the most unexpected person. He just realised what he had been missing all his life and secretly vowed to self to always be happy and cheerful, just like Isha.

“You are an angel and my sweetheart. I love you Isha. Thank you for showing me the way.”

He picked her up and they started walking towards the taxi stand at the end of a junction.

“Anil sir, the train station is that side.” She said pointing towards the opposite side.

“I know baby, but today, we will take the taxi home, it seems as if it will start raining again, and I want you to enjoy the drive in the rain.” Anil announced with pride which Isha gleefully accepted.

As they drove by towards their school that evening, Anil kept looking at Isha who had her eyes constantly out of the window, taking in all the beautiful sight the city had to offer in the rain. Slowly but surely, she started drifting to sleep since she was tired with all the running around all day. Anil slowly patted her forehead as she fell asleep in his lap. As soon as they reached the school, it was already dark and had stopped raining. Anil picked up Isha, who was reluctant to walk back to her room, lay her on her bed and put her to sleep.

“Anil sir, you will come tomorrow to take me doctor uncle again right?” She asked in a sleepy voice.

“Yes beta, I will be there. Sleep well, goodnight.” He said while pulling the quilt up her body.

Anil dragged himself back home that night. He was physically tired but spent a sleepless night. He kept replaying the entire day in his head several times while lying on his bed and staring at the fan above. It was as if he had found new colours in his dark and gloomy life. He suddenly had a purpose in life which he had long lost hopes of getting. However, every time he thought about Isha, his smile slowly turned into a sorry face. He knew what was to conspire and he hated the fact that he had no control over it.

Isha had a hole in her heart. Doctors had already predicted her death few months ago; they were surprised she was alive beyond the tentative time they thought she would survive. Anil cried a bucketful that night. He cursed God to have given a hole in the heart of such an innocent and beautiful little child who not only lives life to the fullest, but also inspires others to be happy. A beautiful dream was about to end and all Anil could wish for is for the dream to last as long as possible.

Next day, as he was getting ready to go to work, Anil got a message on his phone. Isha breathed her last that night. As soon as Anil reached the school, he saw a motionless little angel lying on the bed, eyes shut, with a beautiful smile. One that inspired. One that captured the essence of all life on this world. A smile so pure, it was addictive. Anil kissed her on her forehead and with eyes closed; fingers locked into each other, sighed, “I love you Isha, I always will.”

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“I love you daddy.” A cute little girl came running towards him as Anil looked back.

“I love you too Isha, I always will.” He let out a tear, hugged her and smiled.

Father and daughter merrily sat alongside the window pane and continued to enjoy the rain outside.


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This was published by Your Story Club, India here - http://yourstoryclub.com/short-stories-family/family-short-story-unexpected-love/ 

The sweetest dairy milk

It was the usual evening for me. Post dinner I made myself comfortable on the couch, playing the 8-ball pool game on my iPad, which I have gotten addicted to, while parents had all their senses glued to the nonsensical ranting from the very young looking mother of three grown-ups on the television. No sooner does the ranting get over and parents make their way to their room calling it a night; I get ready to battle my way through tough deadlines as I start my laptop to begin writing. Just then, I get a call from my best friend. I saw the phone buzzing, but chose to ignore it. He won't mind I know him, I said to myself. And then he called again. 

That is the thing about best friends. They probably know you better than you know yourself, and that is why they are one step ahead of you, always. I had a lot of writing to do and I hadn't even started for the night, but then, that is the thing about best friends. You can hate them, but something within you does not let you ignore them.  

"Where are you?" his patented first line. 

"Home, where else." my patented first line too.

"Come down near the main gate, I am reaching in 5." he cut the call. 

Honestly, we had been planning to catch up for the last few days but none of us made it eventually for whatever reasons. He had a few major events approaching which he had to talk about, and me, well, I generally always have something major coming up in life, which he wanted to know from me about. I walked my way down to meet him. 

I really don't know if this is common with other best friends as well, but whenever him and I meet, we never know where we are headed. That night was no different. As soon as I got into his car from the main gate of my complex, we just start talking. And probably without him and me realising he started driving, with no where to go, he took the first left turn. 

I asked him, interrupting from our conversation, "where are we going?" 

"There was a CCD here right?" he said

"That thing got shut ages ago dude."

"Ah, ok let me take a U-turn." He turned around and got back to the junction from where he had turned left, took a right turn onto the same road and another U-turn from the next signal brought us back to the same place he picked me up from. This was very typical him and me moment. We always meet, even to date, without knowing where to go. 

He parked the car to the side and inside the car, we both traveled places from Mumbai to Bangalore to Dubai to Surat and back to Mumbai within a span of 20 odd mins. We spoke about his new job switch, my experiences with the new girl I met for an arranged marriage recently, our unsuccessful past business escapades, and all that fell far and few between all the years that we had known each other. Somewhere amidst our serious conversation, I noticed him passing me a small bar of dairy milk chocolate, which I gladly accepted. He knew how crazy I am about chocolate and I know how much he hates chocolate, so there was no argument over who would have it all. 

All along the time we were talking to each other, I held the chocolate in my hand. Somehow I resisted in opening the wrapper and having it then. I don't know what made me hold on to it, but I just kept fiddling with it in my hand as we got deeper into conversations. 

After some time, there was a brief moment of awkward silence as if we had suddenly lost topics to talk about. Just then he noticed the idli and coffee vendor with his cycle standing near the car. Hungry that he was, he asked for an idli, and I settled for a cup of coffee which I needed since I had to stay awake for longer that night. Although the coffee was no match to the strong sugar-less latte that I am used to having at coffee shops, I ended up asking for it just because I can never say no to coffee. Be it any make. 

It was 12:15 AM, time enough to call it a night. After trashing the idli plate and coffee cup in the bin, he got back to the driver seat and started the engine, when it made a weird and not so heavy screeching sound. At first, I did not notice the sound, but then a few more unsuccessful attempts at keying the engine, it failed to begin! The battery refused to spark. 

"God Damnit, this had to happen now!" He cursed the heavens above. "What's wrong?"

"Dude, I guess battery problem. We will have to ask someone to push the car and you will have to pick it up while its in motion." I said. He looked at me with an expression which clearly read, I don't know how to do it. 

I looked back at him with an expression that read, neither me dude! I know it can be done, but I do not know how to do it. 

Since we were at the Malad link road, a place that is always busy, no matter what time of the night because of the many call centers and BPOs working round the clock in the vicinity, luckily there were people around us. 

I asked an auto rickshaw driver and another tourist car driver who were around to help push the car which they gladly accepted. I along with them pushed the car while my friend was at the wheel trying to get the engine rolling, with no knowledge how to do it. 

It had just rained some time back to the road was all wet with patches of water pool spread along the road. And I was in my shorts and slip-ons that did not help in any way for me to push the car and run along. 

First attempt and it failed. Both the guys who first helped us resigned to the idea and left since we had pushed the car a fair distance ahead but my friend failed to start it. As we reached a few steps ahead, there were a few more rickshaw drivers who came forward to help us. Second attempt and he failed again. 

Now, we went even further ahead in vain. This time, the rickshaw driver who had resigned after helping us in the first attempt came back. He willingly came forward, this time, while riding his rickshaw, he lifted his left leg and parked it on the back of the car and tried to push while driving his rickshaw. I was at the other side pushing it from the back. We again managed to push a fair distance, but no luck. The rickshaw driver left us in the dark, rode ahead. I could even hear a few choicest of abuses hurled slowly fading away in the distance. 

"Dude, do you even know how to do it?" I asked him panting because of some serious efforts I had put in trying to push that car. "That car driver said you should put the car in second gear and try to release the clutch and accelerate at the same time while its in motion. Did you do that?" 

"Dude, how will it work when the engine itself is shut?" he said. I was left expressionless. 

Just then I noticed another tourist car driving towards us slowly. Let's talk to him and ask him to help. My friend, a Maharashtrian, asked him to stop and in Marathi explained him the situation and asked him to take the wheel. 

Marathi helped this time again, I told myself. As was always the case with him. Be it the time when we were caught with liquor in our car while on our way to Tiger point, Lonavala, or at the time when he actually drove without a valid drivers licence in the city for a few months and not get the pauti. 

Me and my friend pushed hard. This was the fourth attempt. I put my everything as I ran along while pushing the car from behind, not bothered about the dirty muddy water splashing on my feet or the uneven paver blocks actually hurting me slightly as I went along with the flow. I exhausted all my energy and almost reached a point where I was about to just give up when the car screeched, wobbled, and the sound of engine broke in as I instinctively gave a rather mellowed down cheer, YAY! 

The car engine started, we exchanged pleasantries, genuinely thanked the driver and got into the car. "Dude do not stop the engine until you reach home now." 

12:30 AM was the time and as he took another U-turn from the next junction and dropped me opposite my complex gate, I wished him luck, with a genuine smile, picked up my dairy milk chocolate and got off the car to leave. 

As I walked back home, I somehow looked back at all these years of knowing this guy. We had experienced every unique, some bizarre episodes that any Bombay boy might have gone through from drunken nights, to arguments, to huge business ideas, to driving along without any destination, and to top it all, being hit by a police constable fiercely with his lathi outside the Wankhede stadium when we tried to jump the ticket queue. But this was a first. I had a smile on my face all along my way home. This was a small, probably insignificant episode in our lives, but the sense of achievement made me really happy. As they say, it is the small things that makes life seem beautiful. 

I finally unwrapped my dairy milk chocolate as I walked back home. That night, it tasted much sweeter than it usually did. 

The last bark

His car pulled up in front of the modest patio along the deserted dusty road. No sooner did he shut the door of his car, Moti came out running towards its master, barking in joy, tail right up and tongue wiggling in utmost pleasure. Moti was extremely happy to see Umeshbhai, as all the fellow villagers used to call him, who had returned home after a much painful city tour. Umeshbhai was a small time trader dealing in plastic toys for kids. Chobari village from the Bhachau taluka of Kuttch, Gujarat had a plethora of poor but talented peasants. Although the country had attained independence more than 50 years ago, and most part of the country was flourishing with commercialization, the Bhachau taluka and Chobari village in particular was still languishing in the pre-industrial age.

Nothing much had changed in Chobari apart from a few migrants from nearby villages adding to the 6000 odd people residing and a few crumbling schools, hospitals springing up in the last few years. Infrastructure was lacking, one could still see a few bullock carts tugging along, women drawing buckets of water from the well, and old men sitting outside small paan-beedi shops snuffing into the desi versions of nicotine. The nearest railway station was more than 160 kms away at Rajkot. More than anything, the village boasted of the primitive Shiva temple which drew crowds from several small villages nearby. It was believed to be setup by the Pandavas more than 5000 years ago.

Umeshbhai was considered a wealthy person, one of very few, from the Chobari village. He owned a big piece of land behind his house which he used to rent out to the village sarpanch for conducting their annual village gatherings and panchayats. Otherwise a busy person, whenever Umeshbhai was free or felt slightly unwell to travel to the city for work, he used to spend time and play with Moti, a street dog he had found a few years ago from the city which he adopted and gave shelter to at his Chobari home. Moti was considered an integral part of the family which consisted of Saritaben, Umeshbhai's wife and Madan their 10 year old son who used to study at the Chobari primary school.

On a chilly Wednesday morning; January in Kuttch region was the coldest period of the year; Moti woke up with a start. Daylight had not yet landed on the dusty bylanes of Chobari, a little before dawn, when suddenly there was a lot of howling and shrieking heard from several miles away. No sooner did the moans grow louder, Moti sprung up from its sleep chattai and ran out towards the street. It had learnt how to unlock the door knob with its nose and did not break a sweat in doing so even this morning.

Moti started moving violently towards the vast land behind Umeshbhai's house, ran towards the center of the land and stood there barking its lungs out, groaning in pain. Its strange behaviour and loud cries soon woke up Umeshbhai and a few other village elders who came out of the house, more out of concern for Moti than fear. Umeshbhai called for Moti, but the canine won't budge. "May be he is not well, we should show him to the vaidji?" said Roshanji, Umeshbhai's neighbor who also used to feed and play with Moti frequently. "Lets go and check." Umeshbhai sprinted towards Moti to the middle of the barren land.

Moti stood there barking, the intensity getting lesser with every second bark. Umeshbhai leaned down to his knees and hugged Moti tight, giving him the most passionate embrace. Moti responded by giving out a really profound mourn, one that had a lot of emotions, one that it seemed to be delivered from the most compassionate part of its inside. Moti was ill, it was looking pale and caught under the weather. Umeshbhai lifted Moti in his arms and carried it back home, carefully placing it on the warm quilt and covering it with a bedsheet to protect it from the cold. He asked his wife to warm a bowl of milk for Moti.

Within a few minutes, the warm milk seemed to have done the trick, Moti fell in silent slumber. Umeshbhai looked at it with a sense of comfort and felt happy. He left for the local market thereafter to meet the peasants while Madan left for school and Saritaben got busy in her daily household chores. Chobari was a really sleepy village, and the practice in the village and nearby villages was a unique one. All the small businesses and shops would remain shut for a few hours after lunch time to rest. The morning rush, business, satisfaction of work was not the basis of determining if the day was well spent. A good day in Chobari was a day when one would get the most peaceful afternoon sleep. Business and shops would resume only by 4 PM on any given day until sunset.

This day was no different; every living being of the small village was in deep sleep when all of a sudden Moti decided to bring an end to the silence. He again started barking his lungs out, crying as if to suggest something to Umeshbhai and rest of the village. It was getting back to being what it was in the morning. Howling for no reason, trying to suggest something to people around, running towards the open land behind the house. It invariably ended up dragging Umeshbhai and the rest of the village elders to the middle of the huge open field and stay there. It stayed there barking with the intensity getting lesser by the minute. Once again, Umeshbhai carried it back home that afternoon. He laid it to rest, looking at it patiently from a distance. Wondering what was wrong with Moti, he had never behaved in such a way in the past. Moti was an obedient pet and used to comply with all its masters orders. Today, things were different though. Moti was being difficult, no one knew why.

That night, Moti was tied up to the side of the bed with a harness. The rope was long enough for it to roam around the room, but it could not go out of the room. Umeshbhai did it, not because of fear of losing Moti, but out of concern. He did not want Moti to create a fracas again out in the fields. He did not want to inconvenience his neighbours and other villagers. Moreover, he was perturbed with the thought that a spirit, a supernatural being had resided over Moti's soul. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, but there was little he could do.

All hell broke loose when in the middle of the night there were loud thuds being heard from the room everyone was sleeping in. Umeshbhai was stunned at the sight and sprang up running towards Moti who was banging its head on the door, trying to break it. It was weird because Moti knew how to unlock the door, it was still violently trying to bash open the door while being tied to the harness. It was very restless and nervous, but was really exerting immense force to break free from the bed it was tied to. Umeshbhai did not understand this and immediately released the harness fearing Moti would break open the bed mast. Moti ran outside the house towards the open field behind howling along the way and breaking into the deathly silence of the chilly night.

Umeshbhai followed Moti and found himself smack bang in the middle of the field behind his house. That is where Moti sat crying and Umeshbhai stood there valiant as ever with his best friend. The chilly sub-normal temperature did not seem to have any effect on Moti. It sat there gently clawing onto Umeshbhai's pyjama, not letting him go. Umeshbhai was losing his patience with Moti. As much he was concerned about Moti's health, he was starting to get agitated at the whole affair and wanted to bring it to an end. He picked up Moti even when it was protesting to be taken back home. Umeshbhai was furious; he carried it back home and tied it with two different harnesses. Moti cried in pain, but it had to give up against the tough built of Umeshbhai.

Moti did not sleep that night, nor did Umeshbhai. It kept crying softly looking towards Umeshbhai and then towards the door. Umeshbhai was worried but he did not know what to do. Slowly but surely amidst a million thoughts pointing to an equal number of possibilities likely; his weary head faded into a serene slumber. Next morning was routine, Moti was tired and did not have the early morning biscuits that Saritadevi always used to feed it. Moti remained in its chattai, lazily sniffing about here and there, crawling inside the house with no intention to settle.

That evening, Umeshbhai and Roshanji were sitting on the khaat discussing what could be done to bring back Moti to its normal self. After much ponder and discourse, nothing materialized and they both decided to observe for another day and then opine further. Umeshbhai had a busy day tomorrow since it was a public holiday which meant more buyers for his toys in the city market. No sooner did Umeshbhai settle on his bed post dinner to rest anticipating a big and tiring day tomorrow did Moti began to get violent again. The fierce little being with all its might marched towards the open field in the back of the house and settled there. It had one leg up in the air as if to call Umeshbhai and the rest of the villagers. Umeshbhai and a couple other elders went towards Moti and started petting it gently to calm it down. Moti responded well by licking their hands and pulling them closer as if to suggest them to settle with it in the middle of the field.

After spending a good few minutes with Moti, they carried it back home, tied it to the harness and left it to sniff about within the room. Moti was looking pale and exhausted, slightly older than its usual self. Soon enough, the dusky orange gave way to the gloom of the dark night. The chirp of the birds had died; the whoosh of the trees had all faded into the stillness of the night. Chobari was asleep. Not a spec in the sky, not even the moon could be remotely seen. It was the chilliest night of the season not just in mercury but also because of the quietest deathly muteness that prevailed in the air.

Next day, it was 26th January, 2001, the 52nd Republic Day of India. Whole of India was up early excited and anxious at the prospect of the patriotic processions planned in each city. Chobari was no different. Madan was all gleaming and ready to sing patriotic songs at the Chobari Primary School that morning following which the principal would be hoisting the national flag. Umeshbhai was getting ready to leave for the city with a hope he would sell all the toys. Saritadevi was finishing up the morning breakfast. Moti was surprisingly active today, he had been released from the harness and was sniffing along on the road outside the patio, behaving normal, tail up and waging about in glory. The clock struck 8.46 AM, and just then, the worst disaster in the history of Chobari unfolded. It lasted just 2 minutes, but brought down everything with unmatched valor and force.

A few minutes later, nothing remained. Houses were a mere stock of bricks and loose mortar. The Shiva temple was completely destroyed, with only the Shiv-ling shining about glowing under the rays of the sun surrounded by red bricks, half broken. Schools had only books, dusty slates and a few lunch boxes lying about above the heavy debris that had crushed all students beneath. Chobari had vanished from the face of the earth. Almost as if, it was gulped by the planet, forcing everything within itself. 

Moti sniffed around of what was erstwhile its abode. It was just a huge pile of debris now, across which it made its way to its room, sneaked beneath the debris, clawing its way. Soon enough, Moti emerged from under the biggest pile of concrete, picking up its chattai. A few grunts and barks along the way, it swiftly moved towards the center of the field. There was no debris there. Moti laid the chattai, sat on it, tongue wagging out, a sorry face; it kept staring at the picture in front. It was a sorry picture. One that Moti had already seen between its ears. A picture that had come to life. 

Moti let out a loud bark, only to hear it echo back. It was the last bark. ~

This better be worth it

"This better be worth it". I told her as she held my hand and guided me. I don't know what was in her mind. I was blindfolded and all I could sense is she is taking me through a crowded place as I could hear people talk in the background. "It's a surprise for you, have patience and trust me for once". This is unique to girls somehow. They will tell you something and not mean it, but still tell you. She knew I trusted her, but she had to say this. On another day, they will say the same thing, and also mean it. Girls, they can never be understood. Anyways, I did not say anything and continued to walk.

We entered a quieter place, a room with dim lighting and I could smell a really nice soothing fragrance in the room. "This is it, we are here! Mister, are you ready to face it?"

"Can't wait!". I said with a lot of anticipation and eagerness. I was genuinely excited. Also tad nervous. I knew she had been planning something but she never gave in to my thousand requests of asking her to tell me what she was upto. She did not meet me all of last week and also barely met for an hour only once the week before. She kept saying she was busy with her upcoming business trip and had to prepare hard for it. I respected the other commitments she had and always gave her the space she needed. She would make up for not meeting by talking and chatting endlessly on phone in the night. I was really curious to know what had kept her so busy all these days. She only told me about a surprise today morning when she met me for a few minutes. She forced me to cancel my pre-decided dinner planned for tonight with college friends for this. I hated her for that, but I was a typical guy after all, one extremely cute smile and a peck on my cheeks ensured I cancel all plans and only be with her that evening.

"Tada!!!" she said as she removed the black cloth that covered my eyes.

What I saw, completely took my breath away. I was absolutely awe-struck and totally mesmerized at the sight. My dream was in front of me. The dream I was living for. I could not believe my eyes. I could not believe the moment had arrived. The one moment which I was waiting and endlessly waiting for. My feet got numb, my face turned pale, and my eyes got watery. I could not feel my senses, it was magical. I was speechless. Did not know what to say and how to react.

"Welcome to Serendipity Cafe", she said it out loud with a huge smile.

I simply looked at her, tears rolling down, she came close to me and I just hugged her tight. I did not say a word. I could not. The moment was so overwhelming, it just got the better of me. I could not believe she did this for me. It was my dream. Yes, it was! It is no longer a dream, it is reality now. She not only made my day, she just happened to make my life.

My new coffee shop - Serendipity Cafe was all set and ready to brew!

The future mirror

It's strange how we get the best of ideas at a place and time where we least expect to receive it. It can be anything from as small as a new activity you decide to do in your spare time or as big as a multi-million dollar new business idea which no one might have ever thought about. Ever wondered why you get it at unusual times? Forget that, have you ever gone ahead and implemented or at the least worked upon the idea? My guess is that most of us, including me, have smiled about the fact they got an idea, felt happy about it and eventually forgot about it.

Today while I was in the shower, my mind was racing, as is always the case. I generally take not less than 45 mins in the shower everyday. In those 45 mins of the day, my mind is as open as a parachute. Absolutely anything and everything under the sun come across my thoughts. Sometimes it makes me laugh, at times I cry, and there are times when I feel absolutely inspired and motivated. Something similar happened today.

I'm going through a sort of a rough patch in my life off lately which keeps me slightly upset. Without getting into much details, it is more than enough to know that I am in a messy situation which has made me rather weak from within. Whenever I'm in such a frame of mind, I have always resorted to writing. I find it extremely comforting and I enjoy the feeling of penning down all that I have in my heart on paper. It makes me light. Moreover, I get a certain joy from writing that I never feel from anything else I do. For the past couple of weeks, I have been writing actively. Am writing a story, and I am writing about general life experiences which I'm going to incorporate in the story. A rather unusual way of writing a story, but it's working for me. It's like, I'm putting my insomnia into perfect use. Every night while I'm lying on my bed and not sleeping, everything that happened through the day I run it in my mind and there you are, I am left with so many instances and experiences that can  be incorporated in the story. Small things. But it is the small things that have a huge impact when put across in a way anyone can relate.

Today in the shower, like any other day, my mind was into my story. It was racing into thoughts. How am I going to shape it, build the characters and what not. Just then, something really simple but marvellous happened. There is a mirror in my bathroom which always gets foggy and unclear everyday because of the warm water shower. I'm sure there is a science behind it but I was least bothered to know the actual reason. Everyday I wipe off the face of the mirror with my hands so that I can see myself clearly. Today, I did the same. But what I saw today, absolutely blew me away.

As I slowly wiped the surface of the mirror to make it clearer, something different and really beautiful started unfolding. I did not see the same frowning face, I did not see the tension lines on the forehead, I did not see the shabby unshaven look, I did not see the crumbled hair, I did not see the uncertainty in the expression, I did not see the problems of the past, I did not see the worries of the present.

I saw a happy and smiling face. I saw an image of myself which I have always wanted to be but had never been all these years. I saw myself enjoying with my family and friends. The smile, joy and happiness is so comforting to see in all their faces, it feels as if this is what I have been living for. I can see myself as a successful author of several best sellers, I can see my brother and bhabhi as successful businessmen, I can see my parents enjoying the best years of their lives, I can see the girl of my dreams and the kind of girl I always wanted as my loving wife. I can see the dream house, the dream car, I can see the satisfaction and content in their eyes. I can see it all, everything that I ever wanted, for myself and for my loving family.

Slowly but surely, I realised I was looking at my future. The magical mirror showed me all that I have ever wanted in my life. It showed me my destination, the very purpose of my existence. I could time travel and see myself in the future. After about a few mins, my otherwise expression-less face turned into an extremely joyful and smiling one. Viola, I just went closer one step to my future. When I saw my future, it instantly brought a rise smile on my face. More importantly, when I saw my future, I got hugely inspired and motivated to make it happen.

When you know where you want to reach in life, only then can you know what it takes to reach there. This 10 mins of magical experience I got today made me realise where I always wanted to be but could never really see it. Today I not only saw my future but also felt it. I almost lived it. The future was so beautiful, now I know that not a day in my life will pass without me not putting any efforts to reach there.

I called it the future mirror. Every day I am going to spend time in front of my future mirror going ahead. Every day I will be living my future. Every day I will be reminding myself of what I am going to become. The best part of the future mirror is that it not only hides the past, but also ignores the present and only shows the future. It shows a beautiful picture.

Go find your future mirror guys. Not asking you to run to your bathrooms and look for a mirror, go deeper into yourselves and find what you really want. Visualise it everyday. Live it. Experience it. Feel it. Someone somewhere has very right said, if you cannot even visualise or imagine what you want I life, there is no chance you will get it.

Happy living! :)

Diary of a lonely man

Nothing seems to be exciting. The same train to office. Faces buried in newspapers every morning. Same sidewalk to work everyday. Coffee from the same Deli. Same people at work. Same desk and same machine. Same copier. Tough day. Long walk back home. Leftover salad for dinner. Voicemail from parents. Time to crash.

6:30 AM. Loud alarm and sun sneaking through the window. Same face on the mirror. Same old suit. Another tie. New cute face in the train. I try to gaze. She feels awkward. I feel even more. No more contact. Salad from Deli to go with the coffee. No mood for lunch. No work either. Back home online. Friday night and nothing exciting. Its raining. And I crash.

Morning! Surprise knock at the door. Something new? Nah, just a rent notice. Slide it on the table. Time for channel 7. CNN. Giants won last night. Seriously? Good for them. Vantage Point. Afternoon nap. Need a coffee. Starbucks and a long walk. Sat at the park. Watching the world pass by. Notice a cute couple kissing. I stare. I feel awkward. Walk back home. Bread for dinner. Channel surfing on couch.

Sunday late morning. Still on couch. Bad neck sprain. Thank God for the spray. Lazy day. Preparing for meeting tomorrow. Laundry. Dishes. Dusting. Grocery shopping. Cute lady cashier. I smile. No smile back. Wondering. Looking at myself in the mirror. Still wondering. Never mind. Early to bed. But no sleep. Thoughts won't let me sleep.

Late AM. Late to work. Grumpy boss. Like I care. Notice a cute face in another office across the street. Beautiful. Really beautiful. Stare. Keep staring until there is contact. Shy away. Look back. Eye contact. Shy away again. I feel awkward. Can't help but look back. Notice she looking at me. And staring away as soon as we have contact. Get curious. Look back. She looks back. Eye contact. No smile. Poker face. Get back to work. Look again after a while. Notice she looking. Weird expression. She wants to say something. Writes something on a blank paper and shows. '911?'. My face turns blue. Don't know what to do. Just then, she writes back something on another paper and shows. 'I'm kidding'. And then another. 'Jennifer'. Beautiful smile. I smile back and write. 'Nick'. She writes. 'Nice to meet you'. I write back. 'Nice to meet you too'.

Feel fresh this morning. Almost looking forward to something. Don't know what. Don't know why. Plain excited. Train journey seems exciting now. Thinking about something. Someone. Reach office all smiles. Look for her. I write. 'Nice dress'. She writes back. 'New one'. All smiles. It becomes regular everyday. Funny faces. 'Good Morning'. 'Good Night'. Sometimes we even play tic-tac-toe. We become silly. In a happy way. Everyday.

Life is exciting again. Don't need alarms any more. No more sad faces in train. Sidewalks seem colorful. And coffee was never so sweet. We stare at each other. For hours. Not saying a word. Not even writing. Only smiles. She then writes. 'I have a secret'. I am puzzled. What could the secret be? I look. In anticipation. She writes back. 'I used to stare at you first'. I smile. Almost turn red. Feel the need to ask her. I signal to her to wait as I write something. 'Do you want to meet?' No. Wait. Really? Should I? I am thinking. She is waiting. I look at her. Still thinking if I should show her. She gets a call. Seems shocked. Looks at me with moist eyes. I don't know what to do. She starts to step away. Still looking at me. Waiting for me to show her what I wrote. I couldn't. She leaves.

Back home. See myself in mirror. I practice. How do I look while I hold the paper that reads 'Do you want to meet?'. I look silly when I try to look good. Why try? Will just be me. Simple. Early morning next day. All smiles. Today, I will just say it. I run towards the elevator. Ah damn it is taking too long to start. I run towards the stairs. Climb up. Get to my seat. Remove the paper from my pocket. Look at her to show. She's not there! Where is she? The desk is empty. I see a guy walking towards the same desk that used to be hers. Arranging the desk. Where is Jennifer? I gasp. I walk towards the window. Look around. She's gone.

I keep staring at the paper I wrote that reads 'Do you want to meet?'. Stare all day and all night. Wondering as I lie on my bed. What just happened? Was this all an illusion? How could she leave? Where could she have left? I should have asked her yesterday. She surely wanted me to. I could see it in her eyes. I'm dejected.

Cruel morning. Same old train. Same sidewalk. Same people at work. I look at where she used to be. She is not there. Head held low. Trying to be sane. Tough day at work. Grumpy boss. Grumpier me. Sit at the waterfront. Stare at the sea. Not looking for anything. Anyone. Just stare. Walk back home. Tired.

Life sucks and I'm a lonely man again. Sigh!

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

This is pure fiction. My first attempt at writing and publishing a short story. I have written few in the past. But this is the first one to find its way to the blog. Different style of writing. I don't know if it works.  Do leave a comment if you like. Or even if you don't. 

Solitude..

So far from you I am,

So far from the dream we share.

I don’t know about you,

But I’d have longed for you to care.

Dawn is dusk while day is night,

How I wish you would still be within sight.

There is not a time of the day,

When the mind does not wander,

It always sways your way. 

So much I miss,

The feeling of being together.

Just one chance,

Just one breath,

Let me be your thought for once.

There is nothing else I can do,

Nothing else I can ask from you,

As I seek comfort.. in solitude.