Once a boy promised his girlfriend that they will get married . Now, she is 76 years old, still waiting.
~ Akanksha Ojha
Blog
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Once a boy promised….
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Fiona
The short story puts into words the everlasting relationship between a student and her teacher, which was built through a brief amount of time and only grew stronger through that time.
Lea walked toward the gate of her apartment building. The serenity which embraced that November afternoon, was suddenly interrupted by the chirping of the birds.
It was 3 p.m. Lea stood just outside the gate. The road outside the gate wasn’t unusually empty, especially at this hour. She stood waiting for an auto rickshaw to whisk her away to her desired destination. Bombay is honored with a pleasant climate usually in the months of December and January. But, it was oddly pleasant that afternoon. The cool breeze which blew after taking short intervals every now and then, kissed her face.
After waiting for a few minutes, Lea noticed an auto rickshaw advancing toward her. She put her hand out, signaling the driver to stop the rickshaw. He stopped right in front of her and Lea got into the rickshaw and established a small space on the seat. She told the rickshaw driver where she wanted to go and instantly he set the rickshaw going.
Lea watched the places pass by in front of her, in flashes and slowly she found herself drifting into her own world.
Lea hated firecrackers. She hated the sound of firecrackers. Every time she heard firecrackers, it made her feel like a bomb had exploded somewhere.But exactly a year ago, it wasn’t the sound of firecrackers which trembled every bone in her body, but the news of the death of Fiona.
It was the day of Diwali. People were celebrating the festival of lights with gusto and amidst all the celebration, Lea woke up to that day with a call from Fiona’s husband that his wife and her teacher, had passed away after becoming victim to an accident. As soon as she ended the phone call, she sat still on her bed. She felt like someone had just pierced a knife through her throat. A certain numbness had eaten her up in that moment. She couldn’t believe that she had lost Fiona forever. She couldn’t breathe. She started gasping for breath. Lea felt like a very significant part of her ceased to exist, without which, a sense of emptiness began creeping onto her.
Lea grew up with parents who were overly strict. She was never really close to them and her coyness never allowed her to make too many friends or get close to anyone, even. Fiona came into her life when she was 12 years old. Fiona was her 6th grade class teacher. Fiona would notice how Lea would sit by herself in class, not talking to anyone and scribbling poems in one corner, in her little notebook.
Lea had a deep inclination toward writing from a very young age and Fiona understood how good she was at it, through the little poems Lea would create.
Fiona in fact, was the first person to encourage Lea’s writing. She would encourage Lea to participate in various writing competitions. Through that entire time, Lea slowly started opening up herself with Fiona. She began to share a lot more than she expected herself to, with Fiona. Lea saw both the kind of mother and father that she always wanted, the sibling she never had and a best friend, in Fiona. And Lea came to become more like a daughter and less a student, to Fiona.
Lea trembled when she heard a voice calling out to her. Suddenly she looked up and realized that it was the auto rickshaw driver. She shut her eyes tightly and opened them, trying to come back to her reality. She exited out of the rickshaw, paid the money to the driver and walked toward the florist which was close to the cemetery. She bought a bouquet of roses.
Fiona loved roses. The red ones, to be specific. She carried the bouquet of roses and walked toward the cemetery with them.
She stood for a few seconds looking at the grave in which Fiona was buried in, a year ago. Lea remembered the time after the funeral, when she walked up to Fiona’s husband. The pair of them stood looking at each other, not knowing what to say. They just held each other’s hands and tears came cascading down their cheeks. They let their tears speak the words of sadness and hurt they felt about Fiona’s death, that their mouths could not utter.
It’s been a year since the death of Fiona. Fiona doesn’t cry anymore thinking about Fiona because with Fiona it is only the happy memories which remain. Lea doesn’t feel that she has lost Fiona, anymore because she’s there, with her always and forever.
Image Source: Favim.com
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He smiled and said…
He smiled and said, “No …. I didn’t chase you. Sometimes you made my time”.
~Praveen Gola
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National Highway 45
Asha and Bunty are going to a village where their grandparents are living. During the journey, they had an experience which they didn’t imagine.
Asha and bunty are eagerly waiting for their grandparents. They got a call from their grandparent’s that they will be visiting their home today.
Asha: mom, when nana and nani will come?
Asha’s Mother: Asha you are asking for the third time. They have to come through the bus and they will reach our home probably around 3.00P.M
Bunty: but mom, why we didn’t send our car to receive them?
Asha’s Mother: I have asked them several times, but they said their village is near to our city. So they will come in bus itself.
Asha: mom, how many hours they have to travel to reach our home?
Mother: Asha, I think it would be around 5 hours
Bunty: hmm…. I thought I can play with nana if they come before lunch
Mother: no bunty, they are elders and you should respect them. They need rest. You can play with them tomorrow
After few hours their grandparent’s reached home
Bunty and Asha are so excited to receive their grandparents. They want to play with them and they have more things to share with them. But Bunty’s mom intervened and instructed both of them to continue their studies.
So bunty and Asha went inside their room to study. After couple of weeks their nana and nani decided to leave for their home and also invited them.
Asha’s mother: During your summer vacation we will stay in nani’s home for a week to attend the village function?
Bunty: what function mom?
Mother: in the village they will conduct a function once in every year. We will attend that function this year. We can worship god as well as we will get the blessings of your nana and nani
Asha and bunty moved to their room to plan what they have to do in the village.
Travelling to Village
9.30 P.M
Asha’s family started to move towards the village in a car. Asha and bunty sits in the back seat of the car. Their mother sits near to their father who is driving the car. After few hours the car stops suddenly. Asha and Bunty’s father know to repair the car if it has minor issues. So he tried. But unfortunately he couldn’t repair the car. So he said they should wait in the car till morning as they couldn’t find any car mechanic at that time. After one hour, an old aged man approached the car and asked them whether they need any help.
Old man: hello everyone, I am Sikandar my Dhaba is here. Do you need any help?
Asha’s father: we have to reach the village. But our car stopped suddenly due to some issues? Are there any repairing shops here?
Old man: there is no car repairing shops available here. You can stay in our Dhaba, so you will get food as well as you will feel safe as our Dhaba will operate for 24 hours.
Asha and Bunty’s family also accepts this plan and started to walk towards Dhaba. There they saw another man who is preparing the food. When they reach the Dhaba the old man whom they met on the way said he will come back soon. Then he left that place. Asha and their family ate their dinner at Dhaba. Then they slept in the car itself. When they wake up in the morning they couldn’t find the old man in the Dhaba. They can only see the man who has served food to them.
Then they decided to reach the village through a bus. The bus service to their village was not available during night, so they were not able to move yesterday.
Asha and Bunty’s family finally reached their nana’s family in the afternoon. Asha’s grandparents welcomed them.
Grandparents: we thought you would reach our home yesterday itself.
Asha and bunty: nana and nani we started our journey through the car. But due to some issues in the car we couldn’t able to proceed further.
Bunty: nani, we have tried to call you but due to network issues we couldn’t reach you.
Nani: yes, that’s a big issue here. You may not able to talk with your friends from here.
Asha: that’s ok nani. Only for a week, we will adjust.
Then the next day morning…..
Asha and Bunty’s father was reading a newspaper. He saw a post and got surprised. How is it possible? He was thinking. He decided to share his doubts with others. So he asked his servant.
Asha and Bunty’s father: Chotu do you know this person?
Chotu: sir, he is Sikandar Singh. Our previous neighbor
Asha’s father: what?? He must be a brother of Sikandar Singh.
Chotu: no sir, he is Sikandar Singh. I know him very well.
Asha’s father: leave it. I will ask someone
Then Asha’s father decided to ask Asha’s nana and nani.
Asha’s father: can you please tell me about this man?
Asha’s nana: yes. He is Mr. Sikandar, my good friend and also our neighbor.
Asha’s father: does he have twin brother?
Asha’s nana: I know about his family. He is the only son.
Asha’s father: I am confused now. We have met him yesterday
Asha’s nani: no, that’s not possible
Ok let us clear this confusion now. I will ask Asha and bunty.
Asha’s grandparents: ok, let us ask them
Asha’s father: bunty and Asha, I will ask you a question. Listen it carefully and answer. See the photo of this person in the newspaper. Have you seen this man before?
Asha and Bunty: dad, he is the person whom we met at Dhaba yesterday
Asha’s father: see what I said was correct. We have met him yesterday.
Asha’s grandparents: we will tell you something. But we don’t know whether you will believe it or not?
Asha’s nana: His name is Sikandar and he was the owner of that Dhaba. Now his sons are administrating the Dhaba. The people who are travelling through that highway will definitely eat in their Dhaba. He would also receive them and serves the food with kindness. He was our neighbor too.
He finds it difficult to go to his Dhaba everyday from his home in the village. So he moved from the village to a house near to the Dhaba a month ago.
But unfortunately
Asha’s father: what happened?
Asha’s nani: Mr. Sikandar walked towards the Dhaba from his home. But he met with an accident couple of days before and he was injured severely. He died on the spot itself.
Everyone was shocked to hear this.
Asha’s father: where he died?
Asha’s nana: At NH45
Asha and her family couldn’t believe anything.
Asha’s nana: today is Mr. Sikander’s birthday. So his son gave this advertisement in the newspaper.
Asha’s father: but we met him yesterday. How is it possible?
Asha’s nani: you may believe it or not but the fact is that the soul of the deceased person remains there if they have died in an accident.
Asha and her family were in shock……
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Chat conversation start…
Chat conversation start…
It was the space between the words which I wrote to you.
I LOST YOU …
~ Himanshu Khokhar
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Illusion
Often I find myself in my own illusion. Illusion about the way I am. Illusion about how people treat me. Illusion about how I see the world and how the world looks at me.
Many a times I feel more than happy of being out of reality and thinking of everything as one of the most perfect things in the world. It’s my own dream world, a world where I can be anything. I am not scared of what people think of me. In my world of illusion I am the one loved by all, perfect human born on earth with everything almost everything in the world, but then the dream breaks and when I wake up, I feel unhappy. I don’t feel like living in this reality and that’s what me makes me so annoying that I refuse being nice to people. I refuse being happy because this world is not what I wanted it to be.Often people ask me to be happy, they tell me to laugh and enjoy because in their eyes I have everything one would ever want but I’m never concerned about what they ask me or tell me to do. All I want is my illusion to get true. And that’s where I go wrong, for my illusion to come true, I need to work for my reality but I live in a dream world which doesn’t come true because I don’t let it enter the reality. Many years I lived with this illusion until I met a girl who narrated her story and made me realized the outcomes of braking free the illusion we are living in.
She started her story when she was in high school. She was one of the most popular girls in the school. Beautiful face, long black hair, light brown eyes and one of the most serene smile. And it was a hard time believing her because the girl I was listening to had short hair, spots on her face, and geeky specs on.
The smile was same and that is what made me wonder how she ended up here, like this.
She had a bright shine in her eyes when she started speaking. She told me she had a closet full of all the branded clothes, a secret sanctum and a lovable family. And I could imagine everything in my mind as if somehow her life was a fairy tale story and I was watching it.
She did not had many friends but she had one who was the world to her. As soon as she started talking about her best friend, I could see tears in her eyes and I couldn’t stop myself from consoling her. She told me she that they haven’t talked from a long. I told her that everything would be fine and she smiled. I couldn’t resist myself asking her the reason of the fight. And she said it was long story, I responded saying I could be a good listener. And she began.
“It was winters. We always loved winters and every new-year our school organized a ball for the students. As we were the most popular girls, we were head of the student’s organization. That year we had sent invitations to various school to make the event large scaled and that’s when we met Samar. He was tall and handsome and his charm would mesmerize anyone. We were 16 at that time and like every other girl, seeing and meeting a guy was one the teen adventures we encountered. In no time we three became very good friends.
This was the first time I had known someone apart from Mishti and this was an unusual feeling. I liked him more than a friend.
And I guess even he liked me a lot. Slowly and slowly we became really close. There wasn’t a day that would go without my talking with him. And I didn’t realize but being close with him somehow reduced my time with Mishti. I thought she was happy for me that I had fallen for someone but I was wrong. She thought both of us had forgotten her. She never complained it directly on our face but anyone could sense from her behavior. She had stopped talking nicely with me, her taunts were always a part of our conversation. I never understood why she was not happy for me. I never discussed anything about her with anyone. I and Samar always spent good time together.
But there was this one day when she came at my place and we talked for hours just like we used to. I was happy and I tried calling Samar after Mishti left to tell him how happy I was. He didn’t pick up, I called again, and He didn’t pick up. I thought that he must be busy so I didn’t pay any attention. I was so happy that everything had fallen into place. Some days went by and I hadn’t heard of Samar.
In all these days Mishti was always with me so I never actually got a chance to enquire where Samar was until this day when Samar called me himself.
Before he could speak, I started with my million questions until I was interrupted by a female voice. She said Samar passed away 5 days back. I froze. I didn’t know what to do. Tears couldn’t stop coming out of my eyes. Mishti came out of nowhere and she hugged me tightly. She said that its okay and everything will be just fine. And I hugged her even tighter. But after some minutes I realized why she would say something like that without my even telling her. I asked her how did she came in my room because the door was locked.
I heard a knock at my door, my parents stood in front of me. They saw my red eyes and they looked at Mishti in a mysterious way. They held my hand and they asked me not to talk with Mishti. Police stood behind them and they straightaway went towards her and held her captive. She was shouting for help and I stood staring at her. I tried to convince the police and stop them from taking her but then they stopped me saying that she had killed Samar. I stood astonished there and my eyes were full of questions. As she passed by my side she said” that was the only way to get you back in my life.” And that was the last time I saw her.
All my days went by in shock and disappointment. I was given counselling sessions and was provided medicines. All those medicines took away the beauty I had and now I have nothing left but my smile. I am no longer the one I was. And now I am here travelling with my parents to attend another session of a psychiatrist. “
Poor I girl, I thought in my mind. Before I could show my sympathy towards her, her parents arrived and stood before me. I realized it was time for me to go so I stood up and started walking to my coach where my parents were waiting for me. As I was walking some things started revolving in my mind. She had told me that she was very rich but she was travelling in a sleeper class. If she was so rich why didn’t she travel in first AC class? Looking at her parents also made me wonder if they were rich or not.
There was something unusual about her story that were giving me this unhealthy and negative vibes that something in her story went wrong.
And these thoughts constantly circled my mind. I quietly sat near my mother and started staring outside the window. Somebody tapped on my shoulder. It was that girl’s father who had just narrated me a story from which I couldn’t get my thoughts off. He in a very polite way asked me if their daughter told me anything and I replied saying yes. He asked me to tell him the whole story and I didn’t think twice before telling him the whole tale.
After listening to everything he took a deep breath and replied in a serious way, she has schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a serious disorder which affects how a person thinks, feels and acts. Someone with schizophrenia may have difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is imaginary; may be unresponsive or withdrawn; and may have difficulty expressing normal emotions in social situations. Contrary to public perception, schizophrenia is not split personality or multiple personality. The vast majority of people with schizophrenia are not violent and do not pose a danger to others.
My daughter had an imaginary friend named Mishti, she was not so popular in school, nor were we rich. She was an ordinary child and always remained silent. She never interacted with anyone in her class. We always thought that she was an introvert and that is why we never asked her anything about school or anything. But then one day she came back from school with blood stains on her dress. We were worried as to what had happened with her and how she ended up like this. We kept on banging the door for hours but she never opened. Later the police came at our house informing us that she had killed a boy named Samar. We were surprised.
With weekly sessions of her with various doctor we got to know that she had Schizophrenia. She had developed her own world where she and her imaginary friend Mishti were the most popular girls and were best friends. In her illusion world Mishti had killed Samar but in reality she had killed him. Samar was never her friend, he had helped her out once when everyone made fun of her and that is how she had met him. That is how in her world he had acquired such a great position in his life. He was her savior in her real world which made him her hero in her imaginary world.
Her imagination had grown up so wide that Mishti had started overpowering her so much so that she killed someone to be with her.
Her imagination destroyed her reality. But as reality collapsed with her imaginary world, Mishti vanished and we got to know both of her world and that is why we are taking her to Ahmedabad for her treatment. Whatever she told you was all part of her illusion and none of it was true. Don’t take the burden on your heart. She is ill, when she’ll be fine then you can be her friend.
Listening to all this had a very great impact on me. I got scared of living in my imaginary world. I hugged my mother and slept in her lap. Since that day, the girl’s words haunts me every day but they fill me up with some positive vibes of not ending up like she did for it is very easy to live in a dream world but very difficult to stop imagining and make it come true. That girl whose name I don’t know yet taught me to live with what I have and stop wondering about things that will never exist.
If you cannot fight for your dreams, they would fight with your reality only to destroy it. So next time when you are so happy in your dream world that you start ignoring the real world around you, think about the time when you’ll lose everything including your dreams and reality.
To dream is good, only if you have the power to chase it until it becomes true.
Image Source: navypanther.deviantart.com
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NATURE’S KALIEIDOSCOPE
Keats justly wrote : “A thing of beauty is a joy forever”. William Wordsworth, the celebrated “nature” poet wrote immensely on this theme. The protagonist of this story too relates her life in a very lucid, yet, beautiful manner to the beautiful nature. Nature, after all, is the most beautiful thing that the human eye can behold.
The sky was a shade of deep azure that day, very pleasant and beautiful, synchronizing perfectly with the warm summer air, creating all over the scene a pretty poetic ambience. This scene was happily in similarity with the mood of Miss Naomi Spence, as she sat in the terrace of the hotel, signing autographs after lunch.
Five long years she has been a celebrated writer, with seven novels to her credit. By this time she had got adjusted to the city life, and of course living in the heart of London had a lot to do with it. She had also got used to giving out talks now – talks on her life, how she became a writer, what inspires her and so on and so forth on all those sorts of clichéd themes. But this never bored her. In fact, organizers always found her active for participation. She never missed a chance to tell how she enjoyed her childhood and what inspired her to write. The story was nothing extra-ordinary or filled with extensive drama; it was indeed commonplace and has been probably shared by others writers as well, but nonetheless interesting.
Born in the family of farmers, her childhood had seen nothing else but the Nature in the countryside. She had watched it, grown with it and had learned to love it.
Day in and day out she would run out of her house, a happy cheerful girl, sometimes sitting on a log to go gazing at the horizon where the blue of the river and sky could never be distinguished; and at other times talking to various objects of her interest, be it the tree or the shingles on the river bed. She was fascinated by the blue waters, the different shades of greens all around, the soft brown of the squirrels and dogs, silver of the fishes, the golden sunlight, the multicoloured flowers and the array of shades visible in the sky at sunrise and sunset. In short, nature was to her an artist’s colour palette.
And it was obvious that she was never a good student. In the school too, she used to gaze out and let her imagination run wild. It was the first time in school that she had wanted to pencil (for they used pencils then) down her thoughts for the first time.
She felt an urge to write down, write as long as her heart sang the pleasures, her mind continued to see the beauty.
And this she continued to do till date. Yes, she generally placed the events of her novels to occur in the lap of nature. Thus, she came to be celebrated as the ‘nature-loving novelist’, which pleased her immensely. And, thus were people’s questioned answered – nature to her was her motivation, inspiration and how she came about to write.
Today’s autograph signing session was coming to an end. After a busy day, her attendant now came to take her to her room. Tomorrow she was launching her latest novel, so she had to go, see to the preparations. This book too contained in its pages, the enchantments of nature. Nature was a kaleidoscope to her, through which she saw its exuberant colours, moods, attributes, to all of which she shall always remain thankful.
Image Source: wallpapersxl.com
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Back To College
Story is about a young entrepreneur who faced the same treatment which every student who is poor in scoring faces in India. The same ignorance from fellow students and the same kind of “ Ye kisi kaam ka nahi hae “( He is just useless) from his teachers. Now that when he finally grew up to be a successful entrepreneur, he was called to inspire the students and motivate them to select the best career path for them, but the irony is he was called to the same college where he studied and he was looked down at years ago. The same teachers were now sanding in the audience applauding him. He has made his journey successful that very moment.
Please submit your assignments today and no excuses his time, saying this teacher left the class. Rohan with the same callous attitude continued reading the novel. As if he never bothered what’s going on in the classes meanwhile He completed reading one more novel of his favorite author. Going to college was only just for the sake of his parents and a few friends whom he could hardly count on his fingers. He was never interested in science but then again he wanted some degree to earn his bread. That’s the soul reason why he has paid thousands of bugs even though he knew he wasn’t interested in that particular field.
Next day in the canteen, while he was sitting their enjoying his half baked cookies and a cappuccino, he’s friends came to him asking about his future plans. And to their surprise, he replied with the most appropriate answer, he said he wants success. That’s it, saying this Rohan left he place. Few days later when their college was planning to start a new cell to lead the budding entrepreneurs of the college, none took he responsibility of leading the cell because they knew it was a huge responsibility and during the end of the semesters none wanted to burden themselves, but it was Rohan who always stood up during crises.
And he has proved I right once again by taking up the challenging work. And this would be the best chance for him also prove his worth in the college.
He took up the responsibility and has managed the work to very good extent. In fact he was himself nominated as one of the best budding entrepreneur of the college. This poor guy never knew that one day he would be nominated as the best entrepreneur of the country for his idea of the very beginning startup community.
That day Rohan has proved many of his lecturers, he wasn’t as useless as they’ve perceived him. Though he passed his exams with just average scores that never bothered him. Because for him, he finally found his journey and that was too find all the budding entrepreneurs and give them all a platform to prove themselves. Bu for that again he had to get himself gain the so called name and fame or say he had to prove It first, how would be the life of an entrepreneur! And what are the upcoming challenges in the startup field.
He chooses his career and with the dedication he had to excel, one could achieve any goal set for their life. In few years he was among the youngest successful people of the world, but this wasn’t his goal. He started his own startup, encouraged the students for taking up entrepreneurship as a part of their curriculum. It brought him many challenges on his way, yet he never accepted failure.
He put in all his efforts and many a times even his name was at stake, but none could deter him and his determination. And there he is standing today being nominated as the best entrepreneur for his ideas of implementing entrepreneurship in the curriculum of their education. One was the day when his teachers and his friends everyone mocked him for being so lazy and look at the revolution, he is standing here today revolutionizing their whole curriculum.
Now he finally achieved his goal, and within few years his work even showed him good results. He could see he positive response of his hard work or say smart work. Because he never believed in hard work and his laziness always bound him to work less, which he utilized in positive manner and developed doing smart work. He became popular and was being called up by different colleges for giving them knowledge about entrepreneurships and their successful career in that path. One fine day while he was enjoying his morning coffee with his favorite business column of the paper, he got a call from a college, and to his surprise I was his college principal on the call. He was absolutely surprised to receive their invitation, they wanted him to attend their annual fest as a special guest, and wanted him to address the students. The program was in a week, excitement filled in him and day after day his curiousness grew. He was going back to his college, that college where he has been mocked for years, but yeah he same college where he learnt about his dream and destination, the same place where his talent was rewarded for the first time.
After a week,
He prepared himself for the presenting himself before the gathering, he has been invited to many colleges before but never before did he felt like this. His heart was palpitating and he could feel his cold inside him. He finally reached the college auditorium, his principal and the Head of departments were all heir to welcome him.
He was treated very differently in the college this time, all his teachers were proud to see him standing there after reaching the glories of height.
He was invited on to the stage to speak and address the gathering, their he stood on the other side of the stage today, what else could be a moment for someone. Standing on the same college platform as a chief guest to their annual fest, and feeling the sense of happiness and proudness in your beloved ones, what else is success!
Image Source: shoutthoughts.com
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Mystery behind the Door-II
The girl was lost in her daily schedule and work loads, but then something mocks her life again and takes her behind the door once again, their she finds something unusual. She was worried whom to share with about everything what was happening in her life, then comes Shilpa, her cousin. Let’s see what has been hidden behind the door for her this time.
Days passed on and I totally forgot about the door and its mystery, though I physically never paid attention to it, but my mind always wandered in the same thoughts, what would have happened that night! I knew none would believe me for the reason everyone found me lying their whole night, but none could even deny the fact that someone has broken in the pane and tried to reach out the jungle. Work load and city chaos have slowly taken over my attention and I was lost in my world.
One fine morning I got a call from Shilpa, Shilpa and me were born cousins. She was planning a break from her routine and also a visit to Bangalore. I couldn’t believe she was coming. It’s been so long since we’ve met, past our college we never planned any holiday or break from our work.
I still remember our hangouts, our movie nights and all that we’ve done, I must say those were the beautiful years of my life, and she has made them happening. I was so excited about her arrival that I kept on counting days since that day; in fact I’ve even applied for a break in office. Since my past record was all fine, I didn’t take them much time to sign my application.
Finally she is going to arrive tomorrow morning, we have a lot to do, many places to hangout, many new places to explore and a lot of food to taste, with all this excitement filled in I could barely sleep.
Suddenly I found my phone ringing, I woke to the first ring and found that it was my alarm.
I remember I’ve kept an alarm for 5am but why was it ringing past 3’o clock. However am awake now, my alarm has disturbed my sleep and now I can’t even go back to sleep, because if I sleep now I can’t wake again at 5am and i have to go to pick Shilpa from Airport early in the morning. Then I finally went to my table and looked for the half-finished novel, I don’t even remember when did I started reading It, It was months ago. But now at this time I couldn’t find anything else to spend my time with. I started reading the book and then I heard something. Something weird, someone’s crying, oh yeah it was the same voice of an infant, it was the same cry I heard last time, when I broke into the backyard door. Or say it my hallucination as what my friends say. I tried to pay a deaf ear intentionally but that cry worried me.
I couldn’t stop myself bothering it. I followed the melancholy voice of the kid, but this time I was in my senses not like the last time. And I went back to the door, and walked the path until I finally reach the tree. I could hear the meek cry but with mixed variations. I couldn’t figure out whether it was sad cry looking for assistance or an evil smile, mocking at me. Then I found something there, something which shouldn’t be their. My Photo album!! Yeah it was my photo album, I rechecked twice then thrice but It was the same every time. How could it be here, I’ve lost it ages ago, It was my family album with all the clicks worth being cherished and preserved. I still remember how badly I was scolded for losing it during my hostel life in college.
I just stood their looking at the photographs wrapped with dust, but their memories were all clear, and fill in the same joy even after these many years. And here am, again lost in the lanes of memories!! This time I could see a clear image of the visuals, may be the drinks last time blurred my vision. My school days, my friends, cousin’s outings, and mom’s scolding’s I could recollect everything, but I don’t know why were my instincts sensing something’s wrong with me at some corner of my heart, I knew all this was actually happening and this time am in my full senses. I looked around the tree, to find some clue, who could have placed It their. I could see nothing but the same old darkness, and huge trees around.
I sometimes feel it’s just a mirage am sensing but I couldn’t ignore the fact that things are actually happening!
I could find a broken window, and now the album, if all this was just a dream or hallucination then how could these two things is real?? With all these things flashing in my mind I totally forgot about the time. I was 6am, I had to pick Shilpa from airport. She’s visiting Bangalore for the first time, and am sure she would be shocked to see such heavily packed roads, and the rushing cars round the clock. I got ready and rushed towards airport, even while driving I was thinking back about the same things.
Finally I’ve reached airport, my week long wait to meet Shilpa was over. “Hey Shilpa!, how are you? It’s been so long since we’ve met!” I exclaimed as I saw her. “Hello, my princess, how are you?, I know I was busy and couldn’t make out to visit you even once, I hope you understand.” Shilpa calls me princess, being the youngest everyone in the family has always treated me like a princess. “ It’s ok Shilpa, let’s not worry about what has happened, let’s just plan the best time we are gonna spend this week.” “But princess, you seem tired, I hope you are fine? Do you sleep on time regularly? “ she observed my face and caught my tiredness
I couldn’t lie to her because every time I tried to, I always ended up in stupid consequences and even she knows every gesture of mine, and am sure by this time she must have already guessed, something’s not well with me. “ I’ll explain you Shilpa, let’s move from here now, I’ll say you everything along the way.” We drove back home, and meanwhile I told Shilpa everything that was happening in the house.
“This seems to be a serious issue dear, you have to take care of yourself, maybe it’s some stalker doing all this or someone’s trying to play with your thoughts.” “Yeah, Shilpa you are right, every time I try to forget all these, something weird happens and am again forced to think about that door, and the mystery behind it.” That was a serious thing, which though bothered me gave me immense pleasure too, yeah that’s true every time I go past the door, I come back with lots of memories and a sense of happiness yet always carried away by the fear. What brings in the sense of insecurity in me? Is it some sought of prank? Or was that really my hallucination?
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