KRISSHU

 

“KRISHU”

“Krishhhhuuuu !!!”   I heard it aloud. I turned back to see who was screaming. I found an old woman in white cotton wrinkled saree. Her fair skin and wrinkled face complimented with her wrinkled saree that looked as if it was not washed for ages. She was looking for someone called Krishu. I was in complete defocus or maybe you can say that she completely ignored me while she was busy searching for Krishu. Her fair skin and weak poster compelled me to move ahead and offer her some help, but poor me! She didn’t even notice me standing on a one hand distance from her. She stretched her hand in the front direction as if trying to stop Krishu. Tears cornered her eyes. I felt sad and pity on her. Without thinking much, I took a step closer to her and held her hand. It was soft, it was wrinkled, it had thin green veins which were clearly seen due to her thin and fair skin, and her palm was cold when I held it. She was close to tears, she continued to stare in the direction she was looking at since a few minutes ago.

I wrapped my other hand over her shoulder while comforted her gently.  She realised my presence. She turned and looked at me with teary eyes. I offered her my white handkerchief and asked her softly “Daadi, whom are you searching? Who is krishu?” She gave me a questioned look. I realised, we are new to each other. I took my hand from her shoulder and politely introduced myself. “Daadi, I am Keshav. “Keshav Mishra. I am an architect by profession, ghar banata hu, I added. My office is there, I said pointing out at a multi-storeyed tall building that stood in front of us.” She shifted her gaze from me to the place I was pointing out at. Then she looked at me, as if wanting to know something more. I added further, “Today, I finished off early and was going this way towards shanti Niketan, so thought of waiting for a moment and ordering a cup of masala tea at your tea stall I simply love your hand made – adrak ki chaii, hence I stopped by daadi.” We ordered tea and coffee from your tea stall quiet often hence, before I could finish my line, she intervened and said, “I was looking for my grandson, who is missing since last three days. His name is Krishu. Before you walked in, I saw a group of young teenagers passing by, I thought my Krishu was there so I ran after them, leaving everything behind as it is”

I was taken aback to learn this. She looked at me and said, Krishu is in standard 7 right now. He is very intelligent, very helpful and hardworking, before she could say anything further; I looked at the empty road that lay ahead of us. It was dark and had just one dim light blinking. Then I looked at her helpless face. Her pale face and teary eyes made me heartbroken. Suddenly, I felt a strong urge to help her in finding her grandchild. I looked at her and said, “daadi, aapne FIR nahi likhwayi? apka pota missing hone ki?” Looking at me she said, “beta FIR is registered for those who are alive”

A cold perspiration rushed down my spine. I was frozen. I was emotionless, I was speechless. I was hurt, but she looked calm, composed, as if she accepted this bitter condition of her life. I went near her and hugged her. Her soft hands caressed me and held me firm in her arms. I felt so warm and blessed in her embrace that I could never express in words.

She looked at me and said, “The only reason behind me opening a tea stall here was to connect with the kids who study at the nearby Shanti Niketan school. I feel my Krishu in these school going kids. I cook for them poha and upma in the morning as breakfast and they love to eat sheera that I cook for them on every Ekadashi. She looked at me and said, tomorrow is Ekadashi, but the school is having a summer vacation, so no child would turn up tomorrow for the sheera.”  Tears rolled down her eyes. I wiped off her tears and said, daadi – “kal aap sheera jarur banana please” I said and left the place.

The next morning as she was busy preparing the sheera, a white car stopped by her tea stall and a small boy of 7 years jumped out of the car and ran towards her tea stall counter. She was engrossed in making the final garnishing work for her sheera, when a cute voice fell on her ears, “daadiiii mujhe sheera khana hain” She looked up with a surprise and saw a cute little kid standing near her platform eager to taste the first spoon of the sheera in his mouth. She was amazed by his charm and cuteness. She left the vessel at once and extended her hand towards the little boy in enormous love and affection. Putting her soft wrinkled palm on his cheek, she asked, “beta aap kon ho, kya naam hain apka,?” Krishav, my son looked at me innocently as if needed a prompt response from me!

I entered the tea stall and clearing my voice, I uttered – “Daadi ka krishu”

Leaving the platform, daadi went near him and kissed on his forehead with an abundant affection and care, I literally had goose bumps while I watched them both.

I received a message on my phone – It was a reminder alert! – The message highlighted today’s date – 16^th October with a note added to it that read – “EKADASHI TODAY!”

I looked at the screen of my phone and smiled.

Thank you for reading my story. Hope you liked it! Please comment and let me know and stay tuned for my next story - next Friday.

THE PARTING GIFT...

The Parting Gift....

It was the last day of college and we all decided to have a formal group photo. I still remember the moment that I hated the most.... I was asked to stand next to the girl I hated the most all through my life!!

Renu, my biggest enemy, was standing beside me during the photo session, why? Because she was the topper in the class;

All these years, it was me who won the BEST STUDENT AWARD, and now all of a sudden it was her! I cannot forget this insult and so I decided to plan a conspiracy against her. The day I chose was today’s, the last day of college, but I shall make sure that she remembers this day as the WORST day of her life! I hate her! I simply hate her!!

She was standing beside me after the photo session got over, waiting for her chance to come to address the gathering. I stood forward, held the mic in my hand and spoke with an air of arrogance and attitude!

“So Ms. Renu, we all know that you are the topper of the college, but please share what is the main source of your motivation behind the success?”  I sarcastically mentioned loud in the mic, what is your motivation to get the highest marks, baby? Or friends should I guess? I uttered in the mic, Renu was frozen in her place, she stood standstill wearing zero expressions on her face! Yes! Come forward Renu and share with us, what was the source of your inspiration to study and secure marks? My arrogance was at its peak when I decided to punish her publicly, so I went near her, dragged her by her hand and made her stood in front of the mic.

Looking at her I once again prompted loudly in the mic, so tell us dear, what sacrifices you have to make for securing such good marks in the final year! What was the source of your inspiration? I mentioned this and soon started giving the examples, tell me dear, was it the books, notes, perfumes, wallets, costly dresses, unique watches...etc. etc,...tell us, my dearest ENEMY, we are all waiting to hear you!

She sobbed quietly in her place. When Prof, Sharma chipped in and stood beside her side; will you please stop all this nonsense, rashi? Do you know what are you saying? Are you in your senses? He mentioned all this in a very harsh tone, loud enough to make the place fall silent and calm...Everybody was stunned to see this. Prof. Sharma was Renu’s subject guide and he always took pride in her success and always praised her hard work. 

So, Rashi! He roared in the mic, you want to know what made her succeed all these years in college. He asked looking straight in my eyes and with anger and aggression in his voice, he said, “You can never match up to her standard of living because you are born rich, my dear child! I was taken aback to hear that. Prof. Sharma was a very calm and composed man, very enthusiastic and lovable when it came to be with the students, but today everyone gathered in the assembly room was shocked to see a different Prof. Sharma, silence was wrapped around the whole assembly hall!

Why should you understand what means to be the topper of the class for all the three consecutive years? For you all I am sure what matters is those luxurious cars, those exorbitant parties and gifts, fancy watches and what not. Ask this girl, what is her source of inspiration and you will come to know what does hard work mean? What is the real inspiration for this girl?

Everybody including Rashi was taken aback by Prof. Sharma’s comments; she felt bad and buried herself with shame.

Poor child, Renu, he pointed at her, taking the mic in his hand, he waved at Renu and said, “THE ONLY INSPIRATION that this POOR girl had was the 2 TIME FREE MEAL THAT WAS SERVED HERE IN THIS COLLEGE” ...I hope now, one and all present here in the assembly got the ANSWER! Or should I place it on the notice board tomorrow morning? He stared at Rashi and walked away.

Renu cried heavily and ran towards the door... I was standing alone on the stage, still unmoved when I felt a palm on my shoulder, It was Prof. Sharma. My dear child, he said, “Your lost a good competitor today, but it’s my humble request to you, please DONT LOSE A GENUINE FRIEND in form of RENU!

“Money isn’t always that give you happiness, remember in life”! he said, and pated me on my back and went away.

Prof. Sharma’s words echoed my ears when I saw someone wiping my tears off, it was Renu! I was shocked to see her standing beside me and consoling me, I am sooo...rrryyy words struggled to come out of my mouth, when she placed her hand on my mouth and whispered in my ears, lets, make this day, the LAST DAY OF OUR ENOMICITY AND FIRST DAY OF OUR NEW FREIDNSHIP!

Will you be my best friend? She forwarded her hand and I grabbed it and hugged her, NOT JUST FRIEND, but FRIENDS FOREVER!!

*****

Thank you for reading and appreaciation my stories! 
PLEASE BE THERE FOR THIS OCTOBER AS MANY SUCH STORIES ARE COMING UP ON FRIDAYS...

NEXT FRIDAY- 16.10.20. A SPECIAL DAY!!! 

A SPECIAL STORY AWAITS YOU!!! - STAY TUNED!!!

 

DIVINELY MATCHED

It always happens, when we often lose all our hopes and stop at a point, when we have no option but to choose. The choice may not be that difficult though, however, the very thinking and conception of it does take a toll of us, right from its initial stage till the time its closure is decided, we have a constant frame of mind, that is into a juggling, a duel that sets the pendulum of our mind and heart swinging from “YES’ to ‘NO”, from “Right” to “Wrong”, “should I” to “should I not”.  It is a funny lane on which we start walking. We find various new faces in our journey. New expeditions all together are encountered. 

Today, was this expedition day for me – “meri ungliyaan baar baar google playstore par jakar DM type karti aur, mera mann chetavni deta – decide karlo pehle app download karna hain ki nahi ?”; But, finally my mind was quick and spontaneous to respond to the situation – “aisa hi toh hota haina – jis baat ki ijajat dil naa de, ussi ko sabse pehle karna hota hain dimaag ko”

A whole family of W’s - “what, why, how, where, who”, starts loitering around us from within. Novice experiences start bothering us from, new fears, to new surprises, to new hopes, dreams and fascinations and fantasies.

Oops! I forgot to introduce myself! Hello. I am sonu! (Female, 31) and currently working in an MNC in Gujarat. “Bas aajke liye itna hi kaafi hain”  “Filhaal main work ke saath ek aur chiz bhi kar rahi hu – meri best friend ne mujhe bataya tha iske bare main” Now, why to waste time in knowing kyu, kahan, kaise?, instead just join me in my journey of DM! (pata chal jayega DM kya hain don’t worry)

 

“It all started with DM”, a new application that connects people socially through a social media app. “Aam language main isko dating app, aisa kehte hain!” The purpose of joining this, was to get connected to the person who we think, we can connect to well.

 

I was busy shuffling the photos of various prospective grooms on DM when suddenly 3 profiles caught my attention; out of which two were from Ahmadabad and one from Bangalore. Isn’t it quite a weird thing to keep on visiting a certain profile in a day, strange but true? I did that the whole day, kept on reading those profiles that I selected. I liked these profiles in one go and I hit a click button on it. Further in a childish curiosity, when I clicked on the message icon mentioned there above in the toolbar menu, I was taken aback to see a message flashed on my mobile screen.

 

“The person you liked, should like you too for taking talks ahead; patience my dear patience”....

 

I just widened my eyes and read that twice. OMG, how foolish I was to do that. But, it was not my fault at all. We are always in a hurry to watch out for the next step. And I am no exception to this rule! The moment I liked the status and profiles, I hit a “LIKE” button and further, as this was done, my over smart mind questioned me “WHAT NEXT”...; to this my impatient heart answered let’s get started with a conversation “IMMEDIATELY”.

 

Well, nothing happens immediately, I consoled my heart and logged out of the application. A new day that was, I reached office early, and was busy finishing off with the targets in hand. Suddenly, a buzz fell on my ears; my phone got a message, the icon of DM popped up as a notification on my mobile screen. Bas fir kya tha, “yehi toh chahiye tha na mujhe”... within a moment, I just pushed aside the huge box file in front of me, closing all the windows on my PC one by one, cleared my office desk, flipped some stationery from here and there, just  to locate my phone.

 

Hassh! Finally! Gotcha!, (with a ear to ear wali smile),I grabbed it firmly, unplugged the charger, watched out for my surroundings quickly,(arree bhai! – jab hum apne aap main magna hote hain, tabhi puri duniya ko apne saare kaam chodkar ye jaana hota hain, ki hum aakhir kyu itne magna hain?)”, after all its psychological na!

 

So I looked around to see, who is looking at me, who is staring at me, rather! who is observing me, what exactly my CEO is doing at the moment... “Uff! Bechari main!”

 

I finished all these difficult tasks and quickly unlocked my mobile lock  and straightaway chose to open the DM message, leaving behind 137 unread messages on whatsapp, 10 notifications on my FB page, 2 text messages in my mobile, 4 missed calls. Now this is what I call, “Competition at its level best!” What to choose over what??? (Immediately, my rational mind recalled the economics – theory of demand, in particularly, the problem of choice!)”...I shook my head and told myself – shhhh... FOCUS karo FOCUS! But, out of all the notifications, DM –came out victorious in it.

 

There were 2 notifications, both from Ahmadabad. “Widening my eyes, I just checked on those messages”, I read both from both the members, oops! Prospective candidates... I must say na! Oho! I m blushing now! Aree bhai apke saath bhi aisa hua hoga! Ismain konsi nayi baat hain!

 

While, I got engrossed in reading those messages from both the profiles, I just overheard my name from a girl sitting next to me. My eyes are still glued to the mobile screen and I was busy trying to open the messages; I mean I was juggling actually, ki pehle kiska message padhu? The girl sitting next tapped on my shoulder this time, and Irritated to it, I jittered, aagey bolna kya hua ruchi?

 

Ruchi gave me a ‘whatever wala look’ and said, “abhi toh kuch nahi hua, but agey pakka hoga!” CEO ma’am, bula rahi hain tujhe unke cabin main!”...My fingers froze for a moment, leaving behind all the fantasies, I was brought brutly to the world of realities! In a few minutes, I reacted foolishly looking at her and screamed, kya? Kab? Kyun? ...too many questions in one go, and she calmly responded, Haan! pichle 10 mins se! AGM ki meeting ke liye! She replied to all my questions in the sequence, I asked her!

 

My jaws dropped down. “Oh! NO!” I just gasped and put my mobile aside and walked inside the CEO’s cabin shamelessly without carrying any diary or pen with me. (Shhh... haso mat...nervousness issiko kehte hain aakhir, haina?”) Aur isi ke saath, economics ka ek aur term mujhe instantly yaad aa gaya! “Opportunity Cost”!

(“Pata nahi kyu, lekin jab meri buri tarah se lagne wali hoti hain, tabhi mujhe economics ke har kisse gin gin ke yaad aane lagte hain!”)

 

Khair! To Opportunity cost is – to choose the next best alternative! And at this moment - I was supposed to choose the next best alternative for me given the range of limited resources at my disposal. You know what next best alternative was awaiting me? – “meri aur meri CEO se urgent meeting!”

(I never knew that Economics loved me too!)

 

A choice was to be made, between the assignments that I and ruchi, were assigned; only 2 hours were allotted to us! Sometimes, life really plays rude games in form of a hyper BOSS! I mean like, I was already amidst situation where I was to choose my Mr. FUTURE PERFECT, and now this new assignment, all of a sudden? Like a googly ball from my khadus While, I left my CEO’s cabin, she smiled at me and said, “ek ghante main reports submit kardena haan!” staring at me from the CEO’s cabin! Closing the door of her cabin, I cursed her and planted a fake smile on my face!

 

God must be smiling from above, he exactly knew which area of life, I need to work upon well! “Lekin – duniya main hum aaye hain to jeena padega! (I reminded myself!)”

 

Ruchi ke saath thoda sar khapakar aur meetings ki minutes banakar...Alas! I had to listen to my heart for sure now, so I just excused myself from RUCHI and the office crowd, (aree wohi purana bahana – main zara washroom jakar aati hu!)” and before they could say anything, I was literally, gaayab from the cabin. I smartly slipped my phone under my cotton dupatta so that “Log mujhe toke nahi – ki washroom main mobile kyu leka jana hain and all those foolish stuffs” I  finally, isolated myself for secret reading about the messages sent by those two candidates. (God!...messages padhne ke liye washroom main aana padta hai!” tapping my forehead I murmered.

 

“Hey! How are you?” one of the messages said, I am fine and you?” I replied quickly.  One of them was very quick in replying tough, so he just shared his mobile number with me and asked me to drop a message on his whatsapp. Itni bhi jaldi kya hain! I murmured! I was surprised to learn this! No clue at all how to react to this? So I logged off from the DM app soon. The very next moment I realised, that I was still to check the message from the other candidate from Ahmadabad. Oops! I completely forgot..., so again I logged in hurriedly and opened the other candidates profile to check what he had inboxed me? But, it was a smiley! Actually, it was a reply he gave me to my question on – did he like movies? And what kinda movies he liked watching? How am I going to know from a smiley? – “Ye boys – to the point kyu nahi bol pate?” I thought to myself.

 

For few hours work caught me up, but suddenly the evening tea came up with a surprise. I got a message, yes again on DM. This time from the person whose message I was waiting for since MORNING; the guy from Bangalore.  An ear to ear smile carved on my face when I saw his message. It said, “Hey! I too was a part of such campaigns at work; it was fun, enjoyed and had a good time too”. He actually shared this when I mentioned in my previous message, about what are my hobbies and that I loved writing fiction stories, poems and scripts theatre and plays!

 

I was happy to know our hobbies matched. He was kind enough to mention that, BOTHERATION should not be a word at all! This was when I saw him go offline soon when I messaged him inquiring whether I am intruding him with posting messages on his DM account. As usual, I had to wait again for the whole day to get his answer. Meanwhile, I just checked out some more profiles, but the thought of that Bangalore Boy never left me alone even for a while! And I said to myself, “Welcome to the world of DREAMS”.

 

Impatience as they say is too bad to handle…. So I straight away listened to my heart and texted him my mobile number with a message, to buzz me on my whatsapp. Cool na, isn’t it?

 

Sometimes we surprise life and most of the times, life surprises us! That day, waiting for the whole day for his message on my whatsapp, I thought life is really funny, it doesn’t fetch you what you want that easily! But then yes, it has its own way of surprising us too. At 11:55pm I thought let me go to sleep, let’s not wait now, and the moment I headed towards my room, and a sweet surprise unveiled at 12:00am sharp” I mean, WOW!! See the timing, man!! The B’lore guy, was here! I could not resist my eyes reading his name that I saved in my mobile. Still couldn’t believe - it was him who messaged me! I smiled and blushed together. Something happened that moment. I can’t explain what it was – but I loved being that phase – as of now! I felt.

 

“Hey!… Jeet here”  (crisp, short and to the point message), I thought to myself. There was a cute smiling SMILEY! Icon followed after his message.

“Yes I know”, I replied.

“So tell me, how are you?” (I know this line is cliché, but “yaar conversation start karne ke liye kuch toh ho!”)

“I am good and you?” He inquired politely. (yaar, yeh itna hi bolta hain?) I thought to myself then replied to his message.

“I am good, just going to sleep as its 12:00am.”

 

Now this is what we call “WE GIVING SURPRISE TO LIFE”. Isn’t it true? “When it has to offer us the goodness, we keep ourselves away, fearing that this may SLIP AWAY soon, so we wanna preserve it for tomorrow, and forget what today holds for us!” and in this hustle, we often forget to enjoy the moments in hand…

 

So like a foolish, I messaged him, “great! Can we talk tomorrow I am feeling sleepy now!”

And like a gentleman he replied, “Ok, no problem, we shall talk tomorrow!”

I hit a back button and was about to shut my phone when a message from him popped up again.

“Good Night… “

and again a Sweet SMILEY followed! (This time with a start twinkling in its eyes)

 

“A SMILEY OF UNDERSTANDING AND CARE”...

 

The next morning came with yet another surprise, someone from DM posted a message for me! Hi, sahil here. This is my number, can we talk over whatsapp, I am not that frequent on DM now. As usual I was amongst work, so I didn’t respond over his message. But later in the lunch break, when I opened my DM again, I messaged sahil back that I am sorry, I can’t reciprocate to his request. And then I decided to close my DM account forever now!  I have FINALLY DECIDED….!!!

 

Do I need to mention why I chose to do so? Aree baba my search was over now!!!

 

With this I closed my DM and the application reminded me “ARE YOU SURE”? …I said yes and now no looking back!.

 

Opened my whatsapp and messaged Jeet around 2:45pm, so “how are you?“ “How is your day going?” This initiated a conversation between us…finally and I was happy to make the decision of quitting the DM…app.

I messaged him – “I logged out of DM forever – I think my search was over finally!” and sent with a smiley of hearts in the eyes!

 

So amongst all these twists, turns and surprises, “I WAS HAPPY!  LOVE WAS IN THE AIR…..”

 

 ****** 

 

 

 

“End of STORY 1, but SOON WE SHALL MEET AGAIN WITH A NEW STORY ON NEXT FRIDAY!”…. TILL THEN STAY TUNED....