9.NIKITA'S INJURY

It is generally believed that there are always some firm reasons that exist for something to happen. However it may be anything. You meet someone someday and then never happen to meet them again. You meet someone unanticipated but, on the first meeting you feel that you know him/her for ages. Sometimes everything goes way out of your prediction. Then it compels us to believe that whatever will happen has been already written. We are just following the script that was already written. Everything is scripted. But still there are chances of improvisation to bring the already destined fate in some handsome manner than it has been designed before.

In the institute there were exams every fortnight. It degrades your status and at one point, you are standing in a crowd of almost 5000 competitors in a single batch and there were around 4 to 5 batches. Competition was tough and it was harder than ever experienced. You had to keep your pace along with the institute’s high speed running wheel. Institute to students was what a V3 engine chasing a V12 engine or in non-technical language it could be said that a Maruti 800 was chasing a Toyota Fortuner in a rally race. Once lagging process started, everything would clearly come into its understandings. That you are going to miss couple of nights’ sleep. Students there were almost gone case - Frustrated, competitive, mean and fuzzed. The competition stuff had taken place in so harsh a way that life was going miserable. Antagonism preceded competition.

Four months had passed but, for Vir those four months were more than enough to understand the pulse of that place. For him competition was never the real stuff that he indulged himself into. He always wished to play his own game on its own terms.  But still Vir was not happy with things. He could clearly feel the internal war between them. Every one had left their home to study for the first time as well. They were all intelligent and ambitious. They had the courage to live alone, to fight alone, to struggle alone, to balance their own self when left loose and to be with their own-self when no one will be there to support.

It was not so easy to control them from degradation. They all were standing on the ladder but, their problem was that their positions were in the middle. It offered them with both the options of either to lose one-self and go down or fight hard and head up the ladder. Losing was as easy as the pace by which you could lower down was.

Vir, this time was damn serious. He was supposed to be because his result was reflecting the seriousness. He was among the first hundred in his batch. Everyone was happy. Parents happy, friends happy but Vir was not so happy

“Hey mom! How are you doing?” Vir called his mother after a long time.

“I am fine dear, how are your classes going?” Mom asked

“Classes are going on fine, I have scored 27 this time” said Vir

“Very Good, that means finally you are really trying hard, I am really happy for you”.

“Yeah Mom”

“But why is your voice getting dull, what happened? Is everything ok?”
“Yes mom everything is ok” Vir was trying to assure her but, couldn’t help himself from becoming dull.

“Hmm. getting bored ah?” mom asked

           

“You are great MOM, how do you know?” Vir surprisingly hailed her.

“You are my son dear, who will know you better than me?”

Mom continued

“Well, don’t get bored so early, you still have 6 more months to spend there.”

“Yeah MOM, I know that, and I am trying my best” Vir said

“So tell me son, how are the girls there? Have you met someone?” Mom was trying to make the moment light.

“What mom! There is nothing like that?” Vir said with an astonishing smile on his face.

“Ok dear, take care and have fun, I know you, and very soon you will find some good company” Mom assured her

“Ok mom ,byee”

It was the month of October. Weather was taking different turns towards the soothing side and sweet festival smell was cascading in the atmosphere. Vir was on a high. Fully dedicated, scoring, dextrous and directed towards the goal.Vir really liked the place. He started enjoying. He was fully capable to enjoy the hard brutal life of competition. In 20 days Dusshera awaited. In the 10 months course, the institute had granted leave for a week during Diwali to provide an opportunity for the students to visit their home. Vir and his friends were so excited about Diwali. They were planning to reserve the tickets to home by train. So it was decided that Vir and Ritesh will go for ticket reservation on the coming Sunday after the test.

While returning from the railway station Ritesh recited the news of Nikita.

“Have you heard the news?” said Ritesh

“What happened?”Vir asked

“Nikita is sick, she didn’t come for exam today” Ritesh said casually.

“Hmm, Ok we will visit her in the evening” said Vir.

 In the evening they visited Nikita’s Hostel and asked the guard about her. But, the guard was indifferent to them irrespective of the few bucks that they offered him.

The aged guard felt some bad smell was coming from them. And he was not interested in giving any kind of details about NIKITA.

Vir as well as Ritesh persuaded him as far as possible. All the sweet words they ever used were poured on him but, in vain. Finally they came out of the hostel.

They were standing outside the hostel, suddenly something clicked in Ritesh’s mind. He quickly moved and fetched a girl who was coming out of the hostel. He asked her about Nikita.

Within 30 minutes they were entering into a hospital. Ritesh entered first and inquired at the reception.

“Room no. 104” Ritesh signalled to Vir.

 When Vir entered the hospital he saw someone sitting near the reception table.

“Hi Vir. How are you?” a tired female voice greeted him.

“Hi Shikha”

Shikha was Vir’s cousin sister’s friend. She was from another town but in the same school. She was Nikita’s best friend living with her in the same hostel.In school Vir was a descent guy so almost all the girls respect Vir and with Shikha ,Vir always talked freely as they knew each other very well from the school days because of his sister.

“What happened to her? Is anything serious?” Vir asked

“Yeah! A bit serious. But, don’t worry she is ok now” Shikha said

“Will you please tell me what happened?” Vir was getting impatient.
“Well it’s nothing but a severe injury in her left thigh. She fell down from the lift while attempting to step out of it in the third floor of the hostel.” Shikha revealed the story.

It was really a severe accident but, Vir reacted differently.

“Is her face damaged?” Vir asked innocently.

“No! But why are you asking this?” Shikha was surprised to hear this instead of regretting that he was asking silly questions.

“Well then ok, nothing to worry. Thigh will recover sooner or later but, what if face would have been damaged.”Vir clarified

“Hmm, you are always like this na! Never serious” Shikha got angry on Vir’s clarification

“Well, Yeah! I am like this always. Because I never find the answer to some question such as what would happen if I got angry on a simple thing such as why I wasn’t informed about her accident. To say the least are from the same town, if no other relationship existed between us?” Vir aggression was rising with the flow.

Every word of Vir was itching Shikha with a feeling of regret. “Ok listen; we didn’t have time to inform you.”

“Even I was also thinking that what would happen if I got to know that someone hadn’t informed me just because of the complexity of the relationship between me and you all? Whether I really deserved to be informed or not, as if someone really couldn’t manage a little time to inform me?”

“Sorry Vir, it was never intended to be like that. It was just that we were so disturbed and tensed that we switched to the option which was clearly visible and available to us.” Shikha apologised

“Ae le.. Why are you feeling sorry for that, that’s why I don’t want to be serious” Vir said with a smile on his face.

While talking, they were coming to the outside part of the gate….

 A bike reached there, a sudden break with sharp creaking sound.A boy and a girl were there in the bike.

While talking with Shikha, the bike was already parked and the riders were just let in but, still they were out of the range to hear us.

“What a surprise, even the guy from the other town knows about what happened before me” Vir directed her towards the rider.

“Hi Vir, how are you?” the pillion greeted Vir.

“So my friend, what’s up?” it was the rider.

“Why is she riding with him?” Vir whispered but it created enough sound to tantalize the ear drums of Shikha.

“What?...what did you say?” Shikha was little bit surprised but, not so sure what she heard.

“Ah! Mm nothing...” Vir answered... He was watching something.... And he really wished to do that, at that moment of time.

To be continued...............

8.OUT OF TOWN

Exams Exams and Exams....

Competitive exams for under-graduate studies in engineering and medicine were about to start in forthcoming months.Everyone stuck back to their home as they wanted to leave no stone unturned in their preparation.
Competition already started. No one wanted to be left behind in any case. Different kinds of guidance, career options, and advices were conceded.
Vir, whereas had already decided to drop the coming year for preparation. But he had to pretend the anxiety about the exams for the sake of his parents. That melodrama lasted for two months, by which the Board results had come out.As usual Vir scored above average, just up to the respected level. Aanya couldn’t top but, managed herself to enlist amongst the high scorers.Soon after the results, the entrance exams came up, so there was no time in regretting or consolidating the past deeds. Vir was happy; no one asked him about the results, everyone was interested in their entrance exams.
After two months Vir met her. Vir thought that, she was upset for not being able to make it to the top in the board exams. But she was very positive, fully cherished, with lots of confidence, no .wrinkles, and no kind of any past regrets.
Vir was always a hard thinker, he never believed in Miracles. Since the time the board exam got over, he was planning to go for the preparation of entrance exams for a whole year. Irrespective of what he was leaving behind. Irrespective of her, whether she was going there or not.


Life was playing different notes in every happening. You never know which note will come up once you start playing chords out of theory. It’s all our heart which make us play by it's own way. And best thing about it is that the world will start liking you and more of that, is the following that one can have without being expected to.

Vir had left his hometown. He was in a new city, a new life, new people, new things to do, new things to achieve but with old friends.
‘‘Hey Mom! How are you?''
Vir called his mother.
‘‘Hello son! How are you? How is the place?''
''I am doing good here, this place is awesome, I really like it'' Vir replied.
Mom said, ''I know it very well, outside home you are always doing good, every bad deal you have is only in your home''
Mom continued
‘‘Anyways listen carefully, you remember Sinha uncle? His daughter is also coming there; I have given your landlord's number. I have sent some food with him, please collect it once she reaches.''
''Ok mom'' Vir ended the call after a long conversation.
After a day, it was Sunday morning, Vir had sold almost all the horses with a huge profit and was sleeping with awesomely deep in his dreams.
But his landlady was not in a good mood to let him so happy.
''Vir........oyeeeee Virrrrrrrrr puttarrrrrr, you have caallu!''
She continued in her Punjabi accent.
‘‘Some girl on the other side''
She left the phone on the table outside the room and walked away.
Vir yawningly picked the phone.
About three hours later. Vir was standing outside a girl's hostel.
He talked to guard, guard went in.
After few minutes, a girl with a poly bag came out.
‘‘Hi Vir'' the girl greeted him.
It was Sinha uncle's daughter
‘‘Hi Nikita, how are you?''
After exchanging greetings, she handed over the food packet to Vir.
‘‘Hey Vir! How’s the institute?’ she was looking little bit tensed.
‘‘Not to worry, it’s cool'' even Vir wasn't sure about his words but her tensed face made him to say so, which had its effect immediately. Tensed face turned into a smiling one.
After few minutes of conversation Vir asked his leave.Before he left, he heard a continuous repetition of her name from nearby distance but was not clear.Even Nikita was also able to hear that.Vir took a look around but failed to notice anything.
Next day in the institute, Vir was chatting with his friends near the canteen.
Bell rang. It was time for the next class, and they started for their class. Before that, he was patted from behind.
''Hi Vir, how are you, where have you been?'' the voice was melodious and melting but, enthusiastic as well.
The excitement was so high that a dozen questions were fired in a single breath.
Voice continued
''I called you yesterday from the terrace. I am so happy that you are here, but you never told me about coming here.''
Vir was standing still just looking at her without uttering a single word not because he didn't want to but, of his inability to paddle in the deluge of questions.
Then the second bell rang.
‘‘Hey, I have to go, we will talk later, but you haven't answered any of my questions yet. I won't leave you like this, byeeeee’’
Without saying anything Vir entered the class.
When the class ended, Vir went outside and started waiting, but she didn't come. He looked for her in the hallways, outside, in the class, just about everywhere his eyes wandered to find her.His friend asked him on what he was searching for. But, he didn't want to talk about her with them. For him it was better to leave the field post blank rather than to face the friends without having anything to defend.


Next day Vir reached the class little earlier.But as usual he took the same last bench.
He was waiting for her to arrive.For Vir it was 20 minutes earlier than the normal days which meant 20 minutes less sleep.And for Vir those early 20 minutes were costing heavily. He couldn't stop his yawning.

‘‘Oye Ritesh listen, I am taking a quick nap. When others arrive, Please wake me up'' Vir said to his friend and entered into his dreamland.

After 10 minutes Ritesh jerked him....
''Oye uth ja re.” (Wake Up dear)'

‘‘Have all come?'' Vir asked.
''Don't know about all but your all is about to enter the class'' Ritesh sarcastically answered.

Vir gazed towards the door
'' Nikita with two girls entered; among the two girls who greeted Vir, third girl was unknown to him.

'' By the way, I know two of them, who is the third one yaar.'' Ritesh asked

'' Ummm, don’t know'' Vir didn't move his eye. He was continuously watching them.

‘‘Hmm, ok. So which one is yours?'' Ritesh’s question round was on fire.

‘‘What mine? Nothing is mine here. It's just we were in the same school, not more than that, not even a single bit'' Vir answered without moving his pupils from the fixed state.

Before Ritesh fired any other unanswerable question, he went for the nap again.




To be continued...............

7.DAKU SAGAR SINGH KAUN THA??

“Good morning...Guys.

Today is the day of your life's first pragmatic competitive exam. This will set your mark towards the external world in conquering, what you will go for ultimately.From today you will get to face life's most bitter truth - Race.

Well I am pretty much sure that all these things are bouncing off your ahead. Anyways best of luck to all you guys. So gain high and knock these board papers down.”

It was Vir's English teacher who always gave a talk like that. Inspiring, invigorating and bouncing too. His talkative nature sometimes reminded them about an unknown species with a cacophonic melodious voice. This led him to be renowned as an unwanted species but, this time he was right in whatever he had said, unlikely.

Vir was sitting in the front row listening to all that was audible enough, even with the giggles of other guys sitting there who were so impressed with the teacher about his ability to deliver that kind of a speech, although the teacher knew about the audience who were listening to him or making fun of him.

In the exam time Vir was always found to be more excited than normal days.

His parents always preferred him to have a sound sleep in those days. Sound with adequate pitch and frequency. By virtue of that, he got into the bed very early; various kind of nutritious foods were especially prepared for him. He was taken under special care. All other works were out of his scope and all he had to do was to study.

Well, everyone wants this kind of special treatment all the time without any wish of its ending. But here the case was different. Vir couldn't afford that. He was a bit happy with the Prince figure but those exams didn't let him enjoy the royal hospitality in his own regime.

Anyway unwillingly, with a high node of reluctance, the inevitable and disgusting event had arrived.

Vir was sitting in the hall waiting for the paper to be opened. He was yawning and only one thought in his mind that was wobbling up was when will the damn 3 hrs get over and when will he will be free bird.

He was never interested in spending long time sitting in an examination hall without writing anything but counting all the windows, fans, switch boards, cracked window glasses, ceiling cracks, etc.

One more thing frequently guys liked to do in the examination hall was counting the number of girls among the whole lot in the hall. Performed the diagnosis, made a report, chose the one and fixed the target.

Congrats. They finally got something which helped them to whoooooossssssssh the whole 3 big-big hours.

But, here as always Vir’s case was something different.

Vir’s target found him.

“Hi Vir, How are you?” A sugary fragrance with a soft malleable voice greeted him.

Vir was astounded in seeing her. Aanya was sitting in his next column.

He was the last one to enter in the examination hall, grabbing all the eyes straight upon him. It forced him to sit on his assigned seat without looking around.

“Hey Hi, I am good. How are you?”Vir replied

“Nervous! Have fully prepared but don’t know what will happen?” wrinkles on her forehead were making firm patches.

“Don’t worry about how things might turn out; just remember that nothing came to those who didn’t try. Everything will be fine” Vir assured her and wished her luck.

 “All the best to you too” She said with a relaxed smile, and the wrinkles went out for a walk.

Bell rang, Here we go………

First (physics) paper gone….

Second (English) paper gone……

As already explained about the usual activities of guys in examination hall, Vir was not an exception but, difference was that he didn’t have to look around as his whole sole centre of interest was sitting in the adjacent column.

Sometimes he was wondering of sitting next to her and watching her smile and the damn coincidence led her to smile at him, at the same moment he was thinking of that.

Third paper (Hindi)

Who the hell was DACOIT SAGAR SINGH? 6 marks question and Miss Aanya was getting out of her mind. Her Pandora Box of Knowledge was out of stock regarding Mr. Sagar Singh(ally of Rani Laxmi Bai in her fight against East India Company) and that emptiness brought back those same wrinkles. Well for Aanya those 6 marks was really a big deal. Vir acknowledged that with a single expression on her face that she was running out of details about some stupid question.

He signaled her. She didn’t want to get herself distracted but, that question bothered her more. She turned to Vir and asked him about the question. Vir knew the answer. First he thought of giving the paper where he had written the answer but when he took a look on that paper he realized that he had written it with awesomely beautiful handwriting that she wouldn’t manage to understand. So, he decided to explain her verbally but first he had to set the invigilator in the right position.

Vir had one great admirable quality. He always kept his teachers set; it was his inbuilt quality that helped him in a few of the critical conditions which he was facing.

Else Vir had an alternative; he had an excellent fluency in communicating across the room when teacher’s back was facing him.   

But luckily invigilator was found to be an understanding guy. He didn’t want to let Aanya’s paper to be ruined by a single bit. He gave Vir the access.

For Aanya, it was the one more of an embarrassing situation she was facing, and this time it was again with the Vir.(bicycle incident in GURUKUL)

In his childhood days, according to Vir, cheating was the worst thing someone could ever do, but now it’s the main reason which Vir had to do to bring a smile on someone’s beautiful face.

Rest all papers had gone buttery smooth.

Exam finished, school finished and results were awaited...

To Be Continued ...........................

6.Convincing The Confusion

Many a times, we tend to have some kind of a possession over something. Everyone possesses that habit, irrespective of whatever position they have attained in their life. For Vir, it was useless. It was the silliest thing for which people suffered a lot, lost their flexibility, got adamant and for this they ran like a race horse with a guard on their eye’s sides so that they could only focus on the target rather than side views. But Vir did always consider himself to be a wild horse rather than a race horse, for whom no barrier, no constraints, no target could possibly be placed as the most imperative thing in his whole life. However, people other than Vir named that possession as determination or also called aim.

For Vir, to follow Aanya was like a task and to complete that task, he should attain a little bit of determinacy for which Vir was not concerned. 

Vir fixed his own ways. Once talk is over, it is all over. 

Well with all those incidents and happenings, days passed by very fast. Some of them had known either to both or to one of them and the rest unknown. But the reactions were still maintaining their effects. Influence of which, the talk has been started between them. 

Aanya with all of her studious effect always started her conversations with a question.

''Vir! Will you please solve this question?''

 Whereas Vir was always  busy in doing his normal masti with his friends.

‘‘Yeah sure! No problem'' was Vir’s usual reply.

This was the introductory sentence with which both of them used to start their conversation.

As it has been already cleared about how much Vir was fond of studies, still he answered all her questions.

It is not always that Vir solved the questions but he was successful in convincing her, for sure.

He followed a very simple concept - if you cannot convince them, confuse them.

Well Vir followed it perfectly. At the end of the day she was satisfied with whatever bullshit Vir explained to her but, with some honest sense he always made the end with a touch “It can be solved more easily than how we did it now. It’s ok; we can discuss it later on”. 

The next day he solved it with better way even compared to the answer given in the textbook, which he never went through but Aanya always did that.

 For some reason it was sure that both the time she was convinced and his convincing power was increasing with the time.

 On the contrary Vir and his friends made fun of her.

“What a girl yaar, hasn’t she got anything else other than to clear her doubts? Why is she always asking me?” Vir mocked with his friends

 Fatso replied

“May be she needs you to study well?”

“Ha ha ha, it’s so funny. For your kind information my dear, it’s she who studies here, I’m just clarifying her doubts” Vir said with irritation.

“Hmm…so why do you study at home after leaving her in confusion whenever she asks any questions to you?” Fatso questioned

“Fatso has a point” Sanjay supported Fatso

Vir continued.

“I do not study for her, but, it is a coincidence that she asks the same question which I am going through nowadays''

‘‘What a coincidence! Every time she asks you question and on the same day you are practicing those questions''. 

Fatso continued his teasing tone

‘‘Don’t you think we are disrespecting the word – “coincidence”, a little bit.'' 

'' Abe teri to, main de raha hun aur tu liye jaa raha hain'' said Vir with frustration. 

'' Don’t you know me. No one can distract me. Understand!'' Vir proudly said that.

Before he concluded his sentence, an interruption came

‘‘Hey Vir! Tell me one thing. Why isn’t the same formulae not applicable to this question?''

Fatso and Sanjay had already started laughing and Vir was watching her furiously.

‘‘Ok, wrong timing, will ask that later” she apologized and left.

''By the way, why does she always shouts at you'' fatso raised the level of embarrassment to Vir. 

“Ha ha ha, fatso beta. Every dog has its day. What if the Pomeranian is barking today, my day will come very soon man” Vir marked a dialogue to shut them up but the day was not for Vir.

“Oho! Pomeranian, I understand which Pomeranian you are talking about?” Sanjay teased.

Vir had no control there, he was getting out of stock “ok boss, I am going, you guys continue”

“Abe, which dog are you going to be?” Sanjay shouted to make Vir hear as he was hurriedly left the class.

First year of high school passed, second (board) year was on its way.

Everyone was busy, everyone was working hard, everyone was worried and everyone was going tough on themselves.

Vir was also worried a little bit, not because of board year but, because of the tuition that he had joined.

Gurukul was a failure. Everyone was unsatisfied with its ability. To engage specific tutor for each subject was looking more fruitful than studying at Gurukul.

 No gurukul, no masti, no escape from parents, but inborn capabilities of Vir managed him to escape but with great efforts. He engaged tuition for all the main stream subjects all though he didn’t need those.

Now he was having more hours outside the house as compared to his previous year.

But now this time Aanya's and Vir's selection was not belonging to any coincidence,not even a single tutor was matching.So outside school there were very high probability of not having any clash in between them.

scenario was changing...

With all logics and concepts, Vir was continuously developing his own set of rules and regulations that proved him to be one of the emerging players in the board year.

 As it always seemed so, but in reality he was just escaping from himself. For each question, he had certain kind of abilities to solve it correctly but, always failed because of impatience and lack of practice.

Whenever anyone questioned him, he explained the question and made him understand how to solve it, but when the same question came in the exam, he solved it incorrectly or partially correct even though he knew that he was doing it wrongly. But he could not help himself out. This problem took its worst form in the coming future but, for now Vir was unaware of it and it was good for him too as he was capable enough to handle his score even with such a peculiar handicap.

Therefore, for Vir, it was never the problem to solve the questions of Aanya but, now she was also getting more serious and Vir did not want to convince her as this time it would reflect straight in her board exams. The damn sense of helping her without making her confuse urged Vir to study hard. The more he studies hard, more the number of problems were getting easier. The more he solved the problems, the more his eagerness to deal with her problems was going higher.

While Aanya reduced her frequency to school, she was spending more time in tuition and in home.

She only came when she had any doubts or for any special lectures or to labs, whereas Vir never missed even a single day of school.

Unlike Vir, for her no function, no fest, no special day could stand at a superior position than her studies.

One day there was some special lectures regarding the practical exams. So, all the students gathered in the school hall. Everyone seated themselves wherever they wanted but for Vir, his teacher was more concerned. She forced him to sit right in front of her but Vir managed her to let him be seated in the second row. Anya sat in the first row. She waved to Vir and with the same expression, Vir responded to her. He wanted to talk to her but; his teacher was so benevolent to him. She was continuously watching him.

For Vir it was good enough to watch her from there. While watching her, he noticed that she was continuously staring at people who were entering the room. It was not like a normal stare, but  an inscrutable one.

“Hey Fatso, look at her, she is staring at Alok as if like she knows him” Vir directed Fatso to her staring.

“So what, maybe she knows him, what’s the big deal in it?” Fatso said indifferently

“Abe idiot, Alok is our peon, and he joined this school recently, the time when she was on her preparation leave” Vir clarified his doubt

“Oho! May be she knew him outside the school’ Fatso doubted

“Hmm” Vir suspiciously replied

“But yaar she was staring at him differently” said Vir

“Look at her she is staring at Arvind too” said the boy sitting next to him

“Yeah! Oye fatso look look, same like Alok” Vir forced fatso to look at her

“Don’t get so amazed, it’s her habit, she always looks, I mean stares like this” said the boy

“How do you know that?” asked Fatso

“Because she is my friend,” the boy said

After lecture Vir told Fatso & Sanjay, "So miss Aanya is friend of Ronak, not Mr. Ronak is friend of Aanya”

“Yeh saala paagal ho Gaya hain, (this sweet fellow has gone mad), what the f…. you want us to show, both are friends that’s it” Sanjay said 

“Ummmm nothing, I was just saying like that”

Vir continued

“That’s why that fellow had beaten him also because she is his friend” 

“And our man got smashed without any reason”, Sanjay giggled 

“Pity on you my dear. Mad saala” Fatso supported Sanjay.

“Saalo, aaj to nahin chorunga (no one will be spared today, Mother promise)” Vir shouted and was about to run behind them but, was stopped by his teacher.

“Vir will you accompany me till my house as it’s already dark” the same teacher in the hall requested Vir

“Sure madam, no problem” Vir nodded

Teacher called someone else to accompany them “Hey Aanya come fast, Vir is getting late”

“Hi Vir, how are you? How’s your preparation going?”Aanya asked

Before Vir gave any expression, some familiar voice interrupted “He is doing excellent, going to be a surprise item”

It was Ronak again.

“Hey Vir, do you know Ronak? He is my good friend” Aanya tried to introduce Ronak to Vir

“Oh Aanya! He knows me very well. After all he was my mother’s one of the best students and still he is afraid of my mom right from the primary school” Ronak said

Vir innocently nodded…

Ronak’s mother was Vir’s teacher in primary and Vir adored her the most...

Vir directed to madam “Well madam! there is no need of me then. Ronak will give you company, I will meet you tomorrow morning”

Teacher was looking little bit disappointed but pretended negative. ”Ok Vir, no problem.”

Vir took leave from there. ”Bye madam, bye Ronak ……….bye Aanya, huh!”

No one replied except Aanya ” Bye Vir ,See you soon”.

to be continued.........................

5.DWELL

A few days past..
One day in the school, Vir was sitting in the class with his friends.
Two boys entered.

‘‘Hey Vir, what happened saturday night?’ they asked inquisitively.

‘‘Hello guys! How are you? How do you people come here? '' Vir said surprisingly.

‘‘Shut up and tell me the name of those.'' said the boy.

'' Which guys you are talking about?''Vir said with indifference.

'' Do you want your disgraceful act to be blown up to the whole class or will you reveal the name of those unlucky boys,'' the second boy said with the anger.

‘‘Look man, neither do I know who they were nor their names that they were blessed with!''

Vir continued

‘‘But you don't worry man; I will let you know as soon as I get them''

'' No need of that, we will manage on our own.”

“You tell me, did you go home alone or someone was with you yesterday?'' one of the boys asked Vir with the pleasing tone.

‘‘Yeah, Sanjay was with me, but why are you asking such questions?’’ Vir was very confused.

One of the boys went outside after that moment and another one continued with the conversation. After 15 minutes, the first person returned and both of them departed, leaving Vir completely puzzled.

Meanwhile Sanjay entered into the class

‘‘Hey, who are these people? Nice people! '' Sanjay was impressed with them.

‘‘What were they asking?'' Vir questioned.

'' Nothing, he was just regretful of your condition last night.'' Sanjay answered.

‘‘And what was your part of the condolence'' Vir asked.

'' Ha Ha”

“Nothing, he was just asking about my friends we met last night. He was talking pretty cool, so, I told him about the name. Nothing else'' said Sanjay.

''You DAMN fellow, what else was left to say by the way?'' Vir shouted.

'' What happened?'' Sanjay asked.

'' Nothing, just wait and watch'' Vir said

''Ok then, I’m going outside. Do you want to come along?'' Sanjay asked

'' No, you can go, I am better sitting here'' Vir replied.

After few hours a boy came to Vir who was sitting with other friends

'' Hey guys, hot news!'' the boy was very excited.

With more excitement, he said, ''Ronak has beaten up Saturday night ''.

That news electrified the other boys, they asked, “Where and why?”

“Information is not clear yet but, it’s all related to Aanya. He was crashed near her house because of her.” first boy said

He continued, “He was even threatened to not to roam with her anymore.”

“Hmm, that’s the matter, but what if he was roaming with her? Was that girl having any problem with him? Or was he misbehaving with her?” Vir questioned

“And by the way who is Aanya?” asked Vir

“Don’t you know Aanya? She is one of the hot cakes in the school, man! How could you “do not know her”? It’s impossible!” one of the boys replied to Vir. He was enraged in answering that question, as it was as the silliest question ever asked to him.

“Ok ok, sorry yaar!” Vir settled him down

Next day in the recess, Vir was playing soccer but, he had to stop there as his old friends were calling him from outside the ground.

“Uh!  Hi guys! What’s up?” Vir was perspiring.

“Abe Saale, tu hume samajhta kya hain? (My dear, what do you think of us?)” One of the friends said.

His fury was getting out of control.

  He continued

“Whether we are so desperate in your friendship so that we are willing to do anything for you or are you thinking that we are just stupid people around? That we are unable to see, how sick you are?”

“Now what have I done?” said Vir, he was dwelling into the matter of thoughts running throughout.

“Saale tu yeh bata, Aanya koun hain (who the hell is MISS AANYA?)” his friend asked.

“AANYA? I don’t know her, I have just heard about her.” Replied Vir
“Well, one thing we are very much sure about you is that no one can save you from your deterioration. One day you will get ruined just because of this indifference, which you are walking along with, all your life.”

His friend answered, he had writhed Vir up to the fullest.

“Saale cycle kya tera bhut leke gaya tha uske ghar (With who did the bike made through to her home?)” he shouted.

“Bike! Which bike?” Vir was almost confused by then.  For the last few days, he had been running through the situation, which was beyond his understandings. He was sweating more than usual.

By then Sanjay came there.

He said

“Hey don’t you know Aanya? The same girl, whose bike got wrecked up in the GURUKUL, we brought it to her home that night.”

Vir was shocked,with so damn puzzled face he sat down in the ground. He was about to tear off all his hair.

“Yeah! Yeah! I get it; I get it, so her name is AANYA, the running hot cake matter in the school nowadays.”

Vir continued

“But what did I do to her? Have I done anything wrong with her?”

“Nope! I don’t think so,” answered Sanjay.

“Mere bhai, you were beaten up because of her. The guys who smashed you were of her class and they said that you have been bothered her” Vir’s friend said.

“Ok! Ok! ” Vir

After few minutes, Vir asked “what else, besides that?”

“There is nothing left to say. All we know is right in front of you. Loud and clear. Anyways we have taught them lesson, they won’t bother you further” they departed after saying these words.

“How could she do that to you?” Sanjay said that angrily

He continued “you just wait; I am going to ask her about this ridicule, what the hell does she think of herself?”

Sanjay was about to leave but, Vir stopped him.

“That’s not her fault; those guys are just using her. I am very much sure. She doesn’t know even a single thread of it.”

“But” Sanjay argued but Vir moved his head on negation.

“As you wish” Said Sanjay

Bell rang; recess was over. Both approached to their class but Vir was walking a bit slowly.

Sanjay asked” Now what?”

“Real life triangle, two guys has beaten for the same girl and the same day. Sounds interesting and filmy” Vir  said with an acute cunningness.

He continued

“Now the time has come to get the things fixed.”
“Tu saale nahin sudharne waala (you will never change)” Sanjay exasperated.

“By the way, what has Ronak done?” asked Vir.

“Who knows, they both are friends, living in the same locality,” replied Sanjay.

“Hmm, so sad for Ronak” Vir was feeling pity on Ronak.

“Oye, check yourself out first. Then go for others.” Sanjay scolded.

“Oh koi Na, now game is going to open. Fully fledged…and worst part is already over”

He continued,

“But saalon ne maara mast tha (but those rouge guys has given me nice one, unforgettable)”

“By the way Sanjay, please be careful with one thing. This smashing game of mine happened because of her has never to be disclosed to anyone, especially to her. In any case, unlike the name that you disclosed to my nice friends,” Vir concluded as well as warned Sanjay.

“ Ab to dosti karni hi padegi, Miss Aanya se(now it’s time to let’s be friend)” said Vir in a very low tone but audible to Sanjay.

“Hey, don’t think any kind of bad…” Sanjay warned him but stopped in between

“Are yaar, don’t get tensed, I was just making the scene, little bit of filmy. Everything has gone filmy, why don’t we end this chapter by giving some dramatic finishing touch”

Vir calmed him down.

“Hmm, then OK. No problem!” relaxed Sanjay

After that awful incident, Vir was still trying to smile in his own world of Drama.

“I am coming Miss Aanya” Vir Shouted.

To Be Continued............

4.Mr.Dog and Mr Broadway

Innocence never be seen so innocent,  that was what Vir was witnessing there.

Vir was perplexed by her words.He watched her astonishingly, his eyes were continuously  following her pupil movement which were avoiding themselves  from being caught, one of the most embarrassing moments of her life was in action with lots of people watching her alongside the bike(bicycle) which looked like a metal scrap.

All of these changing moments happened in no time....

‘Hey Vir, come on man what are you waiting for?  Fix it ASAP...we are already late ' Sanjay broke the silence which was just reverberating between them into the noise buzzing ambience. 

Vir directed towards Sanjay...” tell her to go home, otherwise her parents will be  unnecessarily worried,Quick”

She took her leave from there.no words were exchanged between them.

As soon as she left, Vir returned to action.within no time, the chain got back on the gear tooth.

Sanjay and Vir took the bike and rambled towards her house which was diametrically opposite to their house.

'Hey Vir, what happen?  You Seem to be lost in thoughts' Sanjay questioned

'How does she know my name, we haven’t even met before, did you tell her?'Vir asked Sanjay suspiciously

'Hmmm nope!, I haven't discussed about you with her' Sanjay clarified

“Hmm, Then How is it possible that she knows me and my nature as well?” Vir  pondered.

‘’Forget that, just give her the bike and our job will over”  Sanjay finalized.

 Meanwhile they reached  her house and rang the bell.

Reply came with a sudden bark.

A small white Pomeranian dog sprouted up and barked with full strength .it seemed to them  that it would just tear them off into nano pieces. But it was very decent dog, it had set itself upon certain limits which included the door's threshold beyond which there was no bark or no motion………but the damn loyal Mr.Dog was still trying to make space outside the door to revert them back. The net door was slightly chain opened which was fixed outer of the opened wooden door through which Mr.dog was managing to attack on the intruders

Sanjay backed away with a sudden repulse.

Vir was standing still, “I never understand, why does this creature posses the same habit as that of girls”

“What?” Sanjay asked, he was trying to threatened dog by moving himself back and forth but was failing…..

“They always make their vocal cord busy (either dog or girls)”

“And to be very frank with you, I hate them both” Vir pushed the bike just on the neck of Mr. 

Dog, but by fraction he was missed as a pair of damn hands pulled that in.

By then Mr. Dog had done his job…….made the occupants fully alert…

 The T.V was playing  inside screening some sort of a boring Saans Bahu soap that  sound like a mixture of different kinds of tragic sounds being play on the same synthesizer. It sounded more bizarre when a particular string of node repeated after every   minutes with each repetition lasting  thrice.

“Who the hell are shitting outside so late in the night” a lady came out side with Mr.Dog  resting on the cross bound rigid hands.

“Namaste Aunti ji” Sanjay greeted to the lady

Meanwhile Vir came outside the house as he didn’t want to face her whose words continuously pinched him and he was in no mood to make that more unbearable…..

Within fifteen  minutes Sanjay came outside.

“Why didn’t you stay there? she was asking about you”  Sanjay questioned him.

“Just like that, I was wondering, what her family would think of that” Vir was stammering, he was drooling on the line said by Sanjay about her enquiry.

“ her family is very friendly yaar, you are doubting unnecessary” Sanjay said

“Hmm” Vir said

Few days crossed.

Vir almost forgot that incident.  Vir never settled himself down in confusing state for sure for so long time; he never wanted to lose fun in doing unnecessary and non conclusive things. But you never know the term called "twist".

After three months. 
That night Vir and Sanjay were returning from Gurukul. They were the last to leave the class.

It was very late in the night. Streets were deserted... The nearby residential area was looking as if it was dead. People were in their houses with doors double locked even the blast of RDX couldn’t be able to made them come outside.

Anyways who cares? Whether the people were in their house or in the basement or 100 meters beneath the ground until & unless you needed them otherwise…………..

So Mr. Vir & Mr. Sanjay were strolling (besides walking) for their home……

Vir was a  guy who had a logic for each rise and fall of happenings .if he was in no mood to talk then argument would be settled down by a single logic otherwise you were cordially invited to the world of logics………..

When Sanjay asked Vir to increase their strolling pace Vir played the hit  “don’t you know?, doctors say that devoting more time to walk will enable you beat the root cause of stroke and heart diseases which are  stress and chronic illness”

“But it will likely to be hardly 20 minutes to reach the home then how is it possible?” Sanjay doubted

“Arre silly, that’s why we are strolling and  not walking, walk slow, it will increase our devoted time to walk, and moreover it will work in bidirectional ways , I swear!” Vir at his best and his logics………….

“Now what this bidirectional shit?” Sanjay was almost about to get exhausted……

“Listen, now this stroll will keep us healthy for the long time basis and for short time it will keep us away from the crap studies,The earlier we reach home,The  sooner we will have to get into the damn books”

“So stroll my dear stroll” Vir set the bidirectional theory of stroll……

“Whatever” Sanjay decided to allowed no more brain teasers and switched off the question mode…

With few meters walk, they reached near to a darkened street corner. The ambience was giving the mixed feeling. There was no fire but smoke was all around, was making the vision about to invisible.

Both the guys were indifferent to it but still some subconscious sort of thing urged them to cross the spot as soon as possible….

“Hey sanjay! how are you? Where are you roaming here so late in the night?” a call from the corner stopped Sanjay.

Four guys came out of smoke and greeted Sanjay; indifference still being with Vir….

Sanjay went to them and had some chat; Vir was standing outside the corner getting bored….

When Sanjay was about to take leave, a Broadway chap directed towards Vir “hey you fresh chicken!, what are you pecking at? Come here”

Vir was not so interested in going there; he gave very unpleasant look which made the Broadway dejected. But to unavailability of any choice he went closer to them…. A little kitten of 4 feet wrested the bag from him. Kitten started playing with books,

Sanjay didn’t like that but he was helpless, they were only two, dealing with the complete rouges. But before the helplessness sort of feeling embraced Vir, he had exchanged few sweet (slang) words with the kitten and others .that made the Sanjay’s fear gruesome .he pulled him hard and was walking back.

“Stop” Broadway screamed.

He went towards them and with a fine movement of solid and somewhat flexible hand he registered a print on Vir’s chin, all of a sudden; from nowhere two others climbed on and smashed him almost. Vir was standing firm, he wanted to try himself too but Sanjay stopped him...Vir was about to shattered, suddenly a smile came on his face, the kitten was too short to reach  Vir’s head ,he was continuously jigging  to reached there, whenever he was about to reach .Vir  raised himself up on his toes. Finally kitten managed himself up toVir's abdomen.

After taking dinner(beating) with Vir….they all were full, leaving Vir empty with little bit of red ketchup on his face.

A guy among them came to VIR, held his jaw very hard “don’t ever mess with her, this time it’s just the starter, next time we will have dinner  and desert too if needed”….

Vir was in a total mess…..first he was beaten up too hard and second he even didn’t know for what reason he was beaten up.

Sanjay was trying to support him but Vir refused .he was walking very slowly  otherwise, it wouldn't have been possible for Vir to walk but still he carried on

“Bloody rouges” Sanjay said angrily, he was looking very disturbed….

“Well who are these bloody rouges, and which girl they are talking about that I am messing around with ” Vir asked painfully…

“I don’t know, what they are talking about?,,, sorry yaar,  all this happened because of me, neither would I have made friendship with them nor they would have beaten you hard”. Sanjay apologize.

“Abe Saale, you are my childhood buddy, how could you think of like that. And by the way it all happen not because of you, there is some other thing cooking around” Vir said.

“Ok listen, do me a favor, don't tell  about this incident to anyone, especially to my old school friends, they are more rowdy than them”

Vir continued

“And by the way have you noticed that?”

“What?” Sanjay asked

“What we were doing, was wrong actually”

“Means?” Sanjay asked with confusion

“Now the thing we are doing right now is basically the actual strolling, before that we were walking too fast to stroll” Vir clarified

“Shut the f********k” Sanjay shouted

“You are impossible, Fatso is right about you”

“That’s what I am, ha ha aaahhhh” Vir answered with pain and continued his walking with hard steps………………

To be continued............