Helpless, I was

I had no desire to go on, my energy was draining as he drove me. The wind was harsh and rain was pouring all over me. I was getting dirty in the mud and the pebbles irked my soul. Yet he was ruthless, he never cared for what I felt. An evil grin was all over his face, he seemed a maniac who only cared for his happiness. It started raining heavily and he rode me even faster. It felt like being a dart board as the drops pierced me like needles, hurting every place they touched.

My soul cried in agony, my heart was burning and he enjoyed, but he carried a winning smile on his face.  When he was done he left me there all covered in mud, water still pouring on me. And as he left he took my life with him. I could not move an inch, just lay there as nature played with me.

As you read now, I’m still getting drenched and he enjoys a hot cup of coffee and I wait for him to come back and take me home. Still wondering who I am, well I wait here in Wipro Parking I am his bike.

:D  Njoy the rains Don’t listen to my bike :D

She Waited

January 1951

The huge rusted gates were always open, the road led to an old mansion, huge trees at even distance along the side which would had shadowed the path even in the brightest sun; Every inch covered with dry leaves as no one had taken the road in ages.

The trees were left with dried branches, the pool had dried, the lake had algae all over, the paint on the walls had fallen off from places and the towers were falling off in parts. The very tower where he took her for their first sunrise, she had never missed it from then. No kids that played, no birds that chirped, no creature quenched its thirst from the lake, no butler no maid, with no life around the mansion haunted itself. The windows were always open, the curtains were never drawn, the only life that namesake existed was Alexia.

The doors were creaky, spiders dwelled in their giant cobwebs, and termites enjoyed their daily feast on the splendid teak furniture. Yet in one room she existed. Existed for a promise kept so far; a promise to wait for his return.

She stood still in front of the mirror, as she witnessed her hairs turn grey, her face develop wrinkles, her skin turn scaly, and the eyes getting stoned. Somewhere in those stone-eyes were old carvings. She remembered those days her eyes used to shy in his presence, sing when he smiled, shiver when he touched, pleasure his fragrance, die in his arms and how he would bring them back to life with his love.

December 1908

The huge gates opened for the Rolls Royce decorated with ribbons, a heart-shaped board on the back which read ‘Just Married’ and tails of empty cans. Everyone welcomed the newlywed couple on their way to their mansion.  Kids, teenagers old people, and even butlers and maids danced to the overwhelming and rhythmic clatter of the cans. Everyone was intoxicated with joy and happiness, even the animals seemed happy and the trees danced with the tunes of wind.

The premises were huge. If someone called it a forest would not be completely wrong, except the fact it was not dense and there were no wild animals. Birds and animals of various species enjoyed being here and some peacocks simply added to the beauty of the estate. To the back of the mansion was a small lake. To watch the animals and birds around it at sunset, was always a mystical view from the mansion’s towers.

The way that led to the mansion was full of trees on the sides. Just in front of the mansion was a pool with a small fountain with dolphins carved out of stones. The pure white mansion, shined like gold at the dawn sun.

The Rolls Royce stopped at the entrance of the mansion, the driver opened the door for a charming persona, Lucas. He then extended his hand for her bride and a soft hand with a ruby embedded in the ring held his hand. A beautiful lady in white wedding gown with a long trail stepped out. Alexia was what everyone whispered with amaze on their face witnessing the beauty. Lucas and Alexia were ready to walk into their dream home, where they would fulfill their dreams.

Lucas and Alexia stepped in and were surprised to see Lucas’s complete family gathered for their happiness, cousins, aunt and uncles, and nephews and nieces. Everyone was very happy as it had been long since the last marriage in the family. A pianist made everyone dance more than just tapping their boots. The young couple was given the first opportunity to flow with the melody.

After a long session of dance and wines, the tables were set for their first family supper. The dinner was set perfect, with a perfect aroma of rose water, lit by candles and light music.

The winters were near and it was evident from the morning mist, Lucas took Alexia for a walk. They came closer as they walked around in the greens, around the lake and this became Alexia’s favorite moment. Now she would take Lucas for a walk every morning, just like the first day. He took her to the towers of the mansion, the place she was least interested to go, but he insisted. He covered her eyes until they reached the top, and just when the sun’s first rays fell on the mansion, he removed his hands. She was mesmerized by the beauty of nature and what she witnessed would be engraved in her memories. She had never seen a sun rise such beautiful. The dew drops on the leaves glistened in the morning mist. Till eternity if eyes could see, it was only beauty, and before they could realize they were in love. The place she never wanted to go, created the first spark of their love life, and in a moment became her favorite place in the estate.

Lucas’s family was one of the richest in town, yet he was a humble and generous man. He was loved by everyone in home and in society. He was a kind but brave man, well trained for military combats, an excellent swordsman and a sharp shooter. At many instances his skills had been utilized to save helpless lives. He always helped the poor and needy against the will of the family elders.

April 1912

In the belly of the pacific was Titanic, and so were Lucas’s parents. Lucas never took interest in the family business, nor did he listen to his parents, but he loved them a lot; it felt like he was the one who took the hit from that iceberg. He always cared about the poor and helpless. But tide had turned, everything changed with the demise of his father. Partners and relatives occupied their property and business as if Hyenas tear of the flesh from the prey.

Although he managed to save the estate somehow, but things were not the way they were earlier. The loving cousins were not even acquaintance any more, the servants had made a run for their living and life was coming to an end. Lucas had shattered and was beyond recovering, Alexia would take him to the mansion tower at the dawn everyday and it was Alexia’s love and care brought him back to life. He was once again cheerful and the person he used to be. He had witnessed the dark side of life and had made it out in the light. He started his search for their livelihood, once raised like a prince he was now a blacksmith making excellent weapons for combat which he had mastered as a kid.

While Lucas was away in day, Alexia would go to parts of mansion and spend her day. The mansion had become a very important part of her life which she cherished and filled it with life. On a cloudy day, Alexia took off to a nearby market, she witnessed a lady who was feeding a doll, smiling at it and asking it to eat, but probably she had lost her child and could not go through the trauma of loosing her own part. The instance left its mark on her, she could not forget her face, her happiness and her grief. She kept thinking all day and developed her own grief of not having a child. She had loved and been loved, but the seed which was sown had strengthened its roots. Lucas and Alexia’s were in no condition to bear a child, but Alexia’s anxiety was now more than visible and Lucas was concerned but Alexia would not talk.

***

It was their 4th anniversary and Lucas took her to the mansion tower as he used to everyday, as the sun rose into the sky, Alexia burst in to tears and cried in his arms, Lucas was dumbstruck by seeing her strong wife break like this. He could not say anything but just cuddled her as she mentioned her grief.

***

A year later Lucas and Alexia were blessed by the most beautiful gift life can ever give. There face glittered in happiness when they saw their baby boy for the first time. After ages the mansion echoed with a child’s voice. ‘Alrick’, they named him as they celebrated the joy. Alrick filled their lives with happiness. The estate was greener than ever before, as if it would express the joy and happiness of Alexia and Lucas.

***

Lucas and Alexia had started living a happy life watching their young kid grow tall and smart. But life was not kind to Lucas and Alexia as another storm left them torn into bits and pieces, little Alrick succumbed to cancer when he was just 8. Once again they were left shattered. They now knew the pain of burying their own son.

***

April 1942

Time went by and they continued to survive, survive for all they were left with, their love. They tried to have another child several times, but every time they did, something always went wrong. Lucas was no more a blacksmith, over the years he had worked hard and now ran a supply of goods and commodities for daily needs. But during the Second World War food was scarce, people killed to survive. One evening, his stocks were looted by some of such people. They took more than they could carry and many were killed because of it. All his life he had worked to achieve this and now he could not watch it rune. When he heard of it he ran with his rifle to his store. Alexia got worried and tried to stop him, she was worried to lose what was left but he did not listen to her. Lucas had worked very hard to build the store. The fruit of his hard work was snatched and left on street to decay and rot and he could not stand it. What he saw filled him with rage. For the first time in his life he was flowing with anger. But it wasn’t enough to suppress his strong conscience. His heart bled yet he smiled. He had been through much more and that made his anger fade away in moments. Seeing Alexia was the only worthy thing left in his life.

***

A dark night it was, lightning stroked everywhere. From the darkness appeared some people, darker than the night, sinister than the evil. There were rumors according to which few men looted the house, killed every human alive and burned the house. There was no doubt it was them and Lucas had to do something. He told the men that their family had an ancestral treasury, a hideout away from the town where they kept all the gold. He bargained them to leave Alexia safe and he would accompany them to the hideout. Lucas was clear in his thoughts, he knew what he was doing. Perhaps it was difficult to fight while protecting. Alexia begged Lucas not to leave, she grabbed her leg as was dragged as was dragged along. Lucas bent to raise her and whispered “Promise me that you will wait for my return.”  Alexia gazed into his eyes as Lucas was pulled by the men.

***

But that was far too long in the past, she still desired, desired him the most. A meager hope was all that was left in those eyes. Those eyes searched everywhere every time, waiting for a glimpse of the one she worshiped her complete life. The last glimpse before she could perish.

She waited near the window, to see his car coming. She ran to open the door, anxiety spread all over her face, a glitter in her eyes which had been dry all day. Looking at him her grief turned into joy, the face which had been pale since ages light up like a lamp. She stood at the door frozen in desperation waiting to be embraced by his warmth that could melt the ice. But there was none around, there was no car nor was Lucas.

***

With torn clothes, several bleeding wounds, long dirty hairs and beard grown to his chest, gasping as making his way to the mansion, he fell half way from the gates. With the help of a dead tree he managed to make it on his foot. There wasn’t enough difference in the tree and him, fighting with himself and the nature to survive, the tree had already succumbed but Lucas wasn’t ready to give up. He somehow kept moving and made his way to the mansion. When he saw its condition, a grin came to his face. The mansion had suffered similar injuries as Lucas and Alexia. It had suffered the pain of Lucas and Alexia. He went inside and was dumbstruck when he saw the inside, it seemed no one had stepped in from ages. The thought that Alexia was gone started haunting him. Filled with remorse he fell on the floor, and started thinking about the last time they met, how he had asked her to wait until his return.  Their love gave him the zest to go on, his hopes came back and he looked for her everywhere yet in vain. He had searched every dark corner of the mansion but he could not find her. He had now given up and rested his body on the floor. His soul was shattered, his heart was bleeding his eyes were getting stoned as they kept looking at the roof, when a drop from the seeping roof dropped on his forehead. He stood up and hustled to the tower of the mansion. Every step he took towards seemed like an eternity. His breath became heavier, his heart was pounding out off his body as he fell on the door of the room below the tower. He smiled as he saw her on the bed, he struggled as he rose up to finally take her in his arms. The smile on her face which he longed to witness was gone, she had waited all her life for Lucas to return and embrace her. Alexia had become very week, sitting at a single place she had developed bed sores, yet she would never go out not even to a doctor, thinking of his return in the meanwhile. But the very tower where she had seen the first rays of her life with Lucas, had engulfed her and made her its own. Lucas was struck with millions of volts, his heart had stopped beating, his tears had dried up as he took the cold Alexia in his arms. Lucas had returned but she broke her promise, she fought a lot but death was inevitable. Lucas lied down and took her in his arms and watched the sun to set till the very end.

***

Love....Just Happens..!!

Yes I Lost 2 ‘it’

It was back in the winters of 2008, Sana n I thanks to a college fest, had escaped to Mussorie. The winters were at their peak, the wind was so chilling, even the slightest blow would send chilling irks down your spine.

It was morning 7, Sana was still sleeping like a doll. There is nothing more beautiful to see the woman you love sleep like a kid in you arms. She looked gorgeous even when she was asleep, I removed the hairs that were on her face and kept admiring. Not in not much time she took the pleasure away from me and smiled seeing the disappointment on my face.

Our plans were to go to ‘Lake Mist’, a place filled with the beauty of nature, small but beautiful waterfalls made by the river Kempty makes it an awesome place and the mist in the winters makes it even better. The fear of moving even the slightest and facing that area of the bed which hasn’t felt the warmth of your body in what seems to be ages, is enough to stop you from moving out of you blanket. We had been lying for hours without saying a word, just gazing into each other’s eye. It was one of those times when we wanted the time to stop so we could stay just like that.

After many futile efforts, we finally took off to ‘Lake Mist’, lovelier than what we had imagined the place turned out to be. The first thing we did was to go for boating. Just the two of us, in the middle of the lake with Kempty flowing through it, we felt the mist, the due, the slightest warmth of the rays that could make it even in that dense fog n mist, there was nothing more I desired.

We also stopped at Kempty falls for a while, it falls straight but not from much height, just high enough so that you can stand under it for a while. The water here is so cold even in the summers, that the shopkeepers place cold drink karats beneath the falls to get it chilled. When we saw this for the first time, we were stunned, but guess the people know how to utilize natural resources or just save their pockets from electricity bills

We returned to our hotel, had some rest and went for a walk on the Mall Road, the sun had set, but the Mall road had just opened its eyes. This is one place you will never get bored. Shops n so many more shops and every shop will have something unique which will without a doubt pull any girl. It was one beautiful day that had preceded, and no shop could attract her even for a second. We just walked along the road, with hands in hands for some time, until we realized our stomachs growling. After a nice dinner, we continued our walk on the Mall road. There are many view points from where you can see entire Doon valley and to our surprise the view was mystical. The light city in the night was shining like gold. We stood there still, realizing how close we had come in just a day.

Next morning, while Sana took a bath, I lay still with my thoughts blank as if I was struck, struck by love. Sana n I had been in relationship for 2 years now, but I had never felt something like it. My brains went numb and I was not able to analyze what I was going through, but the water droplets from her wet hairs on my face brought me back. She had caught while I was lost in my dreamland and took the advantage of it. I enjoyed the drops pouring down from her long hairs on my cheek n with a smile I surrendered to the ‘lost world’.

I had always been a rational person, never had feelings for any person, but for the first time, I felt something like this. It was weird but I found it wonderful when it came to me. I still wonder if it was Sana, or her love but whatever it was made us closer than we ever were. With the beautiful hills, the winter, the chilling breeze and my love around I decided to let myself lose to ‘it’.

How do you do...

In our industry...the BIG IT industry, Only thing that we gain are some extra pounds (specially near our stomach) n black eyes (without creating any fuss) and if you are lucky enough an increment in a year. But there is one vicious incremental cycle that we all go through everyday.  When the shift begins this is how we are at out seats ‘L’ and by lunch ‘\_’… it’s only the angle that gets an increment. Completing 9.5 hrs in office…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. phew, seems like an eternity. This according to me is the major cause of the cracking backs and the creaking chairs. But there is one lovely thing that keeps popping up and that’s a ‘short nap’ :D

       

It is my everyday routine to take some of these lovely things during the day….well definitely if you don’t have any work and you have spent an era in ‘The Free Pool’ and what you did back then was wake up all night and sleep all day :D…sssshhh it’s a secret ;) you will love its visit at least once in a day.

    

Just like drawing a rangoli, a painting on water, sand art and driving in places like Bangalore and Bareilly (of the places I’ve visited), sleeping at work is also an art which is practiced in many ways... although it doesn’t include the one Tom practiced in that funny episode of Tom n Jerry (rofl I can recall how he puts toothpicks to open his eye lids and still they break), what I’m talking about is how we do it ;)

        

There are numerous ways…pardon me If I miss any….well here it goes…

   

The Traditional side stand: This is the oldest and the most practiced way of the splendid art (I wonder why its not in VelociQ :P) One hand on the mouse and the other on the desk with your chin resting on your palm, your face gazing at the screen as if a guy looking at his dream girl, but here with your eyes closed. I always wake up when my finger becomes too heavy for the mouse n the right click is pressed.

   

Eyes Wide Open: Well this is a hard one.. you need a lot of practice for it, but once mastered no one can interrupt you in your Disneyland. I am practicing this one and do enjoy being a Jack of it ;)

   

Just Gaze: I will give it the 2^nd prize in the most used methods. It’s very simple and every one can try. Just place both your hands on your cheeks and gaze at your screen as if you are working on a serious thesis on some topic in quantum mechanics.

   

I am Reading: God has given us two hands… and we do make the best out of it….. open any pdf or any project related FS document :P scroll down about 20 pages at least n scroll it such that it depicts you are reading somewhere in the middle of the page n tadaa…. that’s all the hard work..now place you hand on your forehead covering your eyes…Mission Accomplished..!!

   

Use your spects: Although this is only for the people who wear one, but can be quite handy specially when you are in a session. I used to sleep for hours in my TRP theory sessions even while sitting in the second row all thanks to these spects :D

   

I Wasn’t sleeping: Sleep like a pig mates….no offence but I mean it… sleep all you want until (in case) someone comes and wakes you up… Ill share an incident that happened with me.. but I’ll try to keep it short…

Back when I was in BPO I was assigned to a process but the training would start only after two days and there wasn’t any room allocated so we had to spend all day in the bay…. so one day I was sleeping like a pig :P n one of the senior HR passed by…. She poked me..I didn’t wake…she shook me lightly…I didn’t wake…she literally shook me n my chair with full force…I did not wake up… n then she turned back to my friend and the moment she spoke ‘Why is this guy sleeping here’ I woke up and realized that it was me the cause of discussion…n she realized that I had waken up from my slumber…..

HR lady to me: ‘U were sleeping’

Me (with overwhelming confidence): ‘I wasn’t sleeping’

HR (shocked): I literally shook you and you wouldn’t reply. If you are not well consult a doctor or go to the dormitory.

Me: Deep silence

Saying this she continued to where she was headed.

       
Don’t hesitate to practice the legen…….dary  ;) methods but be cautious…don’t snore or you’ll get caught ;) :P

    

So pals…..How do you DO….??

Haunted Hotel..!!

It was a dark stormy night and the lights went out, I picked up the receiver to call the reception to check for power backup or candles, but no one picked up. It was about mid-night, and it was freezing in Shimla. I was with my girlfriend Ritu, who was already getting goose-bumps, so I cuddled her, and turned on my mobile flash. Even after a while there was no response or power backup so I decided to go to the reception to check it personally. At first she hesitated, but agreed to accompany me as she would be more scared alone in the room.          

The door opened with a creaking noise, thundering clouds, lightning and the long dark hallway made it a perfect location to shoot a horror movie. We slowly made our way to the stairs, but something that was fishy was that no one else was there. I wondered where the rest of the people disappeared. There was a weird image on the stairs that looked like a weird man trying to get through a door which it turned out to be the shadow of a rat which was nibbling something on the window 

We continued after a little chuckle to the next floor where we found an old man covering himself completely in a shawl standing with a lantern. I asked him if he knew any thing and he dint speak a word, I asked him again Sir, Do you know anything about the power backup here and a he lifted his hand slowly and a trembling finger pointed towards the other end of the hallway. We checked that way to find the MCBs which were all tripped. Just when we thought we had the solution to the problem, all we ended up was the another long hallway, yes the MCBs did not work.

The moment we turned around towards the stairway, the old man reappeared out of no-where turning us pale n making us scream in fear.  We ran towards the stairs, and more dark images kept appearing and blocking us on the way. We closed our eyes and just kept running until those people disappeared. But we were lost in the long hallways and were very scared. The old man’s sudden appearance still haunted us.

Somehow we made it to the reception on the ground floor. A bit scared but in anxiety she pressed the call bell, and suddenly the lights went on and all our friends had gathered with a cake for the birthday of my sweet Ritu. Well she took some time to realize what was happening and then it was her fists and me, she literally beat me to pulps and then gave me a teddy bear hug. I kissed her forehead and whispered in her ears…’Happy B’Day My Love’ and we all celebrated her birthday and enjoyed till dawn.

It was a lovely night.

How do I explain…How much I love ‘U’!!

When you ask if I love u

When you ask if I care

When you ask what u mean to me

When you ask will u be there….

   

I never answer but I just smile…

Its not coz I don’t love U, Its not coz I don’t care…

It’s only U that means to me…

The beginning of my world and my end…

  

When u are not near… there’s no ray of hope…

There’s no happiness without u.. its all set to doom

There is no other way for me….my life is with u

Walking along…seeing u laugh…

   

I love to pamper …n u love when I care

But u hate me quite…n I love your stare

You are like a baby…When you’re in my arms

Ages go by…yet the moment never last

    

It’s blissful to see you when you sleep on my chest

Like a kid who has no sense of the world..

Lost in your own world…full of fairy tales…

With a heart of an angel..no mourn no regrets

   

I love you when u yell at me..coz I stay mum..

I just smile..watch u take away my despair

The truth is I love you..more than I say..

But how do I explain to u…I love you so much..

Cheese Grill

It goes back when I joined a BPO while looking for a job that suited my profile. I started with the deadly graveyard shift, which though turned out to be fun. Back in college I was habitual of spending all night up and also being present in the first lecture :D so it was cool with me. It was a month’s training before I could get a process this one month was rocking, I never thought it was so much fun in training.. specially ‘The Hot Seat’, but that’s  not the story… :P here goes the real one.

After my training I was in the worst shift for me which was 0700-1600hrs. The cab would arrive at 5:45 and it was troublesome for me to wake up that early. One fine day I went to the cafeteria at morning 6:30 and after looking for something that could suffice my hunger, I ordered a cheese grill and that was ‘The moment’. I realized that a beautiful girl extremely fair what you can call as milky white, in a pink suit standing next to me made the same order. The sun through the leaves falling on her face, she looked like a shimmering angel. She stood there without even noticing me, took her cheese grill and joined her friends; well I did the same and continued with my work. Everything was the same, cranky customers who won’t turn on there PC and say that my internet is not working, heavy call flow, intentionally putting the call on hold for line checks :P but today was different, no matter how hard I tried I could not stop thinking about her. Thought kept pouring in my mind..will I see her again?, n blab la….they kept coming. Sooner than I realized I was done with the shift. This was the first time it ended so soon.. at least seemed to ;) . Off the floor, my eyes were busy looking for her everywhere but in vain.

The next day I woke up before the pickup call dressed up nicely n was waiting for my cab. Even the driver was amazed with this unusual change which was going to become pretty usual ;) I reached office n went straight to the cafeteria grabbed a chair n started waiting for my friends :P but down inside I was waiting for her. I waited for some time until it was getting late for the shift I went to the counter and ordered a cheese grill..ah forgot to mention that cheese grill is the best I’ve ever had, overwhelming with cheese..mmmm Man I miss it.

And when I was waiting for it a hand came from behind my shoulder n a soft voice fell on my ear drums ‘One cheese Grill please’ and suddenly the gloomy day turned bloomy ;)  it was her, the shimmering angel. Today it was a white suit with design of petals, I could not stop myself and turned back to see her, but this time she noticed. Innocence spread all over her face she was looking very sweet and gorgeous. But soon this time was over, we took our cheese grills and joined our friends and we continued our routines. This went for a while meeting at the counter ordering cheese grills, she realized what we both loved and the noticing turned into smiles and with it our friends tease.

Things went on every morning until I got through the Wipro off campus, it was all so sudden I didn’t get any time. I moved to Bangalore and my first day when I was in the cafeteria, I realized that I would miss the cheese grill with my shimmering angel.