Octopus, as I call him!

This person is an inescapable part of my life. Siblings may not be by blood but by choice and he takes undue advantage of the same.

I have always been a victim of his embarrassing acts in the public. So imagine we are going somewhere, he notices a group of girls and he shouts out loudly "Shweta". He is so certain that, there is at least one Shweta in it, even if there is none someone will turn back for sure. Now I'm the pillion rider who should take this. To my nightmares it such transpired that the girls turned out to be my own friends on several occasions and I did not know where to duck my face.

He annoys the hell out of me every single time we see each other. He never wastes any potential opportunity to insult me, as a result of which he went up to calling me Angru on Social Media. He thinks it's a Sunday when Angru smiles! Just hold your index finger at an angle of 45 degrees to your nose. This is what he always does and thinks that really looks like the red angry bird. Am I so ugly?

Image Source: Google

If you are a trouble and so much trouble then you should hang out with him. Frequency matches for sure you know! I’m more inclined to be annoyed that it’s basically a timepass trick to make me feel annoyed about myself, and perhaps by extension, he thinks I’m a cute little devil. You know, so I buy all the stories from him.

A few years ago something terrifying happened, and it was ought to happen with him being around. Looking back on that day, I can say that it happened only because of him. At times, it appears that mishaps happen when you get exposed to dangerous situations or you venture out to some odd places and people. You don't really have to go to Syria or Pakistan or walk on a lonely road at 12 AM on a New Moon Day. Calamity could strike to you with Octopus's presence and as simple as that. That day, I went out with my childhood best buddy for her shopping. It was that day we were terribly late and we rushed home in an autorickshaw. When it was almost home but 7-8 minutes more, the auto driver denied to take that road as it was dug in all possible routes. He did not want to put his auto into an emotional athyachar. So we had to walk from there onwards on a dark road. We saw a bike approaching at full speed, I was little scared. She was terribly upset thinking it were those guys who bother her every alternate day on her way to college. And, then I hear Shweta! Shweta! Shweta!. And the pillion rider burrows his face laughing out loud. Abruptly there is pin drop silence. I hear "Pinky le Pinky". And then bike fled in extraordinary speed and disappeared. My friend was completely shattered. But I could not confess to her who it was. As I reach home, I see people laughing like crazy narrating what had just happened. My mom was standing there yelling at Octopus and another friend of ours.

Once, Octopus and his friend were riding back from Dharwad to Hubli and it was a midnight. Humor as it over flows out of him, something interesting can be expected out of him every single time. So coming back to that dark night, they were almost half the way and somewhere near Navanagar. There was an innocent man walking along the road side. They stopped the bike and asked him 'which way is Navrang?' the man answered - 'Sir this is Navanagar'. They still insisted him to guide the way to Navarang. The man said, sir Navarang is in Bangalore and this is Navanagar. A little suspicious as it turned out to be, the man asked where did you come from? The 2 gentlemen showed their hand towards the dark hill, towards which there is not even a road that exists. The terrified man started running at his max speed. These 2 started laughing at their highest and followed him. The scared poor man vanished in no time.

Crazy? Yes, he is. This is very little about him. When he used to travel to Dharwad for his first job on a daily basis there were numerous incidents of him putting everyone into good laughter. And Sir ji used to tie a hand kerchief around his mouth and laugh. So that nobody get to know he is laughing all alone. Oh man! After relocating to Bangalore, that every conductor he met, he asked them if the bus goes to Jamestic! Heights, ain't it? Who would ever call Majestic as Jamestic ! At times, the conductors were so confused they used the same word, while others were courteous and tried to correct him thinking he is a new person in the town.

During my graduation time, a lot of my friends joined the college where he was studying. Errr! Most of them were victims of his pranks. He stood near the staircase and screamt "Pishub" and "Dishkyaon" and what not with his hands folded like a Gun! He once ragged my bestie and asked her to salute him each time she saw him. Only as a matter of fact, he had not recognized her as my friend and he continued to rag her. While my bestie enjoyed the drama, knowing who he was. Crazy :)

Octopus is a big time CID fan. He makes his 73 years old father to dance on Sundara Sundara and calls his mother Meenu Amma as Sundari Kutty:) He is my primary line of defence. Careful, Octopus is my brother! He might kill you with his PJs. He is a self-proclaimed Living Legend! He prefers to add Sir as a prefix to his name. He aims to have a statue of him at the busiest roads of Hubli! Lol who thinks of something like this? But this man does.

I know, as crazy as it sounds this man is a Legend in his own ways :) People when secretly peek into my phone when it rings with the name as Octopus, might really wonder who the hell is this person? Well, I don't remember that day, when I named him as Octopus!

Image Source: Google

Luv,

V

Hota reth hai par lagta pani!

Disclaimer: It is highly unlikely that any sentiments expressed in this short story in any way coincide with those of any other person in any way associated with me :) . It is purely my work of fiction. My Mind is full of nonsense :P 

She resisted change, even when she knew it was a source for her growth. She was in a deep grief over something. She sobbed and only the pillows could know what was befalling deep within her. She wanted to get out of it and she had no clue what to do. She thought it was time to end all the pain. She fell deep asleep. 

She woke up when the sun rays were really harsh and she could feel them on her face. She tried to pull the blanket on, to only apprehend that, she was feeling paralyzed. No touch responsiveness. She was appalled. She instantly looked around to check where she was. She was in the living room and her family was around. She was relieved for a minute. She closed her eyes to doze all over again. And this time, she woke up with the disturbance around. She yelled at everyone to allow her sleep. But nobody could hear her.

She was alarmed by the changes. At first, she felt numb and now that nobody bothers to hear her. Mystified yet trying to convince herself she murmured "Stop Stressing, everything will be fine". Then it was the freaking revelation that when she last slept she was in her flat at Mysore. Now she was in her hometown. Whoa! What's happening? It did not take her much time to realize that there was something really freaky. But she was too stressed to do anything at that point. She overlooked the circumstances. 

After a while, she heard her mother cry in intense sorrows. She finally decided to wake up and know what happened. She noticed a grave silence once again. Meanwhile, her mother was grieving in pain. She did not understand why. Her sister was in an unrecoverable shock, brother was banging his head. And the father was the only man who was taking care of all despite all the heart-wrenching thing that befell to the family. She went to each one and asked what happened. Nobody responded and she felt ignored by each one of them. 

She thought I was already enough ignored by the rest of the world and now that my family too! She looked at the centre of the living room in aghast. Who was that? She thought she was sleeping there and now she still finds someone lay in deep sleep. She was double puzzled and went nearer to watch closely. She jumped and turned away. "Is that me? Is that really me?", she asked everyone in the room.

Image Source: Google

It was beyond all her imaginations. She stood in front of her mother to tell her - "I'm right here, don't cry *Amma". She looked at her father, the reality had hit him so hard that he could hardly bear it. Her siblings did not understand how to embark on this long sad journey. She wanted to wipe each one of their tears. She wanted to yell out loudly that she is there and right there. Nothing seemed to work. Her voice did not seem to reach anyone. She recalled the grief she was in last night. "That wasn't anything at all, I could easily sail through it. I somehow could have sustained all that, I could bounce back to a better life if not in a day but at least in a year's time. But! What went so wrong? So wrong that I do not have another chance?"

She shifted her focus to others in the room. She saw her friends grieving. She looked at her grandparents who kept telling everyone why are we so unfortunate to have lived up to this day? Relatives were trying hard to console her family. She started looking for her best female friend who stayed abroad. She wondered, will I be here at least until she comes to see me? Or I shall be moved out of my own home? She was saddened to not find her best male friend, she remembered the fight they had a few months back. She asked herself, am I so bad that he did not even come when I lay here lifeless? 

It was a series of flashbacks she was presented with - An argument with Amma, which she should not have taken beyond a point. The last time she hugged *Appa. Her twin siblings and their birthday celebration that she personally arranged as a surprise. A long walk with grandparents early in the morning. Her long talks with her best friends. 

She said - I never told Amma and Appa how much I loved them. I never told Ayush and Arya they were not only my siblings but my god gifted treasures and I loved them. Even though Grandma and Grandpa would not get fascinated with 'I love you' but I could have told them they are my favourite. I could have told Anu, my best friend that she is the best one that ever happened to me. Mum couldn't have handled us as sisters so she was sent as my best friend, I was hoping to see her once and tell her that I love her. I could have said Dhruv, even though we fought every day and he stopped talking to me, he was the best pal always and my 'go to person' anytime and anywhere. If he had spoken once, for now, I could tell him how much I love him. 

There in the corner is the little Ginger, he always licked on the face just to show his love. I always punished him for biting my footwear but the next time I visited he poured all his love on me. Now he is sad and is weeping too. I wanted to go back and undo all the punishments I gave to Ginger. I wanted to tell everyone in that room that they mean a lot to me. 

********************************************

She suddenly felt a jerk and a scream. Khushiiiiiii! It's 12 noon. Go freshen up and you can have your brunch yelled Ruthu. Khushi opened her eyes to see Ruthu in front of her. Khushi cried in joy. She immediately hugged Ruthu and told her "You are the most terrific roomie and yet I love you". She called up home and spoke to Amma, Appa, Ayu and Arya. She told each of them that she loves them, they asked if she was alright. She sent a WhatsApp message to Anu that she loves her. She dropped a text message to her long lost friend Dhruv that she was sorry and he was her most lovable friend. 

She woke up with a new lesson of life. She learnt the epiphany of life. The past will always be behind you, it's your choice to look back or not. Be anything but Happy. Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you. 

She said to herself - *"Hota reth hai par lagta pani"!

Image Source: Google


Note: *Amma - Mother, *Appa - Father and *Hota reth hai par lagta pani - A Mirage!

-Luv
V

That Tall Handsome Man!

A shiver runs through me thinking of him. Everything about him is so special and so unique. He is always been appreciated by many. Every other acquaintance of him I personally met had something to tell about him. Tons of things I learnt through his acquaintance about him made me feel more special. He was like that magical rock, to whom everyone went with their problems. And that includes me too. I call it "Happiness for real", ignoring all the tears I shed.

I recently attended a family friend's wedding. It was obvious to meet many known people. Initially, I was hesitant to face a lot of them but I eased through it. I entered the function hall in a blue silk saree and greeted so many uncle and aunties with hands folded. More than half of them said, "Oh look who is grown up, the little Pinky". I was shy! And they said, had he been here, wouldn't that be great? I nodded my head in acknowledgement.

Memories and people from the past can be pleasant and at times equally painful. If you decide to smile at the odds, you will have only the pleasant thoughts greeting you. A little later, a lady in her late 50s came to us. She was gentle and kind. She smiled and asked my mother "Vahini(word used to address a woman as sister-in-law) how are you?". My mother responded to her and wished her for the "Rashtra Prashasthi". "Had he been here, he would be over the moon. wouldn't he?" asked the lady. She started to narrate a small story of hers.

"I was earning Rs. 400 per month in a private school then, it was he who got an application form. He filled it up neatly and pushed me out of the house to submit the application. I then submitted the application and joined the Government services. He ensured to see that I get the joining within Hubli taluk. No less than a God to me, while my Maithili and Vaidehi were little kids. Tears were rolling constantly as she continued to speak. There was this other man standing there along with us, who now silently fled the sight. She said, what kind of a friend is this person? He doesn't have a little patience to hear about his own friend. Meanwhile, other women there opened up to say "No wonder why you are such a kind and helpful woman, were you not there, we would not get to eat a meal a day". She stated, it is he who made my life and, in turn, yours'. I will remain thankful to him till my eyes close forever.

Now that I had spent more than half a day in hearing appreciations of this man, I went into a series of flashbacks. This one is a simple yet small one:

It was a summer evening, I had returned home after visiting a friend on a Saturday noon. For reasons unknown, I'm a games freak. I played a lot of it and returned by evening. I saw this man resting on the bed and I jumped on the bed. Silently sat on his "little-big-tummy". He opened his eyes and asked what I wanted. Little hesitant and scared as I was at the moment, I said "Video Game". Little did I know, what was coming - I just put forth my demand. Till then, there were no instances I ever dared to demand anything. I was a low maintenance child then. He calmly walked out of the room and freshened up and dressed up smartly with shirt neatly tucked in, a rare collection watch, footwear polished so well to shine and combed with few Bajaj Almond drops. I assumed my demand was blindly rejected, I went and sat in one of the corners of the room. He then came over and asked If I was ready yet? I looked here and there and grinned instantly. Jumped out of the bed and dressed up in no time. That evening, I got my first 'Brick Game' Home. What a delight that was.

Although he was very strict yet he was jovial, very disciplined yet super cool; he was witty yet he was kind and caring. And he was my Hero.

That Tall Handsome Man is My Father!

 The most important influence in my childhood was my father.My father was my teacher. But most importantly he was a great Dad. Today as I write this memoir, I apprehend it is exactly 15 long years, that I've lived only with the memories. There is a complete void in me. Today, when I hear all the great stories by others that he never mentioned to us, I wish I could thank him enough for all that he was. I wish I could tell him I how much I admired him. I wish I could bring him back. I wish he could hold me before I fall. I wish he punished me when I broke the rules. I wish he could shine with pride over my success. I wish and I wish!!

I want to hug him for once and say "How much I missed him for all these years". I revived all those special remembrances his friends shared with us. He left footprints of kindness wherever he went. I now wonder about those, whom my father supported, took care of, educated, nurtured and made a good human-being. Benevolence begins at home, yes it indeed. As I recall, there were a number of relatives and family friends who lived in my house along with us, like us and completed their education. But there are many more untold random acts of kindness. Today, I feel my dad must be happy, wherever he is as he see them successful.

I still wake up with dreams of my Dad visiting us in his vacations, I still get frightened to talk to him looking straight into his eyes in my dreams. I still wish that was real. I still feel proud for he was multitalented. I still wait to sleep only to see him again. There is a deep-seated need to fill the unfillable void. But I'm sure the strongest guy I ever met would never want to see me broken.  

In the walk of life,
We pass joys and pain.
There will be sunshine and rain;
There will be loss and gain.
But we must learn to smile again and again.

My first article about the most dignified and the noble soul. Had he been here he would have gracefully aged with gray hair and nearing to his retirement life. But he rather resides in each of us in my home. And now I know, why there is a little bit of heaven in my home :)

-Love,
That Tall Handsome Man's Daughter :)

Woman of my age!

Not only magical but also the most mysterious presence on earth. Nobody ever knows what is in a woman's mind. I read an interesting phrase that goes like this "A woman's mind is like thousands of browsers open in a system", which is like close to impossible to understand by a normal being.

The first few years after the graduation program is a happy phase in one's life. The time phase where you are self-dependent and living life king size. After which comes the difficulty. You are neither a college pass-out fresher nor a little girl of the family any longer. There comes the middle 20's crisis.

Like many friends of mine, I was also given a time period of 3 years after graduation to either continue my studies or to work. I chose to work as it was more liberating (at least, I thought so), meanwhile, my best buddies started their preparations to study further. They also ensured to prepare well for their GRE and to get into the reputed Universities (Germany and USA ). Well, some friends were busy making their Career here in India and others had special cases :P

So, that's the background!

To be very frank, I wasn't much keen on to study further. I thought, I cannot afford another 40-50Ls on my studies, so why not continue to work. But only later that I realized, it was one shit of a reason I was giving myself to stop myself from studying :P So when this realization happened on an auspicious day, under my room's roof and fan I thought I should study. So the immediate weekend I made my way to the Avenue Road, Bangalore :P

I bought, at least, half a dozen books - The Official Guide, The Kaplan, Manhattan and a couple of more books. I made sure to go with my brother so that he'll carry all the heavy books :P :P He was really happy to see the changed me in this regard. The time when all the fellow parents of my friends were forcing them to get married, mine were suggesting me to go and study :D I was a real junk, to have ignored their words. Nevertheless, at least, I made my mind to start preparation. I started to attend the online discussions seriously. Wow! It was good to read the books only to fall asleep after a hectic work day. Only after a month or two, my work schedule was worsened to make it at least 12 hrs a day and I reached home only at 11 PM. 

So, so what? I quit my preparations. I had no explanation to give to my family and they were kind enough to understand the situation, even though my brother never missed any chance to taunt me looking at "The Official Guide 2013" left undusted on my table. Well, poor me! It wasn't intentional, but I failed in my endeavor to study further(I'm not a loser though :P). It was back then, I used to work with "ABC" organization. I really don't know how this stint with ABC has been a blessing in disguise. I made a lot of friends there. No wonder, this place put a lot of people under "Are you nuts like me" test and to my surprise I found a handful nuts just like me :D Yayy!! They were qualified enough to be with this nut.

It was then during my initial days of employment, I thought I wasn't paid enough to do my job. But who cares? I was just another employee to them. I slogged my ass off during a phase of career to prove my mettle. It was rewarding every time when I got this appraisal rating as Exceeds All. But was that all? Isn't there anything else to life? Nah baby nah, there is so much more to it. A time where most of my friends were either married or getting engaged, to my nightmares some of them were already a mother of one. *And, Here I am - this is me, There's nowhere else on earth I'd rather be. 

So this seed of thought about a daughter's marriage was already sown in my family's mind. Whereas, my mind was all into working more harder and getting the next promotion. There was nothing else I could think beyond this. It was a routine to talk to all my close buddies at least over the weekend, and more often than less the only question I used to go blank at was - "So, VJ when is your wedding? Is the hunt on? What plans? Are you going around with anyone or family is looking for a groom? Are you planning to continue to work in the same place later too? " Grrr!! Gimme a break. All I wanted to say was "Hey I'm blank at this question" but I rather always end up saying "Hey, not as of now, maybe next year".

Tick tock tick tock! Mid 20s crisis had already begun, Career or Family to be. Damn! I kinda was in a relief when an uncle of mine had read my palm and ended up saying - late wedding is expected. I was more like, I can have a couple of more crushes :P he he he :P I ain't a machine you see, my friends from Cadence will understand this crush scene very well :P It wasn't my mistake, I rather blame my nature for not going and talking to any of my crushes. On a serious note, crush remains just a crush, as my first workplace hardly ever gave me a chance to see the same person again :D Like every other person of my age, I had to save money and start preparing for the next phase of life. But, I'm sure none actually saved any penny at that point, It wasn't possible also. A few friends of mine are already happily married for more than 3 years now, And, Here I am - this is me, There's nowhere else on earth I'd rather be. 

There are times, I was told I look plumper than I ever was, my skin isn't fresh and glowing etc. Ewww! Is it all about the Quarter Life Crisis? At times I questioned myself, lol, what am I doing with my life? I knew who I was in the morning, but I changed a few times since then. When I was sick, I googled my problems only to find out that I was going through quarter life crisis :P 

Now, I am a grown up me for sure but also more stupid, ridiculous and as childish as ever (Contradictory, but one can be combinational :D). When I had to first(the only one yet) see a guy for a family proposal, I literally stood in my room with my mom and bro and said- "I'm not walking outside, this is so ridiculous". My mother was shocked at my behavior when the guests were already seated in the hall. No that wasn't my mistake again, I would rather indict the child within me.

I woke up many times with this early morning dream, where I got married to an unknown, unseen person in the reception area of my workplace :D Sounds crazy? Well, it almost took my life away. How the heck can one even dream something like this repeatedly? Only after I left my first workplace, this dream hasn't recurred, Luckily. Now, my friends still do ask me the same questions like they used to years ago, I still end up saying "Maybe next year" and I immediately start asking about their husband or the little one they have (to change the topic) :P I haven't changed a bit over this period, but the life itself has changed a lot. When I turn back and see, it's a collective bunch of changes. 

I am now at a new workplace, I left my friends behind and I am extremely guilty about it. I do every bit to catch up with them along with "trying hard and harder to fit into the new workplace". Unfortunately, human needs are insatiable. And we do run after the so-called "Money". No longer I feel, I'm underpaid. But my life isn't as comfortable as it used to be. Today, I still run away from seeing grooms on the online portals or via email communications. I still avoid eye contact with my mother when the discussion begins. And I still feel "I don't know, where my life is leading to". Sometimes, I just crack a pathetic joke saying - "Wow, they opened Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya in my colony"  only to get those dreadful looks from my family :P :D 

Somewhere the same story amongst women of my age :D Some have a better life eased through this phase while others are still trying to fit into. And, Here I am - this is me, There's nowhere else on earth I'd rather be. 

*And, Here I am - this is me, There's nowhere else on earth I'd rather be. -- Courtesy - Bryan Adams. 

P.S:  Courtesy put up for the stolen line :P  Apologies for the long read. Also, this one revolves more around Career and Personal life as chosen topics :)


-Love,
VJ