Spectacular Spectacles

One more 'Year-album' is near over. The chrysantahums have bloomed as always starring with promises unbound. Garden changes, association changes, nature of accomplishments and failures changes, relations and status changes yet December looks that stunning as ever. Every year it looks equally young. It provokes to energize. Looked back, to pick up the most memorable calendar moment.

I meet him for the second time this year. Heard, that he is not a friendly guy. But we rocked in the first meet. It was all by coincidence that we meet the next time in a funeral ceremony. Sense of loss was looming in the house, but he was the only one moving with a smiling face. I had no option but to express my joy of meeting him once more. We exchanged dialogues - sweet nothings. I conveyed him that I need to board a flight and travel back home that evening. He expressed a mixed feelings and urged me to move to the lonely bedroom for a private chat.

Sense of loss was heavy and mind was more tired than body. I wanted to take this opportunity to stretch-out. We moved into the room hand in hand unnoticed by others who were busy in family rituals - more on rules less on relation. I was about to remove my spectacles to close my eyes. He held on to my hands. His small and soft hands tried its best to have a grip on mine. I accepted the defeat to make him happy but raised my eye brows to enquire why?

With a brilliant smile he said - "Dream with your spectacles on , dreams become clear!". Not sure what he thought but I wondered it would be great to have such a spectacle to render dreams clearly. To break our unconventional dating session Meetu - a doctor by professional and a mother of an autistic kid by fate popped in. Meetu and I are connected by relation with the man who had bid a farewell to the world and we had gathered to witness his last rites. I could sense her mental turmoil searching for her only son in a crowded house.

Realizing that her challenged son is in safe custody she wanted to express her gratitude, which earnestly should have come from my end as he was the only piece of happiness in the unrest state of affairs. Meetu's seven years challenged son taught me to dream different. Not sure when we would again get a chance to meet - may be some other family gathering and wish for a better cause.

Gyan #25 Visioning a clear dream is more than reality!

Missed Call - Lost In Time

Story Board – Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4
Series 5
Two Years passed by. A call from the commercial capital of India to the capital of the country. This is what would be displayed on the call details of the itemized bill for Anurag. But for now it was an usual morning call between mother and son. Command and demand follows a very tricky lane in this relation which only a mother and a son can relate.

- “When do you plan to come down to Delhi?” – The voice was very accommodating.

- “Not sure ma” – Anurag said

- “Beta, it is long time and both of us feel you should get married” – a helpless mother continued.

- “You carry on with my bride hunt, sincerely I have no time". Anurag candidly replied.

Such answers do hurt his mother’s sentiments.To lighten her mood he put forward not so urgent an interrogation immediately.

- Did you go out to dine with papa yesterday?” – Anurag asked with added care in his voice.

- “No, but your Srivastav uncle had turned up yesterday. ……..” She opened up a can of stories, but what struck Anurag was the name Srivastav uncle.

Some names are tied to some more! Sharmilee’s smiling face flashed his mind. He fiddled with his mobile and pressed the joystick up and down the contact name – “Missed Call”.

Last night he had a terrible headache and had decided to take a day off. It was Diwali - a long weekend, a good break to rejuvenate. He lay off to sleep after a light lunch. In the master bedroom of the 21st floor of Apex Apartment, Mumbai, Anurag laid in deep sleep.

At other end of the city a training session just got over at Pentacle Building in the same city. It was organized by an upcoming organization that would open up call centers for counseling emotional conflicts. One among the trainee had put up at ‘Guest house’ for Auditors association in Bandra.

Tomorrow is her birthday. She would board Kolkata bound train the next evening and hence a very different birthday morning was expected – with no dear ones around. This city is new to her, as new as her printed salwar suit. With help from local people she took a bus to marine drive. That was a gift that she wanted to pamper herself with, on the eve of her birthday – a celebration that is planned later back at home. The sun was shimmering on the clear water which had no boundary. She recalled so many faces – standing all alone by the sea she was crowded with memories.

In the deep sleep…he was on the last but one ring of a tall ladder with colorful balloons all across. In an attempt to place his foot on the last ring he realized he had nothing to hold onto. His hands were groping in a vacuum and finally unable to balance. A nerve cracking feelings and he fell off the ladder deep down …..He woke up drenched in sweat. He sat five minutes on the bed and then to the wash room.

Anurag desperately wanted to refresh. Sat still for a while and then picked up the key. Left a compact apartment behind and stepped into the lift that headed for the underground garage. And finally set for a drive to the queens' necklace. Fresh salty breeze is the beauty of this city. He had been there in good and bad days to share lonely moments. Every time he has returned back - marine fresh.

He was driving slowly unlike other days. Unmindfully he cross-passed the road-side open van where a local vendor was selling burnt maize. A profile that he saw by the van bumped his reflex. He pressed the brake and carefully geared back.

Yes, he knew the girl busy paying off the vendor. A quick press on the mobile touch phone. Eyes were glued to observe her.

Look Fwd >> Series 6
Home sweet Home
She guessed it to be an early birthday wish from Priya in New York.

He kept watching how she had hold on to the hot burnt maize between her thin lips with a desperate attempt to open her leather bag and pull out her mobile. Her gestures were making his adrenal run faster than ever.

Sharmilee was awestruck. Her mobile display screen showed ‘Anurag Calling’ ….This contact detail was dormant for so long that it took a while to believe. She accepted the call and softly lifted the handset to her ear length.