She went and washed her face and fell loosely on the couch staring aimlessly at the wall. Her eyes fell on the calender hanging on the opposite wall. A cold shiver ran down her spine and before she knew a tear drop tumbled down her cheeks. She took a deep breath and wiped the tear of her cheeks. It had been 20 years now, but the wounds were still fresh in her soul.

29th December 1991, Mithya was returning home after attending her coaching classes. It was a cold stormy winter night and Mithya was running back home before the last light went off. Just as she reached the corner of the street that adjoined her house and the Kali temple, she met Kalp , her fathers’ younger brother. Kalp , two years elder to Mithya was a notorious lad whose only work was to trouble the village girls. Mithya did not like her uncle or his behavior and always kept a distance from him.

He stopped Mithya and asked her to sit on his cycle so they could reach home faster, Mithya politely refused and continued walking , when Kalp stopped her again and in an authoritative voice asked her to sit on the cycle. Mithya , not wanting to raise the anger of her father , sat at the back of his cycle, for she knew had she refused Kalp would have complained to his brother. They reached home in a few minutes, drenched.

Mithya ran inside calling out to her mother, but got no response. She turned around to check in the neighborhood when Kalp told her that her parents had gone to her mothers’ village and would only return the next evening.

A fear ran down her spine. She had always doubted her young uncle’s intentions and detested the idea of being alone with him on any given circumstances.

She decided to quickly eat her meal and go to her room. She quickly finished her meal and ran to her room. She knew her uncle will call her for some work or the other and so she decided to sleep early to avoid summoning to her uncles’ demands. She turned off the lights and lay still in her bed. She could here Kalps’ footsteps outside her door. He peeped in to see what she was up to and then went away for a while. Mithya, breathed a sigh of relief and decided to sleep. It was almost an hour now when Mithya felt something awkward around her. She tried to jump out and reach for the lights, but a hand tightly held her , restricting her movements . She tried to scream out for help , but Kalp quickly gagged her . He then tied her hands to the bedpost and entered her body repeatedly fondling with her body. She tried to scream and cry for help, but her shoved the piece of cloth that gagged her deeper , almost choking her. He then ran down his tongue across her cheeks and then her neck and then further lower down her body. He then got up and left the room , after untying her.

Mithya lay there agonizing in pain and trauma…. shivering. She did not get ready for the school next day. Kalp entered her room in the evening again warning her not to breathe a word about the incident. Her parents came in the evening and she went to meet her mother, who sensed something wrong.

She entered Mithya’s room later that night asking her what had happened . Mithya just caught her mother and started crying. After a lot of cajoling Mithya finally told her mother of the gruesome incident. Her mother was shocked and disgusted.

She decided to go to Mithya’s father and ask him to throw his brother out of the house. Mithya’s father a true chauvinist, on hearing this reacted in a very heated manner and asked Mithya and her mother to leave the house immediately.

He believed Mithya tempted his brother and forced herself upon him . He said she was a harlot and accused her mother of not teaching her daughter the right values. Mithya was a black mark on her fathers’ name and he wished for her to leave with her mother immediately. Mithya stood there motionlessly while her mother gathered their clothes and left the house dragging Mithya behind her.

20 years now, but the wounds of that night are still fresh in her mind. With the help of the NGO where she now works, she filed a case against Kalp ten years ago. She still patiently waits for justice and lives each day in the hope to achieve it.

He was standing on the ground floor of the nearest mall, alone. Was he waiting?
No.

He was enjoying. Enjoying watching the couples go by him. It was his way of enjoying the valentines day. He liked laughing on the couples as they passed by him. He always thought he knew their future:

…poor fellas! Looking very happy today as they are together just to move on to the situation of disintegration.!

He was enjoying his moment of prediction just when:

“Excuse me! Are you alone?” He was surprised to see a girl ask him this question.

“yes why?”

“Can I stand here?” She said pointing beside him.

“Yeah.  I don’t own this place.” Obviously, he didn’t.

“Thanks”

He was a little surprised and thought of asking the reason for this behaviour, but  the joy of watching the couples and smiling, no, laughing at them overcame the urge of questioning.

As another couple passed by, he giggled.

“What?” The girl asked.

“What what?”

“What are you giggling at?”

“You ask too many questions.”

“Yeah. But thats not my answer.” She said with complete disregard to his feelings. She certainly knew nothing about them.

“You wont understand.”

“Try it.”

“I laugh at the couples.”

“What?”

“Yeah. See I told you, you wont understand.”

“Elaborate.” She demanded.

“Well, I know their future.”

“And what is it?”

“They are too happy for living together today. They are enjoying walking hand in hand, feeding on a single icecream, watching movies together, giving gifts and making others jealous and making love in some cases, which they will regret in there near future as they will disintegrate. Especially the boy. He wont have a penny left with him at the end of the day, but still will feel like the richest man on earth, just to regret.”

She watched him for a while and analysed what he said and responded, “How lowly?”

” I told you, you wont understand.”

“Naa. Not everyone is like that. Atleast, I’m not like that.”

“Hmm..I barely know you.”

“Well. Anyways, nice to meet you. I need to go now.”

“But what were you here for?”

“My ex-boyfriend.”

“But he didn’t come. Did he?”

“Well. I told him to move on as I’m with someone else now. So, he wanted to see me with someone”

“So?” He still didn’t understand.

” He is there…” She showed him a boy going back, looking sad. “…and he saw us together.”

Saying this she started moving towards the parking.

“hey!” He shouted. She turned back.

“Bye” He said with a smile as he thought,

USED, ONCE AGAIN..!

PS: Someone asked me, “why do you keep hurting yourself when you are in love.?”And I said, ” Because YOu are in love.”

Prologue

“Ugh?…enough baby. You have already offered me a lot today”

“You don’t want it from me?”

“No, I meant Yes I want, when it is you who is giving me, I’m always happy to get”

It is the seventh time she was kissing on me on the phone from the time we started talking. I couldn’t deny the truth that we have been associated with each other with love for the past 2 years and she was the one who proposed me first. She has accomplished a very difficult task.

It was an unexpected encounter with Divya, a year ago, the days when I was just any other stranger to her.

“OK what are you doing? Done with today’s work?” She enquired.

“Yea, going to start. We’ll go out for dinner today. Are you game?”

“Ok dear, sure I’m game, bye for now”

I opened the work folder for the day’s work.

●●●

Story

The food court adjacent to our office was vast and well air conditioned. The low temperature air molecules engulf you as soon as you open the glass door in the entrance. I usually have my breakfast, lunch and if required dinner too, in this Food Court. It was a cool November month and it was drizzling a bit outside. The weather was nice and this AC added chillness to the season.

“1 Aloo paratha” I said. The guy in the counter handed me a token and I came out of the line to wait for my turn and that’s when she came into the FC.

I’ve ‘seen’ many girls working in our office, but none of them have ever gathered so much attention towards them. I looked at her. She entered the food court with her rosy flower patterned umbrella. Without any delay, she quickly closed it and walked in slowly, quite unsure about where to settle.

Surprisingly she was wearing a Sari. Many of them out here clad themselves in chudidar or sleeveless tops and leggings. I’ve almost saturated looking at all of them. But the visual treat I was experiencing was different. She carried herself with such an ease and her poise look and attitude invited much of my attention.

Her light pink sari added color to the environment. The surroundings were badly missing that color and her presence filled the void. It was a visual delight for the onlookers. Unfortunate that I was one of those and not the only one! Her Saree pallu was embroidered with small cylindrical beads which looked like a pearl. It swayed in air as she walked along the line. The beads dangling in the end of the pallu sent jingles in my ears. Her designer blouse was short, which was neither a sleeveless nor a sleeved one. It was just a mid way between that, which exposed her slim slender arms.

Her mesmerizing eyes spoke thousands of unspoken words which I could not decipher. The fluttering eyebrows reminded me of the tinkling star. The kaajal which outlined her eyes added beauty to the black. Black was no more a sign of inauspiciousness.

She was wearing big round earrings with a small cut in the circle. The circle was incomplete at one point. I thought her circular-ringed ear rings has been broken, but looking at the other ear, gave me an insight on the fashion and trendy accessories of women. It wasn’t broken but it was just an incomplete circle.

My heart wasn’t with me and now mind has started its journey towards her.

“Token no 37… Token no 37” came the announcement. I came back to my senses. I walked towards the counter to get my plate of aloo paratha.

I wish, I get a chance to have breakfast with her.

●●●

Coffee Café Day, Friday 5.00 PM

I was sitting with my friends in the couch for yet-another-treat which was arranged by one of my friends. I was sipping the Green apple soda as I was in diet. I didn’t want to overload my fat with the Double layered cheese pizza, café frappe or the chocolate Sunday. My mobile in my pant pocket vibrated to let me know that someone was calling.

I placed the glass in the table and was about to get up, just then a light soft cloth touched my shoulder and drifted past. It was the duppattah of some girl. Suddenly, I felt someone pulling my shirt near my collar. The threads hanging on the end of the duppattah got stuck in one of the buttons in my shirt that pulled me in the direction.

“Uh oh..Sorry..” I heard the voice and turned back to see who was the girl blessing me with her duppattah. It was she!!!!!

“That’s ok. No problem” I said.

“I didn’t notice, sorry, I never usually leave this so open, and did not know it will get create problem for you” She was talking so hurriedly as if the wings of butterfly flutters over the flower petals.

Obviously it wasn’t any problem for me, I thought

“Oh all right. I can understand that,” I replied. She left the place smiling. My friends giggled and teased me with her.

Uh oh..Sorry…those were the first words she spoke to me.

I wish, I have a coffee with her.

●●●

It was 5.00 pm in my office, when I was hurrying away for the evening bus. Just then she saw me again.

“Hey Hi…remember me?” She blocked my way with her cute smile.

“Hello. I do remember you. Coffee Café Day (CCD), your duppattah…err…” I smiled.

“I didn’t know we work in the same company. Glad to meet you” She said.

Haha, who said? I have been admiring you for the past one week, my inner self spoke.

“Yeah..errr……even I didn’t know that” I fumbled in an effort to conceal my inner thoughts.

“So you seem to be in a hurry it seems?” She asked.

“Yea…no…My bus…I was just,” I couldn’t control my mind. It was speaking all that coming into it.

“Hey what happened? Are you ok?” she was so spontaneous.

“No I was just confused,” I gained my senses and didn’t want to miss this opportunity, so I continued “and I was in a hurry, if you don’t mind shall we go for a coffee?” I offered. I offered a girl for a coffee, neither letting her know my details nor knowing her name and whereabouts.

Both of us took comfortable seats in the CCD.

“2 Cappuccino” I ordered.

“Sorry I did not introduce me, I’m Rajeev and it’s been two years I joined this company.”

“Oh 2 years,” she wondered, “I’m Deepthi, it’s been a year I joined here and I’ve been transferred here a week back.

Oh, alright so I saw you on the first day, I thought.

“I see, are you a Chennaite?” I asked her back.

“No, I was in Bangalore, but transferred here” She replied.

As we were chatting, the coffee arrived and we took the cups. I could see the light brown heart symbol was designed in the surface of the cappuccino using the foam which they usually do.

“Cute na?” she smiled seeing the coffee surface. She liked it. I felt as if, something was throwing hints on me to propose. But, how come, in the first strike itself? I was thinking. I’ll project a bad image to her and I had a fear of losing the game. So I kept silent.

“Rajeev” I heard my name. I realized that I was lost in thoughts. “What happened?” she asked again.

“Nothing, I was just lost in thoughts” I said.

“You are certainly not a guy to go with it seems. How can you lose yourself in thoughts when sitting with a gorgeous 23 year old girl by the side and with a coffee in hand in the busiest places in our office?” She completed with a pause.

You are certainly not a guy to go with it seems. My God, this is not the statement a guy expects from a girl. But I can’t help it. How can I tell her that, I was lost in thoughts only about her?

“No I was thinking, was that you who came into the food court on a breezy and rainy morning in a pink Sari and a rose umbrella.” I didn’t want to tell her the remaining of my admiration.

“Woooooooooww! So you did see me. You were looking at me from some corner is it? Guys are always guys” She frowned cutely.

What did she expect guys to be then? Guys are guys, girls are girls, and animals are animals. I thought.

“Hmmm…can’t help. I admire nature, when something is adding more beauty to it; I can’t help myself enjoying it. It was so colorful that it filled my whole of the eyes. I couldn’t stop myself come out of the ecstasy”

“You naughty, shameless. How can you just tell all this to a woman directly?” She was getting more excited on my statement and spoke in an effort to tease me. I know, none of the guys would have told this straight to any girl.

“I feel nothing wrong in telling this. I’m just telling the truth. I think it is always good to tell things which make others feel good.”

“You are so sweet. I have not seen anybody like you.” She said, “Many guys don’t talk things which they think. Your mind and words are coherent. You are open and I like it”

I was on cloud hundred (I know it is weird and too high. Many of them always reach cloud nine.) But, I was in a state of happiness that nobody can reach. She told I’m so sweet. It is always difficult to get such praising from a girl. But I’ve succeeded in getting one. I’ve made a mark. I’ve never been this much happy when I scored centum in chemistry in my board exams.

“Thank you very much for the compliment” I smiled.

OK, not how to get her number? That was another big task which was at hand.

“Do you know which route bus goes to Adyar?” she asked.

“Oh so you stay in Adyar? Uh…it is bus number 25” I said.

“Yea I stay there and by the way where do you stay?”

“I’m from Triplicane” I said.

“Triplicane? Hey can you do me a favor? I need a book from the National Book House. It is available only in that place.”

I found this a good opportunity to get her mobile number. It is not always easy to get a girl’s phone number. I patted myself “you are doing a good job”

“Yea, no problem, with pleasure,” I looked into my watch and it was 6.10. I had already missed my 5.30 bus. Not wanting to miss this one as well, I told her, “Hey it is 6.10. I’ve to catch my bus. I’ll give my number, just message me the book name and author, I’ll reply once I get one.”

She took her mobile and said, “Tell your number” I couldn’t afford to waste any minute.

“Give your mobile, I will give a missed call to my number and you save it. OK?” I said in a hurry.

“Someone is in hurry, ok here it is”, she handed over the mobile to me. I quickly punched my mobile number in her cell phone and dialed it. It sent a vibration in my mobile.

“OK here it is. Just save it, I’ll message you. Bbye. Oh the bill!!” I remembered the coffee bill. By the time, the waiter arrived with the bill. I gave him the change and both of us left the place.

She walked away slowly to her building. I hurried away towards the bus.

One of my wish came true. I had a coffee with her

●●●

The bus journey was so tiring and I had to quickly finish washing, buying and all other work before 9.30 pm so that I can quickly get back to bed.

I was in my bed and was tweeting from my mobile twitter client. An SMS popped up. It was from her – Incoming Message from Deepthi.

“Hi what are you doing?”

My heart blossomed like the lotus flower, which waits for the first rays of Sun. Happiness occupied my heart. I replied her back.

“I’m trying to sleep, but not able to..:D” I replied.

“Someone is thinking about somebody ” she messaged me back.

“No Deepthi, hehe..not like that, just that I’m not able to sleep” I messaged her.

“Did you get that book?” she asked.

“Yea, its there in my bag. I’ll give u tomo in office” I replied.

“Had dinner?” It was she.

“Yea, I had and wat about you?”

“I tooooooo. Tummy full! ” she replied.

“haha..cool and hey are you free this weekend?”  I replied.

“Yeaaaaaaa, I’m almost. No work this weekend. y r u asking?” She asked.

I wanted to spend time with her. I don’t know what to say. I just wanted to go out with her. I wanted her to be in my sight.

“Nothing, just wanted to go out. I thought you’ll be free so that I can take you along” I said.

“Oh, sure Rajeev, I’ll be there. Where to go?” She asked.

“mmm…haven’t decided yet. We’ll go to City Center and then go for dinner. Is that fine?” I asked.

“Oh okie, I don’t know where these places are. I fully depend on you” She said.

“Sure Deep, you can ” I said. ‘Deep’ that’s how I call her short.

“Hmmm, anyways OK dear Gud nite & Sweet Drmz!! ”

“2 u too Sweet Dreamz!” I replied.

The conversation ended. I looked into the messages again. The mention of the word “dear” seemed to be comforting. A girl will not utter this word to any guy just like that. Only when you get a small place in her heart and you become so adorable, you get this privilege of being addressed as dear

I closed my eyes trying to dive deep into the sleep with her thought bubbles engulfing me. I don’t remember when I slept, but when I woke up, it was 6.00 AM. I got out of the bed and walked towards the bathroom for brushing my teeth.

●●●

Days passed and both of us were comfortable with each other. We met on weekends, spent time together and she had become my integral part of my life.

The next day in office was hectic. I didn’t get much time to ping her in the messenger. I left office early, as I had some work. In the evening, I just remembered that I had not given the book to her yet. I tried calling her number. But the ring went on and nobody picked up. I thought she might be busy and may call me back. I thought I’ll call her back after an hour.

Her mobile was ringing but she is not picking up. I was bit down. I couldn’t talk to her. I boarded my bus and was looking into the book that I bought for her. I kept turning the pages, in a hope that she will call me sometime. I was so much worried about why is she not picking up the call.

I was even talking to her yesterday but what could have happened? These thoughts kept nudging me.

●●●

I tried calling her again and again. I sent mail to her external email ID, to her corporate email. I even sent her a message to call me, if she sees my message. But to my disappointment, I didn’t get any message or call from her.

A week passed. I enquired about her with my friends. I do not know any of her friends here. I was clueless on what to do. Her mobile number was the only contact I have with me. I wanted to express my interest on her. I wanted to express my love. But when everything comes in coherence, the time, an opportunity and a weekend, she herself is not available.

My days passed like hell. Has she got a transfer again? She went to Bangalore again? I had no information. My routine has become mechanical. I worked like a zombie. I came, I worked, I left. I spent all days in her thoughts.

It was almost a month.  One evening when I was at home lying down in the bed, I got a call in my mobile which changed my life.

I picked up the call, in an anticipation that Deepthi might call. She will tell me that she lost her mobile. But an old man was on the other line.

●●●

“Yes, Rajeev here” I said.

“I’m Deepthi father speaking. Rajeev, Deepthi is…” His voice was trembling.

“S…S….Sir, tell me what Deepthi is…what happened?” I interrupted.

“Deepthi is..in hospital…” He was crying.

My heart stopped for a moment. Hospital? Why is she hospitalized?

“Sir, where is she, I mean where is the hospital?” I didn’t expect such a call.

“If you can come to Adyar, Malar Hospital, please come soon” He said now with the heavy heart.

“Is she alright? Please tell me sir”

“Rajeev, she will be fine”

“I’m coming sir. I’m coming right away”

I reached the reception in another fifteen minutes.

“Rajeev…” someone called me from behind. I turned back. An old man in his old and brown Khadi pyjama, appeared in front of me.

“Sir, Deepthi…” I was about to ask.

“Please come with me,” He said, “She is in third floor”

I followed him to the lift. He pressed the number 3 in the lift. The lift ascended though the building and jerk halted in the third floor. We came out of the lift and walked.

As we were walking in the third floor, her father came to a halt in front a glass door which was labeled in big red letters ICU

My heart stopped.

He gestured me to go and see her. I entered the ICU with tears in my eyes. The smell of the hospital room was disgusting to me. From my childhood itself, I was afraid of hospitals. The odour was so chilling and it always reminded me of injections and tinctures.

She was there lying in the bed motionless with bandages all over her head with red patches of thick blood dried in the white cloth. I wanted to cry loudly so that the whole world will hear me. I held her hand for the first time and kissed her. But what am I doing? I’ve not yet proposed to her, but all my actions are exposing my love.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was her father.

“I know Rajeev, how much u love her. She had said this to me before that she has so much affection for you and she wanted you to be in her life. Tears rolled down my eyes.

“She met with an accident. A lorry hit her and the driver escaped. God was so kind, few good hearted people admitted her in the hospital and informed me through her mobile contacts” He took some time to explain.

I didn’t know what to say. I was in mixed emotions. Should I be happy because she too loved me or should I cry because she is hurt badly?

“She has not opened her eyes for the past 2 days. She is in critical stage. There was a heavy blood loss. The operation took almost 5 hours. Her head was heavily injured. Doctors were not sure if she can remember anything even if she gets back her consciousness.” Her father spoke intermittently.

I couldn’t bear the scene of Deepthi in ICU and with bandages. Over that, her consciousness and the possibility of she not remembering anything fuelled my lamenting state and it was rubbing salt in my wounds.

I couldn’t control my tears. My energy has been drained. I sat on the chair outside the ICU. Deepthi’s mother and few others came there. I understood the situation and told her father that, I’ll come tomorrow morning and meet him again.

I walked out of the hospital with heavy heart.

●●●

I woke up when my mobile phone rang sending vibrations all though the surface of the bed. It was the call from Deepthi’s mobile. It should be her father. I picked up the call.

“Hello…” I said.

“Rajeev, I’m Deepthi’s father…”

“Yes uncle, I know. How is Deepthi? Has she gained her consciousness?” I asked.

“No Rajeev….not yet. Doctors were not able to give any clear information.” Her father was almost in tears.

Oh God, how long this will go. Will I get her back in my life? I prayed god, “Please take my life and give her all strength to get back to her senses. God, please give her life. I need her in my life”

I quickly got ready and reached the hospital. There I found all her relatives standing outside the ICU. Her father came and escorted me. One of the doctors came in to view with some prescription.

“Please get these injections & medicines immediately…” He said.

I went near her father and took the sheet of prescription, “I’ll get it for her, uncle” and left hurriedly towards the pharmacy.

By the time I came back all of them have dispersed. I entered the ICU with the medicines and handed over it to the nurse. I could see her father sitting in the chair. I took a seat near her bed and sat beside her. I took her hands and clutched the fingers softly, in a blind anticipation that some of my energy will get transferred to her. I was looking on her eyes which were closed.

After some few minutes, I could see some movement in her eyes. She was trying to open her eyes. I was very much happy and was excited to see her movement. She was trying to hold my hand. I was speechless. Words didn’t come out of my mouth. I wanted to shout but again I was blocked by emotions. I always wonder why would our speech gets blocked and words don’t come out when we are in deep emotional onrush.

God heard me. I was thankful to God. Tears rolled down my cheeks and the drop landed in her wrist. She opened her eyes.

“Uncleeeee, She opened her eyes, Deepthi gained her consciousness” I shouted. He came near us and was so much happy to see her smiling at him. The ward nurse came hearing me shout and examined Deepthi’s pulse, blood pressure and the ECG equipment to which she was connected to.

“She is fine. I’ll call the duty doctor to speak with you for further treatment and medicines” saying this she left smiling.

I was at the pinnacle of my happiness. I went neat the bed. She was smiling at me. Her father was very much happy and he was in tears. He was so much glad that her daughter recovered. He kissed her forehead, smiled and left the room understanding our privacy needs. I spoke with her

“Deepthi…I missed you a lot,” I spoke with tear filled eyes, “I wanted to say this for a long time, but destiny has designed my life to tell this to you after missing you so much”

“Rajeev, I too wanted to say this dear. But I was so much afraid that I may lose your friendship and I can’t bear the failure. So I was so hesitant to tell you” She spoke with so much happiness.

“Don’t worry dear, now everything is fine. I’ve come. I’ll be with you forever. Get well soon. I’m so happy for you Deep, I’ve not been this much happy in my life. I’ve found you. I found you back after losing so much. I’ll not let this happen again” I said.

“Rajeev, I want to be with you all throughout my life. Promise me” she said.

“I promise…I love you so much dear. I love you” I said.

Doctor came for the check up. After the checkup, I took the prescription to get her medicines. I went to the nearby medical shop, but the medicines were not available. So I informed her father and took his bike to get medicines from other pharmacy.

●●●

The bike was drifting past the dusty roads of Chennai. There was a heavy traffic and I had to find small gaps to move ahead in the crowd. After three junctions, the road became clear; I changed the gear to the next higher level and raised the throttle. The bike picked up speed and swiftly covered kilometers. The days I spent with her in the Coffee shops, Office, late night messages etc were one of those memorable moments of my life. I’ll cherish each and every moment of my life with her. Sometime back, she was a stranger to me, now she is mine. I have her in my life. I’ll be with her forever….

Just then I was about to take a left turn, when I was in my extreme right side of the road. I spotted a big caravan in my rear view mirror, approaching with full speed to over take me. I was slowly moving towards left in the three lane road and I had no time to pull back. I cannot even reduce the speed or apply break. With a big bunch of vehicles at my back, I couldn’t do anything. There was a big barricade in the front at a distance, so I had to take a left turn. I was almost towards the left, and the caravan’s impact on my bike was devastating.

The last scene that I could visualize was the horrific view of the big container crushing my bike under its weight and myself screeching with the remnants of the bike sweeping the clean road, towards one of the platforms. The last thing I remember was a crowd running towards me and a thick red liquid flowing around my head on the ground. I could taste blood in my lips and smell blood in my nose. Darkness has started engulfing me and my vision was blank. I couldn’t see anything. I could feel the pain in my hands, when someone was lifting me. I don’t remember anything after that.

Life has come to an end.

●●●

The place was new to me. The garden was so beautiful with its red and green and blue and all colors of flowers. The atmosphere was warm. It wasn’t sweating though the sun was shining brightly. I could see a group of people walking in a line towards a big castle like bungalow.

I was hungry. I thought, they might be giving some food. I joined the queue. There was no fight and hurry. Everything was happening in a very slow pace. I wondered where this place on earth is. Peace prevailed all throughout. I slowly advanced towards the main entrance of the bungalow. I couldn’t see anyone distributing food. But all of them were given a pair of dress. I peeped above the line. All of them were given the same white color cotton like apparel to be worn. I looked into my own dress. I was in my denim jean which was not washed for months and the T-shirt which was torn and dirty.

I wondered why it is dirty and torn. I tried to think the last time I washed this T-shirt. Someone from behind pushed me towards the big entrance. Someone was sitting on the left side high on a well decorated chair. He gave me the clothes which were distributed to all. I walked towards a common room where people were changing into the new clothes. After wearing the white dress which was like pyjama and kurta, I walked towards a common place where people were advancing to.

There was one big cauldron which can hold 2 people at a time inside. People were walking into the cauldron one by one with a time gap of some five minutes. I turned around and asked one of them.

“Excuse me, what is happening here?” I asked.

One guy who was standing behind me in his pyjamas replied, “This is a place where people are validated for their deeds. The person will be measured for the deeds, sins and righteousness and based on the ranking he will be sent back to earth to suffer or he will be promoted to Heaven. There are cases where, if someone from the earth prays with true love, dedication and faith to the almighty to get back their loved ones who are in the verge of life and death, those prayers are heard and the person will be sent back to earth.”

What a stupid logic? Why the hell am I stuck with this moron? What the hell is he blabbering? Heaven, Earth, sins, what’s happening here? I thought.

“Brother, we all are dead or on the verge of death. We are in a transient state between life and death. We are in the gateway towards heaven” He said.

I have heard gateways of India, but gateway of Heaven…Hmmm seems to be some crap

“What? Dead? Am I dead?” I asked.

“Yes, we are now in the short listing stage. Only deserving candidate will be reaching heaven” He said.

Dude, are we in the process of interview? Do we have aptitude tests?  HR interview? My conscience was still reluctant to believe what I’m hearing and seeing. As we marched towards the big cauldron, it was my turn in a few minutes. The one who was standing in front of me just entered the cauldron and didn’t turn up. I was waiting for him to come back so that I can go in. But he didn’t turn up.

Someone from the side asked me to get in, “Get in son, you will be purified and measured”

I slowly entered the cauldron. It was dark inside. The smell of old copper plunged into my nostrils. I could see only darkness; I walked forward and stretched my hands to find someone inside. But I could see only empty space. Dark empty space!!

Suddenly a swish of air made me turn to some direction through which a bright light seemed to emerge. A big orangish round dot like thing appeared and it spoke

“Son, lie down in this bed. You are destined to live. You are here because you asked for it. Someone is living because of you. Your true dedication and prayers were answered. But it is so fortunate that, your love scored all other deeds that were taken for measuring your chastity. You are going to live. Someone loves you more than how much you love them”

“Sir, Am I dead? Why am I here? Someone loves me more than I do?” I was asking questions. I don’t know what to do. I was simply staring at the bright white light which has appeared in front of me and has grown large.

“Son, all your questions will be answered. Listen to me as I say” the voice spoke again.

I looked down to find a bed near me. It was just a normal bed but with lots of floral designs and embellishments. I lied down in the bed.

“Close your eyes son”, came the voice.

I closed my eyes slowly and there as a flash of light again and the journey to some unknown oblivion prevailed.

●●●

I could sense a group of people who were clad in white overcoat were pressing and hustling around me. Something was placed over my face. I could feel someone pressing my chest vigorously. A deep pain surged through my esophagus. I felt difficult to breath. The darkness around me seemed to lose its thickness. Slowly the darkness evaded itself each other and I could see some dull faint movements. I felt as if looking through a microscope. I still remember my biology Practical Lab sessions. The faint light seemed to spread and I could see some hazy scenes before my eyes.

I could sense heavy disturbance in my body. Someone was pushing and pulling. I couldn’t still get a clear view of anything. Suddenly I felt a streak pain flowing throw my chest and there I open my eyes with pounding heart and breathing vigorously through my mouth. I was gasping. I was hungry for oxygen. My heart was beating *thug**thug**thug*. I could feel the rush of fresh air into my lungs.

Slowly known faces appeared before of me. It was my dad, mom then my uncle, then there was a much known face, it was…it was Deepthi’s dad.

Deepthi!! I now remember everything. I was hit and there was an accident. I recovered. Then there came Deepthi’s face. She was smiling. I smiled. All of them very exchanging happy looks, many hugged.

Doctor spoke to me, “You are perfectly alright Rajeev. You just recovered. You will be fine in a week’s time”

“Thank you Doctor” I spoke. The doctor patted me on my head, and left the place smiling. I gained my senses. I was in hospital again with bandages all over my head.

One of Deepthi’s relatives said, “God heard us”

Yes, God did hear you and he heard me too I thought.

Deepthi was standing beside me. Tears rolled down her cheek and it landed on my lips. That tasted honey. Yes she is always sweet. Sweet forever, because she is mine.

She bent down and kissed me on my forehead and said, “I know I won’t lose you”

I smiled and as she bent down, I took her hands into mine and kissed her on her cheeks and said, “I love you dear. You are mine”

●●●

Epilogue

As I completed writing the story for the day, I saved the word document and mailed a copy of it to my external mail. I was about to leave, just then I got a call in my mobile. The mobile phone flashed DIVYA CALLING

“Hello dear, is that over?” It was Divya.

“Yes, I completed writing our story. It has come out well. I’ll show you the content after our dinner. Read it and tell me how it is. I’ve changed your name to Deepthi from Divya” I replied

“Is it? No problem dear. As long it is our story, I’m fine with it” She said.

“Hey, dinner.” I reminded her.

Sure, I’ll be waiting for you outside the cafeteria at 7.00 PM, come and pick me up, we’ll do some shopping and go for dinner” She told.

“Yea I’m leaving right away. I love you so much dear”

“I too….” The call ended.

I saved the copy of the story in a folder and walked towards the exit.

It was 7:00 AM…a pleasant Saturday early morning. Window panes were bearing tiny transparent pimples, which the rain droplets had caused. It was cool outside. It had just started drizzling. I was in my bed under the blanket, warm and cozy in half sleep. Eyes were refusing to let the light come in. People just don’t understand the bliss that lies behind the morning slumber. A sluggish state where you don’t know how to get up or you do not want the act of getting up to happen.

“Awesome Weather !!!!!!” My inner-self which is still awake said

“Yeah…..ahhhhhh (Yawn)” I yawned to acknowledge.

“Get up you lazy dog” again my inner-self

“Shut up” this is me..the real me

“ Go get lost…” (My inner-self has started using smileys..!!!!). I didn’t care. I just wanted to sleep in this kewl weather. Nothing else I wanted to do

Again I was asleep. I could hear the rain drops hitting the ground. “wwoooooooowww…what an awesome state of mind??…” My thoughts wandered. I was there in the bed fast asleep…I could feel the gravity of the sleep which was pulling me deep down in to some state of mind, which I couldn’t explain here. It was some subconscious vortex into which I’m being pulled into…I could feel the chemical reactions that were taking place in my stomach. That feeling gave me comfort. A comfort of sleeping. The state of eternal Bliss!!!

“Hey get up…Paper boy didn’t come today. Get The Hindu, Dinamalar, and one Deccan Chronicle. Get up….” My sis again.

Why do people read newspapers early morning. ? I was interrogating myself on peoples’ ignorance on morning sleep. How can they afford to sacrifice such a nice time? I remembered one proverb TIME IS PRECIOUS. Time will not wait for anybody, so why wasting it when it is available right now at your feet? So continue sleeping. I closed my eyes.

“Podi…adellaam Mudiyathu ” I said  (“Get lost….That’s not possible”)

“Hey get up Anna. See the weather. How cool it is. It will be like a morning walk. You would have never seen this. (Anna = Brother)

“Hey get up. Appa has gone to temple. You should only go now…” This is mom (Appa = Father)

“ It is just 7:30 ma….who will keep all shops open???” I fumbled. I couldn’t speak as my face was held deep inside the pillow. I hugged the pillow and tried to sleep again, just then the voice came again

“Go n see how many people are awake…how many people go for morning walk…see how many people have started working…How would you know when you don’t get up??…” That was my mom.

“cha…”

I got up with all my weight of laziness pulling me back again towards the bed. I stepped into the bathroom. The floor was cool as ice. I felt lazy to brush but I had to. So I reached for the brush in the stand, laid the toothpaste from start to end of the bristles. After 10 minutes I came out.

“Ma…Coffee..”

“coming….”

After the hot coffee, I set out my journey in the cool weather to get newspapers. I came out of the house. The stray dog was happily sleeping under the car shed. My inner conscience didn’t respond to my thought. I was jealous over the dog and its undisturbed sleep. I got down the road and started walking slowly. There was a slight drizzle and cool breeze. I could smell the fragrance of the wet mud and a nice smell of the Poori Masala which was being prepared in the Fast Food nearby hindering my olfactory sense. Steam was emanating from the Idly cooker that was kept in the FF Stall.

I was clad in my light, sandalwood tinted, 3/4^th Tracks and dark blue round neck t-shirt. I could see Goosebumps sprouting all over my skin coz of this chill Weather. My hands were chill and the Goosebumps were clearly visible as if somebody had planted something in my skin. I wiped the rain droplets that flowed down my hands. It had started raining! How can someone sell newspaper in this rain?. I’ve seen sellers spreading out all the newspaper on the platform and assemble each and every supplement together which are then distributed to many, to be sold out. I was searching for some place to protect myself getting drenched. And at last found one under a small petty shop. Time was melting like Ice. I waited for 15 mins. I wanted to leave and get back to my Bed. Some more people came running to protect themselves from the downpour. I was thinking about how can someone eat ice-cream when it rains. I heard some people like eating one. Trisha ate one in the movie Adhi. She came running in the rain fully drenched and ate a cup of ice-cream. Wandering Mind!

When I was about to leave. I saw her. I saw her, whom I haven’t seen before … She came running towards me, found one place to stand. She was standing next to me. She was partly drenched. She was wiping the droplets of water in her face. She looked Beautiful with that and I couldn’t stop seeing her. Her green color Patiala style chudidar was filling my eyes. My eyes were over flowing with the green color. I was thinking about some Go-Green Initiative. Is this the one?? She couldn’t control the curliness of her hair that fell on her eyes. She was holding it back frequently with her long thin fingers which were adorned with well kept tiny nails. Her duppatta was almost wet and I could notice that she was not comfortable with that. Anyways I couldn’t help her in that. She was already cute and this rain, this weather was making her cuter. She was in some hurry. She kept seeing her watch. I was thinking ….What the hell she is doing in this early rainy morning??

PING PONG. My Mobile Rang. It was a message alert. There was two option for me

1.Read and 2.Cancel.

I pressed Read Button.

The message read…

“Each day I meet
Someone New,
But Nvr find another
Person like u,
The world is full of people it true…
Yet no one ever equals U…
Gud Mrng ”

People are too active to get up, so early in this Saturday morning and forward messages. Thanks to Technology. It has made people Active!!!!

“Hi….” Came the voice from behind. She was standing next to me.

“Hi …” I smiled. I didn’t want to leave!

“ Do you know where is the SBI ATM nearby??” She put her query innocently.

I was searching for words. I knew where it is. But my thoughts didn’t flow freely like Captain Cook Salt. I gained all my conscious. I came out of that lazy boy mind. I came out of the restless boy who lost his morning sleep. I delivered..

“Well..it’s in Big Street, near the School…You know that school rite?”. I  finished

“Yeah OK……I’ll see that. Thank You”

“No props…” I said. The rain had stopped. I started leaving. She started with me. We found that, both of us were heading towards the same street.

“Oh…you too going this way??” I asked her in an anticipation to continue the conversation

“Yeah, so u too?” she smiled and came forward.

“I’m Archana” She introduced herself. “We just came to this place last night…wanted to go for a morning stroll. But then it started raining..and I had to come under the shelter..hehe…”  She was smiling. I don’t know how girls smile so much! As she said this I was expected to introduce myself. So I told her my name.

“So where are you from?” I asked.

“I’m from Bangalore. I’m staying in my aunt’s house here in Chennai. Just came last night. I told you before….”

“Yeah fine….so what are you up to? College?”. I was unable to guess her age. I knew it’s ‘not so called a gud practice’ to ask a girl, her age. And don’t want to take any risks asking something which you ought not to! I previous had experiences guessing a girl’s age incorrectly. Thank god the consequence didn’t turn out worse.

“College is over & I’m waiting for my call letter from….” She mentioned a well known software firm.

“Oh cool…So enjoying your holidays I guess…”

“No yaar…It was fun initially but I got bored of killing time like hell…how long to wait? It’s been 4 months I’m whiling away time…” she exposed her cute frustration in her face.

The small wrinkle on her forehead, which was alive for a momentary period of time, added to her cuteness. The short-lived change, that brought an expression, that made the me blind, in spite of my perfect vision still under operation!!

“Oho..It will take time. They’ll call randomly…” I was telling her as if I decide the recruitment process of the firm in which she got placed.

“Hey…you didn’t tell me what are you doing??” she winked.

“you didn’t ask me!..” I replied. I was trying to get into my Humor Shoes but then didn’t want to spoil the image (!!???) which I had built for the past 10 minutes. The ATM was nearing.

“I’m a Software Engg” I said. She acknowledged.

“Anyways nice meeting you. It was good talking to you…” She ended. I was taken aback. I didn’t expect that this conversation will end so soon . Are we going to leave without exchanging any Mobile no,  mail ID, Gtalk ID, ORKUT name…what is this? Is this what you expect after a long conversation. That too with a girl who u have been looking at admiring her green dress, nails, face with raindrops n all ??. I was thinking of ways to get some contact. But how?? I was thinking. Thinking hard on information retrieval. God Please help…

He helped me of course ! When she started leaving towards the ATM entry, My Mobile rang PING PONG. She turned back and smiled. I was cursing the one who is sending messages at this time. What else to do? It struck in my mind, in that Microsecond gap when I took the cell out from my pocket.. The processors inside me has started working fast. Grrrrr8 Idea. This will surely work. No time to waste, I acted fast. I was ready to take risk at the cost of my mobile.

“uuuuffffffff” I shouted and dropped my cell down!!!!! It landed with a THUD and dismantled itself on the floor. The back panel was lying near my feet. The Battery was thrown somewhere away. It wasn’t a Nokia model

“What happened?” she came back with some concern in her face which I noticed again.

“Nothing….I dropped my cell..ptch” I said sadly bending down to reach my Mobile’s different parts! I was sad & Happy. Sad for my mobile’s present condition. Happy on my victory of her getting back to me. I picked up the parts & was assembling. Things were wet.

“Is that fine?” She looked at my dilapidated (!!??) mobile.

“I should check” I said. I switched it on and asked her “Hey can I use your cell. Just wanna check, calling my mobile.”

“Sure” She handed over her mobile to me and I started keying in my mobile number in the pressing her mobile’s rubber key pad and pressed CALL.

My Mobile rang. The screen was blinking with some unknown number calling message. “Its working. Fine” I said. “Well that’s my Number you wanted to know” came the voice . I lifted my face up in astonishment.

When I lifted my face I couldn’t see her. She was not there. She has gone. I saw my other hand. It was empty. Where did her mobile go? I couldn’t understand what was happening. I saw the sky. The atmosphere was clear. No rain. No Wet Roads. I was lying  in a bed in a corner of an empty dark room. I could see the tiny dust particles rising in the Beam of Sunlight, which is entering the room through the exhaust fan vent. I was bewildered on the events happening. What has happened? Where is the ATM? Where am I? What am I doing in this dark, dusty, abandoned, cobwebbed room. Each of my hands and legs were tied to the poles near the bed. I tried to shout. But I was unable to. My volume was totally lowered. I was shouting, but it appeared as if I was whispering to myself. No point in shouting now. I turned, twisted, strained to relieve myself from this torture. I  could see something written on my hand. I twisted it and the words read…..I WANNA PLAY A GAME ! ARE YOU READY? LET THE GAME BEGIN !!!! I was horrified. I remember watching the horror movie S.A.W, sometime before in my system. Now I had to free myself from this trap. I didn’t know what to do!!! I looked down on the floor…..

Three papers were lying untouched.

THE HINDU

DINAMALAR

DECCAN CHRONICLE

“I don’t want to play this game” I shouted. My heartbeat was at its peak.

I could feel some sharp instrument doing something in my hand. I closed my eyes &  shouted again “I don’t want to play this game”

“Who asked you to play a game, early in this morning? Get up you ‘loose’ (loosu = mad). See the time its 7:40 now” came the voice from behind.

I opened my eyes. Blinked twice, thrice. I could see my sister standing beside me and waking me up. I was at home in the same Bed, warm & cozy with my naughty sister disturbing as usual. Thank God!!!!. I’m not playing any game now. I’m not tied to any Pole. I’m not in any old, dusty, abandoned, cobwebbed room. I got up and sat straight. My heart was still beating heavily. I saw my computer table. Two New DVDs of ‘S.A.W’ movie were lying on the table My sister was looking at me like some comedy happening in front of her. I saw my hand. Something was written in it. My eyes opened wide. I read thru the lines It read.

LOOSU GET UP…LOOSU GET UP

My sister has scribbled it. I smiled. I looked out of the window pane. It was slightly drizzling. But the nightmare has driven all my sleepiness in air. I had watched the movie last night till 12:00. That’s the effect. I got down the bed and proceeded towards the bathroom with my toothbrush. Mom gave a cup of Coffee. I was sipping it slowly thinking about the dream I had just few minutes before. My sister came near me with her cup of coffee and asked

“What game were you talking about when I was scribbling in your hand Anna?”

“I didn’t talk anything about any game?. Gone mad uh?” I said

“No Anna. You were blabbering when you are asleep” she was giggling. I realized that, I was shouting really. I was somniloquing (Talking when sleeping)

“Oh you are asking about that? Actually, you see……in my dream, I wanted to play NFS, but my friend was asking me to play Age of Empires. I was telling him I don’t want to play that game. OK…OK go and get me my wallet and umbrella. I’ll go and get the newspapers.” I said and started my morning walk.

I was still thinking about…..what’s her name?…errr…the girl in..whats the color of her dress??…blue?…no no it must be red I suppose. I was walking alone in the streets. Nobody was awake. I could see the stray dog awake under the car shed. I could smell the fragrance of the wet mud and the nice smell of the Poori Masala which was being prepared in the Fast Food nearby….

PING PONG. Message Alert !!! I took my cell out and opened the unread message. It read….

“Each day I meet

Someone New,

But Nvr find another

Person like u,

The world is full of people it true…

Yet no one ever equals U…

Gud Mrng ”

The Message seemed so familiar!!!