Stories

How Does It Feel?

~ Rishi ~ Leave a comment

Iman was sitting at a table in the college canteen. He had a plate full of vegetable Hakka noodles, his favorite dish. And yet, he wasn’t feeling like eating.

There were students thronging nearly all tables, orders flowing in thick and fast, and he had landed in that zone all by himself. It was his first week in the college and he hadn’t made many friends. A couple of boys, who he had gotten to know better than others, were still in the library.

He had tried to evade the growing hunger and somehow skip eating lunch alone. But he knew better than to not have food. So, heading to the canteen, he ordered the dish that seemed the easiest, and had taken a seat at a smaller table.

While he was still thinking, another boy, who he recognized was from his own class, came towards him, smiling. He just said a hi and sat down. After all, college canteens are not a place to check if you can join someone. You just grab a chair wherever you can find one, specially during the lunch hour.

The other boy introduced himself as Kamran. Iman introduced himself, and they started to talk about some random stuff about classes. Soon, they got down to eating their food.

Kamran had a plate full of rice, a rich thick gravy, a little bit of curd, some salad, and a couple of other things. His plate was overflowing, everything just about managing its place. Some of the accompaniments had mixed with each other, creating colorful melanges of their own.

Kamran didn’t have a big appetite. But he relished the usual homely style lunch more than some of the fast food items and wanted all things available. He was also not averse to using his hand at times, to aid his rather quick fire style of eating.

Iman was a more ‘polished’ guy. He had been taught table manners since he was a child and usually enjoyed his food neatly laid out, picking on things separately, always using some cutlery. Naturally, he found the sight of Kamran’s plate and his eating style not to his liking. He was however, far too proud to call it out. Instead, while continuing the small talk, he kept observing Kamran.

Kamran on the other hand, also realized that his classmate had different eating habits. Kamran had not eaten like that ever, so he was also intricately watching Iman indulge in his food.

This went on for a while. The two boys continued their banter and continued to observe each other.

By this time, Iman was feeling slightly unnerved about what he was witnessing. But he could also see that Kamran was really enjoying his food and that intrigued him. How could one eat with such abandon, have so many things that are all mixed up at the same time, and yet enjoy it? What about flavors and manners?

Kamran was astonished by the methodical manner in which Iman ate and wished he could develop such sophistication. He also saw that Iman was very adept at separating out ingredients and picked at them at will, which raised questions in his mind about taste buds. For him everything was the same!

Both boys, by this time had realized that there was something amiss about them. Iman had not had so much enjoyment eating food ever. Kamran had never relished food but always considered it as fuel for the body and was always happy eating it.

As they finished their food, and walked out together, both of them were thinking the same thing – “Not that I want to be, but what if I could eat like him for a while? Wouldn’t that be cool?”

In the background, Dylan’s song played out from inside the canteen, “How does it feel?”…

Present, Sir…

~ Rishi ~ Leave a comment

Monish was smiling. Sitting at the back bench of the class, he could see his classmates get up one after the other, as their name was called out to mark attendance.

Monish still had time, the roll call had only reached names starting with G. There were seven more students before him to be called out. He sat there bemused, watching his classmates.

His mind went back to the previous year, when he had more classmates after him in the roll call than before. That meant he had to be alert early on, as soon as the teacher started. It also meant he couldn’t take pleasure in noticing his fellow classmates, something he enjoyed doing.

There were instances the previous year when he had been late to the class owing to a break, which put him in an awkward position. While the teachers didn’t mind students rushing to the toilets in between classes, they sure didn’t appreciate having to go back in their register to mark a certain missed student again.

Once, the embarrassment had become too much to handle. That day, Monish had got stuck waiting in the queue, reaching the class just as the last name was being called out. He had got a scolding from the teacher for a full five minutes. Helpless, he had just listened to the rant and then sat down sheepishly.

Now however, he had a full army of classmates before him. So, he could take a longer break if he wanted to. It also allowed him to fool around with his friends for a bit longer.

This however, also meant he remained more distracted in class than the year before. Earlier, he would quickly finish whatever he was doing to get ready for the next class. Now, he started taking his own sweet time, sometimes neglecting the urgency needed. It had become a pattern, unbeknown to him.

In a nonchalant manner, smiling, he drooled over the setting. But not for long. His name got called out, and he had to stand up. His voice was rather casual, as if he was lost somewhere. “Present, sir”, he uttered meekly.

“Monish, keep standing. I have something to ask of you today”. The teacher asked him, seemingly in a foul mood.

Soon after the roll call finished, and he became the center of attraction of the class. Everyone was waiting in anticipation as to what the teacher is going to say or do. Monish was not sure why the teacher had called him out. He too looked intently.

The teacher came round to his desk and asked him matter of fact, “Can you tell me what was the class work I asked everyone about just before I started the roll call”?

Monish wasn’t prepared for this question. He was in the class but hadn’t paid attention to the teacher’s entrance or the first few sentences he spoke. He had been lost in his own world.

Looking sorry, he replied, “I don’t remember, sir”.

“Were you in the class when I came in”, asked the teacher. The reply was an affirmative nod.

“Then how did you not register what I was telling everyone”? The tone was unsettling.

Monish didn’t have any answers. Although it was a minor thing, he looked shaken. He had let himself be lost to the point of not paying enough attention. And the teacher had recognized this.

As if aware that he had made his point, the teacher turned around mentioning “sit down”.

Monish couldn’t fathom how it had happened. In his quest for observing others, he had let himself be absent from what was happening around.

The class ended. The school day did too. A normal one at that. Monish’s mind however had registered something significant.

He needed to be present in the present…

Re-Connecting

~ Rishi ~ Leave a comment

Their relationship was broken, at its lowest point.

There was no communication, no exchange of what they were really feeling about each other. Only a facade of maintaining the status quo.

This had continued for a while, and the strain was now showing up. From being able to talk to each other freely, they had rescinded to their own secluded spaces and the ebb and flow of words had reduced to a trickle.

Even those shared interests and memories seemed distant now. Those moments spent together, with a feeling of love and mutual respect, seemed to have happened a long while ago.

Just then, as fate would have it, they were both left stranded in a place with nothing else to do. Just them, without the comfort of social settings, where they could hide behind other people.

It wasn’t planned at all. Happened by mistake. But as they came to terms with the fact that they would have to be alone in this place for a while, feelings started showing up.

The slinging match began quite innocuously. Over a trivial matter. But soon, it descended into a serve and volley game. Both fired salvos at each other, confronting with how they felt the other person had let them down and lost their trust.

As the evening progressed, the antagonism slowly turned into an understanding of why there was a rift. It wasn’t something either of them intentionally laid out or wanted, but lack of communication had only exacerbated it.

Eventually, as they realized that they were holding a lot against each other and started letting go, tears streamed down their eyes. They both realized that it hadn’t helped them at all. The mistrust should have been resolved earlier.

Both resolved to mend things and get back to how it was before. And yet, as they went to bed, each in his own mind was wondering how would things go from here.

Come morning, they had walked past the awkwardness of being just with each other. And slowly, as the day progressed, normalcy started showing promising signs of return.

It was now only a matter of building that trust again. One step at a time.

Perhaps they could have done this earlier. And then wouldn’t have had to live with this feeling for so much time.

Better late than never, though!

Filling the void…

~ Rishi ~ 1 Comment

Raj was sitting on the bench at the hospital. He had just heard the worst news possible.

His mom, aged all of sixty five, was in the last stages of her life, fighting a debilitating disease. She had been diagnosed with brain tumour recently and there was nothing much the doctors could do this late. The tumour had already spread to a large part of her brain.

As he sat, looking at the wall in front of him, and contemplating the future, he heard some commotion.

At the other end of the corridor, an emergency case had just come in. A lady, almost the same age as his mother, had just been rushed in.

She had met with an accident and suffered multiple injuries. A passerby had got her to the hospital and they were going to operate on her.

As he heard news about her condition, he felt a sudden emotion. A lady, his mom’s age, who was absolutely fine, was fighting for her life because of someone else’s mistake. He could relate this to his mom’s condition, who until a month ago had no inkling about her deadly disease.

Over the next few days, as he attended to his mom, he also kept track of the other lady. There was no one who had come forward as her next of kin. It was surprising but quite possible.

He decided in his mind that he would befriend this unnamed and unknown lady, once her condition improves. Not for any other reason but to give her company at this juncture in her life. For she needed it, just as his mom needed his support through this trial.

He told his mom about the entire episode and she was very supportive. After all, she knew that Raj’s heart was in the right place. She was proud of his feelings.

A couple of months passed by. Raj’s mom’s condition was only worsening and the doctors had no hope. They asked her if she wanted to spend the rest of her days at home and she readily agreed. Leaving the unknown lady, still in a coma, behind. But Raj kept checking on her condition frequently.

Then one day, as he came in to his mom’s room, she looked at him for the last time and passed away. Raj knew this was coming but was still overwhelmed. He completed her last rites and bid her adieu.

Once the ceremonies ended, the next day he was again at the hospital. Sitting outside the intensive care unit, where the unknown lady was.

Waiting for her to awaken from her slumber!

Waiting to fill the void that was left in his life…

New Paths

~ Rishi ~ Leave a comment

Joy was running down the hilly descent with abandon. Down the hill where his best friend, Uday, stayed.

He had just heard of the good news about his selection at one of the top universities in the country. He had devoted the last couple of years toward the goal, and now that it had finally happened, his happiness knew no bounds.

As he reached his friend’s house and caught his breath, he remembered that it was also the day Uday would know about his result too. Just when he was going to ring the bell, his eyes caught a post-it jutting out the adjacent window.

It was written by Uday. He knew Joy would come and had left a note saying he had gone to the temple with his parents before seeing his result. Knowing that he could still catch up, Joy made his way downtown.

When he reached the temple street, he could see Uday in front of the gate. Along with his parents, he was just getting out. They now headed across to a cyber cafe, where Uday was going to check his results.

Joy waited with anticipation. He didn’t want to go now and interrupt Uday or add to his anxiety. He also wasn’t sure how he would handle the situation given his own result. So, he chose to wait for a few more minutes. As he waited, he prayed for Uday’s success.

After a while, Uday came out beaming. Joy knew he had made it. He called out Uday’s name and kept running. Uday turned, saw him, and welcomed him into his arms.

They both celebrated like crazy and everyone in the vicinity only wished them well. They were the best of buddies and would now be entering the altar of life on their chosen paths.

As the euphoria lessened, both Joy and Uday realized that there paths are no longer the same now. It was a strange sadness, in a happy moment.

They sat together in the temple campus, reliving their childhood and the time spent together. Specially the last couple of years when they had been a source of strength to each other in the trying times.

They had chosen their divulging paths themselves but that didn’t mean that it was the end of their friendship. Resolving to continue their friendship they prayed together for success and went home.

Going to bed, Joy had stars in his eyes and dreamt of the future. How he would go through the university years. And in a corner of that dream he came across Uday, with him as a friend forever. He smiled in his sleep…

A ‘familiar’ weekend!

~ Rishi ~ Leave a comment

It was a busy afternoon. The dining table was full. Different dishes were on it, with plates already served. The entire family was sitting around. There were multiple conversation threads going on.

The lunch had started with a round of appetizers, a couple of new dishes that they were trying today. Aarav, the grandson, had tried a new recipe he had learnt of online. As is often the case, it hadn’t turned out well.

Grandfather quipped, “This is such a waste, we could have used the cheese for something better”. The grandson added, “And of course, would have saved my time and your appetite!”. Everyone grinned.

After a while, as the main course was being served, mom declared, “This chicken dish has turned out to be my best till date. I am thinking of making this again when our cousins come over later this month”.

Dad, rather bemused, offered some advice, “How about we keep this as the recurring one on our menu for every dinner we host?”. Mom looked puzzled until Dad burst out with a laugh.

I am exhausted, this is too much food to enjoy!”, the grandmother chipped in. “Of course, that’s why we don’t have any dessert today, I already predicted it”, pat came his sister’s reply who was responsible for the dessert. They all laughed again.

The lunch went on for over an hour. Everyone laughed, talked, and shared stories and anecdotes from their life.

As they got up from the table and settled down on the couches, they all were brimming with happiness. The banter continued until late evening and ended only when they finally got up to retire for the night. It was one of the best days they had had after a long time.

That day had been the best ever for Aarav. He had forgotten that he could have so much fun at home with his family. Staying alone in the city, engrossed in his work, he had missed this belongingness and harmony in his life.

It wasn’t just because they were all together at one place but also because they could enjoy time together as a family, away from the usual trappings of the modern life. No mobiles, no social media, no television.

As he went to his room, he saw his phone for the first time since noon. His screen time for the day was down to one-tenth of his usual. He felt an unusual happiness in his heart and mind.

What had not been possible to do away with even after trying so much, had been accomplished by being together physically in a single place with his family. He wished for this to recur frequently, as his sleepy eyelids closed to dream of the day’s happy memories.

The life she wanted!

~ Rishi ~ Leave a comment

The girl was having the time of her life. With her cousins on a trip, she was enjoying every moment she lived…

They had been on a trip for 3 weeks now and as the time to go back came nearer, she was dreading going back to the usual grind.

Being a sole child, she didn’t have many people at home. Her parents doted on her and did all they could to give her company and she liked being with them. But she enjoyed her time with friends more.

She had a few cousins as well. But she didn’t meet them as often and whenever they met, it was only for a few days. Never enough.

Then, a few months back, she heard from her dad about the trip to meet with her cousins and a chance to spend a month with them. Her excitement knew no bounds.

She spent the next couple of months planning the details on her own and then subsequently with her cousins. She discussed about those plans umpteen no. of times with her parents as well.

They could see the eagerness in their daughter to be in the company of other kids. While spending time around their extended family, they further noticed that she was in a different orbit.

As the clock wound down and the day of departure approached, both the parents realised that it was this life that their daughter was missing. They started thinking about how they could give her more such experiences.

The next day, as they woke up, they were in for a surprise though. On their bedside, was a card. It was from their daughter.

She had expressed how much she had enjoyed this trip and thanked them for it. She acknowledged it wasn’t always possible for them to take such long breaks always.

But what if she could be given permission to do so by herself? If her aunt/uncle were ok, she could come by or invite her cousins and spend her holidays with them.

The little one had grown up. And she was asking for a life that she always wanted. Days filled with fun and frolic with cousins and the extended family…

How could they say no!!!

Life’s like that!

~ Rishi ~ Leave a comment

Jeev was sitting in a train. His first time. After eighteen years of being on earth!

He was born within a family of well-to-do doctors. Both his parents were extremely busy medical professionals, top of their field. That meant a life full of comfort with everything that he wanted and lots of love as their only child. Naturally, with a busy schedule, they always flew to any destination or did a car trip. Trains were always disregarded.

Those years of a cushy life were past him now. Jeev had stepped into a business school for his undergraduate course. In his first year, he had landed an internship with a big consumer goods MNC. They had posted him in a town in the hinterland to learn the ropes of the trade. A town where no aircraft went and he had to take the train…

Jeev was not sure about the experience. He had heard stories from his friends about their enjoyable train trips. He had always wanted to go on one and now, he was finally getting a chance.

As he sat down on the berth in an air-conditioned coach, he searched for a seat belt but couldn’t find any. It was perplexing, he couldn’t figure out how to secure himself. Still in his thoughts, he was jerked forward as the train started moving. Thankfully, he found and held on to the bars next to his seat and didn’t fell off it.

Pulling himself back, he settled down again. That is when he noticed the folks sitting opposite him for the first time properly. They were looking at him with some wonder. So was he, for this was the first time he had someone sitting opposite him in a long journey.

The lady in that group figured he was dazed or perhaps hungry. She offered him some sweets with an encouraging look, mumbling “Have it dear, these are home made”. It seemed to Jeev that she was trying to treat him as her own young child. Although he didn’t like the idea of him being treated like a child, one look at the sweets and his heart melted. Who could resist Bengali sweets? He reluctantly broke into a half smile and picked up one piece from the box.

It was an overnight journey and as the evening progressed, he noticed other finer details. He was amazed that he could stretch his legs fully on the berth, with no need to sit upright all the time. He was provided bedding to comfortably sleep and as he observed others go through their rituals of setting up their bed, he learnt that art too. Soon, his feet were stretched out, his back propped up against the pillow, with a bedsheet and blanket covering his feet. He could get used to this travel mode for sure!

Jeev opened his laptop but then started noticing nearby folks playing a board game, some reading books / magazines, others chatting away to glory. He started looking out the window, enchanted by the countryside scenery along the tracks. The young child opposite him was doing the same. They both looked at each other, nodded, and continued their exploration.

An hour or so later, the train halted. A few passengers got in, a few vendors selling tea too. Jeev hadn’t had tea like this before but he was intrigued by everyone clamoring for it. He signaled to the vendor to give him a cup and took out a card from his wallet. The vendor stared at him bemused. He had never encountered such a scene before. He blankly stated, “I need the ten rupees in cash, otherwise give me back the cup”. Jeev didn’t usually carry small bills in cash but thankfully had a couple of tens in his wallet, they saved the day for him!

He soon learnt from other fellow passengers that the transaction mode that worked fastest in the countryside was lower-denominated bills and if he didn’t have any, it would be a good idea to get some from the bank. He made a mental note of it, this was the first time he had been asked for ten rupees.

For the first time in any journey, Jeev had made an effort to carry his luggage. His bag was now stowed under the berth. As he looked around, he saw the others had taken extra care to lock their bags up. Not sure, he looked on. His fellow child companion offered an explanation, “This is to ensure no one can steal our bag”. Jeev was oblivious to the idea of someone stealing luggage, he had only once lost his luggage on a trip and that time too, his father had been given a reimbursement by the airline and his luggage had arrived a couple of days later.

He wasn’t sure if someone would be interested in his bag! Anyways, as he lay down to sleep he wrapped his arm around the bag’s strap. That way even if someone did try to steal it, he would wake up.

As he drifted into his sleep, he didn’t realize when he turned to the other side, swinging his arm and restraining it against the bag’s strap. Swore with pain, he half woke up and sweared to himself to get a lock the next time around. The night passed by without any incident. Jeev continued to be disturbed due to the train’s movements and got up multiple times. Thankfully, he could sleep off quickly each time.

As the morning approached and the train rolled onto his station, with half dreamy eyes, he heard someone call him out. The lady on the opposite berth was trying to wake him up, for she realized the train had reached his destination and he was still sleeping. He somehow realized she was waking him up and got up, only to realize the train was whistling to leave the station.

Hurriedly, Jeev got hold of his bag, put on his shoes, and thanking the lady, jumped out of the compartment just as the train started moving. Standing still, he took a long deep breath and looked on, as the train left the platform.

The platform was bustling. Same energy as he had seen when he had boarded the train. Same ease of effort as he had experienced with other fellow passengers. Same obliviousness to his mind as he had felt since last evening.

It was indeed an experience of a lifetime for him…