Lovely triangle-short story

I am a news reporter.Today I have come to Dhruv's house in the hope of getting a sizzling story .
I happen to get this scoop 'cause Dhruv and me happen to have a common friend.

Scene 1:
Both Ragini and Dhruv were starting to office in a big hurry.

 Once I introduced myself as Hari's friend,they squeezed in a few minutes to answer me in small bouts,before they left.


"Hi, are you Ragini?"

Ragini,
 as she started to office

"I am Ragini.I am Dhruv's wife. Catch you later.I am in a hurry today."
She is gone.

"Hi ,you must be Dhruv. Right?"

"Ya, I am Dhruv.This is my mother Laxmi."

I say a hello.Then I continue,

"I want to talk to you.When can you find time?"

"I am very busy this week.Shall we meet in the weekend?"

"Okay.No problems.I'll meet you at 11a.m on Saturday."

I flash a quick smile to Laxmi and Dhruv and leave the place 'cause he is in a great hurry.

Scene 2:
Dhruv's house on Saturday ,11am.

"How was your day yesterday?You were in a big hurry."

"Ya. Kind of okay."

I was quite used to listening to such not-so-happy official statements now-a-days.So, when I heard it ,I felt an unknown surge of triumph in me.
After a few pleasantries I asked,"Are you ready to talk now?"

"Yes .Sure.
I can see you are a news reporter but, what do you want to talk about?I agreed to talk to you 'cause your friend Hari is a very good friend of mine."

"I heard from Hari about your mother that...err...(I was reluctant to continue).

Dhruv was angry at me initially but, on knowing I did not mean harm,he started to talk.

"My father came from a very poor family and so did my mother.
They loved each other and got married.But, my father died even before I was born.His drinking habit dragged him to the grave.Liver cirrhosis.(Point to be noted.)


My father's and mother's family were poor .So, they found it very difficult to support us.Yet,they helped my mother with whatever they had ,till I was born.


Once I was born ,my mother tried to get a job but, many were interested in her youth than her sincerity of work.

Myself and Dhruv

Poverty and helplessness pushed her into the profession."

"Have you ever been angry with your mother for having chosen this profession even in dire situations?"

"How can I be angry with her.If it were only her, she would have managed to live on meagre.She took this up for my sake.I was an indirect cause for her condition.


But, as I grew up,I felt very sad for her plight and decided that I would grow up to pull her out of this mire."

"How did you meet Ragini?"

Just then Ragini came into the room with two cups of hot, piping coffee.

"Thank you",I said.

"It will be better if she answers this question",Dhruv said coyly.

"What question?"she asked.

"He wants to know how we met?"Dhruv briefed her.

"Our meeting was most unexpected.We met in an orphanage on an independence day.
He was there to distribute sweets to the children.I was there as usual."

"Why do say 'as usual'?Do you go to the orphanage regularly?"I intervened.

"Actually, it is my home. I grew up in that orphanage."
She paused for a few seconds.


"But, the people in the orphanage did their best not to let me feel alone.I have many happy childhood memories to that place.So, I go there whenever possible and do my best for them."

"How did both of you fall in love?"I asked.

"We did not fall in love."

"Then?I thought this was a love story."

"It is a love story.But,I fell in love with his mother(saying this, she gave a big sheepish smile!)


Once,he had brought his mother to the orphanage.We had to stay there the whole day ,literally to organize a function and I noticed that Laxmima was so loving and caring to all the children.They were so easily drawn towards her and so was I.


I always used to think how my life would be if I had had my parents with me."

Dhruv intervened and said,"not only was Ragini drawn towards my mother,it was the other way round too. That day my mother came back from the orphanage and was talking about Ragini till late into the night.


I had always wanted to see my mother happy.I thought, if she liked this girl so much,why don't I marry her?


So, I proposed to Ragini the next time I met her and Ragini agreed without a second thought.


I told her about my mother's past life but, that did not seem to matter much to her."

I was lost for words.

Dhruv's mother just then came walking towards me .She had a request.

"All these happenings, my children told you, because you know Dhruv's best friend.
But, this was only for you as a friend.Kindly,do not put this down on print.

Not that it will affect me.I am beyond all that now.But, they have just now placed their first step as man and wife.

I don't want anything to affect my children in anyway.



Please,this a humble request from me."

"Respecting the mother's request I did not publish it on paper.


But, one sentence haunted me ,


"I don't want anything to affect my children in anyway."

Blessed children.

Common point-Short story

Katrina and Karan were at the same college,but, different subjects.
But, this did not stop them from falling in love with each other.

The subjects they studied were not the only things that seperated them.They were of different religions.

Over the years at college, their love for each other grew to great depths.
They decided they could not live without each other.

But, to make a life together,their parents objection was the first of the many hurdles they had to cross.

                                                                              Katrina came from a lower middle -class family and her father had divorced her mother years before.

Karan was from an upper middle-class family.But, his father had left them when he was a kid.

Since both their mothers were single-parents, it was easier to convince their mothers in that point.
It gave a soft corner between the mothers.

They did all the necessary things to make the mothers agree to meet.

Finally,the 'D' -day came.

The lovers' mothers were to meet at a restaurant.The lovers waited with bated breath.

Both Katrina's and Karan's mothers exchanged pleasantries .They were very comfortable with each other that after a while they began to talk freely. The lovers were at ease now.They thought they could have a bit of personal time.They went out for a stroll.

Then,all of a sudden,Karan's mother started to cry.


She lamented,"What do I say?After my husband divorced me,it was a big struggle to bring up my son.I have never been able to forgive him.He left me when Karan was just 1 year old.That too for another woman."

Katrina's mother felt sad for her.

She said,"I resonate your thoughts.My husband too gave me 'talaq' for the sake of another woman.

I can never forget Kalif.
I don't know why.

Katrina loved him so much.But, now after seeing all my ordeals day-in and day-out,she has lost all love for her father.
He has lost a loving daughter for ever.
He has never once come back to see us."


Karan's mother understood her pain now.
She said,"I don't know how my husband did not feel any guilt or love when he decided to divorce me.He could have stayed back for his son at least. Karan has lost a father's support throughout his life.


I don't talk about his father with him at all now-a-days.It makes him sad."


She took a deep breath and continued,"But, I can never forget the wonderful days I had with Kalif.
Those were the golden days."


Katrina's mother was surprised and cynical at the same time."What?Did you say Kalif?Look at the co-incidence.

My husband's name was also Kalif."


Karan's mother continued,"I see.
My husband was very proud of his name.'Fakruddin Kalif'.He was a handsome and smart man.He was well read and had a handsome salary working at American Bank."

Katrina's mother almost fainted."Did you say Fakruddin Kalif from American Bank?"

"Yes.Why?"

Katrina's mother could barely hear herself."He is the same person whom I was married to."

"My god!I think Kalif will never stop giving us pain."


She could not talk for a few seconds.Then she said,


"Then it was us.Now it is our children."

"Why do you say that?"asked Katrina's mother innocently.

"If both you and me were wedded to the same man then,Katrina is a half-sister to Karan.How can they get married?"

To this Katrina's mother retorted,"Don't say that madam.They love each other too much to get separated.
I think we should put a fullstop to Kalif's interference in our lives."

"I would love to .But, how?"

Katrina's mother said,"We have managed to live our lives and bring up our children after much of struggles.Our only life ambition now ,is to see them get happily settled.We should not allow anything or anyone spoil that.

"Very true.but, how can we do this?"

Katrina's mother thought for a while.Then ,"Only you and me know the common secret about Kalif.We will allow it to be a secret for the rest of our lives.What do you say?"

"I am scared but, no one has the right to spoil our peace,especially in the name of Kalif.
May god be with us."

Both the mothers agreed for the marriage and Katrina and Karan got their marriage registered the following week.

They lived happily ever after .

As for the secret,
it slept at the depths of the mothers' hearts for ever and for ever.

'made with each other'

I have a friend who is a news reporter.He always has something sizzling.
This time it was an interview taken a couple of days back.

It was an interview with two young girls named Leela and Sheela .

"Hey Leela,how are you today?"asked Sheela.

"I am fine.but, I am a bit worried about what our teacher thinks of us."said Leela.

"Just dont worry Leela.She would have freaked out when she was young. She is old now.So, she has comfortably forgot her past",said Sheela.

"What you say might be right.But, what she says matters to us,cause she may inform our parents about all the mischief we do in school.I think we should behave ourselves",cautioned Leela.

"I dont care. I want to do what I want.We will face it when it comes",said Sheela carelessly.

"Please Sheela,dont say that.I am scared of Mrs.Rosy",shivered Leela.

Leela pleading with Sheela went on for sometime before both came to a consensus.

I asked my friend,"What is so great about this dialogue.This happens in all households where one kid is sweet as candy and the other is a monkey.Oh,come on, Give me better news."

Wait don't be in a hurry.Now look at this picture before you say anything further.

"Wow, what is this?Have you started tutorials for  computer graphics?Good job man."

"No.No.Don't be in a hurry again.This is no computer graphics.It is a photo of Leela and Sheela.
they are called conjoined twins.
They were born together as twins but, a part of their scull and brain are fused.All conjoined twins who are born like them ,share a few or many of the body organs."

Out of curiosity I asked,"Can't they be surgically seperated?"

"Most of the times ,it is a highly risky prospect and one or both of the kids could die.So, doctors don't recommend surgery for such kids.

Now you know the reason Leela was pleading with Riny to behave himself.They can never do anything in their lives without the other twin's agreement."


Can we even imagine this?

Daisy and Violet Hilton

Living with a controlling spouse is enough frustration.Then think...

Abigail and Brittany joined at the neck.
They have three hands and three legs.

There were one such twins named Daisy and Violet Hilton who were born in England in 1908.They were joined at the hip.They lived till they were 69 years old.

"Living in the situation is enough trouble but, what happens when one of the twin dies?Sorry,but I just got curious",I said

"In the case of the Hiltons ,Daisy passed away almost 3 days earlier to Violet.It is said they died of hong kong flu.
                                                     But, what went through her mind those three days?Any guesses?

'External affairs'-short story

Helen loved Rajeev very much.So did Rajeev.

They worked in the same office.
But, they did not want anyone to know about their love.
So, they decided that they will meet outside office-in a resort.

They planned for it well.
Helen told her boss that she was not feeling well so, she needed a couple of days leave.
Rajeev said he had to attend to his mother who was sick.

So, they set out to a resort to have a great time together.

They told their families that they have office meetings and so, they had to leave town.

                                            Most unexpectedly,Rajeev's mother met with an accident.
His sister admitted her mother in hospital and came to office to get his contact address and phone number. Rajeev had switched off his cellphone.

The boss was confused and informed the girl that there was no meeting taking place anywhere else.
But,he decided he had to find out the truth behind all this.

He told the girl that Rajeev had applied for leave to attend to his ailing mother.

Rajeev's sister was confused too.She said that her mother fell down in the bathroom just an hour back.
She had been quite fine till then.

Listening to this,the boss became very angry.

But, he could not do anything in the situation.He had to wait.

                                            The next day,the boss went to the 'ATM' counter near his house and on his way back ,he saw something that took his breath away.He saw Rajeev and Helen at the taxi stand,lost in their own world.

The boss caught them red-handed.

He said to Rajeev,"You must be ashamed of yourself.You said your mother was very sick when actually she was not.Your bad intentions have really affected you now.Your mother slipped in the bathroom and she is in the hospital."

He was angry with Helen too.So, she too got to hear her part of the music.

The boss said that the right punishment for them would be to let their family know what they really are. So, he took Rajeev and Helen to the hospital where Kishen's mother was admitted.

The boss went into the room to see Rajeev's mother.

Both Rajeev and Helen waited for the worst but, nothing happened.
After a while,they went into the room and were astonished to see their boss begging forgiveness from Rajeev's mother.

Rajeev had a galore of questions in his mind.
Who is he?How does he know my mother?Why is he pleading guilty?

After much of prodding,his mother said that 'the boss'was actually his father who had deserted them even before Rajeev was born.

Rajeev was dumb-struck but, it was now Helen's turn to talk.

When the boss came out of the room she thought it was the right opportunity.
She said,"Sir, you have no right to scold or embarrass Rajeev and me, in front of our family.It is our own wish to do what we want.
We have only spent a couple of days together at a resort.It is much better than the behaviour you have shown.

                                       Helen was very happy for having given it back on the same coin to her boss.
With a contented feeling she turned to leave, when she felt someone looking at her from the pharmacy next door.

Who was it?

My God!It was her husband.

Would he have heard all that she told her boss now?

Love

See it in my eyes,

Feel it in my touch,

Hear it in my words,

And live it with me.

Cross mountains high,

Scale pinnacles close to sky,

Swim the oceans deep,

Reach the heights you dreamt in sleep.

Soar up in the skies,

Fly distances like a bird,

Fathom down onto abyss,

Go down till you loose yourself.

Come,hold hands my love

Walk centuries with me,

Come,bathe in my love,

Feel yourself in me.

Snippet 3

Once a rich,city-bred man saw a person in humble clothes, sitting outside a shrine,silently for long.


At the end of an hour , a monk from within the shrine served food to the person.


The man was intrigued by these happenings.He believed that everyone should be worth the food he eats.
He could contain himself no more.
Quick to react, he asked the monk ,"Does this person outside do any work at the shrine?"


"No",said the monk.


The man became angry."Then why do you feed him free of cost.You must be stupid to do so."


The monk listened to him patiently and said, "Watch the person till nightfall and tell me what you feel?"


So,the man positioned himself at a distance from that person and watched him till nightfall.
During the day,he tried to talk to the person but,received no reply.


The man was infuriated."I am such a big man in society.There are hundreds of people waiting for my appointment. No-one dares to ignore me.Either you must be out of your mind or-else you must be deaf and dumb."saying so, he went back to his post and continued watching the person.


The monk at the shrine,who had been noticing all this,summoned the man and asked him,"What do you think of the person outside the shrine now?"


"I still feel he is a total waste and such lazy people should not be encouraged",said the man.

'Silence is golden'

Now, the monk said,"He is the chief priest of the shrine.
He teaches people about the importance of silence.


I have been watching your activities from the morning.You have called me a 'stupid'.
You have called our teacher  'a total waste',lazy man','mad man' and what not.


All this harsh and impulsive behavior has earned you no goodness or peace.
So, follow the path of silence whenever you can and you will be closer to God everyday.


Realizing his folly, he asked for forgiveness from the monk and the chief priest and set out on his way.


He was a changed man now.


All his ego had melted away and he decided to talk only when it is absolutely necessary.

'Passionately yours'

I love you
but,how to tell you?
I thought I will pen it
but, how to begin it?

Mmmmm...Mmmmm...

You're a lovely rose,
but,don't roses wither away?
You're face is a bright sunflower,
but,don't they turn away?

I don't like these flowers,
they are not charming as you.
They don't have characters,
that always adorn you.

Then what shall I write,
to describe you?
Whatever I write,
it does not equal you.

So, I made a decision,
of meeting you.
To tell you the passion
and pain of loving you.

Will you my dearest of dear,
adorn my love for you?
Or will you like the roses,
prick the hand that admires you?

Short story-'Working deliveries'

Rabi and Sanya were a working couple.They were holding good positions in their respective offices.They not only cherished the monetary benefit that it brought them but, also the power and respect it gave them.


Everything seemed fine till sanya got pregnant.It was an unexpected pregnancy and sanya did not want to have the child.


Both rabi and sanya's parents promised to help them in bringing up the child.Though, half-heartedly, Sanya agreed to have the kid , she was concerned about her career .She managed to attend office till the due date.Finally, she delivered the baby.


It was a baby boy and they named him Kalil.


Sanya was back to office once her maternity holidays were over and Kalil was handed over to Sanya's parents.

Kalil grew up with his parents' parents-sometimes Sanya's sometimes Rabi's.Though Kalil was not lonely,he always missed his parents.But, his parents were very busy with their careers and were left with no energy for him in the evenings.


Days rolled by and Kalil grew up .


Rabi and Sanya had always bought him the finest of toys and clothes.He studied in the best school in town.
So, as usual they admitted him into one of the finest colleges.


By the time Kalil finished college, his grandparents had passed away one after the other.


It was time for Rabi's retirment too.He thought,"I can relax now,after all the years of toiling."


But, we cannot decide our fate.


Kalil fell in love with a girl named Banu,in college, and soon they got married.


Both Kalil and Banu were top ranking students so, they were selected into prime companies for employment.Their offices were close to each other,so Kalil dropped her at office everyday.


By this time,Sanya had retired from service.She was at home and so, she took it upon herself to run the house.Rabi also pitched in,now and then, to help her.


One night when Rabi and Sanya were alone,Rabi asked,"What about our world trip plans?We have retired,our son earns well and we have a sound finance now.Why don't we talk about this to Kalil?"


To this Sanya retorted,"How can we go?Both of them go for jobs and we are left to do all the care- taking of the house.Sometimes, I think we should move out and stay alone.Then we can go ahead with all our plans."


Meanwhile,Banu became pregnant and she delivered a beautiful baby girl on the due date .Three months flew away so fast and again it was time for Banu to join office.


Sanya and Rabi were more worried than happy,about their grand-daughter.


 Sanya told Rabi," If Banu joins office, bringing up the child will become our responsibility.We are weak now and taking care of an infant calls for lot of work.I am scared that Kalil will expect us to help them grow the child."Saying so, Sanya began to cry.


Rabi was scared too but, they were defenceless against their son.They had left him with Sanya's parents when he was just an infant.Sanya or Rabi had not shown interest in playing or talking to Kalil.


They were more into driving their careers up the charts and had not bothered about their relationship with their son, which was going down the drain.


With these thoughts Sanya and Rabi went to sleep.


It was the next day and all of them were having their breakfast.
Kalil began to speak."Mom and Dad,we wanted to tell you both about a decision we have taken."


Just as Kalil said this, all the thoughts of the previous night rushed through the minds of Sanya and Rabi.


Kalil continued,"Banu and I think it is more important that she takes care of the child, than earn money, at this juncture. If she joins office now,she will have to sacrifice all her precious time with the child.
I don't want my child to suffer like how I did.I missed dad and you in all the confusing and difficult stages as a child.


                         Secondly,dad and you are old now.You sometimes find it difficult to manage the household.We don't want to burden you additionally by asking you both to attend to our child.
I have seen how many difficulties my grandparents went through to take care of me. I don't want you to suffer in the same way."


Sanya and Rabi felt very guilty for having been very selfish in their life and for having been indifferent to the hardships of their parents and of Kalil.They realized their mistake ,when they are at the same threshold of life as their parents had been, years back.


They were very proud of their son for being sensitive of their plight.But, they cannot give back all the yester years in his life ,which he has lost,missing them.


But, they can surely do something and thats what they did.
They decided to stall all plans for their world trip.


They will stay with Kalil and his family and give them all the time and support that they had missed to give him before.


Medical note:

 According to developmental neurology(a science that studies the growth of a child), a mother should  take care of her child till it is 5 years old or atleast till it is 3 years old.This helps to give a strong physical and mental basis for the child for the rest of its life.It will also give a strong bonding between the mother and child.


The emotional component of a child is as important as its body.So,spending time to help the child grow emotionally is equally important spending time to help him grow physically. It is not very difficult-just listen to the child and believe in him.

Sorry! Mother

Splashing down the window pane

and lashing down memory's lane.

A powerful force of nature's.

It nurtures and tortures.

It cradles great seas and oceans,

It nourishes expanses of amazons

But,when its pouring out its wrath?

What a devastating aftermath?

What was the anger?

The sounds of cries,to this day,linger.

Creating nightmares ,leaving

child-folk sparsely with teddy bears.

Making lonely souls and empty bowls.

Why mother nature,you are punishing us?

When we reach out ,will you forgive us?

You have now pushed us to the brink ,

We have no option, but to think.

What salvaging we can do?

For forgiveness we ask-'would you'?

Oedipus and Electra

I went for a stroll in the park.There I eavesdropped on a conversation between three friends.

Sorry ,but the topic was scandalous!This is what I heard:

"Oedipus and electra?
Who are they?
Lovers?
Brother and sister?"asked 'A' in total curiosity.

"Well, all you said are almost right"said 'C'

How can that be?lovers and siblings?any new sex club?asked 'B'

'C' was already laughing heartily hearing 'A' and 'B' guessing.
He could hear no more.
"Come on guys,give me a break.These are names of a boy and a girl, from ancient Greece."

'A' was intrigued,"from when have you started relishing history books?I thought you were into medicine."

'A' said ,"This is science.Now, listen:

Oedipus is the name of a boy who, according to Greek mythology, unknowingly killed his father and married his mother. "

A real freak,said 'B'.

"According to science, each young boy in his adolescence, symbolically relives the Oedipus drama. He has cravings for his mother and views his father as a hated rival."

"Hey,don't say that. I love my parents." intruded 'A'

"Yes,your are right. But , all these feelings occur because of certain necessary chemicals in our body called hormones."

"So, the hormone guy is the villain?"said 'A'.It gave him some relief.

"Even though the father is considered a rival, the boy also fears his father , as a result he represses his sexual desire for his mother .Eventually if all goes well, the boy identifies with the father and comes to have harmless affection for the mother."

Both 'A' and 'B' let out a big sigh of relief.

'B' was quick to ask,"Does all this happen to only we boys?Do girls go scott-free?"

"No.The Electra complex is the female counterpart. It is based on the view that each girl wants to possess her father and replace her mother."

"Real bitches!"they sang in chorus.

Felt like seeing an aborigine movie.I could not hear anymore.I was sweating profusely.so, I left the place silently.

There is so much I have to know about my body,I thought.

Go to think of it, like 'C' said ,this is a normal growing process.It happens to all, knowingly or unknowingly ,in different degrees.

It happens mainly in a person's adolescence but, it may extend beyond that phase ,for a few.So, a bit of caution has to be applied.

My God!They don't say adolescence is a difficult period for nothing.

Thank goodness, I have grown up now.