2012: A Surrendered Superstition

Dec 21, 2012

     A date which have been a matter of discussion with the beginning of the second decade of the 21^st century is about to knock on the door and whether it would bring an apocalypse or an end to the growing superstitions is still unsure to many.

    “As you can’t realize the reality till the time you don’t go through it. Realization of the facts gives you the wisdom to think beyond.”

People all across the world have different reasons to support the fact from the beginning and so does the people who oppose it. We are at a place where the followers of the religion don’t agree with the believers of argument, where the theists always have conflicts with the people following atheism. The God fearing people and the people believing in theism will always pray to God to be safe from the calamities of any kind if any going to happen. But the other gentry of people will always argue about the facts of the truth and belief.

  The questions are, how do these claims get a wide acceptance? Are we so fearful from the end that if anyone proposes these kinds of claims, we would begin caring about it? Being in the 21^st century, are we still aware and logical enough?

The most important of them, Is the world as how we know it is going to end on Dec 21^st 2012? The answers are clear enough in the minds of the people believing in facts but probably not in the minds of the blind followers of these claims.

There are two proposed claims who made many believe them which are: -

·         Mayan Civilization

Many of the historian theorists had proposed that Mayan civilization calendar covers a cycle of certain years after covering which the world ends. Moreover, as per the calendar, it would happen four times. It already has happened thrice. Dec 21^st 2012 is such a date on which the last cycle of the Mayan civilization is getting over thereby indicating it to be the end of the world.

·         Harold Camping’s Claims

Mr. Harold Camping, a radio channel owner who also is a self proclaimed astronomer have proposed a theory twice or thrice about the end of the world. The first time when he came to light was to propose the very same claims way back in the end of the 20^th century. Days passed but the human race is still breathing and rather breathing happily. Then, he proposed it in the midst of the first decade of the 21^st century, but still no astronomy can change or restrict the reality from taking place.

The fresh claims by him about the end of the world this year were in July and then in December. The December claim got acceptance as it collided with Mayan civilization end dates creating a stir in some people’s heart.

    Any other claim comes true or not, but the humanity among us has supposedly ended and is ending every day.

No matter the superstitions of people across the world will get surrendered on Dec 21^st 2012, but the people surpassing the superstitions will surely not surrender by believing the claims and so does the arguing gentry of people who opposes the superstitions.

    No one is sure if the end would come in the form of natural calamity but what we generally observe these days is nothing less than a disaster.

  MURDERS, GANG RAPES, LOOTS, FORGERY, HONOR KILLINGS, SLAVERY, and ASSAULTS might not have brought the whole world to an end but each of them individually have brought an end to an individual’s world on the whole.

     “And this certainly is no less than an end, an end of humanity, an end of a human inside us.”

Life in a Metro...

Day 2, Tuesday...

                       

  “Yesterday has gone and no one has any control over it but the coming tomorrow can only get better if you will work towards your present day.”

With all these thoughts across the mind, I woke up to a fresh new morning realizing the responsibility for the day lying ahead. Had the morning tea, and then went on to complete the daily chores. After munching on the breakfast, got myself ready to go to the office wherein it was ironical that I had to travel by “The Metro Rail” again.

  I always knew and had a clear vision on how the metro cities usually work but sometimes, though you know how things operates but still you feel quiet unfamiliar with situations. I went to the bus stand in order to catch an auto or a bus perhaps to the metro station. And after seeing people struggling for merely boarding the bus, I was feeling as if I don’t recognize the surrounding I am in. People were pushing each other, running on the roads to catch a bus as if it would be the last one. No matter who you are, be it a kid or an aged person, no one had the patience to let the other person board before they themselves board it. And as usual, despite having several traffic police officials on the road, still no one was willing to guide the directionless crowd.

Seeing all of this going around for at least 20 minutes, I asked an aged gentleman if it’s the routine habit of the city’s crowd to which he replied immediately, “Yes. It is. But it’s like that no one could help it and no one can. Due to which commuters like us have to bear all of this.”

  And while we were talking, all of a sudden a lady got hit by a moving bus. She got pushed by the crowd as a result of which she came in front of the bus. The irony was, the same crowd who pushed her caught hold of the driver, beaten him and gave him to the police in lieu of negligent driving. The truth was different and so was the reality which would make the driver of the bus and his family suffer to an indefinite period, I felt it within. The lady was taken to the hospital. Many like us felt helpless and as usual became a mute spectator to all of this.

   This created a fear, frustration, anger altogether inside me.

With all these emotions across, I boarded an auto-rickshaw to reach to the metro station to avoid a confrontation. As if I would have stayed there, I knew there would have been a confrontation, a confrontation with many and the result might not be expected by anyone.

 I reached metro station; it was enough which I saw yesterday, I was hoping that from that point, the day would be fair and destiny would have something good for me in its kitty. After having been entered into the station, I was just walking down to the platform when I got laid down by a person who was running to catch an early metro.

He: - Sorry!

Me: - You better be... Is this the way you should move?

He: - I know it’s absolutely not. It’s my exam today & I was getting late.

Me: - Oh! You should start early for these things friend.

On the same hand, I realized whatever I am conveying to that fellow; even I used to do the same.

He: - Yes. I know it.  I really am sorry for this.

Me: - Oh, its okay. You just go quickly. The metro would be about to depart.

He: - Yeah!

Me: - All the best to you...

He: - Thank you...

He moved on and so did I although my legs were paining. Till this time, I had realized that whatever I may wish for, it necessarily wouldn't come true. I wished not to face such frustrating incidents again which I encountered in the morning but fate always had alternating things in the basket for me. Composing myself again, I preferred to board the metro to reach the office on time at least.

Crowd at a Metro Station

  En-route to the journey, I used to deboard the metro on one of the central metro station to board a different “Metro Rail” to reach to the destination. I did the same this day as well. I disembarked in order to catch the other “Metro Rail”. I was hoping to get a sigh of relief wherein it all added to my woes.

I deboarded, and deboarded to observe the directionless crowd moving to and fro on to the metro station. It was understandable that the peak hours of morning witness people moving comparatively faster than the rest of the time of the day but it would witness people running across crazily to catch the trains was a bit irritating. It seemed as if there was a marathon going on and the funny part of it that it was going on in the metro station. No one knew where to go but still everyone was following each other. As soon as I entered the “Metro Rail”, I saw a person heading towards this train and when he was about to enter it, all of a sudden the doors got closed. His bag remained outside while he was inside the “Metro Rail”. When the doors opened, he realized that this train was not even the one which he had to catch and he disembarked from it. Still, he ran as if it’s the last one. At certain point of time, it all was looking very stereotypical.

  “Metro Rail” started moving but stopped for at least 15 minutes on the next station. And on each station it used to stop on, at the time of closing of the doors, an electronic sound of closing of the doors was enough to make anyone go mad and the situations haywire.

The second day was getting even worse than the previous day. Somehow, the train proceeded for the journey ahead. After taking so many pauses in the whole journey, it finally made me reach the destination station. It was a hectic journey but as it was the second day, so I was getting a bit habitual of the same things. As I reached office, I heard someone taunting that he was sure that I wouldn't be reaching office on time this day as well. It was embarrassing but simultaneously, it was frustrating that I was getting late everyday not just because of my faults but due to unavoidable things lined up for me on the daily basis by my fate.

As always, left everything which was out of personal limits on fate and once again perspired a belief that whatsoever would happen next since then, would happen for good. With all this, somehow the rest of the day went fine and now it was the time to return back to home and although with the same “Metro Rail”.

  Departing from the office, I reached metro station just to be astonished. People had formed a queue so long that it was difficult to imagine that I would also get a chance to be inside the metro station. There was no other way except to be in the queue.

Queue at an entry of Metro Station

                      Surrendered and joined the queue.

I didn't know then, something more irritating would be in the womb of time. As the queue started moving on, I was just waiting for my turn to pass through the security barriers. Irritation aroused when people who were not even in the queue were just moving ahead just to join in the queue lately by seeking help from some of the “good-hearted” people standing in front. Once again, most of us became mute spectators. At one instance, it was like the queue was moving with the steps of an ant.

 With all failed attempts to be happy with the things going around, it took around half an hour for me to get through with the queue and to move to the platform. This was how the second day of that week came to an end with all the frustrations, irritation went within for the whole day long.

Now, it was for me to get over with whatever happened that day and to wait for the next beautiful morning as it’s always the very same thing which we begin with, we get to see it at the end...

   Till this time I had understood, “Life in a metro is neither that easy to be traveled nor that easy to be lived.”

Life in a Metro...

Day 1, Monday…

Delhi or New Delhi, better known as the capital of India, is a hub for the entertainment and full of life people. And, the city is famous for its ‘Never say Never’ attitude. With each and every corner decorated with simplicity and elegance, this metro city is definitely not like the rest.

   Have its share of originality with people hailing from various backgrounds contributing towards its rich culture. And Delhi, with various other World heritages, now has the Metro service as its lifeline connecting one part of the city to the other. A lot of people across the city commute by the Metro Coaches on a daily basis among which I was also a face as a frequent Metro traveler.

I, as an individual who have been born and brought up in Delhi used to feel proud on my city for several other reasons and when Metro Rail concept was introduced way back in 2003, this reason also got accumulated in that list. A Delhi Government initiative and the project led by Mr. E Sreedharan made the ‘Delhi Journey’ easier and worth commuting for many of the commuters like me who used to sweat out in our daily journeys in the local buses. It was then thought, that we have put forth our footsteps in the positive dimension for the beginning of the 21^st century era and perhaps we are the foresighted centurions but 10 years down the line now, people have different perceptions towards the soul of the city.

  This time I got a chance to observe the changing perception of people. The location for which I got posted this time was far away from my home and after seeing the chaos on Delhi roads, it was a wise decision to commute through the Metro Rail. So, I began this journey from the very first day of the week.

It was Monday, and Delhiites were on the roads in the full strength making opening day of the week the busiest. Like many, I also took the path of the Metro Rail in order to avoid the peak hour rush on roads. It normally used to take around 20 minutes to reach Metro Station from my home but it took more than 45 minutes to reach there and all my excitement to reach the office at time via metro rail collapsed after I saw a long queue standing at the entry point of the station.

        

        It all started when I reached, and reached to see the glimpse of the crowd...

  

  Assuming it to be my fate, I also joined the long standing row of people. After joining in the league, I heard someone saying that he was standing for almost 25 minutes in the queue and still he’s on the same position as when he just joined it. After listening to all these things and standing for almost 15 minutes now on the same position, I thought of intimating about the same in the office.

Somehow, the crowd started moving forward. All of a sudden, as people began to move, many more people entered the metro station and rather joining in, they preferred moving ahead in spite of coming along in the queue. One-Two-Three and so many of them went ahead, but many of us kept standing being the rules obeying gentry waiting for our turn. Seeing all this happen, someone in the queue leaves it and moves with the people who weren't following it. Soon, another did the same. And, as it is rightly said that, ‘The survivor is the one who evolve with the times.’  I also preferred to move along with the other people. It was surprising to see that people who weren't following the queue were just requesting some of the passengers standing in front of the queue to allow the passage to go through and they were able to do that. People standing in the queue kept moving slowly but the ones who played smart were the ones who were able to pass through easily.

  This was when I realized that despite of the rules maintained by the authorities, people were able to clear off the basic hurdles easily and this was when I learned that one also has to be smart to be able to reach the metro train timely. Also a sense of realization came by witnessing these things by self and now I could relate to the changing perceptions of people.

Finally, I boarded a Metro coach and was feeling a bit relieved. The rush inside the Metro was even worse than the rush outside it. But, it now have became the habit of commuters and moreover the increasing cost of travel these days via different modes of transportation made it more lucrative for them to commute through Metro Rail. Different faces from across the corner were there but no one was willing to move an inch owing to the fact that the coach was completely packed with more and more people coming in. Unfortunately, I was also standing with only one foot on the floor of the train.

  Metro Rail reached next station. We were now moving towards our respective destinations at least, that was something which kept me composed. My expectations again went through an eclipse and Metro Rail became faulty at this station. Passengers were asked to wait for half an hour on the platform. Now, the reasons which many used to give were clearly visible for the changing opinions, and now I was also getting irritated by it. Another Metro Coach came in and every one of us boarded that. It started moving, and after sometime when it was all about to end, an announcement was made by the Metro officials which was sufficient to make passengers furious. Announcement made was, ‘Due to some unknown reasons, the service has to be barred for an hour for which the inconvenience is regretted.’ It was enough to make anyone furious and why wouldn't anyone be?

It was now very evident, the reason of the changing perceptions of people. I again intimated about the same in the office. It was so embarrassing to intimate about these things again and again when I should have reached the office timely. It took almost 45 minutes for the Metro Rail Corp. to render its services again. The Metro Rail began to move and the next station which it stopped on, I disembarked in a fear after seeing the bad service this day with a promise to never return and to never take these services again. Came out of Metro station, boarded an auto and reached the office. It took 500/- INR for me to get a drop at my office. It was costly and not even wiser, so the promise of never returning back didn't last longer and in the evening, I had to board the same Metro Rail back again.

  It wasn't that irritating this time as it was in the morning especially when I was getting late to reach my office and thankfully I reached my destination properly without any hassle. The reason to be even more joyous this time was that I also got a seat and I didn't have to stand during whole of my journey. Journey of the ‘Evening Metro’ rejuvenated me and exhausted the troubles of the ‘Morning Metro’. And now the wait was for the next day and the speculations for the scenario waiting on Day 2, Tuesday.

        The Dusk will be over soon but the hope of betterment and goodness will never be, so, do not forget to keep your alarm raised for Day 2, Tuesday…

                                                      To be uploaded soon….

  

Coming up next : "Life in a Metro"

"Life in a Metro" would be a series of a journey which I experienced in a Metro coach regularly while going to the office, Rather, a larger than life experience throughout which added another dimension of positive perspective in my life.

 It will be a roller-coaster ride for the readers as it will include the versions for five odd days and one can find each day to be more interesting than the other... The story begins with the First Day of the week: Monday; which usually sees high traffic on roads and people mostly rely on public transport in order to avoid the peak hour rush and to reach to their respective places at time... I did the same... And it all began when I reached the Metro Station of one of the best Metro Cities in India and our very own New Delhi...

STORY BEGINS OCT, 2012...

“A Cherished Life - Continues”

Delhi… May, 1994: -

Finally the day arrived on which the result had to be declared… The results got declared and there was something surprising for her family and shocking for the teacher... She stood first in the intermediate exams in her school withstanding each and every hurdle which came her way… Everyone was wondering including her family and the teacher that how it is possible for her to achieve such a feat… The teacher even went to congratulate her and while congratulating she asked her, how did you make it to the top?

She smiled and that was her way of saying the big things in her life… She had already given the answer to the teacher… And after this incident, the very same teacher never underestimated the caliber of an individual…

Now, as her father promised her to take whole of the family to a vacation… He kept his promise and whole of the family went to the city of dreams… A place where many daydreamers come and make their dreams true… But she was unaware of her destiny which had some other plans for her and which changed her life forever…

Bombay, 1994: -

They boarded a train to Mumbai which was then called Bombay… When they reached, a car was waiting for them outside the railway station… Her father moved forward with the entire luggage… After seeing him, a man came out of the car and touched his feet… And this man was quite young in his young 20’s… After seeing all of this, the sisters left astonished as whatever was going around, both of them never had a clue of it… They had dreamt that they would be staying in a hotel and would be staying there only in whole of the ‘Bombay’ visit… ‘Clueless’ sisters asked their mother of what was happening around and asked about that person who was touching their father’s feet…

She: (Indifferent) who’s this person? And why did he touch papa’s feet? You never told us about any of our relatives in ‘Bombay’… What is happening around?

Her mother was aware of each and everything going on but she didn’t want to tell it to both the sisters…

Mother: I am also not sure what he is up to and from where does your father get to know about this person?

She: So what do we do now?

Mother: I believe nothing at the moment… Let’s see what is going on…

She: Ok… as you say Mommy!

Her father asked everyone to sit inside the car… The same young man started to drive to take them to a destination which she was eagerly waiting to see… She was thinking that may be her father is taking them to a dream location… In between the journey, this person was constantly tried to have a glance of her from the rear view mirror… When she tried to tell her parents and to her father especially, he started smiling and told her that it is nothing like the way she is thinking it to be… She was now in a complete dilemma as her family was behaving in a very indifferent manner and that too all of a sudden… After sometime, her father informed her;

Father: - Do you know he is doing engineering?

She: - Who?

Father: - Come on! The person who is driving this car is not a driver… He is an engineering student… His name is Pratyaksh…

She: - Hmmm… So what shall I do?

Father: - Nothing dear… I was just informing you… (And the father once again started smiling)

She: - OK!

The car stopped and stopped at a beautiful Villa which was owned by that young man’s father… Everyone came out of the car, and her father ran and hugged a person who was of his age…

He was his childhood friend staying there with all his family and his was a very open minded Punjabi family…

Father: - (To the father of Pratyaksh) Hey Buddy! How are you? How have you been? It’s been years to see you…

Pratyaksh’s Father: -Yes my friend… It’s been years since we both met…

Father: - You know my daughter stood topper in her intermediate exams in her school…

Pratyaksh’s Father: - Oh great! So, how did you congratulate her?

Father: - Well, I have promised everyone that if she will score well then I would take them for a vacation and here we are, in Bombay for a vacation…

She: - (To her father now) what’s happening around? Who is this person?

Father: - Don’t you know? He is my childhood friend…

She: - So that means we are going to stay with him….

Father: - Yes, Absolutely…

It was almost late in the night since they entered the house…

At the Dining Table...

She stayed quiet seeing different people whom she hardly knew followed by her sister… Both her parents knew all of this and still preferred to stay mum and didn’t tell her the reason for which she was brought here…

Pratyaksh’s Father: - I once again congratulate you child for achieving this feat… But this congratulation is not enough for what you have done… We will be taking you to the best locations of Bombay tomorrow… Would you like to go with us?

She: - (Excited) (Smiled) Of course Uncle! That’s a great idea… I have heard a lot about ‘Bombay’… But I must say that you shouldn’t congratulate me again and again… I just gave my best and rest was the hard work which paid off…

Pratyaksh’s Father: - Hmm… Are you listening something son? You should learn something from her…

Pratyaksh: - Yes Dad… She is really humble…

She again was in a dilemma that why each and every time she was getting highlighted in most of the conversations… Her parents were really happy thinking that she is now opening up with this family…

Post Dinner…

Her mother asked her to have a good sleep as the new dawn would bring all new dimension in her life… And when she asked about it, her mother asked her to sleep…

The Next Day…

Both of the families went to the ‘Juhu’ Beach… One of the beautiful beaches in Bombay… Once they reached there, her sister started making castles of sand… But she was not able to make a single one… Pratyaksh sat beside her and started helping her in making the castles… 

Now, while she was standing near the sea, her father asked, how did you find Pratyaksh and his family?

She: Papa, what kind of a question is this? I mean he is good… I saw him helping my sister and he is quiet mannered… but why are you asking this question?

Father: - Well, I think this is the right time to inform you about this… You are grown up now… You made us proud by scoring really well in your exams and now both, your mother and I think that you should get married now and Pratyaksh is a very good person for you…

She: But Papa, I am still very young and this is my age to get enrolled in a college for further studies…

Father: - That is altogether a different thing dear… In our family girls get married at this age only… Your mother and I tied the knot at this age only… And see you would be having such good in laws… What else do you want?

We interrupted her in between to enquire if it was really true because it would have been true she must have been really young at that age…

Me: - What are you saying Ma’am? Is this really true? I am sure you would have refused to do it… I know you are wise enough to deal with such situations…

She: - Thank you for the compliment…But I wish I would have been wiser at that time… (Laughed)

Me: - I didn’t get you…

She: - (Smiled) and even I didn’t get my father at that time...

Me: So what happened after that?

She: - After that I went into a silence and my father once again repeated whole of that thing… And I simply looked at Pratyaksh at that point of time and his simplicity and helpful nature touched me inside…

Father: - So what is your answer now?

She: - (Smiled) I am really not sure what to say but you are my father and I completely trust you… Whatever your decision would be, I would be abiding it…

Me: - So, what was his decision?

She: - Of course the same one which he thought of even before we left for 'Bombay'…

Me: - Means?

She: - I married to Pratyaksh in 1996 and it’s almost been 17 years now since both of us are together… So you can call me Mrs. Pratyaksh now… (Laughed)

Me: - That’s such a good story of your life but I am unable to find the answer to one of the questions which is constantly hovering over my head…

She: - And what is it?

Me: - Everything is fine but after you got married, how did you complete your rest of the studies and how you became a trainer in such a big organization?

She: - I already told you… Pratyaksh’s family was an open minded family and they allowed me to continue my studies even after the marriage…

Me: - Wow! That’s great…

She: - This is the same expressions of my son for his grandparents whenever I use to tell this tale to him in the night…

Me: - You even have a son… and well how old is he?

She: - I think I am a normal human being and can have children… (Laughed) Well he is just 10 years old…

Me: - Hmm… That’s great... I must say that you have such beautiful families…

And our shift got over and she asked us to move for home… But this again was a wonderful experience of life to hear a wonderful story of such a humble person… She was not only the corporate trainer but also an Assistant Manager of the HR Department of this multinational organization… She married at such a young age, but made her life big which yet again gave me another reason to share this and to make everyone’s life big…

Hope to see everyone healthy and blissful again…

Till then,

Stay healthy, happy and brave enough to take right decisions at right time…

Adios!

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“A Cherished Life”

Many of us go through a lot of troubles in our lives on a daily basis but there are not many who face each of the trouble brave heartedly but some people hail from another league... A league of brave hearts that face the wrath with a convincing smile on their faces... This time I met with one of the same kind of person... A person full of life, a person so joyous who endeavors to bring about the changes within and the changes within the society... This lady was the corporate trainer in the organisation which I joined... She was here for almost four years now... She had such a smile which could lessen the burden on any of the individual’s shoulders... Such charisma which could make u feels light at heart... And now it was more than a year since I was working here cherishing each and every experience which I shared with her.... And this now clearly seems that she has a “cherished life” to die for...

It was the spring season when I joined here and she was introduced to me as the trainer of the process for which I was hired for. It was the very first day and as usual my unfortunate habits of getting late didn’t leave me here also and I got late again. When I entered, there was someone standing inside the training room. And he was the organization’s Vice-President who was briefing everyone about the process. I entered and entered with a fear. He asked me to be seated. I was feeling embarrassed. He continued. And now after sitting in the training room with different personalities in it, everyone gathered there was watching each other with utter keenness, and keenness to know about each and every other individual. And here the VP takes an exit after wishing everyone a good luck for the future and enters a lady in her middle age, with a vibrant and vivacious smile on her face and rather a lady full of life. She was our trainer. She was about to begin mentoring each of us for the next one month.

She generally asked, the timings when we all came in... Most of them entered at the required time but when I was asked about the same, I preferred to stay mum. It was so embarrassing that I got late despite of the fact that it was the very first day… She came to me and replied, “I know that you got late, and very late even but you can’t change it... Sometimes things are meant to be like this only and you should let them remain the same... “Rather Focus on tomorrow by hitting the targets today”

And I understood her point... She used to train everything in a very positive and in a playful manner that an individual can never get bored... The soothing smile which she carries with herself is an answer to every question... No matter how much she has faced in her life, but she always have a smile to share...

The training was going good, when one fine day; she came in and asked all of us if we would like to play a game... A game of Truth and Dare... And we began with the normal rules of the game.... Many of us acted brave and tried daring what we were given to do... But the trainer showed even more bravery by choosing to speak the truth... And what all I heard that day gave a very special place and immense respect to that lady in my heart... But what I heard was completely unbelievable and seemed to be fictional stuff...

She was asked to tell something about her life... And she began with her childhood...

Delhi, 1993: -

A child to the Punjabi parents, she was just like any other girl in Delhi unaware of her dreams, whose dawn used to begin with a divine smile and whose dusk used to end with the beautiful  bedtime stories which her mother used to narrate to her and her sister every night... Despite of everything else, it was a complete and conservative Punjabi family living in South Delhi with her parents and younger sister...

It was her Intermediate exam the very next year...  She used to be an average child who mostly doesn’t used to bother much about her grades and always used to be in a playful mood... But as the frame of time moves forward and waits for no one, similarly her pre-board exams started and she hardly prepared for them...

We asked her, “if u didn’t prepare, so did u appear for the exams or gave them a miss?”

She smiled and replied, “I bravely confronted my situation and appeared for the exams, and I still remember that I answered one of the questions in three pages”...

Me: Bravo! How can you write so much if you didn’t even prepare for it?

She: (Laughed) I did what most of the students in schools and colleges do... I wrote my version of the answer in my own style...

Me: I am sure you must have secured good grades in pre-board exams... Didn’t you?

She: Well, honestly speaking I failed in my pre-board exams... (Laughed) And I was very badly insulted by my class teacher... I used to be very sensitive those days and I really felt embarrassed to get insulted in front of everyone... Since then I made my mind that no matter how hard I will have to work, but one day I would be taking an award from the very same person who have insulted me...  You will wonder that I didn’t even read a single chapter that year but I started doing the same since December when pre-boards just ended and did that till the time of commencement of the boards...

Her family was also surprised to see her working hard... It seemed that she wanted to prove a point...

Delhi, 1994: -

And the day arrived, the Board exams began...

She stopped studying just a day before the commencement of exams... She confidently went to the exam centre and wrote each and every exam with a firm self belief... And once her exam got over, she was sure enough that even if she might not get a distinction in any of the exam but she would definitely score something good so as to give an answer to her class teacher...

On the same day, her father broke news that if she would be scoring good grades in her exams then, he would be taking whole of the family to a Mumbai trip on a vacation... He was very confident that her daughter would do something really good in exams seeing her hard work... And like every other child, she and her younger sister started imagining about Mumbai... In 1994, students didn’t used to have proper access of the Internet & Television, so both of them started collecting details about Mumbai and the places to visit there from magazines and newspapers... Both of them were very excited and got completely involved in the dreams of Mumbai...

Usually her family used to go at so many different places like any other family but this time, her father have planned something very serious in his mind for her which changed her life forever!!!

And the day finally arrived for which so many people were waiting... The result came out and what came out in results was enough to make everyone wonder...

“What did she score in her exam, what was her class teacher’s reaction after seeing her result, Did the whole family visited Mumbai, What serious decision did his father make, How her life got changed??

There are many questions which need to get answered and a lot to be proceeded further... So stay glued for the next part of the series which also will get uploaded by the dawn of new month...

Till then, Stay Glued!!

Adios!

A Journey on Road- Part III

He gets to her desk... closer and closer... and he sat right next to her seat... I was there glancing all of this... and he began...

He: (his hands on her shoulder) I am so fascinated by seeing one of my employee’s dedication and responsibility towards the work that despite everyone has left, still she is busy with the work...

She: (Indifferent and shocked) what?? What are you saying sir? Why everyone has left?

He: Don’t you know? T’was a bit cloudy and stormy day today... So, I myself asked everyone to leave... But I am surprised why you haven’t left as of yet... I suppose we were not having any review meeting for this day, so there should have been no pressure of completing the work today itself... So, why you haven’t left?

She: Actually, there was a little bit work left in a particular file, so I just thought of completing it before leaving for the day but somehow I got completely involved in it... Anyways... thanks for awakening me from the dreams of work...

He: (smile) it’s my pleasure... But it’s good to be a workaholic...

She: Yes... it is but you should keep a check on other things also... I had missed a golden opportunity of leaving early and enjoying the weather... (She took off the pearl set she was wearing and kept it in the same drawer in which I found it and closed that drawer) Ok sir... I should leave now...!!

He: Now, when you have extended for the day, can we have a cup of coffee together? You needn’t worry; I will drop you home...

She: That’s alright sir... I can go by myself...

He: Hey! Don’t be formal... Actually, I have to go to a nearby place where you stay... So, I will drop you as well... So, can we have a coffee together?

She: Hmm... Ok sir... (She was a bit confused about what to say to him)

Both of them then moved to the cafeteria ... and while having the COFFEE...

He: Thanks for coming...

She: No need to thanks sir...!! It’s alright... In fact I was also in the mood for coffee... I should say thanks to you for the coffee...

He: Hmm... So, how’s your experience in our organisation?

She: Exhilarating... I am satisfied with the kind of response I got from the people after joining here...

He: That’s good... I am sure you will enjoy working here... So, tell something about yourself... your life, family, commitments?? 

She: (smile) I will surely let you know about all this but on any another day... It’s too late and I think I should leave now...

He: Oh yes..! Of course!

When they were moving towards the exit gate of the office, all of a sudden she remember that she put her pearl set in the drawer and thought of taking it with herself... So, she asked him to wait at the exit gate till she brings it from there...

She went onto her desk to collect the pearl set from the drawer... And while she was trying to open the drawer, it didn’t open up... She tried to open it once again, and this time she got successful... She took her pearl necklace out and wore it at the same time... Meanwhile, she got nervous when she observed that someone was standing behind and staring her constantly... But this nervousness turned into fright when she saw that her boss was standing behind and he was the only one to stare in a very awkward manner...

She: What happened sir? I was just coming... This drawer got stuck...!!

He: Nothing sweetie... I was just missing you... You take your time; I will drop you safely...

(She got more frightened with the change in his tone of voice and his over friendly behaviour)

She: I think I will get this drawer sorted tomorrow... Let’s leave and I am really sorry sir... I would have come with you but I just remember that today, my granny had called me up and asked me to meet her... So, I had to go to her place directly from the office...

He: So what dear? I will drop you there as well...

She: I am really thankful to you sir... But, she stays very far from here... So, I will go by myself... You needn’t worry about it... (After a bit pause) Ok then... Good night sir... I would like to leave now...

And when all this was happening I was just standing still watching the same helplessly... All I could do was to pray to the almighty for her to be safe from this evil person...

Within seconds, I saw some more men entering into the office premises but they only came towards the gate and close the main doors of the office curbing the entry and exit of the people from outside and inside the office... I was getting afraid... All the prayers were of no avail and I was unable to rescue her in any of the conditions...

After wishing him, she began to walk towards the exit gate... But she also got afraid after seeing the closed gates... And when she turned back for help he was not there... She held herself and again moved towards the exit gate... She tried to open the gate but it didn’t get opened... She was getting more and more afraid... She called out SIR... SIR...!! Help me out...!! Are you there...!!

Within moments, he came and asked her, what happened?
(I could see it that whatever she was going through, he was behind all of that but she had to suffer)

She: The doors got locked... I don’t know how... Please tell someone to open the gate...

(He could sense it that she was getting very uncomfortable, so he went even closer to her)

He: Don’t worry... I am here only... I will get it sorted...

He called up someone and asked to open the gate and disconnected the call...

He: The gatekeeper will be back within 15-20 min... So, till then let’s sit here for some more time...

She: (frightened and frustrated) Ok...

He: (sat next to her and while holding her hand) you look very good... Just like someone with whom I should be in a relationship... Let’s spend some quality time together...

She: (stood up in anger) what are you saying? Are you in your senses...? Merely, having a coffee together doesn’t give you this much authority to say something like this to me... I am really sorry... But, you are with a wrong person... You will get my resignation tomorrow... I am leaving anyhow...

Me: I don’t want your resignation... I want you sweetie...

And then he began to show his real colours... The colours of which he was actually made of... The colours of brutality, sexuality, and the worst shades which a human can ever imagine of... It was very difficult for me to observe this, but I was helpless... When the day is bad, even the prayers turns out to help the devil... I suppose similar things were happening that day and all the prayers were of no avail and he was getting successful in his lifeless and dirty acts...

She: Just shut up... You are sick...

And she began to move towards the window... He held her hand tightly and asked her to surrender... But she resisted and ran towards the window... She was about to jump off it but somehow he got there and caught hold of her before jumping... But now, he didn’t ask her anything... He started ripping her clothes apart and snatched her pearl set and it got broken and all the pearls got scattered on the floor... However, she pushed him and ran towards the cliff of the office but t’was truly a bad day for her... The cliff door was also locked... She somehow controlled herself and her emotions and just hid in a room nearby the cliff and locked it from inside... It was a store room meant for keeping sports stuff... He shouted and shouted very loud... But he didn’t find any trace of her... He went towards the cliff but when he found the cliff’s door locked, he understood that she is somewhere nearby... He was having a master key with him to open all the locks of the company like the way people used to have way back in 80s... So, he started opening each of the door nearby the cliff... There was around 10-12 rooms near it... She was afraid but she was ready to face him... She held a hockey stick with her and stood right besides the door... He came to this room in which she made herself hidden... He opened the door... But, he was smarter than her... The moment he opened the door, she got trapped... He didn’t enter after opening the door and she hit in the air perceiving that he will enter... But, when he entered, she again tried to hit him but the impact was not that much as she expected it to be... And now, he was completely a monster, who doesn’t know his limits...  A complete animal unaware of the consequences of his wrongdoings... But, whatever is in the fate... Sometimes, you can’t get rid of it... Either you have to live with it or you have to give up... T’was not in her fate but the hunger of an animal made her the victim she was not supposed to be... He thrashed her with the same stick till the time she lost her consciousness... and when she got faint, this animal made her his meal... He raped her when she was not in the condition to resist... She was broken... mentally, emotionally, physically... She was having bruises all over herself and within... And after he laid this curse on her, he was ready to lay another curse... He took her to the sea side... I too followed him on the car... Eventually, I could only touch my things... When I reached the sea side, I saw him dragging her deep into the sea... I ran and tried to stop him... But, I was unable to touch anyone even or anything which didn’t belong to me... So, he got successful in his mean and deadly inhibitions... I dived into the sea to save her and to save self as well by trying to save her... but what has to happen have to happen... No one has any control over it... But as I could not touch anyone, so all my tries went into vain... She got drowned in the shallow sea and perhaps died due to suffocation under it... and with her death; I could see my only ray of hope to go back dying altogether... And he left after ensuring that she got drowned in the sea... I broke down and spent the next two days hovering somewhere nearby sea side... and...

ONE FINE MORNING...

I was standing near a tea stall and just when I saw the headline on the daily newspaper’s front page under which the photograph of that person was also there, I was shocked and happy on the same hand... The headline reads, “Owner died mysteriously”... I sat there and began to read whole of the news... and now I was a bit aware who that person actually was... He was the father of my boss... that’s the only reason for the resemblance between the two of them...  And his body was founded deep under the sea in mysterious circumstances and in the same way in which he killed her... How could this happen?

T'was something which I was questioning to myself... as he was absolutely fine two days back when he killed her, but how he could get this kind of death ... There were lots of speculations going through the mind... and finally I decided to go back to the office late at night...

LATE NIGHT...

It was 1.00 AM when I ignited the engine and rushed to the office... As no one could even notice me, so It was easier for me to gain the entry... But when I entered, I saw something which made me to shiver... I was literally having goose bumps all over my body and the situation was very horrifying... For some seconds, I wasn’t able to recollect my memory... I was not believing what my eyes were seeing at that time... I was about to leave from the office but then someone held my hand from back and stopped me from leaving... It was her again... and what was even more shocking is that she could touch me now... Moreover, when she had been killed by that person already, then how could it be possible for me to see her again...? All these thoughts were running across the mind when she whispered my name and asked a question...

She: So, how has your journey been so far? Now, you know why I was always reluctant for talking anything about people here...      

(I was getting afraid but somehow I tried to face her)

Me: Which journey are you talking about? You have made my life hell... I don’t know the place where you have imprisoned me, perhaps have imprisoned in a world where I can’t touch anything apart from my own stuff... I am not able to return to my home... I have stuck in a time frame which doesn’t belong to me... Since I have met you, I am getting stuck in many unwanted traps but as I was in love with you so I was ignoring many things... Now, have you realised what happened with me?? Where am I??

She: I know what happened with you... You must also be knowing what happened with that guy... Don’t you think there is a bit similarity in whatever happened with you and him? And also, do you know the reason why he died but you survived despite of getting drowned...??

Me: I don’t know any of the reason but whatever happened was not good... And in fact the kind of life I am living is not worth of it and I would prefer to die rather than being in a practical world living as a non existing person... I have been seeing everything very closely and really understand the kind of trauma you have been through, but what do you think?  What you did, was it fair? I don’t know why I survived but I know one thing. (Pause)

 I loved you, and I don’t know but still there is something inside the heart which can’t see you suffer. Going back to the time when we began to interact and soon become closest of pals and remember when my colleagues used to make fun of me; frighten me, warn me about the consequences if I believe in you, some used to tell that the person with whom I am interacting is not the living person, but still I had a belief and a firm belief in you that you could do no wrong and if at all anyone is true is only you...      

She: I understand every emotion of yours and realise the kind of pain with which you are going through with every passing moment ... We both are in the same league and the only difference is that you can go back but I can’t... Even if I would want to but still I don’t have a choice... and what do you expect? I feel what I did was fair enough... Satisfaction of soul is more important than bearing the baggage of grief and sorrows. If I would have not done this, my soul would never have been at peace... The trauma from which I suffered, in fact has been the reason for everything... If I wouldn’t have done this, I could have been the reason for several other people’s death... For the past 30 years, people have been speculating the reason for his death and have been framing allegations for the killer, but I have been waiting for someone who could understand me and freed me from this captivity of time...

You know the reason why people were prompting and warning you to not sit there as whosoever goes and sits there has been facing the wrath of the trauma which I have been through... So, now the people who are working in this organisation for a longer period of time have started warning the new people... and thus they warned you also.... But you surpassed every warning and didn’t bother about the consequences...

Me: I did bother but the fact sustains, I fell in love with you...                

She: I know this... The only reason why he and many others got killed, no one ever tried to understand the reality... and tried to do the same as he did... But, you only loved and tried to see the truth... The reason why you travelled the time back in the past for about 30 years... and that’s the answer as the things you must be seeing would have been of the 1980s in comparison to your 21^st century.... and as you doesn’t belong to this timeframe, so that’s the reason why you are not able to touch anything which belongs to this time...

I held her hands closely and stated, “Some of the things which are pre-written in the destiny, we can’t change them but we can change the destiny for future by making a change to the present”... So, what has happened; just forget it...

She: You know why no one has ever been able to open that drawer...

Me: No...

She: Just go and check that drawer once again...

I went to her desk and right besides her seat was that drawer which was already open this time... I saw her pearl necklace in it which was intact and unbroken... I took it from there and came back to her...

Me: I have something to gift you... A gift which was the first source of interaction for us...

She: So, let it reach to its right place...

We came closer once again and finally, the necklace reached its place... We both hugged each other and this time I asked her the question... Can we go to a long drive??

She smiled and we moved out of the organisation... She was now free as the mighty west winds... We both move into the car and we went for a long drive to the sea side... The adrenaline was again at a new level but it was a calm experience this time... It was a satisfactory feeling altogether... We reached the sea side and once again she asked me to come out of the car... I came out and she held my hands... We began to walk to the sea side... We walked, and walked till the shore of the sea and again I got influenced and got totally involved and began to move into the sea... I again regained partial consciousness but till the time I could have understood anything, it was too late...   I was drowned in the waves of time...  and when I woke up, everything was good and I was lying near the car... I had returned back to the time with which I belong and I was overwhelmed for the same... and hopefully she must also have reached to the condition of eternity and to the place where she belongs... I again enter the car and moved towards my home... But this journey will always be remembered... A longest journey of life on road for me, ‘’A JOURNEY ON ROAD”...

         

                                       ********** THE END **********