ज़िन्दगी…

#दिलसे #DilSe

 

साथ…

#दिलसे #मैट्रो

“Dead ends” are not end of life..

Another weekend and Veer was as usual fiddling with his drink at FuzzyHead, all by himself. Visiting lounges; bars across NCR had become his weekly routine, and rarely he had any company during such so-called ‘outings’. Quite a few regulars there exchanged smiles with him but nothing beyond that, ever. At some of his frequently visited places, bartenders and other serving staff now know his preferred drinks very well depending on what time of the day it is. They look forward to his visits as he was one of those rare ‘no fuss’ kind of a guy, even after few drinks. All he needed was his drink, good food..a little space to sit and get engrossed in his phone, writing something all the time.

At 37, Veer was Offshore Director at one of the Fortune 500 IT services firm operating out of Gurgaon. For past 15 years he had spent most of his time on office work, moving up the ladder at a great pace. He had no time for family, friends and women….except for few short lasting flings. With good looks & ample bank balance, it was quite unusual for a man his age either not having a girl friend or be married by now. For him, life was almost a “Dead End”…

Engrossed in his phone and sipping the drink, Vir heard a woman talking loud over a call. She was sounding a little drunk, and almost shouting at someone. He turned back but was not able to see her face. Call continued for few minutes and as soon as it was over, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked back, and froze for few seconds..

“You?”

“Hiiiiiiii” said the woman.

“Hello. Are you ok? Need something?”

“Yes, need a smoke. You have one?”

“Of course, not sure if this is your brand” said Vir while handing over his cigarette pack.

“Who cares about brand after few drinks” and she winked while laughing.

“Light please” and Vir obliged.

“Do you mind if I join you, can’t keep sitting in this strange position”

“Sure, I will finally have a company after months”

“Really, are you such a boring guy?” asked Kriti while moving to Veer’s table.

“Probably, what about you?”

“I come here only when I am very depressed and today is one of those days”

“Hmmmm…”

“What hmmm? You are supposed to ask a lady why she is so troubled, needs any help….looks like chivalry has died.”

“Ok, tell me. Why are you so sad and depressed. Though I find you high in spirits, is it because of only alcohol?”

“Mr ….Veer. Right?”

“Yup…”

“Veer!! What kind of name it is? Very old fashioned.”

“I know, goes well with me. You tell me what is troubling you today?”

“Nothing much, just that I feel so lonely . It’s my B’day and have no one who remembers it. It’s just my son who called me up early in the morning and wished me.”

“Called you, where is he?”

“With his father, in Mumbai. We separated two years back and court granted Arthav’s custody to his father.”

“Oh, sorry to hear that. And a very Happy B’day.”

“Thank you and you don’t have to be. We are happy with this decision, and living in peace. I get to meet my son every two months, and he spends half of his summer vacations with me. His father is a rich man and able to take good care of him, sends him to the best of school in Mumbai. What else I need, have no other desires.”

“Hmmm….” that’s all Veer could utter…

“What about you?”

“By the way, do you remember that interview, when you asked all stupid questions and rejected me? To the day I have failed to understand why?”

“Sorry, but I just wanted to be at a distance from all distractions. There were major projects we had won and successful delivery meant I moving to Director’s position. Which I actually did, it’s been three years…must say you have a great memory.”

“So, how does it feels to be a Director Mr. Veer” Kriti said while getting a little tipsy.

“Great!”

“Really? and  this race to reach at the top has left you lonely…in your own company. Trust me, there is life beyond it…”

Veer had no words, in a way what Kriti said was right. He has a huge bank balance but almost no friends or family. Everyday he is all by himself after office, burning fuel and just killing his time at various pubs.

“Do settle my bill as well today Mr Veer, you will feel better.” said Kriti tapping his shoulder while getting up and moving away.

“And let’s meet at Rajiv Chowk Metro station tomorrow same time in the evening.” all Veer could hear still absorbed in his thoughts…

Third and last story in sequel to – “U” turns can lead to dead-ends! & Life does have “U” turns..

सीट…

#दिलसे #मैट्रो

सीट…

​बीमार भी हो तो सीट माँग नहीं पाता,
ग़रीब हार कर नीचे ही बैठ जाता है।

#दिलसे #मैट्रो #Metro

Door apart..

One door apart,
two beating heart.
She’s inside coach,
out he pretends to look at watch.
Smile flashing on the faces,
everytime eyes meet.
Very obvious to all,
what they are trying to keep discreet.

Glances being exchanged,
she requests him to go.
He keeps waiting,
telling her only after you.
Connecting phone to charging point,
she said battery is dead.
Let’s chat in few minutes,
please come on Whatsapp.

At last doors close,
and Metro starts moving.
Both of them said “bye”,
but for long hands kept waving.
Smile on the face and typing on phone,
engrossed she is in her own world.
Life’s like a beautiful dream,
Oh that teenage love!

(Inspiration – A teenage couple in love at Kirti Nagar Metro station)

Soul’s balm..

Spark of your eyes,
ignites light in my heart.
Smile on your face,
leaves me wanting for an embrace.
Your eyelashes flutter,
it’s only you who matter.
Your tender tiny fingers,
fit so nicely in my palm.
Your head on shoulder,
is my soul’s balm.

(Inspiration – A young couple adjacent to whom I sat for about 45 minutes in Delhi metro and heard their conversation, observed them.)

No small price..

“These guys should always be kept on their toes. Else they start taking us for granted” one of the young college going girls said to her friend, both were standing just beside me in the metro and busy on WhatsApp.

“Not sure why Tarun is not taking my calls for past 30 mins. Last night also he was avoiding talking to me and then his phone was switched off till early morning today.”

“Hmmm, you better keep an close eye on him. I told you he’s not that sweet guy as you feel. He’s way too smart then you think.” other girl said.

“It’s not like that, he takes care of me a lot.” she said defending and dialed her boyfriend’s number.

After few rings when the call was not answered, she was quite irritated and almost shouted “what the f***…” and everyone around in Metro stared at her.

“Let him call back, I will not spare him now.”

“Correct, this is not done. How can he treat you like this….” said her friend.

And the phone rang almost immediately with a romantic song being played “Zara Zara mehakta hae….”. She looked at her phone while picture of a young man was flashing on the screen, and she disconnected the call. This continued for next 5 minutes, she was smiling with pride while her friend commented “Good job, he should realize your worth.” and both of them laughed with a high-five.

When she finally took the call, was almost not speaking at all. On the other end one could hear a male voice pleading, exact words were not audible but “please” was quite obvious clear. Interestingly she put her phone on mute and was smiling, winking at times to her friend; who was so pleased to see all this.

Finally she said “Ok” after 10 mins and disconnected the call.

“What?” friend asked.

“He is taking off today and we are going for a movie. He will meet at Preet Vihar metro station” with a big smile she said.

“What??? And you agreed just on this? How could you? He was not talking to you since last night and you let him go for only this?”

“Baby, it’s not a small price to pay considering I knew he was out for his cousin’s engagement last night and his phone’s battery died but still managed to drop a message before that. And in morning he is usually driving to work and is not able to take calls…”

Friend could not utter anything except “bitch, you are..” while she got down at Preet Vihar…

No age for Facebook..

I am sitting beside an old couple, and as usual engrossed in the music. They are talking something, time to lower volume and pay attention :-))

Out of nowhere, man takes out a mobile from his pocket and extends his hand. What is he trying to do? Oh, a selfie! And now wife holds his arm, both of them give a nice smile to camera lens and sound of shutter. They together check the pic and are not happy, few more tries and finally a photo both of them like.

“So this one?” man while showing photo to wife.

“Yes, this is looking good” wife.

I peep into their mobile and check out the click. Not bad, in fact a lovely click.

Wait, now what he is doing?? He just posted it on Facebook with a wink and said smiling “There’s no age for Facebook!”. Description he added for the photo “With my love..”

And I kept looking at them for sometime as ‘Likes’ started pouring in…

The Betrayal…

As I checked my Blackberry to see if there are any new mails, metro made a halt at Rajiv Chowk station and a huge crowd was inside the coach within a few seconds. A young woman in her mid twenties came and stood beside me at the right side, some male friend or a colleague was with her and they seemed to be discussing something.

“Listen, I am sorry! It was a mistake I committed under influence of alcohol” the guy was almost pleading to her in an over crowded metro.

People around were looking at them and trying to understand what’s happening.

“Under influence of alcohol?? Don’t give me that crap. I am not sure with how many sluts you would have slept so far under the influence of alcohol. I have been mad for you, gave six important years of my life. Is this what I deserve? No, I deserve better.”

“I swear, don’t know what and how does all this happened. I drank a lot that day in the party and lost my senses”

“Really!! You were not in your senses but conscious enough to get laid with that bitch. Do you expect me to believe this”?

As the guy tried holding her arm, she pulled herself back and almost shouted “Don’t…and stay away.”

By that time almost everyone around knew they are fighting and were staring at them.

“I love you, you know that very well and can not think of a life without you. Please forgive me.” young man said pleading.

“Oh, come on! Don’t start this again. You betrayed me, betrayed my love and the faith. I hate you, don’t want to see your face ever again. You better don’t try to call me.”

“No, it was not betrayal. I did not do anything intentionally. It just happened….”

“Aha, that’s not betrayal. How cool you are about it, you will understand only if I would do something like this. Like, like kissing this guy right here in front of everyone.” and she suddenly kissed me on my right cheek few times and held my arm tight.

Everyone in the coach was left stunned, including that guy. And by the time I realized what’s happening and shrugged her off, it was too late. And at the same time metro made a halt at Kirti Nagar station, I moved out and that woman followed me shouting to her ex-boyfriend by now “Don’t try to follow me or get down here, I will otherwise call cops.”  And he froze inside the metro coach while it moved out of the station.

I rushed to take stairs. She came running after me and said “Thanks a lot and I am really sorry to embarrass you like this. I was just looking for an opportunity to dump that bastard…….”

(Loosely Based on a true conversation I overheard recently in Delhi Metro between a couple in love; or may be not in love anymore)

Why? Why? Why?

I fail to understand why so many people in Metro talk like big shots (mostly office going) and start giving instructions, or appear like they are the most knowledgeable creature on this earth. And that too on top of their voice!!!!!

“U” turns can lead to dead-ends!

Veer was short-listing profiles since morning for the upcoming project his company has recently bagged. It was going to be his life’s biggest project so far, which spans across multiple locations (India & Globally) and success of it means him being promoted to “Offshore Delivery Head” position. He has been living this dream for past few years and now he can see the opportunity to achieve it. He was going to give his 100%, in fact more than that to live this dream now. While he was still engrossed in his thoughts, telephone extension rang..

“Hi Veer”

“Hi Nancy”

“Veer, can we start conducting interviews now? There are about 10 candidates already waiting”

“Yes, sure. I can start right away. What about Ashok? Is he not coming? I can not conduct all interviews myself.”

“He will reach office in 30 minutes, so he should also start as soon as he is here.”

“Ok, cool . Please start sending the candidates to my cabin. And I am assuming you have done the basic screening?”

“Oh yes, we did for sure. Don’t worry.”

“Great, I am waiting.”

Within few minutes first candidate knocked the door of his cabin, and he waved his hand asking to come in while still engrossed in the laptop’s screen.

“Hi, I am Kriti….Kriti Rathi” and couldn’t take her eyes off Veer.

“Hi” said Veer without looking at her “tell me about you Kriti”

“Well, I have about 10 yrs of experience and have been a Project Manager for past 3.5 years. Right now looking for a change where I can get exposure to a project which is starting from scratch. And also looking forward to some on-site opportunities which I believe your project demands.”

“Okk” said Veer while moving his gaze from the laptop screen to her. He almost froze, and Rajiv Chowk metro station flashed before his eyes. But he composed himself quickly, and asked some questions for next 10 minutes which didn’t make any sense for the role she was being screened. After that he asked her to leave while she was still surprised and nervous.

“Reject” Veer clicked on the job portal against Kriti’s profile and said to himself “no distractions plssss….”

(Story Idea : Ashish Garg)

This is a sequel to – Life does have “U” turns..

मेट्रो

मेट्रो की भागती रफ्तार के उस पार,
इस बंद दरवाजे के बाहर झांक कर देखा।
तो लोगों की बेचैन कतार,
चंद छूटते स्टेशन और मंज़िल का इंतज़ार।
दरवाजे के इस पार दौडा के नजर देखा,
तो अगली मुलाकात का वादा करते थामे हुए हाथ।
हर रोज कुछ जानी पहचानी आँखो की मुलाकात,
और झट से बीत जाना चंद स्टेशनो का वो साथ।
कुछ खिलखिलाते चेहरे,
काफी संगीत में डूबे दिखे।
बातों में मशगूल कुछ,
और कुछ मनाते यार अपने रूठे हुए।

Life does have ‘U’ turns !

With a quick glance, Kriti and Veer exchanged smiles while boarding Metro at Rajiv Chowk Metro station. This has been going on for 3 weeks now, but none of them ever tried striking a conversation.

They travel on same Metro route, from Rajiv Chowk to DLF Phase-II everyday to work. Their eyes met one day while sitting at opposite seats in a Metro coach while on their way back late evening and none of them could not take those off after that. They have almost same office work timing, and one waits at the platform letting go few metro trains if other has not reached. Not a single day has gone in last few weeks when they have not traveled in the same coach, standing at a safe distance from where at least their eyes can talk; have an animated conversation.

Today, all of a sudden Veer went a bit closer to Kriti and was about to utter something when her phone rang. Kriti took the call and on the other side a young boy was shouting with excitement “Mama, when are you coming back? I am waiting for you to have dinner”. She could just say “On my way sweetheart, I will reach soon” and disconnected the call. She looked in Veer’s eyes for few seconds as train stopped at Rajiv Chowk Metro station, and stepped out of the coach with moist eyes having images of her son jumping into her arms as soon as she gets inside the home.

Even before Veer could realize anything, Kriti was lost in the crowd which was moving out of the Metro station. Never to come back!