The Funeral (1)

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Some people have all kinds of complaints with life and I am one of them. I sometimes feel I cannot ever get enough from life and this makes me rush every minute after the lust of getting more. And in my same attitude of garnering more I have spent years running and working as a relentless robot and somehow the driftness of life has taken away my emotions too. The usual mornings the same nights and same years- my life has became devoid of emotions.
It was the Monday morning of June and I was woken up by the sudden door ring. It was the milk man at the door. I slept late last night so I found it hard to get up. But I had no other choice. The milk man would not stop ringing until I would get the milk. He acted as my Alarm.

I was walking lazily towards the door and as soon as I opened the door I was amazed to see a group of neighbors gossiping. I called milkman in and started enquiring. He told me that the Mr. Banerjee living next door was taken to the hospital early morning.
I was surprised as I saw him heal and heart when I was going to a nearby Bar last evening. On further enquiry the milk man told me that he had severe pain in his stomach early morning and had to be rushed to the hospital. I took milk and closed the door. As soon as I closed the door I heard the sound of the door opening. A Sikh family lives next door and I could hear the Sardar ji uttering something in punjabi. I was too far to understand what he was saying, so i came closer to the main door. I could see the Sardar ji in a white vest and pajamas through the magic eye of my door. While enquiring about the incident he was busy applying fixo to his beard.

Then came his wife with his two children dressed in school dress. She rushed her children down the stairs as they were already late and their school bus was waiting for them.

I too started with my daily routine and preparations. I went in the balcony to brush my teeth. I could see the Chhole Bhature wala parking his cart. He was always at his place by 8:00 am. One of his companions had already washed the plates to serve the freshly prepared Chhole Bhature. He was famous for his pickle which the served along with the Chhole.
It was a regular sight for me, seeing people waiting for him to start off so without paying much attention to it I went straight into the room to find out what was ready to be worn. I saw nothing.

And I also knew the reason. I did not have my iron repaired. I had to do that last evening, but I forgot.

With little hesitation I opened the door to borrow it from the Sikh family. I rang their home bell and Sardar ji came out while tying his turban. I greeted him and asked for the iron to which he smiled.
He handed me the electric iron and softly whispered "Did you know what happened this morning". I like a small innocent child said "No". To which he asked me to come into the house. I had no way to go, so I entered.

Soon after I entered I saw Sardar ji's wife packing lunch for him. Sardar ji started off by describing me every minute detail as if forcing me to go to the hospital to meet him. I did not wanted that so I quickly and cleverly changed the topic to food. Sardar ji was a foodie and talking about food and dishes was his favorite topic.

As I was getting late so I sought his permission and stood up from the sofa. I quickly ironed my clothes and went to work. I came back in the evening I was informed by the guard that Mr. Banerjee died in the hospital. I felt bad and closed my eyes a recited a short prayer. He was no doubt a good human being and helpful person. This elder son was my good friend. He was also elected as the president of the society and there was almost everyone who knew him.

But to my surprise I did not saw many people who had gathering outside his flat to pay condolences. I quickly entered my flat and closed the door. From my balcony I could see Mrs. Sharma asking Mr. Sharma as to which sareer to wear.

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An Unusual Day in Delhi Metro (2)

Author: Admin Posted under:
As I was holding my office bag in my hand I feel straight onto the next passenger. I had nothing more to say except for Sorry. Almost everyone standing felt the jerk of sudden braking.

I could read the same question on everyone’s face “What was that?” Nobody had an answer to it. Then came an announcement which said “There has been a technical fault and everyone is kindly requested to evacuate metro at the next station”. It amazed every body present in the metro. Some were worried to reach office on time while some discussed and decided to wait until the metro starts to function again.

I too was getting late to my work, so thought of talking a bus this morning. Finally the metro moved after about 5 odd minutes. As soon as the next metro station came, I could see a heavy CRPF men standing with dogs. It did not took me long to understand something somewhere was wrong. I has never seen so many police many at the metro station. I was more curious about the beautiful and silent girl whom I usually see in the same train with a somber yet empty silence on her face, she never listens to music like other college goers nor does she talk on the phone with her boy friend or husband. It had been while since I wanted to talk to her but she seemed too closed to talk. Unlike other girls she is little mysterious and that is what attracts me towards her.
God knows where she must be, stuck in the horrendous and chaotic situation that has risen today and none of us is prepared. Don’t know when we will be getting the next train.
While I was trying to figure out where she must be, a serene face emerged in the confused and irritated ones, It seemed she had no hurry, no worry to reach her place.

I just tried to talk to her, but dint get any response in first place. She seemed to be more concerned about when the train would arrive; she gazed at the display and then sat on the seats by the station.Well Finally after a lot of waiting I decided not to wait for another metro and catch a Taxi for my Office. I hesitated initially but then dauntingly asked the girl whether where she was going. I knew she wont answer but o my surprise she said: Connaught Place. After a little discussion, we finally decided to share a taxi as it was not safe for a girl to travel alone as there may be some tension in the town.


It was strange for me, to share the taxi with a girl whom I had seen for so many months but never got courage to speak. I would definitely not let go off this great opportunity. Who know this day ever comes again.

The journey continued in silence.

And I , was getting fidgety.Why was not she uttering anything? She’s got a sweet voice but why don’t she speak up?

“Can you play some music?” I asked the taxi driver.
The music played but she suddenly spoke?
”Where are you going?” she asked.

“I am going for a meeting. I said and asked her “What about you?”

“I m going for an important assignment in a Five star Hotel” she said.

“Ohh Some high Profile Exihibition or a conference I suppose?” I asked.

“Hmmm, you may say so” she said.

“Anyways are you into marketing”I asked again
“Yes” she said.

“So which products do you sell?”
“I sell myself she said:”
“What, you are joking?
In a sardonic tone she said no, and offered me a cigarette from a pack of expensive striking.
“Do you smoke?
“No, I don’t but some of the clients do”
I was miffed for a while, though could easily make out what she intended to say, I ignored.

Well in all the conversation I discovered that this beautiful girl who caught my attention all the while was actually a sex worker forced into it through his husband. She ran away from her house to marry him but he turned out to be a traitor. Even though she wanted to come out of this web she couldn’t because she had no meeeaaans tttooo keep up her 5 year old son.
I was suddenly shocked by the tyranny of life, I tried to help her out and offered some money.
Over the past few months I had noticed a void in her face and emptiness in her eyes. I knew she was hungry of true love and affection but she got only lust. She dint take the money initially and said that she would never sleep with a nice man like me even if she also gets pleasure. I asked hew why and she said “ Time will tell you”

Well she took the money later as she failed to go to one of her clients and this would result in a loss which meant her child would not be able to go to school.
Soon we reached the place where I had to leave for my office, but I asked where she would go. She said that there is a car to escort her. A driver stopped the car exactly in front of the taxi and she slipped in it without any delay.
I asked the taxi driver to follow it but suddenly the car stopped. She came out to talk to me.

Why are you following me?She said
I want you out of this., I want to help you.” I said.
No one can help me, If you want to help please save my child.
She gave me a photograph with an address on it and tried to rush.
I felt as if the love is slipping off my hands. So I hold her tighter and said “We will take care of the child, I will marry you and everything will be fine. “

“ I wont want you to die after marrying me”
Instead of saying nething else she gave me a doctor’s report and said don’t ever do to anyone else what my love did to me,

I hurriedly opened the envelope. I could not understand what god was doing to me.
The reports in the envelope clearly stated that Rosanne Rogers was HIV positive”. The family photograph showed a beautiful lady and the handsome man” The man who drove the car in which Rosanne just moved. I was shocked to discover that her husband turned her pimp. ‘
I could not decide what to do and for a while thought life is not that beautiful.
I boarded a metro way back home.

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An Unusual Day in Delhi Metro (1)

Author: Admin Posted under:
Society has myriad shades and the best part is that we all live collectively in a togetherness which is both sweet and salty. I got to meet people from different professions and moods in the metro train daily. Though each face is new and strange somewhere I find a resemblance of my own persona in each of them.

Everyday I travel through this train which has slowly become the identity of this already vivid town. It was winter season and I as usual I took my bike and started off to my work. I was all geared up with jacket and gloves and covered from head to toe. I used to park my bike at the metro parking and then take a metro. It was so cold outside that I needed to kick my bike several times so that it’s engine heat up. The fog was too thick today, I said to my mother. My mother used to come to the balcony to bid me every day.

I could hardly see to a feet. I drove at a slow speed so as to avoid any sudden braking.
I reached the metro parking in about 15 minutes which usually takes about 5 minutes. As I was parking my bike I saw some people wearing jackets and mufflers standing at one side of the road near the Chai stall. The chai wala had setting up his cart. He was cleaning utensils in which he serves tea. I wondered what they were doing there as chai wala had still not completed with setting up the cart. To end my curiosity I went to see. They were actually beating the heat with cigarettes. The cigarette smoke from their mouth was nearly invisible in the thick cover of fog.

I went straight inside the metro station. I was greeted by the metro security staff. As I was early than my usual time, I preferred to strike a conversation with him. He too confronted that it was chilly outside and told me that the temperature was just going to go down further, as per a daily newspaper.

I went into the metro station.
I still remember the days the Delhi metro ran for the first. Thousands of people gathered to take its first ride and today 5 years down the line, people hardly care about it. You can see all sorts of sign boards on metro station warning people to behave.

But, who the damn care? You can see this by the paan stains across the walls straight beneath the bill board which says “Do not spit”. I used to take metro from Rithala metro station, as It was the starting point of the metro and thus I usually managed to get a seat.

A Sardarji was sitting next to me in the Delhi Metro. He was discussing about the sensex with one of his friend. I too had invested some money in Share Market, so I started paying attention to their talking, in order to get a tip of a profitable stock to invest. Soon at the Pitampura metro station I saw an elderly lady entering in the metro. She must be around 75 years old. I could guess her age as she had white hair and could hardly walk straight.

The IVR constantly announced “Please give your Seat to the person in Need” but nobody bothered to. Everyone was busy in their own world. I would have to get up, I said to myself and I stood up and offered my seat to the old granny. She sat and blessed me. I was happy to seek her blessing early morning. As it was office timing, I could see a lot of people waiting outside the metro station so I quickly took a corner of the compartment to stand. A group of young girls entered the metro and fortunately in the compartment I was in.

They were all teenagers and must be 5 or 6 in number. All dressed fashionably trying to look different and more beautiful than other. I could see them catching attention of almost all men present in that compartment. Actually they were laughing and gossiping so loud that they unintentionally caught the due attention.

The laughing and gossiping sound was suddenly broken by screams and sudden brake noise.

[To be continued...]
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