A tale of two Lizards

'Eeks!Balli!!!!!',screamed the sister just before stepping into the washroom.
'Don't make such a big deal out of such small things.Stomp your foot hard and it will make way for you' screamed back Mommy from the kitchen.

'I think it's dead!I can't see it's eyes open!' she shouted back.

'May be it's sleeping.Let it be' said Bhali, her brother, whose name meant strong guy. 

'Enough enough' said mommy as she walked to the spot to have a look.'Call Chandramma and ask her to clear it up' she said not wanting to waste any more time lest the curry gets overcooked.The maid walked in with a chata and a broomstick.Looking at the dead creature,she said,'Looks like it's not a normal lizard but a poisonous one.It has green spots over the exposed part of its body which stores poison',using all her knowledge from extensively watching the long running saas bahu serials.After finishing preliminary examination she tried sweeping away the dead body with the broom stick;but it wouldn't move.She tried again and again but it didn't budge.'Amma!Looks like it's stuck!' she said,her voice trailing off.She paused for a moment,had a eureka moment and shouted 'It has been killed!Someone stepped on it!'

That moment everything transformed.The lizard became a victim of violence and it's species sounded endangered and it's reptile rights violated.The spot became a crime scene and the maid spoke as
though an autopsy had to be conducted to know the exact cause of death.Looking at the heightened excitement in Operation Clearing Dead Lizard,Bhali went to find out what really was happening.He was told about the horrendous incident,with the maid adding how sinful it is to kill a lizard. After listening to everything Bhali said 'Oh!So this was the one.Yesterday night I felt that I stepped on something really soft and rough and I had a feeling that it wriggled.Didn't think it was a lizard.'

The mommy gasped and the sister stood in awe.The maid already started pulling his legs to see if there were any poisonous bites on his soles.'You killed a lizard!You stepped on it' were mommys first words after recovery.'Let me call your grandmother and find out what the upayam(solution) is!Don't step out of the house till I tell you to!Shani is right behind your back!' In the meantime, the sister was updating her status for her telugu friends '@Bhali balied a balli with his balam'(which roughly translates to "A lizard sacrificed it's life under the heavy weight of Bhali." And balied is Telgish,the past -ed version of bali-ing)

While mommy was over the phone and sister was busy facebooking,the maid was busy updating another maid right across the flat with such a tone that the whole apartments could hear her.'Which foot did you stamp it with!There are different remedies for both the foots!' said mommy,invoking a very interesting question.Bhali though for a moment,looked under his feet and said,'I guess it's the right!Can we drop the matter here!?' Mommy didn't listed to him and continued her quest for a solution over the phone.'May be he should go to Kanchi and touch the golden lizard for pariharam' said the driver who walked in to collect the keys and who by now knew everything thanks to the reach of the news in the apartment.'May be he should perform abhishekam to Subramanya Swami and seek for mercy' shouted the pan-eating maid from the other apartment.By the time other solutions like 108 pradakshanas and head tonsuring in the temple were offered,mommy was done with the call and she said 'Have head bath and offer Salt to God as an offering.In the meantime, I'll call our family astrologer and find out if we have to perform any graha shanti.' Bhali was totally ridiculed by this idea but was thankful that it was a simple solution.He thought;after all, even God needs salt for flavoring his food after all!

After an hour of prayers and God pleasing, and after mom was completely satisfied that the shani was off his back and the dosham(bad luck) stopped dancing on his head,he was let out with a promise to visit the temple before going anywhere.He took the stairs and was going down when he heard his maid talking to her colleague 'I think they should amputate his right foot before the dosham spreads to the rest of his body.If they don't do it now,they might repent later in life.'Just as she finished her unsolicited suggestion, Bhali felt something squishy under his foot.This time, he was going to walk off quitely."

--->KN

Chaos:Charity se Hatke Aur Over Smart mat bano!

It was the month of April and the mercury was already touching the 38 degree mark.Abhi was on his way home after a meeting with a dealer who, held his advance without supplying goods,citing obscure reasons like account settle hogaya saab!After a lot of explanation and calculations, the supplier budged and agreed to supply the goods at the soonest 'with free transport cost!'.All that he said while Abhi was leaving was 'Black money hai saab!Bahut problem hora maintain karne mein.Aise vaise mistakes tho hote!Par white mein business karne ko mann hora nai'

The combined effects of the soaring sun beating down on his helmet,the strenuous session with the supplier and an encounter with a money parasitic cop left him irritated on the roads of Hyderabad.

He stopped at the mighty Khairatabad signals,where four arteries called roads carried,poured and exchanged from the heart of the city the blood called vehicles,the flow called traffic which never seemed to stop till the earth existed.

The place was every drivers nightmare,hell for the regulating cops,luck for the fining cops,a reason to hike rates for the auto wallahs,a place to sell wares for the hawkers,a reason to violate rules for a few and not to forget, a place to make some,no,loads of money for the beggars.

Abhi was in the midst of a wreck.Ready to explode any moment.

The category of persons determined to make money through sheer physical strain,without offering any goods or services in exchange approached the most irritated person on earth at that moment.He would sometimes brush them away or sometimes he would help them.This time he decided not to do either of the above.

It was a 14 year old kid.

He was rugged with dust on his face,some scars,dirty and torn clothes.A typical person of his class.
'Arey bhaiyya thoda paise dedo na.Bhook lag rahi hai.Khake do din hogaya.Aapko accha girl friend milegi.Please.Dedona.'
Abhi's turn at the signal was approaching.He didn't have time.'Tu bike pein bhait be.Baat karna tere se.'
The kid hopped onto the bike without any hesitation.
The signal turned green and Abhi flew with the stream,reached the other side of the cross roads and turned into a lane which was somewhat free from the mad traffic.


'Chal.Uth.' He said in a typical Hyderabadi ishtyle.


'Bol bhaiyya.Kya hona?Sow rupay ka change kya?Das rupay ka comission hota' the kid said with some aura.


'Chup bey tu.School ko jaa sakta na bey tu.'


'Paise kaun kamata ghar mein?Aise nai chalta hamare ghar mein!'


'Shaam mein school ke baad kaam karo bey!Paise kama sakta tu!'


'Kaam kaun deta.Arey woh tho chod do.Tu mereku kaam mein rakha tho kitte paise dega bol.'


'Tu kya kaam karta bey.Chal kuch tho bhi.1500 doonga.Aata kya.'


'1500 mein kya aata bhaiyya.Ye Khairatabad signal pei roj minimum 200 signals girte.Ek ek signal theen minute ko hota jismein mein minimum teen rupay kamaata hoon.Shaam mein tho traffic ke time mein tho minimum paanch rupay milte.Aur raat mein dus bhaje ke baad thode car waleh jo peeke rahte na,woh log to 100 rupaye ka note dete.Ab dekh mein ek din mein kitna kamata hoon.'

Abhi stood listening to the kid and calculating.200*4=800+peak time earnings of 200+night time earnings of 100/200=1,000/day
==>30,000/month!!!

'Month mein itna paise kamane wale job mujhe dedo mein abhi ajaunga.Aur ye signals pein kaamane ke liye mein license bhi khareeda maloom!Aise vaise kaam nahi hai ye!School ko jaane se kya aata!?Food bhi kya milta school mein itta dal our itta chawal!Sunday sunday tho mein bawarchi mein biryani khake ek kotter dalke gahr ko jaake sota.'

Abhi had nothing to say.He was waiting for the flow to subside.


'Aur tera kaam kya hai?' the kid asked Abhi sensing the advantage he gained.


'Mera coffee shop hai.'


'Bole tho?Chai ka dukaan?Arey chai banane walah mere se jyada kamata tu?'


'Coffee shop boletho chai ka du...'

'Arey.Coffee shop bolke buildingaa banate,AC lagate,table lagate aur andar uniform mein engliss mein baat karte.Naama lagake chai biskit bhejte.Next mera wohi plan hai.Ek tent,ek bandi,ek kerosene ka stove our do flask.Chal.Mera time waste kardiya tuu.Theen signal hogaye shaayad.Pachas rupaye dedo.'

'Pachas rupaye kyon!?'

'Arey!Mujhe idhar tak leke aayana tu!Aur hamare secrets pure pooch liye!Mera time waste hogaya.Business mein bolte na uppartunity cost!Aisa hai ye!'

Without a second word Abhi flicked out his wallet and 'paid' the kid.He drove back home with a lesson for the day.Signals pey hoshiyar mat bano yaaro!


--->KN

P.S:This incident is not a made up one.It is the result of a true encounter.

No strings attached-III

A hectic week went by.San dealt with a lot of stuff during the week and the weekend was the time for her to windup.She chose Insomnia,a place with decent food,amazing ambience and a good DJ.

The place invited her and her group with thumping bass and the familiar odour of an air freshner with a hint of alcohol.The group chose a table in the corner but somewhere near the drinks.Being a weekend the place was vibrant with people high on drinks and music.

San went to get some drinks while the rest were busy ordering food.As she was nearing the bar she could see a familiar silhoutte of a person on the high stool from a distance.The illumination right above the figure didn't give her a proper vision, but it gave her enough hint to keep away from that person.

She drifted towards the far left of that person as she was approaching the bar so that she could stay away from the view.To prove her guess right she stooped forward with her elbows on the bar table and turned her head slightly towards her right.

Alas;she had a cruel and a much needed grin on her face.

Sitting on the high chair was Reva hand in hand,but not with Rohit,and pecking the unknown guy on his cheek.She wasn't as innocent as everyone thought.The b**** was two timing!


What goes around,comes around.To add to Sans enjoyment was a couple ,who just entered the pub and both whom she knew really well.It was Rohit with another girl!Wow!A perfect end to a hectic week!

Just as Ro entered the pub he head to one of the empty tables,offering his date a chair.He then made his way to the bar and to a spot right in the middle of the two women whom he thought would not exist at that place at that moment.

San was watching him, waiting for the detonator to blast.The countdown had already started and it was just a matter of few minutes before she had a reason to make that place a permanent spot for celebrations.Keep watching she said to herself.

*

Rohit mean while was waiting for his drinks to be made.He gave a casual glance to his left and met eye to eye with unexpected no.1.He became stiff for a moment and could hear nothing but his heartbeat.A slight recovery a few moment later and ho could manage a smile on his face.He saw Sandra smiling but it wasn't something in reply to his gesture.Something is wrong.

*

San was just waiting.She saw Rohit retreating his smile,hanging his head low and turning his face towards the right.The only thing exciting was that his face didn't turn back again.

*

There Rohit saw unexpected no.2.Reva with another guy half drunk.His blood boiled in anger and he knew that his veins would rupture if he didn't react in the next one minute.He now knew why Sandra had that smile on her face.

*

San kept observing him from the same spot.Rohit took an empty glass from the table,and made his way towards Reva clutching it in his hand.

*

The world around her slowly started to spin.She was enjoying his company to the fullest.Man....he is amazing....Just when she was about to take a sip,she experienced a deafening noise;a high pitched shout from a voice she knew too well which made her drop her glass,shattering it with a noise.

*

'You two timing b****!You s**t!You think you can just get away by lying to me!'
Rohit was mad with anger.The succesive incidents of a shout and a shattering glass made half the people in that place sit up and take notice.He was shaking so violently with anger that he slammed the empty glass in his hand to ground so hard that a piece flew and hit a person standing at a distance on his forehead spilling out blood.

*

The only moment San felt sorry was when an unknown person got accidentally involved in the debacle.The music stopped abruptly and the people could hear murmurs and boos of people all around.Slowly the word spread around and Rohit became the center of attraction....for the wrong reasons.She saw his girl walking swiftly towards Rohit half panicked.

*

Rohit didn't notice the changes in the atmosphere around him.He was staring contiuously at Reva and the unknown guy when he felt a soft hand on his shoulder.He turned around and scremed at his date.

*

Reva realised that the situation was going out of hand.A few moments later she realised that she well had an advantage over him in the current situation.
'Whats your problem?'
'You lied to me you idiot!'
'So did you.You have to be at your home talking to your mother but not at the pub with a date you will be seducing.'
She saw his expressions change.His date standing behind him gasped.
'Don't try to act smart!Who is this jackass!?'
'None of your business.'
'I was loving you for the past two years and this is what you give me!?'
'Oh.Mr.Lover boy is in love with me for the past two years and is so dedicated that he never cheated on me.What is your count?Number fifteen with her tonight!?'

*

Sandra laughed out loud along with the people at the pub.He was getting it hard!Right on his balls!

*

Rohit was mad with anger and the embarassment he was facing.He raised his hand to strike the unknown guy but it was only a second later that he realised that he was a bit too late for that guy.

*

Sandra saw the weakling experience the pain of his life.She saw the guy deliver a swift blow right below the left of Rohit's rib cage.His raised him became weak the moment the blow struck him.He clenched the beaten area with both his hands,bent forward pressing his hands into his abdomen,trying to catch his breath.A few moments later he felt a hand on his chin,pulling him up only to be hit hard on his right cheek sending him spiraling to the ground.It was the guy with a ruptured forehead.

*

The place filled with crazy people was somewhat enjoying the act cause they thought that the person deserved it for he was responsible for the music to stop.It was for second time during the day that Sandra felt pity for him.But some where she knew that he deserved it.

*

After a few moments of scintillating pain on the ground Rohit managed to stand up and understand what had happened.He realised that he needed some help at the moment and the only person he could even think of was his date.He looked at her with a face asking for help only to see her crying.A moment later he took a slap from her which was followed by a cheer from the crowd.

*

Third blow of the day and nothing else left to face.Sandra saw Rohit with his palm of his cheek nursing the slap he just received.A moment later she saw the bouncers walking in and pulling away Rohit towards the exit.Alas he got what he deserved!

***

Sandra woke up late the following day.She smiled to herself only hoping that it was not a nightmare.She smiled thinking of the events of the previous day.Her roomie was no where to be seen.
Her phone vibrated.An unexpected call to start a day with.
'San' said the person who spoke as if he had something in his cheek while talking.

'Can you make it fast.'

'I'm sorry.......'

'Sorry for what!?You have no shame inspite of what happened yesterday.You know what!?You are the worst excuse for a man!All that you need is a h**e for your d**k to keep you alive!Look at the audacity with which you tell me or rather someone that you ended up with some random girl at the party under the shower!You have no idea of the miserable life you are leading,going on fooling people around you!You deserve what you got yesterday!Don't even think of calling me again!Next time I see you around or you call me once more,I so swear that I'm going to play squash with your balls.Trust me,I can do that.Fuck off!'

She could hear him crying but she simply hung up.On his face!

--->KN

No strings attached-II

'Hey'
'Yea'
'How are you?'
'Who are you!?'
'San.Please.You are my best friend'
'Really?'
'Why do you talk like that?Are you jealous after what happened at Beans!?'
'Shut up Ro!You look like a living example of an A**S patient!I don't even care whom you are going out with and whom you are humping!'
'Sorry then.Reva is just a good buddy of mine San.We met at her college fest last week.Just don't take her in any other sense.'
'Buddy?Your fuck buddy?'
'What happened at the coffee shop was in a very weak moment San.You know,it happens sometimes.It strikes at that moment and you know,just continues.And moreover I love her!'
'Oh yeah.I could smell pure lust in the air.'
'Trust me San.Anyways,I guess it's time for your class.Will talk to you later.'
'I don't want to talk to you anymore.'
Her day went busy running around the campus, finalizing plans for the fest, picking up volunteers and submitting reports.It was only in the evening that she went back to her hostel,to get ready and hit the gym.

Being fit was something she likes.
The next 45 minutes she spent doing some stretching excercises,running on the treadmill and cycling,after which she head straight to the physiotherapy department.It was for the progress check up of her left hand which is mending after suffering a hairline fracture.There was Abbin,her friend,a senior and an avid fitness freak and also a physiotherapist.
'Hey San'
'Hey Abbin'
'Howz the lefty'
'So far no issues.Just a small pain when I'm lifting some weight.'
'Let me look at it'
He took her hand,twisted it left and right, seeing if it is in place.
'Another week and it will be perfect.'
'Okay.Thanks.'
'So,howz college going?'
'Nothing new,the same old crap.Too dull for a teenagers life.'
'Yea yea I know.You'll be out in an year.'
'Yea,Have to go in search of life then.'
'Hehe.True!And San next time Rohit calls you tell him that he will be having it from me the next time in the gym.It has been two months since he has turned up and I guess he is floating like a balloon now with all the drinking he does.'
She went quiet.
Two weeks back,after she broke her hand,she planned on meeting him.She had college in the morning and in the evening,he as told to her,had to hit the gym.This happened for three straight days and he could meet her only on the fourth day.
'San?' said Abbin.Pulling her out from her trance.
'Are you sure he didn't turn up?
'Trust me he didn't.Not a day in the last two months.Check the register if you want to.'
'No no.That's OK....'
'Anything wrong?'
'I'll ask you something if you can promise me that you can keep it a secret.'
'Go ahead.Trust me.Not a word to anyone.'
'Do you know this girl Reva?'
'Who doesn't when he is going out with her for the past two and half years.'
She suddenly felt as if someone has stabbed her in her throat;right through her larynx.She sat still for a moment while the world around her was spinning around.
'Two years and odd!?Wow.'
'He is such a party animal and she has no slightest idea of what he really is.'
So am I
'Anything bothering you?'
'I had a crush on him since a long time.Forget that.He is supposedly a very good friend of mine and it is paining me to know that he has been lying to me for the past two years.'
She told him everything that has happened in the past two weeks.He just sat there stunned.
'What a dick head.....'
'And Abbin.If I get to know that you have told this to someone,I swear that I'm gonna kick you back in your teeth.'
'As I have promised,not a word.'
That night she had a lot of trouble sleeping.Betrayal of trust.That was something she couldn't take.She finally slept when her roomie started sobbing again in the dead of the night.Bitch.

The next day was college as usual.It was business law in the first hour.Contract Act.She wondered how something written in 1872 holds good even after 130 years.
'And so in the very famous case of Belfour Vs Belfour it was held that contracts in the nature of....'
He phone vibrated pulling her away from sleep.She straightened her legs and pulled it out from her jeans.

sender:rohit

message:how is class?

reply:  class is all about contracts while I'm thinking of my supposedly good friend called Rohit who has lied to me about this girl called Reva with whom he is going out with for the past two years while he has told me that it is only the last week he has met her, and lying is something I cannot take.

There was no reply from him for the rest of the day and she could listen to her lecturers peacefully,with a sense of victory.

.................final part will be out soon!!!!!

--->KN

No strings attached

'Yeaaaaaaaa!'
Rohit answered his phone.It was another sunday and he was still sobering up.He had been sleeping for under three hours when Sandra called him up.
'Pussy wanna go for a movie?'
She always called him by that.Just like that.She considered him to be one.Just for the sake of it....
'What....!No college today...?'
'Jackass it's Sunday today'
'Ohh yea!Yesterday was Saturday right.Been to Dans party at Pebbles yesterday.I met this girl and she was such a s**t and..'
'Respect!Respect girls you idiot!'
'Sorry.OK.I met this girl who is really wild.We ended up under the shower together.'
I still don't understand why I have a crush on you.
'You keep your count?'
'Yea!She is No.14'
'Trust me.This way you will be one repository of STD's'
'I use protection.'
'Whatever.'
'By the way which movie.'
'No strings attached?Ashton Kutcher.'
'You have to tell guys that it's Natalie Portman.I'm in.'
'Alright.6 p.m show.Inox.And after that I want to go to the airport for a coffee.'
'Alright girl.'
'Don't have any ideas ok!'
'Hahahaha!Not at all!'

Sandra had a lot of time to kill.She had to do something to keep away from her annoying roomie who apparently had this feeling that no grief in the world comes any where in the vicinity of her problems.
She sat down by her window looking across the concrete jungle of the once-called garden city of India.It's all mechanical now she thought.The November breez blew her silky hair onto her face.She pulled it back behind her ears....lost in thoughts....It was her autonomous nervous system which did that job.
She had a hundred things going on in her head,all at once.She had no regrets with her life.No problem with people.No pressing issues to be taken care of.The only factor which occupied her mind was Rohit.It's just a silly teenage crush she always said to herself.
They met in college.She had a thing for him from day one.Eventually he turned out to be a good friend of hers.A bit of a womanizer she said to herself.But he was a genuinely good guy.


And she will be loved!And she will be loved!
Her thoughts were interrupted by the Marron 5's ringtone.
It was Rohit.
Please don't change the plan.....
'San!'
'Yea.'
'I have a girly problem.'
'What!?'
'Need to meet you.Say in 30 minutes.'
'Beans?'
'Will be there.'
She liked coffee and the place for it's aroma.She picked up some casuals from the closet,brushed her hair and go out of her hostel.It was a ten minute walk to the place.
His bike was already there by the time she reached the coffee shop.
Should be really urgent she said to herself.
She walked in,scanning the place,trying to take in the aroma she loved.She found Rohit,but couldn't move for a moment,nor could she register the smell she loved.She stood grounded near the door.

There on the couch was Rohit with two laptop bags to his left and a girl to his right.They were cuddling,hand in hand and talking and giggling away as if the world didn't exist around them.
He saw Sandra and stood up and came walking towards her,his arms spread to hug her.
You don't deserve it you fool!
She put her hand right in front of her stopping him with her palm.
He was taken back, but didn't think much at the moment.
They walked towards the couch and he started removing the bags to make place for her.
You want to show off that your are flanked by two girls!?
Sandra quietly got a chair from the adjacent table and sat down cross legged.
'Umm San she is Reva'
'Hi Reva'
'Hi San!'
'Yea.So.Umm.San can I talk to you alone for a moment?'
Time for some cock and bull stories 
'Sure!'

They walked over to the other table leaving Reva at her place.
'San you look dull!'
'Nothing like that.'
'Are you jealous?'
I so wanna chop your dick off without giving you any anesthesia
'Ro!Shut up!'
'Sorry sorry.'
'So,who is she?'
'She is a good friend of mine San.Reva.She is doing architecture and I'm helping her out with her project.'
'What architecture?Body sculpting?'
'You look seriously upset girl!'
'Continue'
'The point is I like her and I want to tell her that and so I want your help.....'
'Should I propose to her for you!?'
'No no!I just want you to stay around.'
She was burning with anger inside.Fuck you! she screamed at him inside her head.
She was never possessive about any of her friends.But it was different in his case.And she didn't realise that till now.
'OK fine.Get yourself together,I'll just come.'
Saying this she made her way to the washroom.
Making sure that no one was in,she locked the door of the facilities.She stood in front of the large mirror,absorbing her image with her eyes wide open.She could see the blood vessels becoming more prominent in her eyes.
He doesn't deserve you!
She stood there for some more time just looking at herself in the mirror.
Blank.
She inhaled deeply,put on a smile on her face,opened the door and walked out closing the door behind her.
For the second time in the day,she couldn't move again.

On the same couch were the same people smooching each other,lost in lust.
Is this why you called me here?
It took a moment for them to realise that she was out.They broke away form their kiss as if someone cast a separation spell on them.
Sandra quietly walked to them.Four eyes were focussed on her in anticipation as if they were waiting for her comments on their act.
'Ro I think I'll leave'
'San.Can you join us for a movie!?'
Asshole.You want me to sit next to you when you are making out with her!?
'Need to plan for the fest Ro.Not much time is left.'
'Rohit.You booked a ticket for her too yesterday?'
Wow.Pre-planned.And you said OK for a movie with me in the morning.
He looked at her with an expression of you dumb girl!
You deserve her!
'Or atleast the drive to the airport with us!?'
And now you steal my plan!!
'Can't'
'Lemme walk you till your hostel.'
I don't need it!Not anymore from you!
'Just shut up and go sit with your girl.I will go alone.'
'Okie dokie.Lemme atleast walk you till the door.'
They were out on the street.Sandra turned towards him and was about to say bye when Rohit said
'You should have joined us for the movie'
'I'm not interested...'
'You wanted to watch it right?'
She was looking at him with a question mark face trying to remember the conversation in the morning, when her threw up his hands and said in an excited tone
'No strings attached!!!!!'

This time she tried hard not to hit him.

A silent witness to the moist eyes...........

It was the usual lunch time rush. The place was full of people of all kinds. White collars, students, teenagers, friends in groups, couples....everyone. Creaking chairs, mobiles, footsteps, the constant chatter, the printer, the food counter, the door, the air conditioners, the LCD in the background...everything living and non-living had its share of noise in there.

A person sitting there and looking around could see people with all kinds of emotions mankind ever knew. The white collars had the frowns on their faces, teenagers were laughing away, a few couples were sulking, some smiling and some even fighting. Some never wanted to be there, some never wanted to leave. A few were anxiously waiting for others; a few wanted others to leave. Someone was savouring the delicacies while someone else was trying to keep the food from falling apart.

In this 'jungle' away from everyone sat a girl unnoticeable. She was preoccupied in her own world, staring at something unmindful, her thoughts pre-empted. She looked fair, simple and beautiful. She sat with her legs crossed, and her hands crossed and resting over the uncrossed leg. She sat rigid, not moving an inch of muscle in her body. For a moment anyone would think that she was one of the beautiful wax statues from Tussads; if not for a shining droplet of tear hanging precariously on her eye lashes, slipping away, loosing its hold, finally giving way to the weight and eventually dropping in front of her on the table only to splatter into hundreds of unnoticeable droplets.

The wetness in her eyes disturbed the thin black lining on her eyes, forming a smudge. It was only after another tear which started running down her cheek did she move, wiping it away and getting back to her senses. She adjusted herself and looked at her phone on the table which said something about waiting for someone.

A few minutes later the obvious He walked in. He looked like an aftermath of a hangover, someone who just sobered up. He went to her directly; maybe it was their usual place. She looked up and their eyes met. He sat down looking at her, her eyes following his all the while. He mumbled something like a Hi and she replied a faint tone.

He started talking, something which seemed to be an explanation. She kept looking at him, with the glistening eyes which looked weak and swollen from what looked like a very painful experience.

She followed every word of his, never loosing the eye contact. He was frantic with a stern voice audible but not clear enough for someone sitting a good distance from them and his hands making all kinds of motions in the process occasionally looking at his phone. She just kept listening to him without any interruption but for an 'O' with her lips with a 'Shhh....' signalling him to calm down or a momentary frown making her eyes smaller.

She looked hurt but he didn't look apologetic.

He was done talking after a while, slamming the table softly his body language saying that he wanted an explanation from her.

They were calm for a second. She turned away from him straightening her back, leaning forward and keeping her hands on the table.

It was her turn. She wore the same calm expression even while talking to him, never looking away from him. She started leaning forward talking fast, becoming firmer with her voice her hand motionless all the while. He started becoming uncomfortable, pulling himself up on the chair with his hands on the table, looking all over the place, fidgeting with himself and tapping his mobile. He occasionally tried to speak up, but in vain only uttering mono-syllables.

She didn't take long. She didn't seem explanatory either. He looked defeated, unable to find any answers. May be she did win, but he didn’t lose in her view.

Silence prevailed yet again.

He slowly inched his hand forward, resting it on hers. She slowly turned her hand and took his hand in hers gripping it tightly. They bent their heads down saying the three words to each other.

Back in their heads, deep in their hearts none of them wanted this ever again..........even the silent witness sitting away from their view........

--->KN

The Nerds Journey.Part-I

The Summer of 2005........................

"Yes Sir!"
"I will do it!"
"I will study hard!"
"Yes Sir!I won't waste time!"

My parents were listening to him intently.He was giving me a sermon which I think he was used to as a director of a very famous coaching center.After the end of the speech which had repeated lines;he looked at everyone in the room with a sense of achievement.Coast clear.My father paid up the fee while I filled the application form.The clerk made some notes in a book,wrote a number on a piece of paper(227!) and gave it to me.It was a ticket to the jungle.After all no one was to be blamed............I followed the herd like the brain less goat.......

I was standing in front of Mr.Krishnan,in a manner completely contrast to what I'm usually;with a well oiled hair,formals and folded hands.I thought that it was the only way I could impress this Maths teacher so that I could get into his coaching classes;after all who would want a student who scored 5,2 and 0 in the MPC entrance test which is taken by some 2k students every year for some 200 available seats(loosers!).

Mr.Krishnan looked the way every student would fantasize a middle aged maths teacher as.A 6 footer,he had a pot belly which he usually hid under the table while sitting.He had faint hair on his 'to-be-bald' head and  wore the old fashioned idly sized,thick glasses.If not for his pot belly,he had a well built body with broad shoulders and strong limbs.With a commanding voice,he carried himself with an air of authority.

I was given the evening batch.The two and half month crash course was for 6 hours daily(!!!) with an hours break in the middle.This consumed the whole of my summer after my Xth exams.So the whole household was sitting in Hyderabad without any sort of entertainment after the harrowing mugging up of text books,endless revisions of the previous papers and infinite number of exams.After all I had to prepare for competitive exams coming my way.....

Competitive exams.It'a an exam for getting into a vehicle.Every student(and parent) wanted to get into a 'big'(famous) car which could hit 'great speeds '(good coaching).It was only after the engine started that everyone realised that the ride isn't smooth.The coaching was for getting into a 'better' coaching center,which would train the 11th's and 12th's for getting into 'famous' engineering colleges.........so that the kid would study well and later in life,sit in a cabin bugging,debugging and writing algorithms;live on EMI's;marry another engineer and produce engineers.After all, Indians are born logical.........

                                                                     *  *  *
It was half past two in the evening when the temperature was hovering around 40C.I was waiting for Reddy my auto guy.He came blowing his horn ten minutes later.I grabbed my bad and walked swiftly towards the auto.From a distance I saw others in the auto and could make out that there were some two girls and two guys.The girls were sitting on the seat while the guys were sitting on the plank facing the girls.I got near the vehicle and looked at everyone with a smiling face.No one even cared to look at me.One guy moved his butt a bit and offered me some space where only my leg would fit in.I looked at the auto walah with a face which said 'This is what I get for 100 bucks a day!?'.I shared the drivers seat with him.I was very thankful to him because he wasn't that ghutka eating,stingy mouthed and the red-fluid spitting guy.

The drive to the insti was silent;except for when the fat girl(later i learnt that her name was Nisha) broke the silence.She started talking about the things she heard about Krishnan Sir,his son Madhavan,some physics lecturer named Ranganath and others.My friends who attended their year long classes since eighth used to tell us a lot about them;the way they taught stuff,the way they hid meanings in their talk,and the way they used to punish the students.Now half the reason I got into this institute was due to the what I heard about them and their ways.I wanted to have some fun after all.

We reached our insti at around 3.15 p.m.The building in which our classes were located looked like a lost child.It was situated on the main road of the famous Nallakunta area(famous for an infinite coaching classes of this kind) amidst the traffic chaos,impatient drivers blowing their horns,street vendors selling their wares at the top of their voices and local & distant trains running at all times during the day.Added to this,the building looked in a way no man would ever dare to get into.The entrance to the building welcomed us with a rusted shutter ready to fall on someone at anytime.There was an open space for parking bicycles and vehicles and the stairs were to the right of the entrance.There was a narrow path behind the stairs for more vehicles.There was a guy shouting and directing everyone to park their vehicles in an order.

Our classes were on the third floor.There was one guy standing with few sheets of paper directing the students to their respective class rooms;the same guy who gave me my ticket to hell the other day.I showed him my piece of paper and he said "6!Go left" in a serious tone without looking at my face.The others from my auto were directed to different rooms in different directions.The fat girl was asked to go upstairs.There were class rooms even on the terrace.

I walked down the narrow corridor.The class rooms had no windows.They were small with cramped benches and with students packed to the brim.I was walking looking at the room numbers on my left.'1,2,3,4,5.....'.The room next to room no.5 was closed and had no number on it.I 'logically' thought that it was room no.6 when someone behind me shouted "That's the girls toilet!".I backed away instantly and turned back to see room no.6!My class room was facing the girls toilet!

My class room faced the black board and the entrance faced the board.So for those sitting in the front can't see those walking in and walking out.Since our class room was the last in the row,we had a window large enough for two people to jump out at once.The guy who warned me was Akhil from my room.He was a thin being with fair complexion,a very cheerful face and of average height.He pointed at the space beside him and I sat down.Were were sitting on the last bench.He said "I came here very early and walked into the girls toilet by mistake.Thankfully there was no one!".I smiled and thanked him.He asked me to move in so that I could give space for a third guy(the bench was only for two).I was happy to see that KKP from my school was in the same room!With him,it's serious fun(KKP is the person because of whom I got scolded by all the teachers in my eight.Notorious,intelligent and a very funny guy.He even broke my nose once.)

We were talking when someone walked in.It was time for the classes to start.So we stood up thinking that he was a lecturer.The guy who walked in silently sat down besides me.Me,Akhil and KKP looked at each other,chuckled and sat down.

Later Mr.Krishnan walked in.It was time for the ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!


                                                     To be continued..............


--->KN