Simply Said

Starting again!

2022-07-17T11:24:00.001+05:30

This is the kind of moment wherein Mihir Virani returns after years back to 'Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' (No guilt in accepting that I loved that show). Well, you would wonder how exactly? Apparantly, this is my first post after 2 years. So, the prodigal son returns 2.0!

What took you so long to write anything? Why the sudden turn around? I will answer it in two words that describe me characteristically to an extent: Lazy and Moody.

Plus, COVID has been tough for all of us to be frank, a lot was dealt with. A lot of social and workplace lifestyles got changed. And the right space wherein we generally feel happy wasn't available for most of the time because of whatever was happening around us. And meanwhile, I got married as well. The best thing that happened during this phase. :)

This is just a random scribbling, so don't expect it to have any in-depth analysis, musings etc. The only reason I am writing it is because from quite some time I have been thinking, how many hobbies have we dropped in the last 10 years or so and what caused the change!

I am pretty sure, if you look back, most of us loved to play any sport, write, dance, sing; the list is endless. There was something that we absolutely loved doing in our spare time. And then something happened that just kept changing us as a person from within.

You are not the same person as you were 10 years ago. If I have to strictly speak about myself, then I am not the same person at a lot of levels that I used to be. One can reason, this is what we call maturity, this is life my friend etc etc. I get it.

But don't you think this also has to do with the conditioning around us? The fear of missing out, is at the highest levels now that it ever used to be with the internet social world being right at our fingertips. Don't you think, someone to whom travelling doesn't come naturally, is suddenly having the time of his life doing it, just because there are other folks doing it in ample?

For folks who know me for years, they can vouch that I do not like sharing photographs of my life around social media to great extent. And see, in 2022, here I am, signed up on Instagram and doing it all. And I have no fear excepting it that FOMO was one of the many reasons behind it.

Why it all can't be normal if you can simply avoid doing the 'trend' or things that everyone is doing? Don't you think the reason is more skewed towards 'FOMO' than 'genuine' ?

And now, back to my original question, why do we leave out our hobbies as years progress? The ones that we actually loved. And what it takes to start again?

You are the best person to answer that first question for yourself, as stories differ and there is no generalization to it, in my opinion. As for the second, I think, it only takes a moment (plus a cup of tea for me, always) to realize nobody really cares if you start again or not, or do something that you like. As long as you are doing it for yourself, you will be happy. And that should be the only thing that matters. :)

EK AAM KAHANI # 8

2020-04-16T22:27:00.001+05:30

घर में दुखी बैठे हुए उन सैकडो हफ्तों में से एक हफ़्ते शर्मा जी के लड़के ने आखिरकार उनसे सवाल कर ही दिया।

बालक: पापा, आप हमेशा मुझे हर परिस्थिति में पॉजिटिव रहने की सलाह देते है, पर हम लोग जो ये घर पे बैठे है कोरोना वायरस के कारण इसमें कुछ पॉजिटिव नजर नहीं आता है मुझे।

शर्मा जी: बेटा, हर परिस्थिति के २ पहलू होते है, एक अच्छा और एक बुरा। तुम टीवी खोल के हिंदी न्यूज चैनल लगा लो, तुम्हे सारे नकारात्मक पहलू दिखने लगेंगे। पहले १ घंटे में अपने देश में रह रहे कुछ वर्ग के लोगों से नफ़रत होने लगेगी, अगले घंटे में शायद तुम उन्हें ही दोषी मानने की धारणा भी पाल लो। इंस्टाग्राम जैसे सोशल साइट खोलगे तो दूसरो द्वारा बनाई गई खाने की डिशेज और पेंटिंग तुम्हारे अंदर का संजीव कपूर और पिकासो को जगा देंगी। कल को शायद कोई खुद को कोड़े मारने का ट्रेंड चला दे, तो बेशक लोग उसमे भी चूकेंगे नहीं, क्योंकि ये सामाजिक रेस है, अटेंडेंस तो लगाना आवश्यक है क्योंकि इसी से सोशल एक्सेप्टेंस और एक औधा मिलता है सोशल मीडिया में। बहरहाल,..

**शर्मा जी की बात हो बीच में काटते हुए**

बालक: पापा आप जो बता रहे है वो सब सही तो है बेशक, पर आपने मेरे सवाल का जवाब नहीं दिया।

शर्मा जी: माफ करना बेटा, में गुस्से में यहां वहां निकाल जाता हूं। हालाकि ये बात भी है कि आजकल जवाब देने में भी दर लगता है; सेंसटिविटी और ईगो कई गुना बढ़ गया है और सुनने की क्षमता जो घट गई है लोगों की। कहीं कोई जज़्बाती होके कुछ कर ना दे, इससे बेहतर ना बोलने ही प्रतीत होता है।

बहरहाल, जो तुमने पूछा कि पॉजिटिव कैसे रहे, इसके जवाब में यही बोलूंगा की बड़ी लड़ाइयां छोटी छोटी अनेकों हौसलों, प्रयत्नों और जिम्मेदारियों की कहानियों से बनती है। इन लड़ाइयों में सबकी एक भूमिका होती है जिसको पूरी शिद्दत से निभाना रहता है। हमारे लिए ये भूमिका आज की परिस्थितिों में घर में रहने की है। अगर हम इसे पूरी ईमानदारी से नहीं निभाएंगे तो ये लड़ाई जीत नहीं पाएंगे।

अब शायद वजह जानकर खुद बा खुद तुमको पॉजिटिव मेहसूस हो रहा होगा। इसलिए कोई भी बात की वजह ज़रूर जानना अपनी राय बनाने के पहले। इससे २ चीज़ होगी, पहली, की तुम्हारा नज़रिया स्पष्ट हो जाएगा और दूसरा, तुम्हे अपने आप पॉजिटिविटी आएगी उस कार्य में अपनी ऊर्जा डालने की।

और अगर अब भी नहीं समझे, तो जाओ चाय बनाओ, अपन चुस्की लेते हुए और समझेंगे।

Sacred Games Season 2 Honest Reviews with Ending Explained

2019-08-16T00:15:00.000+05:30

I usually don't write reviews of various TV series or movies I have watched over the years. But then, I rarely have binge-watched something so desperately like Sacred Games Season 2. 8 straight hours from 12 in the morning on Independence Day in 'vain'!

The 'vain' part is debatable because people have different perspective and opinion about these things. But if you know me and my taste in TV series and movies, then perhaps you might associate with the feeling of helplessness I am feeling now. It feels like I have been robbed of my time. Perhaps, had I went ahead with 'The Boys' on Amazon Prime would have been a better deal. But all of this might not be true.

**Review starts here, so if you haven't watched it, you may skip reading the article**

Season 1 ended on a high note where we are left hanging with many questions about the upcoming events. Season 2 did answer everything. Connected the remaining dots from the previous season and presented us with a story which was quite predictable if you happen to cross the first half of the season.

Personally, I felt there were a lot of scenes that had fewer to no sense to it. But yet it was put to our misery. With every episode being close to an hour-long, you expect something good or perhaps a revelation that might create a craving to go for the next episode. In my opinion except the last few and the 1st episode, the season took a monotonous approach. Honestly, I was dragging myself of from 1 episode to another, not to forget the yawn sometimes as well, in the middle.

However, this isn't the first show that gets dragged in the middle that I have watched, but others had something up their sleeves in the end that would wash out the slowness. You feel ecstatic in the end. Perhaps a feeling of good investment and that 'chull' of recommending it to other friends of yours to watch the show comes up immediately; not with this season though. Here, as soon as the season ends, I was searching for a teaser at the end just like Marvel Movies for an answer. I felt betrayed that how could you leave a viewer hanging on a cliff like that. I felt cheated.

We have seen movies like Inception, Seven, etc that had a thought-provoking end. The viewers are left with a lot to discuss. The same happened here as well when you are left ablaze where Sartaj Singh actually is able to disable that Nuclear Bomb or not. However, you may question the intent here. Personally, you would ONLY want him to decipher the code but deep down you know it isn't happening that way. Logically answering, the pattern that he draws and what his brother Shahid dress to activate the Nuclear bomb doesn't match. So, obviously, the bomb would have exploded leaving 8 lakh people dead within the first hour of the explosion, as stated in the series is some episode. But all said and done, you don't want that to accept. Personally, I feel they shouldn't have left it on the viewers to decipher this thing. Because this now creates confusion. A very bad confusion whether the bomb exploded or not. Deep down you might feel it did, but also you wholeheartedly want it the other way round. All this resulting in a sense of despair and confusion. Sigh!

In short, I didn't enjoy season 2 because of how it ends. Therefore, would recommend you to not binge watch it with a lot of expectations. If followed, you might not get disappointed with it, although debatable!

Ciao.

Crazy. Young. Us

2019-05-26T23:48:00.000+05:30

On last Friday, 24th May 2019, I was having a chit-chat with my office colleagues about various things; notably of which was 'how much we have changed in recent years!’

The conversation started when we noticed that the photo on the ID card barely matches the people wearing it. There is a noticeable difference in face and all that jazz around it. They instantly declared my id to be somebody else's. I didn't doubt them. I have changed a lot.

After this, we began scrolling through each other's Facebook timelines of the early days of Facebook. A steep stretch of embarrassment and a mild smile at the corner of the lips, remembering those old days, could be easily noticed. There were multiple occasions of each person disbelieving it to be themselves who could put a status or share a poem like that EVER in their life. But it was us, we knew.

While I was scrolling through my Facebook wall, I could see dance videos, relationship advice, and life lessons. Can you imagine, life lessons coming from a 16-year-old me! I was astounded. Or was I? I leave it with you to decide.

Anyways, I scrolled through almost every single post and was enthralled, embarrassed but also proud. Proud because I used to come out of my comfort zone and write all those stuff. I used to put in efforts, form a dance group, set the choreography by hook or crook watching other dance videos. Put in hours to make 1 thing at a time possible. And eventually do it. If I wanted to write a story, I used to put in hours and hours to write 1 perfect (in my mind) story and publish it online on my blog and patiently wait for the likes and comments. Even 1 like and a comment was enough to make my day. Or merely the fact of me publishing it online was orgasmic.

In short, my younger version was bold enough to do what he wants. And if we all look back, we all might be able to relate to this notion.

After realizing this, I instantly asked this question to myself, why am I not anymore the way I used to be? Why am I not that guy who as per one of my friend, involved-into-something-new-every-day crazy anymore? Why have I lost the touch of experimenting or learning new things? What have I possibly done wrong and thought it to be right which has made me this damn lazy and a serious procrastinator?! And the list of similar questions flooded my mind.

I was taken aback. I thought about it for some time, thought about it some more, then some more, but all in vain. It is inconclusive still at my end why most of us feel they are lazy and just passing through their life; not living it to the most!

We all might have our own story around it. But in the end, there is 1 thing in common between all of us. One thing that most of us would agree to become. And that is to be the younger version of ourselves again.

For the same, I have taken a step forward by writing this post and sharing it with you all, just like I used to do once upon a time. Tell me in comments if you agree on what I have stated and what could be possible reasons for us becoming, frankly, boring?

P.S: I couldn’t come up with a suitable title for this post! Sorry! :P

Ek Daud

2018-12-17T13:42:00.001+05:30

A life-changing theory

2018-10-28T21:21:00.000+05:30

“You are the average of 5 people you spend the most time with” – Jim Rohn

A lot of people would have come across this quote and would be like- ‘Kya baat kahin he bande ne’ and started counting those 5 people! Mene to kari he bhai, honestly.

So, if you have not done it and are seeing this quote for the first time, please do the above thing. It is fun.

**A long pause**

Now, what is your feeling around it? Are you happy after analyzing your 5 person circle? Or are you dissatisfied thinking ki saala saari problems ka yahin jad he ki circle acha nhi he? Or do you have some mixed reaction?

Whatever your reaction is, do you think you can change the equation of your life by changing those 5 people you hang out the most with? Do you think the average will better with that? Do you think you will be able to achieve more in life?

For many of us, those 5 people cannot be changed. They are an integral part of our lives for various reasons. And even for the people who can change, they cannot entirely replace people and guarantee success, isn’t it?

Matlab, esa nhi heki kal aap utho aur sabko boldo ki aaj se rishta khatam bhai. Tu apna dekh, me apna dekhtahun! Iske baad se aapki life set!

Gaaliyon ke saath laat bhi pad sakti he. :P

So, the last question arises, how can we better our lives, if we cannot change the 5 person circle we hang out the most with?

Here comes a simple Statistical concept which might help you.

“Averages tend to change with outliers in the data”

In simple terms, if you have a very big value in your dataset, it will automatically increase the overall average of the group and vice-versa.

In short, if YOU BETTER YOURSELF, EVERYONE WILL BETTER AUTOMATICALLY.

Somebody might think: “Me akele kaiko mehnat karun?”

“Mat kar bhai, joint account khulwa lo sab aur dharamshala me reho”

Ciao.

The Little Things in Life

2018-08-24T03:59:00.001+05:30

We always try to keep the people we love as happy as possible. And often for this we keep thinking of what they need? Perhaps, a nice leather jacket or maybe an expensive handbag. We think of such numerous things that would really jell-up the other person.

Our imagination and the efforts leave no stones unturned in thinking about the ways and stuffs that we can just provide to keep things light and happy. Because we care so much, we attach this care and love with materialistic things.

Quite often it works like a charm. It may work 1 time, 2 time, plenty more times, BUT, there will be a limit to it. And after that limit reaches, and the person we care about seems no more interested and happy with whatever things we buy for them, it leaves us into thinking what exactly went wrong all the way through.

The thought of them being unhappy because of us really keeps us on the edge of everything. The feeling is so terrible that we loose to even ponder about the entire situation.

However, we fail to notice that the little things matter a lot in life. Much more than sheer gifts and goodies.

Do not believe me? Try giving your girlfriend a rose on her birthday. Or write her a love letter. Or maybe, try surprising her with a little meal cooked by you.

Tell me if she would be unhappy even after this. Perhaps, these little things would make a much more impact that those gifts.

Because those gifts can be thrown away. But how can someone throw a memory which has touched the person so deep.

How come I know all this? Experience. I missed giving my gf the thing that she cares the most about on her birthday: a story written by me.

It is not that I didn't try writing one. But we writers know that until something doesn't feel right to us, we do not go with it. We need to be 100% sure of what we put across is coming right through our minds and is not conditional or done under pressure.

I couldn't come up with something ideal, ideal from my perspective. And I skipped writing anything for her altogether. And I thought to compensate all of it through gifts and stuffs. It didn't work out and she is angry.

So, never, ever, ever do anything like that. Pull such stunts only at your own risk.

At the end, I only have this thing to say that I hope she forgives me and that I would always remember to keep the little things on priority as those matters the most.

Happy Birthday to her. :)

EK AAM KAHANI # 7

2018-03-14T01:00:00.000+05:30

विक्रम एक सॉफ्टवेयर कंपनी में काम करता था। जितनी बड़ी वो कंपनी थी उससे कहीं ऊचे उसके ख्वाब थे। और कहीं न कहीं अपने ख्वाबो को पूरा करने के प्रेशर में वो टेंशन में रहता था। परन्तु उसका स्वभाव दुसरो को अपना दुखड़ा सुनाने वालो जैसा नहीं था। बल्कि वो मुश्किल को सहजता और द्रढ़ता के साथ संभालता था।

परन्तु आज वो बहुत दुखी था। आज एक बिज़नेस डील उसके हाथ आते आते निकल गयी। ये डील उसकी लाइफ पलट देती। वो विदेश की यात्रा भी कर पाता जो की उसका बचपन से सपना था।

'हर कुत्ते का बुरा दिन आता है ' ऐसा आपने नहीं सुना होगा क्यूंकि किसी ने शायद ही कहीं कहा हो इस आर्टिकल के अलावा। खैर, इस कहानी में अभी विक्रम के बुरे दिन चलते है। आदमी कितना भी सेहेंशिये क्यों न हो , एक न एक समय वो कमज़ोर ज़रूर पड़ता है। ये वास्तविकता है, 'मर्द को दर्द नहीं होता' सिर्फ अमिताभ जी की फिल्मो में ही हो सकता है। वास्तविक जीवन से इस डायलाग का कोई भी संभन्ध नहीं है। जीवन में मर्द को दर्द भी होता है और आसूं भी निकलते है।

इसीलिए जब भी विक्रम मायूस होता था , वो अपने घर के पास वाली टापरी में जाके शांति के साथ चाय पीता था। वो टपरी चालाने वाले उसके दददू के उम्र के व्यक्ति थे इसलिए वो उनको दददू तथा उनकी टापरी को 'दददू की टपरी' बुलाता था जबकि उस दूकान का नाम 'श्याम टी स्टॉल ' था। श्याम दददू के बेटे का नाम था जो की कभी कभार टपरी में आया करता था।

उनकी टापरी की चाय विक्रम को सारे दुखो से दूर कर देती थी। एक अलग सा सुकून था उस जगह में। और क्यूंकि विक्रम वह कई दफा आता रहता था तो उनके बीच में एक घनिष्ट सी बन चुकी थी। दददू विक्रम की कहानी बखूबी जानते थे वो विक्रम दददू की। विक्रम उनको अपने दादा जी जैसा मानता था। एक बार उनकी अचानक से तबियत ख़राब हो गयी थी , तब इलाज के पैसे विक्रम ने ही दिए थे।

आज भी विक्रम उसी टापरी जाता है। आखरी बार वो २ हफ्ते पहले आया था वहां। मायूस विक्रम टापरी में पोहोचता है।

'दददू एक कप चाय देना ', वो धीमी आवाज़ में कहता है।

उसके सामने चाय आ जाती है। वो उत्साहित होक चाय अपने हाथो में लेता हे वो ऊपर देखता है। ऊपर देखते ही उसकी ख़ुशी थोड़ी कमतर हो जाती है। उसके सामने श्याम खड़ा रहता है। वो उससे पूछता हे की दददू कहा है।

'उनकी पिछले हफ्ते हार्ट अटैक से डेथ हो गयी '

ये जवाब सुनते ही विक्रम के पैरो टेल ज़मीन खिसक जाती है। उसे समझ नहीं आता की ऐसा कैसे हो सकता है। उसकी सारी सुध जैसे घास चरने चली गयी हो, इस प्रकार वो अचंभित बैठा रहता है। फिर थोड़ी देर बाद वो बिना चाय पिए , चाय के पैसे देके वहा से चला जाता है।

कुछ दिनों बाद वो उस टपरी में शायद फिर से आये। शायद उसे यहाँ आके पहले से भी अच्छी चाय मिले। परन्तु जो सुकून दददू के रहने पे मिलता था वो अब कभी नहीं मिलेगा। आखिर खुशी और सुकून चीज़ ही ऐसी है। जगहों और वस्तुओं से कम और लोगो से ज़्यादा मिलती है।

Life After You Start Working

2017-12-05T00:46:00.002+05:30

“Bhai, kal tu college ja raha he?”

“Nhi!”

“Chal me bhi nhi jayunga fir”

Felt nostalgic, a little? I sure did.

And this brings me to the first thing you cannot do when you start working, which are such implusive emotional decisions. If you disagree, then remember the number of times you have taken an unplanned leave on a Monday?!

Due to such and many more small yet significant things, I miss the college days and I am sure a lot of you feel the same. After all, those were the days when you could take emotional decisions freely, bunk the classes without hesitation and had a group of friends called your gang who always stuck around through all your highs and lows.

However, now, after you have started working in a company, the table has turned. Performance ratings and appraisals have wiped off emotions and caged in ‘aaj kuch tufaani karte hai’ moments which were in plenty during the college days.

Now, the most tufaani moment is to get that trouser fit in, after compressing that next-to-pregnant-belly, a little, and to leave the office at 6 pm on Friday.

Also, you spend every single day thinking about making more money and using the same to find happiness, which was free back in the college days.

A lot of other changes have come as well, like back then, when you couldn’t afford a McD meal on your own, sadly now, when you can, you don’t have friends to share it with!

Also, in college, when a cup of chai with friends was enough to make our day. Now, even a team party at a lavish 5-star hotel doesn’t give that sort of satisfaction.

Honestly, no matter how many friends you make in your professional life, the place in your heart that your college buddies have can never be replaced (unless one of them went on to be your gf and then ex-gf) because, ‘Aur bhosdike, kaisa he?!’ is more pleasant to the ears than ‘Hey, how are you?!’ (unless coming from a total stranger)

At the end, am pretty sure you too had one hell of a ride this year. A lot of changes would have come, new promises made, few broken, people were left behind, certain life changing decisions would have been taken.

In fact, a couple of your friends would have even gotten married. But all this while, even if you were not the best version of yourself. Maybe, you couldn’t commit to what you promised at the start of this year. Or perhaps, your office life is totally a lost case, believe this and just remember your college day. Maybe, it won’t fix the current situation you are in, but it would definitely break the stress and lighten the tension, which in most cases is enough to get going.

P.S: Call your college friends more often. Those people are definitely a great stress reliever. Believe this. Ciao!

Honest Indian Mindset Behind Sarahah

2017-08-17T22:54:00.000+05:30

I had to write about it. The craving was so high that I could not procrastinate it. Sorry laziness, better luck next time!

Sarahah! The name needs no introduction because the chances are quite high that you have already downloaded the app and have waited patiently for those ‘genuine’ appreciations and criticism (milti sabko he, but batata koi nhi he). The picture below describes exactly what I feel about it. Sorry if that hurts your feelings! *Azaad desh ke azaad nagrik ki azaad sooch he*

Now, every time, every single time, I open Facebook, what do I see? People put up the screenshot about an anonymous person who has appreciated them and they ask to get in touch with them.

Bhaiya, banda/bandi isi ka to wait kar rahe the ki kab aap unhe bolenge to get in touch. Unke uparto shraap tha iske pehle contact na kar pane ka.

Isi screenshot ko dekh ke hi to Bruce Wayne ne bhi Gordon ko apni asliyat bata di. Aur Gangadharbhi Geeta Vishwas ka isi cheez ko leke wait kar raha tha! Samjhe!

Anyway, I pondered about the mindset that drags people to follow the bandwagon and download the app. I have jotted down the same thing below in an ‘honest’ manner. My interpretation might not be as apt, but certainly, it will tickle your funny bone:

*Random person, not aware about Sarahah, opening their Facebook account*

“Chull ho rahi he, Facebook kholta hun.”

“Ye kya screenshot laga rakha he aur isme appreciation likhi he. Is bande ke liye appreciation! Hehehe!”

*Scrolls down*

“Fir waisa hi screenshot! Isme bhi jhoot”

*Scrolls further down*

“Bawa re bawa, ye chal kya raha he. Har koi wahi cheez ka screenshot laga raha he”

“Man to kar raha he ki istmaal karu. But mere sane dost fir mera mazaak udayenge ki bheed me shareekh ho gaya. Kya karun?”

“Appreciation ki apne ko bohot laalach to he. But kisi ne gaali bhej di to? Post nhi karenge public me. Hehehe. BUT, agar kisi ne koi tareef nhi kari to? Locha ho jayega!”

“Kya karun?! Bandwagon me shamil hona pasand nhi he, but laalach to ho rahi he.”

“Par kya pata koi bethi ho mere is app ko join karne ke intzaar me, tabhi wo apna pyaar kaboolkaregi mere liye. Jo itne saalo me kabhi nhi huya, is app se ho jaye. Desperation to andar bhara he hi apne me!”

“Appreciation nhi aayi to khud se hi post kar denge. Spotlight to chahiye hi!”

“Bohot pressure he yaar. Aaj tak kabhi esa chutiyapa nhi kiya. Aaj apni izzat dao pe rakhu kin hi?!”

*After not so long time*

*Posts the Sarahah’s link to social media*

Aur isi tarah bik jate he log tareefo ke lalach me!

If you like this post, please do share it. And let me know your opinion about the same in the comment section below. Cheers!

EK AAM KAHANI # 6

2017-08-13T00:27:00.001+05:30

शाम का समय था। मुंशी जी के बेटे का रिजल्ट आने वाला था। उनके ऑफिस ख़त्म होने में कुछ आधा घंटा ही बचा था। चिंता सुबह से ही उनको खाये जा रही थी, की अगर उनका बेटा, गोपाल, फेल हो गया तो आगे क्या होगा। वजह वाजिब भी थी क्यूंकि उनकी आर्थिक स्तिथि कुछ सही नहीं थी। पत्नी की तबियत ख़राब चल रही थी, उसकी गोली दवाई में आधी तनख्वा चली जाती थी। बचे पैसो से जैसे तैसे घर का खर्च चला रहे थे तथा अपने बेटे की पढाई करवा रहे थे।

चिंता के बादल इतने में ही नहीं थमते थे। इससे बड़ी परेशानी ये थी की अगर उनका बेटे पास भी हो जाता हे और उसको स्कालरशिप नहीं मिलती तो प्राइवेट कॉलेज में पढ़ाने के पैसे कैसे जमा हो पाएंगे। इन्ही सब चिंता में सारा दिन निकल गया था। सब्र का बाँध भी मानो टूटने की कगार में था।

ये सब के बीच में फैक्ट्री का साईरन बजता है। मुंशी जी अपनी व्यथा और चिंताओं के पिटारे को दिल में दबा के पैदल चल देते हे बस स्टॉप की तरफ। रिजल्ट की चिंता उनके चेहरे पे स्पष्ट नज़र आती है।

बस स्टॉप में बस को देखने के लिए मुंशी जी राइट साइड देखते है। एक बार तो ये भी सोचते हे की पैदल ही निकल चले, परन्तु घुटने के दर्द को याद करते हुए रुक से जाते है। तभी दूर से एक लाल डब्बा उनकी ओर आता नज़र आता है। 'चलो कुछ तो अच्छा हुआ ', ये बोलते हुए लम्बी सास छोड़ते है। उसी वक़्त उनके फ़ोन में घंटी बजती है। फ़ोन पुराना हे और स्क्रीन ने साथ काफी हद्द तक छोड़ चूका हे। हाथ से स्क्रीन पूछते हुए वो उसको उठाते है।

"पापा, में अव्वल नंबर से पास हो गया", दूसरे तरफ से आवाज़ आती है।

वो उस आवाज़ को पहचान जाते है। उनके चेहरे के सारे रंग मानो लौट आये हो। वो ख़ुशी से कूदना चाहते है। अपने बच्चे को दुनिया की सारी ख़ुशी देना चाहते है और इसी उत्साह में वो उससे पूछते हे, "आज क्या खाओगे बेटे?"

घर की परिषतिथि जानते हुए उनका बेटा चुप कर जाता है। "बस आप घर आ जाइए,मुझे और कुछ नहीं चाहिए"

पर मुंशी जी भी बाप है। उनको पता हे की बेटे को जलेबी पसंद है। इसे याद रखते हुए, होठो में हलकी सी मुस्कान लिए कहते है, "ठीक हे, कुछ नहीं लाता"

कॉल कट्टा है और इतने में बस उनके सामने आके खड़ी हो जाती है। महीने का आखरी हफ्ता है और जलेबी लेते हुए जाना है। ये सोचते हुए वो अपनी जेब में हाथ डालके पैसे गिनते है। मात्र १० रूपए मिलते है।

मुंशी जी असमंजस में पद जाते है की बस से ५ km का सफर करे उन पैसो से, या फिर जलेबी अपने बच्चे के लिए लेके जाएँ। एक तरफ उनके घुटने का दर्द भी उनको याद हे परन्तु अपने बच्चे के चेहरे में जलेबी को देख के आने वाली ख़ुशी को वो मिस नहीं करना चाहते।

धीरे धीरे यात्री भी बस में चढ़ने को आ गए है। आखरी बंदा चढ़ता है, वो पीछे मुद के मुंशी जी को देखता हे की वो चढ़ जाएँ।

तभी, तभी मुंशी जी कुछ ऐसा कर जाते हे जिससे देखने वाले हैरान रह जाते है। वो सड़क उतर कर पैदल ही घर की और चल देते है।

और भला चले भी क्यों न ? बच्चे की मुस्कान कभी घुटनो के दर्द से छोटी हुई है ?!

EK AAM KAHANI #5

2016-11-02T23:49:00.000+05:30

ट्रैन के उस डब्बे में दूर से एक धीमे आवाज़ कपूर साहब के कानों में पद रही थी। समय के साथ वो आवाज़ पास आती जा रही थी। कुछ समय बाद जब एक बड़ी ही कर्कश आवाज़ कपूर साहब की कानो में पड़ी तो वो मुह बनाते हुए पीछे की तरफ मुड़े। देखने पे पाया की दो लड़के कोई सा लोक संगीत गा रहे थे और उनमे से एक छोटा सा सितार जैसा यन्त्र बजा रहा था।

धीरे-धीरे वो कपूर साहब के कम्पार्टमेंट में भी आ गए। पता चला की उनमे से एक अंधा था। वो दोनों ने वहां कुछ पलो के लिए गाना सुनाया। फिर गाना रुका तो दोनों हाथ फैलाये एक लड़का पैसे मांगने लगा। मांगता भी क्यों नही, गाना जो गया था उन्होंने।

दो तीन दफा बोलने पे, चार पाँच लोगो ने लड़के के हाथ में एक दो रूपए के सिक्के रख दिए। यह देखते हुए कपूर साहब का जैसे सब्र का बांद ही टूट पड़ा।

"आप लोगो ने फ़िज़ूल में ही इन्हें पैसा दिया है। देखिएगा, ये इसका उपयोग नशा करने के लिए करेंगे। मैने हमेशा यही देखा है। ऐसे बच्चो को भीख़ देनी ही नही चाहिए। "

इस बात पर कई लोगो ने मुंडी हिलाई। हालांकि, कुछ लोगो का दृष्टिकूण्ड कुछ अलग था, पर वो शांत रहे। भला कौन मु जोरि करे सोच के शांत रह लिए। पर ये बात उन बच्चो को कुछ जमी नही। उन्होंने तुरंत जवाब दिया।

"साब हम ये पैसा अपनी पढाई की शुरुआत करने के लिए कमाते है। गाना गाना और बजाना थोड़ा बहुत आता है, इसलिए वही करते है। पर बिना किसी बात की भीख नही मांगते।"

ये सुनते ही कपूर साहब को गुस्सा आ गया। भला आता कैसे नही, एक छोटे से बच्चे ने भरी ट्रैन में सेकड़ो मुसाफिरों के सामने एक वाज़िब बात जो कर दी थी। गुस्सा आना तो बनता था।

"बेटा हमें मत बताओ ये सब। सब जानते है तुम लोगो की करतुते। तुम जैसे बच्चो का कुछ नही हो सकता। "

ये सुनने पर उस लड़के ने कुछ नही कहा। एक शब्द भी न निकले उसके मुँह से। पर जाते जाते उसकी आँखें सब बयां कर गयी। ऐसा लगा मानो कह रही हो...

'साब, हो सकता है की कुछ भी न हो। हम ऐसे ही गाना गाके पैसे जुटाते रहे। हो सकता है। पर ये भी हो सकता है की हमारा समय बदले। हम अच्छे से पढ़ लिखकर कुछ बड़ा कर जाएँ। मेरा दोस्त देखने लग जाये। परंतु, एक चीज़, जो कभी नहीँ बदलेगी चाहे लाख चीज़े कह लो, वो है आपकी राय। इसको बदलपाना असंभव है।'

और वाकई, किसी की राय बदलना आसान काम नही है।

An Honest Indian Experience At A Coffee House

2016-10-31T23:40:00.000+05:30

I was at this Coffee shop once with one of my friends. We were meeting after a long time, so we did not dwell much upon the options available for a meet-up place and settled with the most expensive one (read: Not Starbucks) in the city.

We reached at the venue and occupied the central seat to look through the entire coffee-house (one of the boy things) to keep a check on the pretty girls coming in. (Han bhai ladkiyan checkout karte he hum, arrest karlo is baat pe).

Strangely, a girl was consistently looking at me which made me conscious and proud (no doubt) because this hardly has happened before. Also considering my photo wasn’t published in the Crime section of the newspaper that day, the happening kept me on my toes.

Now, being an Indian, baat ki teh tak jaane ke keeda janm se milta he hume. I had the same. So, I gradually started to stare her back. Initially, for a few secs and subsequently for a longer period. And parallelly at the back of my mind, I searched about any links related to that girl. (She was beautiful by the way)

Now, amidst all this, the girl said something to her friend and she started looking at me too. Wow!

‘Bhai sabun kaam kar gaya us din ka’mene socha. Matlab, jahan ek ladki ne nhi taada pure college life me, yahan saala 2-2 dekhe ja rahi thi. Kya ye koi dustak thi jise me sun nhi pa raha tha (in Anoop Soni’s voice).

Shaq to ho raha tha ki kuch to gadbad he. Matlab, jab aapko pata he ki aapki shakal kharab he, tab esi cheeze chamatkar ya fir galatfaemi ki category me aati he.

And I was unable to figure the right category that time. Nevertheless, I gave more attention, focused deeply and searched my database of girls. After a long time, itna time ki Ashutosh Gowariker ki movie khatam ho jaye, I recalled that she was a friend of a friend. And probably she might have been telling her friend the same story along with the other fact that I blog. Sheh! There went the first autograph ka sapna.

Anyways, Ashutosh Govarikar ki movie jitna time le liya tha humne in sab me and didn’t order anything, so the manager had a similar look as that of the audience who go to watch Govarikar ji’s movies.

So, we quickly checked the menu and decided on Pizza and sandwich. Now, the only thing which was left was a Coffee to order. Man bhi tha aur salary bhi credit huyi thi parso hi. So, we quickly opened the Beverages section in the menu.

Cappuccino

Espresso

Caffe Latte

Caf Mocha

Et cetra et cetra.

‘Abey isme Coffee kaha he bey. Kaha he bey Coffee’ my friend asked. (In Sanjay Mishra’s voice)

Kusoor mere dost ka nhi tha. Bhala ek aam aadmi ko kya pata ki Coffee ki bhi variety hoti he. Esi variety hoti he ki naam pronounce karte karte hi man bhar jaye Coffee peene ka.

‘Bhai ye sab Coffee ki hi varieties he’ I said with pride. Katwa chuke the tagda bill pehle isi Coffee ke upar to yaad tha. Mehenga bill aadmi bhoolta nhi he.

He asked for a suggestion. I had none. But, since you have proved a minute ago that you know about such stuffs, so you wouldn’t want to sound dumb in the next line.

Last time I tried Caffe Latte and didn’t like it much. So, I suggested to go with Espresso. How did I decide? Espresso ke bagal me rate chhapa tha. Use dekha. Aur decide ho gaya. Coffee to aaj Espresso hi jayegi gale ke neeche.

Mangwa li 2 Espresso.

After some time, Pizza came, sandwich came and then came the Coffee.

Looking at the cup we thought, maybe the waiter would bring the milk shortly. So, we waited. We didn’t ask.

Indian dil he, poochne se dar lagta he. Bejjati na ho jaye kahin, isliye shant rehte he. ADJUST KAR LETE HE.

After 10mins when nobody came. Humne kiya Google. Pata chala, Espresso is Black Coffee. Lag gye!

Pehle to hase cause humne lagwa liya tha 150 ka choona, per cup me. Ab lagne wali thi gale ki cause wo peene layak dikh nhi raha tha.

Still, we thought about our bill and tried to sip it slowly. We took the cup in our hand, brought it closer to the lips, tilted it a little and sipped the black Coffee!

Kasam se ‘Ram Baand’ namak dawai yaad aa gyi jo ghar wale dete he bachpan me jab bukhar chadhti thi.

Socha, koi nhi. Mard he, Roadies dekha he, pe lenge.

Agle sip me saari guts bahar aa gyi. Laga, ye time stunt marne ka nhi he. Varna Pizza aur Sandwich ko bhi bahar aa jana he.

To kuch nhi. Cup neeche rakha. Hosh sambhale aur hum bahar aa gye bill pay karke.

Tapri ki chai pi, tab jake dil halka huya.

At last, moral of the story ye nikla ki ‘Rate dekh ke cheeze decide nhi karni chahiye. Aur asli swaad to tapri ki chai me hi hota he’

Cheers!

Not a love story: Phone a Friend

2016-05-27T04:24:00.000+05:30

Note: Is this your first post of the series? Wait. Start reading from here: Not a love story: How they met?

With the passing weeks, the bond between Sahil and Eshita became weaker because they hardly talked. Most of the time when he pinged her, she was either out for shopping or was busy somewhere else. And this thing, after a certain time, started frustrating him, as he was the ONLY one who, evidently, took measures to stay in touch.

The situation grew so bad that he even started to doubt whether the two of them really shared a special connection ever. Or, whether all of that was just a common affair for her. Or in other words, she judged the conversations between them within the boundaries of friendship. Not an inch more, but maybe, a mile lesser. And all this made him highly distressed.

The signs of unhappiness, dejection and resentment were clearly visible with the way Sahil started to lose his calm in minor matters. Due to this, he started to spend more time being alone. Although, the two of them did talk at certain occasions but it was more formally tuned. Nothing magical happened that would revive the old Sahil; the one who was bright and bubbly. It was shocking that a girl could do that to him. That he would completely loose his mind on her. Undoubtedly, he had his likings towards her and was seeking for more attention than what he was receiving. All these things really played a game with his mind. Life was changing for him. Or maybe, he was changing.

But one final day he decided to speak to a close friend of his, seeking advice on the same. This was the first occasion that he has opened up to anybody on his personal life. He always believed that personal matters once spoken are not in your control. You can’t steer its spread and exposure. But, he didn’t care any longer about that thing from happening. Rather, he wished that she (Eshita) could know what her absence has turned him into.

So, he calls up Rupasi, a-more-than-a-friend-and-less-than-a-girlfriend kind of friend. They both shared almost everything, except for the relationship part from Sahil’s end, apparently, which was yet to make its debut. Rupasi, on the other hand, had a boyfriend for 3 years now and she has seen many ups and downs in all that time. Thinking of which Sahil thought her to be the perfect person for contact.

“Hey champ! What’s the problem, tell me?” said Rupasi assertively. Almost like she knew that something is wrong the other side.

“What?! I mean, how do you know?” replied Sahil who was totally perplexed with the witching skills of his friend.

“See the time. It is 5 and I am in the class. You know this thing and yet made a call. So, eliminating the odds, something must have really gotten wrong. Simple. But see the irony, you watch Sherlock Holmes!” she chuckles.

“All hail the queen” responded Sahil with a grin. It was the first time in days when he genuinely laughed.

“You make me feel good, know this” he added.

“I know, I know. Why not? I am the only girl who talks to you. And you are not gay from what I know” replied Rupasi while rolling her eyes and throwing a devilish smile back.

“Oh! Come on. There are a lot of girls who talk to me…….once in a blue moon” he chuckles.

“Hahaha! Acha tell me the issue. I need to get back to the class”

“Oh! Yeah. Sorry. Long story short, I like a girl who doesn’t give me attention anymore that she used to once. This thing frustrates me. What to do?!... And if, you need to know the entire story, then we can have a word when you are free?” asked Sahil in desperation. He needed a solution to this. Quickly.

“Mmm… hard for me to process anything at the moment. Quick tip: Call her right away and have a normal conversation. This will seize the curiosity bug inside you for a few hours. Update me afterwards. Ttyl. Bubye.” She replied almost with utmost assurance and dominance as if she knew what was best for the ongoing situation.

“Ok. Sure. Bubye” and he hangs up.

He then immediately calls her up which he had thought to do it since a few days. But then, ego and hurt did not let him dial the number. Men and ego! You see.

“Hello” replied a manly voice from the other end.

A lot of background noise from Eshita’s end made it impossible for Sahil to hear anything.

“Hello, Eshita?!” he confirms.

“Sorry, she is in the washroom. Mind calling her later” replied the hefty voiced male.

“Ok. By the way, who is this?” asked Sahil in a meek voice.

“This is Anurabh.”

“Ok Anurabh. Tell Eshita that Sahil called. Thanks. Bye” and he hangs up instantly.

Upon disconnecting, an unsettling chill swept through him. He couldn’t think of anything at all. A gush of thoughts and questions struck his mind. He was already not well with the happenings and now having found that Eshita was going out with her ex added kerosene to the fire.

He was in need to have a word with her and that too as soon as possible.

To be continued….

An honest Indian Workplace Conversation Between A Guy And His Crush

2016-05-08T22:03:00.001+05:30

"This post is a work of fiction. It has no resemblance with the outside world. In fact, not even a bit with the writer's life as well. Nah! Not a chance." You won't think anything like this throughout the post and even after that as well. And sadly, I can't control your thoughts. Democracy you see. So, double the enjoyment with your imaginations. Tathastu!

Here is an HONEST (almost) Indian conversation between a guy and his crush in a random office. Not IT at all. At all. :p

*Here she comes. The guy almost chasing her with his eyes through the glass wall until she steps inside.*

Guy: Hey! Hugs?! No? Ok. *smiles*

Girl: Hi! Fir mil gaya. *smiles*

Guy: Hungry? Han bol de. Please.

Girl: Yeah. Let's go. Bhookh to lagi he yaar. Subah he, hopefully zyada chatega nhi. Chal deti hun. *smiles*

Guy: Cool. Let’s leave. Laga hi tha ye naya deo kaam karega. D-Mart teri jai hoi. *smiles*

*While having the snacks. Sitting somewhere*

Guy: So, lot of work to do? Yahi question pooch pooch ke thak gaya hun yaar.

Girl: Han yaar. Bohot zyada. Pata he..bla bla bla....bla bla bla...!

Guy: Bhai control kar. Yawn mat kariyo. Bakwaas kar rahi he but sunna to padega. Control. *yawns* *Grins* Kal raat soya nhi na. Isliye aa rahi he. *hi-hi* Tu bolte reh.

Girl: Nhi yaar. Bus itna hi tha. Tu suna? Kisse batiya raha tha raat me?! Aaj flirt wagera nhi kar raha mujh se. Pandit ban gaya kya raato raat?! Roz to bohot Josh me rehta he. Thoda bhao deti hun tujhe pagal. Dikhati nhi hun bus. Tension na le. Bol bindaas.

Guy: Tu to reply karti nhi he properly. Movies dekhna padta he. Movie dekh raha tha yaar. Late soya is karan se. Waise tujhe yaad kiya tha mene. Even dropped a text. Called as well. But as usual, tune number hi ignore mar diya hoga.

Girl: Oh! When? Let me check. *she checks* Arey sorry yaar. Just abhi dekha. Waise ghanta phone nhi uthati dekh bhi leti to. Aur raat me mein kisi ka reply nhi karti bf ka chhod ke, jiske bare me tujhe nhi bataya he.

Guy: Koi nhi. It's ok. Ab to aadat pad gyi he. Tu suna? Kya huya tere ex bf ka?

Girl: Bataya tha kya tujhe? Wo na...bla bla bla. Called at night...bla bla bla. Ignored....bla bla bla.

Guy: Oh! To fir scene kya he tera? Kis chu ke saath thi tu bhi na. Waise bando ko har dusra banda chu hi lagta he. Alfa male to khud ko hi mante he sab.

Girl: Kuch nhi. Ab to relationship wagera nhi kar payungi. Break up has changed me so much. Ab no more relationships. And dating me karti nhi hun. To zyada sapne mat saja. Waise thoda chance he tere liye. Chotu sa. So, try to be good to me.

Guy: Haaayee! Dil hi toot gaya! Lo, chaakoo le lo. Ghusa do. Khel khatam kar do yahi par. But ese bol ke mat mara karo.

Girl: Hahaha! Hasne ke alawa kar bhi kya sakti hun. Ladki hun. Attitude maintain karna padta he. Tu bf hota to awww bolke gaal kheech deti aur side look wali smile. But tere liye hasi hi kaafi he. Tu kisko dekh raha he?

Guy: Kisi ko bhi nhi! Tujhe. Kasam se. Man to roz karta he bol dun ki bohot pasand he tu. Gf banja. Rock kar denge. But Rockstar ki tarah, ye dialogue bhi purana he. Aur sunne ke baad tu muskurahat leke dil me, ignore karna chalu kar degi mujhe. Kyunki confess karne wale ki feelings to hoti hi nhi he. Use to bura lagta hi nhi he kuch bhi karo uske saath. Aur in case, tera bf nikal gaya kahin se to fir to khel khatam. Isliye bolne se darta hun. But like to tujhe bohot karta hun.

Girl: Chal chupa le. Mat bata mujhe. Hint to dete rehta he. Me bhi samajhti hu.

Guy: Arey! Tujh se kya chupana. Tu to apni he. Mat ungli kar. Bata dunga to fir tera behavior change ho jayega. Meri kahani ke Index page pe hi the end ho jayega. Mat press kar. Kha pi ke nikal le.

Girl: Chal anyways, chalte he ab. Kaam karna he kaafi.

Guy: Han. Bohot ho gaya sach ka samna.

*Both leave*

Arey! Post khatam ho gaya he. Aapka muskurana khatam ho jaye to baaki post padh sakte he, ya fir ja sakte he. Waise, jate jate comment karne ka man kare to rukiyega nhi, kar dijiyega. Aur share karna bhooliyega nhi. Bande ko acha lagega. Dhanywaad.

Can you have good friends at work?

2016-03-16T00:58:00.000+05:30

People say it is tough to connect with people at your workplace to the level of friendship as you had in your college. An intense friendship that would stay for years to come and wouldn't die even when you switch jobs. It is hard they say and is true to a great degree.

Reason being, once you start to earn, priorities kick in. You have loans to clear, send home some share of your income, make your neighbors jealous and then there are your personal expenditures and plans to deal with, too. So all this needs proper plan and money. And we all know about our crave for getting richer with every passing day. And for the same, we need to consistently work hard.

All this is possible when you focus on the right thing which definitely doesn't leave enough time for making deeper bonds with your colleagues. So, I hope you get the idea here why people say what they say!

But what if, you connect with a few of them in that span of time. Irrespective of everything that restricts you from being friends, a bond does build up. And most importantly, you start to feel it. And this feeling increases manifolds when you get to hear that few of your friends would be drifting apart. That they will be joining another company. In short, they won’t be there with you.

At that moment you realize how much you are going to miss them. And how big of a void their leaving will create in your life. Because absence of somebody tells you a lot about them and their importance in your life. And vice-versa.

So, how to deal with such a situation?

The best way to come out of this bad sulking feeling of being left out is to avoid getting too emotional as much as possible. A fine thought has to be established at the back of the mind that people (read: friends) here, at your workplace, have different agendas.

Eventually, you all will be working at different cities with less hopes of a chai-biscuit hangout or anything of that sort. So, try not to take things to heart. It is all right if your favorite people won’t be there to create more memories in and out of the office. Also, this world is small enough for you to catch a bus and pay them a visit. Or, ask them to do the same. Thus, relax. Be happy.

A lesson on keeping secrets in life

2016-02-07T15:39:00.000+05:30

I hear a lot of people complaining about their secrets being spread in their circle of friends and elsewhere. The secrets which those people have to call as false rumors for obvious reasons. The secrets which they didn't share with anyone except their best friends (read: BFF).

Even Peter Parker approves it!

So, basically, they share it with nobody and the secret's out on its own, because private information has a life too. It likes to hangout with multiple people. Thus, 'rumors' are spread. Just like that. Logical reason, right?!

Let me tell you a story to explain my point better.

There was a king who had a lot of wealth stored in some secretive place. The location of that place was only known to him. However, after his marriage, he shared the secret with his wife. Why? Because she is his better half.

Now, the king kept a weekly check on his hidden wealth. To make sure everything is intact. However, after a few months when he went to ascertain his riches, surprisingly, it was gone. He was astounded because nobody in the entire kingdom knew about its location except for him and the queen. And given that the queen wouldn't have revealed it to anybody, raised the question on the criminal's identity.

So, for investigation, he called upon Birbal. He was an intelligent man who was known for his witty solutions to complex issues. He asked for a couple of days to sort out the matter.

After a few days when he came to the darbar, he requested to talk to the king alone. The king agreed.

'I need to ask you certain questions which you might find to be out of the line. So shall I?' asked Birbal. The king agreed.

'Did you tell about the hidden treasure to anybody accept the queen?' asked Birbal.

The king thought for a second and said 'No' with conviction.

'So, do you think your wife must have done that?' asked Birbal.

The king was taken aback because he believed his beloved like anything. He wouldn't doubt her loyalty towards him. So, the king said 'No' to this answer as well without a line of doubt.

'So, now am going to tell you something which you might not like.' said Birbal and waited for the king's reaction.

The king was calm. Nothing to be cautious about, he said to Birbal.

'Your treasure cannot be found' said Birbal.

The king was shocked that even Birbal couldn't find the thief. He asked for a reason in distress to which Birbal said this:

'Your highness, I have made every attempt to find the odds, to trace the robber. I have even eliminated the obvious choices based on your answers to my questions. But, there seems to be no solution. I am sorry to say this but you should have kept the information about your treasure with yourself. It was safe then. You made a mistake to tell it to your wife. Now, I am not saying that she must have robbed you. Of course, not, but since the information was out, there was no control of it with you. You could no longer stop it from spreading by any means. Thus, the lesson here is to note that secret information should be kept to oneself. It should not be shared with anyone under any circumstances.'

The king understands his mistake and takes a life lesson from it.

The righteous quote!

Now, you too must have noted that extremely important point from the story; the basic mistake that we make in sharing our personal life with others is sharing it.

If that thing stops, I don't think there is any other way by which anybody has to worry about 'false rumors' anymore. Of course, if one has the issue of talking while sleeping, then medical help is needed. Else, the solution is free. Stop sharing information. Be it your BFF, BF or GF. Once it is leaked from your side, you have no control over it. So, keep things to yourself and stay happy.

But with that in mind, do not refrain from sharing this post. Thank you.

Do what you like because…?

2015-12-30T01:03:00.000+05:30

Recently, I visited a mall in Bhopal. It was evening and there was a rock show going on near the entrance. I was with a friend and we both stopped to check out the singer. He was literally good, and thus we spent some time at the place hearing him out.

Um..Not exactly my point!

Amidst the contrasting lighting, I figured out that the singer was someone I have known before. On carefully watching his face, keeping my patience and sanity intact, I figured out that he was a school junior.

We used to play football back in the days. And have even exchanged pleasantries one time recently. Honestly, I was awestruck with his voice. Trust me, I don’t praise unless I mean it completely.

In fact, his semester exams were going on that time. So, giving out such a performance in a crucial time when your exams are on the head is a big thing. I can’t really imagine myself doing that.

But, more or less, he was the man of the hour who was doing what he does best; sing.

Amidst all the glitter, glamour and singing, I was constantly in conversation with my friend who was relishing the aura, songs and what not? Everything.

Me: Yaar, banda to gajab ga raha he. Hena?

Friend: Han bhai. Talented he.

Me: Wahi to yaar. Aur mujhe hawa bhi nhi lagi aajtak. Rockstars logo se contact he mere.

Friend: Tere bagal me aaj Ambani khada he. Tujhe ye baad me realize hoga.

Me: Hao! Acha, iske papers chal rahe he. Manna padega. Tab bhi show kar raha he.

Friend: Bhai, paper waper hote rehte he. Wo sab nikal jayega. Sab pass ho jate he. Ye har koi nhi karta he. Yahi life he. Jo pasand he wo karo.

And this is the point that struck me.

Do what you like. Do as you like. Do even if nobody notices it. Just do it. (Nike, will you pay me for the ad?)

Because it makes you happy!

An Honest Indian Neighbour: Random Conversation

2015-11-13T23:34:00.000+05:30

All right! It has been over a month since I last posted anything here. Never mind. Nobody visits it anyway! But, hey, guess what? Yeah, yeah! You have guessed it right! This ‘guess what’ thingy has gotten old!

Honest Reaction!

Anyways, I desperately wanted to write a post on this title long ago. But considering my gifts of laziness and procrastination, I could not try my hands on it. But the time has FINALLY come when I will be doing it. Hihahahaha! *evil grin*

So, here is an ‘honest’ conversation between a random guy (RG) and his neighbour (N):

RG: It is a great weather . Let's go outside.

N: Arey beta! Kaise ho? Zinda bhi ho, jaanke acha laga. Aaj tumhari lunga. Hihahaha!

RG: Namaste uncle! Me acha tha jab tak aapne awaaz nhi di thi. Acha hun uncle. Aap bataiye? Aaj mausam acha he na?

N: Acha try kara topic control karne ka. But rishte me hum tumhare neighbour lagte he. Me acha hun. Chalo ab maze liye jayen tumahre. Aur kya kar rahe ho aajkal?

RG: Bohot sahi! Yahi question bacha tha poochne ko! Engineering kar raha hun uncle. Khatam hone wali he.

N: Oh! Mujhe laga kuch meaningful kar rahe hoge.hihihi. Oh! Acha he, acha he! Placement huya? Lagta to nhi he.

RG: Dukhti rag pakad li he. Ungli do to haath pakadne wale log he ye! Ji uncle. Bus chal raha he. Hehe!

N: Sach sach bol do. Hume bhi maze lene do. Acha he beta, try karte raho. Aur future me kya socha he karne ka? Sirf naukri? Higher studies nhi karoge? Ye daala jaal. Ab fasega murga!

RG: Kis muhrat me bahar aane ka socha tha aaj! Ye to kapde utar rahe he. Abhi filhal sirf job ka socha he uncle. Higher studies ka baad me dekhunga. Hihi! Nikal le beta jaldi. Koi to awaaz de do andar se. Koi to bula lo.

N: Sahi he, sahi he. Tumse kuch na ho payega. Samajh gye he. Waise job wagera me pareshani aaye to batana. Mere ek friend he. Pass ke gaun me factory daali he. Production ka kaam rahega. 10000 mil jayenge. Shuruaat ke liye theek he. Uske upar tumhari aukaad nhi he. Hehe.

RG: Yahi mauka he nikalne ka. Ji uncle! Zaroor. Thank you. Acha me chalta hun. Coaching jana he. Bhag lo.

N: Coaching! Ghar me ghuse rehne ki coaching. Hehe. Ok beta. Ese milte rehna. Hume dete rehna.

Disadvantages of being rich or beautiful/handsome or both!

2015-09-28T20:27:00.000+05:30

We all know what beauty brings with it; access to restricted places, endless favors, no ticket for breaking the traffic rules mostly and what not? And the same goes with being rich too. Isn’t it? I am none, though.

That's not me! Sigh

If I start to mention the advantages, which I won’t because am lazy, then that will take a couple of more posts to sum all of it!

But, to shorten the longer version with a bad metaphor, it can be said that beauty and money are like the ultimate weapon to escape or to take advantage of any situations. Well, Almost. Work both ways.

I will leave the advantage part because that is common for all of us to notice and experience in life. But, what if I tell you the disadvantages of being beautiful or rich or both? Trust me, ain’t drunk.

Here are a few disadvantages of it. Add some of your own in the comment section, for when I skip something. Age has to be blamed for my mistake.

1. They are not considered as talented

This is the most common thing beautiful/handsome and/or rich people get to listen on their back when they do something big. Be it, coming first in the papers or building something great. Or whatever. You have a better imagination. Use it.

Anything they do will be reasoned with their hard work and commitment for it, DON’T think like this. Because it has mostly been their money or looks that has done the trick, people say.

‘Ameer he bhaiya, asaani se jugaad betha li hogi’

And adding to the grief, this notion has never shifted a meter from its ground. It is affixed like the shitty daily soaps of Indian TV channels. Gustakhi maaf ho Ekta Kapoor ji.

2. They befriend people with hidden motives

This is also very common. When you are beautiful/handsome, you get enough attention all ways round that it burns people like me to the ground. Easily. Same goes for wealthy individuals too.

Consequently, you get a mixed batch of people associated in your life who would lick your feet and brag about you throughout the day and continuously for weeks and weeks.

Hum mar gye he kya bhaiya? Tanik idhar bhi chaaploosi karlo.

And all this for something. May be, monetary support or other kind of support you well know.

However, there will be a handful of people (excluding your family) who will love you for who you are and will be a part of your life. But, in the herd, it remains a tough task to differentiate the good sheep or the bad sheep.

You will always be in doubt whether people like you for who you are as a person or for your looks or money. Period.

That is all I could think of. Would love to have your opinion, suggestion and points about this post. Thank you for reading.

P.S.: I love to watch Shaun The Sheep. Do you?!

How many dates does it take to know if he/she is the one?

2015-09-13T13:16:00.000+05:30

I will start with the question itself. ‘How many dates does it take to know if he/she is the one?’ (Because falling for a nice body, perfect teeth and old lines are a cliché)

Some will say, just one. Apparently, these people are a big fan of newspaper astrology and apps like Tinder and iPair. Sigh. And traditionally, belong to the love-at-first-sight category, no doubt. (Oh my! That easy!)

Others will say, two, with their own level of understanding and reasoning. And the last will be those pessimists who will wave it off saying, you just can’t decipher it.

Well, no one is wrong (but the apps don’t work), you see. Even those pessimists. After all, we are dealing with something tricky, which, though not as hard as rocket science, but can keep anyone pondering for years to reach an answer.

However, having an engineering background doesn’t allow me to leave this enticing question over fate and zodiac signs for God’s sake. We (read: engineers) are taught (not really) to be logical on every single thing in this world. Whether it is your dog pooping on the mattress or you reading this great (I lie at times) article, everything can be answered logically, they say.

Anyways, on analyzing the question you will find that the number of dates required to magically find your soul mate are directly proportional to certain important points. Those points if paid attention to and checked for, can fetch you your soul mate in just ONE date (No money-back guarantee, kidding). Forget one date, but at the earliest. Also, through those points you can even check whether the things are going on the right track or have

you taken a wrong flyover.

Following are the points to be noted (mentally):

1. Trust: Establishing unshakeable trust is the first important point. Why? Mostly because, majority of the people who you presume to be a decent match as your partner is, shockingly, not looking for one-soul-two-bodies type relationship. They want to have a short fling (involving genitals) and part ways. In and out, just like that. And for that, they lie about being in true love with you.

So, it is important to be fully convinced and trust them on what they do and say. Until cent percent sure, you should not move ahead with anything else. After all, you can’t trust a con man to win a battle with you!

You can take precautions like the following example (if you are a girl). And if you are a boy, then hallelujah man!

Your Date: Hey, where are you?

I miss you. I am ALONE tonight.

Wanna come watch a movie at my place? ;)

You: Unfortunately, this user does not accept messages after dark.

Please try calling/messaging during daylight hours. Thank you!

Ahem! That escalated too quickly as an example. But, you can improvise, am sure.

2. Happiness: Second point to check for is happiness. It is important to live your life with your better half with a glee (not all the time, though, muscle pain, you see). So, check for a happiness percentage without a calculator and those apps (you well know). And make sure that it comes almost 100% considering those mild altercations and arguments at times.

Ultimately, happiness is the key to success and definitely a master-key to a successful relationship. So, point number two to check for is happiness. A genuine one. Making sense. Period.

3. Love: Ah! We are finally onto something that this whole thing is pretty much dependent upon; Love. Make you skip a heartbeat whenever you hear that word and a picture of your partner cinematically (with DDLJ music playing in the background) crosses your mind, doesn’t it?. Stop.

This is tricky because most people are initially infatuated or smitten by the other person and they confuse it with love. And this happens more than often. So, do not be doubtful when evaluating this thing.

‘He can stretch hands in slow motion and bend his head to 15 degrees, just like Shahrukh Khan. I have found my love of life.’

WAIT! What?! Do not analyze love like this!

Be conscious and not childish in questioning yourself whether you love them truly, madly and deeply. And in return, whether they love you too. If the answer is 100% yes, then congrats, you have three points checked. And what’s more necessary than love between two people, right? (Oxygen and money, of course, but that’s purely logical. Be dil-logical here.)

4. Compatibility: ‘All right, trust, happiness and love, checked. Everything set. So, he/she is the one for me.’

If this is going through your mind right now, then please, please stop thinking.

You may wonder, why?!

And that is a valid question. So, let me put you through it with the help of an example.

Consider a cricket player who has a brilliant regional cricket record, is great looking from the market’s perspective and is highly rated. Can you still jump into conclusion and decide him to play an international match against the best team, considering you are the prime selector?

You will give him a chance, right? Just to test his credibility. You will give him more chances to make your assumption rock solid. And only when you are fully satisfied, he will be made permanent in the team.

Apparently, all this time, you will not hurry and get effected by external sources at all for making a final decision. Tell me if am wrong.

So, why to hurry while making an important life commitment? You have been patient all this long. Have some more of that to test him/her on how they gel-up with you under different situations.

To be specific, how compatible are the two of you in real. For this, spend more time with them. Associate them with your life cycle and share your problems. Do something together apart from you-know-what (Three letter word. Starts with ‘S’ and ends with ‘X’).

Something meaningful that will clear the cloud from how they tackle problems with you. Whether they lose their calm or stand with you throughout it. Because this is a very important aspect of life.

And, as a matter of fact, who stands with you deserves you more than anybody else. Deserves to be ‘the one’.

So, these are the points to observe before settling for anybody. And if validation of these take one date (really!) or a couple more, will be totally situational.

Best wishes. (I soon expect a cheque)

Not a love story: The first almost date- Part 2

2015-08-17T20:40:00.001+05:30

Finding it hard to recall the previous story? Read here: Not a love story: The first almost date- Part 1

Oh! Visiting for the first time? Welcome. Read this: Not a love story: How they met?

‘Hi’, said a 5’10 inches tall, muscular guy with no sense of wearing casuals and an enigmatic grin stood behind Sahil.

With a weary smile, Eshita responded with a single word, hi.

‘What’s up, won’t introduce me to your new friend, huh?!’, he said with an impulsively creepy gesture.

‘Ah, yeah.. Meet Sahil. And Sahil, this is Anurabh.’

They both exchanged a practiced smile and shook hands as most guys do. It is a gentlemen’s statement which sets a good tune, generally. None of which happened there though.

Sensing the awkwardness sipping in, Eshita said frantically, ‘Sahil had his birthday yesterday. We were celebrating here.’

Sahil gave a flat lipped smile to confirm the fact, wondering about the need to reveal that.

‘Hey, belated happy birthday man’, the muscular guy extended a hand to wish him.

‘Thank you’. *Please get it over*

Another aura of uneasiness clouded around them. All because of the nosy new guy which nobody liked at that point, including Eshita.

‘Mmm… So, will leave the two of you enjoy the treat.’ The giant left sensing discomfort around. And, Eshita immediately gave a sigh of relief.

Sahil wished to ask about the guy but didn’t weigh in to sound desperate. And simply sighed in relief. But he had his theory, assumptions and curiosity, everything inside, locked safely to unleash some other time. Some better and comfortable moment.

They both finished the food and beverages. The conversation after the strange meet with Anurabhdidn’t bloom. It drifted above the normal topics here and there. And after a few minutes they both left for the day bidding good-bye.

Later that night while conversing something, Sahil popped up a question about Anurabh. He wished to know who he actually was remembering the edgy atmosphere earlier around Eshita, especially.

Sahil was curious and bold enough to put that up to Eshita. She took her time to reply and after so much of typing… she said, ‘He was a friend.’

Sahil didn’t believe her. But he didn’t wish to play lawyer-lawyer that time. So, he drifted the subject to something else.

‘Up for a truth and dare game?’ *winked*

‘Mmm… all right. Sure’, said Eshita with brooding eyes, as if recalling something important. She was still not through with the question of Anurabh.

Anyways, they kick-started the game and it subsequently got interesting with the passing time. Nobody was willing to sleep even at 2 in the morning. Their eyes started to water, fingers yelled for a break and other biological signals were clear that sleep has knocked at the doors. But they didn’t attend to it and kept the game going.

And as the game progressed, they came to know about each other even more. With every passing question and every information shared, the bond was strengthening. After all, they knew each other’s little secrets now. And secrets bind two people just like fevicol. Quickly and strongly.

‘Ok, so 1 last question for tonight. You ask’, said Eshita. Seemed like she opened the door for the sleep.

Knowing the condition, Sahil gave a devilish smile and almost typed a question regarding that bulky, puzzling guy, Anurabh, this morning. But right before pressing enter, he reconsidered.

He contemplated that if he questions about him again to her, then she might get suspicious about his unsettling curiosity. Presumably, she will feel that he doubts her, which he does, but not want to make it so obvious. And that will not be a good signal to send.

But, also at the same time, he wished to ascertain his deductions about Anurabh and Eshita. He wished to know that he was right about the situation. And that Eshita lied to her. His child like enthusiasm was at the peak. So, he rephrased the question as..

‘Is there anything that I should know about you?’ *fingers crossed*

Eshita immediately replied, ‘No, I have told you every important thing.’

Sahil kept patience and didn’t type anything to put the bait.

When people hide something, they feel extremely uncomfortable with another person’s silence. So, they either blur out anything or something relevant, to convince the other person under such situations.

After 20 secs of no reply, Eshita did become a little anxious.

‘There?’ She asked.

No reply. Sahil was simply testing her patience and waiting for the answer that he thinks is right.

After another 30 secs, she added, ‘Seems like you have slept’. Restlessness was all over her.

She could see that the messages have been read, so that made her uncomfortable. She started to ponder whether Sahil knows the truth or has his doubts. Or whether she is just over-thinking about it. She kept evaluating and assessing for a while. And with no reply coming from the other side, made her clench her fingers in tension.

But finally, after 2 mins, she wrote this.

‘Seems like you have slept. No problem, we will talk tomorrow. Also, one thing about which I lied earlier is that, the guy you met this morning, Anurabh, was my boyfriend. We broke up last week. Sorry to lie about it. I hope you won’t mind. Have a great night. Tc.’

And she went to sleep peacefully with no burden. She spoke the truth. She was a free bird with no guilt.

Sahil on the other side banged the desk in victory. He knew there was something fishy. His detective skills were improving with Sherlock’s episodes on a roll.

He was happy to know that she revealed the truth. Mostly because of his own efforts. But the thing that puzzled him was why did she hide it in the first place?! Whether she thought he might not like it and this would affect the bond between them. Or, she simply wanted to keep it personal. All this was blurry!

And such questions raided his mind continuously until he caught a sleep. He didn’t reply to her because that might have generated another round of questions and speculations about his sudden absence and arrival. However, he planned on sending a message in the morning at the earliest. And with that he closed his eyes and got lost in the peaceful darkness.

To be continued…

Not a love story: The first almost date- Part 1

2015-07-27T22:31:00.001+05:30

NOTE: Here are the first 2 chapters of this mini-series: Chapter 1 and Chapter 2.

There he was at Café Coffee day, at 5pm sharp, waiting for her and analysing his decision of being on time. How could he not work this through that a girl is always 2 quarters late on arrival?! Seemed like, those Sherlock episodes of last night didn’t work it’s magic on him.

Nevertheless, as expected, she came 15min later than the theoretically assumed time. 5.45 pm it showed on his watch along with a little disappointment on his face mixed with a pinch of regret.

Almost helping himself from the anti-climax and tiredness of waiting for someone, he stood up, walked to the other chair and pulled it out for her.

With more of a sorry-I-got-late-please-don’t-be-mad than a thank-you-for-the-chivalry face, she took the seat.

‘I am really sorry for making you wait like this.’ She immediately said apologetically enough to melt down Sahil’s little anger.

As a matter of fact, Sahil never liked to wait for anyone. He was an on-time guy and wanted others to appreciate the value of time as well. But much to his woes, things have never been the way he wanted them to be.

‘No, it is fine.’ He blurted immediately as if rehearsing it since hours, may be months, with different people at the receiving end.

Unable to comprehend the latent tension on the other side, she switched off the sorry-mode, assuming that would be of no use. After all, she has never been a make-up girl. She found it tiresome and tough to reconcile for her wrong doings after a certain point. And that point was mostly an honest ‘I am sorry.’ That’s it. Apology made for her.

Sahil didn’t like to stay with the wind too. He moved on fast. Something that time has taught him through the hard way. So he blended well and asked what she would like to have.

‘One peppy chicken roll and café latte’, she said almost hiding her excitement. She was a big time foodie and never compromised food for an hour-glass figure. ‘Who would skip delicious meals for something so materialistic,’ she would say. However, those calorie filled meals weren’t visible by her looks. Morning yoga and cardio have done its magic have paid well.

Then, almost interrupting him, she took out a gift from her purse and with a sweet sugary smile passed that to him.

He didn’t foresee that up to this extent, so he took it as a massive surprise which was quite evident through his next-to-weird reaction.

‘Oh my God. I… didn’t… mmm… that’s so sweet of you. Thank you.’ He said while fighting a frog in his throat and making awkward gestures to blend in with the situation.

She answered with a smile when he slowly placed that rectangular shaped gift box while guessing what’s inside it. He gave up too early and went on to order the food stuffs.

‘Thank you, I seriously didn’t anticipate that. You actually shocked me twice today. Haha.’ He said after coming back.

Sahil had a way of expressing himself. If he had a grudge or something he disliked, he would say it indirectly through something sweet. It is kind of an encoded message in a box of chocolate. So, mostly it went unnoticed or stayed hidden behind that alluring other sentence. This way he confessed and let go of the things while not hurting the other person. He disliked hurting people. So he avoided it as much as he could.

‘Haha. I am actually sorry for coming late. And about the gift, it is the least I could do for you birthday boy.’ She grinned.

Eshita believed that one should never visit anyone, on their birthday or a birthday party, without a gift. No matter how small it is, never go empty-handed, she thought, just like Sahil.

‘You are very smart, I must say.’ He said with the first genuine smile of the evening.

‘Thank you. Thank you.’ She chuckled.

Meanwhile, their orders comes and were about to get into business of eating, sipping coffee and more talking, but all this was taken aback by the ghastly look on Eshita’s face when she caught a glance of somebody. Somebody familiar to her. A lot familiar.

To be continued…

Read the next part, here.

Not a love story- The birthday

2015-07-20T19:08:00.000+05:30

Note: Read the first chapter of this mini series here.

He logged into his Facebook account and saw 6 notifications. 3 were the truly displeasing candy crush requests, while the remaining were the birthday wishes. But out of all those, the last one caught his mind that read, ‘Eshita has written on your timeline’.

Sums up a birthday!

Unable to contain his excitement, he immediately clicked on the link and got redirected to the timeline post of hers that read,

‘Wish you a very happy birthday Sahil. May you get whatever you want in your life.

PS: Too bad you didn’t tell me about your birthday. Thank God I surf Facebook round the clock and took notice of other people’s wishes on your timeline. This will have consequences (party type). *wink*’

He read it and smiled. And after thinking for a second he typed the first thank-you message of the evening.

‘Glad to see your message. Thank you for it. I am ready to pay for my sin. *wink*’

Thereafter he quickly skimmed through the rest of the wishes on his timeline. He thanked each one of them who took their time out to wish him luck. The feeling was profound because he hid his birthday info on Facebook a year ago only to include people who genuinely cared and made efforts for him.

After 15 mins…

He was watching a video on YouTube when a notification sound caught his attention. He paused the video and clicked on the Facebook tab. A childlike glee spread on this face. It was Eshita’s reply to his earlier comment.

‘You should be. *wink*’

‘Hi. Thank you for the birthday wish. I didn’t anticipate that.’ He promptly sent this and waited curiously for her reply.

‘You’re welcome. Though I am angry that you didn’t tell me about your birthday.*sad*’

Over the two weeks of interaction, this thing never caught up as a subject to them. They mostly discussed anything except for their favorite color, hero, heroine and birthday.

All those basic questions that once acted as a conversation starter for most people was surprisingly overlooked by them. May be, the times have changed. Now, you don’t have to discuss lame things, like favorite colour, to carry on a conversation. The list of topics is huge today. And people have become even more open.

‘I am sorry. But this thing never crossed my mind. By the way, when does your birthday come?’

‘Yeah, right. It will be on the 29th of the next month. Do not forget to wish me. Haha!’

‘I won’t.’ He made a mental note so as not to forget about it. Although, he quickly added a reminder to this cell phone because of his terrific memory power which has gotten him into a lot of trouble lately.

‘Are you free tomorrow?’ He added.

‘Mm… yeah. Why?’

‘For dealing with the consequences. *wink* Birthday treat.’ He crossed his fingers in desperation. Something that happens with most of the guys when they invite a girl and do not wish to be rejected or put on a wait.

‘Ahaaan. Would love to. When? Where?’

‘Whatever time and place suits you.’

‘Ok. Then, Café Coffee Day at 5pm?’

‘Seems fine.’

‘Alright then birthday boy. Time to catch a sleep. See you tomorrow. Once again, happy birthday. *smile*’

‘Thank you. Have a great time. Ciao. *smile*’

With a thoughtful face and a set curve of bliss he logged out.

To be continued…

Read the next chapter, here.

Not a love story: How they met?

2015-07-16T22:51:00.000+05:30

In the 21^st century, there was a boy. Average height. High hopes. Low spirited but always willing to take risks for experiences. And looked more like the Indian version of Clark Kent (Minus the physique).

He had his definition of love, the same as that of Gerard Butler from ‘The Ugly Truth’; true love is a myth. And relationship is a slow poison. He was adamant. Unwilling to change his thoughts and theories about love and whereabouts of it. After all, he had his share of bad experiences in the past.

He was living his mediocre life. Took fun, as much out as possible, from a mundane routine and a boring job that did not pay well too. He was a big fan of Facebook, Twitter and WWE. Give him 2 mins of free time and he could be found gazing his phone’s screen, scrolling, reading, judging, assuming and what not.

His profession has gotten him to be in touch with numerous girls of various shades and lifestyle. Some liked party animals, unlike him. Some liked the chocolate guys of the 80s that had a classic style of showing their fondness. And likewise, the list of characteristics and interests were endless with permutations and combinations. Almost.

However, there was this girl, a little healthy (almost fit) and had alluring eyes with a gentle gleam as if they were new to the world. The smile was enough to encourage people to wash out their forlorn make-up. She was eccentric and straightforward. But went blunt only under special circumstances. Mostly stayed jovial and chilled.

One fine day they got into a conversation because of some business purpose. However, the conversation soon took a different turn and there was an endless discussion about movies, TV series, songs and every other thing that entertains anybody. Not everything, though.

Only when the eyes yelled for a break and the head turned to look at the time, which was 4.30 in the morning, they exchanged pleasantries and went to sleep. Unaware what the coming days would be like, they dozed off. At least, she.

‘I didn’t know we had so many similarities. She is intellectual and witty. Hope we talk again.’ With this thought in the mind the guy dug his head in the pillow. Switched off the lights, raced the fan speed and went to slumber for good!

To be continued…

Read the next chapter, here.