The 1st Date!

She did not want it to be a romantic date...it was just a friendly date, she had made that very clear with him....
But unknowingly, she was taking special care in getting ready. She chose a very pretty top and a proper fit jeans, long earrings and the costliest perfume she owned.

He looked at himself in the mirror and remembered her warnings and " I'm just making it very clear" sentences filling up all of their chats for the past 1 week or so that they had been chatting. He smiled to himself mischivously and thought "Girls....Indian girls!"

They had not met each other - ever.
He had sent her a friend request on FB.
They did not have any mutual friends.
She accepted , simply looking at his snap!

They both lived in the same city...she would have never met him in other circumstances! She had a strict policy: No meeting chat friends!! But this time she was ready to make an exception. She had spoken to him on the phone and loved his voice, besides his looks of course and of course he was extremely witty in his chats...what more can one ask for?

They had decided to meet up for lunch !

12.30pm: She waited outside the mall, holding a yellow rose..

And he came, she had her back to him.
Him: Hi!
Her: ( surprised, shock, bewilderment) What are you doing here?
Him: I was just around the corner and saw you standing here for quite some time so thought of.....
Her: I don't want to talk to you.....Just.....How many times do I have to tell you that? it's over! Just go away....okay?
Him: Are you waiting for someone?
Her: None of your business.

He thought for a while, she clearly ignored him.................he left.

After a while.......

Him: Hello...you must be Shikha!
Her: (Turns: Smiling, pleased, happy) Yes......Hi!
Him: So let's go in....

They were seated in a posh restaurant, and so far the date had been going on very smoothly.

But suddenly he asks,

Him: How do you know Rohit?
She almost chokes.
Her: What? who?
Him: I saw you talking to Rohit before I approached you.
Her: How do you know him?
Him: I asked 1st!
Her: I wouldn't like to answer.
Him: oooo......something's cooking huh?
Her: Maybe.....so why don't you tell me?
Him: Funny isn't it? We don't have any mutual friends but the 1st time we decide to meet, we have found a common friend.
She is thoughtful......
Him: Rohit is my best friend from childhood.
She is even more thoughtful, how come she never heard of him before.....
She: ....How come I never met you then?
Him: I was abroad. ( he takes a sip of water)...so now I know....his Shikha....The girl he's been going mad about for the past 3 years......he was right...you are quite something........so...what was wrong with Rohit that you left him suddenly? and you wouldn't even talk to him?
Her: Hey, I don't want to talk about him.
Him: And I don't want to talk about anything but him!
Her: Then I guess we better stop here.

And then Rohit comes and has a sit on the same table.
She watches the 2 of them and the whole picture is clear to her.

She laughs,
Her: Great Friendship!

And gets up to leave the table.
Rohit: I would never let you see anybody else.....I'll always track you down, no matter where you are.....You belong to me!
Shikha: (Smiles sweetly and leaves)

Rohit was so angry, he muttered under his breath: "If you don't understand when I am patient with you, I know other methods....."
There is a small bottle in Rohit's hands.
Rohit swiftly stands and starts walking behind her .
She , with her back on him, takes out her mobile and dials 100.

He sat on the table, looking at the glass of water in his hands.
He had liked her, really liked her- even though it was all planned.
He knew Rohit well and had come to understand that Rohit did not deserve a girl like Shikha.
He did...she was his kind. and for the sake of friendship, he had to blow up everything.
But not now....Rohit had given him a reason to act otherwise, the girl's life was in danger and he had to do something.

He turned to look at Rohit and saw Rohit opening the bottle, Rohit was within reach of shikha.......he had to act fast, if he was to call out to her, she would stop and that would be her end.............in a swift move, he leaped to his feet and ran after Rohit......At that very point, Rohit made his move, he leaped in front to catch hold of shikha's shoulder.......

So he  ran  with all the energy he had, He dashed against shikha, she fell to the ground, and the acid bottle in Rohit's hand was emptied on his face!


Suraj- that was his name!
 He lay in his hospital bed, his face and neck covered in bandages....he could not see, though he was not blinded totally, his eyes were damaged and the extent of the damage was yet to be known.

Shikha entered the room with red roses.
She looked at him and could not fight back her tears. His was the face that was once the most attractive face to her eyes, that's why she had agreed to meet him, that's why she had made an exception.........and now it was all gone.
She went to him , held his hands gently...
"It's me...Shikha"

He could not speak but he tried to listen.....attentively.

"And I want to ask you out, for our 1st 'Romantic Date'......so get well soon, I'll be waiting for you."

An Arranged Marriage- A story!

She sat watching herself in the mirror- expressionless!
kajal lining her beautiful eyes, a little glitter on her lips, a bindi on her forehead, long straight hair, arched eyebrows and a straight nose, a healthy skin and a healthy body, she matched every and any marriage proposal's claim!

The 10th or so boy and his family were seated in the hall. The snacks and the tea had been served.

She wasn't nervous anymore, she had no hopes, no enthusiasm.....she almost knew what she was meeting.

She wished she could skip the family meeting sessions and directly could meet the guy and talk to him...one on one!

Her mother came to her, sat down in front of her, she held her hand, almost pleading, begging, " Barkha, beta , the guy is a MBA from a US university, his family is well educated, they are very nice people. He's very handsome.....they...."

" I know all that mamma!"

" Beta please.........please this time, have some patience beta!"

She stood up without a word and went out like she was some sacrificial goat! Her mother looked after her, and silently prayed!


She gave a faint smile to everyone watching her with admiration.....she kept her gaze low for a while and then looked up straight at the guy.....he was looking at her first, but when she looked at him so suddenly and unexpectedly, he looked down, almost shyly. She kept her gaze still on him, after a while he looked up again , in expectation that she was looking somewhere else, but when he found her still looking at him, he started looking around at other people and where they were looking. Barkha's mother nudged her, and she lowered her sight again!



They were both seated in their garden.

She was looking down, the boy was glad about that- her gaze had been scary!

"So.... ..well! Let me start the conversation.... I am Nikhil and I just came down 15 days back from the US because my mother said, it was time for me to you know, settle down.....and then they showed me your photograph and..........( he smiled to himself) ...you look even more beautiful in person Barkha......"

Her expression did not change........he thought for a while that she was dumb and deaf!"

" Barkha.......are you listening?"

She was still looking down. "Yes!"

" Then....why are you looking down?"

She looked up, again that same sharp look and Nikhil almost regretted his last sentence.
" Because you cannot handle me looking straight in your eyes, what will you do with me in your bed?"

"Excuse me?"

" Nikhil......I really don't care about your MBA from US or anywhere, i don't care how handsome you are and how good your family is......all I care about is.....let's see, to start with- Whether you are man enough for me to be a woman to? Or else, what's the whole point?"

" And you don't think I am man enough? Why? You want some dara singh, some warrior? Which century are you in?"

"That's exactly what I want to ask you. What century are you in? Just getting big degrees don't make you any modern if what you expect out of a woman is the same old shit that our society has been expecting from us all this while."

" Girls like you should go for a love marriage!"

" I know....unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a man smart, intelligent and self confidant enough to have me as his wife. You all like the way I look, you see in me a good wife who can cook, bear your children and look after them, but when I open my mouth to speak my mind, you don't like it because it is not my job.......isn't it?"

Now, he kept looking at her, not angry, not shy, not scared but as if he was remembering something, as if some lost pieces were falling back in place.

" You all are so scared, so tied by tradition and culture, you have forgotten to be spontaneous and instinctive and likeable! You now, I can't tell you apart from the other boys I've met. Because you don't speak your mind......you say the things you are expected to say, the same old sentences, same reactions, same look......oh my god! Were you all made in some sort of a factory? Same model , just different look, different professions and families and pay checks, but so god damn slavish!"

He was thoughtful!

She stopped, she had done the same thing ones again.......she could not understand why she tried to give this knowledge to these fools....they would never get it! What a waste of energy, she thought.

" Are you finished talking?"

" Yes....Now you just do what you have to do, reject me. i don't care! I rather stay single then spend a lifetime with a factory product. i want a man- with a soul, not a mechanic!"

He smiled and this time she was shocked and surprised.

" What are you smiling at?"

" Barkha.....I totally agree with you......... "

She threw back her hands in desperation.

" Yes.....I really do.... maybe we are not meant for each other , but I do know someone who is. Because even he has been searching for someone just like you."

He opened his wallet and took out his card, jotted down a number and an e-mail id and handed it over to her.

" Joe Torres, he's my boss. The owner of the company I work for. He was also my classmate for the MBA . I know him very well, he's a very nice person , single and still waiting for that one girl who's out of this world. I don't think a girl like you would believe in religions or in nationalities. For a girl like you, probably a non Indian is the best choice!"

She looked at the card in her hands for a while, thinking, quiet!

"For a girl like you, a non Indian is the best choice!"- his words rang in her ears for a while....

" Thank you Nikhil, thanks a lot for guiding me in your own way. But I don't think you know me fully to say a thing like that to me. Yes I've different ideas, that normally an Indian boy would find difficult to digest but I think, if god has created a girl like me in India, there must be a boy to suit me somewhere in India. Not that I am strong on nationalities or religions.....it's just that......I don't know Nikhil...."

She got up and turned to go back to her room......

"Barkha..."

She turned.

He went to her and held her hands,
" Confused aren't you?"
She did not answer.
" Do you know what you are doing? You are finding a fault in everything that is offered to you. Even if you do find a guy who comes the closest to your specifications, you will still reject him on some silly grounds. Open up Barkha.......the world is not black and white the way they tell us......there is no perfect man........this world is full of gray shades......you have your weaknesses and so do i have mine........But what is important is understanding, some maturity........Don't just use your brain anyway you can because god gave you that much sense, why don't you use it for better purposes. Come with me to the US, its a sea of opportunity. You are not the first girl I am meeting, I have been in a live in relationship with an American woman before. Take this chance with me Barkha, I know for sure, you aren't as difficult as you show yourself to be!"

She looked in his eyes, and he looked straight in hers- it was a match point!

" And of course even I don't want a boring something in my bed!"

They both smiled, for the first time, Barkha smiled shyly.....this man had made her feel shy!!

1 year later , they were married. The 1st time they had met, was the only time Barkha was most difficult...yes, she was highly carrier oriented and smart and vocal about her feelings, but so are many woman now a days. She just hadn't met a man who would accept her ideas, she wasn't a rebel, she simply thought so being in the company of wrong people.

When they went to the US, Barkha asked Nikhil one day, " You know Nikhil, I really want to meet this Joe Torres guy of yours and see how much similar to me he is!"

He laughed, " There is no Joe Torres."

The Story of the BIG LIFE MALL!

( Please Note: This article is open for interpretation. Please let me know your views by posting your comments. )

This is the first time I am visiting this mall! And it is huge, beautiful with interesting decorations hanging from a ceiling so high, you can hardly see from where they come! The entire mall is bright , and its walls and panels are shiny white! It looks so clean, so neat , so pure!

It has these huge gates of gold. The combination of white and gold glitters everywhere in every form of this mall's existence! It's decorations, theme and even it's executives are dressed in white fabric and gold!

I approach the huge gates and a security guard checks me with a metal detector.

" Good Morning! Welcome to the " Big Life Mall ". In order to enter , you would have to choose a costume which will be your identity for the rest of your time in this mall. It helps us track you down, to help you whenever you need us. The "Previledge costumes" come with " Previledge Service" , such as we entertain help calls from "Previledge costumes" 1st before any other! These costumes are costlier , designed with the best material - so they are beautiful ( laughs) that goes without saying but they are delicate, but they can adapt to different situations faster!"

" What about the other Costumes?"

" We also have the "Dominating Costumes" , they help you move around faster, they are stronger and are made with comparitively more rough material, they have lesser functions in comparison to Previledge Costumes and cost less."

" And what else do you have?"

" Other all Costumes come under the category of " Risk Costumes"!

" Risk Costumes? That's kind of a scary name! What's up with these Costumes?"

"Hmm..... They combine the qualities of Previledge Costumes and Dominating Costumes in smaller or bigger quantities.......So no 2 costumes in this category are same. Some are strong and Beautiful at the same time , others are fast and have many other functions which are left to the imagination of the wearer of such costumes. We call it the Risk Costume because not all our customers have liked them so far, many of them complain far too much , others leave our Mall sooner because they find these Costumes very uncomfortable! So we don't usually recommend them."

" Why don't you take it off from the mall then?"

" There's a very small number of customers who specifically ask for these Costumes.....!"

" Ohh I see!"

" So which Costume would you like?"

" I would like to have a look, Can I?"

" Yes sure! But you would have to swipe your card for us to read how much Balance you have before you enter. since we don't let people with low balance enter the previledge section! "


So I swipe my card, I have the required balance and I enter the Risk section first. This section is definately meant for those with different tastes, the style of this costume is difficult to understand. I lose interest within a few minutes of entering this section . As they say only people with a developed taste can appreciate an art! This section is no less than a museum to my eyes!

So I go on to the next level, that is the " Dominating Costumes" section. These Costumes have lots of takers it seems, there's a general rush and at the end of this section there's a huge cue to enter the previledge section. Some are fighting because they've been barred from entering due to their low Balance. I quickly join the line , and get past the check post into what truly seems the continuation of the mall- The Previledge section! It has long flowing, soft flowery costumes! It has mild gentle fruity smell all around the place! Why would someone not choose these costumes? I go through each one of them carefully and stop before a medium length light pink Costume! It is very soft to touch, and has a very attractive smell and look! While I am just about to pick it up, someone says in my ear-
" Careful!"
I turn back to see another Previledge customer!
" Excuse me?"
" The more delicate a Costume, more difficult is its handling!"
" But it's so beautiful! I cannot resist trying it on!"
" Haven't you been told? You can't try out costumes here. You choose one- take as much time as you like, but once you wear it- it fits you anyway, and then you have to carry it- whether you like it or not!"

" I don't see why I wouldn't like it!"
" This is my 2nd time in this mall and the 1st time too I picked up something as beautiful as this one, of course as the time is passing, they are truly coming with more beautiful pieces! But.........
I had the most beautiful costume in the whole mall.......it felt great!"

I was looking at 'the one', and could truly feel the description - I was lost in my own dreams, how good I would look with this costume? Ohh everyone would be so jealous of me!

" But then the reality started sinking in on me. I was pulled and pushed all the time by those who wear the Dominating Costume......I don't know what is wrong with them? It's either that they wanted the previledge costume that they couldn't have or that they want to show how good their costume is!! huh! As if I care!"

The One looked at the Pink costume again!

" Ohh It was a pain handling this costly delicate thing. It would tear and hurt all the time, someone or the other would always push or dash on me- they all are so fast, but these are so slow!!"

The One looked with a firm gaze at me!

" It's a deception, you see? The name Previledge is a deception you get lost into. It tests our selfish nature and greediness. None of us want to settle down for anything less. We want the best- we want all the Previledge! and so we have to pay the price!"

" But if I do have the required balance to pay for it, why not?"

" My dear , I am not talking about affording this Costume! Affording this costume is the easiest part of this story, the reality seeps in only when you enter the mall!"

" Why? Isn't the mall as beautiful as this?"

" Now that's another huge deception!" the One laughs!

I am confused, " Why ? What's wrong with the mall?"

" I wouldn't spoil the mystery. You are here for the first time. Take it all with a pinch of salt......It's nice , it's fun , it has lots of beauty in it! But most of us are so used to all goodness that we can not appreciate the beauty of negative emotions as well!"

" Err...What? Negative what?"

" Exactly....remember 1 thing, this is going to be the best journey you've ever had. And whether you like it or not, at the end of it you would definately recommend this mall to anybody who asks you! That's the spice in this mall that you would find nowhere else!"

The One winks at me and leaves..



And the rest as they say is history!

I chose the costume I am in today!

In different sections of the mall, they call each costume by a different name but nobody calls them as - Previledge, Dominating and Risky ( these are hard to spot- strangely! Becasue they were the most prominent in their wardrobes! Life's funny!)

As The One had said, I encountered Dominating One's trying to push me around....but what the One had not told me is that some Dominating one's can compliment me, they've been extremely generous in offering me their support which has made my time in the mall not just easy but lots more fun!

The idea, it seems, is to have the best time one possibly can , while you are in this mall! To see as much as you can, to experience as much as you can- and to connect to as many customers and learn from them! Because One Costume is not enough to get the whole experience of the BIG LIFE MALL!

The Day We Met!

It's the first rains of 2010......And I have been working till late in the office. It's 9 pm, the Bus stop is crowded with people stranded due to the unexpected showers! Lightning and strong winds are making it impossible to keep myself dry!

I only wish to get into the last volvo to take me home! I spot my bus, and walk towards it as fast as I can and suddenly 'she' came in my way.......... " Shyam, Where had you been? I've been searching you everywhere on the Bus stand! How can you be so careless Shyam? I was so shit worried.....and look at me now, I am fully drenched!"

(I have been looking at her from the first second she appeared in front of me from nowhere! There's not a dearth of doubt in my mind that this is the first time I am looking at this girl! Because girls as beautiful as her don't cross your eyesight often, and definitely don't come to you and talk! I am lost for words.......She's fair, blue eyed and is wearing a full sleeve white churidaar that is clinging to her perfectly sculpted body! Is she an angel? )

" Now give me that jacket, fast!People are looking at me! .....Will you hurry up mister?"

I look around, the men around me are looking with complete disbelief! They must be wondering, "What a fool! He's got this beauty with him and he doesn't even know how to take care of her!! What a waste!"

I start to remove my jacket and suddenly I am reminded of the fact that I am not Shyam after all! I nevertheless hand over the jacket to her!

" Madam, I am not Shyam!"
"And Mister, I am not Nisha! Now lets go!" She gives me a naughty smile and holds my hand and pulls me in the opposite direction from my bus!

" Then, who are you?"

We stop!
People are looking at us now.... She looks at me with disbelief, then looks around at people!
" Shyam, Baby, it's 9.30 pm....it's getting late!"

" Okay enough! You are pretty and all that, but Miss , I am not your Shyam! You are clearly mistaken okay?"

" I don't like this prank!"

" Nor do I like yours!"

We stand in the middle of the platform looking at each other. I hate to do this to her, Damn! She is attractive! And now I see her eyes shining with little tears.....

" Okay, Look Miss...I can drop you where you want to go. Are you lost? You don't need to worry. There's a police station down this road, I'll come with you if you want!"

" Oh yeah? You come home and I'll show you who's lost!"

(She's clearly angry, but I seriously don't know how to react to this situation! How would you react huh? The most beautiful girl you've seen in your life is standing in front of you, but she thinks you are someone else!.........Clearly something's wrong here! ......Clearly she's out of her mind........Out of her mind..........Is she mad?? Beautiful girls always have some problem- maybe this is hers! Oh God! What to do now? )

"And where is it you stay? Tell me?"
( How can I tell a mad girl where I stay?)

" I stay in IndiraNagar!"
( I lie!)

" Is it? "
(She is thinking...........probably about how to prove her point!)

" Then let me see your identity card! Everything will be clear to you!"
( I can't show her my ID card!)

" I cant show you my ID card! No way!"

"Why not?"

" So that you come and follow me?"

She sighs!

" Your name is Shyam Patel! You work for Accenture as a senior Developer! You are 28 years old, and I knew you were a little crazy , but didn't know you were completely off your hook! And in case you are wondering who I am? I am Nisha Patel, your wife!"

Our conversation has by now become a public entertainment forum for passerby's! There's a crowd gathering around us, and clearly people seem to believe her more than me!

"And now to bring the show to an end, please take out your ID, and show it to the public!"

(I don't believe the conviction of this girl! I mean wohh! Is this Bakra day or what? )

"Shyam, No sorry, whoever you are, take out your ID and show it.....not to me, if you don't want to, but to the expecting crowd at least!"

(Why should I ? Who the hell is she to force me to show my ID card to the world? The best thing right now ........................is to turn away and run!)

Run, Run...................I start running for my life, as fast as I can!

"Oh my god Shyam........stop..............stop him!"

The crowd is all by her side......I am trying as hard as possible to break free from their clutches , but it's too many against one! Somebody is forcing open my bag, "Let us see your Id" they say!

" Don't....don't mishandle him! Are you okay Shyam? What's wrong with you?"
( She is looking at me with a worried expression, and I see tears rolling down!)

" Shyam Patel.......That's him...she's right! What an idiot!" The people mumble under the breath, and let go of me.

I sit on the wet platform, unable to believe what happened in the past half an hour. My life was completely fine until she came in......My life......in ................in.........what city is this? Wait.....where was I going? My home is in.........wait......my house is located ........

"Shyam........Shyam....look at me dear!"

"You don't touch me! You've messed my life here! What had I done to you? Why did you do this to me?"

I reach out for the ID which is in her hands, and have a look- Shyam Patel, that's my photograph there! Unbelievable!

I look up at her slowly......" What's happening to me Nisha? Help me, please help me I don't remember anything!" She comes and hugs me, as I shudder with disbelief..... "Everything will be alright Shyam, I am here for you! Let's go home....everything will be fine!"

As I get up, things are getting worse, it's as if my mind is shutting down......My eyes are seeing a world completely new to me...and my brain is not taking in the information the senses are giving it! I cling to her, with her I feel safe....like how the child holds on to his mother............


That was a strange Rainy Day, and it completely changed my life! It's amazing how a stranger co incidentally comes in your life and shows you who you really are!

I am under treatment now.....And she's the one taking care of me.....she asks me every day, "Shyam, do you remember the day we met for the first time? That was a very special day!"

"Yes!" I tell her!

" On the platform on the rainy day!"

And she just puts down her head and cries.......always, she cries!

You can see she's a beautiful girl....

Her face is a map of the world
Is a map of the world
You can see she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
And everything around her is a silver pool of light
The people who surround her feel the benefit of it
It makes you calm
She holds you captivated in her palm!!



………..I was still in bed when I heard this sweet voice humming a tune….and some sounds of doors closing, bags opening etc. I’ve never been an early riser, this is my 2nd day In Mumbai! I am staying with 3 other girls in an apartment – I’m here for an internship of 2 months!

I try hard and open my eyes and check the clock lying near my bed, Its 7 am! I’ve to reach Churchgate by 9 sharp…..

“ Good Morning” That same sweet voice….. I look towards her….she’s one of the girl staying with us. And she’s standing there in her towel!

Well! I had heard a lot about her before I actually met her! My friend ( girl friend) was all ga-ga about how beautiful she was. I’d checked out her snaps on Orkut but didn’t find anything that special…..I definitely had come across more beautiful girls than this 1.

I just met her yesterday, and instantly knew there was this quality about her……not just her looks, but her charm, the twinkle in her deep brown eyes….that made everyone watch her longer than it should normally take.

She knew she was good looking, and she took good care of herself! I wished I knew how to be that disciplined about my looks and my body! She’s an air hostess by profession and right now she’s busy with her usual 1 hour make up routine!

I sat in my bed, watching her with amazement as she carefully drew the lines around her eyes and moved the blush on her cheeks! “ What are you looking at?” She suddenly asks.

“ Sorry! I’ve never seen anybody do make up that beautifully, so trying to pick up some tips….hope you don’t mind!”

“ Naah!” She looked at me sideways and winked…….. What was that for? I thought! Well! Anyway, might be her style…..

The next minute she suddenly dropped her towel, standing naked in front of me…… I was blank….Numb…..I am a normal girl ok? Not a lesbian or anything like that. But I haven’t ever seen any girl strip off before me, that fast!

“ Hey wait, let me go out……you could’ve asked me to!”

“ No worries…. We all have the same things….!” She chuckled as she carefully wore her stockings and her bra! She gave me those sideway glances while she did everything, I had these strange feelings, as if she’s instigating me to be naughty, to flirt with her…… The strangest part was, I couldn’t take my eyes off her! Women are truly a piece of art – and I know this after I saw her well crafted body!

Before I knew it, she was done! “Bye…Have a nice day” She again winked and left.

My friend who was sleeping next to me jumped up the moment she was out the door.

“Hey, I thought you were sleeping!”

“ I was only pretending to be sleeping. See? I told you she’s hot! Didn’t you get this strange feeling that before she left, she should’ve come and given you a good-bye kiss?”

I looked at my friend, shocked…..how did she read my mind??

The 1st day of anything is the most difficult when it comes to adjustments. I was completely alright at work, but the thoughts of the air hostess weren’t letting me breath easy. It wasn’t anything about her that worried me, it was me ! I kept asking myself, Am I a lesbian?

But I’d never felt that way about any other girl before…..I’ve a boy friend for the last 3 years and everything between us is perfectly fine….why then these strange feelings?

When I came back home, she was there in the hall- stretching and doing some exercises.
“ Hey, how was your 1st day at office?” She asks.
“ It was good.” I keep my eyes low, and avoid looking at her as much as possible.
“ Sit down, you must be tired, let me make you a cup of coffee.”

Why is this girl being so sweet to me? I just don’t understand her, she’s confusing me!

But as time passes by we all get comfortable with her attitude…..she’s a very caring girl…..a good friend, a good cook.! Its hard to find good looking girls being so sweet and having absolutely no ego about their looks and beauty. She makes good healthy food for us and gives us make up and dressing tips……wow! Having Such a friend is the dream of every girl!


And days go bye………


It’s a Early Sunday Morning….and my phone rings.
“ Hey, sweets…. I am in Mumbai!” Its my bf Om.
“ Wow! What a pleasant surprise?”

The door bell starts to ring just then. It must be the doodhwalla , I think. This job is usually done by the air hostess cause she’s the 1st one to rise….

I open the door thrusting the vessel forward and see Om standing there.


" What are you doing here? I told you this was a girl's apartment !" is the 1st thing I say looking at him.

" Is this how you greet me after so many months?"

We hug for a long time, But strangely I want to drive him out of the apartment before she wakes up...before he sets his eyes on her! If I cant resist her, uski to baat hi chodo!

"Who's at the door Diya?"

She comes out with her micro mini shorts and a noodlestrap top!

I turn to see my boyfriend's reaction 1st....he stared at her...came close to me and said, " Hey, you never told me you lived with hotties!"
" Yeah! Because I didn’t want you to drop in here again and again!"

He then went up to her, extended his hand and introduced himself!

" Ohh! Diya's BF? Tum to bohot chupi rustam nikli yaar! Tumne kabhi bataya nahi iske baare mein?" She said in her usual cheerful tone!

With her long beautiful hair, sleepy eyes....she was looking more beautiful then ever! I wanted to hide her, protect her from the prying eyes of men...from my BF!

" Aaj kal to sabka BF hota hai!Isme batanewali kya baat hai?"

" Mera to koi bf nahi hai!" She said naughtily.... “anyway, you 2 sit and chat, I'll make some tea for you, or would you like something else Ommm?"

" Anything you like!" Om is mesmerized!

" So sweet!"

"Dont give me that silly smile...I know what it is for!" I was so angry...I couldn’t control my temper!

" Hey what? Its just normal for a guy ok?"

He was right. Its normal for him...its quite abnormal for me to feel protective about her! Its abnormal for me to not hate her but hate my bf instead!

When she came out with the tea, she was wearing a proper jeans and a T-shirt....to my relief! She didn’t sit with us while we had our tea, she chose to go inside...while my bf Om spent d rest of our time together asking about her!

After an hour of arguing , Om was ready to leave... he decided to stay at a hotel nearby for the next 2 days and have breakfasts and dinners with us- for obvious reasons!

That sunday evening, My friend and the other room mate went out for shopping. The air hostess stayed home , she wasnt feeling very well. And Om was to join me in a couple of hours so I decided to stay back. This was the 1st time me and she were all alone in the apartment!

I sat in the hall , reading the Sunday Times.....She suddenly came out of her room in a chirpy mood, " Do you want to play dress up?"
" What is that?"
" We pretend like we are walking the runway and wear different clothes!"
" Isnt that meant for kids?"
" Come on na? It will be fun!" She pulled my hand and called me inside her room!

" Remove your clothes!" She orders me!
" what?"
" How else can I dress you then?"
" You dont need to dress me. I’ll dress myself!"
" Arre you are the model, I am your fashion designer, now remove!"
" Ideally, you should be the model- dont you think so?"

" Ok!" within seconds she was topless. " Now dress me!"
" You dress yourself!" I start getting a bad feeling about this...something about this girl was not right...something about her was not what she usually was!

" My god! How much nakhras you do! Remove....Remove na?" She was so adamant.... She got what she wanted.............My Shirt!

" I dont like this game...I am going..." But as I start to go out, she suddenly pulled my hand and pulled me close and pinned me against the wall....

" You like me dont you?" She was so close to me, I could feel her breath,

" What? Let me go." My head has started spinning already!

" I saw you watching me the 1st day! You are attracted to me...... then what is this shit with your bf?"

" Let me go....." She was much stronger then I'd expected her to be! And she was pushing herself against me....

Men have rubbed against me in trains and buses before....It is a horrible experience...but this was worse than that..... A woman against my body...I was so scared, I wanted to scream for help...I had no doubt that if I dont do anything in the next couple of minutes, she would surely rape me! But I couldnt say anything...the shock of it all had numbed my reactions. She probably took this as a positive sign from me and started her act!

And suddenly the door bell rang.......I was shaken out of my numbness.....I pushed her away from me, and ran to the door in the state I was in. I hurriedly opened the door, it was Om... He was shocked to see me in that half dressed state, crying, scared, nervous!

" What happened?"
I just hugged him and cried, no words came out of my mouth!

After around 10 minutes , I finally found my voice and told him what had happened. Throughout all this conversation, she did not step out of her room! After om heard what had happened, he just couldn’t control himself.

“ Wait I’ll just see what she thinks of herself.” He said and before he could open/ bang on her door, she swiftly opened the door and stood there………all dressed up, calm and composed as she always was……the room all cleaned and a big bag by her side. She handed an envelope over to Om, and without looking at me walked out the front door.

I kept looking after her……. “ Its 5000 in here!” Om said taking out the contents of the envelope.


“ There’s a note too.

Dear all,

I’ve got a very good job in Hyderabad, and I’ve to leave right away. Sorry for not staying back and saying a good bye.

Take care of yourselves,

Bye!”

Lai's Story

I read Kiran's post on his friend Lai who is a brave cancer patient fighting the disease! I felt we need to spread the word about his fight, about his courage....!

Please visit his blog -


"laichinlun - A story of a Cancer fighter

I m 32 yrs old, have a good bright career. At my career most high time, I was diagnosed with nose cancer called NSP, advanced stage with 50% survival percentage.
I m writing this blog to motivate other CANCER patient like me. Cancer is a new begining, not an ending. Continue to read my story....

Feel free to add me to your facebook(lai_1977@yahoo.com). If you know anybody who think they lost hope, recommend them to my blog.
I m a proud cancer patient"


http://laichinlun2.blogspot.com

I am the most beautiful

I wake up one morning, happy and excited....I've seen a beautiful dream.....a dream of a princess.....I hope to see a miracle .....I rush to my mirror........and stare......I stare at a girl I don’t like to look at, she's always the one looking back at me, she's always the one disappointing me! Always the one I've to call me!

I lousily pack my bag, stuffing it with the school books!

My thoughts are tormenting me with thoughts......thoughts that had never touched me before, ideas that never occurred to me before.....


I am the best student in the school. The head girl, the captain of my house, the 1st ranker and the winner of various extra curricular activities!

I am the best dancer, the best orator, the best sportsman!


Then why today I feel like a total loser? .......I look around me and for the 1st time observe the other school girls.....Tina- whom I know as the math failure has been crowned a beauty queen on one TV show! Smitha, the frail looking, delicate darling is the queen of hearts of my school! My own close pal
Divya got a love letter last week..... and me? Not a single boy looks at me! They dont whistle , nor do they turn around to see me......its as if nobody cares about my intelligence, about what I do, about all my talent, all that the world sees is the external beauty!

I am a big haired, plum girl~ A thick pair of glasses decorates half my face! And my extra long clothes make me look double my size!

I want to scar my face, so that my parents will have to get a plastic surgery done on me- and I'll get a new face like Rekha from " Khoon Bhari Maang!"

Mom keeps saying, " Beta 15 is too young to go to those beauty parlors. Mahendra tell her na, those beauty treatments will spoil your face darling!"

My dad looks up from his newspaper... and smiles, " My princess! Who puts these ideas in your head, huh?"

" Everybody at school does it ma! They call me a bhalu cause I've hairy hands and bushy eyebrows! And my hair is like a bird's nest! I want to straighten it permanently. Everybody's moms let them do it....All of them go to the beauty parlors themselves and ask the saloon lady to do the treatments on their daughters, why cant you just be like the other moms? My send off is next week dad! I dont want to go there with this face!"

My dad now seriously looks at me after the hurried and emotional speech I delivered! A tiny tear rolls down my cheek...

" Okay... you... "

" Wait a min!" before my dad can complete, my mom brings up the objection....I seriously feel like banging my mom's head with a frying pan lying around me!

" We'll talk about it tonight, ok? You go to school now!"

I greet my teeth! Something inside me tells me that my wish will never be granted! But for the moment there is nothing I could do, so I choose to wait till the night!

After school, I attend my tuitions and my dance class. I haven’t been able to concentrate in anything today. Once again, I am expecting a miracle tonight! Throughout my tuitions I dreamt that my mother will be standing with a hair straightener to greet me when I get home, and my dad will be holding a big box of make up! Though I dont know where and how all that color fits one's face, but I want that Palette!

I enter my house, and over hear my mum speaking to someone on the phone.....Yes! The saloon Lady will be coming any moment!....I think to myself! As I got a little closer I hear the words clearly, “yes Mrs. Bhatia.... Please do so... You know this is causing a lot of tension for responsible parents like us. And its their 10th std, so I dont think they should get distracted because of such flimsy things! Alright Mrs. Bhatia... Thank you! Bye!"

" Why were you talking to my Principal? What did you tell her?"

" Nothing! You just chillax now, everything will be fine! Ok darling? come, I'll make something for you- What would you like today?"

" A hair straightener!" words naturally leave my mouth! She turns, Smiles and goes on with her chores as if I'd said nothing.



A big Notice on the wall greets every student the next day at school.

" Parents -teachers meeting will be held tomorrow at 5 pm, everybody's parents are expected to attend the meeting. - Only for class 10th student’s parent's- "

The next day a huge lecture is given by our Principal and some psychologist to all the parents not to encourage children of such young ages into beauty parlors. The underlining statement was - please do not follow the west blindly! Have mind over matter! Simple living high thinking!

My mother tells me a day before my send off " Now everybody will come just the way they look. Dont worry, you wont be the odd man out!"

wow! I think, Now I'll really know who's the hairiest! Who's got the most tangled unmanageable hair! That should be a lot of fun!

The day of the sendoff.

Mom drapes me in her beautiful saree, ....I go to school with high dreams, expecting to see some ahhh's and uhhh's!

My jaw is drops open at the front door itself..........Tina is wearing the most beautiful ghaghra I've ever seen in my entire life. her hair is made up in a beautiful hairstyle, her face is glittering and her lips shining with so much color...they look so inviting!

Smitha is also looking smashing, I see a lot of my class boys starring at her.. some even gave her a rose!!

Divya runs up to me..... she's clean and clear too, like everybody else! Perfect hands, perfect hair, perfect face! She's talking something to me, but I just cant hear it.....My mum betrayed me, she fooled me into believing her! She wants me to look ugly! My heart is beating so fast, i can hardly breath!

I push her away and flee that horrible school.... I walk as fast as I can in that saree, Divya for a while follows me calling my name- " what happened? wait , stop!"

" Dont follow me, get lost!"

After a while I dont hear any steps behind me. I rush straight to the bus stop, and climb into 1 of the buses!

I dont know where the bus is going......but I want to be in it. Lost in a crowd who dont know me, who dont recognize me! I lay my head on the window, the tears still coming, the thoughts still messing my head!~ I close my eyes......and I see her again, just like I see her every other night in my dreams.....She's the princess..... she's what I want to be.......


Image at victoriaantoinette.com/