I liked the theme of this story, and as I told Shre, the bike was the only idea. The parts were spun around situations I saw, and observed over the last few months. I particularly loved the first chapter as it reminded me of what I was telling Shre and Vasu(ki), about the girl I got knowing some coding. :D
Anyways, thanks to Shre, for all the support, Vasu(ki) for some support, and credits for the female name, Vasu for the story title, and Prasad for so much mokka which I've at times used in the story too!
ISI Delhi wifi needs special mention for letting me post these 9 chapters here! :D
Thanks,
Chappli...
Friday, 9 July 2010
Chapter 9
The M.S.Subbalakshmi cassette drew to an end. Pushpa, her mother and father were all in tears. Pushpa realised why Karthik had been very reluctant to look at her when they met at the coffee shop a couple of days back. Her father was in a state of shock. He asked why he had taken so much of a risk, just for Pushpa's sake. He looked at Pushpa, smiled, and after a while, said friendship.
He told Pushpa's dad, he had gone to jail for Pushpa, so he most definitely would not like Pushpa, who meant so much to him, to go the wrong way. But Rakesh was definitely the right guy, and he deserved to marry Pushpa, and so he convinced her father to talk to Rakesh for a proposal. Pushpa's father listened patiently to Karthik, as he emptied his cup of coffee. He agreed to meet Rakesh, much to the delight of the other three. Karthik stood up to leave, when he asked Karthik to eat something, but Karthik refused saying he would come another day for lunch.
He was walking on the street, when he got a call from Pushpa. He picked it and said
"Hey Pushpa, how was the story?"
"I guess it made all the difference. Did you undergo all that shit for my sake?"
"Do you think I did?"
"You didn't?"
"Figure it out for yourself! It made the difference right, that's what matters!", as he laughed away to take another cup of coffee at Coffee World!
He told Pushpa's dad, he had gone to jail for Pushpa, so he most definitely would not like Pushpa, who meant so much to him, to go the wrong way. But Rakesh was definitely the right guy, and he deserved to marry Pushpa, and so he convinced her father to talk to Rakesh for a proposal. Pushpa's father listened patiently to Karthik, as he emptied his cup of coffee. He agreed to meet Rakesh, much to the delight of the other three. Karthik stood up to leave, when he asked Karthik to eat something, but Karthik refused saying he would come another day for lunch.
He was walking on the street, when he got a call from Pushpa. He picked it and said
"Hey Pushpa, how was the story?"
"I guess it made all the difference. Did you undergo all that shit for my sake?"
"Do you think I did?"
"You didn't?"
"Figure it out for yourself! It made the difference right, that's what matters!", as he laughed away to take another cup of coffee at Coffee World!
Chapter 8
The rain had just stopped. Karthik removed his helmet, and wiped his eyes. On wiping them, he saw a vehicle, which read, TN-27 B-5673. He looked around for a split second and then followed the bike.
The biker stopped at a deserted villa. He had the keys to it, went in and switched on the television. After checking for a while that nobody was around, Karthik approached the front gate and knocked the door. The guy, came and opened the door, only to be met with a severe punch. He fell 10 yards behind, and Karthik, walked in and locked the front door. Then he proceeded, to give him a few more punches, before a knife on the table caught his eye. He picked it up, and decided to play around with it. He walked straight up to they guy and asked him what his name was.
"Jerry"
"Did they never warn you not to mess around with big Tom? You wanna be eaten for supper tomorrow, don't you?"
"You don't know how grave an offense your committing now. You'll pay for it."
"Bullshit I will. I did not tear apart the cloth of a good natured lady, I'm punishing an asshole for what he did! How dare you behave like that with my Pushpa"
"I left her right, I didn't rape her or anything, then what's your problem?"
Thud, he got a kick on his head for that dialogue. Karthik picked the knife, and with surgical precision, made two deep cuts, one on the thigh, "There goes for Antonio, you Shylock of an asshole!" and then gave him a deep cut on the belly, just a cut, not a piercing. By the time he could move out, the police had rounded up the place. He was arrested immediately.
He was sentenced to a couple of years, as he was found not guilty of attempt to murder, but he had the intention to hurt, and was sent in for two years. He lost his job, and his mother moved out of the apartment in fear of being ridiculed. Two years, two full years in jail, but he accepted it gracefully, because he had taught the guy who played around with Pushpa a good lesson!
The biker stopped at a deserted villa. He had the keys to it, went in and switched on the television. After checking for a while that nobody was around, Karthik approached the front gate and knocked the door. The guy, came and opened the door, only to be met with a severe punch. He fell 10 yards behind, and Karthik, walked in and locked the front door. Then he proceeded, to give him a few more punches, before a knife on the table caught his eye. He picked it up, and decided to play around with it. He walked straight up to they guy and asked him what his name was.
"Jerry"
"Did they never warn you not to mess around with big Tom? You wanna be eaten for supper tomorrow, don't you?"
"You don't know how grave an offense your committing now. You'll pay for it."
"Bullshit I will. I did not tear apart the cloth of a good natured lady, I'm punishing an asshole for what he did! How dare you behave like that with my Pushpa"
"I left her right, I didn't rape her or anything, then what's your problem?"
Thud, he got a kick on his head for that dialogue. Karthik picked the knife, and with surgical precision, made two deep cuts, one on the thigh, "There goes for Antonio, you Shylock of an asshole!" and then gave him a deep cut on the belly, just a cut, not a piercing. By the time he could move out, the police had rounded up the place. He was arrested immediately.
He was sentenced to a couple of years, as he was found not guilty of attempt to murder, but he had the intention to hurt, and was sent in for two years. He lost his job, and his mother moved out of the apartment in fear of being ridiculed. Two years, two full years in jail, but he accepted it gracefully, because he had taught the guy who played around with Pushpa a good lesson!
Chapter 7
The Vishnu Sahasranamam by M.S.Subalakshmi is quite a regular feature in the mornings in the brahmin households of south India. The cassette is an amalgam of the Vishnu Sahasranamam followed by the Bhaja Govindam. So as M.S sung, "Bhaja Govindam", the bell rung in the Dhananjay household. Pushpa's dad reduced the sound on the Bhaja Govindam tape and went to open the door. He saw a very familiar face at the door, and on looking carefully, he realised it was Karthik. He brought Karthik in, and made him take a seat.
Karthik was offered some authentic south Indian filter coffee, which he drank with much relish. It had been a couple of years since he'd drunk such authentic coffee, he said, when Dhananjay offered him a stare. He looked around and saw Pushpa, and made eye contact with her, saying hi.
Mr. Dhananjay exchanged some pleasantries, and got Karthik to feel comfortable. Then Karthik started outlining the purpose of his visit. He tried telling Dhananjay how much Pushpa was in love with Rakesh, and how he shouldn't stand in between the two lovers just because he was against a love marriage.
He retorted. " My sister had a love marriage. She fell in love with a rogue who worked in the temple. We got her married, assuming the guy was good. The guy ended up being a rascal. He and his brothers gang-raped my little sister. They tortured her, and one fine day, my sister let herself ablaze. I remember how I felt when my sister, who was married off, in a wonderful marriage ceremony, came back, as a corpse, one which could not even be cremated satisfactorily, as she came in half-cremated fashion. I will not let my daughter walk in a love marriage, never!"
Karthik was taken aback. He never knew this was the reason for Pushpa's father's rejection. The good thing was that now he knew the reason, and could work against eliminating it. "Uncle, we are in the new generation, torture is the thing of the past. Morever, I knew Rakesh is a gem of a guy, and Pushpa will be very happy with him!"
By now his temper boiling, Mr.Dhananjay said, "I wouldn't want someone who spent two years in jail to advise me on how to run my family!"
Karthik looked up at Pushpa and her mother, both of them were looking aghast.
Then slowly he said,
"I think you wouldn't mind someone who went to jail for two years for your daughter's sake to advise you regarding her life!"
This time it was Mr.Dhananjay's face which was drained of colour.
Karthik was offered some authentic south Indian filter coffee, which he drank with much relish. It had been a couple of years since he'd drunk such authentic coffee, he said, when Dhananjay offered him a stare. He looked around and saw Pushpa, and made eye contact with her, saying hi.
Mr. Dhananjay exchanged some pleasantries, and got Karthik to feel comfortable. Then Karthik started outlining the purpose of his visit. He tried telling Dhananjay how much Pushpa was in love with Rakesh, and how he shouldn't stand in between the two lovers just because he was against a love marriage.
He retorted. " My sister had a love marriage. She fell in love with a rogue who worked in the temple. We got her married, assuming the guy was good. The guy ended up being a rascal. He and his brothers gang-raped my little sister. They tortured her, and one fine day, my sister let herself ablaze. I remember how I felt when my sister, who was married off, in a wonderful marriage ceremony, came back, as a corpse, one which could not even be cremated satisfactorily, as she came in half-cremated fashion. I will not let my daughter walk in a love marriage, never!"
Karthik was taken aback. He never knew this was the reason for Pushpa's father's rejection. The good thing was that now he knew the reason, and could work against eliminating it. "Uncle, we are in the new generation, torture is the thing of the past. Morever, I knew Rakesh is a gem of a guy, and Pushpa will be very happy with him!"
By now his temper boiling, Mr.Dhananjay said, "I wouldn't want someone who spent two years in jail to advise me on how to run my family!"
Karthik looked up at Pushpa and her mother, both of them were looking aghast.
Then slowly he said,
"I think you wouldn't mind someone who went to jail for two years for your daughter's sake to advise you regarding her life!"
This time it was Mr.Dhananjay's face which was drained of colour.
Chapter 6
Pushpa was crying. What had happened at her place, was just ridiculous.
After meeting Karthik, Pushpa went home, and got herself mentally prepared to tell her parents about Rakesh. She went into the kitchen, where her mom was making hot rotis. She entered the kitchen hesitantly and pitched the topic up. "Mom, there is something I want to tell you"
"What dear?"
"I am in love, with a guy called Rakesh, a very brilliant and good chap, he works with me. He is a gem of a person mom, I want to marry him."
The pressure cooker went off, and let out a sound that silenced the entire house. Her mom, Mrs.Dharini Dhananjaya looked at her, with a shocked and alarmed expression on her face. When the pressure cooker stopped whistling, she whispered, "You know your father would never agree to this, never... "
"I want you to tell him mom, please convince him, for my sake. I can't even think of spending my life with someone else. I will marry him, and him only."
"I think it's best we settle this right now. Please tell your father about this, and convince him yourself!"
Pushpa walked into the reading room, where her business obsessed father was watching the television as stocks which had attained closure by 6.00 in the evening, were still being displayed. God knows what, Pushpa thought, is with these stock market dealers, people sit glued to the television looking at stock values even hours after the stock exchange has closed! The television set is the idiot box indeed!
"Dad, I have something important to tell you!"
Mr. Dhanajaya, an unassuming senior citizen, adjusted his spectacles on his nose, muted the television set and turned to his daughter. "Tell me dear!"
"Daddy, I am in love with Dr. Rakesh Mehta, you must most definitely have read about him in the newspapers or somewhere, he is my colleague and we've been in love for two years now. I would like you to get us married with your blessings!"
Pushpa didn't expect what followed. A Times of India copy which had been read, re-read and read a third time too, was on her face, lashed out. She felt glad it wasn't something like a cup of hot tea. Then her father spoke, "No Bihari babu ain't my son-in-law. You don't decide your husband, I do. Go sleep! "
"It's my life and I decide daddy!"
"You don't know anything! My daughter doesn't have a love marriage. It's as simple as this. I'll get you a good guy from our own clan. You go sleep!"
"No father, I am marrying him. I'd better make that very clear. I can't let 6 years of feelings go to the dumps. I love him, and my heart knows none else!"
"Did I ask you to fall in love with him? Your mother and I had an arranged marriage, and we've had a very successful marriage. What's wrong with an arranged marriage? It was we who created you, we who decided when you'd go to school, we who decided when to get you a new cycle, we who decided the small small gifts you'd get for your birthday, we who gifted you your first scooty, we who did everything for you, but when it comes to marriage alone you want to decide for yourself! How selfish of you!"
"I'm sorry daddy, I know I hurt your feelings, but I am in love with him, and I will get married to him only, please forgive me. Get me married to him!" Pushpa tried the defensive route this time.
"No! My answer will stay a plain no!" said Mr.Dhananjaya as he walked right into his bedroom, and slammed the door shut.
Pushpa was aghast, and she could hear someone crying. She streched and found her mother crying in the kitchen!
After meeting Karthik, Pushpa went home, and got herself mentally prepared to tell her parents about Rakesh. She went into the kitchen, where her mom was making hot rotis. She entered the kitchen hesitantly and pitched the topic up. "Mom, there is something I want to tell you"
"What dear?"
"I am in love, with a guy called Rakesh, a very brilliant and good chap, he works with me. He is a gem of a person mom, I want to marry him."
The pressure cooker went off, and let out a sound that silenced the entire house. Her mom, Mrs.Dharini Dhananjaya looked at her, with a shocked and alarmed expression on her face. When the pressure cooker stopped whistling, she whispered, "You know your father would never agree to this, never... "
"I want you to tell him mom, please convince him, for my sake. I can't even think of spending my life with someone else. I will marry him, and him only."
"I think it's best we settle this right now. Please tell your father about this, and convince him yourself!"
Pushpa walked into the reading room, where her business obsessed father was watching the television as stocks which had attained closure by 6.00 in the evening, were still being displayed. God knows what, Pushpa thought, is with these stock market dealers, people sit glued to the television looking at stock values even hours after the stock exchange has closed! The television set is the idiot box indeed!
"Dad, I have something important to tell you!"
Mr. Dhanajaya, an unassuming senior citizen, adjusted his spectacles on his nose, muted the television set and turned to his daughter. "Tell me dear!"
"Daddy, I am in love with Dr. Rakesh Mehta, you must most definitely have read about him in the newspapers or somewhere, he is my colleague and we've been in love for two years now. I would like you to get us married with your blessings!"
Pushpa didn't expect what followed. A Times of India copy which had been read, re-read and read a third time too, was on her face, lashed out. She felt glad it wasn't something like a cup of hot tea. Then her father spoke, "No Bihari babu ain't my son-in-law. You don't decide your husband, I do. Go sleep! "
"It's my life and I decide daddy!"
"You don't know anything! My daughter doesn't have a love marriage. It's as simple as this. I'll get you a good guy from our own clan. You go sleep!"
"No father, I am marrying him. I'd better make that very clear. I can't let 6 years of feelings go to the dumps. I love him, and my heart knows none else!"
"Did I ask you to fall in love with him? Your mother and I had an arranged marriage, and we've had a very successful marriage. What's wrong with an arranged marriage? It was we who created you, we who decided when you'd go to school, we who decided when to get you a new cycle, we who decided the small small gifts you'd get for your birthday, we who gifted you your first scooty, we who did everything for you, but when it comes to marriage alone you want to decide for yourself! How selfish of you!"
"I'm sorry daddy, I know I hurt your feelings, but I am in love with him, and I will get married to him only, please forgive me. Get me married to him!" Pushpa tried the defensive route this time.
"No! My answer will stay a plain no!" said Mr.Dhananjaya as he walked right into his bedroom, and slammed the door shut.
Pushpa was aghast, and she could hear someone crying. She streched and found her mother crying in the kitchen!
Chapter 5
She ran after him, and caught him as he tried to slither away. She caught him by the back of his jacket, and he turned back. There was Karthik, almost unidentifiable, in a cooler, and a thick beard. He looked all hep and chic, but was totally different from the last time she'd seen him. She tried to recall when, and yeah, it was the night when she told him about Rakesh, she remembered. As he saw her and said, "Hi Pushpa!", she gave him a punch in the belly area, and a slap on the face, and two large tears started flowing past the otherwise blemish-free face. All she was saying is, "Where were you? Why didn't you even tell me you were going somewhere?"
Karthik pulled her by the arm, and got her seated in the Coffee World. He told her he was away on a U.S trip concerning his job, and was now back as he had been fired, the recession had apparently gotten to him. But, that, she said, was no reason for him to not even inform her that he was away. He had left her, her friendship away, and gone throwing the 22 year old relationship into a bin just like that, she said snapping her finger.
He apologised dearly, and said, he understood he shouldn't have done that, but was not in the right frame of mind then, and had to go. They dissolved the differences and talked about the good old days. Then, he asked her if she told her parents about Rakesh, and when they were going to get married. She told him she was going to ask them that night. After a nice talk, and a parting goodbye, they exchanged numbers.
A couple of days later, at around 10 at night, Karthik recieved a call. The phone read "Pushpa calling..."
Karthik pulled her by the arm, and got her seated in the Coffee World. He told her he was away on a U.S trip concerning his job, and was now back as he had been fired, the recession had apparently gotten to him. But, that, she said, was no reason for him to not even inform her that he was away. He had left her, her friendship away, and gone throwing the 22 year old relationship into a bin just like that, she said snapping her finger.
He apologised dearly, and said, he understood he shouldn't have done that, but was not in the right frame of mind then, and had to go. They dissolved the differences and talked about the good old days. Then, he asked her if she told her parents about Rakesh, and when they were going to get married. She told him she was going to ask them that night. After a nice talk, and a parting goodbye, they exchanged numbers.
A couple of days later, at around 10 at night, Karthik recieved a call. The phone read "Pushpa calling..."
Chapter 4
Pushpa and Rakesh were head over heels of each other. Rakesh was a gem of a person, and was a brilliant scientist. He had done path-breaking work over the last seven years, and had established himself as the face of IGCAR to the international world. He had come very close to being nominated for a Nobel by the time he was 27, and that was quite an achievement by even Nobel standards. But if he was dedicated to his academia, Pushpa was his major love. Pushpa, in some sense, was lucky to have got someone who loved her so much. His love for her, at times, went to the point of obsession, and he strongly believed her presence in his life only took him to greater heights!
Pushpa was having a great time in life. Her performance was getting better by the day, and the institute recognised it too. She seemed to be everyone's golden girl now. All that remained was her marriage. She had been too scared to start the topic with her parents. She was 26 and they had just started matching horoscopes. She did not believe in them though, and even if she did, it wouldn't matter because she was in love with Rakesh.
She was thinking seriously thinking about bringing up this topic. Rakesh's parents had given a signal in the affirmative, and it remained to her parents to give the positive signal. She was pretty confident about the signal from her mother, but was scared if her dad would pass red. As she was thinking about it, she got a call from Rakesh.
"Darling, coffee?"
"Now? I'm deal. I'm starving as well"
"Cool, where are you now?"
"What question is that, Mr. Nobel prize nominee?" she giggled, "I'm obviously at my desk."
"Oh yeah, let's settle that out dear! The usual cafeteria. Walk into Coffee World today!"
"I'll be there in a moment"
The coffee break lasted an hour, and they walked back to their cabins, when Pushpa unexpectedly saw someone, someone she felt she'd known for quite a long while now. But she was not able to place him. She thought harder, and then realised, "Oh shit, that's Karthik!"
Pushpa was having a great time in life. Her performance was getting better by the day, and the institute recognised it too. She seemed to be everyone's golden girl now. All that remained was her marriage. She had been too scared to start the topic with her parents. She was 26 and they had just started matching horoscopes. She did not believe in them though, and even if she did, it wouldn't matter because she was in love with Rakesh.
She was thinking seriously thinking about bringing up this topic. Rakesh's parents had given a signal in the affirmative, and it remained to her parents to give the positive signal. She was pretty confident about the signal from her mother, but was scared if her dad would pass red. As she was thinking about it, she got a call from Rakesh.
"Darling, coffee?"
"Now? I'm deal. I'm starving as well"
"Cool, where are you now?"
"What question is that, Mr. Nobel prize nominee?" she giggled, "I'm obviously at my desk."
"Oh yeah, let's settle that out dear! The usual cafeteria. Walk into Coffee World today!"
"I'll be there in a moment"
The coffee break lasted an hour, and they walked back to their cabins, when Pushpa unexpectedly saw someone, someone she felt she'd known for quite a long while now. But she was not able to place him. She thought harder, and then realised, "Oh shit, that's Karthik!"
Chapter 3
Pushpa was almost in tears. But Karthik consoled her as they went back home. As she got consoled, she suddenly opened her mouth and with a deep breath said, “My boyfriend would be proud of you!” Karthik stopped and turned. His face had just one expression written all over it, confusion. He asked her, “You have a boyfriend??”
“Yes, for four years now!”
“I never knew!”
“No one except the two of us knew till a moment ago!”
“You could have told me, I, I... I’m your best friend!”
“Yes, Karthik, you are. But I’m sorry, I just did not trust anyone with this. So I kept it just to myself. I’m planning to tell dad in a day or two. So, I thought I should tell you atleast before that! Rakesh works with me at the IGCAR, and we’ve been in the bio-genetic department together for six years now. He asked me out a couple of years into our friendship, and I was way too charmed by him to not say yes.”
“Oh, well, wonderful! Feeling great for you!”
“Thank you, Karthik, I knew you would!”
He left her home, and didn’t climb the stairs. Rather took the motorcycle, and sped off on a ride. The sky was seeming to give way. Lightning struck, and following the thunders, it rained, albeit for a few minutes, but in real heavy fashion. Flooding of the roads was merely an understatement! He was moving at a pretty quick speed, but his eyes were hardly concentrating on the speed limit. Neither were they on the roads. It was the city’s first rains that day, and no one knew that it was raining on the other side of his helmet too!
“Yes, for four years now!”
“I never knew!”
“No one except the two of us knew till a moment ago!”
“You could have told me, I, I... I’m your best friend!”
“Yes, Karthik, you are. But I’m sorry, I just did not trust anyone with this. So I kept it just to myself. I’m planning to tell dad in a day or two. So, I thought I should tell you atleast before that! Rakesh works with me at the IGCAR, and we’ve been in the bio-genetic department together for six years now. He asked me out a couple of years into our friendship, and I was way too charmed by him to not say yes.”
“Oh, well, wonderful! Feeling great for you!”
“Thank you, Karthik, I knew you would!”
He left her home, and didn’t climb the stairs. Rather took the motorcycle, and sped off on a ride. The sky was seeming to give way. Lightning struck, and following the thunders, it rained, albeit for a few minutes, but in real heavy fashion. Flooding of the roads was merely an understatement! He was moving at a pretty quick speed, but his eyes were hardly concentrating on the speed limit. Neither were they on the roads. It was the city’s first rains that day, and no one knew that it was raining on the other side of his helmet too!
Chapter 2
They were walking home together. Karthik was an engineering graduate, who had fallen into the stereotype of a coding job, after having counted on the campus placements to provide him with some kind of a job which could fill his hands. He earned a handsome salary. Pushpa, on the contrary, was always clear about what she wanted to do. Her parents used to ask her when she was three about what she wanted to be, and she used to say, in a voice, with a few syllables swallowed, "Scientist". She was one, among the country's best bio-genetic scientists, and worked extensively in solving problems relating to the missing gene, the ones which relieve mice of oxidative stress. The gene helped in self repair of DNA in mice, and she was working on modifying it as per the needs of the human being, to make it usable by the human.
They hardly understood each other's work, so they generally refrained talking about it. As they were walking, chatting about some newly released movie, a biker zoomed past them, patting Pushpa at the rear. He turned and came back, and asked her if she wanted a lift. Anger was seething through Karthik's teeth, but he kept himself under check. He asked the guy to move away, and the guy kept making lewd comments. Karthik raised a hand to hit him, and then backed away. The guy kept teasing her, till a policeman came that way. Seeing the policeman approach, the guy pulled out a small blade, and made a small cut on Pushpa's shirt, and sped off. Karthik tried running after him, but he kicked Karthik down on the road. Karthik was left watching helplessly as he sped away. There was one sequence which stuck to his mind. TN-27 B-5673.
They hardly understood each other's work, so they generally refrained talking about it. As they were walking, chatting about some newly released movie, a biker zoomed past them, patting Pushpa at the rear. He turned and came back, and asked her if she wanted a lift. Anger was seething through Karthik's teeth, but he kept himself under check. He asked the guy to move away, and the guy kept making lewd comments. Karthik raised a hand to hit him, and then backed away. The guy kept teasing her, till a policeman came that way. Seeing the policeman approach, the guy pulled out a small blade, and made a small cut on Pushpa's shirt, and sped off. Karthik tried running after him, but he kicked Karthik down on the road. Karthik was left watching helplessly as he sped away. There was one sequence which stuck to his mind. TN-27 B-5673.
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