Calling Sam

The dream of Sameer was intruded by a ringing phone somewhere. Coming back to senses, he realized his mobile was ringing with the “Californication” tone, the song he was mad about. He tried to look at the watch in the dim light coming from outside. It was 2.45 am. Quite uncanny for someone to call. He looked at the mobile screen. In his dreamy eyes, he could see that the number was unknown to him. He quickly applied some permutation combinations in his mind of the probable caller. His girlfriend won’t call from a different number. He did all the work of the office and his boss is on leave to France, so he won’t be calling at this time. Getting to nowhere, he picked up the call. It was a male voice that answered.
“Hello.”
“Hello. Hello, is it Sameer?”
“Yes. Who is this?”
“Hello Sameer, hi. I am Aman. Sorry to call at this hour of the day, but I am a little troubled and only you can help me in this matter.”
“Dude, I don’t know you and I am not a psychiatrist to help you in your troubles. Stop bothering me.”
“Sameer, wait wait. Just listen to me. I am Snigdha’s friend. We were in the same class in the training period. You may know me by face but we never talked. Please I am in a big trouble, can you help me?”
“Dude, can we talk in the morning? I am not in a state to have a nice talk with you.”
“Sorry Sameer, but we need to talk now. I am already outside your door. Please can you spare some time for me?”
“What the? Where did you get the address anyway?”
“From Snigdha, of course. Please let me in.”
“Okay wait.”
Sameer got up from the bed and went to open the door. His legs were still wobbly and his eyes swollen from the deep sleep. Now he was in senses due to the talk with the so called intruder. He took his steps gently and went to open the door. Aman was standing waiting to get in. Sameer invited him inside and asked him to sit. Then, he went to the bathroom just to freshen up his eyes, so that he could look and reason better.
“You want a drink?”
“No thanks. I am in no mood now.”
“Do you mind if I have some?”
“Not at all.”
Sameer goes and picks up a bottle of scotch inside his freezer. Then he realizes, he shouldn’t drink so late at night, so he picks up the bottle of coke and makes a drink for himself. Then he settles on the sofa confronting Aman.
“Yes, tell me what the problem is?”
“Actually, I am sorry, that I came so late in the night. I am having sleepless nights since few days, so Snigdha told me that you can help me.”
“She might not have told you to come so late at night to take some philosophy classes from me?”
“No she didn’t. I first decided not to come, because I thought I will recover from it. But it grew worse. The problem is, actually, I have lost my job.”
“Hmmm…. So, how can I help you?”
“I don’t know what to do. I have my parents in Ranchi, who think that their son is doing well in the city and will pull them out of poverty. My sister is getting married and I have given all my savings for the function. I recently took a car loan too. In short, I am screwed.”
“Which company do you work in?”
“Metasystems Limited. I was the senior manager there.”
“Hmmm. Sorry to say but I don’t have any links in the company. To be more precise, I am not aware of any such company. Maybe some new company is set up.
“No, it is an old company with a history of almost 30 years in the electronics department. Deals with all types of electronic products and has recently stepped into the software market too.”
“Strange. I am working for five years and I never came across this company. Where is it based?”
“It is a multinational company, based at Geneva. It has clients all over the world, and is the leader of electronic items. It is also listed in the Fortune 500 Company.
“Very well, I must have missed it then. Anyway, how much were you paid there?”
“No no. Don’t get me wrong. I am not here to ask for money from you. Actually, there is something else I wanted you to know.”
Sameer sees Aman has started perspiring and a bit unsettled. He shifts a bit uneasily. Sameer asks.
“Are you okay?”
“Actually, do you mind making me a drink?”
“Sure. I should have given you anyway. Sorry. Let me bring it for you.”
“Thank you.”
Sameer gets up and again goes to the refrigerator to make the drink. He makes two of it, as he realizes it will take some more time and he needs to keep himself awake. Maybe he won’t be allowed to sleep today. He takes the drinks and goes into the room.
“Here, have it.”
Sameer gives one glass to Aman and settles down on his sofa. He takes a sip and watches Aman gulping the whole drink. The person is damn tensed, Sameer thought. He smiles and again takes a sip of his drink and keeps it on the table.
All of a sudden, without any talk, Aman lunges toward him with a knife in his hand and stabs Sameer’s stomach. The blood oozes out and Sameer squeals. He tries to kick Aman out, but Aman has already made the second stab in his chest. Sameer could no longer move and his senses were burning out fast. All he could listen was Aman’s shouts.
“She was mine. I loved her since my school. Who are you to come in between? You destroyed my life, you destroyed my dream. She is m…..i…….n………”


……………………….
“Any proofs?”
“We found the knife the victim was stabbed with. The knife was stuck in his chest. Six to seven blows were made. We found a mobile too, in the bedroom. It had an unread message of Snigdha, probably warning Sameer about the killer.”
“Did she name the killer?”
“Yes sir. Some, Aman Malhotra.”
“Okay. You checked the call records?”
“Yes, the last call was made by Snigdha at 12.10 am. We called her and interrogating her, but she is not in a state to talk. All she could say was that she and Sameer were going to marry in the coming two months.”
“What is the time of message?”
“Sir, it is 01.05 am. Looks like Sameer was sleeping, when the message was received.”
“Time of death?”
“03.10 am.”
“Hmmm…. Find this Aman. I will try to talk with Snigdha.”
After two hours, the inspector’s mobile rings.
“Yes?”
“Sir, we found Aman Malhotra. It is bizarre sir. Aman committed suicide last night, shooting himself.”
“Strange. What the doctor says?”
“He says the time of death is 01.10 am.”

Only Life

She opened the windows of her room to let the morning breeze come in. She loved the cool air, because she thought it to be the most natural and most authentic thing left in her life. She lives in a studio room, literally, even smaller than that. The room is hardly 10ft by 5ft, with attached bath. That is all she can afford. It isn’t that she doesn’t like to live in a fully furnished apartment. Air conditioner is very important in Mumbai weather, where the heat and the humidity rules the atmosphere. But a fan is what she can only afford now.
Life in Mumbai is tough. There is whole pool of talent waiting for a chance. And not only that, everyone is trying to use the other and move forward. “That’s life.” Sarah told her, but she refused, because she had a friend in her life, who was not like this.
She thought her friend was special, her best friend, her life partner. They have been together for six years now. Met in school, he was the only boy who talked with her with warmth and affection. No matter, their love grew and within four years, the bond was unbreakable. He had huge ambitions of being an actor, always dreamt of going to Mumbai one day. She used to be very happy with her boyfriend’s ambitions. She also had ambitions but she used to keep them with herself. Partly because, there was no one to listen to it.
She lost her mother before she came in this world. Her mother grew complications while pregnancy which led to her death after her birth. Her father blamed her for her mother’s death. All these years, they never were on talking terms. Her father was a businessman, rich and affluent they were. She had everything in her life, cars, education, clothes everything, except parent love. Many times, she went to her father to talk with him, but either she was driven away or her father heard him with indifferent eyes. Twenty five years gone, and the eyes are still the same, full of hate and indifference.
She remembers the day when she told her father that she was going to Mumbai. Her father was sitting in his study room. When told, he went to his locker, took out two bundles of notes, and gave it to her.
“Here, take this. Twenty thousand rupees for your tickets. Ask for more when you need it. I will send the money in your account.”
“Father, wont you ask me why I am going to Mumbai?”
“Its getting late Sneha. Go to sleep. Best of luck for your trip.”
“Father, will you ever forgive me for my mother’s death?”
There was silence.
Every month, he used to send fifty thousand rupees in her account, and a mail mentioning the same. That was the only connection she had with him. She used the money for some months, then she stopped doing it too.
She came to Mumbai a year back. The only connection in Mumbai was her boyfriend who shifted just an year ago to be an actor. But the Mumbai atmosphere changed him too. He avoided any connection with her since she landed in the airport. She tried to find out the reason of his behavior, but with no success. Only after few months in Mumbai, and some friends in fashion designing course, she realized that Mumbai has all this in store, and she must get used to it.
She had very small group of friends with her. There was Kartik, a Mumbai University passout, and there was Raghav and Sarah, made for each other since school. All four of them hanged out and saw various places, be it Marine Drive, or Juhu Beach, or Band Stand. Thanks to Kartik, they enjoyed the best places and the best foods of Mumbai.
Sneha was very good in her art, because she was always interested in designing clothes, maybe due to her early age rich upbringing. She was best in the group and best in the class. But when the top fashion company arrived in their college to take the best graduates, she lost all her designs. Her group friend, Kartik, stole her designs and grabbed the job. The company took him only while Sneha couldn’t even sit for the interview. Raghav and Sarah were equally devastated. But the result was declared, and they could hardly help Sneha now.
So, today was the last day of her life. The cold breeze was still there to give her the last salute. She took out the sleeping pills, all of them, when the bell rang.
“Sneha, are you there?”
“Sneha, please open the door.”
Sneha heard the voices and went to open the door.
“Guys, wont you even let me die in peace?”
“Leave all this, come here and sit.” Sarah took her hand and made her sit on the sofa. Raghav opened a fashion designing magazine and showed her the advertisement.” She looked to it carefully.
“Guys, this is impossible, the auditions are just a week later and all my designs are stolen. There is no point I can pull this off.”
“A week is more than enough for you, Sneha. We know you will be able to pull this off easily.” Raghav said.
Sarah came near Sneha and said, “Sneha, life is full of problems, all are facing some kind of problems everyday. When you see a person, he is loaded with problems, some of them he can share, some he can’t. But with every morning a new day begins and the night ends giving us the solutions of all the problems of that day. We just have to look into the opportunities and grab them. Ending the life is easy, but it needs more guts to live it. You know your abilities, we know your abilities. Just give it a try.”
“Yes, and if the outcome is again negative, then you can surely end your life.”
“Shut up Raghav.”
……………………………………………
Sneha decided to take the chance that day, maybe for her dream, she thought that her suicide could wait. And it always waited.

Life is only one, ending it is not bravery, living it is.

Love And Music

He never gets angry.
She was so happy that she would meet him after four days. Why he got angry and shouted at her, she didn’t know. He never did. But he did. And it did hurt. A lot.
She got him all wrong. He was not angry on her. He was happy that he was going to meet her after four long days. He was angry on his friend. His friend was supposed to submit his assignment on the selected day. He came back to learn that the assignment was submitted well after due date resulting in precious marks lost. He tried to reason out with the teacher in person, explained him the situation, but for no profit. She came to him seeing him agitated. He snapped. He slapped her.
Sunday Evening. Ashima entered the church. It was the nearest pious place from her college. She went past the benches and lighted a candle. She put it on the altar along with many candles and sat on her knees looking at the cross. Rain was dropping ceaselessly since morning. She sneaked through the lull in between, dry.
Few moments later, the doors of the church cracked. Aditya entered drenched. He walked towards the cross, shivering. His clothes completely wet, bent near Ashima and took out his candle. His hands still quivering, he tried to light up the wet wax. Ashima got up and walked to the nave and sat on the third row silently. Their eyes refused to cross each others. Aditya managed to heat up the wick and stick it near Ashima’s candle. He crossed his hands looking towards God, got up and walked towards the end of the benches, sitting near the last row. Sitting silently, both got transported to a day’s eve.
…………
‘Where were you guys?’ Ashima asked. ‘Yes we were about to leave. And how was your rehearsal?’ Shikha added.
‘As usual. Ashima’s man has again missed the first beat of his line.’ Sameer said, giving a knock on Aditya’s head.
‘How am I the defaulter? Pulkit always forgets to play his notes.’
‘Me?’ Pulkit exclaimed. ‘I am supposed to start from the second line, the first line is monologue.’ Both Sameer and Pulkit knock on Aditya’s head.
‘You guys can do this forever. Linkin Park ko chodke kuch gaana aata nahi.’ Ranjana imitated Pulkit playing the guitar. Everyone started laughing.
‘You never even listened to Linkin Park. You consider Himesh as a rockstar. What do you know about music.” They start fighting again with each other. Ashima hushes them up.
‘Stop it guys. And tell us about the plan for tomorrow.’
‘Plan unchanged. Morning six o’clock. Marine Drive.’ Aditya replies quickly.
‘Why are we going at all at this stupid place so early in Sunday morning, that too in the rain. We get eventually bored. You and Ashima move away from the group and spend time separately’ moaned Ranjana and everybody joined.
‘Hey guys, we never did that.’ Ashima protested.
‘Yes. We always bear with the awesome jokes of Pulkit, and try to smile in most of them. We never complain.’ Aditya explained.
‘Saale, maar khaega.’ Pulkit hits Aadi’s stomach.
‘Then my car tomorrow?’ Sameer asked.
‘No. Me and Ashima will meet you directly. We will take a rickshaw. I can’t bear Pulkit so early in morning.’ laughed Aditya. Again Pulkit and Aditya started in a mini fight.
‘Let them go. Else Aaditya will bore us crying like a little boy the whole day.’ Everyone laughed and moved to their respective hostel rooms. Pulkit promises Aditya dire consequences once they are back in room.

Morning 6.30am. Ashima and Aditya are sitting on the banister facing the sea at Marine Drive. Ashima knows that Aditya loves water, just looking at them, listening peacefully their frolicking, relieves him, and Ashima is relieved watching him happy and smiling. But now she is a little panicked as the other four are yet to arrive and it has been half an hour already.
Aditya’s mobile starts ringing.
‘What happened? Did you ask where are they? Aaah… great. Now the rain starts.’
‘Perfect.’
‘What perfect, Aadi. We will be drenched. And where the hell is this music coming from?’
Ashima turns around to see Pulkit with the guitar and Sameer with the keyboard all setup in the distance. Shikha and Ranjana are smiling nearby. Ashima is confused. She gets off the wide banister, and runs towards them. She hugs them both while the music is in full swing now. Ashima turns around to see Aditya, now standing on the banister facing the sea. He is humming, and starts singing.

Boondo k motiyon mein khulke ehsaas aya.
Waqt se nikalke lamha dil k paas aya
Choo k guzra tha par dil ko na mehsus hua
Ab jo dekha to vo lamha dil ko raas aya
Yun ki taiy kar nap au re
Dil ki baat main hawa k zariye pahuchau re
Ya khud hawa pe chalke aau re
Tumse pyar hai ye khulke
Jinme keh pau re
Lafz vo kahaan se lau re………

Music continues. Aditya comes down and bends before Ashima.
‘Ashima, will you marry me?
‘yes, you fool. Yes.’

Pulkit and Sameer continued the music without destroying the moment. Aashima and Aditya kissed each other. Ranjana capturing the beautiful moment.

……………………

Ashima looks back towards Aditya. He, settled on the bench was also looking at her. His eyes moist and regretful. Ashima runs to him and holds him tightly.
“I am sorry. I won’t do that again. I promise.” Aditya says.
“I know. Just don’t say anything, my love.”

Educating India?

Recently, we are listening of all the plans of Kapil Sibal, our honourary HRD minister, of revamping the education system of our country. And it is including all kinds of different methods, from eliminating the marking system and introducing grading system, decreasing the board exams to singular, and on the bigger stage, allowing foreign universities, and uniting all the schools under one board are quite motivating for a ministry which was long ignored by the government. Seriously, the last time I heard of any change in education system was the introduction of the OBC quota, which didn’t go well with me. But again, that is a different issue I don’t wish to comment on.

Some people also speculated that Kapil Sibal is moving way too fast than supposed. On this thought, I remember an article by Shekhar Gupta, some days later, titled “Babuji Dheere Chalna” becoming the anthem of our society. Clearly, when we have an important ministry under a person highly educated, we are bound to see such changes coming by.
What even astonished me, that the board exams which were reduced in standards from the time I gave exams, were again re-patterned to introduce some innovation compelling the students to think of what they are studying. Clearly, marks will not alone matter because, the marks are vanished. So, read to gain knowledge, not marks.
Speculations are important part of an democratic country. It helps in the betterment of the society. I was reading a editorial in Indian Express titled “The Marketplace Of Ideas” by Mr. D. Raja discussing the after effects of the redesigning of the Indian educational system. Clearly, an in-depth knowledge and far sightedness can lead to such articles. And I totally affirm with the predicament of the salaried middle-class people. But while reading, I thought, is it “wrong” of HRD ministry, or the psychology of the people. And I will discuss more about this, rather than giving a decision on the decisions.

For a long time, we are seeing the importance of brand-name over knowledge. Getting admissions in the public schools, coached in the best institutes, then IITs, IIMs. The knowledge period starts from a time when the child is just learning its own being. Pre-nursery, nursery, LKG, UKG, school, graduation, post-graduation, the list never ends. And all the parents need the best. If asked, what is best? Most people don’t know the actual reason.

I am not talking about IIT or IIM here. They are the topmost college not for their name only. The curriculum is very tough and is designed specifically to bring out the best. Day-night classes, assignments, two exams in a day. It is a fanatic race of educationists. Clearly, the students deserve big bucks for all the efforts they have put to clear the exams. But is clearing the exam enough to judge a person of his capabilities? If yes, then how many IITians become scientists and how many IIMians become future business leaders? And if IITs have so terrific curriculum, then why most of them choose IIMs, and the biggest question mark, how do companies prefer such people?

The success of a student clearly depends how much he can absorb from the environment. If a student who is liking what he is doing, he will definitely do good, no matter what his alma-mater is. And when we are talking about schools, the differences sublime. I have seen many idiots from top public schools, and many excellent students from government schools. Leaving the fame, we should stress on the quality of the education and the abilities of the child. Let him choose the right path, let parents help him to choose his destiny. When he will do what he likes, he will definitely prosper in it. And that is how, a better workforce will be built for the country.
Recently, there is a beautiful film released which dealt with this question mark in its ulterior. And I clearly remember, “Baccha kaabil ban, kamyabi jhak maar ke piche ayegi”. Go for excellence, success will follow you. And to the larger part of the audience who believe this part is unachievable, the fact is that it is true.

A Different Song: Aik Alif

This is not my creation, but I wanted to post it because I want this song to be my part of life till my demise, and I come back to it when I get depressed..



This is the song in youtube, listen to it when you have time and read the lyrics
(http://www.koolmuzone.com/forum/music-infonews/bulleh-shah-aik-alif-(lyrics-translation-history)/)

I am still posting the lyrics of the song:

Parh parh ilm te faazil hoya
Te kaday apnay aap nu parhya ee na

(You read to become all knowledgeable But you never read yourself)

You read so many books to know it all, yet fail to ever read your heart at all.

Bhaj bhaj warna ay mandir maseeti
Te kaday mann apnay wich warya ee na

(You run to enter temples and mosques But you never entered your own heart)

You rush to holy shrines to play a part, Would you dare enter the shrine of your heart

Larna ay roz shaitaan de naal
Te kadi nafs apnay naal larya ee na

(Everyday you fight Satan But you never fight your own Ego)

You are quick to attack the evil one, yet pride is a battle you have not won.

Bulleh Shah asmaani ud-deya pharonda ay
Te jera ghar betha unoon pharya ee na

(Bulleh Shah you try grabbing that which is in the sky But you never get hold of What sits inside you)

You grab for a star you can control, yet fail to grasp the light in your soul.

Bas kareen o yaar
(Stop it all my friend)

Let the race end, my friend

Ilm-oun bas kareen o yaar
Ik Alif teray darkaar

(Stop seeking all this knowledge my friend Only an Alif is what you need)

Stop trying to be the one who knows, for ‘God is One’ you need to know.

Bas kareen o yaar
(Stop it all my friend)

End the race, my friend

Allah Sayyaan Allah Sayyaan
(God is the Master, God is All)

God is All we need! God is All!

Nee main jaanaa Jogi de naal

(I shall follow the Yogi)

Follow the wandering dervish!

Jo naa jaane, Haqq ki taaqat
Rabb naa devey us ko Himmat

(Those who deny the Strength of Truth Lord does not give them courage)

If you deny the power of all that’s true, God will not grant strength to you.

Hum Mann ke darya mein doobey
Kaisi nayya? Kya manjhdhaar?

(We have drowned in the river of Self the boat and the flowing waters do not matter)

We are lost in this river of self, no boat or streams are of any help.

Bas kareen o yaar
(Stop it all my friend)

End the race, my friend

Ilm-oun bas kareen o yaar
(Stop seeking all this knowledge my friend)

Stop trying to know it all, my friend.

Allah Sayyaan Allah Sayyaan
(God is the Master, God is All)

God is All we need! God is All!



And ofcourse do remember, according to Old Testament of Bible, We can refer God as our own MIND.