In love with a stranger...(part 1)

Dear readers, the following story is a part of the series....

The other parts will follow soon.

                                          

       I was walking or rather roaming on the road one Sunday morning. Roaming on the road was new to me as I preferred staying at home mostly. But that day was destined to be different. I read the newspaper twice, scanned my bookshelf for any unread books-couldn't find any, no friend of mine was online, my cell phone didn't beep even for once.

 'Everyone's busy except me,' I laughed to myself.

I switched my cell off and convinced my lazy legs for a silent walk. and so I was on the road.  As on any other Sunday mornings, roads were quite empty, making my walk easy without any deafening horn sounds and suffocating smoke.  The air was fresh and so were the roads.

         When I covered more than a kilometer, walking, I saw a young girl walking on the other side of the road.  I didn't need to force my eyes to look at her; she was so beautiful that my eyes instinctively locked on her.  Her bunched curly hairs were hopping on her back as she was walking swiftly.  I wanted to have a closer look at her so I tried matching my speed with hers.  I was still on the other side of the road.  I was walking with my eyes on her but her eyes were on her way.  I didn't notice what came across my leg but I stumbled and fell flat on my face.  She didn't notice.  I got up, jolted my clothes and resumed.  I increased my speed and could finally match up with her.  I looked at her big black eyes-beautiful but were red with agony.  She was crying may be..

     I continued with her for more than sometime.  I soon realized it was noon.  'I could walk with her all day' I thought,  'I want to walk with her all my life'.  Soon she was just a couple of yards away from me when she stopped suddenly and turned to me I stood their dumb-struck, like a guilty criminal.  But still I couldn't take my eyes off her shining teary face.

     I stood still holding my breath

     'Do you know the way to kachiguda station?' she asked finally.  I pointed my index finger to show her the direction still looking into her eyes.  She turned away abruptly and made her way towards Kachiguda station; I followed her noticing her fair long fingers.  Her nails were bare with no paint yet were pink.

     'When would get to hold them?' I thought.

     I was still in my thoughts when she ran into station and bought a ticket.  I wondered where she was going.  Neither I had money to take the ticket (no one plans for this sort of outing, you see).  I gathered my long-back-shattered guts and entered the station without any ticket.  I scanned all around the platform for her and finally found her on the second platform thanks to her shimmering earrings.  I ran to her and stayed at some distance, not wanting to be spotted by her.

     After some fifteen minutes, MMTS arrived.  She rushed towards it.  I thought she would get into the ladies compartment but was dazed to see her jumping into the general compartment.  I followed the suit.  She was sitting near the window, lost in thought and I stood there lost in her thoughts.

     She didn't seem to care who were around her. It least bothered her.  All she did was wiping her tears off and mumbling words in her mouth, I didn't notice huge man standing beside me saying- 'Your ticket,please.'  When I regained my senses.  I smiled at him.  He was looking at me seriously and again called out 'ticket'.  'No ticket,' I said.

     His eyes lit and he gave a sneering expression.  His arm crawled around my shoulder and he stood with me.  It didn't annoy me since she was infront of my eyes.  But the luck wasn't too pleased with me, I guess, because, just after five minutes, train halted  at Falaknuma station and the TT escorted me. Even the girl got down and walked the opposite direction.  I tried hard to keep track of her way, but she was lost in the crowd.

     I was being taken by my collar to the railway office, when one of my uncles appeared, understood the matter, gave me a dirty look and paid the fine.

     Before he could arrest me with his words, I faked an excuse and ran from him, thanking.  From there I kept running in the direction of the girl, looking all around the place as far as I can see.  But couldn't find her anywhere around.  I gushed  towards the road, still couldn't find her.  I got down on my knees heaving. 'Oh God! I lost her,' I said to myself.

     'I should find her,' I said, 'I should.'

     Saying, I got up and walked along the roads for around half-an-hour.  My eyes got wet but I didn't stop.  Soon my legs started aching but my heart refused to stop.  It dragged them to wherever it wanted.

     After some more ten minutes, I saw, through my wet eyes, someone resembling her.  She was walking towards the main road.  I started my sprint and ran as fast as I could.  It was outburst of all the energy remained in me, I ran blindly and it earned me a hard hit from a car.  I was thrown away as if someone has kicked an empty bottle.  The car that hit me sped away and I laid on the sideway groaning in pain.  I successfully tried to get up and sat on a stone.  I picked up my cell that fell beside me and switched it on.

     I called my friend who stayed at Saidabad and told him about my accident.  He came there within seven minutes-those seven painful minutes.

     He took me to the hospital and from there to my home.  I felt as if I was coming home after some years.  After some traditional scoldings from my mother.  I was lying on my bed and my friend was sitting by my side, waiting for the genuine version of my accident.  I told him everything and his mouth fell open.

     'You followed a girl, who was a complete stranger?' his eyes were wide open, 'you're crazy, man.'

     'I love her,' I announced.

     'Shut up and take rest,' he snapped, 'Idiot' was the last word he spoke before leaving.

     I lying there on my bed, wondered where she would've went...?

    why was she crying...?

     who was she....? and before I knew, my eyes shut- temporarily of course..!!!

By the side of the river...

By the side of the river, I

      sat with her; her    

         hairs like the flowing river,

             teased my face - they

                  touched my cheeks, kissed 

                      my eyes; she,

making no effort to control her hair,

       gifted me that naughty smile;

            I moved forward to steal a

                     kiss; she splashed a handful of water on

                           my face; shaking my head, I 

looked away she came closer and

        wiped the drops off with

                 her lips

By the side of the river, I

     sat with her.....

You'll always be with me....

Gazing at your picture that

          I stored in my eyes;

               I dreamed of the day when

                   you were on me, way 

                            you kissed my lips and 

                                  laid your head on my bosom...

I may not be with you, but

        you'll always be with me....!!

Far away from you and

        life; I cherish each 

                memory-a gift of

                       your love..

In the dead of night, I 

         wake up and caress them, teary eyed...

I may not be with you, but 

         you'll always with me....!!

I was harsh for

         leaving you there; not

               with you but

                    with myself;

Wishing you a happy life, I

          bade you good bye, and 

                a prince worthy of you not

                        a fool like me; now 

                              I walk away ailing my heart in

                                      the alley of solitude...

I may not be with you, but 

          you'll always be with me....!!

Your Last Letter...

Drop by drop, my

           tears drop on the

               letter you wrote to me...

I read it again as

           I did yesterday;

My heaving noise disturbed

            solitude of the silence; and

                 rose night from its slumber at my

                      choking...

Word by word, I 

            read each word of 

                 the Last Letter, you 

                         wrote to me...

Passed a shiver through 

           my soul for, I saw 

                  the words farewell love;

                          as I lay in the dark with 

                                  the question what made you go? 

 

Day by  day, I 

           walk on the road, that

                   leads me to your abode...

Staring at the door; and

            hanging my pate, I 

                   stood holding my

                         heart's oblation...

Upon hearing my footsteps,

             you'll run to me,

                    I thought ...

For thoughts are just 

             the mind's dust, lamenting

                   I moved on, bequeathing the

                         letter at your door...

Feeling disheartened at your

              insensate words, I

                       promised your heart I'll 

                             never come back...!!

A WALK BY THE RIVER

     Bored of what I usually do.  I decided to take a walk by the river.  I walked slowly, by its side, enjoying the cuddle of the wind.  I stood there, for a moment to watch it flowing away- waiting for none; not caring if anyone's passing through it or just walking by its side.  I watched it flowing and flowing with the same rhythm.  I wondered how deep it would be.  'Deep enough to drown you?' said my inner-self.  I stepped back, afraid.  The sun rays, reflected on the water, hit my eyes.  I shut them.  A dark cloak hugged me.  I moved back and opened my eyes.  I started my walk like before.

     'What are you doing?' a voice startled me.  I looked around, but there was no one.  'Its me, here,' the voice said again.  I looked at its direction and was surprised to look at the source of the voice.  It was river talking to me.  'I must have gone mad' I said to myself.  'No, son, you are not mad.' I stood there dumbstruck looking at the river.

     'Don't just stand there, son, looking at me,' it said in a smiling voice.  I stood there wondering what am I listening to.

     'Come to me, son,' it said again with the same cheerful voice.

     'Ha... you must be kidding.  I don't know how deep you are, I may drown in it,' I said looking at it.

     'Ha ha ha,' I heard the laugh and felt embarrassed.

     'If you just stand there wondering about my depth, you'll never know it.  Step in me to know my depth.  Don't be afraid to take the first step.'

     The words filled some courage in me.  I moved forward and tentatively stepped in it.  It wasn't very deep- it could immerse me up to my thighs.  That very feeling instantly brought smile to my lips.

     'You see, it isn't very deep, is it?' it asked.  I shook my head.  Even the flow of water, which felt like it could flood me away, wasn't that strong.

     As I started enjoying, the clouds moved away unmasking the sun; and no sooner it hit the water, the rays reflected in my eyes.  I shut them again.

     'What happened?' asked the river.

     'The rays of the sun, they are hurting my eyes,' I said, my eyes still shut.

     'It's a challenge, son,' it said. 'What challenge? It's hurting me,' I said irritatingly.

     'It hurts, if you give up, son, fight it,' it said.

     'I can't,' I said.  'Ha,' it scowled 'Don't just shut your eyes, open them, fight the meager challenge.  If you succeed, you'll see the brightness, splendid light, if you fail, try it again, if you give up, son, you'll be confined in the hug of darkness.'   I opened my eyes, the rays teased me again.  I splashed the water around me and opened the eyes.  The rays accepted its defeat and instead of hurting my eyes, it glorified the jumping water.  It again brought smile to my lips.

     'I still didn't understand one thing,' I asked river, 'How come you are talking to me? I thought rivers don't speak.'

     It laughed again.  'I'm not a river.  I'm Life!' it said 'I've been shouting my lungs out, but you never paid attention to me.  So, I had to teach you this lesson of living life this way.'

     'Don't forget to enjoy your life, Son,' were the last words, it said before everything fell silent.

     Life's a flowing river friends.  Don't just walk by it, wondering about it's depth.  There are only three rules to lead a happy life.

     i) Take the first step towards life-  Don't just keep guessing about it's complexity.  It may appear as a maze from a distance but it gets simpler with each step taken towards it.

     ii) Fight the challenge, Don't give up-Life is just about discovering yourself and the world around.  For that, life throws many challenges at you.  Don't be afraid to try again, if you fail once.  Life gives you many chances, don't think, you lost your world, if you face defeat once.  Keep trying.  You lose your world only when you give up and what you win, then, is the darkness all around you. So don't give up.

     iii) Enjoy your life- don't forge, though you get many chances in life, you get only one life to live.  The best way to make that one chance count is by enjoying it to fullest.

To describe this in one line, I need to take the help of a poet: Don't just pass through your life, live it

I'm lost in a crowd....

Whomever I see,

                   wherever I go

I see the faces never seen before;

I tried so hard to think If I know them

                   but never in my life have I seen them,and

all I knew was,

                  'I'm lost in the crowd.'

I walked in the search

                  of a lonely place,

for I hate to be in the crowd...

I walked and walked 

                  and walked for long;

but couldn't find the place

                  I longed for

I sat by a tree when,

                  a wind passed by

It gave me a hug and solace I needed

for, I gave up and was 

                  lost in the crowd

I got up and said to myself 

           "stand apart and make ua own way

        for none will come to make you walk....!!"

NEVER ENDING WAIT

     CRACKLE CRACKLE.  The dried leaves below my foot filled the empty silence with a sharp sound.  I walked looking around; there were trees on the both sides of the pavement.  The leaves on the trees were fresh and green, but those on ground were dried and brown.  Is it they fall after they get dry or are dried because they fell down I wondered. I kept walking.

     I walked on the stairs and reached the corridor.  It was deserted and I was alone.  I saw the rays lit up the corridor. I emerged from the dark and stepped in the light.  The rays were warm like usual morning rays.  But they could only lend it on half of my face; the other half was cold. the difference of temperature of my face resembled my heart's situation. On the one side, I was anxiously waiting for my beloved.  On the other side I was happy in this solitude which reminded me of the times when I walked hand in hand with her.  One side I was praying for my girl to arrive soon, but secretly, on the other side, I was hoping that she shouldn't come that very moment - afraid, I might have to break the chain of my memories.

     I saw a hazy figure, through between the trees.  My heart pounced I looked at it, carefully.  But I soon realized that it was just an illusion made out of swaying leaves.  I laughed at my stupidity.  I heard foot steps, I walked towards them.  I saw someone walking towards me.  I stood staring.  The person came closer - more closer she came the more sure I was that isn't the one I was waiting for.  She smiled at me and left.  I looked at my watch, it was past the time we decided to meet.

     Soon there were other people walking across and around me.  But the one I was looking for was nowhere to see.  The sun ascended and the rays intensified proportionally.  I fixed my eyes on the way from where she was expected to come.  'My patience will bear a sweet fruit!' I said to myself.  I waited and waited.  Even the sun got tired and its intensity abated.  'My fruit's getting sweeter by every passing minute!' I laughed to myself.

     People around me were decreasing but I stayed there, gazing at her path and thereby imagining my fruit - the fruit of her sweet kisses! Soon the sun's journey towards the end of land was coming to an end.  The gleam became dull but my hope was as bright as ever.  The sun dipped soon and with it my hopes for that day.

     I was walking back through the same path.  I saw the leaves and said to my self  'If your hopes dip down, you'll be crushed like these dried leaves.'

     'Tomorrow,' I thought.  'I shall come again.' and left. 

BETTER YOURSELF

   50np. Did you ever seriously think of it? Do you even remember how does it look like? I guess NO.  The value of 50np is not the same as it was some years ago.  Then 50np was a considerable amount.  But now it is not.  We may laugh when someone says that he'll repay you 50np.  Its not unusual as it has got no much importance like it had.  Is it the 50np's mistake? Is there any change in its value? - NO.  It is of same value  as it was.  It  was 50np before and even now it is 50np.  Well, the problem is our view - which has changed over a period of time.

     Here, I'm not saying you or asking you to respect its value.  But I'm saying that even you'll not be respected if you maintain the same value of yourself for a long period.  Try to improve it.  Try to better yourself.  Raise your standard by each passing day or each passing month or each passing year.

     Every year on the 1st January or 31st December we spend a lot of time trying to figure out what should be our resolution for the new year.  Now make a resolution that I'll make myself better.  I'll increase my standards.

     People around you may adore you now for what you have.  But you cannot cast the same magic again and again.  They are bound to get bored.  And then again, even you'll be in the same position as 50np is in now.  You'll not be cared for; you'll be thrown off - mercilessly.

     So, my friends, just try to enhance yourself; compete with your own self and defeat yourself.  Whatever field you may be in, whatever job you may be doing, if you want to defeat or surpass your colleague or your opponent, first defeat yourself - first conquer your own standards.  Crush it and build a higher standard or else get crushed under the burden of aloofness.