Walking On The Beach...

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Shaun walked aimlessly. The brisk wind was playing with his hair. His steps were getting muddled with the sand beneath. The rubber slipper he was wearing was trying to get out of the clutch of fingers.

‘Sir, please buy one ice cream.’

He looked back. A thin bare chested boy was standing with a box full of ice creams. Out of pity Shaun purchased one ice cream. In between his leaking nose and lower lip there came a smile, almost! Without a time waste he hurried to his next prospective customers. He was trying hard to manage the big box in his hands together with his ragged trouser. Seeing the boy going happy two beggars approached Shaun.

‘Sir, didn’t have food since long’

Their faces were complimenting each other. Seems they were sisters or maybe mother and daughter. Their eyes were hunger-stricken. Shaun looked at his ice cream and then without a second though he handed it over to the younger girl. They were not that happy with his gesture and asked for some pennies. But then by that time Shaun had moved ahead.

He could see lots of kids playing on the beach. Few were building castles with sand. The naughty ones will wait till the castle is on half way to break them to ground. Few kids were playing ‘catch-me-if-you-can’ with the tides. A smile came to his mind. He always had loved kids. He always had adored their innocence. He always had envied their ‘tension-free’ life.

The sun was half dipped in the ocean, looking bright red. The horizon looked blood red with a touch of golden streaks. Few migrating birds added beauty to the picturesque view. While enjoying the sight Shaun’s eyes got locked at a couple. Never bothered about the surroundings, they were busy with themselves. The woman was holding his hands tight and the only thing they could see were each others eyes. The silence between them seemed to add the romance between them. Then slowly their lips met, explored each others, and then that turned onto a wild kiss. Her fingers ran through his hair and his hands through her back.

Shaun stared them for few moments and then headed towards where his car is parked. The sun had almost gone under the vastness of the ocean. His face was searching for someone. That is when he noticed an elderly couple chatting. They were older by how many years, he couldn’t guess, but the freshness in their faces which was overflowing made him understand how much they were in love with each other. The old lady was helping her partner to walk with his ‘walking-stick’

‘How long had you been married?’ Out of curiosity Shaun asked them. At first the couple stared at him confused. Then the old man said, ‘55 years’ and kissed on her cheeks, gently. Shaun saw that she still was blushing. He stood motionless. The couple walked away. He stared at them endlessly.

The reality stuck him then suddenly

The final hearing of his divorce case is to be benched tomorrow.

Is there any comeback…

He walked slowly, aimlessly… Shattered…!!

Mercury...

“The chemistry between us was still there. We were meeting at college after fifteen years. Both of us now married with two adorable kids, could feel the mercury rising. Those days, mills and boon, long walks, hours long mobile chatting, canteen flirting, college garden lawn, hugs and kisses days..!!”




I still love her, my wife…



PS : A try at 55-Fiction using prompt from One-Word Prompt web page. Pardon Me!!

Unplanned Trip...

His mother was throbbing her chest heavily. Her voiced cracked while conversed on phone. After the first call she dialed his father’s number, then someone and then someone else and he could feel her voice very dampened. He didn’t understand anything but realized there was something to worry. He tried to prod his mother to tell what happened but all in vain. Maybe a six year old is not supposed to know that.

In half an hours time his father reached back at home. He had never seen him so early from office other than for his birthdays. By the time his mother had wrapped herself in some old Sari of hers. There were no traits of make ups on her face this time and he wondered how the hell in such a less time she got ready to go out. He don’t remember even one instance where his father hadn’t had waited for his mother to get ready for an outing.

“What about me. I am also coming.” He tried to get in with their plan. His mother looked at him helplessly; her eyes read and teary and her nose leaking a bit. The kerchief she used was almost wet and she started to use the tip of her saree too.

“No you are not coming. Play with your grandfather and grandmother”, his father quipped. Following that, came a pat of grandmother which irritated him. He loves to be with his old grandfather who got his white mustache polished everyday, every minute: but not today. He wanted to be with his mother. But what a six year old child can do. ‘This world is that of elders’ he thought.

After some five hours they came back. He asked where they had gone. Mom didn’t say much. She went to the bathroom. Her face was swelled upon. Again, this is the first time that his mother didn’t plant a kiss after coming back from an outing. He felt bad for his cheeks. He looked up to his father. He was there talking to the elders in a very hushed voice. He remembers his father doing talks in a hushed voice whenever he wanted to give any surprise to anyone; and always it flopped big time. A smile creaked for a second and he got a feeling there is some surprise in store.

“What happened, Papa?” He went near to his father and tried to stand on his feet. He always loves doing that. His father got long legs and it is always a fun to stand on his feet cuddling his legs. He could feel his father’s long fingers passing through his silky hair. He looked up his father’s face.

“My Superman”, his father started, “your sister Priya went for a trip. She didn’t even tell anyone of us. We don’t know why she went but now you won’t have her around you to play with. She won’t be there to play ‘hide and seek’ or ‘snake ladder’ and sing rhymes to you.

She was his best sister, his maternal aunt’s daughter. Long hair, wide smile, soft cheeks, magical fingers, lengthy skirts, golden nose ring, red bangles on her both hands; he used to love her presence. She used to make him sleep in peace at nights whenever she was here. But those things won’t be there anymore. That is what his father says to him. “But why?” he asked again and again. “She might be angry with us or may be she don’t love us.” By saying that, his father got up and headed to the bedroom.

He sat there only. Where would have she gone? With whom she might have gone? Why she hadn't told anyone before going? When is she going to return back? Or where should we go to meet her again?

-->And what is this ‘suicide’ thing which he overheard his father saying to his grand father? He stood there thinking.

Word Tussle...

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“Where is the remote control?”

Kumar was getting his nerves tight. Checking the remote in between the pillows and cushions he was trying hard to control his anger. He checked the electronic instrument all over frantically among those ‘Times of India’, ‘Economic Times’ and ‘Readers Digests’.

“Why are you changing the place of the remote control now and then? You and your ‘saas bahu’ serials. It will be surely somewhere in kitchen.” He walked over to the kitchen. Displacing all the vessels over there he did a rat search for the remote.

“Where are you now? I don’t understand this. Whenever I ask for the remote you never respond properly.” He waited a second for some response from the bedroom. Impatient, he reached the bedroom in a jiffy. There was no one inside. A new sari was lying over there in the bed. He looked towards the bathroom door. Its closed and the light switch is on.

“Arundhati, where did you hide the remote”, the tone was harsher this time.

“What happened? Why are you shouting so much with your weak voice? Doctor had told to take rest minimum for three months.” She tried to remind him. “Oh please, don’t try to change the topic. Tell me where the remote control is? Then give all those silly advices.” He found her remark irritating. His clenched his fists.

“Ok then! You keep on searching. Or else wait till I come after my bath. There is nothing much to panic like this for a remote control. It will be there itself in the living hall. You might have missed finding it.”

He could hear the voice of water dripping from the tap. He stood there in front of the door, furious. In a hurry, he locked the latch of the door from outside. A devilish grin bloomed over his face. Without uttering a word he headed towards the living hall.

Fifteen minutes went over. Arundhati came out to the living room. Drying her hair she asked, “So, got the remote?” He was there sitting in front of the television, barehanded and not paying any heed to her, as if she was talking to someone else. “Now, won’t you at least reply to my question?” She growled.

“My doctor had advised me to keep a tab on my voice. Now why are you making me strain?” He retaliated. Somewhere inside he felt happy to attack her with the same coin.

“I don’t want to strain your voice. It was only you kept on screaming about the remote. Why I will hide it? You only need a reason to blame me of something. And to be frank there is no point in arguing with you.” Arundhati walked towards her bed room hastily.

“Oh yeah, and you want me to scream out of loudest voice for the remote control. You are well aware that I do watch the stock market updates this time and whoa! What a time to take bath? Its all planned, I know. You never liked me watching those sensex figures” Kumar didn’t even look at her this time. His moustache was shivering with anger. His eyebrows coned.

“There is no point in talking to you. At the end, you will just convince me that I am wrong and all is my fault.” Arundhati’s voice scrambled. Her eyes moistened. Her fingers were curling up the tail end of her cotton sari. Staring the television she sat on the couch, taking extreme care to sit on the other end where Kumar sat.

“You don’t love me” she whispered. He sat there staring the television. Stock market updates were flashing on the screen.

Half an hour went.

“Hey, did you have the tablets for your head ache this morning?” He asked her. He glanced over her and found a drop of tear ready to roll down from the walls of her eyes. He kept his remote on the sofa and positioned himself near to her. She turned her face onto the opposite direction.

“Ok dear, I am sorry. You know I love you a lot. I won’t get angry on you anymore. This is a promise.” He tried to raise her face.

“Oh, shut up!” She grinned at him. “This is a promise I started to hear right from the day after our honey moon got over. Thirty years back. Today I am not going to fall for this sentimental dialogue of yours.” She was enjoying Kumar's fingers trying to wipe out the tear drop which already started rolling through her cheeks.

“Oh yeah, the very same thing you say every time I make this promise.” He laughed loud. And she couldn’t control her either.

-->A hug, the first thing to follow their laughter.

Oh! How Are You Dear...(Fake Grin)!!

Getting bored is not some problem he is facing now. Off late he is not comfortable with this bane of his. After working with machines and laptops the whole day, after being among a group of only technical-stuff-talking old men in his company, he always felt he required a freaking out with his friends. Or maybe a nice outing with his family, lengthy talks on phone with his distant relatives can do to keep his boredom at bay.


But he was missing something. In this unknown city, he felt he had isolated from many. His friends are settled in various other cities, busy with their own daily chores.


He took the laptop from his office bag. While opening and switching on the laptop a stream of thoughts flitted through this mind. If this laptop was not there, if the music system he had installed in his apartment was not there, how would have been his life like? I am indebted to the technology invasion, he thought.


First thing he does after opening is to get connected to the internet world. He opened his mail. The networking site is kind of addiction to him. To know what his friends were up to, to get the latest reviews regarding the movies, to discuss all those political issues, to gather all business information’s and to be a part of small gossiping and backbiting. The inbox was flooded with mails. Most of them were official mails, a few from his yahoo groups. Before opening a mail from his friend he noticed a name.
Priya Joseph. A surprise smile flowered his face.


He couldn’t wait to open the mail. Priya, his cousin, settled in a town far away from his place, had mailed. He was happy to see her name. With a little apprehension, thinking how come she mailed all in a sudden, he opened the mail.


‘Danz,
Sorry for not responding to your repeated Gtalk buzz’.
He recalled how many times he had pinged her from his messenger. After her delivery, she was busy. Her daughter is a sweet little angel. Her brother had forwarded the photos, and once or twice she had passed pleasantries back through the chat box. He was very eager to talk to her to share his happiness for her.


‘Life is so busy with my little one and time flies away. Anyways, I am enjoying every moment of it’.
That is bound to happen, he thought. After waiting for five long years, prayers to make a deal with Gods and long procedures of medication finally she too was blessed with one. One small angel, to make the whole family brightened with joy. He couldn’t wait much to read the mail. His eyes dived into the pool of words in the mail.


‘Dad wanted a favour from you. Can you send downloaded songs of ‘Deshadanam’ movie? Let me know if u can. How is life there? How is your work going on? How is everyone else? Convey my regards to everyone. Rest in next. Take care...’
He felt dejected. Wild thoughts crossed his mind. She didn’t mention much about her newbie. He didn’t get the feel of love in her questions. So emotionless they were. It’s for the first time she had mailed him after the delivery. Before that also, she was out of reach. He had many a times consoled himself convincing that she will be busy with her first and longing pregnancy. But now, she could have shared much more. ‘I am expecting too much’, he thought. Everyone got their own business to mind. They are comfortable with their own spheres. But what he hates is this artificial love. He was doubtful why she had mailed all in a sudden. Though happy seeing her name in his inbox, down under his mind he doubted its purpose. At least the previous experiences are what made him think like that. And here, now today it turned out to be true. Why the hell people are so mean? Is it that we remember others when we want something? Why to fake all I-care-you-how-are-you attitudes?


He logged out from his mail. Not feeling to have dinner, he started some music on his laptop. But he couldn’t enjoy its melody. He was disturbed, it was better if she had not mailed him. At least he would have made up his mind that she was somehow busy with her kid.


It’s better to catch some sleep. He kept the laptop aside, hibernated. Danny slipped into the blanket. The only sound that was hearing was of the fan roaring aloud and the tic-tac of his alarm.

We,the family.

A sudden meeting was called. Our assistant manger of Quality Assurance department had mailed all of us . I was surprised to see the management also in the invitee list.

It is 2 O'clock in the clock and the board room already was occupied by all other managers and their sub-ordinates. First i felt a paucity of space. Though everyone knew about the topic to be discussed all were muddled thinking why all of a sudden? I kept quite. Why? I might be the only person over here knowing that answer.

In a few minutes our Director of the company accompanied by QA asst. manager came in. Director himself took his chair and gave permission to start the meeting. The whole hall were silent. QA person, Gyaneshwar, came to the podium and took a deep breath. Greeted everyone and started his topic on password security of the ERP system we are using.

He started off, "First of all, I am sorry to summon all of you over here amidst of your duties. But i felt the need of discussing this with you all and help you out from landing into such dreaded situations."

I saw his hands quavering. I know him before i joined this company. very true to heart, very pleasant chap. Nobody will have any bad remark about him. Maybe thats what made him land up here like this.

"Yesterday evening i was almost nigh to get a sack order from management. That too for an unknown mistake i had done, for committing a silly mistake which turned out to be a big problem. I trust many people and had kept my password in our system very open, known to my many of my collegues." His voice was trembling. His fellow mates were staring at him, still not knowing what exactly had happened.

"One of my collegue hacked my password and through that he hacked our ERP system and many of the confidential documents were copied. These were kept in my computer hidden from me. And as all of you know its very easy to find out such frauds from the server." everyone looked at me. I sat proud for finding out that leakage. Months back i had told them in such a meeting, about the importance of networking and server system.

He continued,"So friends, after it was found out in my computer obviously the management will doubt me only. The whole evidance was against me." His eyes got red and wet. He continued his words. Emotionl utterances were hitting others heart. Nobody have seen him like that.

"Please my request is to ensure that your password is only known to you" He stopped. He couldnt controll his tears from running through his cheeks. The room filled with silence. One minute. Nobody spoke. The director himself got up from his seat. "My collegues" He couldnt pull it off from there. We saw his eyes were red. They were watered. Then he started saying something. Slowly increased his pace and gave some wise advices. I couldnt hear anything. My thoughts had already sank into his tears. His eyes showed how much he was moved by the emotional narration of his sub-ordinate. His trembling words showed how much he cared for his collegues.

I turned around and checked everyone. Everyones face showed sympathy for their collegue. After the meeting got over i got up from my seat, trying to wipe tow drops of tears waiting to fall down.

No wonder our Director always says, "We, the company, a family.

What then....?

She was stern on her decision. He was immovable from his. She found no need of him. Though he needs her he didnt wanted her. Few venoms spit from mouth. Some arguments. Few more fights. He moved to another place. She stayed back.

One day. Second. Third and fourth passed. They never checked each other.

What their children ought to do? If both were reluctant to listen to them. They had learnt to live with that.

Choice...

He was more than a friend to her. She confided to him more than anyone else. He have been a help for her in taming many situations. She believed him more than anyone else. She loved him like an elder brother. She was possessive about him.

She loved her parents. She adored her parents. She respected her parents for being so kind, affectionate and forgiving towards her. Her parents always did and planned good for her.But, her parents never appreciated her relationship with him.
They warned her either him or family. Choose now.

What else she can choose?