That Night

Going out on a prowl at night is something anyone would do, if they have experienced it once. Well, I am a colossal fan of it. The possibilities of getting into trouble are high. It's serenely the most adventurous thing. Exploring the city at the wee hour, finding drunk people, people running back to home after their night shifts, drivers driving the cab to office for pick up or drop, It's maddening.

Life in metros and small towns is so different yet similar that you can imagine it only if you have experienced the both at first hand.  The metro life is actually fast as you might have heard or read, you can't even imagine. I've had experienced the best of both worlds hailing from a small town. Be it either the chaiwala's at the Charbagh station  or the Bangalorean Anna selling tea at 3 AM in Powai, both of them give the same feeling at this hour. I don't remember when I became a night dweller or a night wanderer.

You don't really have too many options at night - chai, coffee, bun-makkhan, jeera, coconut biscuits, pan-cake would be all in a place like Lucknow whereas, you'd get Maggi, coffee, chai, idle-chutni, biscuits, etc in Mumbai. However, these are the most relished cuisines of the night. Starving people coming back from work can't say a no to these. Being in Mumbai, I can only perceive the smell of bun-makkhan and jeera at Charbagh only through remembrance. Yes, I miss it and I know you're missing it too.

It's really not difficult to find such places. You just have to pick up your bike, if you have one and ride or you may choose to take a stroll. The excitement picks up the pace when you don't really know whether the chaiwala or anna would be there or not. There have been times when I am really hungry and I have to retreat to home in dismay. Well, that's the adventure out of it. The poor thing, however, is that these people pay a hefty, tax-free, fee (or hafta, rather daily vasooli) to the local Thullas (cops.) The cops have a stringent policy that says - "If you don't pay me, you can't do business here since I am the law of this area." 

Only if there was a law that allows these people to carry out their businesses witha legal license, there wouldn't be so much of hassles for these poor people. Apart from that, it would make cities more secure with more people out of their houses. The cops, however, will always push to have their own share. Wish there was something we could do.

Urge - Part 2

Abhay, a delhi based womaniser, lands up in a hospital while eve teasing a man's girlfriend. However, after being prostrate for a couple of days he goes into an argument with his best friend Ira (who is in love with Abhay.) Abhay realizes Ira's love for him but wants more from life - Fame and Respect. What's next in Abhay's life? Is he going to throw his aspirations away and lead his way into love or is he going to hurt his best friend's feeling and trust? Find out below - 

'Knock Knock...' It was my dad's knuckles that knocked my wardroom. I made out from the sound on the door.

Ira and I together looked towards the door wondering if our conversation was compromised.

"May I come in, my rockstar?" Dad inquired.

"Hi Dad! Please don't embarrass us." I smiled at him still thinking if he heard us.

My dad was one gem of a person, rarely found. A business tycoon who always had something running on his mind. There wasn't a single minute when he was not working. The glare in his eyes was one reasons for me being so ambitious. He was my idol, my role model. The most intelligent, cool and daring man I've ever met. Every time I had a moment in my life that had confused me, my dad would have an answer to it. The best part was that he always had time for me despite of him being such a busy person.

"Are you two having fun?" He came up with his usual comment. He always had a knack of teasing Ira and me whether or not we are doing anything. 

And I replied with my usual, a bit manipulated though, "Yeah! dad, what's better than having fun in a hospital. It has always been my fantasy."

"Just keep the sheets clean Rocky." He bursted out making Ira uncomfortable.

Even though dad had a notion that Ira and I had experimented with our sexuality together, he wasn't too sure. So, he'd tease us so that he could get some juice out of it but his coccus attempts always go in vain.

Dad walked up to Ira, "How are you sweetheart?"

"Good as always uncle, how are you?" Ira hugged and gave a peck on my dad's cheek.

It was something she always did and I had always adored. These two people showing love to each other. Even though dad used to tease Ira and me on our face, Ira knew he had a clean heart and have always respected him for being himself and not a phony. The moment these two hug each other has always been mesmerizing and serene for me. It was magical because it was pure and had no deceit involved.

Dad came up to me, opened up my still-black-eye with his hand, "This should take another week I guess, how are rest of the things? I've been visiting consistently but you just didn't want to wake up. I guess your friend has more powerful connection with you than I do. So, here we are."

"All is fine dad."

"Your dad has been worried Abhay. Everyone attached to you have been." She scornfully gazed at me.

"Ok enough, I am alive. Don't make me feel as if I have resurrected."

All three of us started laughing in unison.

Dad took a deep breath and held me by my shoulders, "You'll be fine rockstar. You're my boy."

"I'm sorry dad. Never ever..." My words made him turn his steps, he stopped as if he would turn around and say something to me but then walked out of the room. I could see his eyes reddened. It was the first time I had seen him in such a state. I realized I had seriously made an obnoxious mistake.

I looked towards Ira, she whispered, "I told you."

I was sad. Ira left the room knowing that I needed a time out. She always used to leave me alone in my desperate times for she knew that I required solitude to get over the dingy feelings. She also knew that if there would be anything still bothering me she would be the first person to be conversant. Such was our friendship.

Dad had startled me and doubled my concerns. I was already thinking about Ira and now dad being sad. I just could not take it. There were two things attached to it - 

A. I cannot discuss Ira with Ira.

B. I had seen dad sad, for the first time in my life, and only I had to change it.

I had to make a decision.

3 hours and 37 minutes later, I finally decided what to do about it.

Urge - Part 1

"Why were you looking at her?" He questioned me furiously.

"I wasn't looking at her man, I swear to God!" I rebuked.

"Oh, Ok. In that case, I am really sorry." He apologized and started to return to his girlfriend (or perhaps may be wife.)

"To be honest, I was looking at her ass, nice cute rounds." I winked at him, cunningly.

Bam!!!

A punch, right across my face that is all I remember of that day. Next, when I opened up my eyes was in a hospital ward with a glucose drip pinned on my arm.

I did remember arguing to the fat guy(most intimidating biceps I ever saw), that I was born with two eyes and I have a right to perceive things and enjoy the delicacies of life and nature. And yes, he did try to hit me back but I was later on told that I went unconscious right after the punch and the guy was pulled over by security, a hell of a dream. The guy dropped by two days back to apologize but I was asleep.

"Wait, what? Two days?" I went startled, "I've been unconscious for two days?"

"Three days...", looking at her watch, "...and 8 hours, to be specific." Ira, my most loving friend, replied (friend indeed, not girlfriend as you may think.)

"3 and almost a half day? I am surely not that weak. You know that Ira." I took the support of our subtle intimate coalescences.

"Of course not.." She smiled and winked at me.

"...You had shed too much blood. The bleeding must have caused weakness in your body and on top of that, all this morphine and antibiotics. Docs had a notion that you might sleep for another 2 days."

"Are you kidding me? Huh!" I obnoxiously questioned her.

However, to my dismay, she did not reply. It was altogether a different show of Ira's body language. She seemed uncomfortable.

I flee off my bed to her, my legs were numb and I limped. She ran towards me and held me..

"Don't...” she said in a disturbed voice.

"Why?" I questioned her before she could even finish her statement.

"The doctors said that you could go into coma..", tears started to roll off her face and I could feel the intensity of her concern.

'I am an asshole', I said to myself watching Ira shed tears. I know she didn't want to lose me, neither did I. We had something in our friendship. There was a bond we had developed over the span of our acquaintance and I did not realize that, for Ira, it had changed into love.

"I am sorry Ira." I murmured.

"You are the last person I'd want to lose in my life." She revolted and hugged me hard.

I could feel the warmth of her body and breath. Ira was a bomb and was an allure to anyone's eyes. My friends were jealous that I was friends with her and often pushed me to get into a relationship with her. She plunged her 32C into my chest and my hand automatically rolled over her buttocks as usual. Her embrace was strong and somewhere deep inside I did not want her to leave me at that moment.

However, I knew I did not love her and wanted a lot from my life. I wanted to be big and famous. I held her but in fear. Fear, that I might hurt her and it would be intentional for she hadn't disclosed her feelings for me but deep within I knew that she had fallen in love with me.

"I love you." I said not wanting to hurt her anymore. Trying to be responsible enough and willing to lead my life on the path she chooses for us.

"I love you too Abhay but you cannot just go into eve teasing other guys' girls. It's inappropriate." She managed out of my clutches and looked into my eyes.

"If you just wanna have sex, we can find someone for you but promise me you'll never do anything like this ever again." I started to think, 'What is she saying?' I could see her eyes questioning me, seeking an answer.

"What can I say Ira, I just did it for fun. Do you think I am that desperate?" I tried to sway her.

"I've been your only friend for 7 years now. I know you more than your parents do." She continued staring at me.

"No, it isn't like that. It's different, I've been kidding around all the time. You know that sweetie."

"Oh! Are you? I am so skeptical about that." She confronted me with the truth and I was baffled. I had nothing to say and was standing in front of her ashamed at myself, in despair.

"I am sorry." I blabbered.

"That's a nice way to apologize. You should be apologizing to yourself. Try and think what you really want to be in life. Don't throw your life away." She was going ballistic on me.

"I know what I want to do. Don't judge me..." I revolted, "...I don't want to be somebody's expectation and live my life at their expense." In a flash, I was back to square one. The ambitious Abhay.

"Abhay, I know you're very talented and smart. I adore you for that but I don't want you to die because of all your ruts. You need to grow up." Ira smartly caught hold of my Achilles' heel. "You're the only person I have whom I can deeply trust. At times, I ponder upon the question that I might lose you and that day would be the saddest in my life."

'Knock Knock...'