Fate -- Part Four

"And now, we welcome Srini on the stage", cried the host.

Srini walked on the ramp with four beautiful models accompanying him. He was in his favorite black attire. The audience burst into enormous cheers as he walked. Whistles and claps followed the thunderous applause. But as he walked, he felt his nose paining. The pain was getting unbearable.

"Srini! Wake up", screamed Vivek shaking him vigorously. He opened his eyes slowly and looked at Vivek.

"Our project manager called me and asked us to come to office before eight today. The code we have delivered on Friday has crashed. We are under fire. Come fast", said Vivek exhibiting tremendous anxiety.

Srini was confused. He rubbed his eyes and put his fingers on his nose that was bandaged.
"What are you thinking? Come fast. We have to hurry up", said Vivek pulling him away from bed.

"I have to take my bath", he groaned.

"There is no time Srini. We are already late. Just wash your face and come"
In a couple of minutes, they were out.

"Are we going to office by bike?" asked Srini as Vivek zipped across the road.
"Switch off your mobile phone Srini. Somebody might trace us"

Srini followed his friend's instructions.

"Why are you looking tensed Vivek? What happened?"

Vivek was silent. After some time, he stopped his bike at the corner of the road. There were on a deserted highway. He took out a newspaper from his bike pouch and showed it to Srini.
"An unidentified man was found murdered in the toilet of Bangalore express. Police are investigating the details of the deceased……………." Srini's hands and legs started trembling as he read the news.

Sunday

Anand stopped the car a few yards ahead of Naren at the beach.

"It would be better if you give this money to him", said Sheetal.

"He already hates me. If I give this money, it will add to more suspicion. Just go bravely, hand him the money, warn him and come back
as early as possible", he advised her.

Sheetal stepped out of the car and went to Naren. She gave him money.
"Click….click", went the photographs on Anand's mobile. Everything was perfect as he had planned.

He dropped her home and went to his house where he parked his car. He caught an auto and reached the railway station.

Two weeks ago, he had called Naren over phone. He knew that Naren was struggling financially.
He lured Naren to blackmail Sheetal and demand fifty thousand rupees from her. Naren had agreed to it. The plan worked out well. Vivek grew suspicious on Sheetal. The photos showing Sheetal handing money to Naren would further confirm his suspicion.

But……..But Naren had cheated him. He had demanded a lakh and got away with it.
After a brief search, he found Naren walking towards the train. He followed him.

It took a while for him to notice that Vivek was also in the station. He was surprised. He did not expect that Vivek would follow Naren and talk to him. He hid behind a pillar and observed them.
After Vivek left the restroom, he quickly barged into it and closed the door behind.

Monday

Vivek sat on a short milestone and knelt down put both his hands on his head.
"You idiot. Did you assault him yesterday?" Srini asked Vivek furiously.
"No!" Vivek shook his head.

"Then…."
Vivek was silent.

"It now appears that we have murdered him because we have been there", said Srini growing more nervous.

"Do you think the police will stick posters carrying our photos throughout the city?", asked Srini.
"I don't think so", said Vivek.

"The bandage on my nose will prove that we fought yesterday. Even the police would have found some blood drops at the spot. What shall we do now?" he asked trembling. Vivek was silent.
“Vivek! Listen to me. We will surrender to the police and tell them everything. That’s the only way we can avoid punishment”

Sunday

"Did you tell him everything?" Anand asked Naren furiously.

"He threatened me that he would snatch this money. So I had to tell him the truth"
"What did you tell him?"

"I told him about how you and Sheetal cheated me during our training", Naren said angrily.
"Did you tell him about our plan?"

"No! I told him that I came here to blackmail her after I received her wedding card"
"Good!”, he smiled but changed his expression in a moment.

“Now tell me. You said you needed only fifty thousand. Why did you ask her for lakh? Give back fifty thousand" groaned Anand.

"You first answer my question. Why did you ask me to blackmail Sheetal? What do you gain by that?"

"That's none of your business", he replied angrily.
"No! You will not get the fifty thousand back until you tell me the truth"

"Anand! Give back my money. Else the consequences would be fatal"
"Your money! Is it not Sheetal's money? The truth is slowly coming from your mouth. Anand, tell me the truth. I will give back your share and leave home"

"Because I love Sheetal. I want her to be mine", said Anand.
Naren was shocked.
"Then, weren't you having an affair with Sheetal?", he asked.

Anand was silent. "Come on. Speak out if you want back your money. The train will leave in another ten minutes"
"Sheetal never loved me. She treated me as a friend, only a friend", yelled Anand.

"I have known her for several years. I wanted to propose her. But I was afraid that if she said 'No', I might lose her. I cannot afford to lose her. I wanted her. I wanted her friendship. I wanted her to be with me forever".

Naren was dumbfounded.

Anand continued. "When I was onsite, you grew close to her. She kept telling me about you. I was supposed to stay onsite for 12 months. But I cut short my trip to 3 months and came back. Do you know how much money I lost because of you?" he said pointing his finger towards Naren.
"I then started getting closer to her. My intention was to make her avoid you. She often visited her aunt who lived at the outskirts of the city where we underwent training. I lied to her that even my relatives lived nearby and used as a good reason to drive her in my car. The 'accident' and 'sister suffering from cancer' were all deliberate lies. That day she was crying and telling me that you were suspecting her. She was unable to bear that pain.

When I saw you coming towards us, I immediately held both her hands and moved closer to her in the process of consoling her. I knew that you were watching us from another angle. I knew what would be running in your mind then”, he smiled wickedly.

“Many, many such small things contributed to my success and separated both of you. Finally, you suspected an innocent girl and parted ways with her"

Naren was terribly aggravated.

"Why are you getting angry on me? It was your mistake Naren. If you have truly loved her and trusted her, you wouldn't have doubted her sincerity"

"You scoundrel. If Sheetal knows this…."

"Stop…Stop…Do you think Sheetal will believe you anymore. Past is past. Now give back my money. I have to go now"

Naren was unable to unable to control his anger. "I will kill you", saying he pounced on Anand. Both of them fought in the restroom like mad animals. In the process, Anand pulled a steel pipe ferociously and smashed it on Vika's head. The horn sounded. The train started moving slowly.

Monday

“Don’t be foolish. Do you think the police will believe us?”, said Vivek. “We have to prove that we are innocent. Come with me”, saying he started his bike.

“Who do you think must have murdered Naren?”, asked Srini
“Who else, Anand…”, he replied

“How are we going to prove that?”, he asked.
“We have to search for some evidence in his house. First we will try to convince Sheetal. Then we will ask her to give Anand’s address”

Srini was unable to come to terms with his friend. He knew that it would be a herculean task to reveal the truth from Anand.

"You idiot. I was happily sitting in his drawing room and watching television on that fateful evening when you dragged me to the station. Now you made me accused in a murder case", muttered Srini as they travelled.

“You idiot. Don’t shout. Some passer-by might overhear us”, grumbled Vivek.
He stopped the bike a few meters ahead of Sheetal’s house.
“You wait here and keep a watch. I will talk to Sheetal and come”, said Vivek as he walked cautiously towards Sheetal’s house.

Many thoughts started flowing in Srini’s mind.
“What if somebody murder’s Sheetal after Vivek comes out of the house like it happened in the train?”, he thought.

Suddenly Vivek came running towards him.
“What happened?”, asked Srini fearfully.

“She is getting inside an auto and going somewhere. We have to follow her”
Vivek and Srini followed the auto.

The auto halted at near an apartment. A large gathering surrounded the building.

Sunday

Naren fell down triggered by the sudden blow on his head. Anand dropped the rod appalled. He had killed Naren. His dream of marrying Sheetal has come to an end.

No! He had not murdered Naren. It should be Vivek. Vivek had noticed Naren blackmailing Sheetal several times. He followed Naren here. After knowing the truth, Vivek got into a fit of rage and killed him. The entire world would believe it. Even Sheetal!

He was proud of his achievement and smiled to himself. This was something he hadn’t anticipated.

He quickly held the rod with his kerchief and washed it with water to clear his fingerprints. He snaffled the money from Naren and put it into his pocket. He then pulled the bolt of the door. It was struck. He was unable to open the door. The speed of the train gradually increased. He made a slight turn at Naren.

Naren lay dead. Was he really dead?

Anand struggled to open the door of the restroom. Had somebody bolted it from outside? No! That door would not have a bolt outside.

He used all his force and eventually the door opened. He took a huge gasp of breath.
There was a sound, a sound of metals clinging.

Suddenly a deafening blow fell on his head. He eyes rolled as he turned back. Naren stood there carrying the wash basin in his hands. One more blow, Anand lay dead on the floor. Naren looked at him.

"This should be the fate of all those who cheat in the name of friendship"

Monday

Anand's body was carried to his home after the post mortem was conducted. Sheetal wept bitterly at the loss of her best friend. Vivek and Srini joined her.

"Vivek! Anand went to warn Naren against disturbing me in my life again. But Naren had grudge over him. So he killed him", she said.

“It was all because of me…….because of me”, she broke down putting her hands on her face. Vivek consoled her.

Naren surrendered to the police and was admitted in the government hospital for treatment. Vivek and Srini met him at the hospital. His face was severely bandaged. Naren explained them the happenings in the train. He paused for a few seconds and held Vivek's hand.

"Don't reveal these to Sheetal", he said. "I knew how much she trusted Anand. If you tell her the truth, she cannot bear it. It will be a big blow to her. Sheetal is very sensitive girl.”

“Vivek! Let her think that I murdered him because of past enmity. Let her hate me for the rest of her life. It is good for her as well as her future."

"What about you?", asked Vivek. He felt pity for Naren.

"If I die, everything will be well and good. If I survive, I will have to face the law", said Naren. Tears flowed from his eyes.

If only, he hadn’t suspected her. If only, he hadn’t parted away from her.

The story later………..

Naren was acquitted on the basis of self-defense. Whether he had married or not is not known?

Srini’s girlfriend dumped him because he spent most of his time watching fashion channel than with her.

Vivek and Sheetal were married to each other and lived happily ever after.
Whenever Sheetal remembered Anand, she wept and Vivek consoled her.

“If he would have been alive…….”, she often told him.
“I would have been in jail”, he mumbled to himself.

-----THE END-----

Fate -- Part Three

The bus swerved into different roads that were enveloped by a very dense fog and Vivek followed it with turbulent momentum. He observed the passengers getting down at each and every stop and his enemy wasn’t present amongst them.

Finally the bus reached the depot with a few passengers in it. Vivek instantly put his bike stand and ran towards the area where it was stationed.

"Son! Can you please hold this basket until I get down the stairs", said an old woman handing over a big basket to him at the door of the bus. He took the burden from her. He held his breath for a long time as it contained fish. Dry fish! He handed the basket back to her after she got down and hurried into the bus. There was nobody except the conductor and the driver. He looked all around the place. His enemy had gone. Disappeared into the darkness!

A message tone sounded in his mobile. It was Sheetal.

"Reached home safely. Good Night and Sweet Dreams".

Vivek came home weary and dejected. He neither knew the stranger nor his name. He first saw him at the beach. The guy was staring at them when he was parking his bike. He grew slightly suspicious but assumed it was a fact that people generally stare at beautiful girls in public places. But when they came back from the beach, he was still there, watching every movement of them. His suspicion gradually increased when Sheetal grew tensed on seeing the stranger.

The same guy again appeared at the theatre. He had seen Sheetal talking to him during the interval. She was tensed throughout the second half of the movie. Many questions pondered over his mind and his head started aching. He picked his mobile and called her. Alas, the line was engaged. His frustration reached its peak.

“With whom is she talking at midnight”, he wondered. “It must be Anand”

“Instead of telling him, she could have shared her problems with me”, he muttered and fell asleep.

It was Sunday evening. Srini's parents were out to attend a marriage reception. This was the best time he watched fashion shows on his favourite channel.

"What beautiful models?" he said to himself when the door bell rang.

"Oh my God! Why did they come so early?" he groaned.

He quickly changed the channel to a news channel and opened the door. It was Vivek.
"Come in", he said heaving a sign of relief.

Vivek walked inside. Srini hastily closed the door and put back the fashion show.
"We have to go to beach now", said Vivek.

“Now!” exclaimed Srini sorrowfully. He had no other choice.

He quickly dressed himself, had once last glance at the models and accompanied his friend to the beach hurling a flurry of curses in his mind.

Naren waited at the beach. A car stopped before him. Sheetal approached him holding something in a dark plastic cover.

"Here's the money you asked", she said handing it to him.

He peeked into the cover and appeared convinced. He put it carefully inside his bag.

"And never show me your face again", she said angrily.

He smiled sarcastically and left her.

"Sheetal has left in that car", said Srini watching them from a distance.

"You idiot! What's the use watching Sheetal? Watch that guy's movements?" growled Vivek.

Naren stopped a speeding auto and hopped into it.

“Come on Vivek! Start the bike”, roared Srini and they chased him. They travelled across many lanes, roads and junctions until the auto came to a sudden halt.

"Railway Station!" exclaimed Srini.

"You park my bike and come inside. I will be following him", said Vivek handing the bike to Srini.

The station was crowded. Naren went towards the platform where the Bangalore express was stationed. He got into the sleeper compartment and sat near a window.

Vivek waited until Srini joined him.

"I think he had reserved his ticket. Everything is well planned”, said Vivek.

“You wait at the door. I will go in”, he told Srini.

Vivek got inside the train patted Naren on his back.

"Happy Journey mate", he said. “But without that bag”

Naren was taken aback. He got up, held his bag tightly and ran towards the door. Srini pounced on him at the door and held him with all his might. Naren punched hard at Srini on his nose. But Vivek caught his shirt, dragged him back and overpowered him. He firmly held Naren by wrist and led him to the restroom.

"You keep a guard here. I will talk to him and come", he said to Srini.

Blood oozed out from Srini’s nose. He looked at his friend furiously and nodded his head.
Vivek dragged Naren inside the restroom and banged the door.

“Please! I want this money. I will return it in a couple of months. Believe me”, pleaded Naren.
“First tell me who are you? Why are you blackmailing her? Then I will let you go, with the money of course”

Naren had no option. He had to tell everything. He nodded his head.

“We were together in the training batch. Then I proposed Sheetal”, he said recollecting the events of the past.

“She accepted my proposal and we were in love. Four precious months in my life! There were no misunderstandings between us. Everything went fine until that fellow Anand came back from onsite. She started getting closer to him. I knew that he was her best friend. She told me a lot of things about him. But then, some incidents made me think otherwise”

“What are those incidents?” asked Vivek.

“After he came, she started avoiding me. They often talked secretly and she never told me what the matter was. She often roamed with him in his new car. Initially I did not question her respecting her privacy. I once saw him resting his head on her shoulder in the bus one day. She did not notice me then. I asked her if something was wrong.

She told me that he was unwell and giddy but I saw him partying and chasing one of his friends. I knew that he as perfectly fit. Then came my birthday. I wanted to spend some time with her in the evening. She said she was having fever. I then went to her room late in the evening, but I was told that she had gone out with Anand somewhere. As days passed, we got into several heated arguments. Things were never the same.

Misunderstandings arose between us. I knew that there was something going on between them. Even my friends told me the same thing. One evening I saw them sitting at a park. She was crying. She was holding his hand and was saying something. He was consoling her. And then mate, I cannot reveal you some things that I have seen, but they were true.

I knew that she was cheating me. We got into a huge quarrel one evening and finally decided to part ways. I got transferred to Bangalore and she came here”
Vivek listened to him patiently.

“I was doing a part-time business and suffered a huge loss. The people who lent me money have gone to the police. In that distressed situation, I received her wedding card. I needed money desperately. I asked her for help. She denied. So I had to blackmail her”, said Naren.

Time passed by. Srini felt very uncomfortable as many people gushed in and out of the train passing him. Vivek came out of the restroom.
“Let’s go”, he said to Srini.

Srini wiped the blood on his nose with his index finger and showed it to Vivek.
“I am really sorry Srini”, said Vivek
“What’s the next program?” asked Srini.

“I will drop you at a nearby hospital and then meet Sheetal”, he replied.
Sheetal was initially reluctant to speak about Naren but after Vivek forced her, she finally told her version of the story.

“It was true that I loved him. I was sincere towards him. But he started suspecting me about having an affair with Anand. Anand was my childhood friend and naturally very close to me. He is infact like a brother to me. He has a lot of problems which he shares with me. Recently his elder sister complained of pain and got admitted in the hospital.

It was diagnosed that she had cancer. He was very upset about it. I had to console him several times regarding that matter. He had many other family problems regarding property. He shared them all with me. These are something which I cannot keep telling everyone. But Naren hated me talking to him. He never listened to me. Naren invited me to his birthday.

I was having fever that day and hence couldn’t participate in his party. But that day, Anand met with an accident and I had to pay a visit to him. Naren never understood my feelings. He spoke very meanly about me and Anand to his friends. He disgraced me in public. It was pain, an unbearable pain. I cannot tolerate people suspecting my integrity. Quoting an affair with Anand as a reason, he decided to part ways with me” she said breaking into tears.

“Vivek! I could have told you all this earlier but I was not sure as to how would you react. You even know that my dad isn’t well and I was afraid that I might lose him, if our marriage gets cancelled”, she said sobbing.

“Naren approached me suddenly after a long time and asked me money. He said that he was in a debt and the police are looking for him. Anand came to my rescue and helped me in arranging the money. I did not give him money since he was blackmailing me, but because I wanted to help him. Because I wanted him to be happy”, she concluded.

Vivek reached the hospital where Srini was waiting for him wearing a bandage on his nose. He updated Srini with the recent developments.
“So, your enemy is gone and the problems are solved”, said Srini.

“No Srini! He is not our enemy”, said Vivek.
“Then!”

“Anand is cheating Sheetal in the name of friendship”, said Vivek controlling his anger. “I will seal his fate tomorrow morning”

Monday morning!
The city edition of the newspaper read

“Man found murdered in the train”

- To be continued

Fate -- Part Two

She was undergoing her job training at a place located a few hundred kilometers away from her native city. It was her first job. It was also the first time she was staying away from her parents. It was altogether a new environment. An environment where she had the freedom to do whatever she wanted, whatever she felt was correct.

She met many new people and made a lot of friends. Naren was one of them. He was also a member of her training batch. Their relationship started with a heated argument over a software program. They grew close to each other. Days passed into weeks. Their friendship blossomed in a short time. They began sharing moments of their personal lives, their joys and sorrows. One fine evening he proposed her.

Sheetal was silent. She felt it difficult to respond.

“Say something Sheetal. Please”, he pleaded her.

She grew nervous. There were days when she scolded him, teased him, even mocked him on his head, but now she felt it even difficult to look at his face.

“Sheetal! I am serious…Come on…say something….” She still remained silent.

“Sheetal”, screamed her mother holding a cup of coffee. She woke up from her bed startled.

“Aren’t you going to office today?”

Sheetal rubbed her eyes and looked at the wall clock. It was seven already.

She quickly bathed, dressed up and made her way to office. Her mobile rang.

“Where are you?” Anand asked her.

“On the way to office. Will be there in another 45 minutes”, she replied.

“Ok”, he said.

“I will message you once I reach office. Come to Food Court”, she said.

“Ok”

The food court was crowded as usual. Sheetal managed to find a vacant table and messaged Anand. “I am at the table where we had breakfast last Friday. Come fast”.

Anand was her friend since her school days. He was someone whom she trusted a lot. The best thing about him was that he was very open-minded. He expressed his opinions freely. Moreover, he had helped her several times in the past when she was desperately in need. She knew that he would help her now. He would find a solution to her problem. Only then, she would feel relieved.

“Good Morning”, said a voice.

“Vivek”, she was perplexed. He was accompanied by his friend Srini.

“How come you are in this branch?” she asked him.

“Just felt like meeting you. So decided to work in this branch today”, he replied with a mischievous smile.

“And forced me too”, grumbled Srini. She smiled and rolled her eyes towards the entrance door looking for Anand. There was no sight of him.

“I tried calling you several times yesterday night. Were you busy?” Vivek asked her raising his eyebrows.

“Oh Vivek! My mobile had some signal problem yesterday. Even my friends told the same thing. They said that they were unable to reach me since evening”.

“Oh!” he exclaimed. ”I tried continuously for an hour or so”

“But you could have tried calling my landline phone!” she shot back.

Anand joined them shortly. After having their breakfast, they all parted into different directions to their respective buildings, Vivek and Srini towards the east, Sheetal towards the north and Anand towards the west.

“Vivek! My girl friend asked me to get a chocolate while coming”, said Srini as they strolled towards their block.

“We are halfway to our building. You go and get it. I will carry on”, said Vivek sluggishly.
Srini turned back to the Food Court and Vivek continued his way when his mobile rang.
“What happened?” he asked Srini.

“Vivek!” he shrieked. “Sheetal and Anand are sitting here and discussing something. Come fast!”
Vivek was taken aback. “Wait! I am coming”, he said and hurried back to the Food court where Srini was waiting for him. He caught a glimpse of them. Their facial expressions when they were talking clearly revealed that there was something wrong.

“There is something going on between them. We all left this place together. But why did they come back. Even in the morning, she was in fact waiting for Anand, but unexpectedly met us. She is hiding something from you Vivek”, whispered Srini. “We will hide here and watch them”
“Let’s go away from here before they see us”, Vivek caught Srini’s arm and dragged him away. “She will mistake me if he notices us hiding here. She will definitely explain me everything in detail”. They went back to their cubicle.

“I am in a dilemma. Shall I tell everything to Vivek?” Sheetal asked Anand.
“Don’t be hasty. What will you do if he reacts negatively? And remember Sheetal, your dad has just recovered from a massive heart attack. If your marriage is cancelled, it will have an adverse impact on his health?”

She listened attentively to him with her eyes wide open.

“Naren will definitely follow you in the next few days. As soon as you see him, message me. I will join you. I will try talking to him individually. If he doesn’t pay heed to me, then I will call my group and have a go at him. If the situation worsens, then we will involve Vivek. You then have to convince Vivek that you just treated Naren as your friend, but he tried misbehaving with you and you started ignoring him. There is no other option.”

She nodded her head.

“But I don’t understand why he is following me now. What the hell is he expecting from me? Why does he want to torture me and that too before my marriage?” anxiety writ large on her face. She was almost on the verge of breaking down.

“Avoid roaming out with Vivek for a couple of days, until this matter gets resolved”, he advised her.

Four days passed by. Wherever she went, her eyes moved across all the directions looking for someone following her. There was nobody of that sort. Naren had gone, she assumed.
“After seeing my intimacy with Vivek at the beach, he must have felt dejected and gone back to his native place”, she told Anand over the phone.

“Ha! That’s what we wanted”, he said.

It was Saturday evening. Vivek and Sheetal were watching a movie in a multiplex. During the interval, Vivek went out of the theatre to get her some snacks. She glanced around the huge hall that lay before her. There were not many people in the theatre in spite of being a weekend. Many seats were unoccupied. The audience mostly consisted of couples and a few family members.

“Hi Sheetal”, said a well-known voice from behind. Sheetal turned her head and looked back. She received a shock. Naren was sitting in the row behind her. Her heart started beating faster. He took his mobile phone from his pocket and held it close to his ear so that nobody would notice him talking to her.

“What….What do you want? Why are you following me?” she stammered apprehensively.
“I will go, but listen to me to me first”, he said leaning forward and getting closer to her ear. She wiped the sweat drops accumulated on her forehead and repeatedly looked at the entrance door lest Vivek might notice them conversing.

“I am in a crisis. I need your help”, he said. She looked at him.

“You knew that I was doing a part-time marketing business”, he continued. “I have incurred a huge loss and fell into a debt of six lakhs. The financiers have registered a case against me and the police are after me. With the assistance of bank loans and friends, I could arrange only five lakhs. I need a lakh more. Do help me. I will return the money in another two months and will never disturb you in my life again. I desperately need your help in this regard.”

Meanwhile, Vivek entered the hall carrying some refreshments.

“Why should I help you? Who are you to me?, she retorted back to him. “My would-be is coming. Please go away from here”. She turned her head towards the screen.

“Sheetal!” said Naren furiously still leaning forward, “Till now, I have just pleaded you. I did not intend to blackmail you. Nevertheless, if you refrain from doing so, I have no other choice. I will go to any extent. I want the money tomorrow. I will be waiting for you at the beach where I saw you last week. Meet you tomorrow at 6:30 PM sharp, with the money of course.” He leant back on his seat holding his mobile pretending to be talking to someone.

Vivek approached Sheetal holding a plastic plate containing puffs in one hand and cold coffee in the other. She received the eatables from him and he sat beside her.

“Why did it take so long? Was the counter crowded”, she asked him trying best to control her emotions.

“Yeah!” he nodded.

As the movie came to an end, Vivek and Sheetal got up from their seats and walked towards the exit. She made a quick look at the row behind her. Naren was not there. Her eyes looked around to confirm whether he had gone. He was near the exit door slowing down his pace.

The audience walked along the corridor that led to the parking area. Naren walked alongside Vivek and Sheetal till they came out of the multiplex. It was dark outside.

“The climax was good”, said Vivek as they neared his bike.

She remembered the story only until the interval. She did not pay attention to the second half.
“Sheetal! I have to meet my aunt who lives nearby. Do you mind going home by auto?” he asked her.

“No Problem”, she said.

He bargained an auto and she got into it. Naren crossed the road and got into a bus travelling towards the other end.

“Good Night”, he waved his hand and the auto left.

Vivek quickly rushed back to his bike, put on his helmet and followed the bus in which Naren was travelling.

“I will get that idiot today”, he swore.

- To be continued

Fate -- Part One

The moonlight glittered the waves in the beach. Vivek and Sheetal were involved in a serious conversation. They were engaged to each other and this was their first outing together.

Sheetal was saying something interesting, when Vivek held her hand suddenly.


“I love you”, he said. There was a brief silence.


“Me too”, she said looking into his eyes.


“So, what’s the next program?”, he asked her


“Vivek”, she said, “I think we are getting late. It’s nearing 9. My mom would scold me”.


“Don’t you feel like staying a little longer?”, he asked her with a mischievous smile on his face.


“We shall come again tomorrow”, she said smiling exposing her beautiful dimple.


They got up from the sand, dusted their clothes and walked towards the road where he parked his bike. It started drizzling.


“What about Switzerland?”, he asked her.


“Why too far? Moonar would be okay”


“Baby boy or girl!”


“What would you prefer?” she looked at him.


“A beautiful baby girl”, he replied.


“Same pinch”, she said as they neared his bike.


She sat on his bike and placed her hand on his shoulder. The rain started getting heavier.


“Shall we wait until the rain stops?”, he asked her.


“I love getting wet in the rain”, she replied abruptly.


Vivek felt very excited. She possessed all the qualities of the perfect girl he expected to be his life partner. He felt was he was the luckiest person in the world at the moment.


Sheetal noticed people started running helter-skelter because of the rain. Some moved under the shade of a nearby icecream parlour and some inside their cars. The peanut vendors were hastily covering their peanut sacks with a thick blanket. Suddenly something caught her attention. Sheetal’s heart missed a beat. A strange chill ran down her spine. Her hands and legs started trembling. Vivek started his bike.


“Shall we start?”, he asked her. There was no reply.

“Sheetal, shall we start”, he asked her in a louder tone.

“Yes!”

She tightened the grip of her hand on his shoulder and held him firmly.


“Are you okay?”, he asked her as they travelled across the deserted road getting wet in the rain.
“Yeah! I am okay”, she replied. She was silent all the way when the bike came to an abrupt halt. She did not even sense that she had reached her home.


“Good Night”, he said and left.


“Why are you looking tensed?”, asked her mother serving the dinner.


“Nothing”, she replied.



It was midnight. Sheetal was unable to sleep. She picked her mobile and dialled Anand.
“Hi Sheetal”, came an instantaneous reply.


“Anand”, she screamed in a worried tone.


“What happened Sheetal?”


“I saw him”, her voice shivered. “I saw him at the beach”


Anand paused for a few seconds.


“Are you sure?”


“I am absolutely sure…..I saw him………... ”,her voice stammered, “He was staring at me”


Meanwhile Vivek felt difficult to sleep. Sheetal had disturbed him a lot. He picked his mobile and called her. Alas, the line was busy. He tried her again and again but in vain.



“Did Vivek see him?”, Anand asked Sheetal.


“No”


Anand sensed her sobbing.


“Sheetal”, consoled Anand. “There is nothing to worry. We shall do something to get rid of this problem”


“I am really afraid Anand. I don’t know what’s going to happen in my life. ”, she said rubbing her tears.


“I am there. Don’t worry. We will discuss this matter at office tomorrow. Stop thinking about this and go to sleep”.


“Do you think we can resolve this problem”


“Sure Sheetal. We shall definitely find a way out. Just pray to God and go to sleep”, he consoled her.


“Ok”


“Good Night”


“Good Night”.


Sheetal fell on her bed and closed her eyes. The unforgettable events of the past appeared before her.


--To be continued

LOVE you MOM

You went through pain that’s nearly half death

And brought me onto this beautiful earth

It’s funny when they called it my birth

For in reality it was your second birth!

You gave me space in your womb

And handled my kicks aplomb

Shared your food and your body

And protected me by being sturdy

I became your life ever since I was born

It seemed as if your soul was torn

At times you looked careworn

But with my every little smile and giggleyou were re-born

Speechless you became when I spoke my first word

And ecstatic you were, when I took my first step

Pride I could read in your gleaming eyes

With every little victory that I had in my vies

Whether it was prize or fear or tears that I had

I would run to your arms and cuddle you tight

It’s like a Sun that goes beneath the mountains for rest

Or the birds that fly back home to their nest

Grown up now I am, that for you

I don’t have timeI keep running around the clock for the little dime

Its emails, calls, conferences and meetings

Or sms, chats and friendly dating

Frustrated when Iam, I throw up a taunt

But my happiness and well being is all that you want

You bury up your emotions and put up a smile

And once I leave home you pray for me all while

My ignorance is shed and I’ve understood your plight

That its not just old age but loneliness you fight

I run across to you and lie in your lap

I weep and cry and take a short nap

Nothing I do to you can repay your love

For it’s simply eternal and pure

I just pray to god to give me another birth

Where I can be the mother and you my child….

specially dedicated to my periamma .. mom and chithi.. mama's

MURPHY’S LAW

Among the thousands of theories and laws that the world has seen since its inception, the single most effective law, that every one of us will stand up to in agreement, is the one and only Murphy’s Law. The popular version of the law is “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong”. I, a strong realist since time immemorial, was forced, rather hacked into acceptance to this law by some recent incident, on a dark and wet Feb night a few days back!!The day was long awaited, as my friend Sandeepwas to land at the airport on Saturday, the 1st of Feb and I was supposed to receive him. We were to meet after a gap of one year, and nostalgic memories of college days were flooding through my mind since the night before. He was to be engaged on the next to next day, and the weekend was going to be one to remember. Alas, it will be remembered forever!!

The flight was supposed to land at 1:20 AM (yeah... in the night!!), and I started for the airport at 11 PM. Just as I stepped out of my apartment, it began raining, and all the water that had been in the skies for the last 5 years came down on me. I ran into a taxi after getting drenched. He would not budge from his sleep, and shouted me out of his property. No other taxi was prepared to go. Finally, after standing by the muddy roadside, dripping wet and hungry, a noble souled taxi driver came to my help.

It would transport me to the airport…for a meager Rs. 450/-, a trip that ordinarily would not have cost me beyond 200 bucks. Anyways, the PUNCTUAL me was available at my master’s (Amit’s) service at 1300 hours. After all, I should have some dedication for my long lost friend, you see. But the ever punctual INDIAN AIRLINES had other plans for the day. The flight was late...by not 1...2...but 2 and a half hours, due to some “MINOR TECHNICAL SNAG”. Humph!! In the meantime, I had to while away my precious time in the waiting area. So, after having bought a ticket for Rs. 75/-, I took a seat.

In the meantime, I was checking the entry ticket to the airport, and it as written “VALID FOR THREE HOURS AFTER ENTRY”. So, after sitting for some time, I went outside for a smoke. Then came the fun part. While re-entering after 5 minutes, the security will not let me in; the reason being that I had gone out once, and that ended the validity of the ticket. The 3 hour validity was for stay inside the airport.

Huh!! Thanks to the ever vigilant security, my wallet was lighter by 75 rupees more, as I had to pay for another entry ticket. Too frightened now to even leave my cozy seat …I spent the next two hours dozing off…periodically waking up to hysterical bouts of madness, and frowning looks from the lady on the nest chair. God knows what she thought…if she had been a bit smarter, she would have gone and told the security to prevent all the drenched beggars (!!) like me from entering the airport. At least that’s what I looked like, after my rendezvous with the rains, and the muddy roadside.

At last, the flight landed, and after a further wait of 45 minutes, the great Sandeepemerged out, looking great, and absolutely flamboyant. Even his girlfriend, Preethi, was accompanying him on the flight. She was the lady with whom he was to be engaged tomorrow. The expression on Amit’s face, when he saw me, told me what I never wanted to know...how I looked. The look on Preethi’s face…when Sandeepintroduced me to her,was even more disturbing. I lost all my self respect when she innocently told me that she had taken me for a driver!!Finally, the day( night rather!!) ended, with me and Sandeep dropping Preethi at her folks home, and the two of us proceeding to my apartment to catch up with a long lost friend…SLEEP!! Nightmares were the order of the day for me…and I kept waking up…reminded constantly of the frowning lady’s visage, and of the security guard.

The new day is supposed to bring in new luck. True!! My luck changed too…but for the worse. The next day we got up to a hot good morning. The electricity had gone off, owing to the rain and winds the night before. It was already noon by the time we woke up, and the rains outside had no signs of ending their harassment on us muggles. The shouts from Sandeepwas cause of me waking up…he was shouting from the bathroom. He had soap all over, and the water had gone off. I had to rush ground floor to fetch him two heavy buckets of tube-well water. Another two buckets for my morning ablutions was like salt on the wound.

Thus, started my day. The next thing that came to mind , was of course LUNCH. The maid had bunked her duties that day, owing to the rains. I rushed to the kitchen, two find all of two potatoes playing hide and seek in the vegetable tray of the refrigerator. Nothing else edible, in any form, was in sight. Eating at home was out of question, and the two musketeers, me and poor Amit, set out on my bike for the restaurant near by, braving the rains. The restaurant welcomed us with upturned chairs, and sleeping waiters. It was closed that day!! The next thing we knew, we were frantically looking for a hotel in the locality, just to find all of them closed. It was sankranti, and all the commercial establishments were closed in my locality.

The next half hour was spent in coming back home, taking more money, and going to a large hotel for lunch. The wallet was lighter by 700 Indian bucks more. To avoid any more misfortunes, we came back home and went to sleep again…no TV…no ELECTRICITY...no NEWSPAPERS. It was raining outside like it had never before.We had to go to the market that evening. Sandeephad to buy his dress for the next day’s function, and a diamond ring for Preethi. We also had to arrange rooms for his relatives, who were supposed to be arriving early the next day. We set out in the rains.

My bike was the transport we had, and some showers from the skies would not be stopping us from doing our best for the day after. We set out first on arranging rooms for the relatives. After wondering around, maybe the whole of the city, we could not find a single hotel which could spare us 4 rooms for a day. Almost everywhere we went, we were met with “NO VACANCY, SIR”, or exorbitant rates. In the midst of all this, suddenly the fuel in my bike vanished, and it stopped dead.

The next half hour, I was feeling like a bonded laborer, pushing a 200 kilo bike through the rains, to the nearest filling station. Then, after giving my bike a heavy diet of petrol, we set out on our task again. It was raining so hard now, the raincoats were useless, and riding a bike was like driving a open hooded car on the bed of the pacific. My spectacles had fallen off somewhere and got crushed under an auto sometime before, and I was feeling what u all can be ...now...absolutely HOPELESS.

But hey…there was more to come. Finally, we managed to find a decent hotel and booked the rooms. It was already 9 by the time we accomplished this. We had to rush to the garments store for the engagement paraphernalia. We just managed to barge into one finally. The salesmen were reluctant to let us in, the reason being we were dripping wet, and that we did not look a bit like we would manage to even barter, let alone buy something from a store of that reputation. Anyways, finally we were at the counter with the chosen goods, and about to pay.

The cashier smiled at us...and said apologetically...”Sir!! Due to some damage to the lines, we are not accepting credit cards tonight”. It was like a bolt of lightning striking us head on...WE HAD NO CASH. Leaving Sandeepat the store, I had to rush in the rains to the ATM nearby. Finally, the poor fellows, the two of us, were back in the rains on a measly bike, loaded with a whole lot of garments and a diamond ring for the bride. It was 11.30 in the night by then.It was then that we felt the pangs of hunger. We had no moolah left on us to go to a hotel, and so decide to go to a fast food outlet nearby.

When we reached there, we were informed that all food was over. The water on the streets by then, was more than knee height. We took some eggs from the vendor, and set out home. At least we could go back home and have some omelets. It was then that maybe my bike could not take it any more, and decided to stop dead in the midst of the road. Any amount of coaxing or cursing proved futile to make it start.

We had no option but to throw away the eggs, and enter a 4 star hotel nearby...for our food and shelter nearby. The time was 12, and home was 16 kms away, and there was no transport in sight at that hour in that weather. Going to the moon would have been easier.After having our food and paying the money (thank god, at least the credit cards worked here!!), we tried our luck with the bike again, It was as dead as a dodo. We then decided to take a room and stay there for the night, though it would be costly.

The next thing we knew, we were at the reception asking for a double room for the night. The beautiful lady there gave us a practiced smile (maybe pitiful!!), and told us that a room would be available at our service for just Rs. 5000 only. This time it was a hundred bolts of lightning that had struck us. The speed with which we scooted from the reception will put even Carl Lewis to shame. The bike kept outside the hotel, and having given a princely sum of Rs. 20 to the guard at the entrance, to keep a watch on the bike, we started for the station, so that we could get an auto to go home and end the day.

It took us twenty minutes of fitful walking in the lashing rains, to reach an auto. It was his day, so he charged us around 300 bucks for a distance of 15 kms, and we tamely agreed, not wishing to give our luck any more chance to pound us. We reached home, and the first thing I realized was that the keys had fallen off somewhere. We woke up my neighbor to ask for a hammer to break the lock, and though he gave us a smile and a hammer, we could still hear the curses that were emanating from behind the closed doors, once he had closed it.

We finally entered, after creating a din enough to have woken up the entire building. Then the next blow…ELECTRICITY was back in all the apartments, but mine. We had neither the energy, nor the desire to fight our darned luck any more. We tamely gave in, and went to sleep. Washing ourselves was out of question, as that would mean running 3 floors below to get some more buckets of water. The day had started with a blow on the head, and ended with the feeling of wanting to get blown off by cannon.If somebody can give me a better example of Murphy’s Law coming true, I promise to pay him all my bank balance.

If not, let my name appear on the records as the best specimen to ever have a law applied on him, and I am the uncrowned king in the annals of the history of this universal law. Everything that could have gone wrong, had gone haywire with me for the past 36 hours, and I am still here, live and kicking. Kudos to me…Kudos to the great Murphy!! And for those of you who would like to know about the next day, do call me up sometime. That was an entirely different story altogether. And I bet…you shall enjoy knowing about that too!!