SNEH.....A Short Story

She was staring at the train schedule screen at the busy Churchgate Station.Lost in oblivion she was recalling,how he would come to collect her from there and together they would board the Andheri Slow Local.He had special liking for slow local trains as it gave him 10 minutes more with her.With the evening sea breeze blowing her hair,he would keep on arranging them,and she would keep on blabbering in and out on how her day had been.With roasted groundnuts in his hand he would keep on throwing one by one to her mouth.She had always sensed jealousy and pleasure in the co-passengers.She seldom missed any of them,infact he was really good at it.

Three years later,she was married now.The turmoils and the great days together kept on bringing smiles to her.Memories and memoirs were indeed worth cherishing.She had been expecting,since last six months.The maternity leave application had been accepted today by her superiors at the Bank.Fellow female Colleagues kept on taunting and commenting her,she was the best after all in the area she handled.She was pregnant during the peak period of her career,and well thats not acceptable nowadays by the success driven society.The society which itself doesnt know the definition of success.

She felt bit remorse and gloomy.Reasons she didnt know herself.Perhaps something should not have happened.Perhaps they should have excersised precautions.Perhaps,they shouldnt have married.And a random thought too,hopefully it will be a miscarriage and she will be back to her desk.

A tear trickled out,Sneh had ensured nothing happens to her.Disciplined evening and Morning strolls,well designed diet,proper nutrients/medicines on time.She recalled how he got rid of his smoking habit,saying it could harm her and the baby.Every saturday he would take her to the doctor just to ensure all was fine.Checked her virtually via Online modes or phone calls every two hours.She recalled,how he begged before her Mom,to be available during delivery.She recalled how he sobbed when her mother declined it and said she was no longer related.

A tender touch over the shoulder,anybody else would have stuttered and shivered.But Priya knew the touch,it was of the dream,of the comfort,of the cushion,of the pain,of the love,of Sneh.He turned her slowly towards him,kept his left hand over her head.She felt like crying again,then smiled.Natural reaction her face had whenever they touched his shoulders since the first time they had touched.

'Doctor has restricted against groundnuts,today we'll be playing with grapes,fresh from Nagpur.'He excitingly murmured into her ears.

PAIN PAIN GO AWAY..A Short Story

A walk from station to room was always a pleasure.With a cigarette in hand,waving smiles at few known faces and enjoying the evening sea breeze.It had been my daily habit since the day I joined this small financial firm at Tambaram,Chennai.

Today was 31st March so I was late and didn't get the normal fast train I usually take.I had to contend with slower train.I reached at 1100PM,too late for this city's liking.Coming out of station I couldn't find any familiar faces to wave at,sea breeze had changed to chilled gales due to the cyclone that struck Salem few hours back.I had got an automated call from my cell phone operator too."Cyclone hitting Chennai in next hour so stay in home to stay safe."

A storm was there within me ,perhaps the ill-productive financial year had a role to play or emotionally ill-equipped or unfulfilled ambitions I never learnt what.Suddenly,a gust of wet breeze put me off guard and my cigarette was also blown away.
The screams of breeze were far more threatening than the war cry of soldiers in Chola's regime.I felt that the wind from all the four directions had conspired to either blow me away or definitely blow my varied thoughts away.
I increased my pace but winds from North ensured that for every one step I took,I was back three steps.

Somehow clutching the poles ,trees,rickety cart wheels and shutters I moved towards my room,and I paused.
In front of me a body was lying,perhaps fainted.She might have been hit by some moving objects or lightning might have struck or a night crime.It wasn't her state that was bothering me,but her presence on this secluded road at this hour that was hitting me.
Is she one of the nocturnal beauties,a dirty thought of a conscience less mind.

I reached to her,'Are you OK'.No reaction from the still body.

The storm had ensured load shedding and none of the houses or shops were giving any sign of light or human existence.
I took a call,and touched her forehead,with my torch-light guiding me to her other features.Her head was ice cold.Was she dead?
I picked her up,she was so light,I felt like I am holding a bundle of feathers in my hand.With torch in my mouth I reached the nearest shade.Wiped her face,the glowing 'kumkum' on her forehead and a beautiful Golden 'Mangalsutra' were so appealing.
She was a family woman duly cultured.There was a torch clasped in her right hand and a small sheet of paper in left.

I took it out,patient's name "Sanweksha".My hands started shaking,I realised she had come after getting the news of cyclone to see where was I stuck.I had been avoiding her calls since morning and our daughter 'Sanweksha' had been having fever from last few days.I hated myself at that moment.Embraced her and allowed my heart to speak out my guilt,perhaps she would hear me.Then,carried her on my hands just the way I did when we were at Ooty our favourite romantic locale.

Tears wouldn't leave me or was it the torrential rain that was dropping from my face on her beautiful face washing out the insecurity that my stupidity filled nature had brought.

Aur Ek Pain Kahaani....Short Story

Rohan wasnt willing to enter his home today.It wasnt the shame,or guilt that was bothering him,but the teared eyes of Ma.He rememberd how had she reacted the day he had entered after smoking.Today Rohan was drunk.

Kusum always knew his son Rohan though was sincere,decent,strong and orderly,yet the blood within him was of an addict who died young.It had been difficult for her to bring up her two kids,but being the epitome of strength she had done her duties brilliantly.Lathika,her daughter was married to Nishanth,an entrepreneur and settled in North Carolina and Rohan was ACP for the city,cracking the IPS exams at the tender age of 23.

After News flash during his 0930PM regular drill with Officials,a confirmation from the Minstry he was in a state of shock.He wasnt able to conduct his session nor was able to calm himself down.First time his legs were trembling and eyes were bleeding tears.He quietly slipped into his cabin and gulped the bottle a goon had kept there despite his threats.

How will he say this to Ma,her only mode of smile had been faded.No he wont.But he knew Kusum was avid news tracker and she cant be kept in dark for too long.He drank his heart out.Reached for his belongings and drove to home.

He rang the bell,'Kani ruku,aiwi rahal Chhi,(please wait I am coming)'.Kusum opened the door with same glazing face and a smile which made everyday a pleasure to return home for Rohan.'I know you are drunk,you shouldnt do these things.At 25 you are doing these things.Do you want to leave me too.'Her voice had coarsed now.

Rohan could not stop his tears,he tried to say but controlled himself.Kusum came up with a glass of lemonade and kept it on a table.

Rohan picked up his glass and his hands were trembling.Below the glass was his and Kusum's passport and two tickets.

'Now freshen up fast,flight is at 0400AM and its already midnight,they are planning her cremation day after tomorrow.Lets met her for the last time.' said Kusum with agonized voice and hidden tears

Lathika had been shot dead by a student on a shooting spree in the school she taught.

ALL OUT FOR NO LOSS...Short Story

This Saturday evening,Rajan's entire hope were pinned on his as well as his team's performance at the finals of Mahatma Gandhi Gold Shield Cricket tournament.His innings few hours back had won his team the crucial Semi finals over last year champions from the next District.The Finals,were slated just an hour after the Semis.Rajan was drained as his three over bowling spell had taken out most of his fluids this humid afternoon.Thereafter he played  a brisk knock,scoring forty six runs from mere seventeen deliveries to take the team past finish line.
An inning of supremacy,an inning of temperament,an inning of pain.He was feeling the damages it had done to his thighs and toes.

Rajan was the only child of Rajesh and Revathi,a couple that were treated as 'achhoot'/'untouchables' in this society of Work based discrimination.Rajesh was the best 'rickshaw-wallah',whom all searched for meeting their schedules and Revathi,the best cleaner a hospital could ever have.As a result of her efforts,a two roomed broken bricked house,ever crowded with sick people,looked like it actually was,ie a 'Sadar Aspatal'(Government Hospital).

Last week,Rajesh had met with an accident while he was carrying the local priest to the temple.Priest kept on cursing about how the 'Muhurat' of 'Kalyanam' was being missed despite Rajesh's desperate yet best efforts.He had ensured Priest reaches on time.He had then collected his fare and also his last breath.

Thereon,Revathi wasnt permitted to work in Hospital as she was a widow and hence could impart spells on real sick people-people with Sick body,Sick heart and Sicker soul.Rajan had decided they will leave for Vijaywada,where he will take a small job in the brick urn where his few friends worked.Revathi knew she had bore a talent and wont allow it to be wasted in this calamity.

Rajan was nicknamed as 'Kallis' for his all-around performances on field.He would break the stumps with the same speed with which he would hit the cricket ball to the boundary.In this district tournament he had single handily brought his unknown team,not even a dark horse,just a step away from glory.

For Revathy it was not only the victory that mattered but she heard few local boys talk,that if Rajan would receive the Man of The Tournament he'll be ensured of a place at the academy at Hyderabad,with Rs 3500 stipend,admission at a Government school and respect.

At the finals,the opponents were comfortably placed with just nine runs required of six deliveries.The Ball was in Rajan's hand,he ran he bowled and he got two wickets in his first two deliveries.The next ball wasn't playable nor it did any casualty.The next ball was hit for three runs courtesy a never required overthrow by Siva,the Priest's son.Next ball another wicket.Now the match was placed with Six runs required from one delivery for the opponents.

Few minutes later,It was chaos all around.Claps or cheers or shouts or screams one could never differentiate.
Revathi was running towards the ground cursing herself,crying,yelling.

Rajan lay dead with a wickets in blood thrown all around.

His own team mates had killed him as his last ball was hit for six runs.

LOSS......A Short Story

LOSS
--------
Neetu was not being able to control her tears.She had just restored her senses.And was feeling loss of weight,words and responsibilty.The responsibility that she felt,she will never have now.

Few hours back during her routine evening walk she had seen a young girl.Her beautiful face and innocent moves had caught Neetu's attention.Suddenly,she saw the swing on which Rishabh,her son was playing gaining speed and the young girl was heading towards it.She rushed rush to save the girl.

In a flash it all had happened.The swing had hit Neetu in her lower abdomen.

The girl was saved and A girl was lost.