The Irony of Life(Chapter 9)

PRESENT DAY

"That was the last time I saw Neha, I lost the first love of my life to an accident. Now I won't rant about why she was the 'first'  love of my life, but I will tell you this, I loved 2-3 more girls before finally understanding the irony of life…" said Abhishek.

"And what is that?" asked Hemant.

"That is what you might already know…"

"Still, you can tell us I suppose?" asked Shivani.

"Yeah, why not, very simple, 'It is until you have lost what you need, is when you realize, that you needed it the most'. Simple, yet, true, ironical and surprisingly elegant."

"Yes." said Shivani, looking at Hemant from an angle which wasn't noticeable.

"Well, Shivani, the last love I lost didn't die, I just lost her due to pure stupidity, and lack of belief and a pure mere sense of self-insult."

"Self-Insult?" said everyone in unison.

"Yes, I just never believed a girl so beautiful could hit on me, for I for the most purposes and angles believed, was ugly and despicable and un-hit-on-able."

"Well, that's a new word," giggled Shivani.

The Irony of Life(Chapter 8)

It was a 2nd Saturday, they were supposed to meet today at a new place. The agenda of today's date was very different.

I don't want to do this. This is wrong, why me?

He had called Neha at the entry gate of Nainital, he hadn't the faintest idea why, maybe because that was the way out Nainital, something philosophical, it was all too much. Maybe it served as a conduit of sorts, reminding people, that things can come and go out of your life, but they might not stay forever, doesn't matter upon your will, it's just that…

When things have to leave, they leave, when people have to leave, they leave, and it's not just because of their will sometimes, it's the circumstances that make this happen sometimes.

Circumstances, a word I had earlier thought was for the weak, but sometimes, some things are just unavoidable, life is just too unfair, I can't do this to her! We both love each other. Irony is a word which suits this situation much more. What could be worse than this?

She was always punctual, a quality that was rare in people, that he would find out later, he himself, well, he used to always be early, that habit he would shake off later on in life.

It was almost time. He was standing at one side of the road, she would be coming from the opposite side. She would have to cross, why couldn't he just wait for her there? He didn't want to face her. Although, it didn't make much sense, he would have to face her after 2 minutes, well, we human beings are quite complex and stupid, ironical in ourselves in some sense.

"ABHISHEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKK!"she shouted.

She's here.

He looked up.

"Wait, there, I'm coming."

She was crossing the road and then it happened.

The Irony of Life(Chapter 7)

Abhishek was looking forward to the day that followed. He really wanted to meet the girl and find out her name, talk to her, know where she lives and maybe hang out with her.

Yeah. That would be lovely.

Thing was, she wanted to do the same, he just didn't know it yet, and that's why the next day ended up the way it did.

The next day

-----------------

The day was full of theory, and Abhishek had already read up the manual, he had consulted the instructors and had asked them if he could leave the class to have a look around, the instructor approved after a quick oral test and was amazed at his interest in the topic. As a reward, he gave him an extra boiled egg, and a jam sandwich.

I'll give this to her and we'll share.

His face flushed red at the mere thought. He walked away from the site where the guys were sitting towards the girls' spot. As he was walking he felt a soothing breeze on his face, enjoying the breeze, he slowly walked on the short, green, swaying grass, no grass had ever been beautiful, this was not because of what he was feeling because of her, Abhishek actually liked scenic beauty. This grass was mountain grass, fed with the sweet mountain water and fresh pollutant-free rain, the air was clean, the mountains beautiful, the grass the greenest he had ever seen, this was the most clean air he had ever breathed, the most tasty water he ever had in this place, he had started loving this place, almost as much as his home. He might actually miss it, when he'd leave it forever.

The Irony of Life(Chapter 6)

That Night

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Abhishek was lying in his double bunk bed in the dormitory, his friend Harsh in the top Bunk. It had been an hour since he was trying to sleep, his eyes were drooping, his body was tired, he was wounded, normally , a person in that state wouldn't even take a second to drop into his mysterious land of dreams, but he was in his own wonderland tonight.

She, she was so different, her eyes were so beautiful.

He started gazing up at the bottom surface of the top bunk like an idiot, lost in his thoughts.

She cares.

He was moved by this event, although Harsh did make fun of him, they were like brothers, when Harsh understood the gravity of the situation later that day, he stopped making jokes and became all sympathetic towards him, he had been like his guardian angel all the way back to the hostel, helping him, carrying him when he couldn't walk, etc. etc., he even tucked him into bed.

Maybe I should talk to him, maybe not, but who else, but what if Prasoon interferes, well if he does, let him, how does it matter?

"Harsh, bro, you up?"

No response.

"Harsh?"
Nothing.

The Poison In Her Eyes

I had thought it had ended,

I had thought the broken heart had mended,

That I had finally come forward, moved on,

Pity it was just a beginning, just a con.

Her eyes are filled with venomous drugs,

Involuntarily my shoulder shrugs,

I let out a sigh of upheaval, of relief,

Oh, f*ck! She still has that effect, this belief.

The Irony of Life(Chapter 5)

Day 2

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Abhishek and his friends were supposed to climb the mountain-like structure in the Baara Patthar area with the help of the instructors, it was supposed to be really interesting. Harsh was really fired up.
"You know bro, today I'm going to climb this rock, one day, I'll climb Mount Everest."said Harsh.

"Dude, you cannot climb Mount Everest, no one can, it's like too high. You'll die the first few 100 meters." said Abhishek.

"Newsflash bro, people climb it regularly, don’t you read?"
"I read more than you!"

"I'll kill you!"

"You cannot, not if you climb this mountain…you'll die…and then how will you kill me? Mwahahahahahahaahahaha!!!! That's how you do an evil laugh."

"We'll see about that, I'll climb this mountain before you!"

"We'll see."

"I'll see. Loo-hoo-su-herrr! LOOSSSSSER! PHRRRRTTTT!"

"You know, you look like a dummy when you do that."
"I don’t care! You are going to lose."

"We'll see."

In some time they were about to climb the rock, the guide started giving them instructions on how to do so, it took him at least half an hour to instruct and set them up for climbing, they were set to climb in a queue set order, so Harsh and Abhishek decided to time their climbs, and of course, Prasoon would use the stopwatch.

Harsh completed the climb in just under a minute. Abhishek was set to be the last to climb. Just before he could climb, he saw a group of girls walk towards the area they were sitting in.

The Irony of Life(Chapter 4)

The decision was made. His friends were going, all of them, he couldn't stay. He had to go. Why? He could not go, never ever. Rock climbing? What were they thinking? Shit man. It didn't matter now, he had to go, and he had to simply.

They had to walk all the way to the place where they would learn how to climb mountains, it was at least a decent 45 minutes away from the school.

The first day was mostly about learning on how to assemble the equipment, the ropes, the harness, the jumar, etc. The challenge was supposed to be the next day, when they were supposed to climb.

On the way back, Abhishek and his friends bought themselves a few parathas and a pastry on the way. The pastry was dirt cheap and it seemed tacky, but it tasted really good. On reaching the hostel it was almost dinner time, so they took a bath and rushed to the dining hall. They were all really hungry, they didn't do, much physical activity on the mountains but that long of a walk really made them hungry. The dining hall had a lot of food and very less time to eat, so what the boys would do was take whatever they could back to their houses(hidden, of course), and had them later in the night when they would feel hungry, or if not, they would share it with their hungry dorm-mates, someone was always hungry, it was a boys' hostel after all.

The Power Of Fear

As I sit to write today, I have no idea what to type. For the first time ever, I seem blank, because after all these years of living and experience among human beings(unfortunately, I'm one of them), the problem with them is fear. Either we are talking of conquering fear or backing of from it, just talking about it. Someone is afraid of doing something because, he might not know what he wants, someone might just be confused, the other might know what he wants, but he just might be afraid of what might happen if he asked for it, someone is afraid to step up and do the right thing. This is all the wrong way, you cannot conquer fear, you cannot back off, it is part of our emotions, one of the things we do, it is programmed in us. Learn to embrace fear, learn that we cannot run away from it. It is one of our best emotions.

The Irony of Life(Chapter 3)

Just after the recess bell rang, the students would usually come out of the class, go for lunch and come back. Today, it was different, today the headmaster of the junior wing was standing in the centre of the assembling ground, which was just outside the classes.

He was standing there ready, for some kind of announcement apparently. But, whatever he had to say was there on the notice board, the students had been ignoring the board for some time, well, they had been ignoring it entirely, he couldn't blame the children, how could he? All of them far away from home, set within a specific schedule of exercise, eat, study, eat, study, eat, play , study and sleep. Whatever, it was his duty to inform the students of the activity being organized by them, it was their choice of whether to go or not.

The man stood waiting for the bell to ring, he glanced at his watch,

It was time, the bell was about to ring.

The Irony of Life(Chapter 2)

The school was huge, in general terms, it was a big a** school. It had around 2000 students, in only 9 grades. There were 3 playgrounds, each bigger than the previous one, and the smallest one was about 3 times the area of your average big park. The only downside to the school, everything was miles apart, the classrooms were at least a kilometer away from the boarding area, the dining hall, felt like as if it was thousands of miles away, kids joining in the 5^th standard who looked like Walter Hudson, looked like a yoga master by the end of the year. On top of that the PT teachers were so strict, they looked like as if they would swallow you up whole the moment you asked for a water break.

The PT sessions used to occur at 5 am in the morning every day, except for Sunday(Thank God), the sessions used to be extremely grueling, they used to make the kids trek ALL the way up the slopes and down after the PT sessions for fitness’ sake, it felt more like as if they were taking out their anger of their fights with their wife the previous night. The kids always had one question in mind,”Does he fight so much with his wife?”

The Irony of Life(Chapter 1)

Silence of the night, along the road, on the pavement, a group of friends was sitting, drinking and gossiping. It was a weekend and they were out on a holiday, an outing of some sorts. 4 people all drunk, shouting and cursing their lives.

“My life is ruined, nothing to look forward to, I’m jobless, hopeless, dad wants me to join the office, I want to be a singer. He thinks it will ruin the reputation of the family business,” said one.

“My mother wants me to marry now, but right now I want to be independent, do what I want, enjoy my life, I’m too young man,” said the other.

“You are right, tell your mother that, Hemant. Hope she will understand.” said Shivani.

“No, she won’t understand,” said Hemant.

“Let it all go to hell, let us just, enjoy right now, life is too short, we should spend our life doing what we want.” said Nupur.

Somewhere down the road the other guy saw someone walking towards them, his vision was blurred because he was dizzy of all the alcohol he had consumed, in their own terms, and he was wasted.

“Who is that?” said he.

Hope

The well was deep, the walls slippery,

All around he looked, he could see only mockery,

The water dripping against the walls laughing,

The shiny walls looking at him and sneering.

He could not understand what to do, like a novice,

He looked up and put his hand in a crevice,

Tried to climb up but slipped, into the water splashing,

Frustrated, tired and angry, he started screaming,

 "What wrong did I do, O Lord?

Why have you put me in here, in this small pond?"

Tears in his eyes, hope faltering, he gave up

And accepted his fate, as he looked up,

Salvation

We are humans. Superior beings, intellectual beings, beings with the ability to talk and what not. Our so-called supremacy is our greatest treasure, we thrive on the concept of the superiority 'complex'. The reason behind this: we all have an inferiority complex. We have this need to show that we are better than others, no one is truly humble or modest, somewhere down the line, when we get a chance to show the person we hate the most, we grab it and show them, that we are better than them. All in vain.

Why? Because we have another concept in our minds which is closely linked to this complex. Hope, survival, salvation. Because in our minds, we have this illusion that one day, we will no need to be better than others, that one day it will be a better day than all the others and everything will be alright, that one day, being superior or inferior won't matter that one day, we will be satisfied and at peace.

This concept of salvation, is never overrated. No matter if the person has abandoned all hope, If that said person sees even a tiny ray of hope, of salvation, he will cling onto it and hold onto it for as long as he possibly can.

Humans, Companions....

Humans. That's what we are. We thrive on the concept of codependence and the false lie of independence. Now, while living our lies, we need people around us, colleagues, friends, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and parents. I have seen many a people live around this concept, this thing, that they like to call the concept of being 'alone' and while being 'alone', they aren't actually alone. They're there with a million more people(not literally), anyways, that's not what I want to say here.

What I want to say, is we need people, around us to thrive, and well, on one side I do agree that men can understand man-to-man problems better, women can understand these things better than men, owing to the fact that men tend to be more rough, carefree and not letting things bother them usually. But you know what, women tend to be sensitive, caring and more understanding than men can ever be.

You know, while your best male friend can help you get over a break up, on the other hand, the female best friend will help you live your life after the break up and can actually help to make it better, this is the best and most easily understandable example I can ever give and I am not pointing out to anyone.

Mumma's Boy

There was only one thing going through his mind. Pain. Unending, torturous, ravaging pain. He had been hopeful till now of his life and future, but now, everything seemed dark.  He was lying on the floor, the broken pieces of glass were small, but big enough to tear through his black shirt and cut into his back, he had dropped on the floor in distress, and the glass hadn't hit his back immediately, no, it had cut in when he had risen off the floor and banged back onto it, now blood was oozing onto the floor, making his back red and wet. His hands flat on the floor, the back didn't pain anymore, to him it was quite numb. He had loved his mother, now she was gone.

As if this wasn't enough, she didn't die a natural death, she had been killed, by her brother. Her brother was a maniac, a psychopath, he wasn't fit to be among the sane. He had been sent to a psychiatric ward for rehabilitation. His mother, was the only one in his life he had. He had never seen his father, he had left them when he was 5, to die, maybe, what sort of person does that to a wife with a child, who had been trained to be housewife all her life by her family, due to the orthodox values put into them by their ancestors. She had brought him up single-handedly, no help from anyone in this world, she vowed to herself that she would make her son an IAS officer, now she was gone and he was alone.

Isn’t it pointless?

Sitting by the table, Raj was playing with toothpicks. His friend happened to be sitting there as well, he noticed that, he saw, that he wasn't doing anything special with them, just taking them out and putting them in, randomly, he retaliated by telling him,"Raj, what the hell are you doing?"

"Having fun, bro."

"Isn't it pointless?"

Looking at the point in question, isn't kind of everything we do pointless, or does everything we happen to do have a point?

Let's take a few examples along with Mr. Raj's, let's take up something which has a point, a job for instance, a person doing a shift 24X7 at a consulting firm. Now, the purpose of this job is to provide good clientele for the firm, that in turn helps him keep him job and provides him with a good incentive/bonus, now his job already gives him money, so now, his job is to earn money. Now, the question, why does he want money? Let's assume he does not have any family, this removes the assumptions that he has to settle down, or provide a good home and conditions for his wife, or secure his future as a good father or take care of his parents, we'll come back to that later.

So, now he earns money for himself, but why? Just so that, he can survive on a daily basis, he earns more money for luxuries, and/or showing off his luxuries or social status.

Take Care, Bro

Afternoon. Two friends were sitting alongside the banks of a lake in Hauz Khas Fort. It was pretty usual for them to hang out, just the two of them, they considered themselves brothers, discussing the 'petty' woes of their daily life, they felt better, as it felt that they could open up to someone, just to express, maybe, sometimes take advise and change few things, to make their life better.

They remind me of every single human being in this world, every problem seems 'petty' once you have let it out of your heart and mind. Once you have learnt how to face it, it doesn't seem very problematic then. You see, deep down inside, everyone knows, that life is going to be tough, whether or not we wish for a better life is different.

Reason: We are afraid to do things, if we knew that life is good, we wouldn't be afraid to do anything. We get scared, we think, that we might not be able to do it, maybe that is a waste of time, maybe it will cause more harm than good.

This is all natural. We were given the power to think, or for the atheists, we have evolved over a period of time to gain this ability because we needed it, we required it. Everything we have or we could have or we use, can be put to a good use or a bad use, doesn't matter if the use is huge in terms of gain or loss. For example, one, we could use our laptops to download movies illegally, now that is a bad thing, maybe not that huge, but bad, or we could use the same laptop to pay for the movie and then download it, which is a good thing, two, we could use our books and study them for real, or we could just pretend that we are studying and later on fail, or worse, cheat in the exams, yes, worse, but that is a totally different thing.

The Mad Man

There was once a mad man in the town of Delhi,

His arms looked rotten and appearance sully.

He ran across the traffic and walked in empty parks,

Amusing were his antics, his stupid little quirks.

Never, O Never would he utter  a word,

But when he awoke from his slumber like a bird

In the night, he would chatter and patter with all his might,

His lips would speak of a tragic accident that occurred some night,

The night he lost whatever he had, someone would ask,

"Were you rich?" He would nod yes, but would add another spark,

"I lost money after that tragic event, because I lost my life,

He was my hope, my happiness, the only son of my wife.

He always spoke of not attending my funeral,

Because I was what he always had big or small.

Look God listened to his prayers, did he heed,

I lost him, now nothing do I need."

As drops of agony fell across his face,

My heart dropped down from its space,

This old man had faced the unnecessary,

God had put him in a state of eternal query.

Pure Love

As he watched her sleep, he realised one thing, she was the best thing that ever happened to him in this world.  Second best in sequence of occurrence, but, she was the best thing ever, this position belonged to his sister first, now it was her. He couldn't believe Jyoti was so beautiful.

When she looked at him with such caring and loveable eyes, smiling, it was the best feeling in the world, her beautiful hands, when he held her hands for the first time, when he put her on the bed, gently, she smiled at him.

Love was at its purest form, he had to fight with her mother to win her back, she was the only one standing between them. He loved her more, he gave his everything to get her. She looked so beautiful sleeping.

Sam adored her a lot.

"I love you, my Jyoti."said he,"If anyone tries to harm you, he shall be dead, by my own hands."