C U 2MROW @ 9 (October 29, 2016)

“Oh what a surprise...When did you do all this? Thanks a lot...Thank you” Mannu spoke, mesmerized by the arrangement. He felt shy as people around were looking at him. He wasn’t accustomed to these gestures. She was much more romantic in real life.

“It’s very easy...You like it na???”

“Yes...yes I like it very much...I like it...”

Her smile conveyed a warm acceptance of Mannu’s gratitude.

“Cut the cake now...”

Mannu hesitated.

“No...let’s cut it together...please...” Mannu requested her. She locked a ripple behind her ear, blushed and stood silent.

“Hold the knife...come...”  Mannu asked. Keeping her purse aside she came forward. Delicately she held the knife, rather touched it just for the sake of Mannu’s words. Their fingers didn’t touch others’.

She shared the same piece of it. She ate it and Mannu couldn’t find an expression of doubt on her face that it was first eaten by him.  

“How was the cake?” 

Mannu took another big bite to give her the answer. Mannu wasn’t able to speak much, even now, as the process of discovering her was still in his head. Even Pia spoke less, very less in comparison to her conversations on the phone. Coffee was served decorated by hearts made of cream.

“Oh...that’s a beautiful heart...” Mannu spoke as he saw the coffee.

She sat with legs crossed gracefully and her hands rested on them.  

“Pia, tell me, how long have we been loving each other?”

“Eleven months and eight days...” She spoke the next moment, which amazed Mannu. They were silent again for some moments.

“You look so beautiful.” Mannu expressed himself , sipping coffee.

“Better than Zenin and your other girl friends?” She said, smiling with wit in her eyes and the coffee mug in her hand.

“I was a big fool yaar... They’re all gone now. All I have is you...” He never knew from where these words came. She looked into his eyes as if saying the three secret words of love.

They were still trying to hold hands and come closer. The old memories brought up again. The ORKUT id, the first scrap, the profile pictures and captions, the common passwords, the love theme on YM, the smileys, the miss yous and love yous and the relationship status from single to committed. The waiter prompted time after time to ask for an order. Mannu answered before she could. He had taken the responsibility now.   

C U 2MROW @ 9 (October 28, 2016)

They talked to each other in a strange silence. The world stopped in its place as he moved towards his sweet Juliet. Their love was multi-folding with that first romantic look into each other’s eyes. She was tall, smart, sober and lovely. Her cute little eyes circled around the upper half of his body, climbed up again to look into his eyes, but the next moment they jumped down. Mannu gazed at them endlessly, without a blink. Every lonely moment he had lived alone in the long love was asking for a new happier life. She locked her ripple behind her ear which was appled by the heat of the sun.

“Happy birthday...” She said, putting out her hand in greeting. Mannu had kissed her, hugged her a hundred times through the mobile phone, but touching her in real, it felt like he had begin the love journey just seconds earlier. Somehow, he was able to do it.

“Thank you. I’m Mannu...” Mannu said to her, locking her delicate palm with palm. His palms were wet more than usual. Both kept smiling, spoke nothing, and kept smiling. Mannu forgot what he was doing, where he had come, in which world he was living.

“I’m Pia...” She spoke, with her gaze not in Mannu’s eyes.

Mannu wanted to speak a lot when he came to his senses and found that this wasn’t the right place to spend the whole day. But his heart had drowned in the essence of her fragrance.

Her eyes were outlined gracefully in black. Mannu felt a strange happiness in discovering her. She was trying to do so many things; there were so many words she wanted to say, but Mannu’s numb look forced her to hide it all in a smile. Oh! He forgot to leave her hand. But he didn’t say a sorry for that.

“Chalein? Shall we move?” She spoke the moment Mannu let go of her hand. Mannu just smiled and nodded like a little monkey ready for some mischief.

The first walk as they both had imagined was slow. Mannu didn’t care where they were going as he was busy in secretly kept looking at Pia, her shoulder, her arm, her cute little fingers and the pink nails. Her skin glittered like a lake of honey would glitter in sunshine. It sweetened Mannu from within. Her locks hid her neck and a portion of her ears. After a while she looked at Mannu. He immediately oriented his look towards the pathway.

“Where are we going?” Mannu questioned without any word or phrase of intimacy.

“For a coffee...” She said. It seemed as if all she said was the only truth he had heard in this big real world of God.

“How do you know I wished to have a coffee with you?” Mannu asked, just to initiate a talk. She said nothing, looked at him and smiled.

“Here we are.” She spoke giggly. Her eyes pointed towards a coffee shop.

The folds on her lips came close together when she stayed silent. It was too early for Mannu to be near them. Shaking his head to come to senses he looked at the cafe Silver leaf and they made a move in the In Orbit mall.

A black forest cake with Mannu’s name written on it was already kept on a corner table. A knife lay on the left of it and a heart shaped candle sat quietly beside a red cherry. 

C U 2MROW @ 9 (October 27, 2016)

“Hii... Happy birthday again...”

“Thank you.”

His hands and feet were shivering and so was his lower jaw.

“Are you ready?” She questioned.

“Almost...” Mannu spoke, checking the handkerchief in his pocket.

“I’m coming in fifteen minutes. You can check out from the hotel.” Pia said, as she travelled towards Mannu.

“Okay, I’m coming.” replied Mannu checking his har style and the wrist watch.  

He went down in a hurry in an attempt to relax himself. Completing the check out formalities, asking again for a discount and failing to get one, Mannu checked out from the hotel. Pia was somewhere near him, but he chose to move ahead with his eyes fixed on the mobile’s screen to pirate his inner feelings. Till today, Mannu hadn’t lived a moment that told him about the next. This was really a strange day. His life was going to change very soon. This thought moved him to the end of the street when he heard a voice calling him from somewhere. It faded away as the red light on the signal turned green. Surely it was Pia, but where was she? North, east, west and south, there were so many girls walking, talking, and chatting. Like a merry-go-round Mannu was circling to search for her. After hours and hours long talks and trillions of messages, Mannu thought that he would recognise her in the very first look, but the first planning had failed. He worried how he would manage the rest of the day. His eyes couldn’t recognise her, but he could easily recognise the sound of her heart and soul. Mannu called her on the phone. 

“Pia...Where is you?” Mannu asked her, looking left and right.

“Are you the one in the white shirt and a back bag?” She spoke in a tone Mannu had never heard from her.

“Yaaa... but where are you?” He asked again.

“I can’t believe it’s you.... look in front...” Pia spoke in a voice that amazed Mannu too. Mannu fixed his look on his shoes as Pia spoke these words. He needed courage. He was breathing heavily. After moments of silence she spoke again.

“Baby... it’s me... your Pia...” She spoke and Mannu eyed his first look on the girl he had loved for the past eleven months and eight days.

C U 2MROW @ 9 (October 26, 2016)

“Comfort hotel ka kya charge lagega?” He asked an auto driver who was gazing Mannu from a long time.

“Comfort hotel?” the driver questioned and Mannu nodded in reply.

The driver turned the meter down which was a sign that he was ready to go. After seating himself Mannu wondered which Comfort Hotel was the driver taking him? There may be hundreds of comfort hotel in Mumbai.

“Kis side hai hotel bhaiya?” Mannu questioned. There was no reply from the driver. He braced up the speed and soon Mannu saw a sign board reading Comfort Hotel. The meter showed thirty eight rupees, but Mannu ended up paying forty. After a long search Pia had found the hotel fulfilling the main concern of cost and proximity. She lived somewhere near it. The area around had a loud marketplace. Shopkeepers were busy opening up shops, setting the items for display and talking in fancy about the expected sale for the day. From confectionary to stationary the area had all sorts of shops linearly outlining the street. Queues of auto rickshaws were lined up. Girls, styled up in dresses less seen in Jaipur and even Lucknow, boarded them without even enquiring about the destination and fare. Mannu learnt a quick lesson that he had to be smarter here.

The hotel rooms were at first and second floor the sign board read. As Mannu crawled up  it felt the roof was tumbling down to stop him. His young mind had started anticipating the nature of Mumbai. It was one thing from out and the other from within. The inside of the hotel was in stark contrast to the name and banner that flung on the outside. As he moved up to reach the reception another contradiction was visible. He had never thought that a staircase like that would take him to a hotel with plush sofas, cameras and TVs.

The receptionist knew Hindi, but that was not enough to fetch any sort of concession.  There was no use checking the condition of the room and the facilities. Straight away Mannu paid six hundred rupees for an hour’s stay. The receptionist himself accompanied him to the room. A staff was called upon to put water and bathroom necessities. It was well ventilated with windows, which had sliding doors. A stool with a broken leg resided next. The wind and water had softened the wood. The receptionist left the room without informing. Mannu kept the bag on the bed and hurried straight to the bathroom. He bathed buckets to wash away the nervousness and every speck of dust. He had to look the best he had ever looked. The mobile phone kept on ringing with messages and calls. It took him forty-five minutes to dress up. There were several messages and calls. Mannu searched for Pia’s name. She had called twice.

C U 2MROW @ 9 (October 25, 2016)

Now Mannu had a cold feeling now about what he had done, where he had come in search of his love. His eyes opened up wide. Every head on the train seat was straight. The other passengers were in a hurry and were busy packing their belongings to make a safe and early exit from the train. The watch showed 6:30 am. The train was only half an hour away from Borivali. God! What a feeling it was. Even the water in the bottle, chilled by the air conditioner, couldn’t warm the chill down his spine. Mannu looked outside to pacify his soul, but what he saw further ignited his senses. The sun, the skies and the wet moats of dust were immaculately the same he had dreamt of. What was it?   This moment he was living at the horizon of my real and virtual worlds. There are some questions in our lives whose answers we never try to look for. Eventually, the answer looks for us. A life full of love had made Mannu a better person and transcended the average guy within him to a hero.

Pia called up.

 “Hii darling. Good morning... Happy birthday baby.” Pia spoke in a voice that was surely coming from under the quilt.

“Thank you sweetheart.” Mannu spoke, stifling a yawn.

“I’m sorry, I called at night. The number you have dialled is currently unavailable... unavailable... unavailable...’ At last I slept at 1 am Sorry jaan...” She spoke with a bite of freshness.

“No problem. I understood it... Okay, leave it. So when are we meeting?” Mannu questioned Pia.

“Very soon.” Came a reply after moments of silence in a voice that touched Mannu’s heart.

Here he was at the place he had seen and heard in movies. He was here to romance with his lover Pia. At 7 am sharp Mannu was at the Borivali platform.  

Be brave. You’ve come to meet her. Be a man now.

He consoled himself and with his head straight up made way off the platform.

Signboards in Marathi and English clearly read Borivali.Vada paav and tea stalls were lush with customers. People were in a hurry pushing each other to make a quick exit. Mannu stood struck, confused on which exit to take. He was also slow because a fear in him had started rising. He wanted some time to absorb the reality that he was going to meet Pia. The world around him seemed strange. The unknown faces still brought to life memories of the missed meeting of October. Here Mannu knew no one else except Pia. Some fear and nervousness was natural. His only solace was one face in Mumbai. He decided not to rush out, took a cup of tea to calm the turmoil within him. The service was very quick as if the waiter knew what Mannu was going to demand. The coolies were lined up beneath a bridge that led to the other block of the station and to the exit, but no one enquired Mannu for assistance Still people were running in a fast pace to catch a seat in the local trains and if that wasn’t possible, just a cling at the gates was enough to take them to their destination. All this was very new for Mannu.  As he further looked around, he found that everything was in its natural pace, only he was slow. But there was no one around to hear him, not now not after hours. . The pride in coming to Mumbai urged him to speak aloud the cause of his being in Mumbai.  But keeping this excitement within him was a troubling cause. He had to be calm and composed with Pia. He had to behave in a responsible way. Somewhere he needed to vent out the rising noose within him. Finding no one around, he penned down his feelings. He he sat for some time to calm down himself. The paper napkins did a good task again.  Such an outflow of emotions was again new and strange. As instructed by Pia, Mannu remembered that he had to pay Rs.1 less to the rickshaw driver as indicated by the fare meter.

C U 2MROW @ 9 (October 24, 2016)

A smile popped up his lips as Mannu stepped down from the train and started scrutinising the railway station for the cheapest food item that would fill his stomach till the next meal with Pia. Two plates of red tomato salad were all Mannu could finish when the track lights turned green. He was in friendship with this hideous, but the most revealing journey of his life. No phone call had been received from home. Crying had made him feel better.

“Ajeeb zindgani hai...” Mannu said to himself, as the cool wind swayed away the heavy emotions from his head and heart. Standing at the gates of the train, with an open eye on the bag, he imagined the vastness of the mother earth. But today he could see the horizon of his real and virtual worlds.  The Bee Gees were his companion in the journey to Pia. Again he closed his eyes, for it was a good time to add on the sleepy hours, but very soon the phone bell interrupted.

It was Mr.K.  

 ‘Happy Birthday beta’ He spoke in his most loving way.  

“Be safe and don’t roam around much.” He continued. For an instant, his words shook Mannu’s heart from left to right.

Covering the micro phone to prevent the sounds of the rolling wheels from reaching Mr. K, Mannu answered only what Mr. K asked. His eyes were filled with tears. Mrs.K’s words made me cry more. She only had a simple wish, to be wither son today, but Mannu couldn’t fulfil this sweet wish of hers.

Forgive me, Mummy. Your bad son will be a better person someday.  

Guilt was knocking up every moment to knock him down. After a three minute call Mannu had won again in hiding this secret journey. But Mannu had heard nothing from Pia till 12:30 am. Without a nip of doubt he came to the conclusion that this was the game of the highly unstable signal of the mobile network. Mannu smiled and wished her a thank you in his head and waited anxiously for the display box to display Borivali.

C U 2MROW @ 9 (October 23, 2016)

For the past two hours Mannu was humming this classic from the store house of Gibb brothers. His past surpassed his mind. He was thinking back in life about all the girls he had looked upon and all who had looked upon him. What a fool he was. But the quest with destiny had ultimately given him Pia. Finding true love, Mannu was a winner in life very early. The air conditioner was cooling the compartment and it also froze Mannu’s thoughts. He took out the towel to cover myself. Acting smart, Mannu had neglected keeping a quilt or a sheet to cover him. He was paying the price now. He comforted himself in a while, looked at the clouds again and her image flashed all over the blue skies. She was smiling, calling him to be near her, to be free. He passed a flying kiss, opened the plastic cabinet made for eating, lay down on it for some good sleep.

The sun had gone to a different land when his eyes opened up. A sense of fear rolled up within him. Up till now everything was safe. But darkness was bringing nervousness with it

What if some mishap takes place, what will I say to Mummy and Papa or will I be alive to say anything?

 Bad thoughts starting accumulating in his head till a samosa wala’s voice broke all the barriers. Mannu had never paid Rs.25 for two samosas. But he paid it today. There was no other option also. So many things were happening for the first time. He couldn’t swallow a bite. Guilt and shame for hiding this journey from my parents were forcing him to punish himself. Somehow, he gulped it. He got up to wash his face. The whereabouts of the train were unknown to him.  He splashed his face several times to wipe the spot of infidelity. Seating himself back he filled the napkins with words of plea. He was sure he would never gather courage enough to show these letters to his parents. The step from eighteen years to nineteen was really a big leap. In one journey he had become different. He wrote his heart out. Cried a lot! Still the journey was long.

In a vague attempt to relax his mind, Mannu covered his head with the towel and gazed at the world passing by. Rajasthan had been left far away. The count of the trees had increased and the lakes with sleep in their eyes were finding a hideaway from the sparkle of the stars and the moon. Wires on electric and non-electric poles jumped high and low, but ran at the same pace of the train. Mannu tried hard to find it, but the moon was somewhere in the corner of the sky he couldn’t see. After running for a few hours, the train halted at a station. Mannu looked straight at the display box to know the name of it. Unheard it was... and the faces unknown. Unheard was their tongue, but outgrew happiness unknown.

Only after a few hours I would hold her palm. 

C U 2MROW @ 9 (October 22, 2016)

The red LED display read. Keeping the bag on the floor Mannu took his seat.  

The cell phone in his pocket had been beeping continuously for the past few minutes.

Messages from everyone, including Major, Abhi, Nitesh, Anky, Sattu, PP and Shubh left no space empty in the inbox.

Thank you all for support...Will surely tell the whole story as I reach back..

Mannu typed the message to the whole group and he was on my way to spend the best little holiday of his life. He wiped his palms, swallowed the saliva and nervousness in and thanked God as the engine surpassed the threshold of friction. And the wheels rolled.

Next moment he got Pia’s call. No hello. No hi.

“Got the seat?” She questioned impatiently.

“Yes darling.” Mannu replied, relaxing against the window.

  “Are you really coming Mannu?” Pia questioned again.

“Yes darling... We are meeting tomorrow...”

“Wow! I am so happy my baby... I love you...very very excited...I’ll come for max time you don’t worry. I have told Mum...” Pia said from the other side of the phone.

“I forgot one thing...” Mannu said to her, pretending to be confused.

“What? What happened?” Pia questioned and Mannu could sense the degree of nervousness in every blink of her eye.

“I forgot which cheek of yours tastes like honey and which tastes like strawberry?”  

“What!” she exclaimed.

“I’ll have honey in the morning and strawberry in the eve...” Mannu said, with a coy smile.

“Bye for now... Keep the bag safe. Miss you more from now...” Pia said nothing. Mannu knew that a girl’s silence is always a late ‘Yes’.

The train paced up in minutes.

Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh...

Juliet...Oh; Juliet

This guy’s in love with you don’t forget...

C U 2MROW @ 9 (October 21, 2016)

 No one was behind him now, only the empty street. Mannu was delighted, not because the first semester papers were over, not even because it was his birthday tomorrow, only because he was going to meet Pia, see her for the first time. He was nervous too. Music from the Bee Gees played loud in Mannu’s head. It was irresistible to avoid lip sync on the melody and he was that Romeo who was going far to see his Juliet. From one end to the other, he couldn’t believe his passion for his blind love. Pia couldn’t believe either. Really, the truth sometimes is unbelievable! In a dizzy speed the bus was crossing traffic jams and red lights. Time was running faster. Reaching badi chaupad, Mannu ultimately decided to step down and take an auto. Only twenty minutes remained for the train to depart. As usual the auto rickshaw wala demanded a high amount. Unusually Mannu agreed to pay and asked him to drive as fast as he could. On his way back to the reception Mannu called Major to enquire about the blind escape from the back yard of the hostel. He didn’t answer. Mannu called again. He didn’t answer. Mannu called Nitesh. He, too, didn’t pick up the call.  Life didn’t give anything to Mannu in one go.  Mannu picked up his bag and with firm steps he walked on the second road to freedom. Mannu didn’t had a clue about the backyard escape, but he had the courage to do all that was needed.

The jump was no big deal compared to what Mannu was going to do after it.  The wall was beyond the mess. It was the boundary of college and unlike the front walls it was barbed. There were mess workers around, dedicated to the job with their soul. No one asked why Mannu was here. All were busy.

God helps those who help themselves.

Mannu spoke to himself, with his gaze fixed on the seven foot wall.

He didn’t look left or right. This was no casual jump. It was to take him far away from an ordinary life. He never looked back either. Whoooaaa! He clung onto it in one go. Now his ears could sense some footsteps running towards him. Mannu muscled up his body, pressed his lips together and jumped to the other end of life.

The clear skies, the open lands and freedom! All he had to do was to run for his love. And he did it with pace. He landed in a plot with cow dung, some goats basking in the sun. He ran towards the main road. Time was fifty minutes past twelve. The wait for the city bus started. He had to board the next one no matter how stuffed with passengers it may be. After a five minute wait he boarded one.

“Lo Saab..,” The driver spoke and accelerated. Mannu was looking at his wrist watch minute after minute as if that would speed up the speed of the auto.

“Bhaiya...hurry up. Train will leave in ten minutes.” Mannu spoke, guiding the driver from the back seat. Rushing hard he paid the money in advance and asked the driver to keep the change. Again there was a jam at the chauraha just at the entry of the railway station.

“Rok do bhaiya.” Mannu requested him and ran towards the railway station. Hitting people, shoulder to shoulder, avoiding the queues and escaping the call of coolies, Mannu reached the platform at five minutes past two.   

The train stood right in front. Whooo aaa!!! He gazed at it, breathed heavily to relax himself and laughed at the situation. Till the last moment things were undecided. But today was his day. Life had just begun.  Looking for the bogies Mannu could fairly remember the days of October. Now was a new start. Bogie number J1. Again Mannu stared at it for a while. Very sure of what he was going to do, where he was heading towards, he stepped in. The time was seven minutes past two. 

Welcome to North Western Railways.

C U 2MROW @ 9 (October 20, 2016)

Sai baba... after such a long time I’ve earned this day to be with my love. I thank you for this. I don’t know if Mummy and Papa would forgive me, but I love them... I really do. Be with me god. I need you, I need your blessings to protect me and my love for the rest of my life. I love you Sai baba...

 The prayer took him much closer to God and far away from all the troubles that gave birth to the sweat beads on his body. Checking and rechecking the bag, the locks on the almirah and the eyes of the security guards, in moments Mannu was at the exit gates. The plan was that he would exit straight away without signing the log book and telling a false name if asked by the security guard. If they asked the year then he had to show courage. Instead of being meek he had to blame them for stopping him and getting him delayed for the task assigned by the HOD. But to his surprise the army of wardens guarded the exit. Why were they guarding the exit? They were supposed to be in the hostels and if not there then they should be off for lunch. At least not in front of the gates. From a distance Mannu turned back. He didn’t want to be seen.

“Oye how was the paper? ” A fellow classmate questioned as he walked towards the hostel. Mannu kept on hiding himself and replied only with thumbs up motion. Time was running out. But now the plan couldn’t be executed. The time was 12:30pm. The train was to leave at ten minutes past two. And the route to the railways station took around seventy long minutes. He rushed to the reception, put his bag there, took the wallet and went back to the exit gate boldly to find out the cause for extra security.  He requested the authorities twice to let him out, but the no exit movement was to last till 1:30 pm. Time for exit was reduced by one and a half hour, but it was of no use to Mannu. He was sure to miss the train if he left the place a minute after 1pm. The ‘No’ on their tongue was as stiff as the sticks in their muscular hands. But sometimes a ‘No’ does no good, neither to the speaker, nor to the listener. 

C U 2MROW @ 9 (October 19, 2016)

“Definitely bhai...You can come to my room anytime...Nitesh is also there...so...come anytime.” With these words Mannu felt relieved with some burden of borrowing.   Mannu stood up and gave him a hug that lasted a minute. Discussions with Nitesh continued for long on how Mannu was to behave in front of Pia, how to ask for her hand and how to ignore asking a kiss. 

The examination hall was the same as it had been for the past week, except the faces of the invigilators and the question papers which changed every day. The answer sheet had also added some pages for a change. Every head in the hall was busy completing the questions and some were merely busy in filling the 40 pages of the answer sheet. Within two hours Mannu had completed all the answers, including one stroke of revision. Bingo! He got an hour to think about the beauty of love.

The combined power of destiny and fortune can’t give you in a lifetime what love can bestow on you just in a moment! With petals of romance in his head, Mannu was experiencing life in its most melodious rhythm. Whoooaaa! He turned the answer sheet upside down and gazed outside the window. The skies had never been so bright. All above the vibrant canvas of earth he could see Pia calling him. The 2 cm display picture on ORKUT flashed everywhere. Mannu was sure to see her, touch her this time. The past mis understandings won’t get repeated. That display picture had changed the person within him and the complete story of his life. From an average guy to the Romeo of  real world! It felt blissful to be a part of this journey.

 “Finished with the paper?” The invigilator enquired. He was a tall guy and, by looking at the style of his still growing beard, Mannu sensed that he wasn’t much older to him.

“Yes sir... I was just relaxing.” Mannu said, looking straight into his eyes.

“Relax after 12pm Better revise it again else you are out.” He said, pointing his forefinger straight at Mannu’s nose. His words made a way straight into Mannu’s head.

“Okay sir.” Mannu responded, looked down at the paper with a witty smile on his face and began the revision. To kill time and avoid another round of lecture from the invigilator he decorated the answer copy with underlines and outlines. Mannu was acting like a joker for the rest of the world. Even after trying hard to it secret, all those who knew that Mannu was going for a one-day visit to Mumbai just to see the girl of his dreams, the girl he has been close with through a social networking website,  had smiles on their faces and a contradictory emotions in their hearts. Those who were silent had other ethics on criticism. As a fool Mannu kept on smiling amongst them, but the big day for the fool had arrived.  

Mannu was lost in the love garden of his virtual world when the last bell rang. On an unusual day of his life, the unusual was circling around him, that too in an unusual place, the examination hall. Time was drifting away faster than the Boeing, taking him much closer to Pia. With wet palms and a sweat surmounted forehead Mannu made an escape from the hall.  

The hostel was as silent as a sleeping tiger. All the rooms were locked. The first semester was over and so was the burden of studies. The canteen was plush with first year. Mannu’s plan was different. He had done all the further planning on the walk back from the exam centre to the hostel. There was no time to stop and think. The guards were out for lunch. Even the wardens had had a tough time managing the students outside the examination hall. The possibility of a check round was very low. Semester ending demanded a big celebration and that was granted. Mannu went straight to the bathroom, squeezed the facewash tube, rubbed it all over his face, splashed some water and he was ready. With the bag on his shoulders, he bowed in front of Sai baba’s portrait.

C U 2MROW @ 9 (October 18, 2016)

It was 2 am when Mannu looked at the time again and all he had was the Rs.500 note he had borrowed from Nitesh. He couldn’t ask Vipul. From the announcement of the exam dates Vipul had shifted to a senior’s room in third year. Nitesh had shifted to Mannu’s room.  

“Ask Major for money...He may have...He brought new clothes yesterday...ask him bhai.” Nitesh suggested Mannu. A minimum of two thousand rupees was to be kept. One thousand had still to be arranged. In hesitation, Mannu went to Major’s room. He was the actual room partner of Nitesh. It was dark and the only part illuminated was the area under the table lamp. His gaze was fixed on his book, but his vision was flying somewhere in the darkness of the skies.  

“I need a favour bhai...” Drinking in the drop of shame, Mannu spoke to him, sitting on the bed kept next to the study table where Major was still busy gulping the formulae.

“Ask my bro... I’m always there for friends, even for foes.” He replied, lighting the candle of hope within Mannu.

“I need some money bhai...” Mannu spoke again coyly and the next moment Major searched his pockets. Notes of all denominations poured out from his pocket. Take it. He handed Mannu all the money without event a count.

“No No...bhai I just need uuhhh thousand...not much...I will return you next month.” In a surprised state Mannu kept the money on the study table.

“Arey hazaar se kya hoga aaj ki date mein. Take at least two thousand.”

“No Major bhai...thank you just one thousand is enough...I’ll return you next month”

“Accha..Accha...Then take one note of five hundred...rest take hundred rupee notes.Chalega?” He offered with ease.

“Haan haan.” Mannu spoke, mesmerized with Major’s financial prowess. He spoke as if the money had no significance for him. Still all the notes were lying scattered on the table.

“And return it when you are comfortable” Major spoke, closing the books and turning towards Mannu.

“Bhai but how come so much money you keep in the hostel? What if it gets stolen?”

“I don’t care...waise bhi it’s not hard earned...last week again uuhhh I bet on a cricket match. I won double on toss...So this money comes and goes...I don’t care much for it yaar.” Major spoke, being insensitive about the situation. Mannu felt helpless that he had to borrow money coming from such a source. But it was the need of time. Asking for a thousand bucks and having them was not a big deal, but the question was who had a heart big enough to lend it. It was Major. He was turning out to be a master predictor of cricket matches and that had made him famous in all the bad circles in and around the college. Mannu had heard about it in the canteen, but he chose to ask Major. The hear say was true.

    “I’ll return it to you the next month.” Mannu re assured him again. He had no other word or phrase to thank Major.

“It’s ok...just help me with Physics before exam.” 

C U 2MROW @ 9 (October 17, 2016)

Living death for moments Mannu realised the beauty of this life.

The pain and sorrow had gone to a foreign land.

I was no more a stranger in a stranger land.

 Whoooaaa! He was alive. In the pool of water he imagined the road that could be taken.  The tickets for the home journey had been cancelled and for the rest of their lives, his parents were to know that the first semester exams were over on 31^st March and on the 1^st April Mannu was at home. Being together was much more prized than being together on birthday. They agreed easily. Urges from within him wanted to tell them the reality. But he took it without a burden. This was the new reality of his life. And he found nothing wrong if this half truth was going to shower on him the biggest happiness of his life; togetherness with his true love!  

No matter when he slept, Mannu woke up at 6 am, studied till the brightest hour of noon, took lunch within half an hour and then started the planning with Pia for that most beautiful morning of their lives. Pia’s exams were to begin from the first week of April. She was sure that she wouldn’t have to take any permission to come out that day. The excuse was that of classes. Her parents would never want her to miss a class and never question if she is late by an hour. Things at once had started running very smooth.  

In one go, Pia knew that Mannu had purchased a ring. Mannu was wrong even in the tenth guess every day. But Pia, would still ask, “Are you really coming for me?”

Mannu simply smiled and dropped a virtual kiss on her forehead. Good old words had proved their significance again. You win something, you lose the other. You lose something, you win the other. Pia had an ever living confusion if she would be able to impress Mannu with her first look? It made him smile again as it had already been done far before. All he did again was kiss her through the phone.

 Putting the books aside after spending hours in front of them, Mannu’s impatient mind was not wound up in the primary or secondary coils of the texted transformer, but in a jungle of belongings. The ratio of excitement between packing the luggage to the journey was presently greater than one. Half an hour before sleep was dedicated for packing luggage. Nitesh had lent a travel bag. After stuffing the borrowed bag one by one with the needed items Mannu tallied them with the slip note stuck on the almirah for a recheck.

-Shirt (black striped)

-Trousers (the only good ones)

-Gifts (diary, ring, courier)

-Fragrance (Axe Chocolate)

-Inner wears (new pair)

-Tickets (2)

-Socks (new pair)

-Money?

C U 2MROW @ 9 (October 7, 2016)

Were his desires too high? All he had wanted was to go and see his love, but full stops were lined up to infinity. His mummy and papa wanted him to be with them on his birthday. The exams were another big hurdle.

Life is similar to a coin, with two sides which can never see each other. On one side was his parents’ belief, which he intend not to break, his career; as the mental confusion, anxiety the Mumbai trip was to bring may fall upon his performance in the exam and on the other side were the eyes of a beautiful girl waiting from so long to see him. Again, he had no answer. He walked back, checked the lock on the door. It was locked. Broken from within, he sat on his knees again and took a deep breath in. The water was chilling cold, his nose could sense it.

God...I want to end all the mysteries...

He said these last words and dipped his head into the pool of water.

C U 2MROW @ 9 (October 6, 2016)

He kept the search for the book alive, when it was ultimately found eating dirt and mud above the almirah. Page 7. Page 70. Page170. Page 270. The envelope was found nowhere.

Jesus! What did life want from me?

What could be done now? In despair he sat on the floor wondering what had to follow, what he would tell Mrs. K. As he went on scratching his head, something under his bed, white in appearance, caught his eye. He went down the bed. It was an envelope. Wiping the dirt and circles of webs from it, he looked at the address. It was from his home. It was received the same day Mannu got Pia’s courier. Now Mannu could remember that it was the same piece of paper which he had seen in Nitesh’s hand that day as he came in, but Mannu had enquired nothing. How could he think of such a coincidence? How could anyone think of it? From the centre of his confused mind, Mannu guessed all that could be inside it. A cheque? Maybe. A letter? But why would mummy write a letter?

He tore the envelope. As he pulled the piece of paper out he was getting sure that it wasn’t a letter. Really, life would be a mystery without mysteries. Aaah! It wasn’t a cheque even. The paper was punched at the sides and was blue and white in colour. Northern Railways was written in white ink. Coach 3- Seat35. Number of passengers – 1. He read further to get a clue. The carry van of death took away from him every bit of life, when he read the names of the boarding station and the destination. As a birthday surprise, Mrs. K had sent him the tickets from Jaipur to Lucknow dated 28^th March, to come and celebrate the most special day of his life, his birthday with them.

The more Mannu was trying to hide his journey to Mumbai, the more it gloomed up. Mannu was getting more and more entangled in the chakra of life. It felt like it was a foggy November night and he was walking endlessly, bare foot, to find a way out of the lands of deciduous trees, but the shredded leaves had piled up like a mountain on the road to the outer land. He kept sitting on the floor. He wanted Pia near, but he knew if he ever told her she’ll never let him come to Mumbai. He was in a state of weightlessness, heartlessness and lifelessness. His whole body had become numb.  

The ticket fell down as Mannu walked towards the bathroom. He didn’t bother to put it to a safe place. In, there was complete darkness, just as a night without moon. He locked it, lay down with his back leaning on the door and cried a river. The burden of expectations was getting heavier. Already he had lied to his parents once and this time again the situation seemed out of control. He never felt so alone. He wanted to share the happiness of meeting Pia with Channu, Vivi and with Mrs. K, but it was not at all possible. He wanted to tell Pia about the care that his parents give him, but here too he had to be silent. Tears ran from his eyes. He had nowhere to go, there were no arms to hide him, no shoulder to cry on and no one to save him today. A web of situations had entangled him. He felt desperate. Leaving this world was the only end his swollen eyes could see. He kept on crying for a while. On his knees, Mannu went close to the bucket and filled it with cold water. He wiped his eyes and nose and held the bucket firm with both hands.

“Zindagi se itni nafrat kabhi nahi hui...”

He looked into the bucket filled with water, though nothing was visible.

Were his desires too high? All he had wanted was to go and see his love, but full stops were lined up to infinity. His mummy and papa wanted him to be with them on his birthday. The exams were another big hurdle.

Life is similar to a coin, with two sides which can never see each other. On one side was his parents’ belief, which he intend not to break, his career; as the mental confusion, anxiety the Mumbai trip was to bring may fall upon his performance in the exam and on the other side were the eyes of a beautiful girl waiting from so long to see him. Again, he had no answer. He walked back, checked the lock on the door. It was locked. Broken from within, he sat on his knees again and took a deep breath in. The water was chilling cold, his nose could sense it.

God...I want to end all the mysteries...

He said these last words and dipped his head into the pool of water.