The bowl

Walking, running and then walking again. Men on the streets were looking at the willowy figure with interest. Her dress of some soft material looked like hugging her without much interest. From faraway she looked like a lump of cloth floating on the street.

She was out of breath. She leaned on the banister nearby. It seemed like she was trying to gulp down all the air around her. She looked up and closed her eyes. “Isn’t she the prettiest thing you have seen”. “Ohh yes, certainly”. “Why don’t you just leave me alone and go to your fan club outside”? “What a pretty dress, you do have a great taste”.

She opened her eyes and started walking ahead. Fast, as if running away from someone. Or else running towards something. There was a buzzing in her ears. Disjointed sentences, random words, they seemed to be filling her mind and heart. A bubble was blowing itself at an alarming rate in her chest. It restricted her flow of breath. She wanted it to burst. Burst away into nothingness and dissolve all that it held. But it wouldn’t, it kept getting stuck at her throat. Making her head spin.

Suddenly her slippers gave way to hard concrete road. She looked down and smiled for the first time that day. She kicked away her slippers and started walking barefoot. The more she walked, the calmer she felt.

She stepped in a shop. It was full of old trinkets. The kind that have value because they have survived in this perishable world. She liked to look at them. The history they held within their inanimate selves. The way they told a story without the bias of right or wrong, true or false. Eternal listeners are what she thought they were. They didn’t care in whose hands they went. What they cared was to carry their stories safely in their bosom.

She picked up an old bowl. Encrusted with symbols and made of copper. It fit the shape of her small hand. “Ohh your taste is as exquisite like yourself Madame,” said a voice from behind her. She turned and saw a bald head and an expensive suit. He smiled and years of practice made her return it. However, her new resolution made her drop her mask of grace immediately.

“What is this”? “Ohh this is a pre-historic bowl. Excavated sometime back from the depths of a long lost civilization in Gujarat. I was told that it belonged to a King. Notice the symbols? Well they depict a war and the king winning it”. He finished impressively.

“It’s beautiful,” she said in a hushed voice. “Isn’t it now? Much like you,” he said in a flattering voice. “Should I then be locked up in a glass box to be looked at”? “Well certainly not. Although, you will definitely be a piece to appreciate,” he said smiling. “A piece to appreciate,” she murmured under her breath.

She held the bowl for some more time and then suddenly asked, “How much is it for?” “For you my lady only 800 dollars,” he said silkily. “800 dollars,” she repeated. “Only 800 dollars,” he smiled encouragingly. She looked at him and then at the bowl, smiled and pulled out a small bundle of notes from the pocket of her dress. The man counted the money, bowed deeply and started to take the bowl from her hand. “No need to pack it. I will take it like this,” she said.

She walked out of the shop and looked at the strong sun. It made her eyes sting but dulled the voice in her head, “Walking in the sun without an umbrella!!! Next you will be walking barefoot in the mud!” She opened her hair and let it loose. Walking with renewed energy she rushed towards the sea. There it was, blue as ever and frothing at the mouth. She looked at it for second and the flung the bowl in it with all her might. She saw the bowl float for a while and then a wave swallowed it full. She let out a shriek of delight and felt her eyes burning. Sitting there on the bridge, she cried her eyes out.

This book is my first attempt in any kind of book writing. I have tried here to cover all the important aspects of film making, though I may have missed certain things. In that case, I sincerely apologise for my shortcomings.
Also, please don't expect to find "10 easy and quick ways" to make it to the film industry. Of course I have suggested ways and means that could help you in your endeavor. But the adventure is yours. This is a handy resource book from where you can draw information and inspiration.
In the process of writing this book I had the privilege to meet some truly amazing personalities. I have poured out all the inspiration and learning that I could gather from these encounters. Personally, I am of the opinion that experiences and stories are better teachers that how-to-do-lists. This book is a combination of both. Use it to your advantage.
I have also writen about some of the important but lesser known areas of the film industry. You could consider niche professions as well.
Lastly, all I would request of those reading this book is to enjoy it and give this new author a chance.

Rama ki Kahani

Raat ka rang bahat gehra ho gaya tha. Uske kaanon tak awaz pohachkar fir lot gayi. Kahmoshi ki chadar usne kuch kaskar apne par lapet li thi. Inn parbaton ke beech woh khud ko yun hi kai baar kho diya karti thi. "Aari karamjali sunn na rahi. Chinghad chinghad ke gala fatne aaya mera. Yahan mui bethi taare taak rahi hai," amma hafte hue usse boli. Amma bada chid jaya karti thi usse yun betha dekhkar. Uski nazaron main itna sukoon dekhkar jee jal jata tha unka. Itni takllefon ka dhua jo unki aankhon main din raat pani bhar diya karta tha, Rama ko kabhi uss aag ki lapte chuti na thi. Jane kahan se usne itni saari muskurahaton ka pitara apne andar sama rakha tha. Kisi se churate na banta. Uski iss badhawasi ko dekhkar kai peer fakir bhi bulaye. Babaon se kai taviz banwaye. Ki kahin kisi bhoot pret ka saaya toh nahi ladoo par. Magar kissi ka koi asar hi nahi hota nigodi par. Din bhar daat khakar fir inn pahadon ke beech aakar beth jati. Jaise inse inki khamoshi udhar lekar khud main bhar leti ho.

Rama ne mud kar amma ki oor dekha aur muskurayi. "Aab bethi bethi muskurati hi rahegi ya ghar chalegi. Khana parosane ke liye naukrani aayegi?" anma ne jhlakar kaha. Rama uthi aur amma ke saath chalne lagi. Raaste bhar amma badbadati rahi aur Rama muskurati. Ghar pohackar seedha chule ke pass jakar beth gayi. Baba lete lete beedi pukh rahe the. Amma ne khane ko bulaya toh aakar beth gaye. Bole, "Itni der kuyn lag gayi?". Amma ne unhe bhi jhatak diya, "Tumhari ladli ke peeche peeche hi saara din nikal jata hai. Aur koi ghar ka kaam nahi hota kya? Pura din chule main maro, fir bhi yeh toh kissi se hota nahi ki madaat karde. Haan thandedar bane sawal zarur puchenge. Itni der kuyn ho gayi"? "Aare main toh sirf puch raha tha. Har baat par youn bigad kuyn jati ho"? baba ne zara zor se poocha. "Bigadungi nahi. Ek admi kaam karne ko. Uspar yeh hai ki bas apni hi duniya main khoyi rehati hai. Na kisi se bol chaal. Na kuch. Maa se tak beth kar do baat nahi karti. Fursta mili nahi ki bhaag jati hai. Kahe deti hun. Mujhe iss ladki ke lakshan bilkul aache nahi lag rahe. Yahin yeh haal hai jane sasural main kya karegi. Wahan na baat karegi apni saas se. Na puchegi apne rishtedaron ko. Mui jane kahan se paida ho gayi hai. Main keh rahi hun hamari bachi par koi saaya hai. Magar tumhe hosh hai kisi cheez ka? Kheton main pura din pade rehte ho. Raat main bhi jakar rakwali par beth jate ho. Kitni dafa kaha hai kissi ko rakh lo. Magar tumhe kissi par bharosa ho tab na" bolte hue amma rotiyan sekhane lagi.

Rama ne thali parosi aur baba ke samne rakh di. Baba chup chap khana khane lage. Amma ki baaton ka unpar kabhi koi asar nahi hota tha. Amma bol ballkar khud hi chup ho jati thi. Rama janti thi, amma ki inhi baaton se bachne ke liye baba kisi ko kheton ki rakhwali ke liye nahi rakh rahe the. Jabse pichle mausam main aalon ki fasal se nuksan hua tha, amma ne baba ki jaan kha li thi. Kai hafton tak un naspite aalon ko lekar hi roti rahi. Fir apni kismat ko ki na jane kounse paapon ka fal bhugat rahi hain iss ghar main aakar. Rama ne aajtak amma ko baba ki kisi baat par khush hote na dekha tha. Aur baba, woh toh bas apni hi dhun main jeete the. Ghar ke jhamelon main woh kabhi padte hi na the.

Amma ko bhi dadi hi pasand karke layin thi. Baba ne toh bas shadi ki din unhe dekha tha. Sundar toh thi hi amma hamesha se, dulhan ke libaz main aur hi kuch noor tha unka. Baba ne sirf wahi dekha. Amma ke dahej main bhi kai saara saman aaya tha. Aab tak uska wasta ghar main diya jata hai. Amma ke bauji kisi zamane main zamindar hua karte the. Ser ser bhar gehun, chawal aur fal bheje unhone apni beti ki sasural main. Ladke ka chunav kis tarike se kiya, bhai londa aache ghar khandan se hai, khet bhi khub hain aur umr bhi amma se kuch 2-1 saal hi badi hogi. Bas, aur kya chahiye ladki ko sukhi hone ke liye? Byah di apni ladli pehle muhrat main. Kehte hain Amma bada roi thin jab babul ke ghar ko chodkar aayi thi. Rama ko hamesha iss baat par hasi aaya karti thi. Kai baar woh mazak main keh diya karti thi, "Amma toh aab tak ro hi rahi hain. Jo hasti toh koi anokhi baat hoti". Iss baat par amma use khub daatti.

Amma ki baaton par Rama ne kabhi bahat dyaan nahi diya. Shayad bachpan se hi sunti aa rahi thi issiliye. Beti maa par na jakar baap se apne nak-nakshe udhar le aayi hai iss baat se unhe hamesha takleef rahi. Usspar uska ladkpan, woh unhe aur bhi gussa dilata. "Aae he agar jo khubsurat na ho toh kum se kum jo hai usse toh sambhal kar rako. Punji hai jo zindagibhar duniya main dikhani hogi. Ladkpan main yun isse lutao mat. Zara toh khud ka khyal rakhe apna. Yun thode hi londo ki taraf dhup main gandagi main fira kare. Uth se ho gai hai magar akal das paise ki na hai chori main," har din amma kehati usse.

Magar Rama hamesha se hi man mauji rahi thi. Yeh baaten uske palle kabhi padi hi nahi. Gaon main jeth ke mahine main ek chuski wala aaya karta tha. Sehar ko jane wali sadak par. Rama ko uski chuski aur uski chalti firti dukaan badi pasand thi. Ran birangi badi wali chatri jo uss chuski wale ne apni cycle par tanga rakhi thi, Rama ko uske rang bahat pasand the, Woh bhari dupahar main, chalti hui loo ko jhelkar bhi usske paas chuski khane zarur jati. Amma se daat na pade issiliye unke sone ke baad chup chap pichali kiwad se nikal jati. Tauji ke gulab ke kheton ke par ek choti si pagdandi thi, jo nathu chacha ke gehun ke kheton tak jati thi. Bas ussi pagdandi par woh apne baki saare doston ko jama karti aur puri paltan lekar sehar jane wali road par pohach jati. Ek ser gehun ke badle chuski le aati aur khub maze se bhagate daudte pagdandi par jakar beth jati. Baki saare dost kuch beri ke pedon par latak jate, kuch neeche jati choti se nehar main pav daal beth jate. Yun hi aadhi dophar nikal jati.

Chutpan main gav bhar ke dost hua karte the hamari Rama ke. Swabhav meetha tha so chachiyon aur taiyon ki bhi manpasnd thi. Amma bhi kitna hi jhalla len, Rama ki meethi nazaron se woh bhi na bach pati. Aakhir thi toh unhi ki aulad. Woh bhi ekloti. Bade hote hote Rama kai badlav aaye. Natkhat si choti Rama badi ho kar shant nadi ban chuki thi. Behna nahi choda tha usne magar bachpan ka woh ladkpan zarur chut gaya tha kahin. Umr ke saath saath uske shabd kam hone lage the. Boll chall toh sabhi se thi. Magar baaten kabhi kisi ko na kehati. Jo sab bolte woh sun leti aur chup chap apni aankhon main unn baaton ko utar leti. Magar nazaron main kisi cheez ka ya kisi insaan ki koi raay na hoti. Na kisi ko dekhkar uski nazaren jhukati na uthati thin.

Uski umr ki ladkiyon ko jo sajne sawarne ka shok tha, Rama ko na tha. Uss se toh bas ghanton tak pahadon ko takna aacha lagta tha. Wahan bethe bethe woh khub saari kahaniyan banati, geet bunti. Saheliyon ki shadi main kabhi kabhi gaya bhi karti thi. Padhai ka shok tha so sehar jakar B.A kar rahi thi. Gaon ke bachon ko saath saath padha liya karti thi. Amma ko yeh saari baaten pasand toh thi nahi. Magar ladki ki shadi karani thi aur aajkal bina padhi likhi ladki koun pasand karta hai. So unhone isse itni dur jakar padhne ki izzazt de di thi. Fir bhi magar jab bhi bechari se koi galti ho jaye, uske pure college aur masterain ko galiyan de daal ti thin amma. Inhone ne hi bigada hai chori ko, na jaane kya aan shaan padhate rehete hain. Samajh main toh hume rehna hai. Yahin ki baaten na sikhayenge? yun kehkar har baar uski soch par taala laga deti thi. Magar kaid toh kher kya hi kar pati woh usse. Ghanto pahadon ko takte hue woh apni soch khaniyon main bun liya karti thi.

Fir ek din gaon main ek masterji aaye. Waise toh Chandrakant babu bade zamindarji ke sabse chote bete the, magar choti hi umar main unhone khud ka kafi naam kar liya tha. Kai pustaken likhi thi, Ph.D kar rahe the literature main aur kai saare social works bhi. Ussi karan woh wapas gaon aaye the. Yahan unhone bachon ke school main ek saal tak padhane ka social work ka project karna tha. After all, charity begins at home. Yahi kaha karte the sabse. Dekhane main bade hi sushil lagte the. Kad kathi toh kher koi zyada nahi thi magar mukh zarur bada suhavna tha. Moti jaise daat bilkul seedhe. Aankhon par professoron wala chasma aur sundar baal. Rang saaf tha aur muskurahat bhari nazar. Badi hi seedhi aur saral baat karte the. Baat waise toh kam hi kiya karte the.

Unke aate hi thakurain ke kandhe aur chaude ho gaye aur aankhe jaise aasman ko chuti hon. Gav bhar main apne bete ke gund gati firti thi. Kuwari ladkiyon ki maon ke samne toh khaskar kar. Magar uski toh koi zarurat thi nahi. Gav ki har kunwari ladki ki maa ne apni nazar Chandrakant babu par jama di thi. Aas lagaye toh ladkiyan bhi bethi thi. Unki sabhiyat dekh kar sab ki sab jaise pighal hi gayi hon. Muh se lal tapane lagti sabke unke guzarte hi. Amma ne bhi badi apni nazar jami hui thi unpar. Magar Rama ko fursat mile apne pahadon se toh woh kahin kuch baat karen uss se. Iss taraf toh kai ladka uss se pasand nahi karega, yeh soch soch kar amma din ba din aadhi hui ja rahi thi.

Rama ne Chandrakant babu ke baare main bahat suna tha. Apni saari saheliyon se, unki maaon se aur jab hathe chad jati amma ke, unse bhi. Magar yun toh uss se kisi main koi dilchaspi na aati. Logon ki baaten sun sun kar. Ghamand nahi tha usme, magar vishwas zara kum hi sab par. Darasal saheliyan toh nain naksh se zyada kuch kehati nahi aur chachiyan aur amma zamindari ke. Issiliye Rama ne Chandrakant babu par koi zyada dhyaan nahi diya. Uss din tak. Shehar main college jate hue woh jo bus pakadti thi, uss bus stop par uss din uss se ek anjaan saaya dikha. Zara pass jakar dekha toh pata chal ki Chanrdakant babu hain. Rama zara jhep gayi. Logon se baat karneki waise hi adat nahi thi aur fir inse toh uska kabhi taruff hi nahi hua tha. Fir bhi zara hichkichate hue woh unke pass aakar khadi ho gayi.

Chandrakant babu raaste par bus ki raah taak rahe the. Nazar firakar dekha toh do moti moti aankhon se samna hua. Ek min ko zara dekhate hi reh gaye. Gol chehra, gappe jaise gaal, badi kali aankhe aur lambe ghane baal. Matha chota magar baalon ki maang se saja hua. Badan mota hi kehlta magar bahat zyada nahi. Dekhane bhar main koi bahat khubsurat shaks nahi dikhayi diya. Magar kuch toh tha usme jo ek min ke liye unki saas hi si ruk gayi. Unhone bina soche ek muskurahat Rama ki taraf feki aur pura uski taraf ghum gaye. Rama ne unhe dekha aur woh bhi muskurayi.

"Namaste Chandrakant babu"
"Aap janti hain hume?"
"Ji..Woh Amma ne bataya tha apke baare main"
"Aacha. Kounki ladki ho tum?"
"Suresh Gautam ki"
"Aacha Suresh Chacha ki. Aare Rama ho kya?"
"Ji"
"Aacha aacha. Tum shehar main B.A kar rahi ho na?"
"Ji. Wahin ja rahi hun. Aap kahan ja rahe hain?"
"Aare main zara shehar se bachon ke liye kuch kitabe lene jaa raha hun"
"Aacha. Toh Lalaji ki library main chale jayega. Bus stop se lagkar hi hai. Wahin aapko saari kitaben mil jayengi."
"Haan theek hai"

Itna kehkar woh ruk gaye. Fir na jane unhe kya suja woh bole, "Suno Rama, agar tumhe baht takleef na ho. Aur agar tumhe bahat der na ho rahi ho toh kya tum mere sang chaloge lalaji ke yahan? Mujhe bhi aasani ho jayegi bachopn ki kitaben lene main". Yeh sunkar na jane kuyn magar Rama ke rom rom main jaise ole padne lage. Haath pair thande ho gaye, dil ki dhadkan ek min ke liye toh ruk hi gayi. Fir zara uss se sambhalte hue usne kaha, "Ji kuyn nahi zarur". Unhone ek dusare ko dekha aur jaise bina kuch kahe bahat kuch keh diya ho. Uss din ke baad woh roz milne lage. Shaam ko school main chutti ke baad Chandrakant babu bhi Rama ke saath padhadon ka takne lage. Dono ne shadi ka faisla kiya aur gharwalon tak baat pohachi.

"Ai hai...main toh lut gayi barbad ho gayi. Duniya bhar ki khoobsurat ladkiyon ko chodke hamare nawabzade ko woh saand hi mili. Mujhe hi seengh maregi bahu bankar. Apna toh sikka hi khota nikla. Khub prasad chadha rahi hogi Suresh ki bahu aab toh. Sone ki chidiya phas li usne toh," yun keh keh kar thaukrain khub roi. Din raat apni kokh ka wasta diya magar Chandrakant babu ne apna faisla na badla. Maa bhi aakhir kya karti. Maan hi gayi. Saheliyon ne irshya ke maare Rama ko khub taine sunaye. "Ai hai hum hi kuch jakar padh aati college se. Na jane tumne toh kounse mantar padhe hain jo yeh maal phaas liya. Shakal se toh tumhari pyar hua na hoga. Yeh toh bata do kounsa manta phunka hai hamare shehari babu par". Rama sabko hass kar taal deti. Uss se pata tha ki uski saheliyan jal kukadi ban uss se chot pohchana chahati hai. Aur fir woh wakai khud ko khush kismat samjhti thi ki itne aache insaan uske jeevan saathi banenge. Issiliye usse inn sab baaton se koi farak na padta tha.

Amma toh jaise saatven aasman par hi pohach gayi hon. Din raat apne hone wale damad ke gund gaati aur beti ko duaen deti. Unhe bhi vishwaas na ho raha tha ki Rama se Chandrakant babu fas gaye. Magar unhe toh bas apni kush kismati main hi jeena tha. So woh iss baat par zyada gaur na karti thi. God bharai ka din aaya. Rama ko saheliyan saja kar dulhe aur uske gharwalon ke samne le aaye. "Rama aab tumhari shadi hone wali hai. Shadi par ladkiyon ka charera badan hi aacha lagta hai," Thakurain gurrai. Chandrakant babu ne unki taraf teekhi nazaron se dekha aur woh chup ho gai. Rama maan hi maan muskai. Sab theek se ho gaya.

Shaam ko Chandrakant babu aur Rama hamesha ki tarah tille par mile. Pahadon ko dekhate dekhate Chandrakant babu ne zara sharamnak bhav se kaha, "Rama main maa ki baaton ke liye tum se maafi mangta hun". Rama ne unki oor dekha aur uski muskurahat jaise dil main hi maar gayi ho. "Kya baat hai. Pareshan lag rahe hain aap," Rama ne chintit hokar pucha. Chandrakant babu ne uski oor dekha aur nazaren jhuka li. Kuch der baad bole, "Mujhe bas zara shadi ke liye daar lag raha hai. Aaj jaise maa ne keh diya, waise kai aur log kahenge shdi par. Rishtedaron ko toh tum janti hi ho. Ladki ki sundarta ko woh sirf mukh aur sharrer se hi napte hain. Mujhe daar hai woh kahin kuch aaisa waisa na keh den". Rama unki oor bas dekhati hi reh gayi. Uss se laga jaise usne unhe pehle kabhi dekha hi na ho. Unki shakal jo uski saari saheliyon ke dil main basi hui thi aab uss se dikhayi dene lagi. Usne jhep kar pucha, "Kya aapko fark padega"? Chandrakant ne uski taraf dekha aur kaha, "Nahi Rama mujhe inn sabse koi farak nahi padta. Magar mujhe iss samajh ka daar hai. Log kuch bol denge tumhe toh mujhe aacha na lagega". Unki yeh baaten Rama ke dil main teer ki tarf chubh gayi. Woh uthi aur ghar ki taraf chali gayi. Uss raat pehli baar usne tarron ko chodkar apne ghar ke seeshe main ghanton tak khud ko taka. Takte takte uski aankhe bhar aayi.

Auro Beach

Auro beach in rain looks like a wet heaven. It just melts away all that you are. All that is left behind in the sand is an emptiness, blissful emptiness. That day it was only two of them on that beach. They looked at the sea silently, feeling the waves that crashed on their feet. The waves were mesmerizing. They could see nothing but their changing colors. Feel nothing but the coolness of the water on their feet. The wind orchestrated its music in their ears. Singing away a song of life in all its glory. The song seemed to reach their hearts, weaving a canopy of peace with the threads of their heartbeats. They held hands.
They started walking on the beach and smiled at the sand on their feet. It seemed to change colors. Near the water it was velvety smooth, its cream color spreading thin over the dry beach. From there, it seemed to change into a path that felt like salt spread over velvet, a dark brown color. A little way ahead it mixed with the yellow of the beach with shells and pebbles spread wide and far. They walked on all three feeling their texture on the feet. Then they climbed a little hill of rocks spread on one end of the beach. They hopped on the rocks while the raindrops tingled their skins. It slipped down their mouths and made them giggle. They reached the end of it and for a long time kept staring at the never ending blue. 
They silently sat on the rocks and saw the blue turning into the frothy white and settling into sea green. Below their dangling legs they could see the reefs being colored different shades of red and green by the water. The girl smiled and looked at the boy. "You know what I think, I think that there is a magical world under there. There are mermaids living with mermen who fly to the moon in the night. When the world goes to sleep of course". With this she lost herself in her magical world and the boy silently rested his head on her shoulder, linking his fingers with hers. No one knows if he listened to what she was saying. But he did fly with her to an unknown world, where no one existed but they.

Rajasthani Bhindi

Bahat din ho gaye the unhe uss restaurant main gaye hue. Bahat din ho gaye the unhe bina ek khalish ke koi baat kiye hue. Bahat din ho gaye the unhe sirf baate kare hue. Udate udate khayalon ko apne shabdon main bandhate hue. Bahat din...
Uss din raasta uss restaurant ka kuch kum sa lag raha tha. Unke hoton se khilkhilati hasi ne shayad unke kadmon ki raftar badha di thi. Restaurant pohache toh dekha ki andar bahat hi kum log behte hain. Ladke ne ladki ki taraf dekha aur muskuraya. Uss se shor pasand nahi tha. Yeh restaurant bhi kuch aaisa hi tha. Ek mohabbat ke maare shayar ki taraf. Jisko koi shor duniya ka sunai nahi deta. Woh toh bas apni hi kavitaon main mast rehta hai.
Woh dono kone ki ek table par jakar beth gaye. Kursi nahi thi chota sa sofa tha bethane ki liye uss table par. Ladki toh bade maze main pairon ko upar kiye uspar viraj gayi. Magar ladke se itni door apni mehboob se betha na gaya. Woh utha aur usne apna chota sofa hilakar uske pass lane ki koshish ki. Utane main chup chap aa kar ek waiter wahan khada ho gaya. Ladke ne uski oor dekha aur halka sa jhep gaya. Ladki magar zara bold tarike ki thi. Usse bhi uske baju main hi bethane ki jidd thi. Usne waier se pucha, "Hum isse yahan nahi rakh sakte?". Waiter ne muskura kar sar hila diya. Utane main uska boss bada waiter aa gaya. Usne pucha kya baat hai aur ladki ne bataya. Fir uss bade waiter ne dusare table se kursi ki taraf hi dikhane wali kursi lakar uss ladki ke chote sofa ke pass rakh di. Finally, Ladka wahan beth gaya. Bas fir kya tha. Ladki ne apni baaton ki fuljhadi jalayi aur uski chatakti matakit baaton ki roshni main woh dono kho gaye. Magar ladke ko lag rahi thi tez book. Ladki kuch bol rahi thi jab usne uski aankhon main ek bechani dekhi. Woh samjh gayi, ki bhaiya aab toh jo hai bina khaan paan kaam chalega nahi. Usne jhat se menu uthaya aur ladke se pucha, "Rajasthani Bhindi try karoge"? Ladka zara hichkichaya. Uss se ladki ki choice par pura bharosa tha, magar rajastani bhindi??? Nashate main??? Uski soch ke thode bahar hi thi yeh baat. Magar uss se nayi cheezen try karna bada aacha lagta tha. Kuch naya, kuch anokha. Uss se zindagi ko mauka dena bahat aacha lagta tha. Aakhir usse woh ladki bhi toh aase hi mili thi. Zindagi ke ek mood par. Jahan uske paas jane ka ki koi khaas wajah nahi thi. Usne tabhi ek chance liya tha. Usne aaj fir ek chance liya. Woh muskuraya aur ladki ne jhat se order kar diya.
Rajasthani bhindi aayi aur ussi ke saath unn dono ki favoirate hot apple buttered tea. Ladke ko rajhasthani bhindi bahat pasand aayi. Usne khush hokar ladki se kaha, "Tum na hoti toh main yeh kabhi order nahi karta. Sochta bhi nahi iske baare main". Ladki muskurayi aur jawab diya, "Tum na hote toh main kabhi inhe try karne ki nahi sochati. Tum mujhe mere mann ki sunane dete ho". "Aacha magar kaise? Tum hamesha apne mann ki nahi karti?" "Nahi. Sabke saath nahi. Agar aur koi hota toh main bhi ek safe bet main kuch pehle khaya hua, jana pehchana order karti. Tumhare saath mujhe galti karne main darr nahi lagta". "Aur tumhare saath mujhe zindagi jeene main. Main bhi nayi cheezen tumhare saath hi try karta hun. Warna kuch galat ho jaye toh sab bahat bolte hain". Woh dono ek dusare ko dekhkar muskuraye.
Fir unn dono ne baaton ke diye jalaye. kahin khwabon ki lau thi, kahin soch ki aur tel daala usme khoob saari hasi ka. Hot apple buttered tea peete hue kai armon main unhone jaan phunki. Kuch apni aankhon main, kuch ek dusare ki. Uss restaurant ki bheeni peeli light main unhone ek dusare ka haath thama. Fir ek baar ek pal unhone apni yaadon main bandha. Inhi palon ke dhaage bana rahe the woh. Hamesha jude rehne ke liye.

I Love you

He was coming. They were meeting after two weeks. She was very excited. She was new to the city. She lived alone. He lived with his parents. They couldn't meet often. She took out the new soap bar, which boasted of rose fragrance. She wanted to look her best.

She came out of her bath, took out her white t-shirt which she had bought from Westside the other day. She liked the quirky lines on plain T-shirts. She was comfortable in them. She wore it with her blue jeans.

He came while she was still combing her hair. She let him in. He came and stood besides her. They smiled at each other. “How do you like my new t-shirt?” asked she. “You know I am not a big fan of your Westside collection. Isn't this a little ill fitting?” said he. “I like to breathe in my clothes you know,” said she and smiled at him. He came closer and put his hands around her waist. “Well we surely don't want to stop your oxygen supply. However, why is there a need to wear your gym clothes all the time I can't understand. Why don't you wear those nice pretty tops like other girls. You know you will look more hot than many” said he, trying to kiss her.

“Because they are a pain to wear. I don't like them. I don't wear them,” said she, and turned towards him slowly. He kissed her cheeks and said with clouded eyes, “You need to sacrifice some to get some. You are such a doll. But you throw it all away by wearing such plain clothes. Why don't you stop being lousy and make an little effort to dress up? There will be mass murder at hand, trust me.”

“Look don't you love me the way I am? Why do you want to change me?” asked she a little hurt and irritated. He snuggled her more in his arms and said “Where did the question of changing you come from? I was merely suggesting how you could make your adorable self little more so. What is wrong in looking good”?

“Nothing. Nothing, whatsoever. But I place comfort before my looks. All right?” said she putting her hands between them and pushing him away a little. The manner suggested that the topic was now over.

He looked at her and smiled, “Yes mam”. He then moved closer again and said, “You know I love you the way you are. You are perfect”.