Rickshaw Puller

It was 7 'o' clock in the evening. I was getting late for my 8.30 night shifts. In the normal hours, it takes 40 minutes from home to my office. But thanks to these peak hours, I was going to be late by at least fifteen minutes. I wished God to be with me and helping me in landing a much needed job. I went downstairs from my apartment which is on the fifth floor. I wondered why going downstairs is so much easier than going upwards. I took a rickshaw from the footpath. I asked rickshaw puller the fair for 'Paschim Vihar East' metro station. He demanded 20 bucks.

"Why do I have to fight everyday? why cant you just say 15 bucks which is the fixed fair? But then again, nobody fixed this price, so I can't blame you, right?" I showed my anger.

After a 5 minutes of argument, he agreed to go for 15 bucks. I was glad I won. I love this 5 minutes journey from home to metro station. The road, the people and the ambience. It feels so divine and lively. People coming from offices, students from colleges. Happiness on their faces because they spent another long tiresome day and they would be with their family again.

In the middle of the way, rickshaw puller took a stop and handed 60 bucks to a man who looked like a bully. Out of curiosity, I asked who the man was.

Rickshaw puller said - 'Arre saheb, This is just a normal routine. I have rented this rickshaw from that man. 60 rupees is the price I've to pay for a day.'

'60 bucks? That's huge. How much do you make a day?' I was now more eager.

'It depends. On an average, I make 250-280 rupees. But life is so tough sometimes, I only earn 70-80 rupees. But these malik log don't bother with our condition. Every evening at 7 'o' clock, one has to hand over the rent. Like today, I have earned about 200 rupees only. My wife told me to come early today. She has to go to doctor for her weekly pregnancy check. But I didn't earn enough to pay Doctor's fees. This is why I argued so much for 20 bucks with you. Accha nahi lagta aise behas karna par pet ke liye sab karna padta hai, saheb.'

By now, I was out of words. I wish I could have said something that might be any help to that rickshaw puller. But there weren't any words to show my sympathy, they would not have been any help anyways. I reached to metro station and gave him 20 bucks happily. I told him not to be late for doctor's treatment. He wished me luck and I took the escalator for the metro station.

It's been months since this event happened. I still take a rickshaw for the metro station. But one thing definitely changed - I never argue twice when a rickshaw puller asks twenty bucks. I don't know if those five bucks will make any difference to a rickshaw puller's condition. But I feel glad that may be that rickshaw puller will go home five minutes early.

Photo courtesy - http://www.photoholik.com

Death

..And again I see those dreams;
falling from the top into the valley of dark,
a smirk on my face, then a terrible attempt for a laugh
like I knew my end, how it is going to be;
then she came by, holding me into her arms;
oh my, such a divinity, what a smell of her skin,
deep black eyes & a mole under the chin
She embraced me, kissed me, gave me her attention,
loved me the way I deserved all these years;
Who would have thought death was so beautiful :-)

it did not go well !!!

Most of the times it wouldn't matter
of how helpless and stupid i've felt at times
because your messages, your photos and those memories
were enough to keep me going.
but sometimes it hurts, it really does
but I wouldn't blame you and understand that
it did not go well..


i knew it had to end someday,
u were too good for me, if I may say
or may be I was too desperate to win some;
you always complained how free-bird I was
I really didnt see the point back then
so I would agree with the verdict and understand that
it did not go well..


its funny how happy those calls used to make me,
and those messages which were received with laughter
now they bring melancholy and frustration of failure,
of what could be most significant I could do ever
Now you call and tell me things you did and how lovely
its all going, I feel like asking if it was me who messed it up
but then I believe it was my fault and understand that
it did not go well..


you might not remember cuz you always forget things,
how you once said that because of me you never succeed,
how the whole scenario of 'ours' kept you distant and cold
I really don't have a clue if that was you being sarcastic or what?
but u'll have to trust me on this, I always pray for you
and I think heavens of you, so I understand that
it did not go well..


I always wanted your company, you were glad to come along
You are the epitome of everything I wanted in a girlfriend,
well, you considered me a good friend, I assume you lied
I thought you were the one, you appreciated the thought,
I like things in its simplest form, about you I was never sure;
Sometimes it burdens me, makes me swell, but I understand that
it did not go well..

Zindagi !!

Raste saare khoye khoye se lagte hain kabhi
Pal bhar me dhumil ho jata hai sab kabhi
Tanha akeli raat gunguna jaati hai fir geet koi
Ek aas si dil me umad aati hai fir koi
Main uth khada hota hoon sangharsh karne ko
Jo dekhe hain swapna unhe poora karne ko
Hairan wo puchhte hain mujhse, kaise?
Muskurkar hi talna chahta hoon main, par kehta hoon..
Yahi to zindagi hai, haan, yahi to zindagi hai..

A tribute to 'A bittersweet Life- Korean Flick'

I wake up in a terrible state, my whole body wet with sweat. I am reluctantly crying and no matter what I do, I can't control myself. There is a melancholy in the air and sorrow in my breathe. Did I see a nightmare? A bad dream? No, It was a sweet dream.

Then why am I crying? I wipe my tears away. I know why. Because the dream I had won't come true.
A Bittersweet Life!!!

Learning - It's a process

I am in a dim lit room, an underground joint. This silence has a music itself. I hear voices, some people mocking at me, but I don't reply back. I hear her cry, begging me to let her go, but I don't ask for a patch up this time. A guy comes up and tells me to walk out, its time to close up. I tell him that I will not linger.
I come outside, Its quite dark, Nights are better. You don't have to hide in corners or sit in your apartment whole day, for that matter. What was I thinking back then? In that store? Ah, yes. I give it a thought-Why don't I do things I did back then, because I am learning? Obviously!

The One

I am at this food store where they serve great burgers.I am in the queue and I am exhausted. I look at someone and realize its you. That's exactly when you see me.
I tug my shirts in, just in case, but you wouldn't speak.Times have changed, we are no more adolescents.You go sit in a corner, I might stop eating at that store.Wish it didn't end this way.
I never exactly cared, but Yes, you were the One !!