Tryst with friendship (extended)

As Abhirup finished his bread sticks and soup, he looked over to Aaban who was still sipping his soup. Abhirup did not want to disturb his stranger friend from enjoying his soup but curiousness clung to his heart and mind like a child clinging on a high branch of the tree, afraid he might fall. So, he asked him anyway, " Where do you live in Delhi?". Aaban looked up at Abhirup's inquisitive eyes. he had thought that Abhirup might stop asking questions after having the soup but alas he had not. He longed to read the new book he had bought waiting for the train at the station but it seemed that maybe he was not destined to read it in the train. Wearily he answered Abhirup anyway, " Kalkaji."."No way. I live in C.R Park. We live quite close to each other. Aaban, I think Destiny had planned our meeting here on the train, Ha! Ha! Ha!", said Abhirup after which he laughed hysterically. 'Destiny, Of course.', thought Aaban. Throughout the train ride they chatted. From family to cricket, from cricket to politics, from politics to film industries, from film industries to daily soaps, from daily soaps to...... and the chat went on and on like two travelers on a never ending road. Suddenly a man wearing a red uniform came into the birth. He asked them as to whether they would have non veg or veg for dinner. Abhirup asked for a non veg meal while Aaban asked for a veg meal. Soon the ticket teller came into their birth for checking their tickets. After he went away Abhirup was going to ask Aaban something when he interrupted, " I don't feel like having meat. I think I am having train sickness." Abhirup asked nothing more. Soon their meal arrived and they ate their fill. After both of them had relieved them from the washroom, they started getting their bed ready to retire for the night. As Abhirup got under his sheets and blankets he looked Aaban who was taking out something from his side bag sitting on his bed. " Thank you for keeping a watch on my bags while I was away. Also thank you for chatting with me. Hope I didn't bore you?", Abhirup said, slowly. " Oh, please don't thank me. It was a pleasure chatting with you. And by the way, even you kept a watchful eye on my bags didn't you?", said Aaban smiling. Abhirup smiled back and said, " You know Aaban, you are a good person.". Saying this he retired for the night leaving Aaban confused.
Aaban had started reading the book which was a good page turner but in the middle somewhere he fell asleep. Suddenly the train jerked with a full force making Aaban fall out of his bed with a loud thud which woke up Abhirup. There was an uneasy calmness that surrounded them. Before Abhirup could help Aaban to his feet, the train made a piercing and irritating noise. It tilted up to 90 degrees and everything went blank.
( Keep reading.......)

Tryst with friendship (cont....)

The plump man got in the birth and put his blue Adidas round rucksack on the seat while pushing his black Skybag underneath the blue seat. He then sat on the opposite seat of Aaban's with a thump, like a sack being thrown on the seat. He took out a blue and white handkerchief from his pocket and started wiping his face after which he spread the sweat soaked handkerchief on his lap. His gaze then slowly turned, as if in a dream, to the stranger sitting opposite him who was staring out of the window as if a poet at a loss of words. He the raised his voice a bit and asked," it is a hot day isn't it?". Aaban looked at him and said," yes, it sure is". " Hi! I am Abhirup, Abhirup Roy. You are?" Abhirup extended his hand in the gesture of a handshake." Oh Hi! I am Aaban Khan", Aaban shook it warmly. " Pleased to meet you Mr Khan.", " Please just call me Aaban.". Abhirup smiled. The train jerked and the started. " So, where are you headed to Mr Kh- I mean Aaban?", Abhirup asked. " Kolkata.", Aaban looked down but tried not to let Abhirup notice his sadness. " Oh! I am going to Kolkata too. I am going to attend my Niece's wedding. What is taking you to Kolkata? Got a wedding to attend too eh?" Abhirup broke into a laugh. " Um, no actually..business.", Aaban turned towards the window. " Oh! and what business are you in Aaban?". " I work with the reliance company.", Aaban said." Oh! you mean Ambani's company? you work under him?", Abhirup's eyes widened. " No, no the Reliance company has many branches it is not necessary that I work under him.", Aaban said, hiding a smile. " Oh yes Of course, silly me". The soup came in after a few minutes with bread sticks and butter. Sipping the hot tomato soup, both of them stared out of the window. Unknown to what lied ahead.
(to be continued again.....)

Short story.

Hi everyone and sorry. Sorry because I couldn't post my short story yesterday. I am sure you will forgive me. Here is one short story I have started writing. It is called - Tryst with friendship. Read on to find what is the story all about and as I had posted earlier the story will be in a continuation so, you can read the next half tomorrow. Feedback's are always welcome and necessary for me so please comment. Thank you.

Tryst with friendship.

Aaban climbed the train. He took out the ticket from his side bag and checked his seat number. Dragging the brown American Tourister behind him he reached the seat number 21. He then lowered his suitcase underneath his seat and sat by the window, relieved. The watch he wore on his left wrist showed 3pm. Tomorrow, at about 8 in the morning he would be with his ammi and abbu. He still remembered the panic on his wife, Aafreen's face when he had come home from his office at about 8:30pm. "What happened Aafreen? why do you look so worried? Is Sultana alright?","Ammijan had called from Kolkata. Abbu, he...","What is it?"," Abbu had a massive heart attack this morning. Ammi called us to inform that this maybe his last......". The words disappeared out of his mind when a man entered the birth. He was quit a plump man and sweat was dripping down from his bald head and covered his face like dew drops on a big red apple. He was talking , rather shouting something in Bengali over his mobile phone. After a while he cut the phone and dug it in his pocket. He smiled at Aaban and said,"Hello". Aaban smiled back at him and then continued staring out of his window.
(To be continued......)

It's raining in Delhi!

this is a video where I captured the sound of rain and the on going scene outside our house. hope you like it. I know the prints not good, but can you manage?

Who are you?

My mind says that you are a soul...

Yet, I don’t want to believe it.

I want to believe you are there,

Watching over us.

Or am I wrong?

Is it that we put our faith in you foolishly?

Our trust in you blindly?

Our hopes in you for nothing?

Do you have flesh and warm blood running  in your veins,

Do you know a man’s heart?

His pains, miseries, sorrows, happiness...

Or are you just expert hands,

Making your puppets,

To see them perform on your stage.

Is it that we stare at your eyes blankly?

Or do they say something we don’t understand?

Or try to understand.

Then explain it to us!

Surely but calmly we will come to know....

What is it that pains you so much?

We share our thoughts, our deep fears, our lost dreams...

Are you listening?

Are you there?

You have saved us for in the past, then why not now?

Why do children be orphaned?

And men and women widowed?

Why do our prayers be unheard when you are there .

I want to believe you,

I want to believe in the good in and around us,

But I won’t be able unless I know......

Who are you Oh lord?

A mystery to be unveiled,

Or a secret...never to be disclosed.

Important (for me) notice

Hi everyone. Today it is raining in Delhi and I am just loving it. I don't know if anyone feels like this but I really feel at peace when it rains. It's like it drains out whatever bad deeds you've done and makes you feel better, happier. However, the main thing which I wanted to share with you guys is that I'll be posting some short stories with you and I would really like a feedback as to how it is. I wont be posting it all together but in portions like as in a continuation. I'll be posting my first short story tommorow, a part of it. Hope you like and any feedback is always welcome!