Posted:
Dear Friends,
A TS from me this time. I usually do not write longer pieces because I lose pace, but this one is quite long despite trying to keep it short. I could stop only when I could come to a logical pause. Please forgive typos if any and do let me know what you think. I hope you like it. All comments and criticism welcome.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shravan opened the door and walked into the empty house.
A teeny weeny smile crept up his face and it soon became a full-fledged grin. They had made up and how! He blushed at the thought that they had looked into each other's eyes and he had made a "pakka promise" that he would understand her hints. He went into his room and looked at himself in the mirror. He had never seen himself so happy. He felt like a King and an angel with a halo, at the same time.
The song he had been humming all the way finally found a voice.
"Dil Dil Dil Dil Mein Machi Hain Machi
Machi Hain Hulchul Hulchul Hulchul
Kaise Katega Pal Har Pal Har Pal
Kaise Katega Pal Har Pal Har Pal
Pal Pal Pal Pal Har Pal Har Pal"
There will come a day when I will hold her hand forever, he promised himself. Only after that, did his fluttering heart calm down. This blue checked shirt was a lucky one now. He would keep it really safe. Just as he changed a small thought started disturbing him. What if was not able to understand her hints again? He couldn't afford to break that promise, hell no, he couldn't even afford to think that he could break the promise.
He started walking up and down the room, frantically.
There had to be something or someone who could help. He picked up his cube and tried to divert his attention but it was of no use. His mind was conjuring images of Sumo not speaking with him, ignoring him, not smiling at him. No bad thoughts he said to himself. Remember that smile. He would do anything to keep her smiling like that. Anything.
Next day at school, Shravan went to the library hoping to find something that would help him. He vaguely remembered that in class 9, English syllabus there had been something about developing a story from hints. After ensuring no one saw him, he picked the Class 9 book - English Grammar and Composition. The red blazer suddenly felt hotter as he sneaked into a corner and opened the book. He quickly found the "Hints Development" section and opened the page.
Write a story with the help of the clues given below in about 120 words. Give a suitable title. Example below :
Payal brings home a stray puppy - parents don't accept - payal convinces them - decide to adopt it
"Payal's puppy
One day while walking home from school, Payal found a puppy in the side of a road. She saw it was alone and took it home. Payal's mother and father did not like it. They told her it was not a good idea as stray pups may have diseases and the pup needed to be taken care of. Payal then suggested that she will take care of it by giving it regular baths and would take it for walks but she did not know what to do about the diseases. She promised to be a good girl. Payal's father said he would help her take it to the vet but she should not bring home stray animals again. Payal's mother then agreed that they could adopt it. Payal was very happy."
Shravan was totally disappointed. Nowhere in the section they had mentioned how hints can be identified. It was useless. Anyone could write a story from hints but how would he get the hints in the first place. After making sure no one saw him, he put the book back on the rack
"Shravan tu yahan class 9 ke book ke saath kya kar raha hai ?" It was Bunty, his classmate.
"Nahi yaar, woh ek reference leni thi" he stammered
"Class 9 ke English book mein ? Sach bol kya baat hai ? "
"Bunty mujhe ek baat bata, agar tujhe koi cheez samaj me nahi aaye to tu kya karta hai ?"
"SILENCE PLEASE ! " The librarian's voice stopped them
Shravan and Bunty walked out, heads down.
"Shravan, mujhe bhi yahi doubt tha yaar. Jab bhi main maths class mein hoon to kuch bhi samaj mein nahi aata. Maine teacher se poocha aur woh bolne lagi ki, class mein kuch samaj mein aaye na aaye notes le lena. Baad mein dheere dheere padne se samaj mein aajayega. Tu try kar le, mere liye to yeh bhi kaam nahi karta"
Shravan's face lit up. Of course, that was a brilliant idea. He usually took notes in class, why hadn't he thought about this before? He would write it down and then it would be just like the writing exercise, so simple.
"Shravan tu aa raha hai ki nahi ?" He heard Sumo's voice
"Bye Bunty, thank you yaar" he said running towards her
"Shravan, bataya kyon nahi ki library jaa rahe ho ? Main tumhe kab se doond rahi hoon"
Hint no 1: She misses me, he made a mental note
"Mein ek reference lene aaya tha, baat kya hai Sumo ?"
"Woh na aaj shaam ko Poorna ka birthday party hai"
"Tho ?"
"Naanu mujhe akele jaane nahi de rahe the, to maine unko bol diya hai ki tum aa rahe ho"
Hint 2 : Sumo wants to go with me.
Shravan pushed his glasses up, to his eyes and very confidently said
"Ok Sumo, main aajaonga "
"5:30" she said and waved him bye.
Just as the clock was about to strike 5:30, Shravan rang the door bell of Tiwari killa, dressed in a navy t-shirt paired with Khakis. Sumo was ready, dressed in a turquoise kurti and blue jeans. She was even wearing earrings that matched. She had a small gift wrapped a glittery silver wrapper and had made a bow with red satin ribbon on it. Shravan made sure he had his small notebook and pen, to make notes of the hints whenever he could escape Sumo's eyes.
Naanu who had just had tea after his afternoon nap was in the living room as well.
"Time pe waapis aana tum dono" he said as they sad mumbled, "Ok" and left.
The party had not begun when they reached. After a few minutes Poorna's friends started arriving. Cake was cut. "Where is the party tonight","Rock & roll Soniye " and
"Aaj ki raat " were played in loops.
But Shravan kept humming
"Tu Jo Hain Saath Toh Yeh Ambar
Lage Ke Jaise Saaya Ho Sar Par
Tere Kaandhe Par Rakhkar Sar
Yun Hi Kat Jaaye Saari Umar"
Shravan's notebook had little hints scribbled with the black pen he had carried.
Sumo smiled at me - Sumo is enjoying the party
Sumo on the other hand was surprised to find Shravan missing a few times, she even saw him bending down over a corner near the kitchen and writing something but she was really bored. There were no games. She just wanted to go home. If they left now they could still go and play badminton for sometime. It was only 6:15. Or she could cook something nice
Poorna and her mom were asking everyone to stay for dinner.
"Nahi Aunty, woh Shravan thoda bimaar hai" Sumo said, eyeing him.
"Nahi Sumo, main bilkul teek hoon" he smiled
The food looked delicious.
"Shravan" she insisted "tum bol rahe the na ki pet mein dard hai"
"Woh to kal tha " he said innocently
Hint : Sumo cares for me.
There was no going back now. They had dinner there and ice cream afterwards. All along Sumo kept smiling at him and staring at his plate.
Hint : She is happy that we stayed for dinner.
She ate very less and finished first.
Hint : Sumo is on a diet.
"Shravan, Saath bajne wala hai"
Hint : Eat fast
They said their good byes, thanked them for the dinner and return gifts.
"Sumo, party bohout enjoy kiya na tumne ?"
"Haan bohout " she said sarcastically
"Ek baath poochun chashmish ?" she continued
"Poocho "
"Woh chup chup ke chote notebook mein kya likh rahe the tum ?"
"Kuch nahi Sumo, aise hi " he said feebly but by then she had already started talking about someone who had honked loudly when they were trying to cross the road.
Shravan was so proud of himself that he wanted to pat himself on his back, but settled to pulling up his collar instead. Bunty's method had worked. Math teacher was right as always.
That night Shravan pasted that page from his booklet into his diary. It was the 20th of October 2006. He peeked into his cupboard, touched his lucky blue shirt, smiled and slept happily.
Exactly 10 years later, Shravan Malhotra sat on the sofa in his room , lost in thought. He had confessed his feelings for his Sumo but he couldn't decipher her again. He picked up a paper and started writing, the list of hints. It was time to apply Bunty's technique again.
To be continued
(Hint : Likes and comments appreciated)
Index
Part 2
Part 3
Fan Fictions
