Hey guys, I'm back with another one of my ramblings... Sorry, couldn't help it. Ye bheja bhi na. Khair, I'm attempting something I've never really done before... This one is having a comedic touch. *Ahem* I hope it works, but no guarantees... Anyways, "Ajnabee" will be completed first, and I'm just posting a teaser here for this one. "Ajnabee" will be finished this week (I'm trying). I haven't found a title yet.
Hai kitni garmi hai yahan… phitte muh, kahan phas gayi main… Her hands itched to remove the transparent veil extending over her nose and beneath her chin, and the dupatta over her head only captured more of the near unbearable heat. Exhaling deeply, she lifted a hand boasting of poetic henna/mehendi running finely across; she waved it to and fro, so to allow some air to reach her… hopeless, she thought. Narrowing her eyes, she pursed her lips together blowing… Curses… blowing… curses… making a face, she further narrowed her eyes at the disinterested fly leisurely sitting on her nose. Pulling her lips into an awkward position, she attempted to claim the fly's attention again... Surely, she mimicked a desperate fish! When the determined instect refused to budge, her patience suffered and she angerly waved it away from her. Relieved from the irritating little creature, she pushed deeper to her right side. A casual glance around her told her how pathetically similar her state of exhaustion echoed off the faces of those accompanying her in the compartment allotted to them in this menial-spaced train cart. All appeared lose in their aimless thoughts and perhaps day-dreams of much preferred places they would be in at the moment… All, but one… The beady dark eyes seemed to see nothing but her. Hey Bhaggu…Taking it as a momentary interaction with no apparent purpose, she turned her gaze to the realm beyond the thick metal bars of the "window". Focusing her eyes outside, she tried to fade the penetrating gaze still on her. Ok Gauri, seedha dekh… koi teri taraf nahin dekh raha… Narrowing her eyes, she tried to give her attention to an object… Curses… everything was moving. Well duh! The train is in motion you idiot! Sab kuch hil hi raha hoga tab…Momentarily, the increasingly annoying stare numbed to her, as she pondered over her stupidity. Garni ki wajah se…she soothed herself. In her precarious state, she pushed into the used leather of her seat, again casually drifting her eyes… Yeh meri taraf kyun dekhey ja raha hai… Bhaggu!!
Part 1
Breathe baby, breathe… she calmed herself, reciting the words in her head as though a mantra. Adjusting the dark green veil over her head, she exhaled profoundly and shifted deeper into the worn seat. This isn't how it's supposed to be… The thought kept bulging in her already over-crowded head. She was already kind of nervous, and those dark beady eyes were not helping in the least! Shifting uncertainly in her seat, she tried to make herself comfortable without gathering much attention…
"Bzzz…" Bhaggu!!! Apparently they all looked the same, but she could swear it was the same damn fly! The annoying insect seemed to be magnetized to her. Frustrated, she immediately lifted a hand, waving it mechanically in the air… when her eyes drifted once more. Becoming almost too self-conscious now, she slowly brought her arm down, encasing the two simple kangans adorning her wrist with her other hand, so as to disallow them to make noise.
Without much interest, she turned her attention to the interior of the crusty compartment… when it really dawned on her… Kitni badbu hai… koi nahata nahin hai yahan par kya! (Its so smelly… does anyone not shower here!). How had she failed to recognize the pungent odour earlier was beyond her, but now it seemed to overwhelm her nostrils making her nauseous. In an effort to ease the discomfort, she took a deep breath and held it… one… two… Curses… Silently she swore under her breath as she coughed vehemently. Sheesh, even her own breaths had betrayed her! Quickly, she gulped in some air, her eyes diverting here and there, hoping people were too engrossed in the heat to notice her…
Still woozy, she decided the only way to survive, was to ignore it… Bringing a hand in front of her mouth, she looked out the window… at blur of things as the train continued towards her destination… Mumbai… What was that song, she wondered. Kaya gaati thi na…Haan…
'Sholah hai… yaan hai bijuriya, dil ki bajariya… bambai nagariya'…
(Kaya used to sing it… Yes… 'Sholah hai… yaan hai bijuriya, dil ki bajariya… bambai nagariya'…) Suddenly she sat up straight, as though caught in a lie… and then immediately resumed her posture… Ye main kya soch rahi hoon? Hindi filmein!! Hey Bhaagu, ye filmi bakwaas aur main… Gauri, concentrate… (What am I thinking! Hindi films!! Hey Bhaagu, this filmy bull**** and me… Gauri, concentrate…) she told herself. She had little faith or interest in all that "filmi stuff", believing it to be… well… filmi. Her sister on the other hand, was a completely different story. She could swear, if possible, the kid would eat and breath only hindi movies. She rolled her eyes at the image of her sister's continual ramblings of the latest movie in the cinemas or the squealing at the latest couples… Ugh, it made her sick.
Lifting her eyes upwards, she silently thanked the lord for… well… everything… Especially, for this assignment. Finally, this was her chance… to really show the "BB" what she got. So far, she had only been waging behind another agent like a dumbed out tail, but this was her chance… She was going to prove herself, the thought comforted her and she found her lips curve slightly upwards. Lost amidst reveries of success in the sun, she was rudely awakened by a jhatka… Curses… Things were rough already, par abhi toh shuruat hai, himmat rakh Gauri… (… but it's just the beginning, keep courage Gauri…) she told herself.
Gazing at the bodies loosely displaced around the small cubicle, she felt her eyes take in every detail… sweat marks under the arms, beads of perspiration on foreheads, the meticulous movement of a hand holding a paper so to provide a relief from the unbearable heat, creases of wariness and boredom… beady eyes! Curses… Bhaagu!!!!!!!!!
Suddenly, she found her hands forcefully covering her ears… Koi bhuchaal hai kya… (Is there an earthquake…), she wondered. When she opened her squinted eyes, she was slightly surprised as she watched the tired bodies rush out of the cubicle… Looking out of the "window", she realized that they had arrived. Relief rushed over… bathing her exhausted body… Getting up with a small smile on her lips, she confidently swung her duffle bag over her shoulder… immediately regretting it. "Gauri Di, aap assignment ke liye ja rahe ho yaan jungle mein lambey sanyaas karne. I mean itna saara saamaan?" (Gauri Di, are you going for an assignment or into the jungle for meditation for a long time. I mean, this much stuff). She could still picture her little sister's face brighten with that impish smile, her own lips curving into a frown. What the hell have I packed?! She couldn't help but feel embarrassed by her slight exaggeration of preparation. The bag lay stiffly on the ground beside her as she stared at it blankly. Blinking thoughtfully, although with a blank mind, for a moment she forgot what she was supposed to do.
Bzzz… She could feel her muscles tense once more as the tiny creature relaxed upon the tip of her nose. Staring straight at it, she could feel her arteries expand as the blood rushed through… Pursing her lips, she blew upwards, the veil over her mouth fell warily back into place with each failed attempt. Driven to utmost aggravation, she brought a hand smack down on her nose… "Ouch!" she yelped. Her cheeks flushed as her surroundings registered once more. The compartment had emptied out and she stood their idiotically fussing over an insect. Looking back at the bag, she gave a helpless expression. Gathering all her strength, she half dragged the bag out… all the while wondering, what the hell did I pack!
Scanning her surroundings, she felt various emotions overcome… So this was it? Everywhere she looked, she saw people… and more people… and garbage… and people… and music of some filmi kind weaved in the air…
'Laakh laakh roz aake bas jaate hain… is shehar se dil laga ke phas jaate hain…'
Hey Bhaagu…Bringing her index fingers against her temples, she squinted her eyes… focus… Her breath caught in her throat and she felt the ground beneath her go missing… Hold it… she lost touch with the ground… Gravity had turned upside down… no no… She shifted in her spot for a moment realizing she had jumped at someone's touch and confirming that she was yet alive. Judging her perkiness, she came to the conclusion that it was all a result of her nervousness in regards to the work.
Turning cautiously, her eyes met with a pair of dark beady ones… Taking a step back, she carefully took in the aged features… Years of life were apparent at the creases lining the face. A shiny bald head enlightened by the occasional streak of silvery white… a gentle white moustache resting above the slightly trembling lips, which stretched into a toothy smile, with some open spaces missing the teeth once bearing them… and the eyes… The frame of the man was small and… bony. He looked almost like one of those skeletons walking out of the old English horror films. It took her a moment to realize the bony index finger pointed at her face… Shifting her gaze from it, and it's owner, she noticed the man's smile deepen… "Tum… Meera ho na?…" Her eyebrows twitched upwards… Meera…ab ye kaun si balah agayai? (Meera… now which trouble is this?) Before she could ponder further, she felt her hand encompass in another's. She looked down at it, and felt her stomach turn… Everything about him was so fragile… Yet when she looked back at the eyes… they twinkled with a disgusting mischief. Think like who you are. She remembered a valuable teaching from a mentor. Think like who you are supposed to be. Buddha kusada, teri toh! (You old fogi!) Immediately, she removed her hand from his and confidently spoke, "Dekhiye Saahib, humara naam Meera nahin hai, aur na hi hum aapko pehchaante hain. Ab aap raaste se hatne ki takaluf karenge, humein kahin paunchna hai…" (Look sir, my name is not Meera and nor do I recognize you. Would you care to clear the path, I have some a place to reach...) She didn't know where, but she had to get out of here… Out of the sight of this… this old man! He stared at her expectantly, still confident she was "Meera", mumbling something about "woh din…" (that day…). Disgusted, she pushed through the crowd.
Tired and hungry, she hadn't walked but a mere five minutes yet she could swear it was hours. Defeated by the heat and her stuffy atmosphere, she retired on a menially kept bench, occupied by two other voyagers. She was dirty, tired and hungry… and her patience had begun to wear. The damn veil. Closing her eyes for a moment, she envisioned her mother calling her for supper through the kitchen entrance. Smiling at the familiar memory, she opened her eyes to be met with a hazel pair bulging out at her. Sitting up straight, she questioned, "Ye kya behudgi hai…" (What kind of mannerisms are these…). The eyes peering through hers now seemed to line with a gentle film as the woman began sniffling. "Beta, main jaanti hoon Altaaf ne joh tumse kaha wohe sahi nahin tah, aur khaas karke is nazuk waqt mein jab ke tum… she pointed to Gauri's stomach… furmah rahi ho… Beta, main tujhse wada karti hoon, wohe tumse kuch nahin kahega, Khuda ke vaaste, ghar chalo…" (Dear, I realize what Altaaf said to you was not right, and especially in this tender timing when you… she pointed to Gauri's stomach… Dear, I promise you he will not say anything to you. For the sake of God, please come home…). As the weeping woman's voice slowly registered, she felt her head become heavy… Altaaf… nazuk… Looking at her stomach, she looked back at the woman who stared at her with anticipation. That's it! Bursting with rage, she stood up with purpose and tried staying calm. "Dekhiye, hum woh nahin hain joh aap humein samajh rahi hai… Hum kisi Altaaf ko nahin jaante, aur na hi hum… She looked at her stomach and back at the shocked woman… Hum bahut taq chuke hain aur bas…" (Listen, I am not who you think I am… I do not know any Altaaf, and neither am I… She looked at her stomach and back at the shocked woman… I am very tired and…). She looked at the woman clutching her gown, and gently bringing her hand up to reveal her face, which had moments before been hidden beneath the burkha. The woman looked devastated at the revelation that she was not her daughter-in-law, and before Gauri could explain further, she dropped the veil over once more and disappeared into the crowd, reciting some lines of disapproval, or so she judged.
Dhaage tohd laoon chandani ke noor se… Ghoonghat hi banalo roshani ke noor se… Sharmah gayee joh… aaghosh mein loh… ho saanson se uljhi, rahi meri saansein…
She squirmed as the melody meandered through unseen cracks into the open area… After a few unimportant moments, she straightened herself and without much of a thought, pushed her bag into a passer-by's hands. Dikhta toh coolie jaisa hai, she decided from a quick glance of his side. Sensing the man's head turn, she pointed a finger in his nose, hardly seeing him… "Aur isse pehle tum pooccho, na hi hum Meera hai, aur na hi koi Altaaf ki biwi samjhe?" (And before you ask, I am not no Meera, and nor am I an Altaaf's wife you hear?). So saying, she began fumbling into her purse, still barely aware of the man next to her… Cursing and mumbling things under her breath… Na jaane kaise kaise namoone pehda kar deta hai upar walah… Yah khuda, pehle woh bhuda… aur phir woh…" (Idiotic fools God creates… Oh God, first that old man… and then…). Her words trailed off into a silent, dumb-founded scream as she watched the white object come flying straight towards her…
Cheers,
dc
-- Comments/Criticisms, please do!
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