Posted:
Chp 1
Watford- England.
"Bitiya tayyar nahin hona?" (Don't you have to get ready?) Ramu kaka had pulled the heavy velvet curtains to reveal the twinkling city lights glistening in the distance. The afternoon had given way to evening the sun bleeding as it spread it's last hues across the world dipping in it's westerly abode. Prachi had rocked gently on the rocking chair she had been occupying since the last four hours. "Time kiya hua Kaka?" (What's the time?)Prachi had asked wrapping her teal blue shawl tightly around her, she felt chilly oddly though since her room had been sealed shut not allowing even a slight whiff of air to pass through. "Bitiya kaafi der ho gayi tum khaney key liye bhi nahin aayein neechey to main samjha dawa kha ker so gayi hogi isi liye uper nahin aaya" (It had been long you hadn't even come down for lunch I thought you'd have taken your medicine and gone to sleep) he had informed her tautening her rosewood bed's patterned sheets. Fluffing her pillows while she watched the evening envelop in gloom the lights from her lawns flooding the greens giving her a perfect vision of the various weeping willows lining them majestically. "Kaka.... Papa ....." he voice trailed off as she looked at him questioningly and the oldservant had averted his gaze, "Tum to jaanti ho saahab ko to aaj ka kab sey intizaar tha, woh to party key liye nikal gaye, keh gaye hain tum bhi jaldi puhunch jaana." (You know how much your dad was looking forward to it he's left for the party asked me to tell you to join him soon) She had not responded to his elaboration but had switched on the lights illuminating the room and had walked over to the massive wardrobe tucked in a corner . Anyone in her shoes would have considered life a dream come true, she was a La Salle graduate having attained a degree in hotel management on her father's command. Having spent her life travelling from one boarding school to the other she had become used to the quick and lonely pace of life something that she longed to change but was unable to despite countless prayers. "Kaka Didi ka phone aaya tha kiya?" (Kaka had my sister called?) she had inquired sifting through evening gowns though none fit the bill or appealed to her.senses. All of them had been picked by her father's secretary an overtly and annoyingly sweet middle aged woman Reena..... sometimes Prachi wondered if her father actually ever took the pains to grant her a glance after all that the woman went through for him. Prachi had never seen her sit still there was always one thing or the other either it was his appointments or urgent conferences the innumerous trips to countless states or memos to be typed. Everything and anything was dealt by her "Kaisey ghoor ghoor ker dekhti hai Papa ko, jaisey kaccha hii kha jayegi, Sarah Palin na hui to" (Have you seen the way she stares at Papa, as if she'd devour him whole thinks she's Sarah Palin) Ayesha would often comment mimicking her perfect and flawless British accent. Ayesha was her elder sister, senior by two years ten days three hours and five minutes she had done the math at a very young age. They were worlds apart but were still the best of friends. "Kaka kiya pehnun kuch acha nahin hai yahaan to" (Kaka what should I wear there's nothing good enough here?) she had complained eyeing the dresses warily most were revealing with plunging neck lines or extremely short in length, all of them had been purchased by Reena. "Bitiya Ayesha key kaprey dekh lo un main sey koi pasand aa jayega" (Have a look at Ayesha's clothes you might find something good there) he had advised and she had hugged him in relief. "Thanks Kaka aap nahin hotey to" (Thanks if you wouldn't have been here) she had started when he had cut her. "Bas bas main nahin hota to koi or hota" (If I would've been here someone else would've) he had laughed shaking his grey head humorously and she had walked out of the room hoping to find something that would make her blend in the crowd at the party.
Mumbaii- India
"Abey dikhta nahin hai saaley, aankhein kiraye per dii hain kiya?" (Can't you see you've rented your eyes or what) Milind had bawled at the pedestrian crossing the busy street practically hanging out of the window. He sat honking in his black and yellow taxi weaving his way through the thick afternoon traffic. Sweat ran free down his forehead which he would swipe away with his bare arm every now and then. The afternoon was hot and humid the congested traffic didn't make it any more pleasant, tempers ran high and so did the abuses hurled frequently at each other in the wake of the moment. "Bhaiyya or kitni der lageygi" (How long is this going to take?) the passenger in the back seat had questioned him irritably and Milind had felt like punching the man straight in the jaw. "Saab taxi hai meri hawaii jahaaz nahin jo ura key ley jaunga, saala gaari main bethtey hii shuru ho jaatey hain" (Sir it's my taxi not an airplane that I'd fly you there, start grumbling the minute they sit) he had muttered the last sentence under his breath. He ran a frustrated hand through his matted curls trying to steer his taxi amidst the chaos that had erupted at the signal ahead. Life in Mumbaii was difficult he had known but these days it seemed as if God was hell bent to make him repent for the cold war he had waged with HIM. Forty minutes later he had dropped the passenger at his destination hoping to get another ride on his way back. As he parked his taxi in the battered down shed near his chawl he had cast a wistful glance at it's weatherbeaten exterior, the paint had come off in several places, the fender needed welding and one of the tail lights had to replaced. How was he ever going to make enough to pay for all of that he had sighed deeply, six months earlier he had no idea life would take such a disastrous turn. If he had had the slightest inkling but then even if he did have any premonition he certainly would not have been in a position to turn around the world for himself or his loved ones. He had stepped on the rickety staircase leading to his home wearily dragging his tired form, clutching the packet of Baba's medicines in his hand. His father must be waiting for him there was no one else in his world besides that old and ill form who probably counted each second of every hour silently from the minute he lefttill he returned. "Baba " he had called crossing the doorway switching on the lights. "Kaisey hain Baba?" (How are you doing?) he had asked in a loving tone smoothing the elderly man's wisps of grey kissing him on his forehead. A tear had escaped his father's eye but he had wiped it away tenderly "Kyun Baba mainey kaha tha aansu nahin" (Why Baba I thought we had agreed on no tears) he had whispered softly adjusting his blanket, checking his catheter and changing the disposable bag at it's end. "Aap aaram kijiye main khana bana ker laata huun" ( I'll bring food for you, now you take rest) he had smiled while Baba had stared at him through hollow eyes watching his son brave each storm all alone.
Chp 2 page 10
Chp 3 page 18
Chp 4 page 24
Chp 5 page 30
Chp 6 page 36
Watford- England.
"Bitiya tayyar nahin hona?" (Don't you have to get ready?) Ramu kaka had pulled the heavy velvet curtains to reveal the twinkling city lights glistening in the distance. The afternoon had given way to evening the sun bleeding as it spread it's last hues across the world dipping in it's westerly abode. Prachi had rocked gently on the rocking chair she had been occupying since the last four hours. "Time kiya hua Kaka?" (What's the time?)Prachi had asked wrapping her teal blue shawl tightly around her, she felt chilly oddly though since her room had been sealed shut not allowing even a slight whiff of air to pass through. "Bitiya kaafi der ho gayi tum khaney key liye bhi nahin aayein neechey to main samjha dawa kha ker so gayi hogi isi liye uper nahin aaya" (It had been long you hadn't even come down for lunch I thought you'd have taken your medicine and gone to sleep) he had informed her tautening her rosewood bed's patterned sheets. Fluffing her pillows while she watched the evening envelop in gloom the lights from her lawns flooding the greens giving her a perfect vision of the various weeping willows lining them majestically. "Kaka.... Papa ....." he voice trailed off as she looked at him questioningly and the oldservant had averted his gaze, "Tum to jaanti ho saahab ko to aaj ka kab sey intizaar tha, woh to party key liye nikal gaye, keh gaye hain tum bhi jaldi puhunch jaana." (You know how much your dad was looking forward to it he's left for the party asked me to tell you to join him soon) She had not responded to his elaboration but had switched on the lights illuminating the room and had walked over to the massive wardrobe tucked in a corner . Anyone in her shoes would have considered life a dream come true, she was a La Salle graduate having attained a degree in hotel management on her father's command. Having spent her life travelling from one boarding school to the other she had become used to the quick and lonely pace of life something that she longed to change but was unable to despite countless prayers. "Kaka Didi ka phone aaya tha kiya?" (Kaka had my sister called?) she had inquired sifting through evening gowns though none fit the bill or appealed to her.senses. All of them had been picked by her father's secretary an overtly and annoyingly sweet middle aged woman Reena..... sometimes Prachi wondered if her father actually ever took the pains to grant her a glance after all that the woman went through for him. Prachi had never seen her sit still there was always one thing or the other either it was his appointments or urgent conferences the innumerous trips to countless states or memos to be typed. Everything and anything was dealt by her "Kaisey ghoor ghoor ker dekhti hai Papa ko, jaisey kaccha hii kha jayegi, Sarah Palin na hui to" (Have you seen the way she stares at Papa, as if she'd devour him whole thinks she's Sarah Palin) Ayesha would often comment mimicking her perfect and flawless British accent. Ayesha was her elder sister, senior by two years ten days three hours and five minutes she had done the math at a very young age. They were worlds apart but were still the best of friends. "Kaka kiya pehnun kuch acha nahin hai yahaan to" (Kaka what should I wear there's nothing good enough here?) she had complained eyeing the dresses warily most were revealing with plunging neck lines or extremely short in length, all of them had been purchased by Reena. "Bitiya Ayesha key kaprey dekh lo un main sey koi pasand aa jayega" (Have a look at Ayesha's clothes you might find something good there) he had advised and she had hugged him in relief. "Thanks Kaka aap nahin hotey to" (Thanks if you wouldn't have been here) she had started when he had cut her. "Bas bas main nahin hota to koi or hota" (If I would've been here someone else would've) he had laughed shaking his grey head humorously and she had walked out of the room hoping to find something that would make her blend in the crowd at the party.
Mumbaii- India
"Abey dikhta nahin hai saaley, aankhein kiraye per dii hain kiya?" (Can't you see you've rented your eyes or what) Milind had bawled at the pedestrian crossing the busy street practically hanging out of the window. He sat honking in his black and yellow taxi weaving his way through the thick afternoon traffic. Sweat ran free down his forehead which he would swipe away with his bare arm every now and then. The afternoon was hot and humid the congested traffic didn't make it any more pleasant, tempers ran high and so did the abuses hurled frequently at each other in the wake of the moment. "Bhaiyya or kitni der lageygi" (How long is this going to take?) the passenger in the back seat had questioned him irritably and Milind had felt like punching the man straight in the jaw. "Saab taxi hai meri hawaii jahaaz nahin jo ura key ley jaunga, saala gaari main bethtey hii shuru ho jaatey hain" (Sir it's my taxi not an airplane that I'd fly you there, start grumbling the minute they sit) he had muttered the last sentence under his breath. He ran a frustrated hand through his matted curls trying to steer his taxi amidst the chaos that had erupted at the signal ahead. Life in Mumbaii was difficult he had known but these days it seemed as if God was hell bent to make him repent for the cold war he had waged with HIM. Forty minutes later he had dropped the passenger at his destination hoping to get another ride on his way back. As he parked his taxi in the battered down shed near his chawl he had cast a wistful glance at it's weatherbeaten exterior, the paint had come off in several places, the fender needed welding and one of the tail lights had to replaced. How was he ever going to make enough to pay for all of that he had sighed deeply, six months earlier he had no idea life would take such a disastrous turn. If he had had the slightest inkling but then even if he did have any premonition he certainly would not have been in a position to turn around the world for himself or his loved ones. He had stepped on the rickety staircase leading to his home wearily dragging his tired form, clutching the packet of Baba's medicines in his hand. His father must be waiting for him there was no one else in his world besides that old and ill form who probably counted each second of every hour silently from the minute he lefttill he returned. "Baba " he had called crossing the doorway switching on the lights. "Kaisey hain Baba?" (How are you doing?) he had asked in a loving tone smoothing the elderly man's wisps of grey kissing him on his forehead. A tear had escaped his father's eye but he had wiped it away tenderly "Kyun Baba mainey kaha tha aansu nahin" (Why Baba I thought we had agreed on no tears) he had whispered softly adjusting his blanket, checking his catheter and changing the disposable bag at it's end. "Aap aaram kijiye main khana bana ker laata huun" ( I'll bring food for you, now you take rest) he had smiled while Baba had stared at him through hollow eyes watching his son brave each storm all alone.
Chp 2 page 10
Chp 3 page 18
Chp 4 page 24
Chp 5 page 30
Chp 6 page 36
Chp 7 page 42
Chp 8 page 49
Chp 9 page 56
Chp 8 page 49
Chp 9 page 56
Chp10 page 64
Chp11 page 69
Chp11 page 69
Chp12 page 76
Chp13 page 83
Chp14 page 88
Chp14 page 88
Chp15 page 95
Chp16 page 106
Chp17 page 111
Chp18 page 116
Chp19 page 125
Chp20 page 135
Chp21 page 144
Chp18 page 116
Chp19 page 125
Chp20 page 135
Chp21 page 144
Chp22 page 152
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