Showing posts with label SHoRt StOry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SHoRt StOry. Show all posts

Friday 4 May 2012

After all, what are friends for?: Blog # 21

After all, what are friends for?

* A short story 


The clock struck 5 and the call taxi honked below the apartment. Sam and his mother set out to the airport. Before boarding she said “Sameer, All your friends complain you don’t keep in touch. There is more to life than work. You have accomplished a lot for your age. But have a life outside work also.” Sam had got tired of hearing this time and again. He hugged and said good bye to his mom.

Sam went through the last month’s calendar. There was a get together of college friends on May 3rd. He couldn’t make it. The project appraisal came up and when it comes to work, everything else can wait. The next Sunday, his cousins came visiting his uncle living in the city. Again he had to fill in for Riya who was on a holiday. He could have said no but he didn’t want to leave a chance to impress his boss.

Sam took the cell to check if the daily alarm was on. There were a couple of unanswered messages and calls. Nothing concerning work. May be there is some truth to what his mother told. He thought to himself.

Sam woke up to the 6th ring of the cell . “Hello Sameer”.That meant it’s a call from his hometown. No one here calls him by that name anymore. Sameer, did I wake you up? I called up to say I am coming by evening bus. Be there to pick me up at the station. I don’t know anyone there ok? Before Sam could reply the phone was hung up. It took him a while to make out it was his childhood friend, Hari. They met last month after a long time during a mutual friend’s marriage. At that time Hari told he will be coming to the city this month. For courtesy sake, Sam welcomed him. He had no idea Hari will take him seriously. Things like these disturb him when people take things for granted.

            Today, Sam has a very important client meeting. It could make or break his upcoming promotion. He had been preparing all along for this particular presentation. He thought if Hari does not find him at the station, he will find a lodge and when they meet, he will make something up. Hari is so gullible after all.

Sam reached office. No one in his module has reached. As his colleague Riya always say, it’s because they all have a life! Yea right! Client meeting is at 11. Got some ground work to do. Collected some documents, some data backup, rushed through the presentation once. All set.

The clock showed 930 but there is some confusion in the office. Everyone is moving about. Then he saw Riya coming towards him with a long face. What happened? , he  asked Rhea. “ You didn’t know? It’s all over the news,”  

What’s all over the news?  What is it?, he couldn’t take the suspense.  “We are losing our jobs. Our chairman is arrested.” What? You are kidding me!!! ,Sam couldn’t believe his ears.

Our company is shutting down Sam! Got a mail from the HR asking us to leave the office and wait for further intimation . He checked the inbox.

He felt numb, He did not know how to react, What does he do now?

This company is his identity. His personal life is his professional life. He has not even talked properly to anyone outside work for the last 6 months.

Riya said she is not going home. She did not want to face her family. Ram also said he is going to his friend’s bachelor pad. Sam did not have anywhere to go.

He called up Rohit. The number appeared to be busy. He called up Maya. Her number has changed. He couldn’t go home. He went to the Fern hill apartments of Vidya and Rahul. Neighbours said they are on a vacation.

He went home. Alone and frustrated. He felt restless. The news channels were blaring with his company’s news. He was getting calls from home. He did not pick up.

He lost all his hope. He thought he knew what fear was. That day, he realized what it feels to be scared.

It’s 6 in the evening and the door bell rang. Sam wondered who could it be. He opened the door and saw Hari standing there. He hugged Hari tight. Hari said “Your mom said you might be busy at work. So aunty gave your address.”

Sam broke down. “It’s ok Sameer. Everything will be alright. I resigned the job back home. I have an offer from HP and will be joining next week. Let me see what I can do. After all, what are friends for?”.

                                                                                                                               Arun Babu.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Saturday 21 April 2012

Those droopy eyes... : Blog # 6

             Those droopy eyes...                  

*A short story

            Ray and Lekha were not married. They did not find the need to give a tag to their relation. Both were doing well in their careers- two happy contented people.

            Lekha woke up to the morning sun beaming through their french windows. They had light orange fabric on them which gave the room a golden aura. Ray had already gone for the morning jog. She went on to the balcony, watering her favourite roses and stealing a smile from the aunty in the opposite balcony. Lekha wished if it were a Saturday .The calendar said it’s only half way through. It’s a Wednesday.

            Lekha sat with her coffee sifting through the Times. It seemed to her that the recession is here to stay. Ray walked in and stole the paper from her, as usual. One of Ray’s habits that she happily put up with.

            They met the neighbouring couple in the elevator. Lekha noticed the ambipur in the car is about to get over and made a mental note of it. Ray turned on the FM, the only respite in the Bangalore traffic. Being January, the VJ talked about resolutions which reminded Lekha of her own – to work out – which as always, did not work out.

            After a usual tiring day at work, both of them came home. They went for an evening walk and some window shopping. Lekha’s eye caught a litter of puppies for sale on the road side. She poked Ray and sensing danger, Ray said “No way!” .She again gave a futile try.

            The next day evening and for a day after that, they saw the puppies again. Ray gave in. Lekha walked towards the cage and a dreamy eyed tan coloured Labrador looked at her. Ray called it Droopy. 

            Came December and it was Christmas time. By now droopy was easily above Lekha’s knees. But it was a joy coming back home now. Droopy will be impatiently waiting at the balcony by 6. Since it’s a 1st floor apartment, Lekha would call out to droopy from ground floor. He would start howling n barking in joy. And open the door; he is up on two legs resting on her shoulders.

            Droopy would go out on morning walk with Ray and jump right in to Lekha’s lap when Ray steals the paper. Now she knew it is not without a reason, that dog is called man’s best friend. Droopy was always there to lighten up her life.  
         
Ray called up by around lunch. He was ecstatic. He got the much awaited on site project. Lekha felt a tug at her heart. She was happy for Ray but what about Droopy! She had no qualms in giving up work for a year or two and joining Ray. She went home. She did not call out to Droopy from the ground floor. She opened the door and a surprised Droopy came running. She held Droopy’s face in her arms. Droopy ran towards the balcony and waited for his daily dose of milk.

            Ray came home and hugged Lekha. It had been a long time since Lekha saw him this happy. They decided to eat outside. While driving back, Lekha asked, “Ray, what about droopy?”Ray said “what about him? We will put him up for adoption.” Lekha’s heart sank at the thought.

They put up an Ad. Lekha found a family apt for droopy. They had a school going kid also. They came home and droopy also seemed to like them.

            And the time came. Lekha took out Droopy’s collar. Droopy started barking happily. For him, collar meant going out. She tied it around his neck. He licked on her face happily. While going down, she reminded the family that Droopy is scared of lightning and that he needs a lot of water. She took him down and got him in to their car. She knew it would be hard, but this was like someone was tearing her heart away. She asked Droopy to get in to the car and he did. As they lowered the glass, she kissed droopy on his head. As the car started moving, through her tears, she could see droopy looking at her – the same dreamy eyed look she saw the day she picked him up from the kennel.

                                                                                                                    Arun Babu

The Most beautiful smile I ever saw.. : Blog # 5

The Most beautiful smile I ever saw...          

* A short story            

           A bright Sunday morning, the millennium year, city of dreams-Bombay. I woke up to the first photograph I ever took-of my then eight year old sister’s. For some reason, I liked it more than any other, much to my sister’s disagreement. I never liked working early morning, one of the perks my profession allowed, that of a photographer. But today, I have to keep the promise I made to my dear friend- to do a photo shoot for her NGO.

          It was not a rosy picture. The building the NGO was housed in was in ruins. They worked for the betterment of children who didn’t know whom to call a ‘mom’ or a ‘dad’. The photo shoot was to be sent to a UN body that they expected to provide some funds.

          Hema, the caretaker of the home came with a bunch of kids. They were not like the child artists we see on the TV. They were not cute and chubby. But they had a sparkle in their eyes. What nagged me the most was that they were not happy, something that made both the person and the photographer in me, disappointed.

After some wide shots with all the kids, I wanted a single shot with a kid, smiling. For some reason, my eyes caught Amir. I asked Hema to tell Amir to smile for me .But whatever I did, I couldn’t get that smile from him.

          I and Amir went to the courtyard of the building. We got talking. He asked “Bhaiyya, who all are there in your home?”.I said I have a younger sister. He asked “What about mom and dad?”.I said everyone has mom and dad. He said “Not everyone has”. I could feel a tear straining at the corner of my eyes. I tried to recover fast and asked him “What do you like the most?” He said “I like it when someone scolds me”. I was surprised and asked why. Amir said “Bhaiyya I feel some one is bothered about me when they scold me. Someone cares for me”. I was really beginning to like this boy now.

          “Amir, what do you miss the most?”He said “Bhaiyya, I miss having a pet name. No one calls me anything that comes from the heart. Everyone is either sympathetic or looking down on me”.

          Swallowing the lump in my throat I asked “Amir, will you smile for me?”He said, “Bhaiyya, do you know when a person gets angry most? When you are hungry! I have not had food. How can I smile?”

          I took out a chocolate from the pocket and gave it to him. He grabbed it and said “Bhaiyya I will come now”. Before finishing the sentence, he started running. I went behind him. He entered a small room in which a small girl was sitting. Amir offered the chocolate to the little angel. She took one bite and gave it to Amir. He shook his head, gave it back to her and smiled...That was the most beautiful smile I have ever seen and I will ever see. Stealing the moment on my camera, tears started rolling down my face and it hasn’t stopped since.
                                                                                                                             Arun Babu.