A commuter's tale.
The time is past eleven as I glanced at my cell phone for the third time. I have been fixed on this faded brown cottoned seat that had cushioned more than a thousand weights in its lifetime, It reeked of age.
I have been trapped here for two hours, so that my stomach was unsettled by the nauseating mix of body odours and smoke. I struggled for breath. The air tasted of salt and gasoline as I cussed beneath my breath – fuck! God, I need my own motor – a commuter’s prayer.
For some relief, I gulped my bottle of water, religiously. Out of the blue, a velvet kimono – dressed lady brushed hurriedly past me, nudging the bottle off my hand. Almost glassy eyed, I watched my precious grip at life spill away, and there was no saving the bottle, because the cramped bus made sure of that! I shot a glare at her, but she was already indulged in another business, there was no point. In here, we were all victims, victims of a dysfunctional transport system, victims of a failed government.
I was jolted back to the frenzy when a dirty- collared man spewed obscenities at a younger lady, which was met with rolled eyes and whispers from the other commuters. “I get your mate for house,” he blurted. This, if the journey were a story, should be the title, everyone always having everyone’s mate safely tucked in their houses. Other plots would include; hurried steps, optimistic pleas from coke and gala hawkers, angry drivers honking at other angry drivers in a vicious cycle of angriness, always.
My androgynous attire did me no favours as stares and side talks and giggles and disgust were hurled at me. But here I remained, in this cramped space of bodies, sweat, anger and judgement, replaying my time with him and wishing it had ended well.
#shortstory #nv #everyone #review
The time is past eleven as I glanced at my cell phone for the third time. I have been fixed on this faded brown cottoned seat that had cushioned more than a thousand weights in its lifetime, It reeked of age.
I have been trapped here for two hours, so that my stomach was unsettled by the nauseating mix of body odours and smoke. I struggled for breath. The air tasted of salt and gasoline as I cussed beneath my breath – fuck! God, I need my own motor – a commuter’s prayer.
For some relief, I gulped my bottle of water, religiously. Out of the blue, a velvet kimono – dressed lady brushed hurriedly past me, nudging the bottle off my hand. Almost glassy eyed, I watched my precious grip at life spill away, and there was no saving the bottle, because the cramped bus made sure of that! I shot a glare at her, but she was already indulged in another business, there was no point. In here, we were all victims, victims of a dysfunctional transport system, victims of a failed government.
I was jolted back to the frenzy when a dirty- collared man spewed obscenities at a younger lady, which was met with rolled eyes and whispers from the other commuters. “I get your mate for house,” he blurted. This, if the journey were a story, should be the title, everyone always having everyone’s mate safely tucked in their houses. Other plots would include; hurried steps, optimistic pleas from coke and gala hawkers, angry drivers honking at other angry drivers in a vicious cycle of angriness, always.
My androgynous attire did me no favours as stares and side talks and giggles and disgust were hurled at me. But here I remained, in this cramped space of bodies, sweat, anger and judgement, replaying my time with him and wishing it had ended well.
#shortstory #nv #everyone #review
And She finally fell in love...
Chapter 1
We often raise our girls teaching them the basic manners like – respect everyone, never to answer back, help everyone specially mothers in the kitchen and with other household chores, should look well behaved, cultured so on and so forth. Well, I don’t say that we should not teach all of these to our girls, all I always believe in is to teach all of this to our kids, irrespective of the gender.
Meet Neha, born in a middle class family, and like her name which meant Love, affectionate, honest and many more adjectives, people often expected her to portray the qualities that would resemble her name. And yes, she was someone very down to earth, loving, caring, honest, a quality that all the parents would look for in their daughters. But is that all that we look for in our daughters? Now, lets meet Neha again…
Meet Neha, tall, plump, wheatish complexion, average looking, didn’t have a lot of friends in school, or college. Ok, so yes I know that looks have got nothing to do with friends however, Neha always loved following her mother’s instructions as she knew that mom can never be wrong. Hence, Neha..do not go anywhere after the college!!! Neha.. why are you talking to the boys?? Neha.. good girls do not talk to friends late night (actually 7 pm), and that’s why poor Neha was left with very little friends, or shall I say 1 o 2 friends.
Amidst all of this where we consider this life as a punishment, Neha was quite content as she knew that mom and dad are happy with their daughter…But somewhere, she was not happy as like any other girl of her age she too craved for outings, shopping with friends, chatting and gossiping with friends, and most importantly Friends…
#review
#nv
Chapter 1
We often raise our girls teaching them the basic manners like – respect everyone, never to answer back, help everyone specially mothers in the kitchen and with other household chores, should look well behaved, cultured so on and so forth. Well, I don’t say that we should not teach all of these to our girls, all I always believe in is to teach all of this to our kids, irrespective of the gender.
Meet Neha, born in a middle class family, and like her name which meant Love, affectionate, honest and many more adjectives, people often expected her to portray the qualities that would resemble her name. And yes, she was someone very down to earth, loving, caring, honest, a quality that all the parents would look for in their daughters. But is that all that we look for in our daughters? Now, lets meet Neha again…
Meet Neha, tall, plump, wheatish complexion, average looking, didn’t have a lot of friends in school, or college. Ok, so yes I know that looks have got nothing to do with friends however, Neha always loved following her mother’s instructions as she knew that mom can never be wrong. Hence, Neha..do not go anywhere after the college!!! Neha.. why are you talking to the boys?? Neha.. good girls do not talk to friends late night (actually 7 pm), and that’s why poor Neha was left with very little friends, or shall I say 1 o 2 friends.
Amidst all of this where we consider this life as a punishment, Neha was quite content as she knew that mom and dad are happy with their daughter…But somewhere, she was not happy as like any other girl of her age she too craved for outings, shopping with friends, chatting and gossiping with friends, and most importantly Friends…
#review
#nv
#review
#nv
#iam
The Day that changed my Life
02 January, 2013, evening 6 pm, somewhere in Pune…
“Dad, you’ve never understood me. Your only goal in life looks like getting me married and you’re done. I always thought my father was my best friend, he understood me and my dreams, but no, I was wrong.” She was yelling and had tears in her eyes while having a conversation with her Father on a phone call.
“You’re getting me wrong, love. I am your Best Friend and I definitely understand you and, at the same time, I also know what’s good for you and what’s not. Tell me where you are and I’ll come to pick you up. Please tell me where you are!!” said the father, who now, was losing his calm.
“Yes, why not, so that you can come here and take me back home only to get married to that loser!! Never, I’m not coming home unless you call off the wedding. If I get married to him, I’ll either get divorced or will die of suffocation.” She had rage in her voice when she hung up the call on her dad…
=============================================================
03 January, 2013, morning 2 am, somewhere in Pune…
“Come down, We’re outside the society. Please do not create any scene and get your belongings too. It’s just Mom and me, Dad hasn’t come along.” The brother said on the phone call.
Suddenly, the younger brother sounded older.
Suddenly, the mother for whom her daughter was her world, looked at her with sheer disappointment and anger, and maybe, hatred too.
Suddenly, her friends, who at one point in time were considered cultured and “Good Fit” for their daughter, had become enemies.
Suddenly, the world looked different, an enemy like, only because she refused to get married.
After all, she was 26 years old and was mature enough to take a stand for herself, and decide for herself.
She was dragged and forced to sit in the car, the car engine started and they drove back to Mumbai.
=============================================================
03 January, 2013, 11 am, at home in Mumbai.
Mom had tears in her eyes. Dad too looked devastated. They couldn’t believe that their daughter would take such a drastic step. Mom looked as if she hadn’t slept a bit last night. She felt sorry for her parents but refrained from showing anything on her face. Instead, she asked, “I’m hungry, what’s for breakfast? or lunch?”
The next 10 – 15 minutes went by in silence. Then started The Discussion, why does the daughter not want to get married? It looked as if that’s the only question left in the universe and if the marriage didn’t happen, then God alone would know what would happen!!
“Dad, I’m only 26. I want to focus on building my career. Do you realise I’ve been trying to tell you that I’ve been shortlisted as Communications Trainer in a big MNC. And, this marriage would take me away from my dreams. Forget even the career, you want me to get married, you have no idea that guy is a jerk, he can’t respect women, he can’t respect me, he’s never spoken to me with respect. He laughs at my dreams. He doesn’t care if I’m fine or not, actually, no one cares in his family if I’m fine or not, all they care about is, how much weight I’ve lost and have I started to look beautiful or not!” She said with sheer disappointment.
“I am sure you must’ve done something or must have said something to treat you that way.” Said the father. By now, his anger knew no limits. He had no idea what he was saying. The Father-Daughter argument lasted for almost 2 hours. No one had eaten a morsel since morning.
“I’m stepping out to get some fresh air. It’s suffocating in here.” She said while wearing her sandals.
“Remember one thing, it’s my house, you live here, and if you want to live here, you have to live it my way.” said the angry father.
=============================================================
#nv
#iam
The Day that changed my Life
02 January, 2013, evening 6 pm, somewhere in Pune…
“Dad, you’ve never understood me. Your only goal in life looks like getting me married and you’re done. I always thought my father was my best friend, he understood me and my dreams, but no, I was wrong.” She was yelling and had tears in her eyes while having a conversation with her Father on a phone call.
“You’re getting me wrong, love. I am your Best Friend and I definitely understand you and, at the same time, I also know what’s good for you and what’s not. Tell me where you are and I’ll come to pick you up. Please tell me where you are!!” said the father, who now, was losing his calm.
“Yes, why not, so that you can come here and take me back home only to get married to that loser!! Never, I’m not coming home unless you call off the wedding. If I get married to him, I’ll either get divorced or will die of suffocation.” She had rage in her voice when she hung up the call on her dad…
=============================================================
03 January, 2013, morning 2 am, somewhere in Pune…
“Come down, We’re outside the society. Please do not create any scene and get your belongings too. It’s just Mom and me, Dad hasn’t come along.” The brother said on the phone call.
Suddenly, the younger brother sounded older.
Suddenly, the mother for whom her daughter was her world, looked at her with sheer disappointment and anger, and maybe, hatred too.
Suddenly, her friends, who at one point in time were considered cultured and “Good Fit” for their daughter, had become enemies.
Suddenly, the world looked different, an enemy like, only because she refused to get married.
After all, she was 26 years old and was mature enough to take a stand for herself, and decide for herself.
She was dragged and forced to sit in the car, the car engine started and they drove back to Mumbai.
=============================================================
03 January, 2013, 11 am, at home in Mumbai.
Mom had tears in her eyes. Dad too looked devastated. They couldn’t believe that their daughter would take such a drastic step. Mom looked as if she hadn’t slept a bit last night. She felt sorry for her parents but refrained from showing anything on her face. Instead, she asked, “I’m hungry, what’s for breakfast? or lunch?”
The next 10 – 15 minutes went by in silence. Then started The Discussion, why does the daughter not want to get married? It looked as if that’s the only question left in the universe and if the marriage didn’t happen, then God alone would know what would happen!!
“Dad, I’m only 26. I want to focus on building my career. Do you realise I’ve been trying to tell you that I’ve been shortlisted as Communications Trainer in a big MNC. And, this marriage would take me away from my dreams. Forget even the career, you want me to get married, you have no idea that guy is a jerk, he can’t respect women, he can’t respect me, he’s never spoken to me with respect. He laughs at my dreams. He doesn’t care if I’m fine or not, actually, no one cares in his family if I’m fine or not, all they care about is, how much weight I’ve lost and have I started to look beautiful or not!” She said with sheer disappointment.
“I am sure you must’ve done something or must have said something to treat you that way.” Said the father. By now, his anger knew no limits. He had no idea what he was saying. The Father-Daughter argument lasted for almost 2 hours. No one had eaten a morsel since morning.
“I’m stepping out to get some fresh air. It’s suffocating in here.” She said while wearing her sandals.
“Remember one thing, it’s my house, you live here, and if you want to live here, you have to live it my way.” said the angry father.
=============================================================