HOLISM - DAVID

DAVID

         “C.H.A road... “.

The auto driver looked carefully at him suspiciously and then let him in. He didn’t feel unpleasant on the act though. He loaded the dingy bag into the back and sat calmly. He felt relief for something. The sound of clinging of meter didn’t invite his attention. As the vehicle moved on, he squinted back at the corner of his eyes and saw his past days bidding farewell in unison; the same way he felt when he turned back at the train and before, in the taxi. They said ‘Bye,s’; requesting the fate not to take a U-turn ever. Wind brought fresh air and new fragrances, strange to his palates for a long time. Buildings, pavements, auto-motives, shops, people, all had ate up newer forms and newer demeanours since he last met them. At the tri-junction before C.H.A road, the rickshaw stopped at signal. He saw the pavement connection to the road a little distant. He took his baggage and got down. He ran before the signal went red for walkers. He felt 5 years younger, yes exactly 5 years younger walking on that pavement. An old man walking towards him stopped at close and looked at him carefully. He kept his head low and continued, leaving the old man’s inquisitive stance incomplete. He knew that person.

         ‘Raju Chacha’; he murmured.

Such relations had gone extinct for him. Long 5 years had taught him the value of bonds and bothers. He had only his shoulders to hold on, only his hands to wipe hiss tears and only his legs to balance a fall, though he couldn’t make out any of these at most instances in his life. His mom was still alive, and so was his siblings; a brother and a sister, both elder than him. But he had no big complaints for how they treated him for the past years. He had reached the saturation to get hurt-and-run by the so called feelings. He felt them now as excuses; mere excuses to escape from the reality; the present world in which one lives. Love, care, contemplating, sobbing, complaining, cursing; all were excuses …………..…………………… ………………

Frustrated inventions of a rugged life.

He saw his ancestral fortress, the house which succumbed his childhood and young ages with happiness and prosperity. Like a film roll emanating from its spindle, the memories backlashed his focus. A temporary absentia… neighbours, first love, ganging, eve-teases, angry young man image, kung-Fu lessons…. Everything ……………… ………………………………………………………………………..

‘Was that mine?’ he couldn’t believe the ‘he’ in the memories was himself. The journey from 25-30 was long and solid; solid enough to wipe out every traces of goodness extant in his life…. Now he was full of chafe,,,,, leftovers . . .

He saw his brother sitting outside the house. Davis. His hair had gone salty, boasting out an age more than he actually had. He mused around to hear children’s voices; he had not seen his brother’s. He exactly remembered his sister-in-law’s face. He wished to see his mother,,, after a long wait. Though he had no big expectations in their reactions towards him, he wanted to see and hear them before he moved on in his life. He saw two eyes looking erratically through the glasses, throwing out a feel of eerie in air.

         “David ……?”

David nodded. He sat on the wooden cantilever bench and smiled.

         “You got out today?”

         “Yesterday evening…” David replied without looking his brother.

         “How’s your health?”

David nodded in compliance. He felt a nausea that he had not tasted for a long time; something he thought he wouldn’t experience again. He wanted to ask a few matters and leave ASAP but he couldn’t recollect what all to …

         “Then… what else??” Davis came to the point directly.

         “Where’s mom??”

         “She’s at Dina’s… Will come after a week.”

         “Oh… by the way how’s she? Haven’t seen her children… How many she has??”

Davis took a reluctant pause and said as if revealing a family secret to a stranger;

         “Only one…. Daughter. Her name is Adheena.”

         “Sweet….. How about.., your children????” David spitted the words.

         “Two…. They have gone to school. Your sister-in-law went to office. I took a leave today”

Davis’ reply alarmed David. He got the hint that his brother somehow had got informed about his arrival and had taken leave to probably return an ‘old un-ordered parcel’.

He stood up taking his torn bag and motioned to leave when Davis spoke;

         “After your trials mom went sick due to anger on you. She said she doesn’t have a son in your name. We thought it’s the anger in her, but later realized it’s final when she made the will in mine and Dina’s name. I couldn’t convince her that….. You….................. If you want some money I’ll get you within two months; currently I got to repay a loan. This old house will be sold soon to a builder. I’ve built a small house in the corporation area. Like my children, people there don’t know about you. So contact me via phone so I could meet you outside. Also do call Dina before meeting her. Her husband is a little tough chap. And- “

         “In total, I should not interlope into your lives again………right brother??……” David intervened.

         “I didn’t mean that.”

         “I know, I know…… Felt to see mom and some unseen faces…… I felt those are genuine needs. Anyways tell mom I came here. Also Dina… And give this to the children, saying some lie….. Bye”

Placing a packet of chocolates on the table, David rushed down the steps and strode towards the gate without turning back. He had been preparing for this scene for a long time but the reality did shake him a little. He knew his mother wouldn’t exclude him from her mind. Dina and Davis, both were good at taking advantages,, David could easily guess what would have happened. And his brother cleverness was evident from the scenario created at his ancestral home. He cleverly shifted his mother to Dina’s home. The story of selling the ancestral home and building a house at corporation would be a blatant lie. And about the will, something he had guessed years before…

He knew his life would never retain the name and lustre on any furbish. Once judged for IMPRISONMENT, a person would bear the title until his death….. ‘PRISONER’. The years inside the jail would just be a beginning. Shades of dislike, uncouthness and fear from the society would haunt him endlessly. Words of suspicion, Eyes of doubtfulness, reluctant hands to help could be common hinders. Friends become strangers, Relatives become tormentors, and society seems utopian…. All would point him guilty, perhaps the only guilty person around them, no matter how good he had been before…………………………..

David had a strong heart to supersede these mundane realities. He moved on ………..

                            He was around 300 km away from his home now. A suburban place he had not been to before. He guessed it was a border. He had already stopped thinking anything. After freeing, he hardly ate something and hunger came into his bean. A string of street food joints ensemble in a row and the truck drivers and local people flooded into them. David got into one and ate hot parathas and curry. Aimlessly he walked along the roadside; trucks were parked in a lane.

         ‘Was it good to get into any one? Or live in the state itself?’, he was confused.

He could see the check post. In the faded lights he saw the uniforms which befriended him for the past 5 years. David knew it was better to get into trucks after the border checking, else he might be caught on suspicion. Dawn might get better help. He decided to wait till dawn. Lying on a dilapidated concrete bench near a washroom he traced his eyes across the stars hidden behind the clouds. They probably resembled the days of his past. Until it rained, the glow would be camouflaged by the clouds; so was his condition. Night breeze drooled moisture on his face and he felt dizzy in a trice. Slow passing of trucks and vehicles in irregular intervals acted as lullabies to him. Time passed by. Soon he fell asleep.

         “Helpppppppppppppp……………….………… helpppppppppppppppppppp………………….”

A deafening cry accompanied by a series of footsteps awaked David from his much awaited sound sleep. Through his dizzy eyes, he could see a small male figure followed by a gang of big male figures. Before his senses could decipher the farce, the hoodlums had captured the boy, stuffing a large chunk of cloth into his mouth. Night again fell into silence. For a second, David sat straight……………………….. and then he started running. He didn’t knew why he was running but he continued running. A reflex call from his innards.

He saw the hoodlums but covertly followed them. The boy had stopped fiddling in their hands; probably unconscious. After a series of turns, they got him into a lone warehouse lighted with 0-watt bulbs. David waited for a few minutes and then went close to a broken window. The boy was tied to a column and he remained unconscious. One among the hoodlums was telephoning someone and other three; total four; were busy gulping some coloured beverage. David patiently waited and kept his sleep-deprived ears and eyes as sharp as possible.

After telephony, the man talked to his fellas,

         “Saab told to keep the child till 4:30. And Bhola, at 3:00 we’ll have to go near the check-post, Saab’s people will come and then we will proceed. You two look after the place. “

Comparatively smaller persons nodded to the speaker. The biggest bully should be Bhola. David looked at his watch, in the faint 0-watt light it showed, 2:25. At first he wanted to make it clear for himself,,, whether to involve in the matter…………………….. An unknown boy abducted by an unknown clan at an unknown place. He was an ex-convict and there was a handful of policemen within a km radius. If caught in a questionable situation with the boy at night, those uniformed law-executors would easily charge him for ‘kid’napping and to his luck, his family would be in front to hail the police act.

‘And child abduction had been old since begging became a profession.’

For a person who was fed up with so called society, David had no interest in doing acts for social well-being; something he believed was a beautifier. Saving a boy who could be tomorrow’s rainmaker…

‘Bullshit!!!!’

David looked at the boy again. Without thinking further, he walked back..................... ........................................................................................................................,,,,,, he had plans.

The boy was wearing a more or less tidy, casual dress. So he could ensemble, the boy was not kidnapped from his school. Tidiness showed he had been identified recently; and a boy at 2:30am near a check post?!!!!!!!!.

David was sure the boy’s parents would have been there with the boy.

         ‘Identify them, pass the buck to their shoulders, and leave the place ASAP.’

He walked faster to find two crying faces searching for their little progeny lost in the dark. As population were less in the place it would be easier for him. And if they were not spotted, he thought he’d inform any food joint and the people might take up the heat. He looked into his watch again,    2:35am.

David reached the place he started running. The check post was empty. String of trucks might have gone through. It had lights though. He turned to the other side and saw the food joints out of the lights,,, empty. He moved to a truck, parked lonely near the washroom. But it had no one inside. He wanted to see a couple of crying faces; he couldn’t see any face.

Confused, he stood still. The good and the evil in him started arguing. A dilemma over three choices; whether to save the child, or to leave the place, or to continue sleeping as if nothing happened. David stared at the lights far away him……………….. It did call him, but he was not convinced. The good David prodded him harder to move his steps. But the bad David had his own reasons to defend…………………………….

He again looked at his watch; 2.42 am. Reluctant, heeding to his conscience, he walked towards the light. He felt the tread heavier step after step. Night’s silence seemed louder enough to pierce his ears. Daunting road tended to lengthen and the moonlit land bestriding the road was thinning narrower and narrower. David had crossed halfway and the light beam from the check post faintly lighted the road ahead him. He looked down at the lit road and walked slowly. He rehearsed the dialogue to be said to the policemen out there. A shadow covered the light beam affront him. On looking up he saw a young fella, similar to his age, talking to someone, apparently inside the operator room. David stopped. The man seemed a little tensed and lost. He was not audible but David surmised; the man could be the person he was waiting for...................

The man started walking towards David, disappointed. His muted blubbering echoed in the air. David moved faster and asked him,

         “What happened?”

         “…………..huh. My son……. I lost him-“

         “Come with me.”

David pulled him faster and on the way he tried to explain the things in the order which it happened. The man’s sobbing went louder when he heard his son fainted in midway and was tied to a pillar in an unknown pot.

         “What did that policeman say at the gate?”

         “He ain’t a policeman. He’s just the operator. Police already left the place. He called to the nearby station but the in-charge had gone somewhere and will be back by 4:30 or 5 in the morning” The man said in between weeps.

         “Pitch perfect. So let me be clear. We’ll have to rescue your child by ourselves. And we can try that only after 3’o’clock, if there lies any chance. Till that don’t panic or shout in angst and spoil your child’s life.”

         “But why only at 3??? We could try from now itself!!! What’s so bad in it?”

David didn’t care to reply. He signed him to quell all sounds and move. They reached near the warehouse. David first looked inside and after making sure nothing seemed different, he showed the man his son. His eyes grew red with anger; hands ambushed with veins. Muting his emotions he again asked David why they had to wait till 3. David showed him the four bigfellas escorting his son’s slumber and said in low voice,

         “I guess those two big shots leave soon as it ticks 3. It’ll be easy then. Neither you nor me can beat them down and come out alive. So be patient and hope,,, rather pray for no change in their plans.”

David looked his watch,,, 2:55am.

The two sat under the window and waited for the time to pass itself. The man was trying to settle himself; regaining composure and trying to figure out things so happened. David had something in his mind and was reinvesting thoughts to debug out any mistakes. He saw the man shivering in devastation.

         “What’s your name?”

         “………huh...Senthil.”

         “Tamil?”

         “No…. Bangalore”

David looked at his watch again. 2:58am.

         “Why you came here with your child? “

         “…huh?.......Satish……….. had an exam at a college…… in the city. We missed the bus at the gate……. Troubled at the washroom. I had stomach ache…, Satish stood outside the door. I heard his screaming voice…… and multiple footsteps parting away……. but couldn’t find…… anything when I came outside. “

         “Your boy, Satish….”

         “Yeah “

David stood up slowly and looked inside. Things were intact.

         “I told Satish several times………. to sit in the bus. The conductor would have noticed it then; I couldn’t tell him…… in prior………. He was afraid unnecessarily and said he’ll wait……. in the washroom.……….Ill fate of my child……… “

         “Don’t worry. And don’t freak out in panic when you get inside. You get inside when I deal the two hoodlums and get away with your child. Okay..?”

         “………..huh... Yeah.”

David’s watch ticked 3. He looked inside. The bullies were busy drinking and eating. Satish was still unconscious.

“These people doesn’t seem punctual.” David said.

“Why do they need my child?” Senthil grounded his eyes while speaking.

“Uh……… I don’t know actually. People abduct children for various reasons-”

“What fu**ing reasons?”

David maintained his own composure and replied to the person who had lost it,

         “May be to sell them in some other place, or for… carnal pleasures, or for their internals,,,, anything. But don’t worry Senthil, we won’t let anything bad to happen.

“Who are you? How did you happen to see Satish? You said you were sleeping at some bench near the washroom. You’re any hitch-hiker? Or a beggar or something?”

David was not pleased with this questioning.

         “I think it’s not important for you to think upon such things right now.”

         “No. I want to know. Everyone I saw today are strangers. The filthy people inside, you, the operator, the irresponsible conductor, everyone is a stranger. I want to know. I want to know who you are. I want to know why this all happened to me.”

David found the man hysteric. He was probably spitting out thoughts fuming in his inner mind. Anxiety had overpowered his outward demeanour. David looked into the window and ensured the scenario might not change at least for the time being.

         “My name is David. Lives,,,, or lived in a village far away from the border. Now I’m homeless, jobless, abandoned and free. Free in all senses.”

         “Why is that?”

         “My family; my brothers and mom, said they don’t want my company anymore.”

         “And why is that, tell me, why is that?”

David feared a little to say the exact truth to the misaligned Senthil. But he, in his inner mind wanted to say the lingering embers heating his brains for years; his ill fate.

         “It’s slightly lengthy. You sure about it?”

Senthil nodded without thinking.

He sat close to Senthil, smiling at his sceptical eyes, he said;

         “After my dad’s death, my elder brother took up charge of the house. My sister’s marriage was the major phenomenon in focus. As she was ‘excellent’ in studies, dowry became a mandatory in her marriage market. I had a job in public library and also helped my master in Kung-Fu classes….”

The pauses in between filled David’s heart with the colour and hue he lost in the swaying run of his life. Like the petals of a flower, they all got blew away…….

         “Our land assets; me not in the ‘our’ at present; had a dispute with the neighbour. He took advantage of dad’s death and claimed, a portion of our land was his. The boundaries were not clearly marked when he bought the land. My mom always said, I had the heart of my dad [smiles]………… He believed in words rather than papers. And so probably didn’t care separating from the neighbourhood ……………. To meet the marriage expenses, brother decided to sell half of the land. But this filthy neighbour came out with boundary conflicts and sent off the buyers. Moreover he installed new boundary piers with the local political aid, eating up our land to a substantial extent. Our family really suffered mental strain and strangles. One night brother and I decided to take out those concrete piers. It was midnight. Unfortunately, neighbour saw us. He started shouting and stormed towards us. Brother had this plow in his hand. In the reflex he hit that man on his head, and hit again in the fury. Probably he went unconscious. We ran from the place before people gathered but his wife had heard him shouting on us. Brother was married, looked after the house and sister-in-law was pregnant. Dina’s marriage was a stake to be superseded. I was young, unbounded with relations other than my mother and siblings….. A natural sacrifice one young descendant would take up for his family’s well-being…… and I was happy for that. But I didn’t knew it was the end of my bonds with family. I was not informed of my sister’s marriage, birth of my nephews or anything. Five years in jail,,,, and probably the rest of life in the jail with no bars….  SOCIETY………….. No big difference……………………………………………………………..

Slept near the washroom when felt tired. Saw your child running. Felt to help. That’s all….”

Silence embarked around them in compliance. Senthil seemed sober.

Crude combustion sounds stole their attention. Probably the hoodlums were racing some motorbike in neutrals. It was 3:15am. David stood up and saw them instructing the other two. Bhola was inspecting their surroundings. The bike moved through a narrow pathway and disappeared; rumbling sounds faded off. David stood still. The hoodlums seemed inebriated to a high. He prayed ………. Yes, he prayed after a long time, probably for Satish. Then he took the two wooden sticks he had gathered before and gave one to Senthil,

         “Keep this behind your shirt. Don’t use it until someone comes to you”

David himself kept it behind his shirt loosely. He took a stone approximately weighing 10kg. He looked at Senthil. He eyed in conformance. They stepped aback and threw the stone with enough force to break the window of their vision into innumerable shatters. The deafening voice startled both the hoodlums; one of them falling from his chair to hurt himself. Other man looked around in commotion and saw two men running towards him. He tried sprinting for his metals but the spirits dispirited his spontaneity. David reprised his Kung-Fu agility and in a trice, he took the wooden stick and broke it into two using the hoodlum’s head. Senthil; awestruck, covered his head and shouted in shock.

         “You creep! Get your child and start running ……”

The other rookie hardly stood up when David clobbered his upper thighs with a Tibetan kick.

         “Are they dead?” Senthil asked.

         “Nah. I hate jail. Now just RUN!!!!!!!!!!”

Dribbling footsteps filled the street-light-deprived road. Senthil panted like a dog carrying his enfeebled son and David ran looking into the extents on all sides to see if they were being noticed. He was not sure if they had escaped from all. Humming sounds of truck horns and slight traces of lights invoked a relief in their hearts. They were not alone. They reached the main road. A tea stall was open. They walked towards it slowly.

         “Satish!!! Satish!! Son!! Are you okay my child? Satish!!!”

Sprinkling drops of water on Satish’s face, Senthil tried to wake him. David was examining if the boy had any external wounds.

         “Err………………mmm……………….” Satish muttered in tire.

         “Let him sleep well now. He’s not wounded, I guess. Better get to your place ASAP and take him for an internal check-up…. Chetta, when will the next bus to Bangalore reach here?”

         “You won’t get bus directly from here till 8. Better have some tea and snacks from here and then take the bus to Kovai at 4:15am. From there, Bangalore buses are available at any time.”          The stall owner said.

David slid his hands along the boy’s head. Breeze did the same along his head. Milieu was fine. Peace surrounded them. They felt it in unison; everything is fine.

         “So that’s it. Get the bus to Coimbatore. Have something from here, and also take something parcelled in case Satish woke up in midway. Take good care of him. Also be careful while eating food from outside. Don’t spoil your stomach. [laughs]. And say my regards to his mom.”

Senthil smiled. His smile conveyed a gratitude inexpressible through words. They both hugged together. Then they had tea and hot ‘rotti’ made of rice flour and parcelled up some.

4:10am.

They waited for the bus to come. Senthil took his visiting card from the wallet and gave to David.

         “I have an upholstery production and marketing unit at Bangalore..; in the downtown. I actually need a…..good, person to help me manage these. I would like you to come and….. be my aid….. What you say? “

David took the card and smiled. He smiled whole-heartedly; for he saw someone showing a piece of care towards him. He kept smiling without replying.

Horns of the bus came into their auras; with the stall owner bellowing at them to wave at the bus to stop. David stood at middle of the road and waved wider. He talked to the conductor and came running towards Senthil.

         “It’s all clear. Good to go my friend. Take care and reach safe.”

         “Okay David. Come to Bangalore. We’ll be waiting. Bye.”

         “Bye.”

David waved them off.

He looked at the visiting card in his hand. Without thinking, he tore them into pieces. He could see a new relation was building up with him and Senthil……… David was not ready to make the mistakes of his life again……… There existed a fine, commendable bonhomie in his heart with Senthil; and he didn’t want to impair the same. He apologized to the day’s friend and started walking in the opposite direction. David already decided in his mind, not to make any relations that existed for long,

For,

      He didn’t want to scapegoat himself for earning the myths… love & care….

He moved on, serving himself again for the goodness of others; expecting nothing but humanity, in return. 

………………………………………………..END……………………………………………………

Lama signing out…….

Eternal Gift

BOTTLE OF LIFE- a short film

HOLISM

                              

                            CREEPO MEETS FLAME DANCER

Embers of the dead flesh churned red hot. Smoke blackened the twilight and the Sun was anxious to set. Loud sobs, showy belabours, heartfelt condolences and traditional ritual-dramas had ceased. Silence helped the soul find its salvation. It found levity and freedom from all worldly hitches; no pressures of winning, no hardships of failure, no loving betrayals to blame for and no loved ones to be betrayed. All alone, and all alone in the amidst of soul-less bodies. The wind poked, and cued if it was ready.

                   ‘TOO EARLY!!!!! ‘, the soul exclaimed.

It wanted every tint of the rest-in-peace to be savored before departure. A journey having no comeback and having no flashbacks and memories. To be among the carriers, the mass-less vagrants; the winds ……..  and get floated into the oblivion. Faint traces of burned memories smothered as coal-black across its abstract physique. But the wind was abstinent on being nostalgic…....  It was time….

                   ‘ADIOS ………. ‘

With the wind gearing up to high alto, the soul fastened its seat belts, though nothing would further cause a damage bigger … and closed its eyes of freedom for a trice ….. And gone …………. Smoothest take off ever.

                   “ TA-TA tA-TA !!!!!!!!!!!! “;

Seeing of the soul, CREEPO laughed in intermittent hushes. His lame right leg hard stepped an awkward rhyme and his farewell song nudged the dwellers of the crematorium. Creepo; that’s how people called him, re-buried the soil he moved out for the soul-passage and posted the famous CREEPO’S SIGN over the funeral pyre; a stick tied on top with a gibberish sign board which actually meant to say;

                   ‘MY FRIEND IS SLEEPING DEEP INSIDE’.

Creepo was born in the premises of ARAAMA crematorium. Nobody knew to whom he was born or to where he belonged. The previous undertaker and his mother looked after the little Creepo till he grew up to 9; following the sudden death of the undertaker, Creepo was left abandoned and his foster Grandma was nowhere seen. From that day, the lame boy looked after funeral business and proved to be a better mortician. His awkward behavior, intergalactic language and dingy dressing gave him the name Creepo and none cared what his real name was. Once a philanthropist lady came with her affiliates to rescue the boy. He first nodded to go with them but when the van geared up he yelled at deafening altos; leaving the lady, a sole option of letting him out. After that none came to fight for the then 14yr old boy or to talk of constitutional rights. Owner of the crematorium unofficially made Creepo, his employee, paying him in terms of food and clothes.

In spite of being eccentric mentally, Creepo never misbehaved in his profession. He was well aware of the Hindu rituals; collected bones and ashes of the burnt dollop, carefully stuffed them in sized pots and sequentially stashed them until collection. Some customers would bring the ritualist to the crematorium and perform the customary practices. Creepo would then become the obedient henchman; providing an affiliate support in the rituals. Moreover, when the corporation brought in recluse dead bodies of the abandoned and the unidentified, Creepo might get into the suits of a ritualist, citing meaningless chants and farewell mantras before burning them .On festive days, the village men would call him to help in decoration and other menial works, giving him a recess from his stereotyped repertoire…

Creepo took two more firewood and blew across the embers, inciting fire. A few minute ignition was left before he could extinguish for bone collection. The air above it had gone lighter and lighter, mirroring the objects beyond them. Creepo always loved looking through the hot air. Tall stiff trees bent their bark, river water toppled in vortex across the film, and even the wind swerved its way, letting the tempered molecules to pass. Through the grey smoke he saw a grotesque figure dancing like a snake near a heap of ash. Creepo looked again through the flames and YES!!!, this the same figure he thought he saw the previous day near a funeral pyre but mistook as a vortex of smoke.It moved to and fro the same way it did. Creepo felt something different, and whatever different came into his life, Creepo never wanted to miss. He eagerly waited for the flesh to vaporise, stacked the nice, shaped bones into a pot and cleaned the premises. He then moved towards the grotesque,,,, but it was nowhere seen!!. Creepo couldn’t fathom his bad luck….

                   ‘IT IS MISSING!!!! ‘.

He took a few dry leaves and saw dust, and put a flame. But he couldn’t see that through the flames too. He was totally dismayed. He took the staff, that he used to beat stray dogs loitering to scavenge across the crematorium; and bet hardly himself on his torso…

                   “ HAAAAGHAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHH “;

He cried in utter anger towards himself. Missing something that could give him a recess,, a break. He felt like a murder culprit confessing his guilt in a court; mind full of regret…. He lied there crying louder and louder, cursing some unknown characters of some unknown mythologies.. He yelled and yelled, and fell asleep…

                        “There are 82 corpses to be cremated.”;

                        “How will I ?? “;

                        “ You’re paid for that !!!“;

                        “ How does this enormous number came ?? “;

                        “ Yesterday in the city junction, an accident occurred . All died. Two filled minivans of schoolchildren hit each other. “;

                        “Then why their parents can’t take them home “;

                        “ It’s impossible to know who is who. Heads, hands, legs; all apart. As the bus went on fire for few minutes, their id cards also got destroyed. So all parents came into an agreement to burn them here. “;

                        “But,,,,,,   No …. It’s not possible.. How can a mother mistake her child’s face???. Tell them to look again!!!!! “;

                        “You don’t know the scenario. “;

                        “ What bloody scenario are you talking ???”;

                        “ You leave your white chicken in a meat shop. The butcher chopped it with a ten similar chickens, assorted. Without prior notice, if you’re asked to sort out the chicken’s parts, will you be able to ????. Such is the scenario here. And don’t bloody retort when I ask y---- “;

Sounds of truck-wheels screeching overpowered the voices of the arguing men. The tipper trucks started unloading. Creepo waited to see what was unloading while his owner turned his back. Stinking smell and scarlet hue en-swathed the requiem. Seeing the debris, Creepo got nauseated………………   82 dead bodies. Or rather, 82 dead assortments……………………………………………….

Creepo felt himself puking…. Suddenly huge amount of light,,, Huge amount in legions!!!!!!!!!!!........

It was 10am. Creepo is an early riser but that day, illicit dreams lulled him for long. He felt really gross; repulsed, losing his hold; the glimpse of dead bodies speared through his eye lids. What better dreams could interfere a man living with corpses!!!!!!!!!…………………………………………. But he was smiling,,,, He heard himself talking,,, having a stylish voice and speaking affluently to his master. He was sure that his master understood his language, something that never occurred to him in real life.

He washed his eyes to get completely rid of remnants of the dream. He started feeling the hunger when returned to his senses; mixing the wheat flour with water he became reminiscent of the previous day. That figure…. Who could it be ?? Suddenly it occurred to him.He dropped the pan and ran to the funeral pyre where he was sitting… He knew it belonged to a young soul, a case of suicide. The teen jumped from a cliff and bled to death. Creepo had used less firewood to reach the boiling point for him.

                   ‘ BUT WHO WAS THAT ???’.

Eating the self-prepared disgusting porridge, Creepo lived through his memories of that grotesque. The mysterious flame-dancer; that’s how he remembered it. He could realize without knowing what it was, no way he was going to be calm.

                   ‘ BUT WHAT IS TO BE DONE ??’;

He had no plans….. Somehow he decided not to budge away from that funeral pyre but wait for that mystery to return back. He took his staff, supported the lame leg enough to run fast and brushed his teeth in anticipation of having a ‘conversation’; Grandma once said to him some dreams you see come true if you really wish for that awake..

It was 5:30 in the evening, when that grotesque resurfaced. Yup,, it was a living human being. Living with corpses Creepo had never yet found any apparitions; though many children mistook him as one. He doubted in the deeper conscience if he was seeing one, but now he was sure. And his mission was ON…..

He moved closer to the figure. A male,,,, a male human,,, the FLAME-DANCER. Creepo found levity within him. Half of his lost vibe was back. He felt energized and moved closer to the flame-dancer..

The male being; a teen again, sat near the funeral pyre, and started moving to and fro, chanting something. Creepo sat a furlong farther and waited for the chant to get over. Around half an hour went by. Creepo waited, and waited,,, and waited…. Finally the teen stopped chanting, moved into a squatting stature, and started genuflecting.. Creepo found that odd, but waited in anticipation.

                   ‘THIS IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING’;

After a series of ups and downs, the flame-dancer stood up, and looked around. Suddenly he saw Creepo and got startled.

                   “WHO ARE YOU ? “;

Creepo didn’t answer but looked at his home. The teen understood that he was the mortician.

                   “I NEED SOME TIME ALONE,, YOU MAY GO.. “;

Creepo nodded his head but didn’t move. The teen waited but Creepo stood awkwardly looking at him. The teen threw a note of 100/- and signed Creepo to move away. Creepo knelt down and took the note; returning it to the teen he got reposed. Flame-dancer was actually in flames now. He took a stick and tried to scare Creepo,,, but Creepo maneuvered to snatch that stick and threw it away. The teen was in utter shock now. He was totally unclear of the scene.

                   ‘WHAT HELL DOES THIS GUY WANTS !!!???’;

He slowly sat beside the funeral pyre and sat confused; his hands on his head. Creepo sat opposite to him looking at his face. He surely wanted to talk but his tongue remained stiff. Silence brew around them with winds prodding them in between to talk…. Finally the ice melted on the teen’s side.

                   “WHAT DO YOU WANT MY FRIEND ??? “;

Creepo felt happy hearing that. He got rejuvenated, straightened his spine and started showing actions,,,

                   “THAT’S GREATTTTT !!!! NOW I’LL HAVE TO DECODE YOU’RE ACTIONS !!!!!!!!!!! “;

Creepo acted him to wait; he took his staff and pointed towards the teen,

                   “ME ???”;

Creepo nodded; He then took a magazine from his shirt-pocket. It had the picture of a model named Urmila. Creepo touched near the title NAME: , and again pointed towards the teen..

                   “MY NAME????. WHY DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MY NAME??”;

Creepo shrugged.

                   “OH GOD!!.. OK,, MY NAME IS VIVEK. I’M A B-TECH STUDENT. MY HOME IS IN DOWNTOWN. ANYTHING ELSE ???”;

Creepo couldn’t understand what the flame-dancer a.k.a Vivek said after his name. But he nodded in compliance, showing gratitude..

                   “NOW WILL YOU PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE ???????”;

Creepo took the staff in his right hand and pointed it towards the funeral pyre. Ashes of firewood has not been cleaned from that burn-ground. Usually after a burning, it took a three-day wait in cleaning the area. And it was the last day before cleaning. Creepo acted Vivek it would be cleaned by that night. Vivek nodded his head.

                   “I KNOW THAT. TODAY IS THE END FOR ALL. AND FOR THAT REASON I’M ASKING YOU TO LEAVe ME ALONE.. I NEED SOME TIME THOUGH I’M RUNNING OUT OF IT ”;

Creepo smiled at the poetic words of Vivek. He could fathom his new friend was getting irritated. But he was a relentless pest.

The next thing Creepo wanted to know was the relation between the dead and alive. A series of trial and errors finally made Vivek clear of the question. Though Vivek showed reluctance, he resembled teenage girls; seeking their male interest to prod more and more, though they are ready for the same…

But there were reasons for Vivek to act so ……………………………………………………

Eventually Vivek succumbed to Creepo’s persistent plea and asked him to stay calm till he completed;

                   “ACTUALLY I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT ME AND MANAV TO SOMEONE. PROBABLY GOD BROUGHT YOU HERE KNOWING THE SAME. AND I GUESS YOU’RE THE APT CHOICE….. “;

Like a 5 yr. old child he sat in front of his Flame-dancer, waiting to hear his bravado.

                   “HE WAS MY BEST BUDDY. MANAV…… WE WERE TOGETHER AT A HOMESTAY AT DOWNTOWN. YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS CAME TO THAT PLAYGROUND TO PLAY FOOTBALL, BUT HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS REQUIEM. IF HE WAS HERE, HE WOULD HAVE SAID THAT IN HIS DESI SLANG..... I LOVED THAT KIRK DIALECT. “;

Creepo didn’t recognize a word he said. But nodded his head in complete agreement. Seeing a living human looking at his face directly without awe, sharing some holy notions and spending time for his request. Aaaaahhhhh !!!!!!!!what more !!!!!!! ;

                   “ALL OUR CLASSMATES ENVIED OUR FRIENDSHIP. BOSOM BUDDIES, THAT’S HOW OTHERS CALLED US. EVERY EVENINGS WE CLUBBED TOGETHER FOR SOME PRANKS… FRIENDS FEARED A B’DAY PRANK FROM US AND NEVER INVITED FOR THE PARTIES, BUT WE ARE,,,,,,   WERE UBIQUITOUS………………………………………………………….. “;

Creepo saw the mood changing in Vivek. He stood up and acted if there was a problem..

Vivek actioned Creepo to sit and said;

                   “YOU PLEASE SIT THERE AND LET ME FINISH, I’VE TOO MEAGER TIME TO WASTE IT…… I’LL SPEED MYSELF UP. “;

Creepo sat in compliance..

                   “OUR CAMARADERIE WAS GOING IN FINE, IMPECCABILITY TILL THE BI…. SORRY, THAT GIRL CAME INTO HIS LIFE. HAVE YOU SEEN HIM??? NO RIGHT???  A HANDSOME CUTIE PIE. SEVERAL BUSTY GIRLS HAD AN EYE ON HIM BUT HE WAS NO WAY DOCILE IN THE BEGINNING. HE NEEDED A GIRL OF SIMPLICITY, NO SHOW OFFS, NATURAL AND PRISTINE. I HAD GIVEN HIM A LOT OPTIONS BUT HE SEEMED TO BE A PERFECTIONIST. . . :;

…………………………….

…………………………….

…………………………….

AND THEN WE SAW THAT MOVIE OF VAMPIRES,,,, THAT POPULAR MELODRAMA AMONG BLOOD THIRSTS. AND HE WAS TOO ROMANTIC AFTER IT. I HATED THAT MOVIE FROM THE CORE OF HEART AND TEASED HIM ON HIS NAIVETY BUT, HE WAS IN NO WAY DWINDLING FROM HIS PEAK OF LEVITY. HE BECAME SOFT-HEARTED AND STARTED MINGLING WITH GIRLS IN FUNK. HE WAS LOOSING HIS IDENTITY, OR AT LEAST I FELT SO ,,, YEAH…. I FELT HE WAS CHANGING….. BEING A WOMAN’S MAN ….

WE USUALLY WENT AT NIGHTS TO THE PORT AND ATE SEAFOOD. OUR HOSTEL MATES ALSO ACCOMPANIED. BUT THEN HE WENT TO SOME PUBS IN THE TOWN WITH BOYS OF ‘SOUVENIR PLAZA’, THAT POSH HOSTEL NEAR OUR COLLEGE .. YOU KNOW IT RIGHT????? “;

Creepo nodded..

“DAYS PASSED BY.. HIS ACADEMICS WENT POOR AND HIS SHAPE WENT OGRE. HE HAD NEW HIGHFALUTIN MATES SPILLING MONEY LIKE WATER DROPLETS AND NEW HENCH WOMEN SEARCHING HIS UNDERPANTS. AN UTTERLY TAILOR-MADE FANCIFUL WORLD ONE MIGHT GET FOR SPOILAGE……

I HAD HOPE HE’LL RETURN TO HIS OLD COMPOSURE…BUT……………..

NOW,,,, HE’S HERE.. “;

Creepo knew however that his story was not over, though he had stopped talking. With the phrases he realized, he had made up his version, and that too didn’t reach to its climax… So he eagerly waited for his friend’s resume…..

“AND THEN SHE CAME TO MY LIFE,, OUR LIFE….. THAHIRA… AN ORTHODOX MUSLIM BEAUTY. YOU KNOW, FRIEND ????... I’M A BRAHMIN…AND MANAV BELONGS TO KSHATRIYA . BUT……………..

SHE WAS MY JUNIOR AT COLLEGE. TWO YEAR YOUNGER. SHE CAME AS A SOLACE IN MY LIFE. WHEN I LOST MY FRIEND IN MIDWAY, SHE FILLED THAT SPACE ACCOMPANYING ME IN THE JOURNEY. AT FIRST I DEVOURED HER BEAUTY REMAINING IN DISGUISE.. BUT A FRIEND OF MINE,,, A BLOODY FUCKING FRIEND NOTICED MY CAREEN TOWARDS HER. PROBABLY SHE TOO GOT NOTIFIED…. THEN THIS FRIEND TOLD HER ABOUT MY INTEREST AND MADE ME TO SAY THAT IN PERSON….. AND YOU KNOW WHAT?????? SHE APPEAREDWILLING!!!!, SHE SMILED WHEN I PROPOSED !!!!!!!.. AND EVERY HUMAN BEING BORN AS MALE WOULD ASSUME IT AS AN ACCEPTANCE… ME TOO… BUT YOU KNOW FRIEND,, TO KNOW A GIRL’S ACTS, ENCRYPTED WITH A LEGIONS OF MESSAGES, A BOY SHOULD STUDY ‘FEMINOLOGY’,,, I DUNNO IF SUCH A THING EXISTS….. HAHAHAHAHAHA “;

Creepo joined Vivek in his laugh but was unaware what was THAT for. He also was unaware that his speaker had gone hysteric…..

“AND THEN IT WAS MY TURN. TO GET LOST AND TO GET FANCIED, I TALKED TO HER FOR HOURS AND LAUGHED AND SMILED AND DID EVERYTHING AN AMOUR WANTED,, ENJOYING THE PRESENCE OF HIS LOVE INTEREST.. I GUESS IT WAS A SYMBIOTIC FEEL GOING ON BETWEEN US… AAAHHH…LIFE WAS IN THE ALTOS OF PINNACLE, WHEN MY BEST BUDDY RESURFACED INTO MY TRACK..HIS FRIENDS PROBABLY WAVED HIM OFF WHEN HIS LUSTER HAD GONE BLACKENED. HE CAME TO COLLEGE WITH THE SMELL OF COCKTAIL AND CIGAR IN HIS TALKS, TWISTING THE GIRLS WITH THE MACHO-EFFECT. HIS ALL TIME PRESENCE CREATED A BUZZ AMONG THE NEW-GEN LADIES AND THE WILLING-TO-BE-NEW-GEN LADIES…

THOUGH HE WENT TEETOTAL, HIS MOLDED BEHAVIOR DIDN’T LEAVE HIM. AN UNCHANGING,UNEASY,LURING HANGOVER OF BOOZE AND BROADS HAD ALREADY GALLOPED HIM…….

AND THUS HE BECAME MY HEART-BREAKER. HE WAS ATTRACTED TO THAHIRA………………………………………

…………………………………………………..

HE HAD LOTS OF CHICKS STRADDLING HIM BUT HE LIKED THIS BEAUTY IN DISGUISE. AND THE AFFILIATE HE APPROACHED TO EXPRESS HIS LUST-SMOTHERED-LOVE WAS HIS OLD,BEST BUDDY…..   THE UNFORTUNATE, DESPICABLE ME………………….

YOU KNOW, I FELT HAPPY BECAUSE HE SAID TO ME…. I KNEW,, OR BELIEVED THEN, SHE WOULD REJECT HIM AND SO HIS AFFAIR WON’T GO IN PUBLIC,,, THUS UNTAINTING HER FROM A SCANDAL….

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA……… THE JACKASS ME,,,,,,,  HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA …….

YOU KNOW MY FRIEND,,,, THESE GIRLS,,, THEIR TALKS ,,, THEIR ACTS,,,, THEY SAY “HALLO” AND YOU CAN INTERPRET A 100 TYPES OF HALLOOS FROM THAT… WHEN THEY ARE QUESTIONED OF THAT,,, THEY SCOOTS WITH A RETORT, “WHY DID YOU INTERPRET SO ASSHOLE ???!!!!!! “ ………THESE FLOOZY SLATTERNS ARE UNAWARE THAT TO INTERPRET SOMETHING IS THE LONE OPTION THEY LEAVE FOR US,,,,,,  THE BOYS…. “;

Creepo was starting to feel uneasy …. This new friend was getting quirkier and quirkier……

“SHE SMILED…… SHE SMILED WHEN I SAID ABOUT MANAV’S CRAP LOVE INTEREST. SHE SMILED WIDER WHEN I SAID HIS LOVE IS MORE LUST-DRIVEN AND NOT COMPASSIONATE LIKE MINE…. AND SHE SMILED LOOKING AWAY WHEN I QUERIED IF SHE FELT MY PROPOSAL IN ANY WAY DIFFERENT THAN HIS……

SHE SMILED…………………………. AND SMILED …………….. AND SMILED……..

THE NEXT DAY I TOOK HIM TO THE TOP OF CHAILINDA HILL AND ASKED…..IF HE WAS SERIOUS ABOUT THAHIRA…..

HE SAID HE IS IN THE PATH OF REMORSE…. HE HAD STARTED FEELING HIS WRONG WAY OF LIVING AND THE CREDIT WENT TO THE BEAUTY OF ARABIA.. HE ASSURED IT WAS NOT HER BOOBS AND BUMPS THAT LURED HIM BUT SHE AS A WOMAN…. A PEARL MADE OF PEARL,,,, THAT’S HOW HE DECORATED HER……

AND THEN I SAID TO HIM HOW SHE WAS TO ME… HOW SHE REACTED WHEN I PROPOSED,,, AND HOE SHE REACTED WHEN I PROPOSED FOR HIM….. BUT HE WAS RELENTLESS ON HER… HE WAS STERN ON HER …..HE PRETENDED HIS LOVE STRONGER… I WAS ANGRY,,, I SAID I WONT LET HER GO AWAY. THOUGH I CARED MORE FOR HIM, I DEMANDED FOR HER…. BUT HE SLAPPED ME ON FACE,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

A WILD MOMENT OF ANGER… A MOMENTOUS OUTBURST OF SURVIVAL FOR LOVE…. A GODFORSAKEN INSTANT OF UNLUCKY….

……………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………….

I PUSHED HIM……..

I DIDN’T KNEW IT WOULD END LIKE ……. THIS………..

I PUSHED HIM………

AND NOW HE’S HERE……

…………………………………..”;

He started crying….. Creepo almost know the reason for it. His concocted version had also come to an end…. Creepo stood up and walked towards the funeral pyre and sat in squats. He heard footsteps behind him and saw the Flame Dancer very close to him…

“I NEED YOU’RE HELP… WILL YOU HELP ME TIE MY HANDS AND EYES???? “;

Creepo couldn’t comprehend at first but when he acted for the help, he nodded with utmost reverence. He willingly helped others,, especially when he was asked for..

He tied his hands and eyes with fresh white cloth and moved him forward as Vivek directed him….

They reached near the river. Vivek could feel the moisture in his foot.

“ WILL YOU FETCH ME SOMETHING TO EAT???? “;

Creepo tapped his shoulder, asking him to wait for a second and ran to his kitchen.. On his way back, he heard the sound of a big mass falling into the river. He no longer could see his Flame Dancer. He ran back and looked through the river but the flow across downriver was fast. He didn’t knew swimming…….. He waited to see his lone friend to resurface ,,,, but ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ……………………………..

Creepo came back to his shelter…. He felt his eyes damp but he was not crying. He took few logs of wood and made a heap closest his shelter. He burned it and looked through it again, if he could see him, He couldn’t. . He eavesdropped to hear if his friend’s soul spoke to the wind, It didn’t …. He tried till the last ember got extinguished………………………………..

He performed the Creepo rituals and prayed to all Gods of his worship to get his Flame Dancer, composure at whichever world he would cruise to. He wished the wind would take him to Manav…………………..

                   “TA-TA……….. TA-TA…………”;

He made a sign board,,, the most tallest sign board on the pyre. He wrote something,,,, which meant,,,,,,,,,,,,,

                   “CREEPO’S BEST FRIEND IS SLEEPING DEEP INSIDE… “;

----------------------------------------the end----------------------------------------------

                                                                             LAMA SIGNING OUT………