Short Story -We Are Mortal

"Good Morning, Angelina," said Nancy progressing towards her exquisite dressing table.
"Its 7 in the morning, get up."

"Oh this warm morning. Why does it come so soon after every night! O..o..o good morning der sister", said Angelina in a sleepy lazy tone.

"Well little sis, your night outs makes nights small and so the morning seems to come sooner than it really does. Now don't be lethargic; get up get ready and better rush to your college or you will be late."

Nancy shut the door after saying these words not realising that her sister has afain gone to slumber.

"Bob. Is my breakfast ready?" Nancy screamed loudly.

"Yes, madam", the voice came from downstairs.

Stepping down the stairs she saw Bob serving the breakfast which included her favourite Cheese Sandwiches and Strawberry Shake. Nancy took her seat as Bob stoos beside her waiting for her next order.

"Hmm..so very nice. I just love Joe, he's the best chef in the world. Present him with $10." Nancy handed the money to Bob.

After eating her breakfast she exited of her lavish villa instructing Bob,"Make sure Angelina gets ready and reaches her college in time."

She sat in her BMW as the door was opened by the driver. "Good Morning Madam"

"Good Morning", she gave a warm, gentle smile to the driver and left for her office 9 kilometres away from her villa.

Nancy and Angelina were so happy, loving and affectionate that no one would ever realise that they are actually orphan step sisters. But if closely observed, they were like poles apart in temperament. Nancy was a business woman. She would always put her heart and soul in expanding her business thereby making her business ventures a major success. Totally disciplined and rational in thinking, she would never waste a single moment of her life. She believed 'life is transient and we are mortals.' So work hard amd make your presence felt in the world.

Angelina too believed in the universal truth that we are mortals but looked at it from a very different perspective. She wanted to enjoy every bit if her life before it ends. For Nancy life was all about holidays, shopping, travelling and merry making. Both the sisters were doing what they wanted and that too splendidly.

"Combox Ltd. is running into losses after the death of its C.E.O. Mr. Kennedy. His son's business ethics are being questioned by their dealers," the finance manager conveyed the news to Nancy.

"O great! Congratulations to everyone, especially our company's employees. their efforts have been paid off. Now Angnan Ltd is the No. 1 company of America. Time to celebrate."

Nancy rang a bell and the Personal Secretary came to her cabin. "Organise a party on 8th of next month and invite all the employees of our company, said Nancy with victorious smile on her face.

"yes mam." the secretary leaved after congratulation her.

Nancy wanted to celebrate the occasion personally with her younger sibling. She went home in the evening. No sooner did she reach home she shouted, "Angel, Angel...". Hearing her sister's voice, Angel ran down from her room towards Nancy to know what the matter was. The moment Nancy glanced at Angel she ran towards her and tightly hugged her.

" There's good news, guess what?"

"What?"

"Angnan Ltd. has left Combox Ltd far behind in competition."

"That's amazing Nancy!! I am thrilled to hear this. Let's go shopping and party hard."

"Shopping?"

"Ya...What? Don't you want to go?"

"No, I dont..It will be a sheer waste of time. We should go to the church Angelina and thank the lord for bestowing happiness."

"Okay...alright, lets go to the church."

Nancy noticed a bit of disappointment on Angel's face and said putting her arm around her waist, "Don't be disheartened. We should not waste time because we are mortals. Utilize every second God has given you. And I have planned a grand celebration on 8th of next month. So You can enjoy then. Don't worry."

"Nancy that is good that you kept a party but please don't regard enjoying life as waste of time. If we take out time to relax it will keep us going even longer."

There was a silence and then both went to church.

The 8th arrived. It was the time to celebrate the success The ceremony was going to be solemnized in Americans Choice at 10 o' clock.

The sisters were so nicely dressed in rose pink and ice blue that they looked not less than any princess. The ethereal beauties entered the enormous hall of Americans Choice and everyone applauded and greeted them.

The dances, cocktails and revelry commenced and had just reached its peak when someone shot at Nancy. No one could believe their eyes. From where did the gunshot came and how did it struck Nancy's neck. There was chaos all around. Everyone ran to save themselves but it was Angel who saw Nancy falling on the floor spreading her arm towards her.
She immediately ran and put her sister's head on her lap. Angel was still in a state of shock. Nancy repeated those words she always said "We are mortal" and breath her last. Angelina burst into tears and understood that rivalry with Combox Ltd. took her sister's life. She wept and cried and howled and understood the real meaning of 'We are mortal.'

Short story- The Other Woman

Ashdil Arora was fed up from his daily boring routine. Getting up early, dropping his 5 yrs old boy at school, going to work and coming back. He desired for some kind of excitement but Pragya'

s (her wife) busy schedule did not allow it. Moreover he couldn't expect anything from Pragya except her attitude and feeling of superiority that she was earning much more than her husband. Carrying out day-to-day activities was now like an obligation for him.

Ashdil took a day off on Wednesday not because he had to go to a picnic but because he was not well and met with a minor accident last night. He was alone in his house and thus decided to chat with his orkut friends and socialize a bit. he has logged in his account after about 3 months. 

He replied to a scrap came from Shweta which said, 

"Hey Ashdil! i lyk ur name yaar. But wht dz it mean?"

the scrap was a week old.

"it means a heart that saves life." He replied.

Co-incidentally Shweta was also online at the same time. "So, hw many lyves u've saved?", Shweta scraped. That's how they began chatting.

Both occupied their seats for chatting in a pensive mood, and both wanted to feel gleeful after chatting. He was unhappy at home and she broke up with her splendidly rich playboy-boyfriend just 2 weeks ago.

Both of them began normally, asking the qualification, profession, DOB, the family background and all related stuff. Shweta was of sixteen, a commerce student, coming from an educated family. Ashdil was an MBA, working with an MNC, hailing from a humble family. There was a gap of fifteen years between them. But their interests, liking and disliking were same. They liked soft and romantic music, were passionate about dancing, took out time to sit in nature, liked going on long drives, travelling, shopping and were completely foody. Both were never so lucky in love. The very first day they chatted as if they were not strangers. In such a case, fascination from both the sides was inevitable.

The next day Ashdil especially came online in his working hours to see whether Shweta was online or not. He was already getting lucky; she was on orkut. This time it was more if flirt, just to seek temporary pleasure.

"Ashdil, u told u knw a bit of salsa n ball. Will u be my dance teacher?"

"Who would not like to be yours, mam."

The new friends chatted for hours together and conveyed their true feelings while flirting. They did not want to end their talk. When Shweta said," Its long tym, I must leave now." She got a reply,"Are you going? Will miss you dear."

The spark was present in both but Shweta resisted it. She thought 'its only infatuation...it snot practical loving someone on orkut..someone who is 15 years elder to you. How can i put so much trust on someone so soon. I cannot bear one more betrayal.

Ashdil was open about his feelings. He believed that Shweta can bring back the missing zing and the lost feeling of being loved in his life.

After chatting for three hours, the third day Ashdil hesitantly asked for her number. She refused to give and gave him a curt reply. The reason behind this was not the fear of betrayal but negligible hopes for future. Months passed in this fashion and now Shweta was emotionally attached to Ashdil. She could not live even for a single day without chatting with him. She always expressed her deepest of emotions that he dominated her thoughts and she wanted a man life him. But every time he asked for her cell number, she indicated her unwillingness to give.

It was Ashdil's birthday. They were again chatting. "hey Shweta, Where is my b'day gift?"

"Wht gift u wnt frm me?" I will happily giv to u."

"I want to hear your voice."

Ultimately she called him up and fulfilled his desire. Her heart melted when he proposed her,"Shweta, I love you. My life was dull til I found YOU. Your friendship has coloured my life. I need you to complete my picture."

Shweta failed to oppress her sentiments. Thus confessing her love for him. Now she was serious in her relation. They talked, made fun and met each other and their relation successfully completed 3 years.

"Ashdil, will you marry me or not?"

For a while he was nonplussed, revived and answered, "No hurries. I want you to build your career first. I am all yours. Can wait for a few more years."

"But i cant wait. You know my parents wont accept this relation."

They planned for a court marriage at present and a ritual marriage after few years. Shweta decided to they would leave the city after marriage and asked Ashdil also apply for his transfer. At times Shweta felt sorry and cried that she will leave her parents. But Ashdil's love made her blind.

The day arrived and Shweta eloped leaving a last note on her bed which said,"I love someone very deeply and I am going with him to get married."

Shweta reached court on time, but Ashdil was missing. She waited for half an hour but he was still missing. She rang him up.

"Hello!", said Pragya.

"Hello! Who's that?"

"I am Pragya. You wanted to talk to Ashdil?"

"Yes. Where is he?", asked Pragya.

"He's taking bath. I'm his wife, you can leave me a message."

"What?? His wife?"

"Yeah..and may I know who is on the line?"

The call was disconnected and Shweta said in a shocked state, "I am the other woman."

Short Story - ANKLETS

Maya Dongre was fond of that silver ornament worn around ankles. As a baby child, her tears stopped falling down the eyes when she heard the tinkling sound of her mom's anklets. After growing five years old, she had the desire to wear those anklets.

Married at 14, Muskan Dongre, had four children. Her husband, Sukhdev, drank himself to stupor, selling his once blossoming fields to support her parents with four hungry children. They refused to look after her. Hungry and impoverished she had fend for herself. Hence, her daughter's desire remained unfulfilled to get a pair of anklets.

Not only this, Maya had the liking for dance also. She regularly visited the homes where her mother worked as a maid. She was most cheerful when mom worked where Rosy took the dance classes of Kathakali. Maya always sat aside, attentivelygazed at the dance steps and listened to the instructions of her dance mistress. She rehearsed the steps in her tiny hut.

Time flew and now Maya completed her ten years. She and her mother were in Rosy's home from dawn to dusk. It was Rosy's birthday and she had organised a small party at her home. After winding up Maya came up to Rosy, pulled her shirt and sweetly said, "Mam, i want to present you sonething."

"O really! What do you want to present me?", asked Rosy surprisingly.

Maya took her to the spacious area holding her hand. She touched her feet and began to dance. She danced in full swing submerging her enraptured heart into the hollow surroundings. Thus, scattering the joy in every nook of the room. Rosy was dazed and stupefied. She distinctively watched woth what passion and spirituality the girl moved her body.

After the completion of dance, Rosy was excessively impressed and moved. She said, "I have never made the mistake of differentiating among my b'day gifts, but...this is mt favourite."

She could not stop herself from giving a momentary reward of Rs. 51 and invaluable blessings.

The next day Maya went to a local seller to buy anklets for her. The only thing she wished to have and keep for entire life. She demanded dor anklets but the shopkeeper told.the amoutlnt was too less to buy them. Instead he had a better option for the girl to go with him to another jewellery shop and purchase what she needed.

Poor child!! Maya was taken to the brothel. In contrast to other girls there, Maya was the only girl who felt happiness in soul as she was taught to dance while wearing anklets. Ignorance about the future made her happy. Whenever she questioned where her family was, she was consoled by saying that she would see them soon.

8 years later, with scars on her mind and soul, she had smilingly accepted the people she was living with as her family. In these eight years, she had realized the brutal truth of the world she was living in. She was filled with remorse every time she was paid to get involved with men. She hardly had any choice but to remain calm in every circumstance. to escape this feeling, she often danced and imagined herself getting the man who will truly love her. She always tried to extract happiness even from the minutest thing...sometimes the chirping of birds in the morning, other times chatting with friends...and mostly in the sound of those anklets.

Seeing her love for dance, Natai Raaj, brother of the brothel keeper, appointed her to teach dance to young girls who were brought there. this was the time when Maya forgot all her sorrows and remained engrossed in making the the dance steps of her students perfect. She was intolerant of any mistake they made and didn't let them in, if they do not carry their anklets to the class. Apart from this, she always asked them to wrap the anklets in a piece of cloth and keep in the drawer when they are not being worn. She taught to be disciplined and give respect to goddess Nataraj.

Natai Raaj was fond of Maya and her teachings. He was taken over by the girl's simplicity and innocence. He observed that she tries to find spirituality in this profession. He started liking her and gathering all his courage, conveyed his feelings to her. Maya refused. She said people don't get married here. You just want to play with my emotions and exploit me physically. "

Natai patiently listened to her, smiled and returned. the next day May went to take her anklets kept in the drawer of the almirah. Instead getting her anklets, she got a snap and a note which made her utter the words, "Natai took my anklets away..."

Light Within Us

Many things have been told and read about perception and spreading happiness. But rarely do we realize that these two are inter-connected and so easy to attain and give. Following is an excerpt from The Bible (Luke, Chapter 11)
"No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.
"The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.
"Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.
"If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of lamp gives you light."

Once we change our perceptions for good, the latent light within us will spark, start to glow inside us and it can go to any extent...may be a lost traveller, seeing the light from mile away, comes and asks for shelter.

Story - Always....With Me

It's a myth or some kind of belief, I don't know, but I've heard that if at night in a solitary place you smell something good, and there are no flowers around, it clearly means that there is a wandering soul, an evil spirit near you. It's better if you don't show that you smelled something good and don't even try to trace its path or turn around; rather go away normally. And for a girl like me who loves to stroll in beautiful moonlit nights all alone, a girl who is fascinated by people who smell good, it becomes a bit scary and dangerous. Many a times it has happened that I was on terrace enjoying the weather late at night, listening music on a low standard Phillips mp3 player which I got after begging my younger brother, totally engrossed in the slow paced hindi romantic songs, and then all of a sudden I sense fragrance. My so called peaceful mood, within no time, transforms into an "oh no! I must go to my room. Som...Somebody is here, next to me!!!" A shudder of electricity passes through me due to this thought.

Similar thing occurred a month back. My exams were going on, and you know how much they pressurize you. Ummm, these exams were not exams, but tragedies happening to me one after the other as 3 hours are insufficient for a sluggish writer like me, and so I couldn't complete all the questions. Anyhow, to relax myself and forget the monotonous routine of exams, I went to the balcony and noticed that the moon was ... ya ... it was ... different. I had not seen a night like that ever before in my life, except in movies of course. O no baby, don't think it was the one like we find in Yash Raj Films - romantic to the core. Instead it was horrendous - the full glowing moon surrounded with greyish shiny clouds and their silvery contours - the only thing missing was a colony (group of bats) hovering round the moon. But believe me, the sight was breath taking, so so so tempting that I could not resist going, not to the terrace, but to the park this time, opposite to my home. I grabbed the mp3 player and ran to the park in full excitement.

Soon I was dancing with the blowing cool refreshing winds. My thoughts changed. Earlier I was 'wat the hell yaar! Wen r my xams goin 2 end. Dey r freaking me out. Dey r so much torturing dat m almost on d verge f goin insane.' And the thought that they have just commenced took the toll on me. But now when I was in this park, which I never bothered to visit since two years, my thoughts were 'm lovin it! My life, the way its goin on...livin lyk a princess...i've got this, i've got dat, i've d achievements, i've d appreciation, in short, i've god's blessings. oh yes! how can i 4gt...i've d love nd m single...rocking in my single hood!!! Thank you so much Lord. I lov u nd m so grateful 2 u.'

No sooner did I think that I am rocking in my singlehood, someone joined me to knock down my super excited thoughts and it wasn't a boy... or a girl ... it was fragrance. This fragrance was, my god, so powerful and strong. I was truely captured by it. Heading towards the west while walking, I turned around to east closing my eyes inhaling that quintessential smell in which I was lost for a few seconds. Then I opened my eyes and was unnerved after realising the mistake I had done. Freezed till few moments, moving the eye balls to and fro, lips slightly apart from each other, I could not make out 'should i run or should i immediately become normal as if nothing has happened? wat if d spirit has seen me relishing the fragrance?' Really, it was so scary.

With the thoughts flooding my mind, I turned again to the west and my head was bowed, fist closed, marching faster than usual, heart beating at the highest rate, dried lips uttering - "waheguru waheguru waheguru, save me, save me, waheguru ji satnam ji, i love you, and now i really need you. Please help me ... be with me."

Suddenly this soldier ceased marching and heart beat lowering, stood erect with eyes, mouth and hands wide open, looking straight, and you can't guess why, I am damn sure. No, no, don't think I was face to face with devil. It was just ... as we may name it ... a THOUGHT that struck my mind and touched my soul. A thought that made me feel so protected at the time of danger; the thought was 'God was with you before the arrival of the spirit that's evil. Feel god before you feel the devil.' This I took as my god's answer for my "be with me" utterance.

At that point of time I not only found the warm blood but also the love and care of god rushing through my veins. After a while, I felt stupid! I mean, I have spent considerable time of my till date's life remembering god, thanking Him for what all He has given to me, what all He has done for me and my family and is this 'Fear' the result of all that? How can I say "be with me"? God is always with us, I know this from the time i started understanding language. I was 'ha!', nodding my head, smiling as if mocking myself, I flowed in front twice or thrice and rested my hands on either of my sides. But then also I could not be sad about it. Atleast I realised it. Better late than never. Consequently I was so calm, cool and composed. Those horrifying thoughts now appeared baseless to me. I resumed walking freely, seeing here and there clutching my fingers. All that left on my face was a peaceful smile that comes only when someone has felt the glory of god.

relationships

Following are few beautifully written lines....

"When the heart is open, colour and difference of culture do not make a difference. What binds humanity together is empathy, the silent chord that knots not only humans with humans but also the animal world. The flute is a hollow piece of bamboo till air is breathed into it, and then it emits the most beautiful of melodies, so also humans live only when they feel for others, their pain and try to remedy the same...otherwise it is a flesh and bone story."

Story - Never lose your Real Self

Everybody is unique in his or her own way. I too am, but I realised it a bit late.

I liked giving surprises to people close to my heart on their birthdays, to keep watching their car going till they become invisible to me, to enjoy early mornings, to dance in the rain (alone or with my family and friends), to be alone at home sometimes, to keep on appreciating the beauty of nature, in fact get engrossed in its beauty, to get emotionally attached to anyone, to win others etc. etc.. But since childhood I have never ever found a single fellow who was slightly like me...so I thought I am kind of abnormal and stupid person who does all these things. I thought I am wrong, and others are right. Consequently, this faulty learning about myself made me follow others and I lost myself...the real "me".

The complications I faced after this were confused state of mind, less of emotional bonds, inability to express my love, care and affections for others, frustrations. Above all my personality was somehow transformed from an extrovert to an introvert, which is basically not acceptable by the society.

But then, after 7 years or so, I got this friend of mine, my best friend, not just a best friend, more than that...who was exactly like me, as I was in my past. On observing her minutely, I realised that I was not the only abnormal and stupid being in this world; she too was. She liked giving surprises to loved ones, to keep watching their car going till it became invisible, to enjoy the weather early morning, to dance in the rain, to be alone at home, to appreciate nature and so on.

Very few people around you value such small yet mighty things. Very few people have astonishing insights into their lives. Very few people love to have rewards in kind rather than in cash. I realised that I am one of those few people. Sometimes I feel God send her in my life to have self awareness; and may be He has sent me to make you realise that you are unique in your own way; recognise it, cherish it and always be comfortable in your own skin.