Category: Klash of the Konfessioners

Clatter of the window panes woke me up. A cool easterly was blowing the curtains away. The sky was turning deep red, but the sun was yet to be seen. Koo-ooo, koo-ooo, a koel was singing somewhere. Ki-ki-ki, the female responded only after a few calls. I used to get irritated by this sound. Not now.
I glanced at the wall clock, it was still ten minutes to six. She must be standing there, under the mango tree, books clutched under her arms, waiting impatiently for the rickshaw. If I miss today, I won’t be able to see her for next five days. Damn these board people, why keep such long gaps between two papers.
I got up with a start and leapt out of bed. Ouch, my legs, they hurt.
“What happened” my wife asked turning lazily towards me, “why in such a hurry?”
Then I realized. It has been more than thirty five years, but Spring still reminds me of that dusky niece of Khanna Uncle, who came in our colony, to write her Board exams. She never came again, but her innocent round face with mischievous smile is still fresh in my mind.

-I don’t have any desire left, Shukla.

God has been very generous towards you, Mishra.

-Yes, He has fulfilled all my desires.

Nice home, lovely caring wife, both children well settled.

-Yes, and a flourishing clinic.

What else would one want?

-All I want to do now is sit back and relax.

Or go on a long vacation.

-Oh yes, I always longed for a Caribbean Cruise.

And lie on the romantic beaches.

-and eat exotic sea food.

Yes that, and the sensuous bikini babes.

-Oh Shukla, how I have curbed all my desires just because of the kids.

But now they are settled and living their own lives.

-Now I can fulfill all my suppressed desires.

“Is there any Hope, Swami ji?”
Rukmini was looking expectedly at Swami Ji.
“Beta, where there is Faith there always is Hope.”

“Hopeless,” Doctor Sweta’s remarks were still ringing in her ears, “You have no chance.”

“But Swamiji, the Doctor said it’s impossible.”
“Nothing is impossible for those who believe. Just apply this bhasm on your husband’s forehead every morning. Soon your house will reverberate with a baby’s cry.”

She returned from the ashram, her heart full of hope.
Rohan was anxiously waiting for her.
“Biwi, I have decided, we are not going in for IVF. It is so uncertain.”
“But Swamiji said….”
“Leave Swamiji alone, we are going to adopt that cute girl we saw last week at EHSAAS.”

Ratatatat
My heart was burning with hatred.
I released all my fury on the trigger.
Bullets went through her.
She was still standing in front of me, unharmed, smiling and teasing.

How much I loved her. I couldn’t think of life without her.
I had woven so many beautiful dreams around her.
She also loved me, or so I thought.
Until that day when I missed my train and returned back to the town,
only to find her in the arms of this man.

“Meet Rohan, my fiancé.”

“But…”

“You are still my best friend, Ajay.”

The anger was unbearable. My heart was on fire.
“Hold on Sergeant, this is only a dummy, you are just wasting ammo”

You will, won’t you?
Won’t you sing my song?

Written in the ink of love
On the pages of my soul
I have poured my heart
I can not be all wrong
Won’t you sing my song?

Song of my love for you
Whatever tune it may be
Whoever plays the music
I just want you to sing along
Won’t you sing my song?

These meaningless words
Waiting for you to kiss them
And give them your melody
Haven’t they waited too long?
When will you sing my song?

“To Ramu I give my farms, for his selfless service”
Late Babu Roshan Lal, freedom fighter’s will was being read out,
” to my son, rest of my property. My eyes be given to the Eye Bank, and my body to the KGMC, for the benefit of the medical students.”

“Hey RK, look at this body allotted to us. The old man has no eyeballs.”
“Must have been ogling at some gal, who gouged his eyes”
“Lets play a prank, cut his dick and gift it to Chakku darling, she is acting so pricey with us.”

Thus lay the body of Late Babu Roshan Lal, Freedom Fighter, on the marble slab, eyes gouged, organs mutilated and his pride, humiliated.

Please…Abir

Not today

I am tired

Tied to the bedpost

Her wrists ached.

Thrash…

Blood oozed

From the corner of her lips

I am your wife

You don’t have to force.

He started whipping madly

With his belt.

It hurts ..Abir

I beg of you..

Tears rolled down her red cheeks.

.

You Bitch…

I love the way

You cry and beg

Your Pain

Is

Muaahhhhhhhh !!
I could feel the warm thick betel juice trickling down my cheeks.
She tightened her arms around me.
You are choking me , I tried to squirm out, but by the time she planted another wet kiss on my lips. I could feel the sweet musty fragrance of saffron with a tinge of tobacco.
Dadi leave me , I am not a kid now.
Oh yes my Ram, my Kishan, Dabbo told me that you have become a big doctor now.
At last, she let me go.
Marry soon, I want to kiss your son before I die. And tell your wife I’ll beat her if it is a girl.
She was very strong for an eighty year old. And she always greeted me with a forced kiss whenever I met her.
How I hated her messy kisses.
.
.
.
The room was filled with fragrant smoke of guggul.
I saw her sleeping on the mat. She looked divine.
I bent over her and took her in my arms.
Dadi, why don’t you kiss me today. Look I have my son with me too.
I pressed my cheeks on her lips. They were cold.
I tightened my embrace around her. She slipped away.
How much I yearned for her kiss.
A wet kiss filled with betel juice, smelling of saffron.

Jeeves, this morning I felt very what’s that word, it starts with an S and means dreamlike. I was woken by the sweet voice coming from the Radio. I looked at Her. She was smiling. I say she because she looked like Jayanti.

Love you Rajat, she said.

Shut up, I wanted to say, but I said cock-a-doodle-doo.

What else can a chicken, which has been fed upon saffron and pineapple, say?

I threw away my blanket and jumped out of my bed, or was it a pen.

Ruffling a few feathers I reached her, and switched her off.

Sun was shining through the window and I wanted to get out and you were blocking my way.

Is it surreal you want to say, Sir!

Yes that was the word, Surreal, but Why are you carrying that knife Jeeves?

She needs urgent blood transfusion, Rajat. But I think You will manage , with so many relatives gathered here to see her, just send them all to the blood bank for matching. Dr Mahajan announced in the waiting hall, coming out of the OR-2.

-Yes Doc Saab, mine is O negative but some of them must be A positive.

Doctor’s word had a magical effect. Soon they all started to leave the hall.Every one had some urgent work.Seema’s Uncle, My brother, our neighbour Joshi, her boss Mr Chaddha. I was standing alone thinking about how to arrange blood for my wife. A fresh donation from some close ones would have been better, but unwillingly I decided to buy from the private Blood bank outside the Hospital.

-It will be three thousand for three units, and please wait for half-n hour. said the receptionist, adjusting her glasses. I took a torn magazine and sat in the lobby.

-You are here again Raju! you sold one unit just last week.

-What to do, sister, my wife is admitted and I cant pay her bills

The receptionist looked at the beggarly youth and handed him a hundred rupee note

-here’s for the today’s blood, but don’t come again in a month