PoPKorN

The other day, my friend asked me go to a movie with him. I have already seen that movie. It’s not the kind of movie you would watch again. Who am I kidding…? Not even once. So there he goes, dragging me all the way to the theatre. The theatre was flooded by movie goers, still in high hopes fooled by the trailer. I said, “There’s no way we could get tickets today” He said, “Don’t be so negative. We are so watching this movie today” “Saar buy some popcorn… Its only 10 rs a packet” “Here we stand with no tickets, you want us to buy popcorn” I said. My friend, “Don’t take it out on him. We will get the tickets somehow, so buy the popcorn” “Get the tickets first, I will buy popcorn later”

 

In another 10 minutes the counter was closed. I was happy, I’m gonna go home and get some sleep. All the disappointed people cleared the counters. Ah, this is lot better than the faces I saw after the movie. These people dont realize how lucky they are than those who bought the tickets. I said, “Let’s go home man, the suns trying to suck out my brain… Poor thing, how would it know? My boss ate that for lunch yesterday.” But he gave me that face, you know, somebody invites you a birthday party, everyone else gets a piece of the birthday cake and you dint. He gave me that face. Alright I’ll get two black tickets, I said to myself.

It’s easy to spot them. It really baffles me; you could easily pick them out in a bunch of hundred people. I was surprised at the price he demanded. Ticket costs only 90 and he wanted 150. I’m not paying that for much for this movie. My friend, “Come on yaar, don’t make a scene. Pay him already. Let’s go inside” I hadno choice. I don’t know where the popcorn guy came from; he was back at it again. I was nettled. “How much is the popcorn really? 2 rs and your selling it for 10 rs eh?” My friend had to drag me to the queue where people were waiting to get inside. 

We were waiting in the queue, another five minutes had passed. Here comes the popcorn man again. This time with a low voice, “Saar… You said you would buy popcorn if you had the tickets…” I was kind of sorry for him now but that’s not gonna make me buy that popcorn. “Sorry yaar. I don’t have any change.” He left without saying a word. We were nearing the entrance. My friend got a call. He face changed. First time I saw him smile today. He said, “Dude Ashanka wants to see me. I have to go man…” “You can’t leave me like this dumbo.” “Please understand, she’s my girl friend. I have to go…” I was confused, what hell just happened. 

The guy standing behind me, pushed me in. I entered the theatre and started looking for my seat. I was cursing my self for spending 300 bucks for a worthless movie which I have watched already. I found my seat. Holy Bijeesus, a cute girl in a white whatever you call it and dark jeans was in the next seat. I took my seat. I was giving thumps up looking at the dark ceiling. Okay I was thanking God. I was like, talk to her, talk to her come on. I was nervous; this is the first time I’m in a situation like this. Then a crazy thought came over my mind. Is she with her boy friend? I leaned and looked at the person sitting next to her. Oh yeah, it was another girl. I think they were friends. 

I gave another thumps up and started preparing myself. “Hi… My name is anand” No… Its too obvious. It has to be something spontaneous. What am I suppose to talk about? About this movie? No, girls don’t like people who talk bad about things and there’s nothing good in this movie to talk about. Come on it’s a theatre, you are watching a movie… think ! think! Be spontaneous. Hey if you don’t talk to her in next five minutes, you won’t talk to her ever… My heart was beating fast. My forehead was drenched in sweat. I wiped my forehead. How hard could it be, come on. Be spontaneous. I mustered up some courage and said, “Would you like to have some popcorn…?”

Oh-My-God…Why on earth did I say that?  I don’t have any popcorn. Everything happened outside, ran across my mind in nano seconds. I turned face to the other side in a jiffy. I was looking at the dark ceiling, “Why?”

The Exchange

It was late night. A sharp whistle was heard. It was followed by a cough, few yards away. A tall frame of a silhouette moved in the dark. The tall frame said, “When the clock strikes ten.” Another voice said, “Its time to get the job done.” A short frame came out of the darkness. The Tall frame, “You got the code correct. I couldn’t believe they accepted you in the gang.” The Short one, “It’s a privilege working with you people. Given a chance I’ll prove my loyalty to the gang.” “You know what they will do to you, if the plan goes wrong?  Consider yourself dead if this blows out.” “I'm totally aware of that” replied the short one.

“My package…Is it ready?” “Eh…No… I tried…” “What!!! Don’t screw with me. I don’t need any lame excuses. I pay you, you get me what I want. It’s as simple as that.”

“I couldn’t arrange for it in such a short notice. You will have them tomorrow morning”

“I better have that tomorrow or else” “I swear you will get them tomorrow.” “One more thing, no one else but the gang should know about this” “No one will know” The tall one grabbed the short one’s shoulder and pressed it hard, “If its all spoiled, I’ll take care of you myself.”

Tcchhh… Lights every where… Both are blinded by the sudden flood of light in the darkness. They cover their eyes with their hands.

“Who’s there? Bubbloo, Dev what are you doing here?”

“Gr…Grandpa we were…”

Dev interrupted, “Grandpa we heard noises back here. That’s why we came here to check if it’s alright”

Grandpa, “Its late, you kids should be in bed. Now go to your room…”

Tomorrow was Grandpa’s birthday. All the grand children were planning to throw a surprise party. If you are wondering what the package was…

Waiting

I have been waiting. Taking down time by one second at a time. It’s been quite a while and I m still waiting. The freakiest part is when you are waiting, every one else seems so occupied with their work. It feels like you are the only poor soul sitting there wasting time, doing nothing. I have my limits too. You cant leave coz you have been waiting for it all this time and if you leave, it would just make this time go worthless….You want this badly, you just cant walk away…

I plugged my i-pod. Vanessa Carlton – A thousand miles, one of my favorites. I never fail to listen to this when I am driving at night. It doesn’t seem good right now. I’m annoyed to no end. I pull out the ear plugs and throw them. I slam my hand on the table, I just couldn’t take it anymore. An elderly couple having their lunch in the next table was startled by the bang. I picked up the white rose, which I bought on the way here. Its gonna pay the price. To the couple’s surprise, I started pulling out petal after petal…

I started muttering; my schezwan fried rice will come or will it not. Will it come...

Blood and tears

The evening breeze was cold. Twilight was creeping over. Priya rested her head on Rahul’s shoulders. Rahul was holding her hand, toying with her fingers. They sat there in silence, in each others company. Rahul meant the world for Priya. She really wished she could stay here with him, like this for all the rest of time. The noise around them hushed down. It was late in the evening, people began to leave. Priya staring at the rolling waves got a little anxious. She popped out a question.

“How much do you love me?”  “Ugh…” Rahul was quite surprised by the question. He gave her a puzzled look. “You see this mighty blue sea…” She spread both her arms wide apart “I love you that much. How much do you love me?”  Rahul showed his fist, “This is how much I love you”. Priya was taken aback by his gesture. She was staring at his fist, almost at the verge of crying. Rahul, “They say a man’s heart is the size of his fist and I love you with all my heart” he broke a smile. Tears rushed down her cheek.

“Hey what are you doing? Cant even do a thing properly. Good for nothing” Sameer. It was this shout that brought Priya back to reality. She tried to wipe her tears; she felt a sharp pain in her finger. She cut her finger doing the vegetables. It’s only then she realized why Sameer was shouting at her. Sameer came back with the first aid box. “Why cant you concentrate on what you are doing? Always lost in thoughts” Sameer. He took a bandage and started dressing her finger. Sameer was a strict disciplinarian. He was brought up that way. It’s been a week since their marriage; Priya was still scared of him. Sameer’s phone rang. Priya with a hushed tone, “Your ph..phone is ringing.” Sameer still dressing the wound, “I know… Whoever it is can wait... Nothing is more important than my wife.” 

MIRROR OF THOUGHTS

The girl who haunts 

My days and dreams

I see her every day

A smile from the corner of her lips

Could take my breath away

I never told her the way I felt

In her presence my heart just melts

Guess I was a little too late

She was in love 

With someone else

I wasn’t jealous, I wasn’t sad

There’s nothing more that I wanted

Than to see her smile

He dint realize what he had

Was stupid enough to make her cry

I wanted to be the one to hold her face

Be the one to catch her tears

No matter how hard I try

I’ll never be able to tell her

Coz I’m just another wardrobe mirror…

Romance and Cigerettes

      The Car came to a rolling stop. Sameer got down and walked to the front. With his back against the bonnet, he stared at the waves. Waves of the mighty blue ocean, clasping each other, trying to get shore. It’s been so long since the last time Sameer came here. Years back, he used to come here with Archana every week. He loved coming here with her. Holding hands and walking along the shore, wetting their feet. Talking for hours, mostly inane stuff. He just loved to be with her, lost in these waves.

      He pulled out a cigarette and placed it between his lips. His right hand now rummaged his pocket for the lighter. It had the alphabet A on it. Archana bought him that, hoping he would think of her every time he smoked. Hoping eventually he would quit. But that didn’t seem to happen. Archana was always bothered with Sameer smoking and Sameer knew that. She never him asked to do anything he didn’t like. 

      Things turn out pretty ugly when you let your ego get the best of you. Sameer learnt that the hard way. He promised himself he would never let his foolish pride make decisions for him ever. Days rolled to years and there he stood reminiscing things he missed. He felt a comforting touch. “That’s strange. Cigarette in place and you are not smoking,” Nikitha, his wife. She gave him a tender smile. Sameer put his arm across her shoulders and moved her close to him. He leaned and kissed her forehead. Now staring back at the waves he said, “I’m gonna get over it.”  He threw the cigarette away,   “smoking that is…” He placed the lighter in Niki’s hands…