LITTLE TINY CRUSHES: CHAPTER 3 - DOUBLE DHAMAAL

(..CONTINUED FROM CHAPTER 2)

Slowly my hatred towards her decreased. But that doesn’t mean my love towards her increased.(:P) Final exams were nearing, I really need to concentrate on my studies. I knew that, my mind knew that, but, “yeh dil hai k manta nahi”. Whenever I used to open my books for study, her lovely face was diverting my mind. Whenever I would hear a romantic mp3 song, the mpg video would automatically start playing in mind. Final Exams came and gone.  Results also came. I knew this time result would not been up to the mark. As expected I slept one rank below. This time third in the class. Two girls ahead of me. But I was happy, as toral stood first. First time I was not feeling jealous of her. No doubt I had to hear hearing from my parents and tutor, but ye dil sab kuch haste haste sahan kar gaya.

Now we have moved to 10^th std. Everyone reading this might have gone through this phase. An important phase of life, a turning point of career, after which you get a direction in your life. Plus pressure atmosphere created by our relatives and neighbors. Lots of expectations, specially from students who are good at studies. But these people hardly knew about another phase I was going through. My book was opened with some chemistry chapter but in mind another chemistry was going on. I was not mentally stable to study. Vacations passed by and I was eager to see my angel. Finally the day arrived, school reopened again. All were happy to see each other after a long time. But I was waiting for someone else. Finally she entered, our eyes met. She gave a smile, I was confused what to do. My heart started beating fast. I also gave some half smile. I thought “Hasi toh phasi”. I heard in some movie. This was the happiest moment. I wasn’t able to control my feelings. I was lost in her smile. Her smile was very enchanting. I was in her dreams suddenly some irritating noise disturbed my beautiful thoughts. It was the school bell. I saw at the bell very angrily and poured it with some blissful words. ;). Oh I forget to tell, this time our class strength was increased, as both the divisions were combined. So there were lots of new and less familiar faces around.

After few minutes our class teacher entered. Prayer begun. As soon as prayer finished, we all opened our books while on the other side attendance was  being taken. Suddenly heavy rainfall started. And all our attention was diverted outside window. It was the first rain of the season. All were happy and started talking with each other expressing their excitement. Madam was lost for sometime in the rains. But she got control and told us to be silent by striking the duster very hard. All went silent. All of a sudden there was some voice at the entrance, a sweet voice, saying “Madam, may I come in”. My eyes sprung at the entrance. A girl, half wet, with cute face and sweet voice was asking permission from teacher to enter. Due to rain, her hair were also wet. Water dripping from her curls and touching the red cheeks made my heart to stop pump for seconds. Madam asked her the reason for being late. She said her cycle was punctured and then due to heavy rains, she was late. Madam believed her excuse and allowed to enter. My eyes were stuck to her till she went to her desk. I lost my concentration when madam was shouting my roll no. and my partner shaked me. I said “yes yes ..present”. I was frightened for a moment. But all was fine. My partner saved my attendance. I asked him about the girl. He told me that she is AISHWARYA, from the other division. He tried to tease me, but I showed that I am least interested in all these stuff.

After attendance, madam told all the students to get up and come with their bags in front. All were confused what was going on. All followed her orders. Then madam called one boy’s name and one girl’s name and told them to sit on first bench. I guess u got it. Yes, boy-girl partners each desk (my favourite). Suddenly a thought passed my mind.  “how would it be if I get Toral as my partner?”.  Another thought also passed my mind. “how would it be if I get AISHWARYA as partner?”. I was in confusion whom to pick. I was begging god from inside, “Please god, either aishwarya or toral”. Finally my number came, I was told to sit on the second desk. My partner’s place was still empty. My prayers were still on. Finally madam spoke. “Roll no. 21”. My eyes were on both the girls expecting one to step out.

Keep guessing guys. Who is roll no. 21? Will it be Toral or Aishwarya?  Or some one else.? Wait for the next chapter. Happy monsoon J

(..to be continued..) 

LITTLE TINY CRUSHES: CHAPTER 2- INTRODUCTION TO NEW WORLD

(..CONTINUED from CHAPTER 1)
Days passed, now she was becoming the center of attraction for everyone. Due to her fluency in English, teacher used to promote her in all activities. She was active in all the activities. I was keenly observing her. Some days after the result, a new surprise was waiting for me. I got news that my old bestie, Prasad was returning in my school again. He left school three years before and was studying at pune in boarding. But due to some reasons he left the school from between the academic session. He got admission in our class as his mother was teacher in our school. We had very healthy relation earlier. We used to sit on the first bench together always. His mother, my madam, was also happy for our friendship. Now as he is returning back, I was damn excited to see him. Old memories got freshen up. As soon as he entered, I was the first to greet. He was also happy to see me. We sat together. Classes started.
As the day passed, I was observing him very carefully, he was very much changed. The boy who didn’t even use abuse languages was now raining abusive words in his every sentence. I was just shocked!! Later in recess, all our frnds gathered around him. And he was telling about his hostel lyf. Whatever he told was like a movie thing. He told how they used to bunk classes and go for a movie, flirting with girls around class, going for date, touching a gal, kissing, and all the adult things. Everyone in group was listening very carefully to his talks. It was like an experienced man giving lecture to amateurs. All were on the stepping stone of teens, his talks very really exciting them all. He told us “u r not enjoying even the 10th percent.” All this behavior of his was making me uncomfortable. My thinking was that these are not made for us. Its all for the college boys. We are still studying!! The respect for him decreased in my eyes. The talks which he did was still running in my minds. At home when I was studyin , I was not able to concentrate on my studies. I was thinking on every word he said. “Why do gal and boy kiss? It is so irritating. What is sex? Are girls also bad? “ and all the rubbish things which shouldn’t have come was coming in my thoughts. It was making my mind corrupted. Next day in recess again his session started. This time he told how sex is done? All were keenly listening to him. I was not sitting with the group but still I could hear his voice. Though my mind was ignoring him, my ears were listening him. He asked everyone did they watch any adult movie. All were like what is that and where does it come. He explained in detail what is shown in such movies. He also gave some channel nos. where they show such movies after 12. After this I just stepped out of the class. I was full on tension. My mind was thinking about all his words. I was not able to control on my thoughts. His every word was ruling on my mind. I knew this is all bad, but I cant do anything. I couldn’t understand what was happening to me. Finally I decided not to spend more time with him. He is a bad guy and may spoil me also. So I kept distance with him now.
Two three days passed and everything became normal. I forgot all those things. (Not actually!) I regained my concentration in studies and other activities. Sometimes when frnds used to talk about some hot film or actress, that thoughts used to pass my mind and again I used to think on it. Well that became a routine now. It affected my second exam result. This time I was neither 2nd nor 3rd…direct 4th rank. I felt ashamed of myself. I knew what mistake I had done, but I couldn’t explain it to my parents nor the tutor. I just simply listened the scoldings and assured them I will do good in finals.
Friend’s charm was over now. I was back in my studies. In these period, I forgot about TORAL. Once a thing happened. I was watching a movie, a love story, and dunno why this time I was loving it more. The thought of Toral passed through my mind. A song was being played in which hero and heroine were dancing with hands in hands and giving all lovely postures with smiles. I lost in that song and now hero was replaced by me and heroine….well I don’t need to mention that. I was enjoying the song, suddenly something struck in my head and I came out of my dreams. It was my sister. She asked “what happened? where have u lost? Movie is over. Now go for sleep.” I was just smiling at her and then went to bed. While sleeping, I dreamt about her. Whole movie story ran in my dream, with only difference of hero and heroine. A scene came in which Toral was being taken away by villan and she was shouting my name. I woke up with a sudden jerk with some words in my mouth. Then I came to know it was my mother who was shouting at me. Again a smile came to my face. I sat on the bed and thought why she came in my dreams. Is this love??

LITTLE TINY CRUSHES: CHAPTER 1- STEPPING IN THE TEENS

Hi friends, this is Suraj here, with my own story of love.. or should I say loves…… Yes, you heard it right LOVES. Every teenage boy or girl at the age of 13 or so is attracted to lots of things. I heard somewhere that’s due to the change of hormones, who cares, everyone enjoys that change. Didn’t you? Yes is the obvious answer. The same happened with me too. My world was changing around me or should I say I was watching the world with a different angle.

15th june and some year, I have entered 9^th standard, now I m in high school. My school dress has changed, shorts got converted to pants. A feeling of seniority came in me. Along with that came some changes in my body too. I dunno when I started staring mirror more. Was kool in my hair style, dressing and everything. Wanted to be the coolest dude. Well, but the competition wasn’t so easy. Movies which were felt bakwaas suddenly felt interested. Heroine was looking more beautiful. Girls in the class were also found interesting. Everything was just very nice. In our class we had a specific arrangement of sitting boys with gals, which changed periodically every month. Up to 8^th nothing happened in sitting with gals, but this time something different was happening, some feeling of shyness came. Me any my friends normally used to change our places after class teacher’s lecture. Hardly boys sat with gals whole day. The days were goin as usual. A thought passed my mind one day: “ Why are boys not ready to sit with gals although in future they have to marry wid gals?” I decided, I will not change my place. My curiosity to know more about gals increased. That forced me to be around gals whenever I get chance. To hear their talks. To have a chance to talk with them. Though I was sitting with a gal, I hardly talk with her. The talk was just restricted to studies. That’s all. I wanted to talk but something was stopping me. May be my friends ignorance to gals. That made me too not to talk with gals. We normally had fights between gals and boys. That was a daily matter. Every week a new complaint of changing the seat used to come with class teacher.

I was a very sincere boy of my class. Used to top in every exam, till “she” got admission in our class. Yes, she, TORAL PATEL, the gujju NRI from USA, transferred all the attention of teachers to herself from the day she joined. She was brilliant, fluent English, calculative in maths,..everything. She was top in every subject. Her computer like handwriting was the main attraction (This I came to know afterwards). I was now drawn in full of jealousy. On other side I was feeling some unusual also. Something in heart was running fast. Whenever she entered class eyes were just stuck to her. She was just like an Apsara. Very fair. There was hardly any gal in our class with such a fair skin. No competition. I was doin all this hiding from my friends eyes, else they wont keep me in their group. First exam arrived. It was September. All were busy in exam studies. Me too was trying hard, as this time the competition has become tougher. But was overconfident too. ” I knew everything”.

Exams went good. As usual I felt this time also I will be the topper. But surprise was waiting for me. The D day arrived. All classmates have arrived with their parents in the classroom. All were anxiously waiting for their results. (But I was waiting for someone else.) I saw some of my friends getting their fingers crossed. After some time, she arrived. This time she was not in the school dress. She was wearing white top and blue jeans accompanied by her mother which looked like her sister, so young and maintained. Everyone in the class was staring at her. I knew about boys but dunno why gals watched her! My dream broke with the arrival of class teacher along with the bunch of mark sheets in her hand. All of them rose up with their hearts pumping out. One by one teacher called students with their parents according to their numbers and handed them the marksheets. Side by side she also discussed the strength and weakness of the students with the parents. My turn came. I was with my father. I confidently went to receive the marksheet. I knew I was goin to make it to top. As soon as I saw my marksheet, every marks were according to my expectation. I was happy. But , suddenly madam told, “why did you got 2^nd rank, this time? You are not studying well. Study well next time.” I was literally shocked!!! If I am 2^nd with such good marks then who is 1^st? after hearings from madam, dad also told something which I was hardly listening. My mind was just trying to guess who is that person who defeated me? After some time, madam told in a loud voice, “Congrats TORAL, you got 1^st. very good beginning ”. And there went my eyes towards her. She was very much happy. I couldn’t control my jealousy. I was running with hot blood in my body. How could she take away my rank? Now every teacher was praising her. No one was with me. I felt alone, depressed, frustrating and full of anger. I saw in movies when villan use to keep the dart board and photo of hero on it and then point with the darts. I was feeling the same, wish I had her photo.

(…TO BE CONTINUED)

PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN!!

Today, 26^th January, 2010, 60 years(!!) of our Indian constitution being formed.

I was just sitting on a chair and a message arrived of my friend saying :

"AZAD BHARAT K NIKAMMO…

AGAR EK DIN BAAD VALENTINE DAY HOTA TOH MESSAGE KI LINE LAG GAI HOTI!!!

HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY"

On first reading this an obvious smile came to my face. But after some seconds I again thought about this message and I was really felt ashamed of that. We Indians (Young Indians!) have always given more importance to the Rose day, valentine day, or any other such days which would not have been in existence if we were not enjoying freedom of independence. Today many of u(including me) might have waked up late, read some good morning smses from ur loved one nd some happy republic day smses(if any) from frnds(which r goin to be deleted before than ur beloved's), then gone to breakfast table, switch on the TV with Mtv On, cup in one hand newspaper in other hand and skipping the first page which might be displaying glory of Republic day. But then also you will say I PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN!!

I am not going to give u a lecture here on why should feel proud and why you should not, because its useless. I am just requesting here to feel the INDIAN in you. And for that you have to just do a simple thing. Whenever any one asks you "Which is your origin?" just answer INDIA and that too with proud to feel the INDIAN in you. Don't answer whether I am Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi or any other state or Hindu, Muslim, Sikh etc.. Even while filling forms also, the form which asks you to fill the religion, caste and all that stuff just fill it with only one name "INDIAN". Its time to stop differentiating between yourselves. Its time to be one and to make INDIA proud with your work and behavior. Its time to stop behaving like a child and say its mine and its yours. Its time to be united, to feel like INDIAN, to be proud to be an INDIAN.

JAI HIND!

I BELIEVE

This writing is by one of mah nicest friend KRISHNA PATEL who wishes to share something very thoughtful on what she believes which everyone might be believing (hope so). Here it goes

I BELIEVE...

that there are many different roads to success, but true success is knowing to be kind to everyone you meet along the way.

that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel

that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

that you can keep going long after you think you can't.

that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

that true friendship and true love continue to grow, even over the longest distance.

that you should always leave loved ones with loving words, it may be the last time you see/talk to them.

that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

that you must learn to love yourself before you can learn to love another.

that success is having what you want, but happiness is wanting what you have.

that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

that we are responsible for what we do, not matter how we feel

that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon.

that my best friend and I can do anything, or nothing, and have the best time.

that life is what we make it, so we better make it count.

2 STATES- Quick View

Some say life becomes JOLLY and CHEERFUL when you love someone, but no one has ever told what after love??? That’s because they don’t want to panic you.

Most love stories have this sort of pattern:

BOY LOVES GIRL. GIRL LOVES BOY. THEY GET MARRIED.

But if you are in India, its not as simple. Here I present the quick preview on Chetan Bhagat’s fourth novel 2 STATES which will give a full view of life after love stories are to be turned into marriage in INDIA  and especially when the love is from two different states. Yes, in India you certainly have to follow some easy looking steps as described by Chetan Bhagat which aren’t that easy.

STEP1: Boy loves girl. Girl loves boy.

STEP2: Girl’s family has to love boy. Boy’s family has to love girl.

STEP3: Girl’s family has to love boy’s family. Boy’s family has to love girl’s family.

STEP4: Girl and boy still love each other. They get married finally!!

This is the flow in which the story flows. I will give a quick view on each step presented in the novel. So lets start with first step.

STEP1: Boy loves girl. Girl loves boy.

One of the most difficult part seen by one who loves someone here is not that difficult. Boy(KRISH) meets girl(ANANYA) in the cafetarea of IIMA, have friendship and then they fall in love. They have all fun in the two years. But they have fallen so deeply in love. Now they need to marry. The problem starts here, as they need to convince their parents. Actually the parents wouldn’t have mind if both of them might be of same cast, but the problem is 2 different STATES(Krish from PUNJAB and Ananya from TAMILNADU), 2 different  PEOPLE, 2 different CULTURE. Its not easy to mix both. Our couple thinks its easy so they call their parents on convocation day so that they cant talk about their relationship. But its all get messed up and doesn’t work at all. So they have to follow step 2.

STEP2: Girl’s family has to love boy. Boy’s family has to love girl.

Here you will see two different cultures being represented so well by Chetan Bhagat. First our boy tries to convince girl’s family. But it takes him 6 months to do so. First he impresses his brother-in-law, then father-in-law and finally mother-in-law. The most impressive part is that he proposes the whole family to marry him, after all that’s what we call marriage in INDIA. We don’t only marry a girl but also her family. In these six months our boy has to face a lot of trouble due to his new job, new location, new food and new relation (with girl’s family). But all ends well with boy succeeding in convincing girl’s parents.

Now it was time for our girl to impress the boy’s parents. But she has only one week to do so. Here comes the entry of typical punjabi maa. Our has to face more than what our hero faced. It was not easy to convince maa. But she not only has to convince her, there are lot more relatives related. Well the chance arrives at a marriage ceremony where she sorts out some problems between the two parties. From that day everybody liked Ananya. So finally there was YES from our punjabi maa.

Well you might be thinking, that yes all is done. Now they can marry. But now comes the most difficult part.

STEP3: Girl’s family has to love boy’s family. Boy’s family has to love girl’s family.

Our couple thinks a lot on this and then decides to go on a GOA trip where both the families can meet and have time to know each other. The plan is executed. 
Both families meet happily, have lunches and dinners. But it doesn’t gets work out. There were differences which comes out one day. And due to this, our couple also get breaks up. The girl is very much upset by the behavior of the boy’s mom towards her family. She gets frustrated finally and breaks up the relationship. Our boy tries to call her, even flies to her office. (Boy works in Delhi and Girl in Chennai). But she is all depressed and doesn’t want to talk to him. The boy is already  depressed. He is not at all feeling well. He hasn’t eaten properly from the day of breakup. He goes weak. He hasn’t shaved also. He becomes a DEVDAS. All this is being watched by our boy’s father.(was in picture though not played a role yet). And there comes the turning point. The boy’s father goes to Chennai without informing anyone and settles all the matter. He also gets fixed the marriage.  The girl calls up boy and gets super excited about marriage. She talks to him about his father coming to her home. The boy is all shocked. He thanks his father for all that he has done and forgives him for all the sins he has done. The differences between father-son gets resolved. Now there is a complete family. The marriage dates are fixed and then comes the final day. The father decides not to go to marriage as he has differences with his mother’s relatives. Now comes the final step. MARRIAGE.

STEP4: Girl and boy still love each other. They get married finally!!

As it is said every love story has happy endings. So that’s all is given in this section. The marriage is done in South Indian style. All the procedures of marriage are written in detail which i felt very bored to read, but as it was the final section, i need to complete it. Wait, there is one surprise remaining for you. Someone that was not expected arrives and gives a lot of happiness to our boy. Well i think you may have guessed it out correct!

So that’s all about Chetan Bhagat’s 2 STATES, a love story with INDIAN arranged marriage tadka. I know it will not leave an impression to many of mah friends, but the way he has represented the story is spectacular. Well, those friends searching some masala like in his previous three novels, i am sorry to say, will not find much. The story is sort of a daily soap + Bollywood love stories + little Kollywood tadka. Yes there are lot many scenes of entertainment of course. You will see as you read.

Share your views here. I m desperate to know your views. 

MY HECKY - WHECKY EXPERIENCE WITH INDIAN RAILWAYS

As everybody is aware about the Indian Railways, it is the world’s longest rail network. Being Indian i feel proud for it, but after today’s experience, i am confused “????”

I usually travel in the express/superfast trains, as my dad’s working in railway, so he gets a free pass. But today was not my day, i can say. All the family members have to attend a function at Baroda. They left in the early morning in the express train, but told me to come late, as it was of no use of me reaching early. So they told me to travel by passenger train (MEMU). I was happy as i had no restrictions, and can travel freely. Train was at 10am, so thought that reaching at 9:40am and taking the ticket would be better. I worked according to my plan. But what am i seeing reaching there, a long long long line for ticket as it was a festive season (The next day was RAKSHABANDHAN). My eyes were widened, as i have never seen such a rush ever in my life. I thought that if i stand here and wait for my turn, i would miss my train. Thoughts came to travel without ticket, but how can a boy of a railway personnel break the rule. Suddenly my eyes went to a shop opposite to railway station, which was selling tickets but with 1Re commission. There too was rush but not that much, so i decided to get my tickets from there.

All was set. Ticket was taken. Now comes the most boring period. Waiting for the train. I hate that. Even it was announced that train is going to reach in few minutes, it wasn’t coming. Slowly slowly the platform was getting filled with more and more people. I thought from inside that today was going to be a very memorable experience. After 15 minutes of wait, the train arrived. As the coaches passed, my heartbeat increased, as there was hardly a inch for standing. I decided not to hurry and will enter at last. But I was not knowing that there were many people who were thinking the same. So as soon as the signal was given me along with some people entered the coach. Well i managed somehow to get in to. Others were partly hanging outside. Now i was standing on my one leg. It seemed that someone has given me a punishment and i have to bear it. Train started and i could not move an inch. All was packed. (At that time i thought of the Mumbaikars who are facing such situations daily in subarbans.) My travel was hardly 40 kms. But as it was a passenger train, it was taking halt at every stop. On the first two stops (VADOD and ADAS), i hardly seen anyone leaving or entering the coach. So hoping that you will get a place to at least free yourself for sometime was in vain. On the third stop (VASAD), one or two people moved out of the coaches, but nine to ten more people took the courage to enter the hecky coach. (BRAVE INDIANS!!). Then i heard of some noise of dalwala. He was shouting “KHATI MEETHI DAL LE LO”. I was thinking that here we are hardly moving an inch, how has he travelled from the coaches behind and reached here, really brave!!! He was making a good business here, as almost 20-25 people bought his dal. And still he was expecting more, so he asked whether anyone has left. Well that made some atmosphere of humour, nice guy.

Then comes the most exciting part of my journey, the Bridge across the Mahi river. I always like to watch river from the train. This Bridge was built during the British rule and it is said that it is one of the strongest bridge which will sustain for at least 100 years!!!(Live long Engineers) The river water was stagnant, and was polluted by some residents living around. Some religious people bowed towards the river and some also dropped the coins in it. Suddenly there was a noise of a woman singing some gujarati song. I could hardly understood it. I thought that these people are really better singer than those in the reality shows. She was also making her way through the crowd. Some felt pity on her and gave her some rupees.

I was enjoying every moment, but as it is said God has written something else for you. Suddenly i started feeling like nausea. Everything around me was roaming round and round. My head started bursting like anything. I felt that soon i am going to be unconscious. I tried to control myself, I kept my eyes closed and was praying GOD to please release this tension for now. Well, GOD did listen and soon my body was in my control, but he gave me good headache, which was again unbearable but it was better than feeling unconscious. Soon i reached my destination. It was feeling quite good when i landed on platform. Half of the people exited from the train, but more of then entered.

That’s all, this is the experience of my life which i will never forget. My head is still paining, but i have taken medicine. Please comment here and share your experience if u have ever been in such a situation.