The nine hours night journey from Hyderabad to Hampi was an experience in itself. The road was fabulous as we drove on national highway till Raichur but the later part was full of patholes and speed breakers in group. Also our driver was unaware of the route and i could not resist my temptation to hunt for route in night. My friends gave up to seek the route as we entered in Karnataka and i took in control the task as i was the only person who knew Kannada language. It was out of the loop experience, from daily air conditioned cubicles and cozy chairs, to drive through rural undeveloped areas, trying to get our car out of the mud road quickly, waking up people slept on roads to ask them about the route, having tea at a stall in village in morning four o’clock, where boys were busy in assorting the news papers to deliver, bunch of ladies waiting for their pick up van to go to work at nearby construction site. That night revealed me the depthness of humanity and battles of the less privileged in society.

After refreshing at my uncle’s home in Hospet, we headed towards much awaited Hampi site visit. As we were reaching close to the place, we witnessed the Earth’s beauty. The fully greenery view, banana trees and lakes roadside, uneven hills and rocks to add artistry in natural glamor could not evasion us to take snaps and stop a bit to watch the scenary completely till our eyes satisfy.

Hampi exploration starts from visiting Virupaksha temple which is in the name of the king Virupaksha who was in inception phase of the empire. The adorable tower of the temple is more to describe and stands prominently as crown of the site. The saphron colored architectural brilliancy of the temple is shown everywhere in temple, on walls in the form of sculptures, ceilings depicting the stories and culture in paintings, reverse shadow of main tower on a wall through a fine hole inside the temple, carvings on veranda pillars and wall’s edges. The peace and divinity i felt as i entered into the shrine was soothing and healing to my inner being. The aura and engraved shapes everywhere around manifesting the cultural uniqueness in Indian history left me selfless and casted me to connect to the ambieance. The temple arena was covered by ruins of the fifteen century’s kingdom established and nurtured by Hindus to preserve and protect their culture from Bahamians. Hampi was the capital of the empire and the ruins mostly covered the temples, residential, market, relaxing area. Every structure was built with stones and carved in rocks. I imagined the beautiful site that how it would have looked in it’s active phase. The site also covers the geometrical intelligence at sunset point by which they could measure time. Hampi site is dotted with full of temples, there is temple every mile or so, and they are five to six hundreds years old. Moving here is like being in different era, where each structure and shape has meaning. By watching all this i felt that the entire effort and struggle to build this splendid monarchy was about a passion to set example of depths in Hindu’s indigenous culture for it’s dynasty.

On the way to the next spot, we could not stop ourselves for having fascination towards roadside fruits and coconut water. The next place on cards was Krishna temple, one of the most gorgeous temples at Hampi site. The main attraction of the temple was Krishna bazaar, popularly called as market of those days. The temple walls were inscribed by different Hindu gods and goddesses revealing the values of faith, trust, sincerity, intelligence, humanity, courage, spirituality. The side walls of the temple were carved in female shape to show the respect and appreciation for her beauty. En route to main administrative area of the Hampi site, we covered Narsimha’s big idol which was broken slightly, later by attackers, we also watched Badavlinga deity which is in canal water right from it’s formation. Nearby underground Siva temple is nice spot for picnic and playing games for children.

The administrative site had different ruins like watch towers, band towers for monitoring purpose. I was slightly moved by the visiting a Mosque at the place. It’s rare to find a Mosque at Hindu’s place but it revealed that the Krishnadevaraya empire were more acceptable to Muslims, they even nominated Muslims in their empire at higher post to rule. It was very unusual to find Hindu’s cultural inscriptions on Mosque walls. Later on we visited King’s sabha mandap, their residential area, King’s secret meeting hall, aqua duct, and holy pushkarni reservoir for god’s worship. The whole site was flattened but the carvings and artistic sculptures maintained on walls and everywhere are enough to know and understand the importance and use of the structure at that time. One more big temple at the site was Hajarram temple. The area covered by the temple was vast and well maintained by the care takers. Inside view of the temple is the peak in art and culture. If anybody wants to know the real essence of the Hindu culture and not getting enough proofs, this is the best and enough place to know and learn how to stay in harmony and struggle that our predecessors have gone through to maintain and preserve our culture. The exterior view also depicts all that required to rule an empire, it’s defense domain, taking care of all the people, fulfilling the basic needs of the people, being trustworthy, showing courage and braveness at the right time, and more importantly to maintain the righteous character in one’s life. This place has really changed me inside out, it reminded me all that i learned in my school’s history subjects. I never liked history subject in my school, but now i started getting interest and found it very important in one’s life in order to learn the great virtues from our ancient heroes.

All the pains in legs and hungriness are forgotten once you visit such places. The joy of photographing the stunning temples and well maintained culture by priests was taking control over the hunger and all other basic needs. Though i was much overwhelmed by days physical strain, i was at highest zeal to visit the next spot which was the main attraction at Hampi site, the Vithal Temple.

I am very much eager to tell you that Vithal Temple is one of the finest creations in world. It has received many accolades and praises for it’s creations and uniqueness which can never be compared to any of the imagination in world. We bought tickets from ticket counter and boarded a ferry for the temple. The specialty of the service was, it was maintained by all women. Even the ferry driver, the guide and controlling authority everybody was female. I felt happy by seeing the woman empowerment drive. There were five to six phenomenal structures inside the campus of the temple. As soon as you enter the temple, at the right side you will find well decorated and peaceful prayer hall. The king Krishnadevaraya used to pray and meditate in this hall. On left side there is kitchen and wedding mandap of Vithal and Rukmini. Vithal and Rukmini got married in this mandap. The masterpiece shows the excellence in handiwork on the pillars and walls. One of the pillars shows the sculpture of Krishnadevaraya king riding on an imaginary animal. The animal reveals the ears of rabbit, lion eyes, crocodile mouth, elephant trunk, horse body and tiger like legs. That shape shows the bravery and genius of the king who in short span of time raised the kingdom to the heights and also maintained and nurtured the culture. The art and music gallery at the temple premises is mystery in itself. The seven small pillars called sapta sur on a big pillar produce basic music tones sa, re ga, ma, pa, dha, ni, sa. Musicians used to beat the pillars to create music. There were many such small pillars meant for creation of different music tone. Some are called dhol pillars which create sound of drum, some were called Jal pillars, which create water flowing sound etc. The King Krishnadevaraya had two queens and one of them was dancer. This music gallery was constructed for her and the pillars were used to create the music. The construction is so mysterious that when music was produced, it used to spread for around a kilo meter after echoing from the building. British at their ruling time were astonished by this and to know the truth they broke couple of pillars. But they could not find anything inside. It was in construction design, the length, height and angle which produces the sweet sound. The other couple of structure at the campus were godless temple, and rest room for guests of that time. One more attractive structure at the yard of temple was World Famous Chariot. It is completely stone made even the wheels also. The beautiful structure was everybody’s attraction for snaps in different poses. That was our last spot at Hampi site. When we came back to our car, we realized our hunger, we rushed soon to nearest tiffin center.

However it’s hard that one might try to stay unaffected by the divinity of the place, the absolute serenity in the temple premises wraps you with a sense of spiritual calm.

How does it feel when a person, whom you know over the years, comes to you, asks you about your past, present and future even if he/she knows it very well, and you find change in his/her behavior with you after your answer? The person behaves either too closely, starts caring more or doesn’t try to maintain the relation. It has been only 7 months in Hyderabad, and i am experiencing such things. Most of the persons with whom i felt the change, i know them from long time, i used to meet them before once in while. When i shifted here, i involved in interaction with many people, also connected few new contacts. Even i received calls from few people whom i hardly met in past. In a nut shell i started becoming more social and maintaining contacts actively. Also i remember, i traveled more in last six months, attended few functions. Many of my relatives came to my place, discussed family issues, good things. Even my parents found my opinion important sometimes. Now when i analyze the time here, i felt like grew up. May be in other way it’s a high time !

I wondered many times about the change happening in me. This is not what i am. Those weekend parties, late night movie shows, sudden trip plans, late night stay at office (specially for pizzas sponsored by company). I thought of all those things i did before coming to Hyderabad. Previously, i never used to plan my day, next day or next weekend. Everything used to happen suddenly. Now, i am planning my time in advance. My IRCTC account always has at least one booked ticket. To break out this sometimes i did like previously, but after that i had to pay for it. Few days back a girl sent me message in my facebook account. I knew her in my childhood but after that i never met her. And suddenly she started communicating with me. Later on i came to know that her family members discussed with my parents about improving the relationship. I was speechless. One of my relatives, took me to a new construction project. He was explaining me about the flats, locality and it’s future, bank loans etc etc. He told me to buy the flat. He also offered his help in this process. I was glad about it. After few days my father told me that he is considering me for a match. I was again speechless. Once my parents had come here just for a change. At the same time my roommate’s relatives also came. I proposed a plan of going outside for lunch. All agreed and we went to nearby restaurant. After delicious lunch, elders started discussing something. Suddenly one of them asked me about my marriage plans. They even told me they had good contacts and can make it easy for me. I kept again mum and my mom answered them. People were taking me differently now. Yes, sometimes i thought about my partner but i never thought seriously about marriage, family and everything. Many such incidents happened to me and i never replied. Recently i was travelling with my parents and by chance we met with my father’s friend. We all enjoyed journey, discussed so many things, even my father insisted him to come to our home sometimes, he even agreed. After some time, topic came to the same point. He asked us about my marriage plans. This time i spoke. I told him straight away that i don’t have plans for next five to six years.  My answer spread the silence for a while. My mother corrected my answer and replied that we need some time. But i saw how his smile was disappearing on his face. He spoke very few sentences for rest of the journey. He even said he is too busy these days and hardly get time to go outside when my father reminded him about visiting our home. I sensed the change in his behavior.

When we reached home, my parents opened the topic and asked me why i said like that. I said i didn’t know but i was tired about it. And this time my parents asked me the same thing. I replied that would not be the right time. My mother was curious about the answer and started explaining the situation soon after my response. She said about the shortage of the girls (good girls) in society, moreover girls are rejecting many boys these days. It is very difficult for boys to get the perfect match. Even if they get it, they have been rejected in background verification. I wondered that it’s even more difficult than getting into engineering, facing job interviews etc. She also said these days arrange marriage is also not so easy. Lot of rounds and processes are involved. This is the high time to start. All i said to her that i would think on it.

Other day, my roommate and i came to this topic in a discussion. and we both were at same side. Why these people take us so seriously these days? We are not so aged. We still left lot of things to enjoy. Marriage means responsibility, looking after, managing daily needs etc etc. And what about career, ambitions and more important money? These days girls prefer only rich guys. Will they be achieved after marriage? So many questions and both didn’t have answers.  But one thing we agreed that one day we have to do this and we cant ignore. We also cursed that why we came to this discussion? Why can’t we be in the same age all the time. But we both knew that this won’t happen and some day we will be clean bowled. We thought, till then at least we can enjoy bachelors life… and we immediately looked for movie in theaters. Latest was ‘Pyar ka Panchanama’, we booked it, watched and tell you what it was really fantastic, suitable for bachelors.

It was one pond at the bottom, but as it rises, the water breaks up into all these individual droplets. The droplet enjoys, swirls, dances in the air and then hits the bottom again, and it’s one pond again. The droplets were one pond till they start emerging up. Once the jet of water releases from the nozzle, the droplets get separated and behave as an individual. They enjoy their life individually in the air. Although they are in the group of droplets, each droplet is busy in enjoying it’s own state. It’s life is very short and is between the moment it is released until it hits the bottom again. And then it dies but the droplet really didn’t die. It gained the pond again.  The droplet existed individually in the air, enjoyed it’s life and gave up when it hit the bottom. It again gets birth, gets life and again gives up. How easy it is for the droplet to give up it’s individual existence. It’s existence is very short and it shows effect. But we, as a human, find it very difficult to give up our individual existence.

Here, it was expected that the droplet is gonna loose it’s life. That’s why neither the droplets nor the spectators find it unusual. More over everybody enjoyed it’s death. It was droplet’s ability to let go it’s life easily. In this modern world also, we are sure that we are gonna die one day, but nobody wants to. More over we try to prevent it by different ways. That’s natural. Health insurance, life insurance and many more things which keep us reminding about our death. And we get scared about it. We don’t want to give it up easily. People say ‘Life is short, enjoy it as we want, ‘Life is made up of seconds’, ‘A second is enough to turn your body into vegetable’ and many more sentences. We stay in constant fear of death. And the bullshit movie again ’2012′. And we all want to fulfill our every desire in this life. Studying locally or abroad, work hard, earn more money, spend the money, get stressed, again earn money, get rich, have fun, assets, success, respect and love. These kinds of cravings disturb emotionally, sometimes people go mad about it. We find it very very difficult to let go all these things very easily. That’s why we fear about death, and try to show effect of our individual existence. Very few people don’t desire for all these things. And those are saints, gurus. The recent death of Satya Sri Sai baba, the spiritual guru, is example of holistic life. May his soul rest in peace. He had learned and prepared for death. He was unafraid about it. This is it. In a daily loop, we hardly notice these things, they become thinner day by day, and at a stage our life breaks completely from the chain, we achieve abundant individually, live life more standard than expected but at the end they become completely devastating from inside. So, it’s important to break the loop, moreover it’s good not to be in any loop, push the boundaries and feel the real essence of living on this planet.

द्वंद्व मनातील संपून जाउदे
गंध जागीचा आसमंत झरुदे
नित्य भास तुझाच खेळतो
कधी इथे तर कधी तिथे सळतो
मिठीत कायम राहशील सांग तू मनाला
नकळत झाले सारे ना कळले तुला न मला

तुझ संग माझे जीवन फुलले
सुंदर सोज्वळ रूप उमलले
भ्रमर फुलागत जूळली प्रीत
दूर नको जाउ सजनी ऐक हे गीत
साथ तुझा प्रेमळ लाभला आयुष्याला
नकळत झाले सारे ना कळले तुला न मला

‘Natural calamities tend to occur simultaneously, the heat in Delhi is also comparable to the situation in Europe’, Kevin thought. He pressed switch off button of the TV remote, yawned, stretched his arms with a thought, ‘what next’.

It was a hot Saturday afternoon; Kevin was alone in his flat. He was from southern India; native place is surrounded by pure natural beauty, hills, with cool and stable climate. He never faced the heat like in Delhi. He had a good job in capital of India but was also suffered from the heat. He could never take sound nap in weekend afternoons.

Kevin has a habit of playing with his mobile when he is alone. It was 2:30 pm in his mobile. After a long time, he felt some change in his nervous system. He felt a light breeze touching his skin. It was cool and later it became moderate. That was a pleasant surprise for him. Slowly, his eyes got covered by his eyelids, not fully, due to soothing effect of the breeze. Kevin has chisel shaped face with straight nose, wide forehead, thick eyebrows, unshaved chicks and chin, uncombed long hairs covering his ears. His eyelids were about to meet each other, suddenly they got separated as his ears heard sound of doors beating against the wall. He sensed that the breeze has turned into moderate gale. He looked outside through window and found no sunrays. He got up and carried himself in gallery. He saw clouds gathering on his head, up in sky. Wind’s speed was increasing and the effect was shown by window doors forcibly beating against wall, rapid movement in surrounding trees and bushes. Silence was filled by sound generated by crisp leaves, energetic wind, and playing window doors. Automatically, smile spread on Kevin’s face. That was his first smile of the day, manifesting an acknowledgement for the welcome change in atmosphere. The sky color had changed from blue to gray. It seemed like clouds gathered for a big celebration.

Kevin closed his eyes, facing towards the sky, spread his arms and let the cool wind touch his whole body. He felt intense satisfaction, as if he is at his native place. What a great gift he got this afternoon from nature! He let his eyes be closed. Sometimes feeling nature with closed eyes gives you immense pleasure. It’s often that closed eyes teach you a lot, provided that you are not in sleep. Kevin again felt change in his nervous system, this time with more intense. A tiny water drop landed on his cheek. What a moment was that! Then, another, third, and later bunch of water drops were landing on his body. His emotional states and nerves rejoiced and started dancing inside. He let them dance. When he opened his eyes, he found himself fully wet.

It was raining. And that was truly a celebration time. Earth was in her full swing to expose her beauty. Everything on the Earth, call it living or non-living, got a move, energy and started enjoying the pleasant and party moment. Kevin has tendency to celebrate alone, whenever he is happy, by his own very special way. So, whenever he is at peak of his happiness, he finds himself alone. He likes to be in solitude. He always fights with himself, makes friendship with himself, curses and celebrates with himself only. He has full of imaginary friends with him. All are different states of Kevin. This is Kevin in solitude, but at work he is different, as like as any other employee and as good as his ability to change his states as per his desires. Sometimes, Kevin’s one state advices him that he needs psychiatrist, but other states proved that he doesn’t need. These are Kevin’s internal battles, go on when he is in sleep, dream, alone.

Kevin went inside his room, put on jeans, t-shirt and picked up his bike keys. He wanted to experience this afternoon with his favorite bike, the wind, the green and the rain. ‘Cheers’ all his internal states screamed.

‘It’s my way; it’s my day, in long lane’,

‘Full of life, on my bike, here in rain’,

Kevin was composing sonnets in his mind, when he accelerated his bike more than 80 kmph. Kevin is a bike freak and he loves riding it in full speed. And the rain was catalyst to feel his love. He was on his way to Sohona hills near Gurgaon. The road was long like lane surrounded by thick trees and greenery. He likes doing stunts on his bike. He released his hands from bike’s handle, spread his arms, closed eyes, bike was in full speed, he let his mouth sink in natural pure water. He also enjoyed bending his bike towards his left and right in speed.  Being an engineer, Kevin thought that, that would be the best complexity of the algorithm run by god for earth, nature and Kevin. Unwarily, he intermingled and blended his emotions in nature’s melody. One of his states was humming a song and was quickly interrupted by another emotional state.

“Hey, how about synchronizing your voice with a musical instrument’s magic”,

“But, you need a proper instrument to create the magic”, first state contrasted.

“If creativity needs proper sources, it would lose its ironic objective. It happens without any conditions and pre-requisites. I have many options to create music”, Kevin’s first state replied.

“That’s it; I agree and take opportunity to garnish the aesthetic ambiance with dance rhythms”, Kevin’s another state interrupted.

“And to ripe it, with all these constituents, to produce a sweet fruit, I will direct you all”, Kevin’s fourth state suggested and led all other states.

“All right”, said by all his states at once and started to ripe the fruit.

This was all happening inside Kevin. He crossed hill’s base and was moving ahead speedily in rain, he noticed hill’s acclivity. He saw a long steep turn ahead with enthusiastic look. His eyes’ pupils expanded a bit and face expressed like a racer in final lap. At the corner, while making angles between his bike’s front and rear wheels, his eyes glanced to a human body laying road side. He overlooked it and headed on his way. At a few meters away from the body, he stopped bike and thought that it would not be good to overlook. He or she might be in pain or may be dead.

After a quick prolonged thinking process, he was decided to help the animal, only if it’s alive. Kevin’s internal states have started betting against each other. The two segregated parties were predicting conclusions of dead or alive. Meanwhile, Kevin came near to the body, parked his bike few hundred centimeters away from it. He was staring the body seeking a solution for the mystery. He guessed the body might be feminine by looking at long hairs but could not confirm due to men like cloths. Kevin was watching the body from its back side and was curious to see the face. The legs and hips were fully covered with mud slipping down slowly due to rain effect. He touched it to see the face and felt soft tissues and tenderness which helped him to conclude that it was female. As he turned the body on the other side, he was quite happy to see the female face but was shocked enough to jerk his hand away from it as he looked down. Her front side was open. His eyes got wide and closed quickly as he saw the bare feminine parts. Kevin felt something like discovery in his life. Kevin looked around in confusion. He thought of leaving the place which can turn out in evil manner. He looked at the face again, it was round and fleshy, a bit of foam slightly pink, had dribbled from her mouth down her cheek. By looking at her bare breasts and half open pant zip, he inferred that she must have gone through a bad situation. Kevin feared to think next. After a few seconds he decided to cover the body. He zipped and buttoned her cloths. Kevin checked her breath and veins in her wrist and didn’t get any signal of being alive. He almost declared it as dead.

Kevin stood up and decided to leave the place. While moving towards his bike, numerous questions were asked by his states. ‘How did the body come here?’ ‘Who did throw it here in mysterious conditions?’ ‘Did somebody hunt her for lust?’ Without answering any of the questions, he kicked paddle of his bike, staring at the body. Just a microsecond before he turns his sight off the body, he noticed slight movement in her legs. His eyes got wide looked carefully. Again a slight move, this time in her fingers. Kevin was surprised and caught in dilemma, whether to go close to the body or run away from the place.

“This is turning out to be a devil’s play in rain”, one of his states muttered.

“What a scene it is! A guy with bike, almost at the top of the hill, none is around, a slightly moving female body, and in rain. A perfect fixture of a horror movie scene”, another Kevin’s state interrupted.

“Will you please shut up my cunning and coward fellows? It seems she is not dead, let’s help her, think positive”, Kevin’s third state concluded.

Kevin approached to the steady human body and looked thoroughly. Her face was clean and clear. The mud and foam on her face got disappeared as rain washed it. Her round face was beautiful, with sharp nose, cherry like lips, trimmed eye brows, fleshy cheeks and as fair as he could see greenish veins on her neck under skin.

“Don’t stare at her”, one of Kevin’s states warned.

It was still raining heavily. Kevin slightly tapped on her cheek to wake up. He shook her shoulders two, three times. She tried to breath, he opened her mouth, shook her head, her shoulders again, the cheeks, and then she was coughing, gasping, breathing and she opened her eyes.

“You okay, are you alright?” asked by Kevin.

She looked at Kevin, to her body, around, up and down in order to be in synch with the ecosystem. Kevin watched her face, she was weeping by the expressions but he could not see tears due to rain.

“Hey, are you okay? Who are you? How did you come here? ” Kevin asked.

He guessed she was in her early twenties, and was still weeping and then was crying. He waited and let her cry. After a few minutes she looked at him and asked.

“Who are you?”

“I am Kevin, I was just passing hereby, I saw you laying on front, initially I thought you are dead, then I noticed your slight movements and woke you up”, Kevin answered.

“Was I fully clothed when you saw me?” she asked.

Kevin thought of not to say what he saw, but he wanted to know the truth.

“Your shirt was open and pant half zipped, have you slipped down somewhere from the hills or did you go through any bad ….”

She started crying again. It seemed Kevin’s later reasoning was going in right directions. What a day it is turning out to be, asking an unknown girl about her bad fate at top of the hill in heavy rain. She looked more beautiful when she stood up.

“Girls are amazing in rain”, Kevin’s one state snickered.

“Stop it, this is something very serious”, another state shouted.

She walked away a few steps, turned back and spoke.

“I am Siya; I am from Sohrab aka Cherapunji. I came to Delhi in search of job. I was waiting for a bus at bus stop; a cab came near to me. The driver asked me where to go, I said Gurgaon, so I boarded the cab without any second thought, as I was getting late for an interview.”

She tried to wipe her tears and face by her hand and continued. Kevin was listening curiously.

“In between, two men got in the cab, I thought they were passengers. As cab came in Gurgaon, one of the men showed me knife and ordered to keep quiet otherwise they would kill me. They drove me through these hills and …”

She closed her face by her hands.

“And raped again and again, and then threw me out of the cab. I don’t know what happened next”, she started crying again.

Kevin was regularly reading rape cases in newspapers, but that was the first time, he met the victim. He tried to gather some words to pronounce but could not.

After a few moments of silence, Kevin got courage to initiate the discussion.

“Hey, let’s go somewhere, may be at top of the hill”,

“I don’t know what to do now, I am lost, what I shall tell to my parents, how they will feel, I can’t think more… ”

“Don’t worry about it at the moment, come on”, Kevin reciprocated immediately.

And they drove towards top of the hill, where Kevin was supposed to be thirty minutes ago. First time in Kevin’s life, he had girl on his bike’s back seat. Both kept silent till they reach the final destination. Kevin’s eyes were voraciously looking for a tea stall and they succeeded.

Kevin didn’t know what should be spoken with a rape victim, but he started with whatever thoughts came to his mind. After first sip of ginger mixed tea, he started as he noticed she was staring somewhere.

“So, what are you thinking?”

She slowly looked at Kevin and turned her eyes away.

“Are you thinking to complain against the bastards?”

“No, I don’t want to feel my parents ashamed. They are bit sensitive about their image and they won’t bear it, moreover I don’t remember the faces as well”

“But”

“I can bear it”

“Means you want to keep mum”

“Even if I don’t, will I get justice?”

“Yes, of course”

“I don’t think, I just want to go to my home”, Siya mourned.

“Cherapunji?” Kevin asked.

“No, Kolkata, I will go to my friend’s home first, and to Cherapunji after that”

“Okay, and when”

“Right now, but I am alone in this city, I lost my purse, my cards, money, I don’t have money, oh god, how will reach my home?” Siya murmured and tears fell down her cheeks.

“Okay, don’t worry, let me see what I can do for you, let’s finish this tea first”, Kevin consoled her.

Kevin was thinking to help her out. His instincts were telling him to help out whatever she needs, but his logic was denying doing it. He thought of booking rail tickets for her but considering her psychological condition, he refined his thought and concluded to book air ticket so that she can reach home as early as possible. Kevin noticed that she was fully wet and that was not the right dressing to board the flight. He spoke out as soon as she finished her last sip.

“Look Siya, you are right, you need to go home as early as possible, and I will help you for that, alright?”

Siya looked in surprise, as she was quickly facing the opposite deeds of human beings. She cursed and thanked the God at same time.

“Are you fine now?” Kevin asked with smile.

“Yeah”, Siya replied trying to smile for the first time on the day.

“Okay, it’s 5.30 pm now, let’s go, I shall take you directly to airport, we have to check out the flight timings as well, and let’s check out some outfits for you in city, is that ok?”

“More than okay”, Siya said.

Kevin paid the bill and they drove down the hill. On the way down, Kevin started discussion.

“So, who are you?”

“Means”

“I mean, what is your education?”

“Oh, well I passed out MBA this year from Manipal University and now searching for a job”, Siya replied.

“You are a management girt then”

“Yes, but could not manage those rascals”, Siya spoke in irritation.

“Well, that’s something beyond your management”, Kevin commented.

“Yeah, right”

“You stay in Cherapunji?”

“Yes, that’s my native place, my parents are staying there”

“So, you don’t have to crave for rain, as I have craved today”

“Hmm, but we do crave for Sun sometimes”, Siya expressed.

Kevin stopped near a cloth store, bought outfits for her and allowed her to change. By then it was not raining. Kevin stared her for a moment as she came out with new cloths. Soon, he took her to airport quickly. He enquired about earliest flight to Kolkata and booked a ticket for the same. They reached 15 minutes earlier to the earliest flight’s take off. He handed over her the ticket.

“Flight will take off at 7 pm. It’s 6.44 pm now. You have to go, Hurry up”

Siya looked at him very anxiously; she came close to him and spoke,

“I don’t know how I can return you this favor”

“Don’t worry about it at the moment”, Kevin replied back.

“I have seen many people, but you are different”, Siya told him.

“It’s my visiting card, if you need any help in future, please let me know, I will do my best”, he gave her his visiting card.

“Thank you, Kevin”, Siya expressed in gratitude.

“You welcome, now you have to go”, Kevin took her to the entrance. But still she was looking at him. May be she wanted to say something.

“Kevin…” She said.

“What?”

“Bye and hope we will meet again”

“Sure, Earth is round, and we will definitely meet somewhere by chance or by choice”

“I don’t believe in by chance”, Siya said and stared at him till the security guard interrupted.

“Ticket Please”, the guard requested.

“Oh, here it is”, She said and showed him the ticket.

She went inside and was still looking at him, Kevin waved his hand, and Siya also replied the same and disappeared in crowd. Kevin felt some pain in his heart. Something weird was happening in his emotional state. It was the pain of departing someone. He closed his eyes, and could see only Siya’s face. ‘What is this?’ Kevin thought in mind. ‘What happened to me? May be … am I in love?’

“Stupid”, Kevin’s one state said.

“But I am missing her”, Kevin’s another state replied.

“This is just hangover”, another state interrupted.

“Love can’t happen in 2-3 hours, that too with a rape victim”, Kevin’s first state commented.

“I wish I could have asked her contact number”,

“Shut up, you idiot”, snapped his one of states, and with this inner drama, he left the airport.

Kevin dried his body and hairs, changed his cloths as soon as he reached home and sat on his bed alone.

“What a day it is!” one of his states initiated the play.

“Very costly, today’s expenses are close to ten thousands, that too for unnecessary reason, this way you are going to spoil your entire salary”, Kevin’s very economical state shouted.

“Shut up my money lover, it happens, she was helpless and he did a great job today”, one of his states replied.

“What great, be practical”

“May be that can be a good investment”, Kevin’s one of states thought positive side of the situation.

“Investment? Can you please elaborate on this?” Kevin’s economical state asked.

“I don’t know, but can be like share market, can get a significant return or nothing”, Kevin’s other state replied.

“Can you please shut up all; let me be in peace at the moment, this has turned out a very great day” one of Kevin’s state said.

With this Kevin’s internal state’s play, Kevin lost in night, thinking about heat, rain, tea, Siya, airport and its imaginary hopeful sequel.

वळून पाहता कळून चुकले
द्रुश्य पाहून शहारे उमटले
का मज शक्य अहे आता
तालीम सजवूनि आरंभावी परिकथा
सूत्रधार का मी होईल त्याचा
खेळ वेळेचा ताब्यात घेऊनी
पुन्हा एकदा परत जाउनी
सुरू करावी समय सारणी

चित्र अगदी योग्य रेखाटल
पण रंग संगतीत अयोग्य झाल
का मज शक्य आहे आता
रंग निवडून सजवावी चित्रकथा
चित्रकार का मी होईल त्याचा
मोहक रंगाची किमया शिकुनी
पुन्हा एकदा परत जाउनी
सुरू करावी समय सारणी

गीत माझ्या मुखी जे वदले
सुराविना ते शब्दातच भन्गले
का मज शक्य आहे आता
अलंकार लावूनि करावी गोड वाचा
गीतकार का मी होईल त्याचा
सुरेल गाणी गाईल आसमंत भेदुनि
पुन्हा एकदा परत जाउनी
सुरू करावी समय सारणी

नकळत पणे मी प्रेमही केले
पण अर्थविणा अर्थहीन झाले
का मज शक्य आहे आता
जाणीव ठेवुनी निभावावी प्रेमकथा
प्रियकर का मी होईल त्याचा
अनेक वेदना सहन करूनी
पुन्हा एकदा परत जाउनी
सुरू करावी समय सारणी

जन्म झाला म्हणून जीवन जगलो
तत्व तायाचे समजण्यास हरलो
का मज शक्य आहे आता
कर्म, अर्थ, धर्म सहीत चालावी जीवनगाथा
अभियांत्रीक का मी होईल त्याचा
योग्य सरीपाट आखील परत जन्मूनी
पुन्हा एकदा परत जाउनी
सुरू करावी समय सारणी

shabdha maze rangle,
bhaan saare harvale,
chandanyanchya maiphilith,
chittha maze dhangle,

kay ashi tu jaadu keli,
shwet maze gandhle,
mi na ata rahillo maza,
supta antarang sphurale,

jaan nase maj ata,
geet ka othana bhide,
man waryasam bhirbhirata,
madhyech ka aade,
wastavawarche lakshya sampale,
shabdha maze rangle…

nazar majhi sthir hotach,
samnway maza teewra hoi,
chhatas tuzya drashti lage,
papanya madhyech aad yei,
shwaas tuzyavar rokhale,
shabdha maze rangle…

aaj mala sahaj vedh lagle priye,
milanachi odh tuzya lagli tu ye,
pahat mazya hridyachi sajali ashi,
saanj kadhi sampli ajan mi nishi…

salsaltya panancha salsalat ha kasa,
zurzurtya bhavanancha supta naad jasa,
argyachya swagatas tayar hi praja,
sarwangi pazarte tej manache mazya,
sakal mazya pritichi rangli ashi,
saanj kadhi sampli ajan mi nishi…

karm arth niyamanchi arambhali katha,
paul pade talat lapwuni vyatha,
niyatichya gatisam dhavte chhaya,
garditahi bhaas tuza tuzich kimya,
dupar mazya nayananchi wahili ashi,
saanj kadhi sampli ajan mi nishi…