‘Sahab, do you also want a bun?’, the old lady asked.
Leo looked at his chai cup and affirmed ‘ yes that will be good’.
‘Our maggi will be ready in 5 mins or so’, Leo said as he sat down beside Tarun who was going through his phone.
Leo turned his seat to the old lady in the stall,
‘Do you go down to buy grocery and essentials?’
‘ Yes sahab I go’
‘ not your husband?’, Leo asked with interest.
‘No sir just me’, the old lady answered and turned back to her kadhai, moving the onion tomato vegetable mixture.
Tarun had navigated a maggi stall some distance away from their bike which they had visibly missed on the way. It was a small shop next to a a hut. The walls were wearing off their cheap pink colour. Unmatching with the pink color of the walls, blue plastic chairs were unkemptly arranged around green tables. Flies roamed in the air.
Tarun put his chai cup and asked, ‘ What did you really mean by ushering in the welcoming part?’
Leo who was stuffed, looked at him and replied ‘ I meant bhalloing all the healings’
‘What?’
He gobbled his bun and chai and enunciated ‘ I meant allowing all the feelings’
‘But why would you want me to do that stupid. Don’t you want to enjoy this trip’
Leo looked at him and said ‘Then Let us go to Bhula Tal Lake. I guess we misse-
‘ nah no I don’t want to go there let us just. Tarun saw Leo doing the this is why stare. But really Tarun couldn’t travel much. He was exhausted both mentally and physically.
‘just stay here, tarun finished as he sipped his chai.
‘see a h – a ah, Tarun began again.
‘Like I don’t know where to begin. When I started my plans, got a job at Cadence I was happy for some time. Not a long time. Did I know I will end up even more fragmented tired, sleepless and ugly because of my job..
Tarun fumbled and continued pointing at h, ‘ Just look at me Leo. Tarun pointed at his face. Leo stared at him.
White hairs are appearing, big dark circles around my eyes. I can’t survive without my phone. I’ll haplessly stroll around on Facebook and Instagram knowing the social media gives me the greatest dissatisfaction. My shoulders are hunched all the time as if I am reappearing for a competitive exam. I just thought my life will be set after examination, college.. Tarun ended, sighing.
‘Maggi is ready sahab’, came the voice of the old lady.
Leo , who was staring at Tarun, got up to take the plates from the lady.
‘ Now … You know Leo said as he settled down back, Life will never be settled. After examination, tension about college, after college, tension about job, after job tension about boss, after boss well tension about family making..’
‘ Ha! Tarun retorted with a tone while eating his maggi. I was sure about to make one. But Rashmi had to deal with another matter first. Her brain tumour..’ Tarun stopped as if he had given in too much. He quietly turned and concentrated on his maggi.
‘ People don’t know the wheels of a brand-new car will wear around in time.’, Leo said, turning his maggi around his fork.
‘And when they do, they will do a few services. But afterwards they will settle on to the old dreary slow version of the car.’
‘ And you know what is interesting, Leo looked at Tarun who was eating his maggi, ‘ they blame it on life. Life is badd… life is unfair….’
Tarun looked at him.
‘Life needs services, Tarun. Nothing is promised good or gold here’, Leo looked at Tarun who stared at him.
‘But Rashmi She is not here anymore right so what does it matter??, Tarun stood up from his chair. ‘This place.. all it brings is bad memories…’
He took his maggi plate and went ahead, seating himself on the roadside. Leo followed him now.
‘ It matters Tarun. I have learnt this much from my mother that it is good to open up. It means like you are not settling into the old dreary dim version your life has taken up. You are turning your head to a new clearing’
‘ It’s difficult.’, tarun said after sometime ‘Not for you. But for people like me, Yes.’
‘ and we are doing good. We just don’t need to lose our trail and become lazy scoundrels’
‘ But What can I do now? Should I just forget her like that?’, Tarun asked.
‘Should you just forget the last days when she was with us?’, Leo countered back.
‘She was all but against being pitied. She wanted to just feel normal and better during her last days. It wasn’t even about you’
“ The thing is Tarun.., Leo exhaled OUT and said ‘maybe she realised it better than all of us… to live a good life till it ends. Her end was just a week more away. But she did not already die one week before’
Tarun turned to look at Leo. Leo continued ‘ we will never stop feeling depressed at instances. This is very normal dude. The thing is.. each time we feel low isn’t the end of everything. We can always talk, do something relaxing, and pay attention to ourselves. My mom and sister keep saying that men keep holding things up. It inevitably comes out as vomit. And picturing vomit does it really solve the problem? Just abhorrent shit it is.’
Tarun asked ‘ I didn’t pay much attention?’. It was less of a question and more of an answer. Leo nodded and started eating. Tarun snorted and looked ahead.
Cuckoos chirped in the air. Pigeons descended on the roadside moving around. Distant moving of bikes and cars on the road ahead could be heard. The shoving of utensils was perceptible.
It was this much silent.
Then Tarun, as if being nudged by a sudden itch, broke the silence that had taken over. As if remembering something , he shuffled out his wallet from the back of his jeans. He took out the passport size photo of Rashmi out of his wallet. He looked at Rashmi who was dressed in a plain blue shirt.
Bald.
.
Weak.
.
Yet smiling and posing for the camera.
.
Almost smiling.
.
Obstinately.
Tarun ‘s head felt befuddled. As if someone had pushed a hand through his mind, disfiguring the parts. It took a tone and he started sweating over his head. Soon pits of drops formed below his lashes.
‘Ok you know what?’, Tarun spoke, this time through bleary eyes.
Leo who was finishing his maggi grinned at him and asked ‘what?’
‘ It’s not going to be easy.’
‘Had I said something in French?’, Leo asked.
No it is never going to be easy…
.
.
There are two idioms ‘took to heart’ and ‘took heart’. ‘Took to heart’ means to let something deeply affect oneself. ‘Took heart’ means to cheer oneself up and move on. Likewise, there is a thin line, an almost indiscernible one, between deterioration and acceptance. Though as it is with most things, there Is a definite possibility to see that line and understand which side one is on to..
.
In this hurried life, every person seeking their own goal
No time that allows existence of a calm, tranquil soul
All of us busy looking for unanswered dreams.
As we look at the broken hearts with low esteem.
The question perhaps is to feel or to not feel?
But ain’t a life without emotions inhuman, unreal, unfathoming?
We plan for so many places, so many sights to travel and see.
So hey guyss we come to the end of this series!! Hope you all liked it😃Well both of us enjoyed being Tarun and Leo. What about you? If you are new here you can definately check on the other two parts!
Which character could you relate to most? This was a project we both enjoyed doing very much( We fought very much!) Poetry credits and the illustrations credits go to Khushi while the story writing credits go to me( Kunjal)😃
Finally we would love to read all of your thoughts below!
They steered themselves upward to the hidden location which Leo was excited to show Tarun. Lansdowne was all about steering and pushing up to reveal pretty panoramic views. And there as they stepped on the cliff, whiffs of air started blowing around their heads. The air waves became loftier and heavier on their ears. As if wanting them to feel and open their eyes to the view ahead.
“ Its amazing….”, Tarun looked at the lushes of green hills and slopes ahead. Dark green Cher pine trees covered the whole village. In the lush greenery, little white spots emerged into view. Houses of people erratically dotted the whole village doing little infidelity to the eyes of travellers:
“ A new sight beckons in Lansdowne. Nature. Not people”, Leo said mesmerized writing something in his diary”
“ I had written two lines about nature. Now they become complete in Lansdowne. Here it is.’
Under the magnificent skies and the tall trees
Creating a beautiful reflection in our minds.
What a wonder to lose yourself
And find yourself at the same time
Tarun ‘s phone started ringing. He saw it was his boss. Leo saw it too.
‘wait what are you doing?’, tarun shrieked.
‘I will throw it away.’
Tarun tried to manhandle his bizarre friend.
‘ It is you. Either shut down this phone or let me do it’, Leo remarked angrily.
‘I will not use it during the trip. I will keep it shut down.’ Tarun added to his sentence.
After some photography both of them went down to their bike. Tarun drove it and Leo sat behind him. Tall Oak trees stayed and left their view as they rode ahead.
‘Okay now I want to do some more photography’, Leo shrieked. Tarun seemed to agree and they parked the bike near the Durga Maa temple.
Leo walked ahead whistling and laughing. His own mindless tones Tarun thought.
Tarun heaved himself up to the twisty road and unparalleled thoughts entered his mind.
But First of all he cursed Leo for ending his call with the boss.
Everything here was beautiful. Ordinarily beautiful. The rocks which had fallen off the ledge.. the deodar trees, the flat shades of tall vegetation. Which was scarce but enough to allow sunlight to pass through them. The fallen mangos and the rustling sound in steps.
The beams of sunlight were getting scattered though ineffective in callousing the coolness and dimness of this place.
It felt home, Tarun suddenly thought. Everyday Home. Going to office, traffic, cursing, boss, calls, returning back home, sleeping. Everything flickering out and dimness settling in. Light was almost there in Tarun ‘s life.
But after what had happened.
It was but not quite there.
‘Hey you getting my poetry now right? Your lips get weird-‘
‘No surprises dude no offence’, Tarun looked behind at Leo. Leo stared at Tarun.
But before he could say anything, came the shouts of people from above.
They had reached their location-Tip and Top.
It was also known as Tiffin top. It was a small hilltop viewpoint that was located 1.5 kilometres from the city of Lansdowne. The view was complete. The entire Lansdowne landscape, the Shivalik Foothills. The Himalayas adorned the background. Tarun felt an upheaval of emotions. How could someone feel so much in such a calm place?
‘Okay so who first?
‘ You and secondly strutting’, Tarun replied.
Leo grinned.‘It won’t be awesome. But I would do it for you.’ Leo positioned himself in front of the view.
“Alia Bhatt, Malaika or you know Marilyn Monrea?”
Tarun just clicked because Leo was looking overt in all poses.
And then it was Tarun ‘s turn. He stationed himself in a wide embrace and Leo clicked cursing him.
After some photography both of them had settled near a large rock.
The upheaval returned back just as it had gone. He tried to get up but felt a tug inside… he bent down on his knees staring.
‘Ok so I am looking awfully dirty in this pict-
‘ Leo sit down’
‘ But you never sit. Is everything alright?’
‘I don’t feel good here Leo’
‘Like’, Tarun started clasping his hands. ‘LIke you know the place feels strange and welcoming at the same time. whenever I look at where you are sitting or feel the brush of your hand, I picture Rashmi. And i wanna forget all of that’
‘ Just usher in the welcoming part’, Leo said looking at the pictures they had clicked.
‘What?’, Tarun asked, confused.
Isn’t it a mystery, the human mind?
Restricting themselves to the emotions refined.
Like the birds fly, and the chakoras wait,
Welcome your feelings – wait to feel.
‘ I guess.’, Tarun said, enjoying the calmness that had settled.
‘You can’t take over my job okay? I am the poet. I’ll talk the deep you listen and mock’, Leo remarked lightly at Tarun ‘s strange behaviour.
‘But what if no one really gets what you write?’
‘What if no one gets it?, Leo repeated
‘ Maybe just maybe poetry really is esoteric’, Leo looked at Tarun.
“You understood none of my poems. A slight appreciation? No.”After some time, Leo said again ‘I think… maybe .. we have gotten used to it? And why to complain? I can though always hope.’
To search for the light that is spreading light in dark,
To hope the metaphoric crackers and diyas when there is no spark,
Why limit myself to weep and not believe,
How everything can change into a better version
Or just could be.
Leo said ‘It means to hope still’
Tarun peered at him, feeling the wait of his words.
‘Let ‘s go’, he said.
hello guys!!! Happy Navratri to everyone by the way!! Hope you enjoyed the second part of the series!!!… You can share your opinions about the second part!!…
Thank the person who nominated you. We were nominated by two people. Filarance and Jan. They have amazing blogs. Filarance post really cool riddles and poems and Jan writes really good poems with self designed pics! Do check out their blogs!
Write 5 single line stories that fall under any of these genres (you can pick which ones you do!):
fantasy
romance
thriller
mystery
western
contemporary
historical
drama
dystopian
adventure
sci-fi
paranormal
young adult
You can choose 5 genres that’s easiest for you, or you can challenge yourself to try something new!
Nominate 5 blogger/writers who you’d love to see participate and leave an open nomination for all writers!
You can do this challenge more than once
So since we are two we would both be doing this challenge.
KHushi ‘s stories:
MYSTERY:
And wearing the headphones she went for a job, when suddenly the music changed and turned into her screams earlier quiet
THRILLER:
Heard a gunshot and there was nothing to be seen except for the black blood of those creatures.
Young Adult
If only the books actually made sense, if only each breath was not being graded.
Dystopian:
There was a mirror, a reflection but no soul.
ROMANCE:
She wondered if she would find a knight in shining armour, and alas she saw a businessman in a suit.
My Stories( Kunjal ‘s)
Fantasy: In extreme fallout, it was her simple locket which shined a white light blinding everyone from sensing the final outcome.
Romance: Her cheeky comment remained in my head and I blurted out before him,” Who will break up first?”
Historical: “A civil war right now or an unconditional war in future?” Patel retorted seeing the silence in the room.
Sci- Fi: The scientist faked everyday despite knowing that earth would see its end and no one would be able to contest it.
Adventure: Both of them looked at each other and smiled, realising they were ready for an adventure.
P.S we would love to connect with siya and Rae who are following us😃. Anyone can do this challenge and you can even post your answers in the comments. We would love to read all stories…!!
check out our previous post of our recently started series here. See you in our next post.
Hey guys ! We are here with a SERIES of a story this time ….. One that explores the different aspects of life and the impact of nature and poetry.
This work is towards combining both poems and story to spread our bigger idea behind it all. Hope you all like it!
‘Come, take a walk under the dark
As the luminous stars
Form a silhouette stark
The moon illuminated ,
By their shine and flare
Look at them
A dreamy fantasy they share’
“So… Did you like it?”, Leo asked. Tarun just looked down the city utterly confused. Cars went by, mums shouted in the dark. It was dinner time amongst families.
He stood perplexed, as both friends looked over the terrace of their block smoking.
“I enjoy stars’ he said after a While. “You didn’t get any of it did you?”
Tarun just shook his head, he understood all this “I see poets. Poetry… Stars, nights, days,rainbows, everything you write about all of them. What are they called…metaphors… alliteration, allegory and- “?
“ What is the meaning of this poetry?”. Leo started looking at the sky. Hard. The stars were jiggling out of their positions. He gasped.
“I know Leo I know”, But I don’t get any of what you write okay?”
The stars swivelled and wriggled. It seemed against some taunting force which was pinning them back in the iridescent black canvas.
“And I had just been nodding at your poems. Some were good but later iuwhyt became confusing. ” He imitated nodding up and down as if in affirmation. He continued “And I am a damn engineer. Bring fortune to my life instead. whatever you all write; poetry and all they are just about things..” They came around and stopped. Triumphing at their victory? Leo looked above. And they suddenly..
..Things Tarun hesitated but continued “yeah things. Some things are bound to be imagery. Shall they be true? We pass both good and bad times as if it’s nothing.”
Conjured into one beam and thrashed before him. Towards him. the stars reformed themselves out of the beam and collected around him into little pointed shapes as imagination followed. Leo squinted at the yellow and black spots forming around him.
And now I wonder if you have written a poem on a tree. How would that be? A Lonely tree, a lonely person? Do you ever write anything sensible? Just speak it out clearly, why do you bring light and night into our life?”
“ Did you have a bad day at work?”, Leo mustered it out pulling himself out from the inexplicable confusion. For a moment they refused to draw away from his sight. But the lights and everything which encompassed him soon dwelled back into the normal.
Tarun shook off. “ Just be… rational. Some poems like the one you wrote about humanity and connection. Ah! Don’t be nonsensical.”
“ Sometimes, nonsensical works better after an overdose of rationalism..” Leo said, peering at him.
“ I… whatever Tarun scoffed
“Yes, only a small share of people understand what we write.. More precisely what we want to convey. But poems… poems are mystical They are the”
Leo folded a paper and sheepishly said his poetry.
‘Deep truths conveyed
In Simple verses, lines.
The art lies in pursuance,
The vast expression
In concise.
How much running away?
‘Art is inconsequential’
How much it is ‘obscure’?
How much? But nonetheless.
Even a mother knows it well.
Its child shall reveal herself. ‘
“ How much will you run away Tarun”, Leo challenged him.
Tarun stared at him after listening to his poetry.
“ Then maybe I am too bad in life. Where is the connection, Leo?”
In silence, no one approached each other. They didn’t dare another line. They both stood at the terrace for some time.
And for the first time, Leo looked at his hands remorsefully and then at his diary. He turned his diary pages waiting. Throwing his cigar down he went off inside and came back later with jingling keys grinning
“ Let us go somewhere”
“ Right now?”
“Not a bike.” Leo ignored his question as if he were being too silly. “ Let us take the car. At least you would be able to enjoy the view of nature . How about the maggi stall near Lansdowne?”
Tarun looked at him stupefied.
“NEAR WHAT? LANSDOWNE? That is TOO FAR A TRIP. but maybe i just need one… We ill take a bike”
Leo shrugged and grinned “Sometimes breaks are inevitable”
Pity yell~ow drops did still etch your godly name…
It made it remain, you know fate.
Trust the dead at least.
At least one from doing any more feat.
Now I know Ican see
Fate was not in for me.
When two persons draw apart.
One has to fall apart.
Fate dropped its finger at me mischievously.
But I – I am the antagonist of my own reality
I carried you and faced it far.
Waves hitting, tornadoes blooming as I look afar.
It was for some time eventually.
Carving out hollow eventually.
‘Do such people remain unfixed for a thousand years?‘
Tis’ good but the effect just wears.
What I see now is don’t know why but thuds true.
To align to remain to stay there n behind.
Never moved a step from ‘sorrow’ n inclined.
There was always a line of chalk,
Thin but it was easy, shouldn’t have taken a back walk.
So, relinquished slowly numbly..
But before any time this final heave.
Know that I had space some more room..
But I remained by a choice not a request.
Hollow till the end.
And- AhHh……….
……..
Inside a tornado unfurling,
Its as still as..
Death(d)
Almost empty
Almost hollow.
~Kunjal.G
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Heyy everyone. Happy October! we couldn’t post because we were working on something for this blog! And secondly thank you everyone for following our blog. We have got 50+ followers 😃😃 Thank you everyone for supporting us!! and dropping nice comments😃 Some people were, Riya, AB Bhaiya, Naomi, Jan SumaReddy , Your writeups as well as your comments both were and continue to be inspiring!! And to the many people whom we connected via their blogs( which are many people!😃) Thank you everyone( truly!!)
Duo Diseminators 