Listening to the song Bawaaran mann from Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. Beautiful song. Poignant lyrics. Music that makes me sway instantly.

Had a good conversation with my editor today. We both realised that there should be atleast one good looking journo in our department. It is time for a new eye candy! So, thats some news.

Have nothing much to add today. So will just post some more of the story.

contd......

26 Nov 1983, Los Angeles, USA

15440 kilometers away and 13 and a half hours behind New Delhi, the doctor from India was handling the most complicated case of her life. Mrs. Mason, or Rebecca, as Dr. Sia knew her was fast loosing consciousness, and on top of that the baby was breach. The tension and fear in the room could be felt, yet, besides being a science field professional, Dr. Sia was a devout believer in God, and she knew, that in this critical hour her God will not betray her.

The moment Risa uttered her first word, a short cry filled room number 8, in the urban Los Angeles hospital. Rebecca had given birth to her first son, and miraculously escaped death. Dr. Sia clasped her hands in a silent prayer. Her God had not let her down, once again, perhaps in the most vital moments of her life as a doctor. She knew that He alone had the power to create and destroy, yet, once again he had proved that he never deserted his believers.

A day and a good news later (Risa’s improving speech), Dr Sia was declared Paul’s (Rebecca’s son) godmother. Though, the two news meant a lot to her on different levels, yet, Dr. Sia was completely unaware as to how they would one day interweave to show her that, not all surprises are man made and not all ironies are under man’s monopoly.

Risa was growing up as a beautiful girl, stunning in her features and sharp by her mind. Every year she returned home with the “highest scorer of the class” badge. Sneh and Yash could not have asked for more from God.

The day, Risa entered eleventh standard, two years short of her high school graduation, she announced to her parents that she would do her undergraduate studies from USA. Although, the thought of separation from Risa troubled her parents, but, her persistence won in the end.

2 years later, and armed again with the badge that had never gone to anyone in her class till the very last semester, Risa bade goodbye to her parents. She knew that they were fighting very hard to control the emotional turmoil in their heart and the whirlpool of water behind their eyes, yet, she knew that she was going abroad for a reason- to one day make her parents proud. She was going to be as successful as her Aunt Sia.

“Aunt Sia, here I come”, muttered Sia while waving to her parents. Though Risa had spoken to Sia many times and seen her snaps, yet this would be the first time she would meet her face to face. Of course, there had been no other choice as to who Risa would stay with, once in America.

Hours later, when the pilot announced that the flight would land in 10 mins, Risa was stifling a yawn. But the moment she heard the announcement, her fatigue evaporated. She was entering the country which many called the “Land of Oportunities”. And what a day to do so. Risa had turned 18 a minute ago.

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Sia recognised Risa as soon as she came out of the airport. How could she not? She had herself delivered her little angel. And here she was, 18 years after her birth, hugging Risa. "You know Risa; you have acquired all of Snehs’s beauty.” Risa was radiant. “And none of Yash’s”, added Sia with a sly smile.

The drive back home just flew by in their conversation. “Wow, Sia Auntie, your house is beautiful” exclaimed Risa. “Not as beautiful as you, honey” said Sia. Risa knew that Aunt Sia took Risa as her daughter. At age 43, Aunt Sia was beautiful but unmarried. And her perennial answer to her single status was, “I have my two children who support me like heart and soul, one is Risa and the other is Paul.”

Sia was almost Paul’s second mother. The Masons were god fearing people, and they knew, that on the night of 26 Nov, 1983, God had come as Dr. Sia for them.
“So, when am I meeting this Paul of yours?” asked Risa. "Soon. I invited him over for breakfast today, but I doubt he will be able to make it. He is putting finishing touches to the MONALISA of the 21st century. And our very own Leonardo doesn’t have time to waste on lesser mortals like us.” “ What does he think he is,” shot back Risa getting angry. "Come on, honey, Paul is very passionate about his art. And mind you, he has the gift in his hands. As if, brushes come to life when they come in contact with his fingers. Anyway, you meet him and decide what he thinks for himself. Right now it is very late and you must also be jetlagged. Go to sleep right now, and we will continue all our talks in the morning. Your room is on the first floor, first one to the right. And kitchen is just straight ahead, in case you feel hungry at night.” Risa blushed awkwardly, even Aunt Sia knew about her monsterous appetite.

Rebounding back

Yes, am officially on a rebound. Oh not an emotional one, but one that signifies metaphorically, a lot of what happened in the past few days. I have in fact grown significantly, in terms of my vocabulary and experience. Now I know the difference between enthralled and happy, sad and lonely, angry and volatile. This post, basically brings me back as who I was-- Sassy Satan, albeit a little wiser and perhaps (hopefully), a little more expressive.

Spoiler warning: The post maybe longer than what is expected, bearable and liked.

I noticed how hypnotic the moon was today, but couple of days ago, it was a group of stars that had caught my attention. Twinkling brightly, they were merrier than the kid who tries to count them. They shone and they shone. And they reminded me of the desire that I had. To own a telescope, to see the planets and the stars every night, to have a notebook and make observations. Desires that I had before I realised that someone called Galileo had already lived my dreams ( and received a lot of attention for it).

Jokes apart, from today, there is a new addition to the right side corner of my blog. ' I wish I wish' is a list of things that I have been wanting to buy or do. Now, earrings will remain at the top of that list forever, because that is a fetish that refuses to dilute. About the visit to the zoo-- well I have been trying to do that for a number fo years now, convincing friends and family alike, but to no avail. Maybe I will go alone someday. Have heard a lot about a cute baby hippo there.

Now desires, urm.., are very complex feelings. I have seen people getting trapped in desires forever. But I have also known achievers who have dreamt, desired and attained. For me, my desires are yet very nascent. I know what I want, but more so in thoughts than in a tangible reality. I desire to reach a peak where I can refuse the biggest deal. I desire to be able to laugh as openly, loudly and carelessly as I did when I was younger. And I desire to be able to cross every little heading that I enter in the 'I wish and I wish' column. I actually also want to do this six month cours ein pottery at the Blue Pottery Club. Also want to take up kathak again. Want to attend, at least once, the karvan of sufi singers who tour India once every year. And I desire to be a child again.

Yesterday, being a sunday was a 'strictly family' day. Which is to say that I had a lot of fun. I did a lot of shopping too, but I did enjoy for other reasons too. Now, my mum is particularly finicky about roadside food. But me and bro are brats. Yesterday, after a very long time, I revived some childhood tastes. We had two plates of mirchi wala bhuta (we call it that). However, it is actually boiled corn with a lot of spices, chilli sauce and lemon. Also had sugarcane cubes (cut into pieces). We were fond of these things when we were growing up. However, kids these days revel in american corn and tropicana juice. But, the flavour, the joys and the meories that we felt yesterday are rather hard to put in words. I desire to be a kid again.

Have a lot more to say, but t he post has gone a little awry. There is a story that I wrote ages ago. Thought of sharing it. Everytime I feel a little low, I read it. Because it has a hundrerd reasons behind it that make me smile. And I smile. It is a little longish. So will be putting it up in parts.

The only note that I can conclude is a rather iffy one. My exams begin next tuesday. And I am yet to begin the preparation.

Tadaa!

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CHAPTER 1

31st January 1983, New Delhi, India

“Congratulations”, beamed the plump nurse. “You have been blessed with a pretty young angel, Mr. Oberoi.” Suddenly, Dr. Sia, the doctor in-charge of Mrs. Oberoi’s case, walked into the waiting lobby. “Yash, your daughter is just stunning,” she complimented.

Dr. Sia had been the Oberoi’s family friend for years. She and Yash had attended school together and had been the best of friends ever since. Today, she was a renowned doctor and Yash, a well established businessman. When Sneh (Yash’s wife) conceived, there was no doubt as to who would handle her case. And today, 8 months and 20 days later, Dr. Sia had delivered Risa.

Though Latin in origin, yet Risa is what Yash had always wanted to christen his daughter. The laughing one, he thought, recalling what it had meant and why it had touched him so much. And, from that day on, aunt Sia’s little stunning beauty was called Risa.

Even after a week since her birth, the smile never left her cute little face and the Oberoi’s affectionately admired the perfect name they had given their daughter.

Just how perfect it was, they would notice years later.

CHAPTER 2


3 months after Risa’s birth, her Aunt Sia shifted to Los Angeles, America as Senior Gynaecologist, Holy Child Hospital. Though, her work kept her engrossed more than ever, yet, she managed to keep record of Risa’s development process.

Sneh and Yash were completely smitten by their little angel. Though, a naughty child like any her age, Risa woke them up in the middle of the night, however, since the day of her birth she had brought an unspoken, unknown glow on their faces. They couldn’t remain one second without seeing her face, and to her those strange faces meant the world.

9 months and 26 days hence, when Risa first uttered “ma”, the first call was trans-Atlantic. “Her phone is on voice mailbox”, said Sneh. “Maybe, she is in the middle of a surgery. I’ll try to contact her again after half an hour. Anyways, I have left her a message to call back ASAP. And Yash, please switch on the voice recorder. I want to capture this moment. See, she said ma before she has said pa. SO, I have won our bet!!”

“Papa”, retorted the little devil for the first time, not letting her father down. “I guess we are equal now”, smirked Yash. “She said ma before papa”, was all Sneh could manage. But anyone observing both of them right now, knew, that the entire meaning of their lives had come true in this very moment.

P.S: I am yet to name this one!