7 Days

A Mad Man Story

First Day

Shall we bunk the next class Suraj?

Pagal hai kya, I can’t bunk Microbiology classes and all...

Eh once this class is through, you will be off to your home town, and then you wont be back for a week...

So what?



Nothing… (Don’t you understand, I’m already started missing you yaar…)

If you want to score good marks in first semester, then don’t even think of bunking class…

Ok... (You and your exams… you are very selfish yaar, you only think about yourself and your priorities...kabhi kabhi tho friends ka kayal rakho yaar)

You know what? I am very excited that I would be travelling back to my home town tonight… I was keeping my fingers crossed if sir would grant my leaves, thank god, he finally did...

Yeah, I was also hoping that you get your leaves yaar…

I know... you were hoping when you will get some mukhti from me, so that you can be free... Enjoy man, Enjoy... I won’t trouble you for one week…

Hah (Eh know what? I was wishing badly that you get your leaves as I know that would make you the most happiest person in the world, but once you got your leaves sanctioned, somehow I wasn’t the same cheerful one...Hmm… you see 7 days without you is bit difficult ya!)

You See…I know you would have a nice time with Nithya in my absence…

Hah… (Nithya might be my darling… but you are my friend yaar… I miss you much than her… You know what!
Everybody gets time to talk to you & likewise you get interested in everyone's life, but unfortunately i'm not in that 'everyone' list.. I miss you so much even when you are in the college, so you can't even imagine how much i would miss when you are away... anyway... Tum kya samjogi!)

Fourth Day

VENKAT, VENKAT!!

Yes, ye... yes Madam…

What are you looking at? How many times do you want me to call your name? What is that you see through the window?

Nothing... Mam... I was... I was just listening to you...

Listening to me ah! Then tell me what am I asking you?

Ah... Hmm... Mam….

If you keep on day dreaming like this, then forget passing this semester…

Sorry mam… I wasn’t well...

Now don’t act in front of me... I am watching you for two three days, you look very dejected, less attentive, doesn’t show any interests on the lectures…

Mam… nothing like that Mam…

If this situation continues, I would definitely like to meet your father…

No mam... I am sorry… I will be more alert from now…

“I will be more alert from now”... Ah... Sit Down…

Fifth Day

Yaar, is there any value for lambda?

Lambda? Woh kya hota hai? (What’s that!!!?)

Oh God, Venkat, only yesterday Mam was giving a big lecture on it…

Oh is it?

Where were you yaar?

Yaar Amit... Mann nahi kar raha hai yaar…

Kya mann nahi kar raha hai? What happens to you yaar? One week you keep joking around, suddenly for two days you look as if you missed the first day first show of your favourite movie! Kya baath hai bhai…

Araa, kuch nahi... Ok, you were asking something? Some bombda…

Yeah...Bombda, Dombda... Kaambda… you fool, it is Lambda!

Oh yeah... Lambda... which place is it?

Forget it, I will lose even the little bit of hair I have… Call Suraj nah… she would be the better person to say… even in the middle of the night, if you wake her up… she can still give a half an hour session on it…

Poor yaa... Leave her... let her enjoy her much needed break…

Just I took your mobile yah... You are grabbing it back as if I’ve started making an ISD call on it... What man! Suddenly where did you get so much of energy...?

No I thought you are going to dial her…

Tho kya hua…

Nothing… (You idiot I think of calling her every 1 hour and ask her what is she doing, where did she go, how is she enjoying her leaves, what did she had for breakfast, what…)

Hello, hello boss! Lost again?

Nothing... Let’s go (I am afraid to call her, what if she gets irritated, instead of saying hello, what if she greets me with a question ‘what’?... oh god, I will bang my head on the same phone, if she does that… let her be happy in her world.. anyway just few days, she will be back)

Sixth Day

Why didn’t you call me yesterday?

I was studying nithya…

I will believe if someone says whole Kashmir is under India control, but you studying... never!

Hah…

Can’t you even smile a bit if I joke…?

Oh it was a joke is it? Sorry... didn’t notice it....eh you know... Suraj is at her best when she start cranking jokes… you know she is exactly a child, who can laugh at simple things… and masha allah! When she smiles, it’s a pleasant sight to watch...

Yeah… it‘s so nice being with her…

You bet… I’m just so glad that she is my best friend….

Why you don’t say the reverse?

What?

You are so glad that you are her friend?

I didn’t get you...

I mean you said “I am so glad that she is my best friend”... why don’t you say “I am so glad that I’m her best friend”...

Galti hogayi yaar… leave me…

Ok, if you insist...

Thank you mata (eh... you know... you have a point.. I wish I could say that one day... But I’m never sure yaar...)

Good boy… You know when I think of Suraj, I see her as a River…

River?

Yeah River… it keeps flowing, it keeps going, going… and going... It doesn’t stop for none…

Hmm... Interesting…

You can be in the river and have a nice time with it... but you can never think of grabbing the River, you can never think of making the River yours… can you?

No…

But when you are in the River, it gives you all the happiness, it serves you in the same way, as it serves everyone else... but you can never try to possess it... dip your hand inside a river and try possessing it… you will left with nothing…

……

But at the same time, try to flow along with River, it will help you, it will guide you, it will teach you… but beware the river is fast moving… unless you are trained, it’s very difficult to keep up the pace of the river…

But Nithya…

Wait, I am not finished yet… And more importantly can you ever think of taking the river back home? Never right…

I agree… But there are fishes that live inside River and go along with it right.. so gifted to be with that River always...Cant I be that fish?

Unfortunately God has created you as Venkat and not a fish... hahah…

I am not sure if I have got what you wanted me to say..

you know what? you are like that person who went to write an open book exam. The question was there, the answer was readily available on the book, you know where you can get the answer from that book. But...

But...

But you are still reluctant & adamant to see the book. You keep on thinking for the answers...and ultimately... time passes by & you end up failing the exam...

Oops...this is even more difficult to understand ya...

Okay, let me give you another example... suppose imagine you have a big 100 litre water can... and you have kept it reserve only for a person say X. unfortunately, the person X doesn’t get thirsty at all… even if X does get thirsty, it’s a small micro mini cup that X holds to receive water from you. So if you try to pour water from your 100 litre water can to that mini cup, what will happen?

It can over flow…

Right, it can overflow…. So either you should look around who has a big cup to receive water so that you not only help them but also your water doesn’t get wasted or If you don’t want to give water to anyone else then just be satisfied in filling this micro mini cup.

……

But remember don’t over pour the water as that X doesn’t need it. If you keep on over pouring the Water, X might completely stop coming to you. All X need is just 1 micro mini cup to be filled and that too once in a while… Got it?

I think your previous example was little clearer to me… this completely gone above my head…

Hahah… ok... no probs... chalo, let’s have golgappa…

Oh yeah…

(Poor venkat, how much you miss your friend… I know you would be too excited if I talk about her…that’s the reason why I was keen in discussing about her, but I thought you would get my point, you didn’t… no problem.. You are such a sweet boy… one day you would understand...)

Seventh Day

Hi…

Hi… (Just hi… Suraj you are coming after 7 days yaar... just a hi… with no excitement... hmm..i've read that "no matter how good a friend someone is, they're going to hurt you every once in awhile and you must forgive them for that,” but i too have a limit in getting hurt yaar)

Did vani complete the Lambda theory?

I think so... (To hell with Lambda yaar… everybody talks about it here... and I thought you would first ask me how I’m here)

Lot of lectures to catch up yaar…

Yeah... (I too have lot of things to catch yaar.. about your 7 days.. about your 168 hours.. about your 700000 heart beats.. will you ever update me those.. or will it be another 1001th question left unattended!)

Ok, we still have some time before the first class starts, chalo, let’s have some Tea and come… Call Amit…

Oh yeah... will do... how we can go without him… (Is it so important to call him? How many times do you think he would have thought about you in this one week…, Sigh...? One more precious tea time gone waste with the whole gang…)

So how are you...? I bet all your excitement would be down once you saw me today...

Hah… (If that’s your belief on me… it would have been better if you didn’t ask about my well being at all...)

Nithya doing well? She must be happy seeing me offline for a week, as she could spend her entire time with you... right…

Hope so… (arae yaar… poor nithya, she had to talk only about you to keep me exciting.. otherwise I was such a boring creature for this whole week…)

Did you call Amit?

Kardiya yaar... kardiya… (Nithya was Right… You are a River... can’t think of holding you only for me… I can just take a dip and enjoy my bath...and thank you for your help… nothing more and nothing less than that.. I should stop expecting things from you)

Ok, he doesn’t seem to be coming, chalo let’s not wait for him…

OK YAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR (Yes! Yes! Yes! But will you say the same thing if I don’t come tomorrow and Amit joins you…or will you insists for me to join?)

Some people don’t learn the lessons well even after so many failed attempts… Only time can teach them…

Some people don't want to learn the lesssons as they prefer failing… Only God can teach them…

Coffee Day!


Dec 12, 2009

I have kept 4 roti and chenna for lunch…

Hmm…

What time you will come home today Patil?

Same time as yesterday soma…



Can’t you tell the time…?

Ok, it’s already late…

Eh sorry da, for not preparing breakfast today…

……

Bye...

… Bye

Dec 12, 2008

Welcome soma, Welcome… let me welcome you for one last time to our office…

Eh Venkat, don’t remind me about that ya…

What? Today is your last day in office, so what’s there to remind you?

Please, I atleast don’t want to think about it till evening.

So coming for breakfast?

No, you continue with your group, let her come…



Eh what happened, no mood for breakfast?

Nothing like that…

Then?

Then what?

Why your excitement suddenly dropped down?

Nothing like that ya…

Hello Mr.! By this time, I can know when your mood is OK, when it is not, though I might not know the reason for it...

Oh is that so? How did you suddenly become so clever?

Hello! I’m always clever, only people don’t realize it… anyway... now don’t deviate from the topic… what’s the matter?

Nothing …

Eh come on… today is my last day… you are not supposed to hide anything from me today….

Well, it’s always my dream and wish that we... I mean we as a team go for breakfast daily… my wish never got fulfilled...

Why? You didn’t want anyone to join us ah…

Yeah, I wished only three of us to be there…

Why?

To spend some quality time with you people...haha…

Anyway, we are sitting together throughout the day nah yaar…

It’s different… once you get into your office mode… the topics aren’t the same as we might discuss in the morning…

Hmm…

Morning breakfast is the time, where your mind is fresh and doesn’t get polluted with official tensions… so it’s more of three friends talking rather than 3 office colleagues…

Eh don’t tell me, we don’t talk with each other like office colleagues anytime…

Yes I agree, what I mean to say is… the freshness and the more personal talks we might discuss in the morning breakfast is something you can’t get to see any other time, as mostly we are surrounded by so many other people or factors…

So what about lunch?

Dont even mention about that. I dont even get a chance to sit near you people…

If that’s the case, you could have joined us for morning breakfast nah…

I mean, breakfast with just 3 of us…& you know it’s not possible…

Hmm… yeah…

I know… you people might not actually prefer my dream, but since you asked… I just thought I’ll share my personal wish which…

Which..?

Which never saw its day…

But I noticed you sometime, you actually seem to enjoy your company out there...

Well, I learnt bit of acting… hahaha… well, it’s OK, no complains.. But I can’t deny the fact that my heart still wanders at yours table, rather than mine…

Too much… I don’t know which one yours is a serious statement, which one you are kidding…

Hahaha.. that’s me for you…

Dec 12, 2009

Hi Patil reached office?

Yes soma…

I’m sorry…

Sorry for what?

I couldn’t make a good coffee for you today… it’s bothering me since morning…

……

I know you don’t take coffee normally, and suddenly when you asked for a coffee today morning…

Can I call you back after some time, I’ve a meeting to attend… bye…

Bye…

(Amma… flower…., please come soon, I’ve to go four places)

Yeah... coming…

Dec 12, 2008

Eh, last tak I could never know who keeps the flower for sai baba photo here…

Hmm…

Some office boys I think….

Hmm… and you know what?

What?

I am that office boy…

Oh is it… you never told me…

I didn’t consider it was required…. Anyway leave it, so feeling excited?

Excited for what?

Today being last day of your service…

I won’t say I’m excited, I’m feeling bit … I don’t know how to say it…

Hmm… I can understand…

From tomorrow, I won’t be having Tea with you people, I can’t hear Anagha’s stories… and most importantly I can’t see you people...

Eh we will be in touch yaar…

But it doesn’t give the same amount of contentment you see…

When you wish, you come here, we can call meet…

It’s easier said than done, the place I’m going is 10-12 hours from here… it might look short, but I don’t think I would be coming down too often...

Yeah, you are quite right... I will be missing you much…

Everybody says that… after two weeks, things become normal… and you people would hardly remember me…

Nothing like that… you still have a special place in all us here… and I must admit… your presence helped me a lot...

Oh is it? You never said it…

I can’t say lies all day nah… just today I’m trying so that I can keep you happy on the last day…

……

Sorry just kidding…

Who knows you might be serious…

Nahi yaar… really… it takes time for me to be just ‘me’ with somebody...And it’s you with whom I could be one so soon... I’m still trying with others…

I couldn’t get the head and tail of what you are saying here...

Ok let me put it this way… I don’t feel conscious of myself when I’m talking to you, and it’s not the same with others all the time…

Hmm…

Moreover, the hidden ‘freaking’ nature in me comes out more often when I’m around with you…

Oh I see…

And I could actually let myself out, with you… which is sometimes very important to get lose and I must thank you for that…

Oh thanks, but I’m sure you would equally have good time with her in my absence…

Oh is it? I don’t think so…

Why? She is very good ya…

When did I say she is bad, if that’s the case, then why should I wish to have breakfast with you people?

Hmm…

What I mean is I won’t get to know much of her in your absence... which is unfortunate you see… you don’t know why someone is upset, you don’t know why someone is irritated, you don’t know why someone is very happy, when you need to know the most…

Hmm…

And poor thing is, in your absence who would be bothered about me personally? Whether or not you are concerned, you atleast ask about it & you show some kind of emotions...

You think she won’t show the same towards you...?

No…

No-ah ?

And I’m not complaining… because… by default, married woman emotions are mostly spent on their kids and families… and the little bit which are left anyway are dried once they reach the office, as they have to deal with official tensions / pressures…

Hmm…

So where and how will they have time to show emotions towards their friends? Even if they want to they can’t, it just passes by… so it’s generally the friends around who are at loss and they have to learn to expect less and live with it…. Though it’s not all that easy….

So you expect me to do the same in future?

Yes certainly, today you might be interested to get in touch with your friends, but tomorrow, once you have your own kid and family… I doubt…

You are saying as if you are never going to get married… you would also be in the same group right!

Yeah… but atleast since I’m today in the receiving end, I might in future remember that, and try not to fall into the same mode… and actually show little more concern & importance to my friend’s personal things even if I have my own 1001 problems…

Haha.. I don’t think so... only time will tell…and I am sure situations here would change too

Yah… only time will tell... I sincerely hope the situation here changes and I can actually have someone here who is little bit concerned towards me personally.

Dec 12, 2009

Patil, let’s go for Tea?

Nahi yaar.. You people carry on…

What happened yaar? I am seeing you since morning… any problem at home?

Problem, Aisa kuch nahi… I am just irritated with myself with how I behaved today morning…

Why, did you say anything to your wife?

Yaar, you would laugh at it, it all started with a coffee…

Coffee?

Yeah, she couldn’t prepare a breakfast for me today…and surprisingly I was very hungry…. But I didn’t say anything to her …

……

I just asked her to prepare one hot filter coffee atleast as my headache was still active since last evening…. And since it was already late for me, she was bit in a hurry to prepare, and somehow…. the coffee being prepared didn’t come up all that good…

Oh I know... you generally don’t take coffee much…

Yaar, I don’t know whether it was my headache or my hunger, I would have just taken a sip of coffee, and it was badly prepared… so...

So you yelled at her?

No yaar, I can never do that with her… it is just that I was little irritated…and I just kept it back, collected my bags and left for the office, without saying much…

So that itself upsets you ah…

Yeah… she is too good man… she doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment… she is all alone here, doesn’t gel much with the neighbors as well... Her only world other than me was her office colleagues earlier… but that too... lost after she left the job for me to join here…

Hmm…

You know what? I don’t even know whether she likes this place or not... But I’m pretty sure on one thing… she has come here only for me… and I should make sure I make her life worth it…

I am glad that you both understand each other so well… Did you call her then…

No yaar… this MR meeting whole day wouldn’t allow me to do that peacefully… I have to wait till this evening… she must be pretty upset with me…

yeah...

Leave this matter, I dont want any of the issues, be it small or big create a wall between us, and today is the day I just realized it, it's just a simple consciousness of this fact that everything has a solution or turnaround.. Instead of working on it why show indifferent emotions to your partner & hurt them? And if you just dont realize this, your life is in havoc...

Oh yeah, I fully agree with you and I am sure you are good at it..All the best Buddy!

Dec 12, 2008

So when are you leaving?

Next week ya...

You must have received so many advises till now on what to do, what not to do there right? And also Patil’s decision to search for a Job there is right or wrong; debate would be still ON…

Yeah, some people get too personal ya, but I can’t say anything to them as they are the people with whom I interact daily, so I just try to take it lightly…

Yeah... for something we should just leave to you people to decide and work on…

As such I’m pretty sure, as long as we both understand and read each other’s mind, we are one big HAPPY FAMILY, hahah…

Haha.. you are quite right and I wish you for that….

Thanks yaa..

By the way, if I am asked to say something about you during farewell, don’t expect me to say much, as it doesn’t mean you are short of worth; it’s just that I’m short of words

I know ya… it’s OK...

Okay yaar time is ticking… keep in touch… I can see some tears rolling…

No, no... Not yet…

Hmm… I know it isn’t far away… anyway... I won’t bug you much but thanks for your presence... I should tell you, you were just there, when I needed someone the most for support… so keep in touch and all the best... take care my friend, take care…

Dec 12, 2009

Hi da…

……

Can you prepare a coffee for me...?

……

Hello madam, I requested you to prepare a coffee for me…

No I’m not preparing…

Why? Oh god, see this girl doesn’t even prepares a coffee for her husband…

I don’t know how to prepare a coffee…

But you prepared one today morning right!

Ah… I saw that how happily you were drinking that coffee today morning, didn’t even talk to me after sipping it…

Sorry da…

I’m telling you strictly; don’t leave me ever again like that… I can’t keep thinking & worrying about this all day…

Eh…sorry da…

Can’t you answer my phone properly?

Eh I was in MR meeting whole day da… that’s why couldn’t attend to it properly…

It’s my fault…. I couldn’t prepare a breakfast for you; I couldn’t prepare a nice coffee for you… I... I…

Eh look at me... look at me soma….

……

See it’s not the taste of the coffee or the breakfast you prepare for me, it’s the love and affection you show towards me, it’s the concern you show towards me…

And I didn’t show that to you today….

It’s you who is saying this, not me… not preparing a breakfast for one day doesn’t mean you don’t have concern towards me…

Then why did you behave like this today morning?

I am really really sorry for that… I agree it’s my mistake… you never know how much I felt for it... I was feeling guilty all day… I shouldn’t have done it…

Don’t talk to me….

If you don’t talk to me, then who will I talk to?

Why, you talk to your neighbor… you like everybody right, except me…

No, no... I don’t need anybody in the world, except you… arae baba… kaan pakadlaetha hoon mera… ghalti hogayee yaar….

……

Now let us together prepare two hot coffees…

Why you think I can’t prepare a better coffee myself?

Abba… nothing like that… I want to help you out as much as I can … I know in this body condition… it’s not easy to manage everything…

Why, what happened to me? I’m ok…

Arae... You are no longer that bubbly chubbly girl, now you have become a mother just recently… you need to take enough rest... don’t forget that… oh god... I almost forgot… where is rahul, is he sleeping?

Yeah he was enquiring about you all day…

Is it? I never knew my rahul have started to talk so early…

His father didn’t talk to me today, so he started talking…

Oh ho sorry again, so what were you doing all day?

What will I do? Just thinking what was going on in the same day last year…?

Hahah… ok, ok, you prepare a coffee, let me check rahul…

Just now you said, you will help me in kitchen…

Oh you are very sharp ah… ok, let us prepare a nice coffee first and then let’s see Rahul… but before that I need…

You need what?

Thoda tho romantically socho yaar….

Nothing today… you deserve this punishment for not saying bye by looking at my face today…

Eh please please… please…

……

Coffee – A lot can happen over it…