I emptied a cigarette pack that night, from the first day I met with her makes me a different person and slowly I’m addicted talking, chatting to her and it was a great feeling for me. It takes two very months to decide and understand that I was in love with this cute girl. With these lovely thoughts in mind and a lot of incomplete task I fall in sleep don’t know when?
Next morning again I wake up late and follow same routine, I’m out at 11 but not found purvi anywhere around. It was a bad feeling to be alone in the strange city. I have to be with this emptiness and loneliness, but thankful to purvi I have my feelings with me today.
I hired an auto and reached old Delhi for the search of my story, I select the crowded street and engaged shopkeepers all around, just to feel and know the lifestyle of the true city and there common people. I always love to be the part of these busy streets and there busy schedule. I take my seat at a tea stall which was run by “Habib” and taking care of his family with his daily hard work. He seems as a character to me, I started talking asked him about his family and his past life history.
He stared me for a while and when he feel ok he started “Babu ji, kya bataein ab hum apni jindagi ke bare mein apko?”
“Are Habib miya jo b dekhe ho jindagi mein batao, mai apke bare mein likhna chahta hu.” My tone was polite and familiar to him,
He said “ohh sahib matlab ki aap konhu reportarva ho?”
I smiled and said “hmm repotarva.”
Then he start saying his story and I narrate it and summarized as,
“Habib was taken to these streets long back ago as a child, from then he was supposed to work hard and make money for his brutal uncle. His life was full of strange happenings and sadness. I really feel low when he was just started to cry while narrate his story.
His wife was passed away five years back leaving an only daughter with him. Now he worked hard and hard for them and making some balance for her marriage. Really I gain sympathy for them but what can I do?”
I remain there watching the crowd, listening to the dialects of the street and really feel sympathy for Habib. After long hours passed and lots of cups of habib’s tea I paid him more then I swallowed just to make my heart a little bit happy and say him a good bye.
He said a good bye to me and I really remember his eyes have lots of grief and pain. I pray for him and move to my way, on my return trip I saw many more Habib busy in their work just to fulfill their life and for the lives connected to them. Crowd was busy paying them and makes self and families happy. All Habib seems laughing at me and saying “Dekho babu ji hum log haste hai to duniya hasti hai, Aur hum rote hai to b duniya hasti hai.” And with these words they laughed widely and give me a reason to start my novel with.
I want to rush as soon as possible from that atmosphere, as I feel suffocated there. I actually know the true face behind every laughing Habib and a lot of pain inside their heart. I was truly feel bad for them and praying god I moved out from the streets and reaches to allover different part of the city.
Here Habib was replaced by well dressed humans and street with big malls and shopping shops. I moved on continuously watching the totally changed scenario and lifestyle. It was amazing for me that this beautiful part of the city also has a lot of Habib with it. I laughed at me, on god and the wicked society who makes this brutal division.
I’m up with my tour and with lots of stress reached at my flat. I was amazed see a paper hanging at my door with a message “Writer sahib where were you? I’m looking for you to listen for your story since from morning. As you come back, give me a call please.” This message further has a winking smiley ending with “Purvi”.
I smiled after long stressful atmosphere over innocence and eagerness of this childish girl. I moved in with the paper in my hand, puts it over the table and rest on sofa. I searched my pockets for cigarettes, took and lit one and put the pack on the table. Every puff I take reminds me Habib and takes me deep in thoughts.
I took my lappy out and start writing whatever comes in my mind since from the starting of Habib’s entry today. After long hours of writing I feel satisfied and come back to senses. It was 9 and my stomach alarmed me of hunger, I took some bread and later with cigarettes I switched my eyes off. And very soon I lost my senses and fall in sleep with mixed dreams of Habib and hers.
Another day starts with unusual knocking at the door, I took my mobile to see what the time was and surprised, it was an early morning 8 o’clock and knocking at the door continues. I opened the door and it was Purvi, I said “Hey, good morning”
“Good morning writer sahib, don’t you make your guest in?”
I said “Ohhhh sorry, sorry… Please come in yar.”
She was waiting to say me this, and she rushed in, inspecting the room with her glance. She was in white salvar suit, a typical Indian dress and really she was looking amazing.
She takes seat and asks me “Where were you yesterday?”
“Hmmm I’m out in search of my characters.”
“Good, but u doesn’t respond to my message at door.”
“I was late yesterday and late night call to you was not a good idea.”
“Ohhhhk, but what’s the plan for today?”
“Hmmm nothing.”
“Cool then start narrating story.”
“Hey first of all that was not a story but incident of my life, And secondly every human have right to get fresh after leaving their bed.”
She wickedly laughed and said “Ohhhh, ye to hai writer sahib, so when will I come?”
“After an hour.”
She moved towards doors and suddenly turned back and said “Last night would you eat anything?”
I said “Yes two breads.”
She stared me and said “That was not the dinner I think?”
I said “That was my dinner; I have no problem with that.”
“But I have, fresh yourself and join me at my home soon for the breakfast, got it?”
“Bu...t…”
“No but at all, I was waiting for you at my place, come soon.”
She moves away shutting door on my face without listening to me. I was in no reply zone and busy refreshing myself. Very soon I’m ready and get out rushing for Purvi’s home; I’m hesitating on my way for the awkward situation arises by the sweet girl.
I reached her place and knocked the door and repeatedly it was opened by his father. He was glad seeing me at the door and passed a smile, I smiled back.
He said “Good morning Gautam, please come in.”
I said “Good morning uncle.” And follow him.
“So how is it going beta?”
“What uncle?” strangely I asked,
He smiled a bit and said “How is your new project going on? Had you found any story or still searching for?”
“Oh that was going ok uncle and luckily I found a story.”
He became serious and said “Good, so your theme this time will about?”
I smiled and said “That was a suspense uncle.”
“Oh, let me read it soon then.”
“I was joking uncle, this time I would write something for our roots, our common streets and their ordinary peoples.”
“That’s great beta, you must have to write on this topic, it was a brilliant idea.”
“Thanks uncle.”
Then we were busy talking about the topic and give light to it with our own thoughts and ideas, he was regularly sharing his past experiences with me. I was amazed to know that his wife divorced him just for the sake of wealth and he approves it. He never ever tried to force his wife not to take such a harsh step and ruin his and Purvi’s life because he loves her a lot and don’t want to make her unhappy ever.
My soul laughed and questioned me “What is love? Is it this pure dedication of him for his wife, who never ever thinks at least once for his love and kicked it, moves away just to make herself happy. It was ok that she had his life, She had right to live it according to her desires but where is love and feelings then? Or true dedication and love doesn’t have any place in this world today?”
I’m feeling pity for the innocent girl Purvi and this dedicated lover sitting in front of me, it was too long and silence which provides better environment to think on it. I was utilizing that phase and busy until Purvi calls us to join at the dining table. After long time I was watching the proper breakfast table and it provide me the homely environment. We were served and I share little jokes and funny incidents of my hostel life to make atmosphere light.
After some we finished it and I was left with order of purvi “Hey wait here I’ll catch you soon after washing dish and bundle up all the mesh around.”
I nod my head and said “Ok dear I’m waiting.”
She smiled and move back to kitchen leaving me to think and utilize my time. I started thinking a little crying girl left behind with his father repeatedly asking for her mother and continue crying. Father was trying to console his daughter and try to make her laugh. And stop him from fall into tears, he lost everything but there is line of satisfaction in his face because for him everything was his love and he always carries the feeling with himself. Really a great lover was he and according to me her wife was unlucky who doesn’t understand his love and dedication for her. Surely a day comes when she should understand love and that time she feels guilty, shamed and sorry for him but till that time it was too late.
..... to be continued
