Swats Has A Story

Prads took part in this local theater form called Yakshagana on weekends. The stories were usually taken from the mythologies. Somehow Swats had began to like the same and she scripted one such play for Prads and his team. The original director of the play, a man in his sixties was made to sit and enjoy this modern version of Prahlad story scripted by Swats.

The curtain opened and the characters and the settings was introduced in a song. It was Demon Hirayankashapu's palace and he had passed the order that everyone should regard him as almighty and not Lord Vishnu. No person had raised their voice except his own son Prahlad. Prahlad was in Gurukul and the cabinet was called to decide how to finish him if he doesn't stop praying Lord Vishnu.

Each of the ministers voiced their opinions, 'Let a crowd of elephants trample him" , "Let poisonous serpents be allowed to run over his young body", "Throw him down the mountains".
But a girl minister played by swats smilingly said, ""Let a young girl enter his Gurukul and make his head turn...Let him fall in love with the girl truly, madly and deeply. After a year, we will call her back and you will see how slowly but surely he would die a bitter death while he is still alive and even Lord Vishnu can't help him. Then he will lose his faith in the Almighty." The demon found the idea acceptable and he put it into action immediately.

The next scene was after a year and Prahlad played by Prads had returned to the palace and looked completely dejected. The demon inquired him of his state and Prahlad like a true Devdas uttered in a musical fashion, "Dad... My heart is broken to pieces. It wouldn't have been so broken even if a thousand elephants had walked over it. My senses seems to be completely malfunctioning...Even the poisonous snakes wouldn't have had this effect...I feel like I am falling down a deep cliff and no one to catch me below..."

The demon was happy and was sure that now his son would lose his faith in almighty. At this opportune moment, his sister entered and said, "Prahlad.. Would you sit with me in the burning pyre..." Prahlad said, "What is this fire compared to the one that is burning inside me from her separation... " And he volunteered to sit alone in the pyre and the fire was totally powerless in doing any harm to Prahlad.
The demon was surprised and asked him how is that possible. Prahlad said, "That's simple. Its called Love... I am not here... Only my body is here. My soul and mind is somewhere far away.." The actor Prads paused for a moment as if to say his soul and mind wandered into some place far away.

Demon was not happy with this one and demanded, "Love can't be that powerful.. If it is so, she should have been here with you. Why would she leave you?" Like a bollywood feel good movie, the girl made the entry at that time, when it was neither day nor night, that is at dusk. She stood at the doorway neither knowing whether to enter or not to enter.She had come there forgetting the lajja of a girl and yet she didn't had the courage of a boy to say the thing... Prads forgot for a moment about his character and said, "Can this happen in real life also" and then came back into the character.

Demon was confused and remembered his real goal, "I will never understand this thing called Love. Coming to the point! Would you now regard me as God. That's what I want to hear from you..."
Prahlad replied negatively, "No!"
Demon asked him, "Then you still say Vishnu is the God..."
Prahlad laughed, "I strongly believe that LOVE IS GOD"

Renouncing the world

Swats was looking for a change... no... not for a change in the weather or something.She wanted a new crush... She was tired of falling for cricketers and television stars. And she found a real one that Saturday evening in the temple as she saw a handsome young boy walking towards the shrine in a very traditional dress. Prads read her desires and announced, "That's Viran, he is doing his second year intermediate, a year younger to you..." and then he added with a smile on his face, "Age is just a number... Thodi upar ya thodi neeche...kee farak padega... come on, let me introduce this princess to him..."

Prads then called the young man by his name and inquired him in his lingo, "So! Whats up, dude?" and a unexpected answer came from young Viran, "I am renouncing this world and becoming a sanyasi..." Prads with a smile continued, "Just when I found a girl who was ready to renounce this world to become your dasi..." Swats didn't like the use of word dasi to describe her. She would have been happy with the word girl friend. But the answer from the young man was not in sync with his age or looks "I am tired of girls. Girls mean worries. If you don't have a girlfriend, You are worried. If you have a girlfriend, you are worried of losing her. If you have a silly girlfriend, you are worried of whether she would end up in making you a laughing stock. If you have a cute girlfriend, you would definitely be worried of someone stealing her from you..."
This angered Swats very much and she shouted, "Girls are not the hub of worries. They are source of inspirations. Any art form has not grown without being inspired by women... Movies, Dance, Plays..." Prads added, "And even Blogs"

Just then a sexy chic in a becoming dress came to the shrine and the head of young Viran swayed in that direction without his knowledge. Swats coughed a little and gave a naughty smile mocking at the young man's behavior. The young man with a divine smile corrected her, "Its not like what you think...I was just appreciating her beauty and not getting attracted by her beauty. I was looking at a God's creation. See... God is present in everything... even in girls. Some separate God from the girls and look at them with lustful eyes... I am not like them..." These words were not going to fool Swats and she sarcastically remarked, "You sure have all the traits of becoming a Godman. Presenting a vice as a virtue!!! Great going."

Then Prads questioned him, "Where do you plan to get your salvation? Some went to himalayas and came back with new thoughts and theories. Some went to Kashi believing that if a person dies there, he never returns back to planet earth. Some went to temple town udupi....Where are you going?" The young man smiled and said, "GOA.." Swats sarcastically commented to Prads, "At least I am meeting one person who knows that there is more to Goa then beaches..." Viran negated her beliefs, "I am going to the beaches itself... " and he added, "If in such a place, one can keep his poise and calm, he is sure to attain salvation.... "

Just then a loud voice reached the trio from far behind, "I will show you the path to salvation, you silly fool!!!" The young man turned in the direction of that loud voice and exclaimed, "Father!!!" The young man's father approached and explained Prads the situation, "This boy is hardly eighteen and he wants a Bajaj Pulsar Bike. Says It is better to lead a life of a ascetic then to have a college life without a bike." And turning to his son Viran, he warned, "I want you back at home by seven in the evening. Otherwise, from tomorrow onwards, I will stop your bus fare reimbursement also and you have to commute to the college in that jam packed auto rickshaw along with those school kids... " That really made tears flow down Viran's cheeks.
Swats felt sorry for the young man and consoled him, "If you wish, I can drop you to college daily...." and after a pause added, "in my Hero Honda pleasure...."

Married Life - A Blissful One ?

That was the end of the weekend and as promised Prads had spent time with his young friend Swats. And wasn't he really tired giving company to a young girl in her shopping. Swats sweetly advised, "Had you married some nice girl, you would have had her welcoming you with a hot cup of coffee and a smile on her lips." Prads laughed at her advice, "Do you really think marriage is just a bed of roses that a husband after office directly goes to his wife's arms"
Then suddenly a car stopped in front of them and a known face waved at Prads and Prads and welcomed him into the car.It was Venkatesh, his old friend and a family man. Though Prads was not much interested to take the ride, Swats forced him in and so they thought they would reach home at the earliest.Aren't they going to be disappointed?

Venkatesh just requested that he needed to stop at a dress renting store for a krishna costume for his son. So they walked in to find a tailoring cum dress renting shop where a male tailor with just a bermuda welcomed them. Whatever variety of dresses he displayed, Venkatesh just had four words for him,'It is too long'. When the tailor asked the age of the baby, Venkatesh proudly said,"One and half years old'
Swats was surprised, "And you want to put him in a fancy dress competition?"
Venkatesh smiled, "Its socializing at the earliest." and he added , "You know lord Krishna killed Putini even before he was a week old!!!" That silenced Swats.
And they were out of there only after a good thirty minutes. Swats just noted down in her diary. When inquired by Prads, she slowly hissed, "First time I am seeing a man taking ample time for selecting a dress and that too for his one and half year old baby. Need to remember this day na!"

She thought the car would move to its destination without any further stops. Swats was proved wrong. The car stopped at a medical store and Venkatesh gave a simple explanation, "In this age, the working married girl has to take a lot of care of her health. And the spouse should be supportive."
Swats really found this husband supportive.He had even forgot the names of the medicines he had to buy for his wife.He gave a call and his supportive wife didn't even pick the call. Swats said, "Must be busy seeing some weekend serial. Wait till the advertisement break comes. She will call you back." As predicted, the return call came after ten minutes and the purchase of medicines and other necessities was made.

Then the vehicle moved at a higher speed and Swats asked a wrong question, "So how are you planning to spend the Sunday?" Venkatesh smiled once and suddenly exclaimed, "Oh God! I have a wedding to attend and I have not yet purchased the gift!!!" and he called his wife and asked him what the next day's bridegroom had presented them on their wedding. This all made Swats laugh, "It doesn't look like gifting. It looks like paying back..." The car had stopped at a gift center and again some more time for gift selection. Venkatesh couldn't just purchase the gift. He had to explain it to his dear wife and get her approval before the purchase is made.

After the purchase was made, and they had travelled some five minutes, Prads spoke, "You had purchased for your child, wife and for tomorrows bridegroom. Aren't you getting something for yourself." Suddenly the car halted not by choice of the driver but by itself and Venkatesh announced to their horror, "I had forgotten to put petrol in the vehicle. It was running on reserve till now...It was continuously warning me but I was occupied by other thoughts" and then he smiled and looking at both Prads and swats, "The petrol pump is just five minutes from here. If you both don't mind, can you?... I mean..."
And then Prads and Swats found them self pushing the car towards the petrol pump.
Prads sarcastically remarked to Swats, "Now say that thing once again about Married Life being blissful!!!"
THE END

More on Prads

Swats seemed to be a bit disturbed. Being a journalism student, she wanted to excel in interviewing people. But her lecturer had ridiculed her saying she can't be a good interviewer, if she keeps giggling and laughing and showing her real emotions at regular intervals while interviewing people. Prads comforted her, "She doesn't know you that well. You are much better than Barkha dutt and others.Come on... go ahead and interview me...let me evaluate your skills"

Swats was on her foot with a imaginary mike and a tape and she shot her first question, "Whats your greatest desire?" Prads replied from his heart and without thinking twice, "To be a father of a child... that too a girl child..."
Swats couldn't control her laughter on hearing this desire.
Prads with a stern face reminded her, "Never ever laugh at others' dreams!"

Swats tried to put up a serious face. But all she could do was to stop the noise of her laughter from being heard. She was still laughing as she put another question, "What makes you want to have a girl child?"
Prads still very serious about his desire continued, "Whenever I see a little girl of age around four to ten, I feel like I am watching Goddess Devi herself.My hands come together by themselves and my mind feels like chanting 'Sarve maangala mangalya shive...'"

Swats laughed again aloud at the innocent replies, "Next time take the Aarthi and the bell also with you. You can offer immediate pooja also na..."
Prads said, "See! You fail again.. You shouldn't mock at someone's emotions"
Swats got serious and threw up another intelligent question, "So how do you feel when you see a young girl of around 23-24 years"

Prads said, "I went to meet a good friend in the big bad city sometime back... Whenever I remember her, I am not drawn back to that time... But some 18 years back... I remember her telling me about her adventures as a 6 year old and I imagine them in my mind whenever she pops up in my memory. She as a small girl running around her grandma's house whistling and inviting the wrath of the elders. She playing with precious stones which is used by her grandpa in his astrology profession and thus angering him. A girl playing in the field with her own set box of games and all alone..."
Swats stopped in the midway,"Oh... Oh... this is something quite different. But do you view every girl like this?"

Prads replied, "Generally the girls I know." Prads then guided her, "Now that you have got my interview, lets see how will you finish it"
Looking at the imaginary camera, Swats put an end to the show, "You have seen a special person today. I wont be surprised, if on the first night, his wife finds a decorated baby cradle rather than a flower spread cushion and her man saying, 'Baby! The cradle is specially for you!'"
This mischievous comment made Prads pick up a stick and chase Swats all around the place.