Angry Young Woman

Unintentionally Prads had become the cause for Surendra's misery. His girl fell for Prads' charisma and prads's gud friend Swats was doing the damage control exercise. She tried to get the new girl Karthika out of Surendra's mind, "She is so fickle-minded... if she can so easily change her mind, think of what will happen to you, if she had met Prads after the marriage.. Every thing happens for good, baba"

Surendra fell for it very easily but put forward his fear, "But she looks like an angel. How can I let her go. And mother says, girls would easily forget everything once they get married..."
Swats felt like laughing, "Your mother still reads you bedtime stories. You should listen to the old elvis pressly song. He had advised boys so beautifully, 'she looks like a angel, she walks like a angel, she talks like a angel. But I got wise. She was a devil in disguise."
Sweet words of Swats made Surendra forget the lessons his mother had taught him.

Just then Prads entered and he was very mad and yells at Surendra, "That girl Karthika has gone mad. She came to my house and asked my mother for my hand. My mother first thought the girl was asking her son's hand to push some vehicle which had got stuck... She has left me confused!!!"
Swats suddenly turned to Prads, "What! A girl had come to your doorsteps and standing on her toes she had asked for you as her life partner and you have sent her away dejected.. Great! what kind of a fool you are?:"
Surendra couldn't believe what he was hearing, " You are two tongued... Gosh! All girls are confusing,,,"

Prads agreed with him, "Agreed ! After many days I got in touch with the girl from the big bad city and she messages me back, 'May I know who is this'"
Swats felt like slapping her friend Prads, "What! You tried to open a closed chapter....You very well know that you should stop looking backward and start moving forward" Prads answered her very slowly, "I know when to stop. I know when to let things go. I know when to move on. But “I know” is different from 'I can'",
Swats got really mad and she fired her anger at Surendra, "And you Mr Surendra! Listen! Don't do the mistake made by Prads... This girl Kathika is a closed chapter for you...Forget her!!!"
Surendra felf very strange, "Swasthee! First make up your mind, whom do you want to scold! Me or Prads!"

Swats felt very tired, "I think all boys are alike! All boys need to be put before the firing squad and shot at..." Leaving the sentence unfinished she starts departing from the place."
Surendra couldn't understand what was happening in Swats mind and remarked to Prads, "She is so wrong... naa...?"
Prads thinks about it and says, "No!She is very strong..." saying so, he proceeds to stop her and bowing down his head, "Tell me, my majesty! what should I be doing next? Proposing to karthika..."
Surendra left another shriek which no one would care to, :"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

Conditions Apply

The old man at the reception counter in the hotel looked with curiosity at the man in his thirties sitting with two girls in the late teens.It was Prads and his two good friends Swats and Jeevs.
Prads was called to the hotel by his friend Surendra who said it was urgent. But Surendra had not yet arrived. Prads kept looking at the entrance and a beautiful lady in the late twenties arrived and marched straight towards Prads table. The old man at the reception counter just thought "Lucky Bustard..." and continued with his work.
The young lady extended her hand and made her introduction, "Hi... I am Karthika... Mom told me I can meet you here,,,,"

Prads was surprised and quickly guessed that this girl had come to meet Surendra and had mistaken him for Surendra. Without waiting for Prads to make his introduction, Karthika continued, "My mother must have told you about me. Still before you give your opinion on the alliance...I need to tell you about some conditions"
Swats and Jeevs were loving it and widening their eyes, cried out, "Marriage Alliance!"
Karthika was curious about the teenagers, "Who are these two girls... Mom told me you didn't had any sisters"
Jeevs answered, "We are his bodyguards. In this Gor kali yug, it is difficult for a single handsome bachelor to roam the streets freely. So we are here for his security. But you can talk... we will not interfere"

Swats made the introduction with just two words "Good Friends." Karthika didn't question them further and looking directly into Prad's eyes, put forth her condition, "I don't want to have kids for at least next three years..."
Prads' jaws dropped down and he again tried to interrupt the girl. Swats coughed a little,hinting Prads not to stop the fun. She tried to give a glimpse of Prad's dreams to Karthika, "You know... My Good Friend was just talking about how he would like to gift his wife with a baby girl - a miniature version of herself on their first wedding anniversary... Am I right, Prads"
Prads with a smiling face nodded his head, "Completely... Definitely...." and in a filmy tone added, "I want to make my mom and dad, grandparents at the earliest"

Karthika tried to talk some sense into him, "Hmm... Its our life... We need to set our life and get our priorities right and then only we can think of starting a family...Don't you agree"
Jeevs didn't want to be left out of the fun, "You need a year and more for setting priorities. I believe you can do it before the dosa we ordered comes"
Swats also discouraged Karthika's view, "You know my grandparents had ten children. They never bothered about how to take care of them or give them the best. My granny used to tell me that grandpa always said, "God is there... He will show a way""

Karthika was literally fuming with anger, "Mr Prospective Bridegroom!!! I have not come for a group discussion here with some silly teenagers. Is my condition very clear to you???"
Prads found her conditions somewhat unethical as he reasoned out, "Why are you marrying anyway? If you put such a condition, wouldn't it be wrong. Think about it ethically. I feel that such a condition would make one look like selfish. It seems the one making such a condition wants just the fun out of the marriage and not the responsibility arising out of it. Remember a quote from Kahlil Gibran, 'Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.' So why interrupt such a natural process. Its my view and I would like to stick to it. I am not asking you to agree with it. But I don't want to argue any further..."

Karthika was taken aback when the polite Prads ended his thought with such a statement.
Prads made it clear that he was not being impolite, "I don't want to argue any more because here comes the man of the moment. Your prospective bridegroom!"
Prads friend Surendra made his entrance and extended his hand, "Sorry! Got stuck in traffic.. "
Karthika looked at him for a moment and then turned towards Prads, "But I like you... I like a man who sticks to his viewpoint strongly... however silly and absurd it might be. That's what I want in a man." Saying so, she walked away without even giving Surendra, another look.
Swats immediately quizzed Jeevs, "What was the song in Sangam that Raj Kumar croons when his best friend steals his girl?"
Surendra himself started singing that song very emotionally and the girls gave him the chorus, "Dost Dost Na Raha... Pyar Pyar Na Raha..."

Heal the heart and make it a better place.

Swats is sitting on the beach with Prads and enjoying the Sunset. She also had more company in the form of Prad's friend Surendra, A middle aged lecturer,tall but very lean. Surendra proudly announces 'Ab tak chappan!' Prads describes his friends slogan to the confused Swats, "Don't worry! He is not telling his murder count. All he wants to say is that he has so far seen that many girls...Marriage proposals, to be precise. But no one has said yes to him... but still he goes on and on and on..." Swats felt that Prads was mocking at his friend. At that point, the Surendra sings "yeh hosla kaise jhuke...:" from the movie dor. Swats felt as if she was watching Popeye. She smiled at Surendar and turning to Prads, "At least he is not sticking to something which is not achievable like you... " and turning to Surendra, "How do you do that? I mean how are you so positive"

Surendra in a very soothing voice explains his secret, "Because I know that the future is beautiful... All I have to do is keep my hope floating" Swats wishes "Gosh!!! If only I knew the future of Prads... I could have convinced him...." Surendra takes his spectacles and gives it to Swats who is taken by surprise, "Wear this and you will be able to get some picture of his future?"
For some it would be difficult to believe in miracles... but for Swats it has become a norm.

And she put on the specs and the sea in front of her disappeared.Instead of that she saw a garden and a young girl of six years old skipping in the garden along with a kitten. Swats without taking her eye off the child questioned Surendra, "You told me I would be able to see the future... All I am able is to see a young girl playing with a kitten!!!... is this Pogo Channel?... Is this specs like DTH?... Direct to home now made as Direct to eyes....DTE!!!"
Surendra laughs at the joke, "See her properly and try to recognize her..."
Swats was able to guess the features, "Gosh! Same nose! Same eyes! She looks like Prads... You mean! uski bachchi..." She was more curious and looked at the benches nearby "And Where is the mother? Where is Prad's future wife?"

Just then a man came near to the girl and hugged her. His hairstyle resembled Akshay Khanna's and his stomach seemed to have grown a lot. He called the girl very sweetly "Swasthee... Come to Pa". Swats was thrilled to hear her name and a smile came on her lips and tears in her eyes. But she was angry at what Prads had done to himself, "Gosh! whatever happened to Prads in the future? Look at him in the present. He is so athletic " Prads was completely unaware of the happening. He was watching the sunset and was totally immersed in it. Surendra tried to answer her question, "May be that's what happens when a man gets lots of love and happiness in life"

Swats herself had forgotten the question and was more curious of the girl in Prad's future "where is the mother of the girl?" It seems the young girl heard her and she too started crying "I want my mother. I want her before the moon comes on the sky" Prads comforted the gal "Have patience, Swasthee... She will come now.... You know your mother is like that.... She makes one wait..."
The young girl suddenly asked "Is my mother your first love?"
Prads answered with a twinkle in his eye "No! I was in such a stage when love and pain became synonyms to me... But when I felt that pain was beyond bearable, your mother made her entry" and suddenly the young girl ran towards the garden entrance shouting gleefully, "Mummy!!! Mummy!!!" Before Swats could get a clear view of the mother... the vision gets blurred and suddenly it went blank. After some time,the usual Doordarshan multi-colored interruption signal appeared in front of her eyes and then the words in block letters SORRY FOR THE INTERRUPTION"

Swats was very mad at Surendra "What the hell! I want to SEE the girl in Prads life and I want to see her NOW!!! " Surendra shrugged his shoulders, "But you cannot."
Swats was very near to break his neck,"And may I know why?"
Surender smiled and answered, "Had one been able to see his girl he would get in his life... I wouldn't be here.... I would have been at home cooking for my wife... and the count would have been just one"
Swats got very frustrated and just started walking away.Surendra stopped her and comforted her, "Its not the exact future you saw.. Its the future you want for him that you saw." and after a pause, he added, "Don't worry about Prads. He will come out of the pain or whatever he is going through.. But you be there with him...No matter who broke his heart, or how long it takes to heal, he'll never get through it without his friends.... Remember that"

Cupid Strikes - The Inception Way

Swasthee or Swats really wanted her elder friend Prads to fall in love. She even had the ideal girl selected for him - her good friend Jeevs. But she didn't like what was happening in front of her - Prads and Jeevs were gazing at the computer screen and studying the share market basics and there didn't seem to be any chemistry between them whatsoever. She looked at the heavens above for some miracle and suddenly, down dropped a handsome hunk with a bow and a arrow in his hand. He definitely looked to have come from the outer world. Swats wanted his introduction, "Err... You definitely don't seem to be from this world. Don't tell me you are from Pandora..."
The guy shrugged his shoulders and with surprise exclaimed, "Even I have to give a introduction!! Kya Gor Kalyug Hain? Doesn't this bow and arrows made of flowers suggest you something??? I am the Love God, Manmatha!!! I was able to read your beautiful mind and its small desire for your friend. So I just told to myself, 'Lets make her day'. Lets not waste time over here. Where is your good friend and the girl. I will make him fall in love very quickly..."

Swats pointed her finger at Prads and Jeevs. Manmatha's face showed some disappointment," This is definitely not a suitable place for romance. Yups there are beautiful curves... but they are on the television screen and that too not of individuals but of corporates showing their profit growths. I can see lots of figures but disappointingly they are from the annual reports and balance sheets. Everyone has just money in their mind. Here only brain is working. Love needs a place where heart is put into motion.... I need to summon my team..."
Swats immediately displayed her knowledge of mythology, "You mean... your beautiful wife.. Rati Devi...Right?"
Manmatha smiled at her, "Wrong... She has lots of household chores to attend... I have taken the team of Cobb's after I saw them in Nolan's Inception."
And in the next instance, The gorgeous Architect Ariadne appeared who was immediately put to work by Manmatha, "Change this place to a one which is more suitable for romance. Study the wavelengths of his heart..."

Swats really enjoyed the events that happened in front of the eyes. Before she could even blink her eyes, she found herself standing in the middle of a fifty feet road with shops on both the sides. It was evening with a hour to go for the sun to set and add to it the cool breeze. The weather was quite romantic indeed. She found Prads and Jeevs ordering a samosa in a nearby eating joint. Manmatha invited Swats for a coffee in the self-service restaurant opposite to the eating joint.
Manmatha loved the excitement on Swats face and hissed, "There's more to come" and he took out his love bow and pointing it towards the heaven, uttered a mantra. Swats expected the arrow of the cupid to appear. But rather a white gentleman popped up and Manmatha introduced him, "This is Earnes, the forger. He can prepare a identity." Swats surely didn't understand even a word of what Manmatha said. Manmatha instructed the forger, "All you need to do is to find out as to what kind of girl would Prads fall for and give Jeevs that identity." It didn't take the forger much time as within a minute Jeevs appearance changed. Her Churidhar made way for a jeans and full sleeves brown shirt. Her hair got trimmed till the neck and a small white purse-like bag appeared in her hand.
Jeevs who experienced the change looked around and in a very filmy fashion shouted, "Oh God! Mere Kapde...... Kisne badla?"

Swats totally loved the happenings and looked towards love God for more action. He took out the arrow and instead of shooting it, used it like a wizards wand and chanted the mantra "Expecto Patronum". Swats expected another handsome gentleman. But to her displeasure, the fat chemist Yusuf appeared. Manmatha sipped his coffee and instructed, "Use your knowledge of sedatives and mix something in the milkshake he has ordered so that he can succumb to the charms of that girl."
It took the waiter hella lot of time to get the milkshake. The same was served to Prads with the sedative. He drank it very slowly and Swats felt that he was doing so to spend more time with Jeevs. Was he already under its effect? It looked so from his amorous eyes.

He kept the glass down and clearing his throat spoke gently, "Tell me Gowthami. Did you like the books?"
Jeevs got mad and turning around shouted, "Foul Play! I am not Gowthami!!"
And in the very next moment, they were back to square one watching the sensex come crumbling down just like Swats hopes.
She looked at Manmatha for a explanation. He put his face down and out of the blue appeared another of his team member, Arthur, the researcher. He spoke, "You have completely forgotten me. You have not done homework on this guy. Now let me tell you why the exercise failed. Prads is still in love with the girl who had told him to his face that he didn't have any place in her life, not even as a friend. But he still carries feelings for her. And these feelings don't die easily because he feeds them with her memories. That eating joint, that fifty feet road, the samosa, the white bag - everything is taken from his memory which has a strong association with her. He is struggling with her memories that has manifested here and sabotaged your efforts."
Swats got the lesson from this and she spoke with some wisdom, "I get it... Its easy to fall in love... but not so easy to fall out of love..."
Manmatha agreed, "Yups! Seems like a hopeless case to me"

The Cardinal Sins

Pradyumna, Swasthee and Jeevitha were sitting idle at the local park on that saturday evening. When one has nothing worth to talk about, he should gossip about the things happening around him. And following that rule, Swasthee broke the silence, "Did you hear about that naughty brat of nine years who lives at the 9th cross, was slapped by a complete stranger at this very park"
Jeevs thought what nonsense is Swats talking. But she added to the entertainment, "Did you hear about the break-in into that teenager Bhawar's house. The thief didn't take anything...He just broke the television..."
Prads wasn't the one to be left behind. He added, "Gosh! This is nothing. My Neighbor, the middle aged lady Mrs Shanthi's heels got broken and she fell and hurt her legs very badly. She is blaming her Mother-in-law"
Girls thought that Prads was definitely much better than them

Just then a weird-looking guy with spectacles who was overhearing the conversation appeared before them and confessed "It was me who is behind all the three incidents.
I am punishing people for the ar-shad vairis. Six villains of mankind" Swats felt as if this guy just walked out of B-Grade hollywood thriller movie, and inquired more about the incidents, "Ar-shad vairis? You mean Kama, Krodha, Moha, lobha, mada, matsara...Right?"
The guy was happy that the young lady knew what he was doing, "Absolutely. And the young boy was guilty of the sin of Kama."
The weirdo's words shocked them as he explained his stand, "Kama... Desire...The boy had a plastic ball... he desired for the rubber ball...he got it... and then he desired for the covering ball... His desires was just increasing. So I gave him a good thrashing and brought it to control..."
Swats couldn't stop laughing, "I thought Kama was what Emraan Hasmi does with his heroines in the movies?"
Jeevs was angry rather and said, "Baccche bhagwaan ke samaan hothe hain(Children are angels sent by God).. unko kaam se kya matlab (How can they be guilty of such a sin like Lust)..."

Swats wanted to know more on the teenager who was their classmate.The crazy guy was loving the attention the girls gave him," Moha... excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures?" Prads questioned him, "And what could be that?"
The man spoke calmly "IPL...Indian Premier League." The crazy guy loved to see the surprised look on the cute faces which was asking him for explanations. He did it like a statesman, "The cricket fever had taken the boy completely over... The boy forgot everything... his studies... his family...his friends... his girlfriend...and sat in front of the television... So It was my duty to save him before it was too late. So I broke the television..."
Jeevs was thrilled and invited him to her college, "Would you come down to our college and take a look at the laptops and mobiles of our college boys and what they do with it..."
Swats added, "Yeah... He would definitely have a field day..."

Prads was more curious of the crime committed by his neighbor, the married lady
The madman answered him without taking his eyes off the girls, "Krodh... She gets very angry at her husband and scolds him all the time...."
Swats didn't digest the explanation, "Woh tho har biwi ka janam sidh hak hain...(It is the birthright of all wives)... and don't they end up together at the end of the day..."
Jeevs remembered something she had read long back, "Do you know the basic difference between war and marriage. In marriage you get a chance to sleep with your enemy"

Jeevs got curious as to if there were any other victims. The crazy guy smiled, "No... But I want to make you my next victim. And let me tell your crime also before you question me. You are guilty of Matsara... Jealousy...You always envy Swats and her closeness with Prads. That brings a lot of negative emotions"
That made Jeevs loose her cool. She answered more aggressively, "Its confirmed that you are a madman. Who wouldn't love to have a great friend like Prads? I don't envy her but do love to be in her place and enjoy that closeness." and Jeevs was sure that it was waste trying to put some sense into the madman who had got all his interpretation of the cardinal sins completely wrong, "Anyway! Tell me How do you intend to punish me?"
The crazy guy took his penknife, "I am gonna disfigure the beautiful face of...." Before he could complete his sentence, Jeevs raised her fist ready to take on her opponent. The crazy guy laughed out loud, "What am I gonna get by attacking you. Will it remove the jealousy from your mind. No! I need to attack the object of jealousy. " And saying so he turned towards Prads.

The minute his back was turned, the girls pounced upon him and brought him down and the knife was now in the safe hands of Jeevs. But she threw it away and spoke for herself and Prads, "Why do we need Knives when we have such long nails?" Prads couldn't see any further and closed his eyes.

Even I cannot describe the assault on the poor guy. The last I heard was that the police had taken the guy into custody and they say he was traumatized by the assault and was sent to some institution and may take months before he completely recovers.

Swats in a dilemma

"Secrets are to be revealed, lies are to be told and promises are to be broken". This was the advice given by Jeevs to her classmate Swats. Swats' elderly friend Prads entered at the correct time and reprimanded her for such a irresponsible act. Jeevs who had the hots for Prads was more than happy to clear the area for Prads, "The arena is yours. I will take the back seat. Lets see how will you help her our..."

Prads began his sermon with some great lines, "Promises should be made from the heart.. And if it is done so, when it is broken, a heart would also break." Swats immediately retorted, "The whole trouble is caused by this silly heart. If the promise is not broken...then my heart would break... So I am in a emotional dilemma" and then she explained her position, "When leaving my hometown, Papa dearest took a promise from me that I wouldn't fall in love until my studies are completed. But... its natural na that what you try to avoid is the thing that ultimately happens to you..." That brought a smile on Prads face, "Congrats! And who is that Lucky Guy!" Swats got angry and shouted at him, "Prads! You are elder to me and you shouldn't be congratulating me. You should talk me out of this.."

Prads got into his role quickly, "Swats!... Its not the age to fall in love!" and pointing at Jeevs he added, "When you are seeing dreams about a guy, someone else would be studying and she would outperform you in academics... "
Jeevs gave a mischievous smile and consoled Swats, "Don't worry... I would be also dreaming... And take a wild guess as to whom would I be wandering with in my dream world"
Swats ignored her and argued, "Prads! I am twenty... If not now, then when should I be falling in love?"

Prads was much elder and knew how to put some sense into her brains , "See..It is not like the earlier days.... Then, If boys didn't study, they would be sent to garage.... if girls didn't study, they would be given in marriage... This is new generation... Love comes later, ambitions and dreams come first."
Jeevs wanted to interrupt him and she did it with full smiles, "If someone is willing, I am ready to enter into a marriage now...One can continue the studies later also. Instead of coming in that public transportation system, you get a guy who will drop you daily to college and also someone to do your records and take care of the laundry too. What do you say Swats?"
Swats still had a serious face, "Prads! It is not just the age to have ambitions and dreams. It is the age when we yearn to have someone close to our hearts who can know our wants even before we can say it.." and she got poetic and continued,"Its the age when we know what is like to be in a relationship. It's the age when we know when to let emotions loose and when to control. It's the age when we respect parents and love them but also tell them when they are wrong"

Prads immediately jumped into action,"You yourself have given the answer! If you have that confidence, then tell your father that you are not doing anything wrong.. Tell him with whom you have fallen in love with... May be he will approve... By the way what is the name of that boy?"
Swats, a bit shy-fully, "Sinchan... Before she cud complete, "Strange name... is he from the north east...?" Swats continues, "Sinchan... and Bob the builder"
Prads expressed with a shock, "What!Two guys?" Jeevs commented, "It is always advisable to have a Stepney na..."
Swats explains the reason, "I am not able to make up my mind..."

Prads thought this was stupid and casually asked, "What do they do? Where are these two guys from?..." Swats replied, "One is a good for nothing who always hits at girls and the other is a mason... " Prads didn't like the answers, "Really... Great choices..." And Jeevs added to Swats answers, "And they are from Toonpur"
Prads shrugged his shoulders with confusion, "Where on the earth is this place...? Let me use google earth on the laptop.." Jeevs answered, "To know that place, you need to have a DTH with Television Set..." Swats laughed, "Bechara! He never watches TV... They are cartoon characters... " and so saying the girls giggled and started running away.

Jeevs turned around and giving a cute smile, commented, "And you too make a nice cartoon character."

Love Vs Friendship

Though Monsoon Season was over, the Rains had not stopped its display of show and force on the coastal city. Trapped in their hostel were the two girls, Jeevs and Swats. Swats wanted to meet her dear friend Pradhyumn cutely called Prads.

Jeevs who had the hots for Prads was able to read this and commented on the friendship which Swats also referred to as a platonic relationship, "You are missing Prads! So am I! So how does it make you different from me." Swats gave a cool retort, " Well! I am not so selfish like you cupid struck girl! You want no one else to miss him and you want him all for yourself..You want him to take you to a different world! Uff!" Jeevs agreed and started singing the romantic single from a Aamir Khan Movie,"O mere sapnon ke saudaagar,Mujhe aisi jagah le jaa, Main chaahti hoo, mere humsafar Mujhe pariyon ki duniyaan dikhaa, Pyaar hi pyaar ho jis jagah,Mujhe aisa jahaan dikhaa"

Jeevs was full of smiles as she continued her argument, "What is love without selfishness! But mine is just a one-sided love. So not worth talking about.I still have some questions to you. Prads is a 32 year old boy! What do you think is important for him in life now? A friendship to see that time is killed or is it some romance to heal a lonely heart."
Swats wanted to prove that love is worse than friendship and came up with a nice quote she read somewhere "I sometimes feel love and death are similar. One takes the heart away and another the beats..." and continued her sermon on friendship "When in love,you always fear of hurting the other and think twice. But in friendship, there is no restrictions on your emotions... Do what you feel you want to, think of the results later. When the mind is set so free, wouldn't the heart heal by itself"

Jeevs was fully prepared with her set of arguments as she continued, "How long do you think you can be her best friend? Once a girl enters his life as a wife, would you think she would allow you to continue as a best friend... Isn't a wife, a husband's best friend?"
Swats gave a angelic smile as she answered gracefully, "Marne ke darr se koi jeena toh nahi chodta na (For the fear of death, No one stops living their life... do they?) Just because of the fear that I might not be as important to him later as I am now, why should I stop being his friend?"

Even the Rain Gods seemed to pleased by her answer and it paused its show of force. Swats was immediately out of her room and on her honda pleasure vehicle. Before departing Swats spoke her heart out on her relationship with Prads, "I don't love him... I don't need him.... I don't want him... But I love the feel I have when I am with him..."