CAPER ESCAPE PART 1

 It wasn't a happy day for Stick. He was tired with his family's outing with his uncles family. But he knew this was just a courtesy returned. His family had been to Aurangabad many times and they had taken them around each time. Showing the sights and eating out and all that relatives did before Airbnb arrived. For Stick it still hadn't. 

Stick was for Tig. Tig was for Tigmanshu. They use to tease him by saying Tigmanshu from Dhulia. But thankfully his east Indian neighbours had renamed him Stick by then. That he was thin helped.

 

Today he had a vomit inducing slow boat ride to Elephanta caves. Had his vada pav snatched away by a monkey, head tapped by another one and bottle stolen by another one. He hadn't taken a day off work for this. He went down to the jetty and waited for his parents and the Aurangabadkars to return. 

 

They sauntered down by 6 and it was already dark. The gathering clouds made people uneasy and the boat was far more crowded on the return journey. He overheard one of the passengers saying the next one was canceled and this was the last one. Stick managed to get a window only to have his guests youngest son take his place. He grumbled more at his parents and whispered in his mothers ear that if i vomit on someone here it will be your fault.

 

The journey was much faster and there was less roll or yaw. Even the diesel fume was being carried away by a breeze. The golden sunset was covering about everything and Stick saw the Gateway go up up up. And higher. He looked down just to see the water hit his face and the next second he was able to see people frantically floating in the water. Only a few. And funnily enough to he was on the seat he had vacated. Panic was just setting in.

 

Arms flailing the jumped out of the water into the water and then remembered that he didn't know how to swim. There was a guy who was doing something and moving up. Trying to catch his foot, Stick failed. He didn't see the orange buoy that had magically been around him. How it got there he had no idea. But it wasn't taking him up. He couldn't see anyone anymore. Be he could see a rope that had tethered the buoy to the boat. Stick used to rope to reach the boat a few meters away and loosened the rope. As he was doing that he realised he has sunk further than most as he was stuck to the boat. Suddenly, there was light coming from the top. Mostly the surface and as he started going up, he was close to passing out and saw the bottom. And there he saw something. Something he would never forget.

 

It was a mess. Over 25 drowned but not one of Stick's party of 7 were lost or even injured. He was the only one who needed some medical attention. Aurangabadkar senior had even displayed his rural chops by heroically saving all of them and a couple of other people. Photo came in Midday and all papers except the times of India group. He took it personally. 

 

Something like this shakes up a city and no one more than the people who were involved. The city paid homage to the dead. The payout was announced. That seemed enough these days  no one really expects it to be paid. Over the next week or so people went back to the routine. The boat operators license was canceled for overloading the boat and a criminal case was filed against him. Stick seemed to be completely changed. More affected mentally than physically. The doctors said his tests were fine and he had no injuries. But Stick was so affected that he quit his job as an IT support engineer. Only his colleagues were sympathetic. His father was quite angry, convinced that he would never get another job. The job market being what it is. Sell pakodas. He said. Stick didn't know if he was serious or joking. Not that he cared. He had found his mission he thought and signed up for a diving course. 

________________________

TBC

Dependence Ports

Dependence Ports

The doorbell rang. It never rings at this time of the day she thought. After her husband had suddenly passed away, she had been so busy trying to keep the kids schedule as unchanged as possible that she didn't even really grieve at peace. The shock and loss of it was all that she had registered. Then the numbness of chores took over. But reality was peeking in from the corners. Savings were all but over. Relatives both his and hers were suddenly talking more about their problems whenever she spoke to them. As if she and her kids were going to pile onto them!! Oh! Vivek why did you have to come home so late from work that night. At least in rush hour people can't speed and run over others cars.

She went and opened the door. A chap was standing there. Smiling but looking like a fool. Two chaps wearing shirts with ties and sunglasses indoors were there with him.
The fatter of the 2 spoke. He's your new husband, he said. She looked at the three incredulously. Was this a Faustian joke being rendered with a gujju accent? the chap explained that this new improved husband not only had a better job than her deceased husband, he was more educated too, and from the same caste and gotra as him. Many cosmetic experts had claimed him far superior in look and build too. Had no vices at all, while Vivek was known to smoke occasionally. He is extremely fond of kids too according to his mother (but she stays in another city and would never visit). He has no affairs and will never be unfaithful.

Seema looked at them amazed and open mouthed. Screams rose and died within her head. she needed to thrash these 3 people, her husband was killed by a car owned by the chap who owned these minions and now he was buying her silence. She didn't speak. Just sat down in a dining chair.

Taking this for assent, the 2 oilies in ties sat down, while the new husband wanna be came and sat next to her. He had by now wiped the fake smile off his face. He sat opposite her and told her that he would not be replacing anyone. He himself would not be allow himself to be a replacement. He looked at her with genuine concern and said, I could probably marry someone else, but you too are young. The children are young. And if you go looking for love it may be too many stressful days before something materialises. Maybe never at all. After all, she did have an arranged marriage. Except for the circumstances in which they met, they would probably like each other had they met elsewhere. She did not have yto answer immediately, she could meet him for a few days before deciding. She scornfully replied that if she said no to him, would the oilies send another chap!? In all seriousness
He said yes. They could and would.

She gaped at all in a dazed manner but her mind was working furiously. This chap was sent by the man whose hands are tainted with her husband's blood. Should she not call security and have them thrown out?... But how long before she herself would default on the rent? What then? Term fees in the school are also due... But what can be done. Certainly not this idiotic option.

Was it so idiotic? Even if she got a job will she keep the kids in the same lifestyle as before? Was she really ready to rough it out in Vivek's memory? Was their love not already strained due to his work comes first lifestyle? She heard herself saying something. Like if she agreed to give this guy a shot what would she have to do? Drop the case, was the pat answer. But its out of my hands now, she said. The police will still pursue it, they had warned her. Don't worry about the police they had said, the driver who did this had already surrendered and justice will be carried out. You just sign here and leave the rest to us. They pushed some legal papers towards her. Suddenly, she said, what if he backs out then. He grabbed both her hands and said, I won't. But the two oilies also replied, he can't. You don't worry everything will be first class.

She took the pen.

Chuim Village

Chuim Village

Taras jaata hoon pedon ki chaaon ko
shahar kha gaya mere chote se gaon ko

phool kaanton waali jhaadiyan hui ghayab
ab to keel hi chhubhti hai paon ko

pardes jaa kar bas gaye yahan ke poot
chhod girte gharon mein maaon ko

khaane ko machli bhi kahin aur se aati hai
koli ne chhod diya pani mein le jana naao ko

Shor ab is qadar badh jaata hai aksar
mann dhoondhtaa hai gair panaahon ko

tera jeevan to yahin guzra hai quateel
kaise chhodega in namkeen hawaaon ko

This is about my village in mumbai, where i lived all my life. and also the problems of all villages within cities.