The Simple Truth

Friday evening in Bengaluru meant party night for Tanav, he had completed Journalism and Mass communication course from Delhi College of Arts & Commerce & is working for Deccan Herald. He drove his bike without much concentration, it was as if the bike knew where he wants to go, it took him to 'Purple Haze' at Koramangala where he meets his friend, Rayirth on Friday evenings. Tanav was lost in his thoughts when he met Rayirth. The booming 'Purple Haze' disturbed him further, he signaled Rayirth to come out.

Rayirth: "Hey..! What's up?!"
Tanav: "Need a smoke... Can we walk for a while?"
Rayirth: "Here... What happened?"
Tanav: "You know I do this interviews of people who has done things to the society for the Sunday column. Today my boss asked me to interview a lady,Aastah. She is running an orphanage."
Rayirth: "OK.. that's nice.. but we do have lots of Orphanage these days..! What's special?"
Tanav: "I know... the reason my boss sent me to her was different, its not for the orphanage she is running but for the views she wanted to share!"
Rayirth: "I'm not very sure I understand...!"
Tanav: "I think my boss didn't want me to interview her actually, he wanted me to here her views... and then write on it...!"
Rayirth: "So you're getting to write new column...!?!"
Tanav: "I'm not quite sure about that...!" 
Rayirth: "oooyee.. what is happening man.. tell me what happened!"
Tanav: "Last week we had this event in office, everyone had to write about what are they doing/following to change the society. Everyone wrote about planting trees or cleaning the street, but I wrote 'What ever you do the next generation is going to spoil it as we are doing now'. My boss called me the next day and asked me why I wrote that"
Rayirth: "oh dear.. messed up huh?!"
Tanav started explaining: "No dude..listen.. I replied to boss that I felt that is the state of things, everything I knew as child has changed when I grew up. People are least bothered about society and what to do bring it up!"
Tanav's Boss: "And yet you can see that we are having more and more events and organisation giving more importance to uplifting the society. what do you have to say about that?"
Tanav: "Few are genuine but rest all are just corrupted!"
Tanav's boss: "I read your answer but I felt you never understood the question, what are you doing to change the society?"
Tanav: "Yes understood the question and I am aware of what i wrote!"
Tanav's boss: "Care to explain?"
Tanav: "The trees we plant and the street we clean, everything is wiped out in a week or months time. People still dump the waste on roads and planted trees are plucked out on will if any new constructions or in the name of expansion"
Tanav's boss: "Then make them stop dumping waste and removing the newly planted trees!"
Tanav: "The construction work will give me piece of their mind if i go there and stop them, besides they would have got clearance for construction on that place from government authorities. Must have cost the construction companies few extra bucks but bribe the government and you can do anything!"
Tanav's boss: "My question still remains, what are you going to do about it?"
A confused Tanav looked at his boss, is he expecting me to go around holding boards to stop corruption?! Tanav's boss looked at him as if expecting an answer. Tanav: "People of India has mentally accepted the corruption is OK, it is part and parcel of life. Don't have license bribe the traffic constable, don't get license of export.. bribe.. can't get something done.. BRIBE.. the political parties are running a race within themselves on who has done the highest scam! We live in a country where we follow a saying 'Doesn't matter if the politician is corrupt at least he/she should do some good!'.. this is the situation..!"
Tanav's boss calmly replied: "I asked your contribution? Am i still not clear?"
Tanav looked at his boss in disbelief, this old bugger is expecting me to hold boards against corruption and get thrashed! Tanav's boss wrote down an address and gave him: "Go and meet this lady on Friday around 4pm, her name is Aastah, she runs an orphanage... I'll call her that you're going to visit her" Tanav was even more confused, what is expected of him to do he understood but why he is meeting that lady he wasn't sure. when he was about to leave, his boss said to him: "Oh Tanav, i want your views.. i need i'll put up those in Sunday's column..!"

At 4pm, Tanav reached the address his boss gave him, it was in outskirts of city, the place had beautiful garden and very peaceful, he was welcomed by a lady who looked in her mid forties. She wore a elegant cotton saree and offered him tea, Tanav started explaining about what had happened few days back with his boss and how he had given him instructions to meet her.
Tanav: "Madam... I'm not very sure why my boss sent me to you... but i'll have to write your views anyway..so...!"
Aastah: "Please don't call me madam.. you can call me as Aastah and I understand why your boss has sent you here...! He must have felt you had the young blood which can turn things around for our country!"
Tanav was dumb stuck.. what was this old lady blabbering about, I'm just a normal guy..
Aastah smiled as if she understood what he was thinking: "Don't get confused...! I totally agree with what you argued with your boss, that state of country is such that.. but you didn't reply to your bosses question, what are you going to do?"
Tanav was irritated: "What can i do? I'm not corrupt, I'm sincere to my profession, I can't stop others from being corrupt neither can i advice them!"
Aastah: "Of course, you can't start preaching people to stop being corrupt, people will think you are fool... but then how are we going to stop corruption then?"
Tanav: "That is up to the individual...!"
Aastah: "Exactly.. How do you do that?"
Tanav: "you mean... I get caught by traffic police for not wearing helmet and i say i'll go to court for it instead of bribing him Rs200? No will want go to court fr this!"
Aastah: "Hmmm.. Let's say for 3KM distance i paid Rs200/- in taxi? who is to be blamed here?"
Tanav: "The taxi driver cheated you and you should be aware that it won't cost that much for 3KM distance!"
Aastah: "Correct! so when you get caught for not wearing helmet or having license next time, don't pay fine of Rs.200/- instead pay Rs.100/- which is as per Bangalore police spot fine amount! Next time don't be ignorant!"
Tanav felt embarrassed: "What about people who don't have literacy, they can't find out these data..!"
Aastah smiled: "Good point, majority of our country will come under your question, what could be done for that?"
Tanav remained silent.. Aastah continued: "How do we stop corruption? You can do mass movement and change the government but what is the surety that next government is not the same? or in our case what if you know the spot fine rates and next person ends up paying excess?"
Tanav: "The traffic constable should be truthful!"
Aastah smiled: "Yes...! If you have to remove corruption you have to be truthful!"
Tanav: "Are you kidding me? Are you expecting 1.2 billion people in india to be truthful?!!!"
Aastah looked at him, her expression didn't change: "How much lies do you tell in a day Tanav?"
It was a bizzare question, never heard of such thing, but started recollecting, he didn't tell any today.. "I didn't lie today!"
Aastah smiled: "how often do you lie?"
Tanav, didn't have any answer to that... he gave a deep thought and replied : "May be 5-6 times a week..!" Aastah: "So 5-6 times a week is a very small number, so to speak it is highly possible for you to go a week without telling a lie?"
Tanav, looked at her, where is she getting at: "Hmm.. Yes.. I think I could..!"

Aastah smiled widened, her eyes lit up, but still Tanav had no clue what she was getting at : "India was ranked 74th among 176 countries in the least corrupted countries, By 2012 we ranked 94th among 176 countries. The high level corruption and scams are threatening to derail countries credibility and economic boom. In a report, Gujarat which is the least corrupted state of India, when people don't ask for bribes, the economic growth of Gujarat is matching some of the fastest growing economic regions of China. Think about what could be the result if every state could perform on the same level"
Tanav still wasn't clear, Aastah explained: "Lets take one government body, say two wheeler licensing, imagine if 100 license inspector, 100 traffic policemen are true to their job. what do you think will be result?"
Tanav: "Then, they will not give license to people who really are not good at driving and these policemen will not ask bribe!"
Aastah: "Yes correct...! Imagine if 100 government school teachers who were good and true to their job, then the demand for private education will reduce drastically! 100 true politicians can change the face of India! But on all these a crucial factor is being truthful. Most of us are truthful on day to day basis but it is when the situation comes the truthfulness it put to test. It starts with simple being late to office and goes up to level which can sake the country's economy."
Aastah: "Tanav, what we can do to society is to be truthful. You be truthful, tomorrow watching you, your kid will follow that, your siblings will follow that. government can put up laws but again it is individual responsibility to uphold it. It all starts with being truthful...!"

Tanav felt a wave of enlightenment inside him, he thanked Aastah and left her to meet his friend Rayirth. Tanav finished explaining the story and looked at Rayirth:  "All these days I had the impression that changing the face of India was something else, never understood what is to be done to induce the change... Today I understood the Simple truth...!"

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Begetter

Moulya woke up, without opening her eyes fully, her hand reached the mobile and enabled the data connection. This was the daily routine, switching of mobile data before going to bed and enabling it well before she got up from bed. She knew it was Sunday, she had the luxury of sleep extra hour but events of yesterday night came back to her, she closed her eyes and tried to sleep again, but sleep evaded her.

She unlocked her mobile, she had unread whatsapp messages from Bhavith.

Bhavith: "Good morning dear! What happened yesterday?"
Moulya replied: "Hey morning"
Bhavith replied instantly: "Couldn't sleep yesterday night! Tell me what happened! Did you talk to them?"
Moulya: "Yes, after the India match we spoke! Most unexpected thing happened! I don't know what is going to happen next!"
Bhavith: "Tell me what happened?! I'm already sweating here!:'( :'( "
Moulya: "Mom wasn't a problem! It was totally dad!! Never expected it from him!"
Bhavith: "What!!!!! You told me he wouldn't be a problem!"
Moulya: "Yesterday after match, we all were happy that India won, especially dad! I asked if I could talk to both of them for a while. We sat down to talk while brother was sent to sleep. I told them about us, first dad was just laughing, told mom that I was pulling their leg! But later when I told them I was serious, it was only mom talking to me, asking about details of you and your family, dad didn't speak a word. Mom didn't oppose but she didn't support either, I think she was also little shocked, many times she addressed dad but he was just looking at me!"
Bhavith: "Oh god! I don't know what to say... what happened then?"
Moulya: "Mom was asking all details from when and how.. But dad never spoke a word! Never seen him like that... I love him so much.. I don't know!"
Bhavith: "Don't worry dear, he will talk to you today for sure! What happened then?"
Moulya: "I hope so! After a while mom asked me to goto sleep! I looked at dad and he said 'I hope you can get over this non-sense!' and he went to his room!"
Bhavith: "Oh my god... I seriously didn't expect this from your dad... Did he talk to you today?"
Moulya: "No... I just got up, didn't face him yet.. I don't know what to say when I see him...!"

Yesterday night after Moulya was sent to her room. Hrudhvi, Moulya's mom turned to her husband: "Svanik, what happened to you? are you ok?"
Svanik: "I don't know, let's goto sleep!" saying that he went to their bedroom
Hrudhvi followed him : "Svanik, we need to talk regarding this! This is our girl's life!"
Svanik: "I don't want to listen, I don't want her to marry some goof!"
Hrudhvi: "You don't even know that guy, he could be her match! First listen to her!"
Svanik: "Why should I? She has decided already hasn't she? How dare she come and tell us that she wants to marry some idiot!"
Hrudhvi: "Svanik, Did you even listen to her?! she was asking our permission! she wasn't demanding!"
Svanik: "I don't care! We brought her up from childhood, took care of her, when the time comes I'm not going to give her to some stranger. I'll choose the right person!"
Hrudhvi had a sarcastic smile on her face. Svanik: "What are you smiling about? and why aren't you supporting me!"
Hrudhvi, poured him a glass of water and spoke softly: "My dear husband! You are the most wonderful and the most worst person in the world. You gave her freedom, you have her choice in everything and yet when she is choosing something you are saying no?!"
Svanik spoke calmly: "She is still young to me... The world is not like she things, at her age all she thinks is love, life has to be dealt more practically than what you think when you're in love, Hrudhvi, of all people you know this better!"
Hrudhvi: "I know! But you brought her up like that, teaching her to look at life practically! When all of her friends decided to pursue engineering, it was only you on the whole family who supported her to purse law! You told her to take decisions in life and stick to it! Now when she is deciding something very important in her life, of all the person in the world, she expects your support!"
Svanik slowly : "How are you taking this?"
Hrudhvi: "Dear, we grew up in a century where love marriage was a 'bad thing', when some one was in love in school or college, people literally looked upon him as a 'bad person'. But things have changed, generation evolved, I wouldn't be surprised if our boy brings a "girl friend" home tomorrow and another one the day after. The world today is going in express speed, in fact they expect the same thing in love!"
Svanik: "Exactly my concern, what if she doesn't know what is love and this guy is not the right guy for her, marriage is not something to be taken easy!"
Hrudhvi: "Correct! but keeping quiet and saying "nonsense" is not the way we should react, Moulya respects you a lot, your approval is important for her! Talk to her, make her understand. Understand what she has understood about the guy and their family!"
Svanik: "So you are saying "YES" to this? What would people think?!"
Hrudhvi: "The 'People' will always talk, if its love or arranged marriage, be it anything, they will talk. Remember svanik, we should respect the 'people' to an extent they respect us back but the life should not become depending on them or act based on what they think about us! All our life we have done things only with one goal, to keep our children happy, and this is also a point where we should consider their happiness. And I have a feeling that our girl will not choose wrong"
Svanik: "I don't know... May be I'll talk to her in the morning!"

Svanik slept late that night, he least expected his girl to put him in such situation. He loved her very much and would hate himself if she was hurt because of him.
Moulya, came out of her and saw her dad reading newspaper in his usual chair, he looked up at her but didn't smile
Svanik: "Kido... we need to talk... freshen up and come!"
Moulya became very nervous, she was happy that her father spoke to her but the tone he spoke wasn't comforting. She freshened up quickly.
Svanik: "Shall we go for a morning walk up to the park?"
Moulya just nodded her head, she was nervous and afraid to talk.
They started walking, both were silent, svanik decided to break the ice.
Svanik: "Kido... I'm sorry how I reacted yesterday, It was shocking actually, I didn't expect it!"
Moulya, looked at her father, her eyes were brimming with tears.
Svanik: "I was so shocked that I didn't listen to you yesterday, Why don't you tell me about this guy till we reach the park? what's his name?"
Moulya: "His name is Bhavith. We both know each other from school, he is pursing CA! You have met him!"
Svanik was surprised: "Have I? when?"
Moulya: "During our school day function, I introduced him to you..."
Svanik thinking hard: "Hmm... Was it the guy who fell down from cycle in that cycle race?"
Moulya: "Yes, he is good at studies and a very nice guy... He is waiting for his CA finals results...! He will surely pass... he cleared CA Intermediate in first attempt!"
Svanik: "That's impressive.. So when did you both...?"
Moulya: "We were good friends for long time... It was last year when he proposed me...!"
Svanik said sarcastically: "Oh I see...! My girl has become big, accepting proposals!"
Moulya remained silent. Svanik spoke: "Kido.. I have always taught you to be practical in life... see the reality than fall for fantasy!"
Moulya: "But this is not fantasy, we both love each, our love is.....!"
Svanik cut her off: "I know the end of that line... That line has come across many generation and I'm sure it will keep going for many generations to come! No one can preach you love Moulya, what you see in movies is not love!"
Moulya: "But what you have with mom is love, correct?!"
Svanik: "Yes.. But you're too young to understand that! Listen kido.. life is not always smooth and easy... you don't and will not understand at this young age!"

Svanik and Moulya, reached the park, they both started walking around the park in silence again. After two rounds in the park, they started walking towards home, Svanik spoke again.
Svanik: "Kido... I know I told you to take decision in life and stick to it no matter what if you feel that it is right! But this is marriage, you have to weigh your decision!"
Moulya: "I know dad, I know what you have taught me in life... I'm not asking to get married right away, Bhavith will get a job soon, I'll also start practicing law for a year.. I told you both now, so that you are aware what I like to have in my life! Bhavith's dad is working in Bank, his mom is a home maker and his brother is doing engineering first year. They are also upper middle class like us."
Svanik: "So I'm supposed to just say OK?"
Moulya: "No, I want you to meet their parents and talk to them regarding this!"
Svanik was happy that her girl was little intelligent to know the details and was not blindly falling in love and respected him and Hrudhvi to ask their permission.

Svanik: "Before I say anything, I would like you to listen to me... will you?"
Moulya: "Yes.. sure!"
Svanik: "Understand that being in love is completely different from marriage... In love, everything is perfect! What he says, what he does, everything...! It is because you spend only a quality time with him, few hours a week. So that few hours you want make effective use. So you don't see the flaws. It is these small flaws which causes huge problems. How one respects elders... how one talks and mingles with other... Take your mom for example she doesn't like it when you talk with your mouth full or if you leave wet towel on floor? You know that right?"
Moulya: "Yes.."
Svanik: "In love marriage, they see each other as Ms/Mr. Perfect, they don't see or know these flaws so after marriage when they see or realize this, it will be annoying, its because they both don't know how they are at home or how their personal space is! I know people will adjust ultimately but suddenly they will get a feeling why is he/she acting like this, the "Ms/Mr. Perfect" feeling slowly starts diminishing. Understand, that is when you need to hold on to your love the most. Love is a beautiful thing, but don't throw it away for silly reasons...! You do know that there are many love marriage which ended badly, the reasons may not be major but it is crucial you value your love more than anything. It is very easy to fall in love and be happy, but in marriage you need your love to be strong to withstand testing times. Because in love it doesn't matter when you both like different things and choose different things, but in marriage you have to put your minds together to make life's decision, if things go wry, you can't just walk off, you need to put your heart in it to fix it!
Moulya eyes couldn't hold back her tears.

Svanik: "I still remember the day you were born, it is the most happiest moment in my life. I wanted to give you the best in the world, but I understood that being a dad is one of the most loveliest & difficult thing in the world. I love you but it is my responsibility to show you the correct way even though it hurts me. Dad is someone who will want to catch you before you fall but instead picks you up, brushes you off, and lets you try again. Dad is someone who wants to keep you from making mistakes but instead lets you find your own way even though it hurts him very badly. Dad is the person who makes sure you do what your mother says, even though he knows the kid will be scared when he raises his voice. I will always have faith in what ever you do and even if you fail. I have told you things which i'm not sure if you will understand or not, but as a father I want to make sure that my child doesn't lose her way in life. That's all!"

They both entered home, Hrudhvi saw moulya crying, she was worried. She looked at Svanik and saw his eyes moist! Now she was really confused what had happened. Moulya was about to go to her room when Svanik called her : "Kido... Call Bhavith home, we will talk.. then later we meet his parents!".
Hearing this moulya came and hugged her dad, he laughed on patted her and looked at Hrudhvi and said "It's going to be OK!"

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Besotted

Lochan was driving his bike fast through the traffic, humming his favorite tune with a smile on his face, he was going to met his friend Pulak. He had made up his mind after so many long discussions and thoughts, his feelings for Tarana has to be told. But before that Lochan decided to meet Pulak, three of them knew each other right from their school days. They are now studying in same engineering college but Tarana was in different department, Pulak and Lochan had managed to get into same department and luck was with them as they were in the same section too.

Lochan still remembered his first encounter with Tarana, it was during their seventh standard. The new class teacher being a radical lady came up with an idea of mixing up bright and average students. Hence Lochan, the class bottom most was made to sit with the class topper, Tarana. Lochan despised Tarana from the first moment, he never liked studious people, Tarana being topper made it to the top of Lochan's hate list. The first mid term mark sheets were given, Lochan and Pulak spectacularly managed to score single digits in all of the subjects, they both beamed at each other when found teachers could actually give mark for what they wrote. On the other hand, as expected, Tarana came first on all subjects. Lochan never uttered a word, in fact he didn't turn to her side.

Their next term exam was getting closer, the bell was about to ring for lunch, just then:
Tarana: "Hello...!"
Lochan didn't even realize that she could speak to him, so he didn't even turn his head, went back to sincerely finishing the doodle he started during the class.
Tarana: "Hello Lochan...!"
Lochan was shocked, "She can speak...! she knows my name!!! how!! May be I should get back to my doodle! she has nothing to do with me!"
Tarana saw his reaction, it was as though somebody stole his money, his mouth half open in surprise, she started thinking if she had said his name right. "Er... Lochan.. right?"
Lochan, only nodded his head... "She was talking to him... Oh god...why? why can't she see I am busy with my work!!"
Tarana: "Are you planning on passing this time at least?"
Lochan's reaction changed instantly, no body can question him, only his parents can scold him about his marks, he was least bothered about what others thought about his mark. what's wrong with this girl? "Hey Listen.. If I want,  I can beat you in all subjects.. ok? go and play with your girl pals..! I don't have time to talk with you!"
Tarana's reaction didn't change one bit, she kept looking at him, Lochan found it strange, he knew he had touched her nerve, but her face didn't show anything... "oh god... is she going to complaint to the class teacher or worst the head master?"
Tarana: "Don't worry small boy! I'm not going to complain to class teacher or head master!" saying this she left for her lunch.
Lochan mouth fell open, literally, he was astonished how she mouthed the exact same words, he made a mental note to be be careful with this girl.

Rest of the day went with out much eye contact, when the final bell rang, Lochan hurriedly picked up his bag and was about to leave, just then again he heard her voice, it sent shivers up his spine.
Tarana: "why do you fail?"
Lochan: why does she have to talk? why can't see just mind her own job!.. "cause i don't like studying"
Tarana: " You don't like studying anything or you  don't understand English" saying this she giggled.
Lochan was furious, he may be weak in studies but he proud-ed himself in his English, he picked up his English watching so many English movies in TV. He didn't want to reply to her, he had nothing to prove to her, he picked up his bag and was moving out.
Tarana: "So English is your problem!"
Lochan was so angry that he could throw a punch, he bit his teeth hard, it was not manners to hit a girl, but he knew he can threaten her: "Listen smarty pants, I don't have to reply to you, if you ever speak to me again then make sure to wear a helmet, next time my hand will be talking, I can't stand your stupid voice!" , he stormed out saying that.
Pulak: "Throw ink on her dress if she speaks to you again!"
Lochan smiled, happy that his friend shared the same feeling, "Haa Haa good idea... but she will start crying like a baby.. haa haa... I threatened her enough, she won't talk again."

Next day, the math teacher conducted a surprise test, both Lochan and Pulak submitted  blank papers, the teacher instantly found took out their sheets and was furious.
Teacher: "Both of you are good for nothing, even the animals can understand math, I feel sorry for your parents, wasting their money on you, instead they could have got a cattle. You both won't even help your parents with his kind of attitude, after growing up you will only end up as burden to your parents...." the scolding went on and on.. the whole period was dedicated to them, when the assault ended the whole class was laughing at both of them. when the teach walked out of period, she let a lethal blow: " Both of you sit and have your lunch... at least for that you won't be needing your parents help, but for everything else in your life you both will be needing your parents."
Pulak walked out of class almost in tears, Lochan sat on his seat, his eyes closed tight, he didn't want tear to roll out, the class was empty, when he heard the voice:
Tarana: "Why don't you study?"
Lochan: "Listen Tarana, now is not good time, i don't need any provocation to punch you.. please leave me alone!" he thought to himself, I don't need this stupid girl's sympathy.
Tarana: " I am not showing you any sympathy, Lochan. I am only trying to help you pass... if only you could pass, then you don't have to be embarrassed like this...! Fine, I am leaving...!"
Lochan, again, half shocked and astonished on how she could read his mind...  "I don't like to study a lot, I can hardly study for an hour, I can't by heart or remember all the big essays" .. he wasn't sure if it was her mind reading ability or his embarrassed situation which made him talk to her.
Surprised Tarana turned to him, so he is not that dumb after all : "If you problem is studying for long hours or long answers why not study short ones?"
Lochan: "What do you mean?"
Tarana: "Have you ever fully studied the question paper?"
Lochan glared at her, Tarana continued: "We have 15 two mark questions and two 10 mark questions, why don't you study 2 marks, that is more than enough to get you past the half way mark!"
Lochan kept looking at her, is she really that smart or is she making this up? "So for the coming term exam, i'll pass if i just study all two marks alone?"
Tarana, nodded : "Yes, we will have exam on two chapters, if you can study say 20 two mark questions, you should be easily able to pass."
Lochan eyes narrowed: "Why doesn't everyone pass easily then? why are you trying to help me? are you trying to make me a fool?"
Tarana rolled her eyes "Hello Mister, I don't care if you pass or fail, everyone tries to study the essay the first and lose half their time, two chapters will easily have ten essay questions, which doesn't fetch full marks either."
Lochan: "Then how do you score first mark?"
Tarana eyes narrowed: "Why are you bothered how i get my marks? this is about you alone.. try to pass" saying this she left.

Lochan, stuck to this simple plan, he wrote almost all the two marks in exams, when results came, to everyone's surprise, Lochan and Pulak had just passed in all the papers, first time this has happened.
Tarana with a sarcastic smile on her face: "So you ain't that dumb!"
Lochan, was not angry, but he didn't smile either, in a very feeble voice he said "Thank you!"
Tarana: "You studied you passed, why thank me for it?! good thing you made Pulak study, else he is hopeless!"
Lochan smiled, she wasn't bad after all, Tarana: "Oh! you can smile too ah?"
Lochan lips widened into a grin. From then on, both the boys took Tarana's help, she would mark them all the two marks, they would study that sincerely and pass the exam. It was surprising that in higher class, Lochan and Pulak answered many simple questions asked by teacher when most of the class failed, many concepts and formula's needed in higher classes were from two marks of lower classes, this helped the boys to study better.

Today, Lochan knew his way around exam, he was a decent scorer now. But his feelings for Tarana grew immensely from school days. Lochan reached Pulak's home and both went upstairs.
Pulak: "I saw your SMS, are you really going to?"
Lochan only smiled and nodded.
Pulak slapped on his shoulders: "Super! so when are you going to tell her?"
Lochan: "when she comes back from her tuition...! Do you remember the empty lane next to market, where we used to play during school days, she crosses that road to get to her home, i'll corner her there and tell her."
Pulak: "Shaaabhaash!! when will she be coming back?"
Lochan looked at his watch : "Her class gets over in ten minutes, it will take another twenty minutes for her to get there...! dude, I am very nervous!"
Pulak: "Stop it! She likes you from day one, I have been telling you this all along, just go and tell her, she will accept surely!! After all it was she who spoke to you first in class remember?"
Lochan lips spread out wide, "OK, I am leaving, i'll call you after the meet, pick up the call!" saying this he ran out of his house.

Lochan reached the place in fifteen min, he still had solid fifteen minutes before Tarana reached the place, he was nervous even though he knew her for long, he wanted to make sure he chose the right words to express his feelings. The deserted lane were full of empty wooden cartons from the near by market, Lochan sat on carton and started thinking what he should say to her exactly when he heard a deep crisp slow voice of a stranger.

Stranger: "Keep the box inside the scooter seat and make sure to lock the scooter!"
Lochan's held his breath and started listening closely.
Stranger: "After you park the scooter go to the discussed location as quickly as possible and wait, I'll call you again and give you the number to dial, make sure you don't waste any time and dial the number i share immediately from your mobile, it will set off the BOMB!"
Lochan's start skipped a beat, were they planting a bomb? what should he do now? run way? or try catching this fellow?
Stranger continued to speak: "Remember, don't stay very close to the blast radius, we want you to get hurt but not die, if you are dead then no use to us or your family, if you are hurt then even the police will not suspect you and you can be happy with your family! Alright? I'll call you in ten min, now go quickly!"
Lochan heard the sound of call being disconnected, a pile of tall cartons were in between Lochan and the stranger, neither could see each other. Lochan heart beat grew louder, he started to think, if he starts running there is a good chance that he might be caught , no point in screaming as this was empty lane, if only he could attack the stranger and take away his mobile phone, he could stop the bomb attack. Lochan heard footsteps coming towards him, he held a wooden carton tightly in his hand, his plan was to launch a surprise attack on head of the stranger which would make him fall then he can grab the mobile and make a run for it. Lochan waited patiently with a wooden carton. When the foot steps got closer, Lochan swung the wooden carton towards the stranger and hell broke loose. The stranger was well built and above six foot tall, the wooden carton hit him on the chest area which made him stumble back but not fall, Lochan putting his entire weight in the swing, fell to the ground because of the impact with the stranger.

The confused and surprised stranger neatly pulled out a gun from his pocket, Lochan who was on the ground recovered quickly as he noticed what happened and took another swing, this time aimed at the gun. The nails in the wooden carton pierced through the strangers hand, at the same time the stranger pulled the trigger. Both of them fell down this time, Lochan was scared but he knew he will die if he failed to get up quickly, he collected his strength and swung the wooden carton again aiming stranger's head who was still on ground. The carton crashed against stranger's forehead, nails in the carton had cut through vein's in his temple, the stranger went unconscious. Lochan breathed heavily, he wanted to run, he turned around but couldn't run, he saw blood on his hands, he was bleeding, the shot fired by the stranger had hit him on lower right side rib.
The amount of blood loss made him realize he needed medical attention soon else he won't survive. He was scared, his mind kept showing him his parents faces, tears rolled down his cheeks, he couldn't scream cause that will cause even more blood to ooze out. He remembered Tarana, he beautiful face, he knew how deeply he loved and respected her, he didn't want to die, not this day, he wanted to say how much he loved her, he wanted to live with her, he tried to calm down his mind but he was becoming weak. Lochan fell down, he used his free hand to get his mobile, he remember he had kept speed dial number 5 for Pulak and 6 for Tarana, he tried calling Tarana knowing she must be in vicinity. His trembling fingers pressed number 5, he phone at other end rang, his friend Pulak picked up his phone.
Pulak: "Hello...!?! Lochan..? Can you hear me? what happened? did you tell her??"
There was no reply to his questions, irritated Pulak disconnected the call!
Pulak picked up his phone and dialed Lochan's number, he phone was ringing but it was not answered.
Pulak tried again, still no answer, the worried friend kept dialing Lochan's number without a gap.
Lochan's phone kept ringing in the silent lane, bodies of two people on the road with few meters apart. Tarana was on her way back home, she crossed the lane exactly when Lochan's phone was ringing, Lochan's phone had an irritating ring tone, it was surprising for Tarana to hear the same ring tone here, she stopped to look, see saw two men's body on road and a mobile was ringing. She knew something was wrong and alerted the people near the market.

An ambulance carried Lochan to the nearby hospital, Tarana was right next to Lochan, the first aid in ambulance had helped him little, he opened his eyes to see Tarana crying, she held his hand tight. Lochan had imagined many lines and practiced the right set of words to express his love, he looked deeply into Tarana's eyes with all his love, he could only move his finger, he was trying to spell out his feelings, but Tarana's hand moved to his lips and she shook her hand signalling him not to speak. Tears poured profusely in their eyes, Tarana came close to Lochan and slowly spoke in his ears: "I LOVE YOU TOO...!" Lochan smiled feebly, he thought to himself, of course she can read his mind, he knew everything was going to be fine now.

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