The golden era begins

Sound the bells,

Start the engine,

Shouts and bellows,

The era has begun.

Happy cries,

Small the size,

Big is the heart,

Golden is the one

The era has begun.

Night now knightly,

The Days are sleepy,

With calls and drums

Came the chums,

The era has begun.

Let me be blind

This is a bleak world.

The sadness, the sorrow,

Can't bear the horrow,

Be a little kind,

Let me be blind.

The houses are broken.

Streets filled with flood,

And Rooms with blood,

Be a bit spined,

Let me be blind.

Wars all around.

Countries they divide,

You keep in the hide,

Please, have a sane mind,

Otherwise, let me be blind.

You talk about love.

People hate-hear,

Being afar-near,

Can't bear their whine,

Please, let me be blind.

Let me be blind

Tom, Toby and the Treasure

Toby a boy of 13 years, along with his brother of 9, Tom, was walking along the road barefoot. They looked as if they had been hit by some vehicle. They were wearing rags, their shirt was torn, The shorts was muddy. They both were stinking of a gutter.

Toby the elder brother was watching the traffic sped, asking for alms, but to his dismay no-one bothered to help them. Tom the younger one asked his brother what they will do today if no one gives them anything. Both of them hadn't had anything since the day before. Toby told him he would do something or the other to buy them some food.

Another red light, he stood again to ask for some money. Still nothing. Suddenly Toby saw his brother faint on the footpath. He ran towards him crying at the top of his voice. 

A car suddenly came to a halt, a woman stepped out of the car and ran towards the two boys. She asked Toby if he needed any help. He didn't answer knowing that nobody is going to help him and his brother, and kept on crying.

The woman then took Tom in her arms and asked Toby to sit in the car. Toby couldn't grasp what was happening he just did what the woman asked him to do.

The woman took both the kids to a nearby clinic. 

She started the check-up, at that time Toby knew that she was a doctor. She took half an hour to checkup on Tom and came to Toby to have a word.

Before she could speak, Toby said," I don't have to money right now, but will pay you, just save my brother."

The woman smiled at Toby and said, "No need to worry. He was just exhausted, hence fainted. He is fine now but needs some rest." She asked him again, "'Is he your brother?, How old are you both?"

Toby still crying answered with a sigh, " Oh! Thank God, thank you so much mam, he is the only family i have."

He continued, " My name is Toby and that's my brother Tom, I am 13 years and he is 9. We are orphans. Out mother and father passed away during the COVID outbreak. We don't have anyone in family and we were thrown out of our home a year back."

The kind hearted woman listened to everything that Toby had to offer. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she heard the story. She had  also lost her parents and her husband during the pandemic. So she could very well understand what they were going through..

The woman, Natalya, couldn't stop her tears, and kept on weeping as she felt not only sorry for the two boys but also sympathetic towards them. 

Natalya told the boys to stay at the clinic for a day or two. Toby thanked the woman and sat beside his brother. 

The sight of love and affection filled Natalya's eyes with tears and was overwhelming with feelings that she had never had before. Natalya kept her hand on Toby's head and said, "You need not worry I'll take care of you both, you need not worry about the expenses, I'll take care of that. Just see to it that your brother is fed properly."

Toby had never felt this much relieved before, and embracing the woman thanked her for this kind gesture.

Natalya then went on with her routine checkup of the other patients, she also asked some staff members to regularly check up on the two boys.

Tom regained consciousness and asked Toby where they were, Tom told him that a kind hearted woman brought them to this hospital.

At night after they had dinner that was brought by one of the hospital employee.

Tom told Toby everything about the woman and till late night they talked only about her.

The nurse came and told both the boys to sleep, she gave Toby a mattress to sleep on.

The next morning when Toby woke up he saw the woman sitting beside Tom caressing his forehead, he didn't interfere and kept on staring the woman. He had never seen anyone else do the same thing to Tom besides their mom. Tom woke up and as soon as he saw the woman she got up as if he had seen some ghost. He said he thought it was his mother that stroke his head. 

Toby who was sitting on the mattress stood up and thanked the woman for everything that she had done for them.

The woman with shaky voice asked to the boys if they would like to go to the woman's home, she told the boys that she too was living alone and there was no one in her family that was left. The boys reluctantly agreed to Natalya. But she asked that she would like to talk to any of their family members that were alive. 

Tom told her they had an uncle, Mr. Uzura, who had taken their home from them and threw them out to live in the streets, but asked Natalya to not to go to him as he was a really bad person.

Natalya asked for the address, but they would not tell her. Natalya assured them that she would not go there to fight him.

She would just talk to him and nothing else

Toby told her their address, 34, Victoria road, London. Near Kingston court gardens. Tom glared at his brother as he didn't want to create any trouble. He took Toby's hand and pressed it hard to ask him to stop talking.

Natalya then asked the boys to pack their bags not realising that they had none. She took them to her home. Looking at the home Tom's eyes sparked with joy. He had not been to such a big house before. 

Toby on the other hand was sceptical about it.

In Toby's mind he couldn't comprehend as to why this woman was helping them. 

Toby and Tom went inside the house which had many rooms, there was a maid to clean the house and a chef too to bring them food. 

Natalya asked the maid, Mona,  to prepare a room for the two boys.

Mona, the maid was some 70yrs old and had been with Natalya since she was a child. She had only left her side when Natalya had gotten married, but as soon as the news of her in-laws' death reached her she came to her aide.

Natalya told the two boys that she would be back in the evening and if they wanted anything they could ask Mona for that and went away.

The two boys came to Mona and asked her if she could prepare some food as they were starving. Mona called the Chef and told him to prepare Breakfast for the two boys and went to clean and prepare a room for the two boys.

After breakfast the boys came and hugged and thanked Mona for the food and she then took them to the room.

Inside the room the boyes gaped at the beautiful colour combination of the walls, the chandelier hanging, the bunk beds, and many other toys that had been kept for them.

The boys asked the maid how is it that the room had been prepared and there are so many toys but there isn't any child in the house.

Mona said nothing and told the two boys to go into the room and play or sleep, they could to whatever they want and closed the door behind her.

Mona stood there and couldn't walk away from the door. She had not seen smile on Natalya's face for quite a long time and today she was smiling. Mona reminiscing the young Natalya when she was just the age of the boys, had lost both the parents, and being the only child, Mona became her guardian.

She loved Natalya as her child and conferred her with everything she had.

Toby came to the door and opened it and saw Mona standing there as a mannequin drowned in the nostalgia of the good old days of the young Natalya.

Toby took Mona's hand and asked her about Natalya as they didn't know anything about her.

Mona then went into the room of the boys and told them the whole story.

Both the boys were emotional and crie,d embraced into Mona's arms and just sat there and slept.

In the morning Natalya came to the room, opened the door slightly and watched the boys intently, how they slept so peacefully. 

Mona woke up and saw Natalya standing in the doorway, she wanted to getup as soon as she saw her, but the boys clung to her in such a way that she wasn't able to move even the slightest. Natalya gestured her to lay there still and let the boys sleep.

At that moment she pondered on the thought of adopting the two boys.

She went down, cooked something for the childern and brought it upstairs to the room.

At this moment, the boys were woken up by Mona. Natalya came towards the boys and asked the most difficult question, "would you like to stay with me forever." 

A day as a Cabby.

Now, let me tell you something interesting. I had been planning on doing this for quite some time, yes, to drive for the whole day as a Cabby. And the day came with one of my friend's cousin who drives a cab allowed me to drive his. Well I had been pestering him for quite some time(more than 6 months). I don't know what the procedure was, if I could drive on his behalf, and would it be safe. But we just gave it a go. 

So in the month of April the day came just after my b'day. When my friend and his cousin came to my house and told me that his cousin is going out of town for some days and if I wanted I could drive his cab, but he would take my car. After giving it a thought we agreed. He told me how to operate the App. and asked me to always wear a facemask.

Well the next day I logged into his application and was just about to start the car @6am the phone rang. It was my first pickup. And that too near my place, Karol Bagh to the airport. I strapped on my seat belt and drove to the pickup location, there were two person dressed as some executive, with suit and tie. I hadn't seen someone carry a briefcase before, yes the old kind. So they confirmed that they had booked the cab and gave me the pin to start the ride.

The whole way they just takes about their business deal and other stuff, one was just silently listening to the other. The trip took us only 35 min to reach the airport. The total fare that I received was 680 rs.

As soon as I received the money the phone started to ring again. This time the pickup was from the arrival of the same airport. I told the passanger to wait for 10 min. As I would have to make a long U-turn to come there. They then cancelled the cab. 

No sooner they had cancelled the ride I got another buzz. 

From the same spot i got a ride to Laxmi nagar. This was an offline ride. The passanger insisted on taking them offline and offers me 800 rs. I asked them for 1200 but then after bargaining we settled @950. 

The passanger had a family of 3. He, His wife and a son.

The son was somewhat of a 6 years chatterbox. He asked alot of questions to his parents. "Papa, hum kitni der main pahunchenge", "Bua mere liye kya gift laayi hai", ..... I just sat there listening to the child and the parents just ignoring all his badgering. He then turned towards me and asked, " Uncle aap car kyun chalate ho? Aapko maza aata hai kya car chalane main." I told him that this is my job.

He then turned towards his mother and asked, "Mummy maine bhi car chalani hai." 

At this point I was just thinking how could a Cabby drive people and be calm all along the journey, as I have been quite irritated by this child now. He was pushing his legs behind my seat with full force and that irritated me alot. I asked the parents to ask the child not to do that but they rudely talked to me and asked me to just drive.

The journey ended and then they tried to pay me 800 rs. I asked them that we had a deal settled for 950. The wife said, "Bhaiya lena hai to lo nahi to jaao." 

Unwillingly i took the money and went away.

Now this was the time I realised how people misbehave with cab drivers, (i couldn't write what all they said)

For 2 hours my phone didn't rang at all. So I took the cab to one of my fav. places in C. P.. A person needs his fuel to run. I put the app on off-line and went to jain chawal wale. I had previously loved this place for the taste, have been here may times during my school and collage days. But this time I couldn't take the authenticity of this place. The taste was bland. I don't know was it the food, or lack of the presence of my beloved friends that always came here with me.

I still ate and sat in the cab. 

Put the phone on on-line. And waited for another ring.

But nothing till 3 pm. 

@3 the phone rang, at this point I was half asleep. But I accepted the booking. It was from C.P. to Rohini. And the amount was 590 something. I went to the pickup point and called the passanger. He didn't receive my call, I tried again, still no answer. I waited for a bit and then I thought of cancelling the booking, before I could cancel the booking i got a text from the passanger that he will be there within 5 min.

So I waited and waited it seemed as if I was waiting eternally for the passanger. He came after a gap of 15 min. I took his OTP and started to drive. This person was a nice person I must say, he greeted me nicely. And asked me if I had had my lunch. He was the first one to talk to me in such a nice way, and so I thought why not indulge in some friendly conversation.

I asked him where he was from, as his accent suggested he wasn't from Delhi. 

He told me he asked from Rajasthan.

Before I could ask him another question his phone rang and he started to talk to someone on the phone. 

I sat there eve's dropping to his conversation. 

He must be talking to his wife or girlfriend. 

You ask me how, the sound of kisses. 

I smiled and concentrated on my driving.

This was a very long call. So long that we reached our destination. 

This journey took approximately 2 hours or so and the bill amounted to 840 rs. This man now asked me that the initial fare amount was 590, and now it has gone upto 840. I told him it was due to the traffic that took us more time in the journey and to compensate the driver for his time.

Now it was already 5:30 and  I thought of going back home, for me it had been an exhausting day, Driving all around the city.

But no, another time the phone rang, and fortunately this ride would take me to near my house where I could then go back home.

I took the call and accepted the ride. The pickup was 1 km away, so I started to ride there. I never thought of getting my cng filled. I had always driven a petrol car and didn't know about where should I get the cng filled and the meter started to tell me it was going empty.

I told the passanger about it on phone that I would need to get the tank filled, but he rudely declined and said I should be there right on time.

So I took the car there and prayed that the tank doesn't go empty.

I picked up the passanger who was a 70ish guy.

I asked him if I should get my tank filled now. 

He told me to get the petrol as the cng would take alot of time to be filled and he was right. Where ever I saw the petrol pump i saw a long que of the cars outside to get cng and the petrol was idle.

I took his advice and got petrol for my car.

The ride was for 500rs. 

Nothing special about the ride. The passanger only slept during the whole journey.

We came to the destination Rajendra nagar metro station where I dropped him.

This time he paid me online. The payment went through and I switched to offline and went back home.

So driving a cab is not at all easy, it take a toll on your body. I had cramps in my back and the legs pained alot. 

Hats off to the drivers who drive for the whole day.

Calculating the amount I got 3000 approximately for the rides I took, 500 i spent on petrol, how much the app charges that I didn't know.

For me money wasn't important, what's important was the whole experience that I had.

Next time I go on any other adventure, I'll let you know.

Delhi to London (Part 5)

I was stunned, as I opened the door, Nikita looked like an angel, in beautiful white Indian attire. I couldn't utter a single word, couldn't move, I was dumbfounded.

"Won't you ask your friend to come inside", didi asked.

I smiled and asked her to come in. 

She came in and met didi and jiju. She said nothing but smiled.

We sat in the drawing room, for a few minutes no-one said anything, it felt a bit awkward.

I had never known my didi and Nikita not to speak at all. 

Didi said,"Would you like to have coffee or tea."

"I can have tea.", Nikita replied.

Didi went inside, and feeling awkwardness jiju went after her.

Nikita and I were alone in the drawing room. She didn't speak a word. Then I asked, "how's you?"

She replied," I am fine."

Then silence again. 

Why is this girl who talks so much right now being silent, she was just smiling and her looked nervous. Her leg kept on stroking, she  played with her nails quite often, she just looked down.

While I was looking at her, I asked what's the matter what is she like this.

She said, " Didi se Darr lag rha hai"

I told her" Didi se darne ki baat nahi hain, aur wese bhi we are just friends."

"Still yaar!", she said.

Didi entered the room with tray in her hands. She sat down beside Nikita, and told her not to be nervous, 

"My brother's friend is my friend, please have some tea.'

We picked up the cups and started to drink, it was hot, i burnt my tongue.

"What happened?", she asked, while my sister watched our reaction.

"What have you seen in London, did you go on any sight seeing", asked didi.

" No didi, not yet, I had been to a dinner party with my friends last week at a nearby restaurant, apart from that I haven't been to any other place."

"You both can go today, you can take my car and go out, but after lunch." said didi.

I was just looking at both of them, even jiju was having the same expression as I had. We were both confused.

Nikita agreed but on a condition that didi and jiju should also join us.

Didi told her that she have some urgent work and won't be able to join us and we should go, looking at jiju, jiju agreed.

Was jiju afraid of didi i thought.

After some conversation we went to the dining table.

At the table didi served us some chapathi and chicken, there she had also prepared some biryani along with salad.

Nikita asked, "How did you know that I like Biryani, I haven't told this to him."

"I hope that you like the dish, please start."

As soon as we started, old Nikita was back.

"Di, i Haven't had such a nice chicken before, and i craved for the chapathi, you know how it is here that they don't serve Indian food in our mess. The biryani is from heaven it seems, thanks didi for preparing such delicious lunch for me."

Didi smiled and said nothing.

Jiju suddenly said, "Ye chicken biryani Maine banayi hai." (The biryani is prepared by me)

Everyone started to laugh at jiju's comment.

With every bite she took, she praised didi and jiju's cooking skills.

After we were filled, didi gave me the keys of her car and asked me to take Nikita as planned before.

Nikita asked didi again if she could also join us.

"We will go with you both some other time, you guys enjoy and be back before dinner." 

Nikita again thanked didi and jiju for the wonderful lunch and a much wonderful time she had with them.

We both went to the car and started to drive off.

Part 6....

Coming soon..

Delhi to London (Part 4)

 Sunday. 

As my father called the day "Funday".

I woke up with a smile on my face, freshen up and went downstairs, didi was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. She asked me if Nikita is coming today for lunch. I told her she promised that she would be here.

Didi then asked me what should we prepare for the lunch and dinner. I told her she is coming for the lunch and i wasn't sure she would stay for the dinner.

The bell rang, but it was only 9 am, did she come already? 

I ran to open the gate but there was jiju who had gone to the grocery store to buy some fresh green veggies.

He came in and went straight to the kitchen to help didi.

Let me tell you something about jiju. He talks rarely, and when he does it's to-the-point. He seems to be really strict, but he is really good at heart. 

This was the first time I was watching didi and jiju working together in the kitchen, I asked both if they do this every Sunday or just occasionally, didi smiled and jiju in his serious tone "Occasionally".

"What's the occasion today?", I asked realising the stupidity of the question. They were preparing lunch for Nikita.  But they said nothing.

I asked what they were planning to prepare.

Jiju in an instant replied, "Chicken."

Didi asked me what time Nikita would be here, I should ask her.

I went to my room, picked up my phone and saw Nikita's messages,

"Hey, good morning, wanted to ask you if you are coming to pick me up at my hostel or should I come there by myself?"

" Hey again, I am a bit anxious, and a bit afraid. Should I come or not."

"Hey, if you aren't coming to pick me up, tell me your address I need to book a cab to your place then."

Reading her last message I realised that I hadn't shared my address with her. It's the hight of my stupidity, that I invite a guest on lunch but don't tell her the place where she should come.

Now, it was already 11am, if I go there to pick her up it would take approx 30 - 45 min, and i had to book a cab. Then the same time to come back.

I went down and asked didi what should I do.

Didi and jiju laughed and told me to ask her to book a cab to our place. "Just send her the address." Didi said.

I send a message to her telling her to book a cab to our home with the address and location attached with the message.

She promptly replied, that she would be here by 12.

I told both that she would be here by 12.

After the preparation was done both sat me down on sofa and asked me if I was dating her.

I told them that she is just a friend who i talk to.

Didi said, " We are just confirming, did you go on a date yet?"

I didn't have the answer to this question.

We had only met thrice, one on a plane, second after a week and third recently, can these be called Dates. I don't think so. For me a date should be a well planned one. Where both talks and happy with each other. Realising, on these 3 occasion, last one was planned but not the other two. So, was the last one a Date then or not?

But I hadn't asked her out specifying that it would be a Date, so that must not be a date. Was it?

As I was thinking, jiju said something to didi and they both laughed, but they didn't tell me what he said.

I told them, " No, we were not dating, just casual meet, that's all."

Didi said, "If you want, today can be your first official date. Now go and wear something good, don't be such lazy."

I told her, " You asked me to invite her, because you wanted to meet her, how can I call it my Date, and if I go on a Date, why would it be with you two."

Didi smiled and said, " It means you wanna take her on a Date, Right."

She continued, "what you can do is, after the lunch take her on a drive. You can also take her to Primrose hill. But you should be back by 8 for dinner."

So this was her plan, fixing a date for me, with a girl I just met. But I liked Didi's idea of taking her somewhere. 

But I said, " It won't be a date, I haven't asked her."

She said you can ask her today after lunch.

I went upstairs to my room to change, thinking what crazy cousins I have.

By the time I came down it was already 12:15 and I called Nikita, 

"Hey, kahan reh gaye?" (Hey, where are you now)

"Paying the cabbie, now at your door steps."

As soon as I reached the door to open, she had rung the bell.

Part 5.. coming soon...

Delhi to London (Part 3)

I thought if this is the end to our friendship, at or around 11pm i messaged her

"Good night".

I crept into my bed. I started reading one of the novels, but I couldn't concentrate on reading, my mind kept on wondering, mostly about Nikita, what must have happened, why she didn't reply, this happend for an hour or so.

And I thought I should close the book and sleep.

I closed my eyes but still my mind wondered, but soon i slept.

I woke-up early that morning and took my phone to recharge. Saw that there was a single message.

As I opened the message I saw it was from her, Nikita, it read, 

" Good morning, sorry I went out with some friends for a dinner party and came back quite late, i thought you won't talk to me after I had sent so many massages and there wasn't a single reply. It's quite funny that you forgot your phone at home and didn't realise it sooner. Saw your messages quite late and didn't want to disturb your sleep so didn't reply at night. Hope we meet soon, will tell you about the party that I went to. Have a nice day"

Oh! I was afraid for nothing, and replied, "We can meet today if you want after my last lecture, 4pm around, if you are free. Good day to you too."

I went down after getting ready, I had plenty of time today to reach college.

After the breakfast I booked a cab to my college, my sister asked me about the studies, I had thought she would ask me about the girl as she had been asking me about her. I told her that I was doing good.

I looked at her hoping she would ask me about Nikita, but she said nothing.

My cab arrived, and i went to my college.

After the first lecture i received her message saying that her last lecture will be over by 5:30, and asked me if I could say.

I replied that I would wait for her in the same "Latte place" 

She approved.

After the lecture i went to the same shop and ordered a latte. I thought what should I do for an hour and half. There was nothing around.

I drank the beverage, and thought of messaging her when she would reach here.

But she had already told me that she would be free by 5:30, what's the point of messaging her before that, I thought.

Suddenly there was a tap on my shoulder, it was Nikita, I checked my phone it was 4:30. 

I asked her how is she here, didn't she have a lecture till 5:30.

She told me the lecture was cancelled. 

We talked about what had happened the previous day.

We laughed alot, she told me she thought that I would never talk to her as my sister must have asked me to do so.

She told me that she listened to some things that my sister said, and being afraid she would take the phone and talk to her, she disconnected.

I told her my didi is quite cool about everything and we need not worry, afterall we are just friends and we aren't doing anything that shouldn't be done.

I suddenly remembered what my didi had asked me to do.

I asked, " Would you like to come for lunch this Sunday to my house."

She hesitated a little and said she would decline as she doesn't wanna meet my sister and it would be quite awkward for her to be there.

I told her "It was my sister's idea to invite you for lunch, may be she wants to meet you."

Suddenly her face showed signs of worry, she said,"why does she want to meet me?"

I told her she just wanna meet my friend and she should not worry, she would be served with some delicious Indian food that she miss here, and i laughed.

She showed no signs of amusement, and kept on staring at me.

I told her she need not worry, It's just an informal meeting and she just wants to meet you.

After some discussion and persuasion she agreed.

I dropped her to her hostel, and went to my home.

At home I told my didi about the meeting today and told her that she has agreed to come this Sunday to the house. 

She asked me what she likes to eat, and her favourite items, as she would prepare the same.

I said, "I am really a fool, as I hadn't thought of that earlier"

Didi smiled and said, " Don't worry, you can ask her when you meet her the next time, it's only Wednesday, we have days to prepare."and then she laughed.

In the night I messaged her first this time.

"Wassup"

She replied, "Good, you tell."

I asked her what the most important question was.

"What's your favourite dish."

"Butter chicken, mutton curry, chicken biryani, baingan ka bharta, kadhi, ........", the list kept on going.

At that time I asked her if I could call her now.

She called me.

The first thing I said was, "Itni lambi list to naa hum bana paayenge Naa aap khaa paayoge," (these many dishes can neither be prepared by us, nor can be eaten by you).

She laughed and said, "Harr din k liye 1 rakh lenge." (One dish for each day.)

I too laughed, and suddenly stopped, knowing my sister in the other room may be listening to our conversation.

She has the habit of interrupting.

She said, " I'll have anything that you prepare." and asked me to thank didi for inviting her there.

We both talked about the day for some time and then disconnected the call.

Next three days I wasn't able to meet her, as we both were busy with our lectures and projects.

But we daily talked on phone during the night, I told her, I was eagerly waiting for Sunday.

She just laughed softly but said nothing.

Part 4... coming soon...