"You are the first person I know to have fought like that with your crush."
"SHE IS NOT MY DAMN CRUSH, FOR GOD'S SAKE and drive a little fast"
"Tabhi to use dekh kar itni badi smile thi tere chehre pe, haina? Log apne dushmanon ko dekh kar hi to hasti hain. Who in the world even smile at the person they like, am I right Mr. Rathore?"
(Then why the hell were you even smiling look at her? People only smile while looking at their enemies.)
"I was just admiring her confidence and bravery. Not everyone has those guts to present themselves like that and with an equally dangerous topic. Aur teri satisfaction ke liye, if I ever had a crush on her, then it's damn over. That girl bumped into me twice, that too within a day, even before 12 hours." (And for your satisfaction..)
"Matlab teri destiny decided? Mandir mein hi takraye ho dono."
(Means your destiny's already decided? After all it's the holy temple where you two even met.)
"Dhairya, only if you weren't Chachi's favourite, I swear you would've been dead by now."
"Haan haan, dushman to main vaise hi hoon tera."
(Oh yeah, afterall I am an enemy of yours.)
"Mera dimaag kharab mat kar filhaal, uss madam ka gussa tujhpar nikaal doonga."
(Don't mess with me right now or else I'll pour that madam's anger on you.)
"Itna bhi kya gussa yaar, you were also at fault." (Why so much anger buddy?)
"My fault? All I did both the times was talk to my mom. Vo hi Olympics daud rahi thi to isme meri kya galti? Ab tak to gold jeet bhi chukhi hogi. Upar se madam ka attitiude. Abhi se hi journalist wale tevar dikha rahi hai, ek baar ban gayi to kya pata bomb hi liye ghume, chalte phirte ko hi udaa degi."
(She was the one running in olympics, might even have won a gold by now. Her attitude matches that of a journalist by now itself, who knows she might carry a bomb once she becomes one, killing a person on spot.)
We reached his home and I left without waiting for him to open his mouth to say something irritating again. My phone buzzed, Maa.
"Haan Maa?"
"Meri thaal mili?" Thaal, the collision, Hanitra everything played again into my mind and the nerves burnt. (Did you get my thaal?)
"Sab mil gaya ise badi maa, aapki bahu bhi." This idiot surely doesn't want to live anymore.
(He got everything aunt, including your daughter-in-law)
Mom's eyes brightened, without even wasting an instance, how that woman waits for my marriage. It's not happening my mother, not atleast in this life. Shivaay Singh Rathore has no time and place in his heart to spare for any other person.
"Sach Shivaay? Kaha tha na maine, pehela bhog hamesha special hota hai. Thank you Bholenath, mere nalayak ko koi mili to sahi."
(Really Shivaay? Didn't I tell you, first bhog is always special. Finally my child has found someone.)
I looked at her with a deadpan look but the lady already had her eyes closed, hands joined and a very wide smile.
I can't even get angry on her.
"Aisa kuch nahi hai maa. Aapki thaal mili hai bas, bahu ke sapne mat dekhiye." (It's nothing like that maa. I have got you thaal and stop dreaming about your daughter-in-law.)
Her face fell, in the same way soil does during a landslide. Is this lady even real? I visited a temple, ENTERED IT, got her a thaal and all what she is thinking about is my wife? I must have killed a Titan himself to get this birth.
In the next forty minutes, I left Agra as the work here was done. Finally.
Hey Kanha! Don't let me meet that person ever again, I'll surely break his bones this time. Doesn't even have the knowledge to apologize, anger always ready to blast off. What was he saying? Blind? Me? Khud to jaise chaar aankhein hain janaab ki.
(As if he himself has four eyes.)
My thoughts were still wandering to that brainless fellow, instead to the Conference.
The Global Investigative Journalist Conference is one of the most distinguished conferences in the world, entirely dedicated to journalism. This annual meet opens gateway to many new issues currently existing in the world. Several ministers, senior officials, reporters, anchors etc., are known to be its participants. Sixty-four, fourth and higher year students are invited to the conference, many of them even given a chance to ask a question, answers to which are generally provided. Some students are even given an excellence award for their outstanding performance in their studies as well as activities in the field.
I have also received an invitation and am expected to be there atleast a day before, a special program being organized for fifth-year students, or recent graduates on that day. This year, Jaipur is the place decided for the conference as India hosts it.
I shake my head, FOCUS HANITRA.
You have a lot to search for that meet. If I may get a chance to raise a question, I better be prepared. So here I am, infront of my laptop, received as a part of a scholarship in second year. All thanks to the state government's attention towards the education sector, the level of education has seen a remarkable rise in the students of Uttar Pradesh. Our education minister, though just 26, has played a significant role in this achievement. Now that he has awarded me more than eight times, he and I have become quite familiar, sometimes laughing on the stage while receiving an award. I remember, in my fourth year, I was ranked first in an inter-state thesis writing Journalism contest. It was the fifth time he presented it to me and even said, "It's you again?" Everyone on the stage had shared a low laugh.
My eyes were scrolling down the screen, noting anything important in my diary, when my eyes settled on a specific title, "The Chakra Scandal of Rajasthan"
Surprising,
Rajasthan is the state that currently symbolizes the image of purity in Indian politics, the Chief Minister is known to exhibit an aura of honesty and dedication. The case must be really old. As a journalist, I must never ignore something, regardless of its origin date that involves even a little bit of investigation, no one knows if the case was really closed or pretended to be closed. Without further thought, I searched for it, unknown to the fact that someone was notified of the recent activity on the topic.
"The former Chief Minister of Rajasthan is said to have been a part of a corruption case, says the local daily, Rajasthan Today. The government was caught to be involved in a large money transaction incident with some people of the underworld in South-east Asia. The money or the bribe is suspected as the price paid for the government's supply of the state's famous and most loved heritage, The Duskrunner Falcon, the bird known for its exquisite skin pattern and sharp claws. It is being suspected that the government has traded almost 125 raptors of the species for an estimated amount of $102 million. However, no official statement has been made by the CMO or any other member of the government."
I scroll down further, slightly increasing my interest. It's not the first case that involves subjects like this, the world has seen many incidents like that but the case of this state is slightly special. The bird is one of the main contributors of its tourism industry. With only 18900 birds left in the entire world, they are considered as endangered. These birds have their habitat in extremely hot conditions. Rajasthan hosts almost 74% of the total species.
"One of the insider of the government confesses to the crime and this has evoked serious protests against the ruling party. However, the CM claims to be unknown of such trade, pleading the people to maintain patience and peace in the state before he presents a report by a proper investigation committee. The public has positive reaction towards his plea and he is their beloved leader, not just their highest commanding authority."
I scoff, despite the principle of staying neutral before the result of true investigation. Sometimes, what seems to be true is not the actual truth, a notably common case in the politics of this nation. Nevertheless, I read more.
"The CM has called for a public gathering in the main Ramleela ground of the capital Jaipur on the upcoming Tuesday, i.e. tomorrow. People doubt their leader is going to make a shocking statement. Undoubtedly, a large mass of the population is praying for their CM to be innocent. In addition, many opposition leaders are doubting this innocence, stating it as a common agenda for popular politicians to sideline themselves."
Without wasting a moment, I jumped onto the news of the next day, the day when the CM was expected to attend the gathering. It must be either his innocence or his unmatched power news, for he still rules the state.
"The gathering today at the ground didn't even last twenty minutes, for the CM was assassinated. An extremist citizen named Baladev surrendered himself immediately after mercilessly killing the leader in the name of nationalism, as he confessed himself. The public is already familiar with his antics and have confirmed his identity as a strong hater of the ruling party."
"The beloved leader of Rajasthan met his unannounced death on Tuesday. The scandal of Rajasthan has gained massive attention as it has led to the assassination of the Chief Minister, Miheer Singh Rathore. The last words, as confirmed by the people who stood near him were 'I always wanted peace. May my people find it'. The public stands in the favour of his son, Abhiraj taking his position, the party however, has separated opinions on it."
"The State of Rajasthan prepares to pay their last respect to the well-known leader, philanthropist and social reformer Miheer Singh Rathore, the nineth in the royal lineage of the Rathores of Jaipur."
The investigation, the truth was still in veil. I searched for the scandal's truth and got to know that the trade was fake and it was mere allegations of the opposition, questioning the government's budgetary amounts. The party wasted no more time in appointing Abhiraj Singh Rathore the new state leader. A few senior members of the party had shown their disagreement but no one has ever replaced the CM since then.
I realize that I have not searched about the names and the time of the scandal. When I typed the latter part, the results displayed the year of 2013, twelve years before the present one. Searching his name 'Miheer Singh Rathore', I became familiar with his face and other details. His son is still the CM.
It was his eldest grandson's image that looked familiar to me. My eyes widened when I processed the facts.
That charcoal-eyed human!
The one who called me blind!
SHIVAAY SINGH RATHORE!
Hanitra, who did you even bumped into!
Around 8, I entered the capital. Before turning towards the home, I decided to drop by the headquarters of my organization, Sapphire. Lakshay wasn't expecting me to pull towards the base at this time. He knew me well to understand the fact that my family are the first people I generally see immediately after a travel or visit.
The main area wasn't busy. Some had already occupied their quarters, for they were invested in my security the entire time I was out. The only place that even seemed active was the basement area's unloading department. New medicinal drugs had arrived just twenty minutes ago, as Lakshay told me. I checked the package to one company, Jeevisha Therapeutics. A small smile appears on my face seeing those medicine bottles. These were the cure of NDS, a neurological disorder, often seen in teens and middle-aged people that the Pharma had made. Checking that everything was normal and no serious matter needed my concern I finally return to my home.
Everyone was awake, the dining table was being set. These people will never understand my simple instructions of eating without me if I am late. But that's okay, that's family. Within the next ten minutes, I had freshen up and went downstairs to have the supper together.
"So bhai, how was the one-day holiday? "
"Good Varun. But next time, everyone, ask me before assigning my name to that beloved idiot of yours." Everyone giggled. They knew I was sulking, but angry to pretend.
"Shiv, my thaal?" Maa, please don't remind me.
I smiled. "In the kitchen Maa, along with the prasad, the very thing you made me visit the temple for." She chuckled, quite sheepishly. The dinner was over soon and everyone returned to their specific rooms, expect for us mother-son duo.
I laid with my head on her lap on the big couch and she massaged my hair. It had now become a ritual, anytime one of us kids went out for a visit, mom or chachi would massage their head, to make us feel relaxed, in addition to know about the visit.
"So, my prince, how was Agra?"
"Nothing special Maa."
"Aur vo ladki, the one Dhairya was calling my daughter-in-law? Did you bumped into her or it was another scene?" (And that girl)
Maa, please, don't you love your son? Why even ask that?
"Don't remind me Maa. Hanitra, the girl, your Dhairya was talking about, bumped into me twice the same day. Can you believe it maa, Twice? Even before 12 hourse?. Vaise achchi hai, wants to be a journalist. Dhairya told me he has rewarded her more than eight times. She is one of the brightest kid in the university. You know mom, she even has a sharp tongue, the kind even editors fear to argue with" Her expressions mirrored amusement. I continued, now every scene playing in my mind vividly. (Otherwise she's good)
"She was running blindly both the times, and I kind of yelled at her. Main to aapse hi baat kar raha tha, par vo, vo to aandhi bani ghoom rahi thi, aur mujhe bhi apne jaise andhoon ki tarah chalne ke liye daat rahi thi. Aapko pata hai, the second time we bumped was in the temple. She was literally running in the air, her feet were above the ground as if she was Noah Lyles herself and we practically slamed into each other. The thaal I had initially brought fell and I had decided to leave without one because I was angry, all that vermillion and raw rice with turmeric had fell onto my suit. She tried to stop me, to get a replacement but I left. I was convincing Dhairya to bring me another thaal but she found us and brought me a new one, though we argued over it a little."
(I was just talking to you but she, she was roaming like a storm and was blaming me too, for being a blind, like her. You know mom..)
The lady was smiling, listening to her son, very likely for the first time, telling about his interaction with a girl, that too with emotions he never really showed.
In some dim corner of her heart, she thought it was a sign from the God about their interlaced destinies.
Little did she know that her Mahadev had already blessed her thoughts, that he had tied her son with the very girl he was talking about thinking it just as a normal incident.
Write a comment ...