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That phase(s) of your career when you truly start believing the Bhagvad Gita:
"कर्म किये जा, फल की इच्छा मत रख !"
# NoticePeriod

बस ख़र्च हो रहे हैं

कभी सिर पर ख़ुमार था क़ामयाबी का,
अब तो सिर पर सिर्फ कुछ क़र्ज़ हो रहे हैं..!!
कमाया जो था वो क़स्बे में था ज़नाब,
शहर में तो हम बस ख़र्च हो रहे हैं..!!

ख़्वाइश

उसने आज तक मुझसे ये नहीं कहा, "स्कूल नहीं जाना!"
पर आज रोते हुए मुझसे बोला, "डैडी, प्लीज स्कूल नहीं जाना!"
मैंने बहाने बनाये, और उसने रोटी हुई सूरत
स्कूल न जाना, उसके लिए तसल्ली थी और मेरे लिए ज़रुरत

वो मेरे पैर से लिपट गया
उसकी दायीं आँख का एक आँसू मेरी टी-शर्ट में अटक गया
एक मन आया की आज रहने दूँ
उसे उसके मन की करने दूँ

अगले ही पल फीस का ख्याल मन में रम गया
मेरी करुणा का ज्वार कर्त्तव्य के भार से थम गया
मैंने एक और बहाना बनाया, "बेटा मेडिसिन लेने जाना है "
आधे अधूरे विश्वास में उसको भी लगा की बस जल्दी से आना है

उसने आँसू पोंछे और मेरा हाथ थाम लिया
जिम्मेदारी बाटँते हुए साथ मेडिसिन लाने का ठान लिया
मैंने जैसे ही बैग की तरफ नज़र बढ़ाई
उसने फिर चिल्ला कर नाराज़गी जताई, "बैग नहीं, बैग नहीं!"

वो काला भारी बैग उसे एक आँख न सुहाता था
उसका हॉल में रखा होना भी उसे बिलकुल न भाता था
बैग से हटाकर मैंने उसकी माँ की तरफ नज़र बढ़ायी
उसकी आँखों में भी बेटे सी ही सिफ़ारिश समायी

ऐसा लगा मानो की एक मैं ही स्वार्थी, कपटी, कठोर हूँ
भविष्य सँवारने के लिए वर्तमान में हृदय से कमज़ोर हूँ
इस से पहले की फिर से मेरा मन पिघलता
दया और ममता का झरना फिर से बह निकलता

मैंने अपना मन पक्का किया और बेटे को समझाया
वापस आकर घुमाने का प्रलोभन भी दिलाया
मूवी, रिमोट कार, आइस क्रीम और न जाने क्या क्या प्रॉमिस किया
पर उसकी भरमाई आँखों ने आज उनमें से किसी को भी मिस नहीं किया

मैंने एक आखिरी बार घडी की तरफ नज़र उठायी
आँख और कान पर व्याभारिकता से पट्टी बँधायी
और वो काला भारी बैग उठा के कंधे पर डाल कर
निकल पड़ा अपने भविष्य की गठरी संभाल कर

न रोते हुई आवाज़ कानों तक आयी, न आंसुओं की फुहार नज़र आयी
न बीवी की शिकायतें, न उसकी अनकही गुज़ारिश
नज़र आया तो बस भीड़ में भागता मैं
मेरे कुछ सपनें और एक अधूरी ख़्वाइश...

रतजगे

रतजगे फिर से जगाने लगे

अलसायी आँखों को मनाने लगे

न कोई दौड़ है न कोई होड़

न कोई मंज़िल है न कोई मोड़

बस खुद से खुद की ज़िद्द में

पहियों पर पंख लगाने लगे

फ़ुरसतें तलाशती ये आँखें

खुद के लिए कुछ पल को तरशती  हैं

सपनें, आसमान और उम्मीद

की श्याही से खुद को तराशती हैं

कुछ राहें थी जो छूट गयी

कुछ रास्तें नए नज़र आने लगे 

रतजगे फिर से जगाने लगे

अलसायी आँखों को मनाने लगे

When Butterflies Lost Their Flight..!!

When Butterflies lost their flight,
On the Expressway..
On their way to express their love,
Blossoming not so far away.
In pursuit of the lively nectar,
They wander wild and stray.
Some call it a run for life,
For them, it was just another day..!!

When Butterflies lost their flight,
On the Expressway..
Hard hitting the windshields,
Leaving their blood trail in dismay.
Or feeling the heat of the radiator,
Got sucked in the speedy betray.
Some call it an expedition in life,
For them, they just got carried away..!!

When Butterflies lost their flight,
On the Expressway..
Under the glaring sun that test their will,
Within the misty winters and the monsoon foray.
As they had the glimpse of the spectrum,
They were lying beneath that floral array.
Some call it the end of life,
For them, they just had it their way..!!

Horse & Donkey - 7 | Unicorn@Work

Horse: Yakkk.. What is that donkey doing?
Donkey: It's called skin-shedding!
Horse: What.. What? What's that?
Donkey: SKIN SHEDDING
Horse: It's looks so filthy. It's so so bad.
Donkey: Yeah. It's bad for you.
Horse: For me? What about him?
Donkey(Pointing forward): Check that out.
Horse: OMG!! It's a donkey. No. It's a Horse!!
Donkey: Watch carefully you moron. Horn upar hai.. It's  a unicorn.

Horse & Donkey - 6 (Passion@Work)

Horse: Hey Donkey! I m going on a vacation.
Donkey (least interested): Where?
Horse (super-excited): Some adventurous place. May be white water rafting, Ladakh on bike or trekking in north-east. Why don't you come along?
Donkey (bluntly): No. Thanks.
Horse: But why are you so dull?  Don't u have passion in your life?
Donkey (with a blank look): <silence>
Horse (confused): What?
Donkey: I m scared when you talk about passion so passionately.
Horse: Why?
Donkey: Last time when you did it, I ended up grazing some extra patches of grass. And..
Horse (perplexed): And??
Donkey: And I had loose motions..!!

Horse & Donkey 5 (Debutant@Work)

Horse (fresh from the pond): Hey Donkey..!!

Donkey (busy churning): Yes.

Horse (pointing forward): Can you see that?

Donkey (disturbed): That Donkey?

Horse (confused): Donkey? It’s a horse.

Donkey (confident): No. It’s a Donkey.

Horse (Double confused): Really? I think it’s a horse.

Donkey (double confident): No. It’s a Donkey.

Horse (Double confused, after some time): Really? Is it a Donkey?

Donkey (giving up): No. It’s a Horse.

Horse (jubilated): Yeah. I told you.

Donkey (with a proud grin): Does that matter??

Horse (again confused): Why?

Donkey: It’s on the same pastures.

Horse (highly confused): [Silent]

Horse & Donkey 4 (Dravid@Work)

Horse: Hey Donkey! Do you play cricket?
Donkey: No.
Horse (irritated): Why? It's such an interesting game. So much to learn from it - Planning, Strategy, Team Work, Resource Management, etc.
Donkey (calmly): Yeah.. All that is fine. Still I don't like it.
Horse (a bit more irritated): Why? Apply cricket to your day today life. It can work wonders.
Donkey (still calmly): No. I am fine being a wonder-less chap.
Horse (getting a hell lot irritated): Why are you so adamant. What's bothering you?
Donkey (bluntly): The DOT BALLS..!!

Happiness.. Sink In..!!

Rushing through the highway of life,

Goes past some precious moments.

Moment as great as milestones,

Moment as high as majestic thrones..

Moment that makes you,

Moment that goes on..!!

Undecided, unpredictable and undeterred,

Soft, silent and mildly uttered..

Moment that takes you to a high,

Moment that goes within..  

Happiness.. Oh dear happiness,

Sink in.. Please sink in..!!

"Nothing is permanent" as they say,
You better live the moment on your way.. 
Moment as beautiful as that of dreamy smile,
Moment that comes once in a while.
Moment that makes you strong,
Moment that makes you fragile..!!

Unannounced, unraveled and unexpected,
Alive, adorned and kindly resurrected
Moment that run through the intuition,
Moment that comes rushing in..
Happiness.. Oh dear happiness,
Sink in.. Please sink in..!!

Horse & Donkey - 1 (GameOn@Work)

Horse: You know why I am a HORSE?

Donkey: How can I know? I am a DoNKEY..!!

Horse: Yaaa.. that's true. You are a Donkey. But, do you know why you are a DoNKEY?

Donkey ( after hard thinking ): Yes, because you are a HORSE..!!

Horse & Donkey - 2 (Farewells@Work)

Horse: Hey Donkey.. Where are you going?
Donkey: To the new pastures.
Horse: What's wrong with the grass out here?
Donkey (scratching his head): Don't know. It's my gut feeling that it turns horses to donkeys.
Horse: How does it matters to you. You are already a Donkey.
Donkey: Yeah.. I LOVE myself. So, why take risk??
Horse: Look at me. I am eating this grass for years. I am still a Horse.
Donkey (with a long teethed grin): REALLY..???

Horse & Donkey - 3 (Dreamers@Work)

Horse: Hey.. I am going to join the Gym. I need to be stronger.
Donkey: But why do you need to be stronger when you THINK everyone is a donkey out here?
A Pause.
Horse: (THINKing) Yeah.. You are correct. I am already great with what I have.(Feeling triumphed)
Another Pause.
Horse: Still, I want to join the Gym. It's my dream to have those six packs, the herculean cuts and that Rambo like posture.
Donkey: I am surprised to know that you even DREAM. I have always seen you just taking long naps.
Horse: (Blushing..) Ohhh.. Please..!! You know.. A dream is an animal's biggest treasure. We should dream big (he meant - dream longggg).
Dreams are your destiny. Dreams are your fate. Dreams make you. Dreams.. Blah.. Blah.. Blah..

Donkey: (took a round of grass around him, and started chewing it)
Horse: Blah.. Blah.. Blah.. So, I mean that Dreams are like your biggest treasure. And I am on to hunt it now.
Donkey: (gobbling the grass bowl) Wow.. So, now you are going to be a great hunter. DO you know Shooting?
Horse: (a bit confused) No. I think I should join the shooting class. I need to be a sharp shooter.
Donkey: But why do you need to be a sharp shooter when you THINK everyone is a donkey around you? Moreover, you are a vegetarian.
A Pause.
Horse: (THINKing) Yeah.. You are correct. I am already good with what I know.(Feeling less triumphed)
Another Pause.
Horse: Still, I want to learn shooting. It's my dream to hit down those...Blah.. Blah.. Blah..
Donkey: (clearing off another round of grass)

तुझ सा मैं, या मुझ सा तू

तुझ सा मैं, या मुझ सा तू 

तुझ से मैं, या मुझ से तू  … 

तू दुआ से, या दुआ सा तू 

तू खुदा से, या खुदा सा तू  … 

तुझ सा मैं, या मुझ सा तू 

तुझ से मैं, या मुझ से तू  … 

मैं ठोस सा, तू ओस सा 

मैं आग सा, तू साज सा  … 

मैं खोजता, तू खोज सा 

मैं सोचता, तू सोच सा  … 

तू रस सा, या रास मेँ है तू 

तू अंश सा, या आस मेँ है तू  … 

तुझ सा मैं, या मुझ सा तू 

तुझ से मैं, या मुझ से तू  … 

मैं राह सा, तू चाह सा 

मैं रात सा, तू चांद सा  … 

मैं अंध सा, तू धूप सा 

मैं राख सा, तू रुप सा  … 

तू अभी से, या बस अब से तू 

तू सभी से, या बस सब मेँ तू  … 

तुझ सा मैं, या मुझ सा तू 

तुझ से मैं, या मुझ से तू  … 

Being Positive

It's another new year. Yet again, it has started with some new hopes, new dreams & as usual some new resolutions. It all sounds like a rhetorical statement which normally gets framed in mind at the onset of almost every new year. So, what's new this time?
Nothing.
It is all the same - the hope, the dream, the desire, the energy. The only change is that they all are POSITIVE. And, why isn't it new?
Once upon a time, not quite long back, they all were positive.

A week full of doing NOTHING has left me with some deep introspection, answered all of my underlying questions and sorted out some hidden inhibitions. Although, it hasn't filled my half empty glass, rather it has helped me see through the half filled part. Sometimes, the contentment within the walls provide a more solid insight, than falling off the brim and getting wiped off.

There has been so much seen, said and read about Life that, for me, all the philosophies, rationale and experience merge into just one pure thought - Life is in Life.. If you are living it, it's worth it..!!
That's what being  positive is all about. It add more Life to your every breath, every move, every act and every thought. Things which are complete, makes you feel happy. Things which are incomplete, finds their best possible path to attainment. Things which can never be completed, either find a contentment (with no remorse or resentment) or with more positive thoughts gets added to the second list. That's the beauty of being positive.

The theory of 'Rich gets Richer & Poor gets Poorer' completely aligns with optimism and pessimism. The moment you get positive, you attract multiples of it and on the other hand, just one negative thought and your will power is reduced to pieces.

Right now, I can see my glass filling drop by drop and I am enjoying every bit of it. As rightly said, the fun is in the chase, and that's what drives you to dream, toil, achieve and then again dream bigger.
Being positive is an attitude which you wear on waking up and keep it on even in the deepest of your dreams..!!

ME vs I "This poem is inspired by the movie.."Little Manhattan"

Sometimes life seems to be so easy,

That we are tempted to make it freaky!

All those pranks, nonsenses and childish comments,

Absurd are they since u grow up in your pants!!

Fought over words while u chase in vocab race, But then...

'See Ya Tomorrow' seems to be the world's most beautiful phrase.

A single minute theft from ground reminded u of constitution,

Now the pitch is vacant as 'Sacrifice' n 'U' enchants in seclusion.

Wasn't getting down or shedding tears a bitter shame..??,

What bout then.. Falling into a pain that has no name..!!

Once miracles were the only dream fulfillers,

Now.. fulfilling a single dream seems to be miraculous.

Life was fun, craze and complete until it struck..

But then.. it all ended in a frisky sigh... 'Love Sucks'.

Being best wasn't enough since better wasn't that good,

Thank God someone remarked.. 'Everything happens for our own good!!'

For Me.. I know life's just gonna be tough..

Coz' I m sure.. i m not gonna get another first love..!!

I am The Week..!!

I start every Monday with the thought of an Einstein within,
A couple of hours and The Theory of Relativity trails me back to origin..!!

Tuesdays are like at war with Mr. Newton's Laws of Motion,
Force applied at full acceleration, why the hell there is no Reaction...??

Wanna describe A Wednesday in Galileo's enslaved voice?
"We are resilient by Force, Not by Choice..!!"

The principles of Thursday find their interest in Archimides,
"When a professional is fully or partially immersed in his work, (he doesn't experiences a loss in       his weight.. rather his gain in weight is the reminder of his depth of immersion) he experiences a loss in his "Wanna Do..." spirit, and this loss is equal to the work (dis)placed by him..!!"

The Friday crash-lands with Dr. Mallya defying all science and philosophy,
Few millilitres of wisdom and life seems to be like a one time trophy..!!

Weekends are ruled by Murphy's Law which leaves you high and dry,
"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong", however hard you try..!!

Manmohan Ji Ka Vardaan..!!

एक बार NITJ के इतिहास मैं एक ऐसा दौर आया,
हर तरफ नियम, आदेश और क़ानून का घनघोर अँधेरा छाया..
जब सारे छात्र मचा रहे थे त्राहिमाम त्राहिमाम की पुकार,
तब Admin Block की छत्त पर खुद मनमोहन सिंह जी ने लिया अवतार..!!

उनकी भी आँखे भर आई सुनकर बच्चों की व्यथा की दास्तान,
एक ही दिन में चमत्कार का दे गए वो आश्वस्त वरदान..
अगले ही सुबह canteen में एक भारी चमत्कार हो गया,
मेरे दोस्तों ये समझ लो कॉलेज का उद्धार हो गया..!!

सोचा था अब तो दूर हो जायेंगे हमारे सारे संकट,
क्यूंकि देश के सारे महान नेता जो हो गए थे यहाँ प्रकट..
प्रकट होते ही वो समझ बैठे इसे भी राजनीति का दलदल,
कुर्सी की तरह branch हथियाने को शुरू हो गया इनका दंगल..!!

सबसे पहले बाज़ी मारी सुश्री बहनजी मायावती ने,
धड़ल्ले से घुस गयी Software Engineering में..
प्रसन्न थी वो कॉलेज का शीर्षक नाम पढ़कर "Dr. B.R. Ambedkar..!!"
फिर भी सहमी हुई class से बोली बड़े अकड़कर ---
"इस बरांच का नाम किसन रखा SOFTWARE..??
लगता है इसमें मुलायम का षड़यंत्र है,
तभी तो इतने कठिन विषय में मुलायम (soft) नामक तंत्र है..
बड़े बड़े नाम बदले हैं मैंने, इसका भी बदल दूँगी,
शून्य और एक (0 & 1) की माया में फंसे इस विषय को में MAYAWARE कर दूँगी..!!

इस साड़ी हलचल से दूर चल रही थी ठहाको की एक रेल,
ECE  के पढ़ाकू विमानों का हो रहा था भगवान लालू जी से मेल..
लालू जी गर्व से बोले.. "हम IIM में पढ़ाया हूँ तो NIT का क्या कहना,
बोलो क्या पढना है Microprocessor या Antenna..??
सुनकर लालूजी का lecture  सारे 9 Pointers के पसीने छूट गए,
फुसफुसाकर आपस में बोले - "यार अपने तो भाग्य फूट गए..!!"
फिर तो ECE की class में कुछ ऐसी हुई पढाई,
लालू जी ने जैसे एक पतीले में इतिहास, भूगोल, साहित्य और राजनीति की खिचड़ी पकाई..!!

इन सब से एक मंजिल ऊपर, हमेशा की तरह छाया था खुशियों का समां,
Mass Bunk का मोर्चा लिए सारे robot  हुए थे gallery में जमा..
उनकी चिंता जैसे ही मतदान पेटी में समायी थी,
तब खुद सोनिया जिन पूरे कैबिनेट के साथ वहां आई थी..
एक चपल नज़र चारों और फिर कर,
बोली सब से बड़ा इतरा कर..
"कौन कहता है की नारी आरक्षण विधेयक अभी तक पास नहीं हुआ?
तो बतायिए इस branch  में छात्राओं का अनुपात इतना ज्यादा कैसे हुआ?
देखो मैं रोज़ इतना ऊपर चढ़ कर नहीं आ सकती.. कुछ करवायिए,
या तो इस department को नीचे ले जाए या इस building मैं lift लगवाइए..!!

चलिए अब अपनी नज़र को IT sector से थोडा बाहर निकाले,
चलकर Mechanical में विपक्ष का मोर्चा संभाले..
पहुंचे Mechanical तो क्या देखा - HOD की कुर्सी पर विराजमान थे कुंवारे अटल,
बोले - "एक बार मुझे सत्ता में आ जाने दो,
एक बार मेरे कमल को हाथ पर भारी पड़ जाने दो..
फिर इस branch में मायूसी का न रहेगा एक भी पल,
सिर्फ छात्राए ही नहीं अध्यापिकाओ का भी होगा यहाँ 50 % आरक्षण..!!"

अगर अभी तक मन नहीं भरा तो देखिये एक और चमत्कार,
मनमोहन जी के इस वरदान में भी हो गया था भ्रस्टाचार..!!
पता नहीं इन राजनेताओं की किस्मत किस देवता ने संवारी है?
तभी तो Textile  के पर्दों में से महारानी मल्लिका पधारी हैं..

पहुँचते ही सबके आश्चर्य का कर दिया समाधान,
राजनीति तक पहुँचने का रास्ता भी कर दिया आसान..
बोली - "देखिये आज नहीं तो कल ये योंवन ढल जायेगा,
तब सिर्फ राजनीति का दामन ही तो काम आएगा,
क्यूँ न TExtile  Technology में एक ऐसा वस्त्र बनाये Perfect ,
जो ढक दे हमारी राजनीति के सारे Side Effects ..
क्या हुआ जो हमारे देश की सुंदरियाँ कम वस्त्रों में नज़र आएँगी,
कम से कम बचे हुए कपडे से इस राजनीति की  सारी गन्दगी तो ढक जायेगी..!!

चलिए मेरी और आपकी तो बहुत हो गयी बात,
अब ज़रा अपनी Faculty से भी कर ले एक मुलाक़ात..
बहुत ढूँढा Campus में पर नहीं मिले एक भी श्रीमान,
तभी पता चला सभी भड़ा रहे थे एक साथ लोकसभा का सम्मान..
आज तो लोकसभा की हर कुर्सी घमंड से इतराई थी,
क्यूंकि पहले बार देश की इतनी पढ़ी लिखी जनता जो उन में समायी थी..!!

थोड़ी ही देर में सारे अध्यापकों की शामत आई थी,
खुद मनमोहन जी ने उनकी class जो लगायी थी..
प्रधानमंत्री जी ने समझाया -
"देखिये सज्जनों.. बच्चों के साथ नहीं करते इतनी सख्ती इतना प्रतिबन्ध,
बच्चों को लगता है जैसे वो है किसी जेल में बंध..
अब जल्दी से कीजिये इनकी आज़ादी का प्रभंद,
Gate timing , Attendance और Bidipur जैसी समस्याओं का कर दीजिये सरल अंत..!!

तभी एक  बार फिर से NITJ के प्रांगन में फिर से मचा हाहाकार,
राजनेताओं के भाषण से सारे बच्चे हो गए थे लाचार..
देख के बच्चो की दयनीय दशा मनमोहन जी फिर से हुए प्रकट,
मुस्कुराते हुए खेल गए राजनीति की भ्रष्ट हरकत..
"देखो.. आज़ादी अधिकार और इमानदारी तो सब मोह-माया है,
जुगाड़ से ही चलती इस देश की छिद्र वाली नय्या है..
याद रखना.. आइन्दा न करना मुझसे त्राहिमाम की गुहार,
वरना अगली बार संसद से नहीं तिहार जेल से आएगी सीढ़ी बहार..!!

Goodbye

This piece of abstract is an imaginative description of Rahul Dravid’s state of
mind just after Anil Kumble’s retirement. It’s when he started feeling the air of
his own farewell which was supposed to follow itself.

Date & Time: 2nd Nov, 2008 – 6:30 p.m.

Venue: Feroz Shah Kotla Ground Dressing Room – Rahul is standing alone in
balcony and other team mates celebrating inside.

Goodbye

"What a man of dignity..!!"
"He was a true fighter till the end!"
"He is one of the greatest cricketers India has ever given"
"Cheers..!! Anil Bhai.. Ek sip mere saath."

Roaring chants and applauding glories were flying through the semi-closed door
of the balcony, as I overheard them with a sense of sarcasm dripping through my
eyes and spilling on my lips.
In front of me lied the glory chariot of that great man, which on many destiny
dates has witnessed cheers and applauds in million multiples of decibels than
what I can ignore right now.
This silent giant has given him what a bowler can only dream in wildest of his
dreams; a clean sweep of an entire bat-wagon in his stride. And yet, at this gold
marked moment this giant is lying so gracefully and young just like its great
patron bidding it adieu with a smiling surprise.

In its silence and grace I can foresee a hidden truth which is soon going to come
to the grounds of reality.
May be on its warm silky grass, or may be on some other turf. And at that
moment the champagne in my glass will never fall below the brim.
Oh... It’s already touching the bottom.

My mind is trotting in all possible dimensions. It's generating millions of
questions within fractions of a second:
"Is your legacy that great to generate the sound from the dressing room at par or
beyond what your ears can sense right now??"
"Will your farewell generate record breaking TRPs through debates and flashes
on all News Channels and Sports Shows??"

"What about the surveys deciding your blood toiled career with just 3 options:
Yes; No; Can't Say...!!!”
.....
.....
"Why the hell one has to say Good Bye??"
"In fact why men grow old??"

I think I should lend my mind to Intel for their R&D. Good source of income
after my pack-up. Not a bad idea!

If someone grant me a wish to come true, right at this moment I would like to
make my dignity phrase to be true in its meaning just like the immortal, ever
young and elegantly poised 'The Great Wall of China'.
I want to stand high and tall forever. I want to guard the borders when the call
says, “One Down..!!". I want to wear my cap 24X7 and never waiving it high in
my hand with a fake smile.
Aha... I sound like a gloomy child for whom only miracles are the only dream
fulfillers. But, deep within my heart, that is what I yearn for. I want to start this
vicious cycle of life once again.

I peek through the window and all what I can see is people hobbling around
Jumbo with smiles and laughter, and he smiles with full grace and honour
holding a glass full of champagne in his injured left hand.
I scan myself from top to bottom. Thank God. I am a complete man..!! The only
thing deceiving me is my DOB.
"Rahul... Rahul... Come in man, party is incomplete without you."
"Very true", that’s what I prompted to myself. And with clumsy footsteps I
joined the climax with my empty glass.

From JUST to BEST

"I don't even know you so well. It's just been few days since we started jelling up. You are 'JUST' a friend to me. Come on. Grow up Rahul..!!", Priya exclaimed.

Rahul (in his mind), "That's what I am trying to do. Can't you understand this simple natural phenomenon??
I am gonna kill this word 'JUST'. It makes me feel like one-tenth of the complete boy-friend. Because starting from this 'JUST', the journey gets just tougher and tougher and forget about the destination alone. This is because of the simple reason that after this 'JUST a friend', the next promotion will take me to a 'Friend'.. That will be like  twenty percent of complete boy-friend. 
 Then with all the important sacrifices of my life including hobbies, pocket-money and not so important studies, I will be promoted to a 'GOOD friend'. It will be like the thirty percent tax deduction from a complete package of  boy-friend. 
Then with the great loss of all  the best buddies and accepting one sided possessiveness (obviously from her side), I may achieve an envious post of  'MORE than a friend'. With this star on my shoulders I have the right to pretend like her boyfriend, ONLY to others and NEVER to her. For her, she would be just getting naughty as I would have achieved a passing percentage of forty..!!

Then with the 12 hours duty of day-dreaming and 12 hours overtime of dreaming, I would reach to a point of no-return just like the upper end of the exponential graph. Before I utter those three words of eternity from that pinnacle, the dream would end in a nightmare and I would have a free fall from there to the negative infinity. The crash landing will echo: "BEST FRIENDDDDDDDDDDD..!!" 
Aha.. That sounds like a Half Time whistle when the scorecard reads: Zero-Zero. You know what.. The next half is never gonna be played..!!
In three dimensional view, one can easily relate this to the 'Half Filled.. Half Empty' scenario. Where the glass is filled from the girl's perspective and it still looks empty from the other side of the table.. And it's gonna remain empty FOREVER..!!

It's just an impossible task for a boy who is a friend to a girl, to make his FRIEND realise that her FRIEND is a BOY. Is it really that difficult to arrange these two words in alphabetical order..??"

Even with such a crystal clear view of his emotional molestation with sunglasses of algebra over his eyes, Rahul's face was bearing a big Question Mark pointing upwards to heaven.. "Why Meeeeeeeee...???"
With perplexed expressions and paralyzed emotions he could say only this, ".................(Guys - Fill it up yourself, you know it better. Gals - This field is variable for you as you would have different versions of the climax of this  stupid story..!!)"

And in the end, all he wanted to say were just three words.. "WTF"..!!