Everybody is seeking love without knowing it. Loneliness occurs when the soul empties of love from others. Sadly this is a quid pro quo situation. People stop giving love and they get none back in return. The original supply of soulful love dries up leaving cynical and pessimistic people. They expect nothing to ever go right for them. They live cocooned in their little hovels which may exist even in a luxurious mansion.
The Chawl too had such people. I had determined to seek them and bring them into the fold of mainstream life of our little community. These isolated people were rich but they had forgotten the pleasures of spending money. They hoarded money and the only pleasure in their life was imagining the money growing further and further. These poor souls did not realise that they would soon inevitably be dead leaving the money for smelly rats to defecate upon.
Late lamellar armour worn by native Siberians and Eskimos (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Whiz kid/constant loving
Sheena was a slim girl of fifteen. She was a whiz kid with wiring and sound systems. She knew how to make software programs and she was the trouble shooter for the Chawl Hotel’s laptops and desktops. She had somehow come to the conclusion that I was the richest man in the world. Yes I do have custom built cars. I do wear the ultimate branded clothes and shoes. I have a big collection of watches from all over the world. Still I am no Greek shipping tycoon. She is constantly begging me to allow her to come into my bedroom and have a look.
I know these young Delhi girls. They are dynamite. These teenagers are thrill seekers. They are the biggest gossips and the slightest gesture by a boy or man can be interpreted as an attempt at rape or casual love making depending on the mood of the hour.
‘Why are you afraid of me.’ She said holding my hand and pulling it to near her heart. ‘Can you hear it thumping? It is beating only for you. Let us go into your bedroom and inspect the paintings.’
I smiled and flopped down on the big sofa letting her be pulled along with me. ‘Talk, you can talk but no physical stuff’ I told her.
“Why are you fighting nature? Right now a million people at least are making love somewhere on the globe. In the dark depths of the Amazon jungle; on ships; in Africa even while the lions are roaring near a village; in Australia in the bush; Eskimos in igloos and even stuck up Indians are using Nirodhs at a fast pace. Why can’t you just kiss me? You owe me. I fixed your sound system.’ I grabbed her and picked her up and placed her on a chair away from the sofa.
“Please,” I begged, “we will talk about this when you are eighteen. Right now you are a minor and I do not want to be arrested for assaulting a minor.”
‘You do whatever you feel like I will not lodge a complaint. You can marry me first if you are really that interested.’ Somehow I convinced her to come out of my apartment and go for a walk with me. She slumped along disappointed till we reached the food court in the Mall.
Shah Jehan with Angel musicians (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
“Badal Kar faqiron ka bhes “Ghalib”
Hum Tamaasha-e-Ahle-Karam Dekhte Hain.”
When I was younger I worked for a newspaper. Over years of reporting I got sick of the regular news beat and somehow convinced my editor to give me the assignment of a roving spy on Delhi buses. I would take a bus let us see from INA to India Gate or even ISBT and just sit down and listen. I listened to the taunts and jibes of the people on the bus. There political comments amongst themselves and their abominal use of the English language. It became a very popular column and many people copied the idea and did it for their newspapers.
Now as the roving custodian of my father’s properties I leave aside one day to roam the NCR on the Metro Rail. This way I keep in tune with the people. Over the years I have observed the gradual acclimatisation of the common people to the metro rail. At first the common man, the poor man was wary of the portals of the Metro regarding it as a foible of the rich. Now I see the democratisation of its use. Everyone uses it from the rich to the very poor beggar.
A certain behaviour inside the metro has become developed amongst the people. A non staring gaze at the fixtures of the insides is a gesture of politeness towards your looks and your behaviour. The amorousness of couples inside the train is increasing. Last night on my way back from a drink with a friend in a five star hotel I sat transfixed as a couple licked, kissed and fondled each other in the corner of our coach in utter ignorance of other people’s presence. I was like seeing a young pair of dogs play with enthusiasm on the roadside as a preliminary to some serious mating. Young men stared unashamedly at the couple while the women and older men stared away. It was uncomfortable while it lasted and everyone heaved a sigh of relief when they got off at AIIMS.
The metro demographics are changing. I watched with amusement and pride the four friends obviously from a software company who were engaged in solving an office problem while they travelled. They sat facing each other and did a brain storming which showed to me why our boys and girls are so brilliant in the world of Information, Telecommunications and Internet Technology.
On the other hand was the young man with a Shah Jehan beard dressed all in black. He was thin as a reed and obviously high on something. I could not determine whether it was on God or a drug. I was sitting down, I must admit in a very expensive Armani suit with patent leather shoes shined to a mirror finish. He took an offence to my rich look and stood in front of me and just stared at me. I was not looking for a fight. I did not look back in to his eyes. He wanted to provoke me into a fight. I am not afraid of a scrap. I am a black belt in Judo and have a solid muscular body which is not an accident of birth but a result of some working out in the gym and The Chawl swimming pool. I am sure I can take care of myself otherwise I would not ride the Metro wearing Armani suits. I breathed in and out gently and long in order to cool my slowly heating brain. Finally four stations later the modern version of a Sufi saint got off my coach and I sat back and relaxed.
Many people are comfortably placed in life but do not know or realise it. I know I am a lucky person. My lifestyle allows me to choose my working hours; it gives me luxury in home, conveyance and bank balance. I have great relatives and perfect friends. I do not like to hurt people. I am happy with the world. Above all I am surrounded by beautiful women. From the corner of my eye I can see my neighbour Mrs. Plakum, Mrs Rita Plakum locking her flat and preparing to leave for work. She looks towards me and waves a good morning, a good noon rather and walks away towards the lift. She is not very tall. She is wearing tight blue jeans and a simple white blouse. She is pretty in a quiet way. She has long hair groomed to a glowing shine. The long hair is a great part of her work life. She has just got a role as a Bahu in a Saas-Bahu television soap opera. I cannot imagine her in a domesticated housewife role. She looks more like the charged and determined executive type. She does not speak much and her marriage is rather on a slippery slope for at night I hear Mr. Plakum shouting and ranting at her. She does not shout or rant back. I hear silence.
chandleur 