“But it’s not a big deal Maria” Jeff was furious.. His wife Maria had decided to leave the house
for good.
“We can’t stay together
anymore Jeff after what happened yesterday … people have already started
talking about it …” Maria snapped back
“But what has happened??? … nothing at all.. It was just a
mistake … you know it and they know it too ... I don’t understand what’s the big deal” Jeff
yelled back.
Jeff Pereira - A rich businessman from Goa had never imagined he
would have go through all this when he married Maria Vaz and settled in Mumbai
three years ago… the love of his life had
today decided that she was gonna abandon him forever. It was a shocking moment
for him... he was almost in tears as his wife packed her bags in the bedroom.
“All because of that stupid get together these women have all
the time” he said to himself in anger, referring to the kitty party Maria had
organized the previous day. All the neighboring females were invited. Unaware that
all the guests had arrived in the hall ... Jeff walked right out of the
bathroom wrapped only in a towel and worst of all ...the towel slipped off right in
front of the ladies. Embarrassing –
indeed it was, no wonder Maria was leaving him today... “I’m sure these ladies
must be making fun of my poor baby” Jeff thought feeling ashamed … he was
really feeling guilty for what Maria was going through. He wanted to convince
her and console her... but how? Maria would just not listen he knew, as she was
deeply embarrassed.
As Maria walked across the living room with her bags heading for the door, Jeff
tried again... “Please don’t go Maria”
he begged... “Don’t be embarrassed.. ah.. see It’s not a big deal.. so what if everyone.. ah .. saw..”
“Exactly my point”
snapped Maria,“Everyone now knows I married
you only for your money”
It was that fateful July 13th, The day was dark and the rain was pouring heavily ... water pounded on every surface, the wind howled and the black clouds roared with furious thunder. Agnes Mary Fernandes lay in her coffin calmly as the mourners carried her to St. Pauls Church, where all of us would see her for the last time. Dressed in black in the pouring rain the procession marched towards their destination. Loud cries of her near and dear ones were muffled under the overwhelming thunder... her children followed the coffin as their mother lay motionless. Motherhood at an early age and family responsibilities had always kept
Agnes buried under poverty, stress and depression. Today she was just
gonna be buried for the records.
Agnes Mary Fernandes, in her lifetime of 60 summers had seen many 'hard times'. At the age of 16 she was married and had 13 children over the years. Most people wondered how was that possible ... but then, not everyone could afford a television in those days, other means of entertainment often remained far away form Agnes's life. When her husband died, she married again and had 7 more children.
But then having a happy married life and a soul mate forever is not always in every woman's luck, Again, her husband died. So Agnes Mary Fernandes remarried and this time had 5 more children.
Standing before her coffin, the preacher prayed for her in the midst of screams and cries of sorrow by her loved ones. He thanked the Lord for this very loving woman and said, “Lord, they’re finally together.”
One mourner leaned over with tears in her eyes and quietly asked her friend, “Do you think he means she is finally together with her first, second and third husband?”
He used to love me so much! Always by my side,
ever since we were married since the past one year without fail he made plans
for our every weekend, he used to love spending time with me.
Sometimes when I used to come home from work, he
would surprise me by being home before me and cooking a little snack for me… I used to enjoy it and feel so delighted to be
blessed with a husband like Mark… but more than that I often wondered what a
good cook he has become just to surprise me... this was until one day I came
home early from work and found out that our maid used to prepare all those
snacks while my loving husband showed her the recipe book …
Movies, outings, clubbing, kitty parties, even
office functions, Mark always wanted me to be with him. Our friends had begun
to think we’d never gonna go anywhere without each other.
But I did.
It was the month of June; I had to rush to Delhi as
the doctors begin to say that the reason for my mom’s random temperatures could
no longer be seen as common cold. Mark had just got a promotion… the Company had
provided him with a new big cabin, higher package, bigger responsibilities and
yes a secretary…
Candy was 32, a divorcee and arguably gorgeous.
The curls on her hair, green eyes and fair complexion added wonders to her curvy
body. A few days before I left to check on my mother, Mark had introduced her
to me at a party as a very hardworking and satisfying secretary. He couldn’t stop
praising her. Although I secretly envied her for her looks, I thought all this
was going to be strictly professional. Two days after the party I met Candy at
a mall and enjoyed shopping with her. Yes she was really sweet and good to talk
to. We had girly talks and laughed like crazy.
… and may be that was the last time I smiled.
When I returned from Delhi, everything had changed
mark has started avoiding me. He slept till late and would wake up only after I
had left for work. When I returned from
office he used to be at home already, glued to the TV. I always tried to talk to
him a regarding his behavior but he got irritated and never answered properly.
I had started thinking if it could be me. May be I had done something wrong
somewhere which hurt him.
Then one day as I was clearing the closet, I found
two movie tickets in his shirt pocket, a movie which he never took me for. Who else
could it be then I begin to wonder. .. and just then the phone rang… It was Candy asking for Mark.
Mark whispered something to her and hung up. He looked
at me worried and asked me again and again what Candy said. That night when he
was asleep I checked Mark’s cell and noticed that in past two weeks my husband
had only called Candy and that too at weird timings. There was something wrong …
my heart sank.
The next
day Mark claimed he had to go to office for some important meeting. I was
surprised that Mark had even forgotten it was a Sunday. When he left I kept
thinking about him and Candy. That bitch had worked her magic on Mark and now
she was making him dance to her tunes... But I was not gonna let it happen. I
dialed Marks number but it was busy. I tried again and again but in vain. So then
I decided to call Candy. I wanted to just fight, wanted to fire her for
stealing my hubby… but I found that her number was busy too.
May be Mark and Candy were talking to each other…
may be they we laughing at me for being so foolish… I was sure they are planning on a romantic Sunday.
I was almost in tears. "Oh Marie," I
said to our maid, "I have reason to suspect that my husband is having an
affair with his secretary."
“I don't believe it for one minute!" Marie
snapped. "You're just saying that to make me jealous!!!”
Now when a woman’s mood is off... she will surely
tell u (or show it by her actions)...
huh ? so what’s the problem?? .. The problem is that she will only tell
you that her mood is off. Now you have
to find out why - if you love her - that’s what she feels.
There are 2 ways - if you have experienced this before, 1.You
should ask - they want you to ask - cz they want to tell you... but not
anyways, ONLY WHEN YOU ASK or 2. if you’re
brave enough You can Guess why her
mood is off- they would love you to guess - but then mostly it backfires cz it’s
not a man’s forte to guess right, Especially about women.
Now if you’re a smarter one like me and select the
1st option - i.e.: to ask her why her mood is off... it’s just a beginning... cz you will have to see through other obstacles
to get there, as in to know the answer.
It starts
with something like, “just like that my mood is off” ...and then it’s your duty
to ask nicely again... “Why dear? What happened?” and then u have to face another – “Leave it ...i don’t wanna talk about it” ... BUT NOW IF
YOU LEAVE IT~~! You will come across as someone who is insensitive and someone
who does not care about her ... So don’t fuck it up … keep you cool and ask
again – “honey tell na.. what happened??”
And then it goes on …
“Please don’t ask… I’m really tensed”
“But maybe I can help”
“Baby my mood is soo fucked today”
… and now when your almost at the verge of killing
and for the last time say, “hmmm ok.. I think you rest for a while, we’ll talk
again later” … she will say!!!!, infact start another game... it’s called the 'ask-and-you-shall-know' game - worst of all... you have to play!
“It’s Priscilla”
“What about her?”
“She came today”
“Huh? So?”
“She just ruined my mood”
“How?”
“She always does this”
“:) I know.. ahem ahem .. but what happened”
“Nothing it’s the Easter party”
“so it’s not Priscilla??”
“No NO its that bitch only”
“huh”
“You know my shoes”
“whi..ch ones?? .. ah .. I mean .. you have sooo
maaaany beBeautiful pairs no… no?”
“Yeah .. but those black ones? Those heels..the ones I wore for my birthday
last to last time.. you remember … DON’T YOU?”
“Last to.. last time?? ..hmm ofcourse..ah.. love..Lovely
shoes”
“Yes I know … you know I’d got them from the
nearby store.. like it was a steal.. I bargained like soo much… it was like the
shopkeeper - that guy was soo stubborn... but I still managed.. he was quoting
such a high price .. but I just bargained and bargained… and then… ”
“I KNOW ALL THAT!!! … ahem ahem .. but NOW what
happened.. ah.. baby?”
“Tomorrow is the Easter party.. Rachael is organizing.. you know Rachael na? Apparently she is dating
Peter.. I donno what happened between her and Steve … actually they were .. ”
“AHEM AHEM”
“..ah.. yeah leave that ...so guess what Priscilla is
also coming for the party’
“so??”
“she went shopping today.. and..”
“and?”
“and she got the same type shoes.. like mine .. I was
going to wear them you know”
“hmmmm”
“such a bitch she is!!”
“so.. soo this is.. why you mood is.. off??”
“what do you mean?? Is it a small thing??? Same shoes
dude!! Can you beat that?”
“Fuck!!”
“exactly!”
“so… now.. now what?”
“I donno! But I am not gonna wear them, they are
like same and will look old also compared to pricilla’s”
“Which leaves you with nothing .. no shoes to wear…
right??”
“ahaan”
“*sigh* why
don’t we go shopping then?? I am sure.. it won’t hurt to have another pair
added to you small collection ”
“*smiles* you
think so?”
“ahaah :(”
“well.. let it be.. last week only we went shopping
na? ”
“hmmmm :/”
“but only if you say.. we’l go”
“:/”
“wow.. cool !!
I love you…. Wait .. il change and come… ” *runs inside to change*
“We could have saved 2 hours and W!((!@M’s time if
you’d tell me this directly.. !!”
*from
inside* “yes yes we’l reach home in 2 hours….just two minutes .. Thinking
about what to wear … you think I should
wear that red top?? .. you know I’d got this from the nearby store.. like it
was a steal.. I bargained like soo much… it was like the shopkeeper - that guy
was soo stubborn... but I still managed.. he was quoting such a high price ..
but I just bargained and bargained… and then…”
I told few of my close friends about us.. they way we met.. the things we talk about.. the time we spend.. the way we understand each other.. our petty fights.. out patch ups... our texts our calls... our love.. everything.
But they said they have a doubt ... they think you don't love me ...
This concept is taken from my dear friend Runcils blog - Goodbye. I am really thankful to him for letting me redo his post in the way i wanted to..
“I want a breakup..” I read the sms on my cell and went to sleep again.. I meanc’mon yaar!! What is anyone expected to do if they get a sms at 3 am ???
yeah this sms was serious I know… that’s why when I woke up at 11 in the morning 1st thing I did after having a bath and tasting 3 chapattis with jam and milk, is I called her…
“WhatTheFuck you think of urself!!Is this the time to call???”
“huh? ur busy?”
“fuck u … I wanna meet u as soon as possible”
“but I thought u wanna breakup??”
“I do, you jerk!.. and thats why I wanna meet you”
“huh? …”
"It's not working, Charlie," she said, in a serious tone, "you know it too."
"There's nothing that can't be repaired, Cecilia," I protested, "there's still time. We can convince your parents." I said applying jam onto another chapatti
“oh shutup !! keep your stories to urself… its just not helping !!I wanna see u in the cemetery at 2.. I thought we could meet in the morning ... but u just keep eating your jam-bread” ….
“chapatti!!…. Jam-chapatti” I corrected
“fuck u” came the reply! As she disconnected
……… beep.. beep…
Now the very idea of meeting in the cemetery is scary … just imagine… in front of thousand graves, gravestones and dead people under them, today I was going to beakup with my girlfriend… hmmmm ok its not for the faint hearted... young children and senior citizens please switch to reading other blogs!
Kuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnkkkkkkk---krrrrrrrr----kuuuunnnnk !! The cemetery gate opened … making this typical haunted noise… I looked around if I could spot any ghosts or cecilia who looked like them … may be I could convince her from outside the gate ...but then Runcil had positioned her at the end of the cemetery.. so lets go there!!
The cemetery was silent - the kind of silence that glides over your skin and pierces you, making you want to break its steely grasp - a silence to be afraid of; the silence before the storm. I somehow managed to walk the distance … I was just hoping no one comes and touches me from behind,.. Id die on the spot … my heart was beating fast .. I just wanted to get out of this spooky place…
Cecilia was sitting on a bench, rather uneasily, waiting for me, when I reached the place. She had decided that we would meet here for the last time. I still couldn't understand. A cemetery? I mean what happened to all those KFC’s and Poptates where she made me spend like I was a millionaire!!
The breeze blew the leaves that crowded my path marking for me a clear road to Cecilia. I walked with fast steps towards her. She stood up, while I hurried to tell her to continue sitting (fearing she might slap me 1st only). "No need," she replied in a cold tone, "we came in through this end of the cemetery, we can walk to the other end. And talk too."
She wore a black mini with a white top. Contrasting colors - and I guess even more ironic for the occasion although it suited the location. The usual kohl under her eyes was missing today. Her long flowing hair was restricted to a bun. Somehow id started feeling it was my funeral!
We walked with slow, perhaps unsteady steps. There were thousands of gravestones around us. Some were sparkling white, few were freshly dug and the soil was uneven. Most were greying due to neglect. Some of the crosses had fallen apart, the angel's wings had come off. These untouched graves provided the famished atmosphere for us to talk in.
"So, should we get on with our talk?" I asked, knowing anyway what was to come. "It's all over, Charlie," she said, looking away from me
"don’t say that yaar.. we can still convince your parents… I’ll talk to them"
"You say this after knowing my parents. I don't know if that's arrogance or ignorance."
" It's just plain hope."
"Or living in denial," she retorted. “you know how much they hate you”
“oh for god sake Cecilia! You getting pregnant was not only my fault ok…you also….”
“jude was always cautious”
“what the fuck!!”
“i.. I mea.. I mean… my parents will not approve for us Charlie … they want me to marry jude..”
That swift tongue!
We continued walking. I saw a gravestone that bore the deathdate April 7, 1985 - my birthdate.
"So, you want me to forget you? Just like that? After all this time?" I asked. I was on the verge of pouring all my anger on her.
"See Charlie," she said hesitatingly, "I know it's difficult, but..."
I stood rooted to where I was, ""Difficult? It's not only difficult. You think it's very easy to forget that we went around, kissed, shared the same bed, sometimes at your place and sometimes at mine…sometimes at some NRI friends place of yours… so many beds we shared ! It may be easy for you, but not for me."
I was shouting now and my voice echoed because of the stillness around. A few mourners at a nearby grave had stopped the rosary and were looking at us. 'Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.'
Cecilia shrieked, "Don't you raise your voice at me, Charlie. Its soo embarrassing talking about how many beds we shared… these mourners will think we are getting horny in the cemetery”
"You've given me reason to do so. Cant you just understand I love you and wanna be with you??”
She stayed quiet. I became aware of the breeze blowing the weightless, dead leave around. I heard the whispers of the mourners praying again. Some still looking at us suspiciously as if they had caught us makingout..I heard myself breathing heavily. I heard sniffles of despair.
She looked at me, straight into my eyes, perhaps for the first time that day.
"I know what I am doing to you is unfair, but life is unfair. It has been unfair to me too. You don't have to listen to the abuse I receive everyday, you don't have to feel the pain I feel everyday. It's the cycle of life Charlie, we just pass on the unfairness that we have received to someone else. And in time everything gets alright. You too will be fine, Charlie… probably after you pass this unfairness to someone else”
"But," I protested, "the love we shared was..." I was at a loss for words. …Was our love sexy? .. pleasurable?? I was even beginning to doubt whether it was love.
"The love we shared," she whispered, "was good while it lasted. It's over from my side now. I think you should get on too. There's a time and season for everything, right? You used to sing that. Our's has just passed."
We had not moved since we had last stopped. Cecilia felt her phone vibrating in the pocket and answered it…at once I realized I should too put my phone on the silent mode.. after all it does not look good to have a muni badnaam hui ringtone in the cemetery na??
"I'm going back from here. I have to meet Jude…..Take care of yourself. I'll meet you perhaps to give you the invitation card. I'm sad we couldn't finish our little walk"
“but what about this little talk??”
I looked at her. She was looking in the other direction. Her voice was shaking. Why couldn't she say it looking at me?
"Goodbye Charlie."
"Wait Cecilia," I quivered. Trying to strengthen my voice, I said, "I want one question answered." "Okay, just one question. What is it?" she asked impatiently, still not looking at me. "Why here? Why the cemetery?"
The still air blew furiously now. The leaves flew around, some into our faces. Cecilia turned around, and for the last time faced me. Her eyes were red.
"because Jude’s place is nearby”
And then she turned around and walked away, never to return again.
The mourners were at the end of their rosary, signing themselves.
Dickson Miranda had officially completed his hardware and networking course from a well known institute and was sent by his placement department to XYZ Company for an interview! …so there I was! I reached the Company to see how his interview goes! hmmm well it was not difficult to find him in the crowd... He’s hair completely drenched in oil would be combed sideways, left partition to be precise, as often he would be wearing a self colored shirt buttoned to the top with a matching tie, two pens, black and blue… in his shirt pocket, big round spectacles above his nose… and his nose always pointing in the direction where the girls were. (Yeah his nose is like this mini gps) Oh! There he was!!! Sitting amongst the candidates and checking out the receptionist from the corner of his eyes. Hmmm now talking about the receptionist… ah… she was not bad at all … Tall, well tanned, nice and curvy, long hair till her shoulders, sleeveless blue top that looked just perfect, black skirt, long legs…wow! … I mean if you didn’t notice a girl like her, you really would be a …. “DICK! …You may go in” my thoughts were interrupted by someone…. Shit did he hear me? … Actually he was just asking our friend Dickson to get in the cabin for the interview!... uff!.. Sometimes I really think people can read my mind!...sigh!! Anyways a nervous Dickson and an invisible me started approaching the cabin for our interview, rather his interview….
On our way Dickson decided to enlighten the gentleman who called out to him saying, “its DickSON… not dick” … the man gave him a ‘do-I-look-like-I-care?’ Look and continued with his work…
Knock knock!
Come in said a female voice… dick and I entered… and I fainted instantly…
In front of me was the hottest female I had ever seen …10 times hotter than the receptionist!! Oh! Holy lord! ... the name of this company should have been XXX instead of XYZ!! It’s a treat to work here! … Still mesmerized I did enough to stand myself on my feet.. you see this is a big advantage of being invisible, you can check out the hottest chick and faint anywhere in the world without getting noticed!
"My name is Liza, i will be conducting this interview" she said reaching out her hand towards Dickson...
nervous dickson (more nervous after seeing her) ... holds her hand and and says hi...
liza: (pulling her hand away) "may i see your resume ?"
dick: " sure"
liza: "well someone is looking nervous so whats your name?" ..(pointing towards the chair asking him to sit)
dick: "my name is Dickson Miranda. (goes for the impression) and ofcourse...someone is looking very preety "
liza: "..hehe.. you could have said that with a little more conviction"
dick:"well... my name is Dickson Miranda "
liza".. anyways! " (goes through the resume)
liza: "so what do you know about XYZ?"
dick: "its a nice company.."
liza" ..and?"
dick: "ah.. and.. ahh"
liza: " so why did you apply here?.. i mean why not anywhere else.."
dick: "I was going to try in HP.. but my placement officer said.... thats not your cup of tea... go to XYZ.. whaan toh tuje mil hi jaayega "
liza:" sigh! ...what do you know about DHCP?"
dick: "DHCP... it is Dynamic Host Configurattion Protocol"
liza:"and what is Dynamic Host Configurattion Protocol??"
dick: "it is DHCP... ah.. it is used in networking"
liza: "how?"
dick: "i think it is used to make DHCP server"
liza: ""
liza: "what is Class A IP? "
dick: "hmm the range of IP's that belong to Class A"
liza: ""
liza: "what steps will you carry out if you find out one day, that your desktop is not starting? "
dick: "call my engineer"
liza:".. but what will you do to troubleshoot? "
dick: "i will call my engineer... he will troubleshoot "
liza: ""
me: ""
dick ""
liza:"so why do you think we should hire you? "
dick: "i am very hardworking and i know my job well"
liza: ""
me: ""
dick: ""
liza: "well Dick..son ... let me see.. illl speak to your placement officer and call you if your selected "
me: ""
dick: " ah.. well u can tell me.. ill tell my placemnet officer!"
liza: "no no, we will call you... as for now thank you, you can go "
after sometime:
(on the phone)
dick: "yes sir, they said they will call me ... no no nothing they asked... only DHCP and Class A IP... ek aur question pucha ta.. I forgot... huh? yes yes.. i knew the answers!...she said she'll call you first..yes! ok sir.. yes! bye"
after some days
(in classes)
placement officer: "arey W!((!@M ...there are vacancies in two places... XYZ and PQR why dont you try?"
me: " why not sir, ill go to XYZ tomorrow only "
officer: "hmm Dickson had gone there .. he said they asked him DHCP and...ah."
me: "Class A IP?"
office: "haan...how did you know? "
me: "..ah.. i met him.."
officer: "ok, but XYZ is offering less salary huh! compared to PQR... try PQR na?"
me: "ah.. no sir.. XYZ is offering.....i mean .. i'll would like to try there first!"
next day
(at the XYZ reception)
some old man is at the reception...
me: "excuse me.. i've come for an interview... that female who used to be here...."
man: "accha! she's on leave... her father expired... why dont you have a sit?... ill call you"
me""
knock knock]
Come in said a thick male voice… I entered… and almost fainted instantly…
me: "Miss Liza? "
man: "Mrs. Liza, she's my wife ... currently out of town... I am Steve and i will be conducting today's interview "
me: ""
I could not let my luck screw my happiness anymore.. so before he asked anything I said..
"sir, i know everything about DHCP and Class A IP "
Steve: "ah... i am sure you do... so tell me something about VPN "
?" 
sure"
well someone is looking nervous 
so whats your name?" ..(pointing towards the chair asking him to sit)
..hehe.. you could have said that with a little more conviction
"
..and?"
so why did you apply here?.. i mean why not anywhere else.."
how?
"
.. but what will you do to troubleshoot? 
"
"
"
"
"
"
ah.. well u can tell me.. ill tell my placemnet officer!"
why not sir, ill go to XYZ tomorrow only 
"