The Black Curry

Last week had been an eventful one for me.It began with a job offer from one organisation.Then in the mid of the week,I helped India win over the Aussies,thanx to my sacrifice of not lifting any phone calls during the match.Then on Friday again got a job offer.So it was a double bonanza.But finally it ended with the suicide attempt of one of my friend Radhika.Yes you read it right "Suicide".Radhika Subramaniam Reddy,an IIM graduate,working in one the top MNC of this country.Have a good supportive family,one little sister,and not to forget her steady boyfriend Bruno,a big white Labrador.In short Radhika had everythng to live for.You must be thinking, then why did she took such a daring step?I too got shocked when i first heard the news.

It was a lazy Saturday early morning.After the yesterday night's beer party,we were expecting to have our morning start from 12 in the noon.All the three of us were in deep slumber.I was having a romantic dream too.But just when the love making scene was about to start,a phone call spoiled it all.I woke up and saw Mohit calling.It was 7 in the morning.I once thought of disconnecting the call,but good sense prevailed and i picked it up.

Mohit: Arun there is a bad news.

Me: What?You made your cat Pregnant?

Mohit: No. Radhika attempted suicide yesterday night.

For the next 10 seconds i was numb.I got goose bumps.I refused to believe my ears.But could not and asked him again.

Me: What are you saying?When did it happen?

Mohit: Last night around 2am.She took overdose of sleeping pills.

Me: But why?And how is she now?

Mohit: She is not stable.Had been admitted to the Apollo Hospital,Jubilee Hills Road.

Me: Who told this?

Mohit: Her sister.I am going there.You people also come at the earliest.

The hang-over of last night disappeared in the next nano seconds.The first thing i did was to wake up the other two duffers Amit and Rahul and told them what had happened.All the trance of last night disappeared.We decided not to waste any more time and start for the hospital at the earliest.After we got fresh,three of us started for the hospital in Amit's bike.

During the whole ride i was trying to figure out why an educated,decent and lovely girl like Radhika dared to take such a step.The first thought that came to my mind was that may be she was having a secret affair,and her boyfriend might have dumped her.Or even she might have lost her virginity,which came to the limelight of her parents.Moments later another thought crossed my mind.Radhika's parents might have selected a groom for her,whom she didn't wanted to marry.But as she could not rebel against her parents,so to escape this,she thought of taking her life.But in between all these weired thoughts ruling my mind,deep inside my heart i was praying that Radhika should survive.She can't leave us so soon.This earth needs her.In fact we need her.With all these going on inside me,i realized that we have finally reached the parking lot of the Apollo Hospital.

We inquired about Radhika Reddy at the Reception Counter and she directed us to Room No.102.As we proceed i could see Radhika's mother sitting outside with her sister. Continuous shobbing had made her eyes to swell.She looked rattled.I asked Ramanee,the younger sister of Radhika about the present condition of her sister.She told that doctor had come few minutes back and told them that Radhika is out of danger,but we can only meet her after an hour.I asked Ramanee whether she has got any idea about the reason behind Radhika's act.And she told me that she was clueless.Meanwhile Radhika's father came and asked us whether we had our breakfast,and if not than we should have it first.Me,Amit and Rahul headed towards the canteen and ordered tea and chapatti.We all were very upset.Our faces looked pale.And on everyone's mind there was one question.Why did Radhika attempted suicide?

As we completed our breakfast and headed towards the room no.102,we saw that the doctor was in some conversation with Radhika's father.I went towards him and asked about what the doctor said.Uncle told me that Radhika has regained conscience and she wants to meet us.I was finally relieved.Uncle and Aunty went inside.Doctor advice them not to cry infront of her or give her any stress.After sometime they came out,and i went inside.I saw some Saline bottles were hanging beside her bed,and an oxygen cylinder was kept aside.The lovely,jolly and energetic face of Radhika has turned into something pale,shattered and wretched.I took a chair and sat beside her,She could not look into my eyes.

Me:How are you?

Radhika: I am alive.

Me:If you had so much problem with our beer party,you could have told us.Why take such steps.You spoiled a very romantic dream of mine,even our morning hangover got wasted.Get well soon,i will take compensation of everything from you.

Radhika smiled a bit.

Me:You want to have somethng?Water or Complan?

Radhika:No Arun,don't feel like.

Me:Ok

Radhika asked me to call the nurse to replace the old saline bottle with a new one,as it was about to get over.I did that and took back my seat.Now i thought of asking Radhika the big question.

Me: Radhika you know what,i always considered you as the face of Modern India.Well educated,confident,decent,caring,independent,and not easy to break.

Radhika remained silent

Me:But your stupid act really made me thinking that all these years i had a false notion about you.

Radhika: Arun,life can be at times really cruel to you.

Me: I know that.But if educated people like you take such steps,than what will others do?Do you think its a solution?

Radhika: May be.

Me: Why run away from worries?Simply fight them.You are a real fighter.

Radhika: I am nothing but a black curry.

Me:What?

Radhika: Black Curry.

Me:Now what's that?

Rdhika:That's how someone described me few days back.You know what,sometime i feel that being born as black or dark complexioned has been a real curse on me.

Me:Who fills ur mind with all these filthy bullshit thoughts?

Radhika:Through out my academic career i had been among the top 5 of my batch.I can say that i was far better than many other girls.Still i never ever had any boyfriend.Just because my skin color was black.

Me: Hey don't think like that.

Radhika: Even few months back i heard a conversation of one of my distant relative with my mother.She told my mom that as i was too dark,the possibility of an arrange marriage was less,unless the groom is an unemployed person.It was really painful for my mother.She cried that day.And the cause of her tear was my dark complexion.

Me:These are some exception.They still live in the 16th century.Don't take it as general.World has changed a lot and so do the people.

Radhika: You are talking about change?My younger sister with whom i had some of the best memories of my childhood now blames me for the delay of her marriage.She told me one day that as our parents were not able to find any prospective groom for me,her marriage with her boyfriend is getting delayed.She is an IT graduate.Do you still think the world has changed a lot?

I can see her eyes getting wet.

Me:Hey,please don't cry.You can't take any stress.Cool down.

Radhika:I am okay Arun.

Me: Need some water?

Radhika:No,its fine.

Me:Don't think much into all this crap.You are a wonderful person,and you deserve someone good.And i am sure you will get one soon,who will love you irrespective of your looks.

Radhika: In my dreams i guess.Arun let me tell you one thing.I was having an affair with a guy whom i met through facebook.It went along well for 3 months,mostly through chat and phone calls.The guy seemed to be caring,loving,and honest and was ready to marry me,untill we met one day.Since that day,he deleted me from facebook,and started ignoring my calls.After few days he sent me a text stating that i was too dark, in fact a black curry,and he felt ashamed to take me infront of his family and friends.He told me to stop bothering him.

Me:Bloody asshole.Crap n sick guy.Definitely need medical help.

Radhika: No Arun,may be he is right.Even if you go through the ads in a matrimonial newspaper,you will find that most of the parents want "Fair,beautiful,and educated" bride for their son.Is fairness such an inseparable part of beauty?Can't a dark complexioned be considered beautiful?

Me:I agree with you.May be we are still far behind to be called civilized.

Radhika: Then there are those fairness cream manufacturing companies,who in the process of selling their product, portrays dark complexion as inferior and low,which according to them can be get rid off if we apply their product.

Me:Rightly said.Its all about exploiting someone's weakness for your own profit.Its still a jungle out here.Just that the animals have become well dressed.

Radhika:I don't want to get rid off my color.I am used to it and i just love it.I may be dark from outside but my soul is not dark.I too want to love someone and in return get love.

Me:You will surely get one.

Radhika:I can put all these arguments,and try to ignore the ills of this society.But when i face the abuse and insults in reality,i break down.If being black is such a bad thing,then its better to put this black curry in the waste,and end my life.

Radhika started to cry heavily.I went closer and wiped out her tears and gave her a glass of water to drink.I tried to console her.

Me:You are the most beautiful human being in the true sense whom i have met in my life.Beauty can be achieved,but it takes generation to build a good character.And trust me you have got both.

With these words of consolation i left the room.But deep inside me i asked myself a question.

Are we a bunch of Racist wearing a mask of civilization who differentiate people on the basis of their skin color?Or its just that some section of the society still needs awakening.I got my answer instantly.And i leave it on you to get your own answers.

Imperfectly Perfect

Most of the years my Valentine's Day comes by and goes away like those little naps which i occasionally take at office.I hardly realize the importance of it,because i don't think that to celebrate Love we need any special day,it can be celebrated 365 days a year.What matters in love is the passion and not the position.I may sound to be sarcastic to you all,but thats me.Anyways lets come to the more interesting part of the story.My friend Sohini.Now if some of you have started to fantasize,then let me remind you that she is not like the hot voluptuous babe.Rather she is a pure desi girl,who prefers salwar over mini-skirt,who wears bindi and not tattoo,in short a perfect marriage material.

It was pre valentine's day evening,when she called me up and requested to go with her for shopping.Actually she wanted to buy gift.But the sad part is that it was not for me,but rather for her boyfriend Rohit *sigh*.But an opportunity to spend the evening with her was no less then a gift for me.So,i readily agreed to her proposal.We started from home in an auto rickshaw.I must tell you one thing,the auto driver resembled our very own Shakti Kapoor.With a villainous look,he was giving constant stares at us from his rear-view mirror.I once thought of doing a bit of Salman Khan there,but good sense prevailed and i preferred not to,because that man was many times stronger then me.Finally,i started to ignore his stares,willingly or unwillingly doesn't matter at this point.After a sweet ride for 30 mins,we finally reached GVK Mall Hyderabad.

Let me tell you one thing,the person who made teddy bear,must have studied female psychology thoroughly.For some strange reason,girls have got a great fascination for teddy bears.We went inside Archies Gallery,and the first thing that captured Sohini's attention was a white teddy bear.And then........

Sohini: Hey Arun,its so cute.Can i buy it?

Me: For Rohit?What will he do with this?

Sohini: Stupid,i am asking for myself.

Me:I guess we have come here for buying something for Rohit.

Sohini: Yes of-course we will buy for him,but before that can i buy this one for me please.

Me:If i say NO,will you drop the idea?

Sohini: No way.

Me:Then why the hell are you asking me,simply buy it.

Sohini: Thank you,you are so sweet.

Sometime in life,thanks are simply thrust upon us.But as long as it comes from a beautiful source,it makes you feel happy.Finally,Sohini could fix her variable mind into one constant thing and called me.

Sohini:How is it?Will Rohit like it?

Me:I liked it,don't know whether your Rohit will like it or not.For that you could have brought Rohit here.

Sohini: Why are you so rude.I know you are jealous of him.

Me: Me jealous of that fatso Rohit?You are in your senses?

Sohini: Don't call him fatso.And i know you are jealous *semi-smile*

Me: Why should i be jealous of him?For you?.You are not my type,so don't have any misconception.

Sohini: Oye just kidding.I love to see you get angry *prolonged-smile*

Me: Ok,now quickly pay the bill and lets get out of this place.

As we were about to move out,Sohini spotted one of her aunts.She has got the habit of maintaining a bunch of aunts.This one was Rita aunt.

Sohini: Aunty! How are you *hugs*.

Aunty:I am fine baby.I guess you came for buying gifts for Rohit.

Sohini: Yes *blush*.So what are you doing here aunty?

Aunty: I too came for the same purpose.

Sohini: Ok.Meet Arun,my friend.

Aunty: Hi Arun.

Me:(Finally i got the chance to break my silence) Hi.

Sohini: Ok aunty you carry on with your shopping.We should leave now.

Aunty: Ok baby,God bless you.

I was feeling very hungry.So i asked Sohini to check in inside Cafe Coffee Day.We ordered a pizza,one chicken roll and coke for each.As we were having our snacks,i asked Sohini.

Me:Your Rita aunt looks sexy,and she is romantic too i guess.

Sohini: Yes,she must be.But one thing i cant figure out yet.

Me: What is that?

Sohini: Uncle died five years back,so now she is buying valentine's gift for whom? *big question mark*

Me: Must be for her boy-friend,simple*smile*.Poor uncle,he must be an impotent when alive,now getting jealous from Heaven.

Sohini: Stop it!

Me: Why should i stop?When your aunt can have an affair after her husband's death,then i can also speak what i wish to.You girls are all the same,can change colors like a chameleon.

Just when we were about to take our argument to the next level,Sohini spotted her aunt coming towards her,and requested me to put a smile on my face.I didn't had much options.

Aunty: Hi again,if you don't mind can i join you people?

Sohini: Yes of course,we would love your companion(when mentioning "we",Sohini didn't bother to take my consent *sigh*).

My mind was still lingering with the fact that the aunty was having affair after the death of her husband,and i could not digest this fact.So,i thought of asking her deliberately.

Me: Aunty,it's great to see that inspite of your age,you didn't lost the passion to buy gift for your valentine.Really love doesn't have any age bar.Uncle is indeed a very lucky person to have you.

Aunty: Don't know about uncle,but i was very lucky to have him as my soul mate.

Me: was?

Aunty: Yes,he left me and went to Heaven 5 years back,Sohini must have told you that.

Me: Not exactly,i didn't asked her.

Aunty: Oh! I see.

Me: If you don't mind,may i ask you for whom you are buying this gift(Sohini gave me a *WaitIWillSeeYouOutside* look).
Aunty: Of-course for your uncle.Every year on Valentine's Day i buy gift for him,and keep it on his shelve.

Me: Oh! so sweet.Doesn't get to see such kind of platonic love these days.Please tell us something more about uncle.

Aunty:Ok,i wont say all the good qualities which he had in plenty.Rather let me tell you some of the funniest thing which he used to do,that brings smile to my face even today.

Me:That will be nice.

Aunty: Let me tell you something about the way i spent my night with him at bed.

Both me and Sohini looked at each other awestuck.

Aunty: After a day of hard work,when i get to my bed at night,the night used to start with the thundering sounds of his snoring.Even my morning was not any different."Ghorrrrrrr Ghorrrrr","Phusssssssss Phussssss",all these sounds had become the part and parcel of my life.Even if i pushed him in between,he used to stop snoring momentarily,but after some pause,it used to play again "Ghorrrr Phusss".The irritating part was when i used to tell him in the morning about his snoring effects,and he was like "snoring"?Who me?No way?Trust me i felt like breaking Atul's nose every morning.

Sohini: That was really sweet.

Aunty: I am not yet done.As if the snoring wasn't enough to irritate me,here came his bombardment of farts.Some loud "pooooooooo",some with a silencer attached "phissssss",both versions had its own effect.

Sohini: Hehehe,* busted in laughter*

Aunty: He used to do bombardment anytime and anywhere,and sometime it was really embarrassing for me,specially when we were in midst of some group of people.I used to tell him repeatedly "Please control your farts when in gatherings".And atul with his pure and honest smile used to reply "Yeh dil mange more".

Both me and Sohini were loving the conversation,getting totally involved.As i took another sip of my coke,aunty continued.....

All the things which used to be a cause of irritation and embarrassment for me initially,became the sign of relief during the last days of his life.His illness made him bed ridden.And in the midst of the night when i could hear my Atul snoring or farting,i used to get relieved that he is still alive.But deep inside i knew that this snoring is not as same as before,and its not gonna last for long.

And again at times just to make Atul smile,i used to make fun of his farting when he was in hospital.I used to tease him by saying "Please dont fart in the hospital,or else the doctors will get faint and they will need to be treated first."And Atul with a semi smile on his cheek used to say "Yeh dil still mange more.But the body wants no more".I could realise the suffering he was going through.And in one grave night my Atul stopped snoring,and i could sense what's coming next.He met an end which he surely didn't deserved.

Me and Sohini were heavily moved.I saw a tiny drop of tear rolling down the right cheek of the aunt.Sohini hold her hand and wiped her tears.I didn't had any idea about what to say at that moment.So,i decided to keep my crappy mouth shut.The aunt after taking some deep breath,started again...

Aunty: Listen kids,life is all about these little mistakes and imperfections.At the end of your life,these silly moments will help to bring back the smile on your face,however torrid your situation is.So don't afraid to make mistakes.Take risk,follow your heart and don't run after perfection.Its boring.Life is at its best when there is uncertainty.Because the joy of uncertainty test your real character.

"Search for your soul-mate who is as imperfect as you are and see how life turns perfectly beautiful with all your flaws and imperfections."

With these words Rita Aunt bid adieu to us,and left me thinking into the fact that there are something in life which needs to be celebrated,and love is surely one of them.I decided once and forever to celebrate Valentine's Day from now on.