…यह खिड़कियाँ

आज खुल गयी वह खिड़कियाँ वापिस से

जैसे मानो बंद होने का नाम ही न ले रही हो

बाहर की हवा का असर है लगता है, काफी नुकसान हो चला है इसे अब तक

अंदर का जोर भी आज बाहर से मुकाबला कर नहीं पा रहा है

 

मैं सोचता हूं अकसर यह

मानो अगर यह खिड़कियाँ न होती तो क्या होता

क्या हम अपने सपनों के दरवाजों को खोल पाते?

या बंद ही रखते यह सोचकर की चलो

अंधे ही सही मन की खिड़कियों से जीना सीख लेते है

 

यह भी अच्छा मजाक कर जाती है जिंदगी में

जब खुली होती है तब हम इन्हें बंद कर लेते है

 

आज नीचे बहुत शोर हुआ, देखा गली में बच्चे खेल रहे है

उनके मन की खिड़कियां खुली है अभी, बंद तो मैंने कर रखे थे अब तक,

आज सामने के घर में रौनक नहीं है, शायद घर पे कोई न हो

या कोई है जिसने आँखें खुली रखी है पर अँधेरे से प्यार कर बैठा अब तक,

 

ऊपर का आधा चाँद कितना अकेला दिख रहा है आज

आज चमकते सितारों की चादर मैंने बिछा रखी है मेरे मन में

मेरे दिल का आधा टुकड़ा आज इसी खुली खिड़की से बाहर छलांग लगा चुका है

शायद ऊपर अपने चाँद से मिलने जा बैठे , किसे पता

 

वह किसी के आँखों का आँसू  है तो किसी के चेहरे की ख़ुशी,

वह आज दूर जा चुका है, है किसी को उसका इंतजार

कोई प्रेम राग गा रहा है, तो कही है कोई बेताब

किसी ने अपने खत में उसे लिखा है, ‘क्या कर पाओगे मुझसे इतना प्यार?’

 

इन खिड़कियों में लगा यह कांच आज धुंधला पड़ चुका है

शायद इन्हें कोई तोड़ दे, पर चलो अच्छा है,

कभी न कभी तो यह वापिस बंद हो ही जाएगी

एक कागज का टुकड़ा इसे ढक लेगा और फिर

वापिस यह इंतजार में खुलने को बेताब

किसी के उंगलियों की कद्र और किसी के आंसुओं का सब्र करना सिखा देगी

और फिर किसी के चहचहाते बोल इसे पसंद आने लगेंगे

और फिर किसी के नोकझोंक से यह वापस खड़खड़ाएगी

यह जिन्दा रहेगी मेरी तरह, मेरे अरमानों के समन्दर में गोते खाते रहेगी

मेरे सपनों के महल में एक हिस्सा बनकर जुड़ी रहेगी

मेरे मन की आँखें बनेगी यह दो खिड़कियां

अब खुली रहेगी इन्तेजार में उसके…

…यह खिड़कियाँ

~प्रसेनजित सरकार~ 28.10.2020

A Recognition by Team Storymirror

 Again, there is some good news. I am grateful to all who have helped me grow in my successful writing journey of more than twelve years with lots of appreciation and criticism as well that has helped me in creating a better version of me. I present to you the interview on Storymirror which is one of the largest online platforms available in India where people write and read content available in almost all major Indian languages. Here is the link to my interview-

My Interview With Storymirror

I hope you will continue supporting me in my literary journey which is really very close to my heart and I promise to stand on your expectations and keep writing more and more for you all.

A big THANK YOU to all. 

GAME OVER

Continuing from the previous post- 

https://www.sarkartimes247.com/2020/04/love-is-river-that-flows-and.html

The Final Chapter

3:56 pm

Curiosity killed the cat. Every time, when someone starts thinking too much over simple stuff, things get complicated. Krishna was becoming so restless that he could not find any better way to leave early from office only to open the envelope with his privacy and nothing else. He came down to one of his company's old warehouses where he visits occasionally on the way home. The wait was killing him with each passing second.  

3:58 pm

"I should definitely open it now," said Krishna who just entered inside unlocking the door.

As he tore the envelope, he was shocked to find a small pen drive. With enough curiosity, he went inside his office and started the computer. He inserted the Pendrive and waited for the autoplay option.

Just a single click of the mouse button and that brought the ultimate chills down his spine. He could not believe his eyes, he screamed in utter shock, " Oh ****!! what shit is this?? How possible??"

There was this entire video clearly shot from a little distance showing him standing with both arms wide open over the bridge opposite to a car that is speeding towards him. As her car stops, Priya is seen coming out happily embracing the love of her life, the one with whom she has dreamt of spending her entire life; Krishna is now holding her in his arms. Suddenly, he is shown moving a little and there he pushes Priya down the bridge; She falls down the river with a screaming voice and vanishes in seconds. Krishna gets the car moving close to the old broken iron railings and gives an ultimate push to the car off the old bridge meeting the final fate just like her lady love(?). He waits just to confirm that the whole car gets drowned completely along with all the proofs till the last minute. He carefully checks around if anybody has witnessed his crime and leaves the scene walking away hurriedly. Video ends.

Krishna loses control and deletes the video first. After that, he throws away the Pendrive to the floor and tries to crush with his shoes that he forgot to take off. He cries after that, fearing the truth is known by someone. With fear in his eyes, he reaches to his phone and again tries to call Priya's number. 

"Damn it. Whoever you are, I will find you out. Very soon." Disturbed, he throws away his mobile phone onto the sofa. The voice coming out from the phone- 'Please Check the number...'

Suddenly he gets a call from an unknown number.

Hesitatingly he picks up the mobile phone and takes the call.

"Hello?"

"Krishna? Why did you do this to me? I trusted you and you did this to me? Why Krishna why?"

Hearing Priya's voice clearly on the mobile phone, Krishna gets freaked out." Priya? Are you there? Is that really you? Where are you Priya? You are thinking wrong Priya...I love you Priya..I ..I..Lo.."

And then comes another voice, "Krishna? Are you all right?"

"Who is this...Sandhya? You? Is that you Sandhya? Speak out Sandhya...is that really you?"

 " So I was right. You killed Priya knowingly, knowingly that she was having your baby and you killed her mercilessly Krishna..how dare you do that to her?? How could you Krishna?Why ????

As if Sandhya was crying on the other side and her words shaking as if she is horrified to know the entire truth right now.

"What Bullshit Sandhya, its a conspiracy against me. I didn't kill her. It was an accident. Everyone knows she vanished near the bridge. Maybe she tried committing suicide after knowing she got...., maybe not. Maybe she is still alive. You know what? She is still sending me these envelopes reminding me how much she loves me. She is alive Sandhya, she is alive. Believe me. I have not killed her. She is alive!!!"

"Krishna, those envelopes were sent by me to you. Remember that day when you came to pick me up for the office. I put that green envelope numbered 2 inside your car while entering. You didn't notice it. That morning it was me who sent you that blue envelope with number 1 just to test you whether you remember the heinous crime that you have committed."

"What? No.. it's not true. Say Sandhya... it's not true."

"It is the truth Krishna, that you were lying to me. You knew already that if you marry Priya, then your father and your paternal relations could throw you out of their house, property, shares, and business. Priya, being the daughter of your father's rival in business was not a perfect fit for you, she never was. It was her foolishness that she trusted you. And what you did? You tried to eradicate her and her baby who was yet to see the light in this world. Shame on you Krishna...Chee Chee...I spit on you spineless man."

"Sandhya, don't say such things. I love you Sandhya, I love you, baby, this is all fake, photoshopped, that's not me..the video is doctored. I can prove that."

"Can you prove your love for Priya? No, because you failed her. It was me Krishna, to whom she always used to say so many good things about you. She used to say how good you take care of herself. In your firm, she gave me all the support that I needed with a job. As an assistant to her professionally and as a close friend to her personally, she told me everything about you. She always had this positive thing to share about you. But you cheated on her. You tried to get engaged with me just to please your father, being all aware that Priya is going to give birth to your child and she heavily wanted you to take the lead for the marriage to happen, to talk to your father. She was so happy that day you know? On that Valentine's day, she thought you would confirm the news of marriage to her. She wanted to record everything on her phone being a very special moment. So she gave me her phone before knowing that you could do such a barbaric such shameful thing to her. How could you Krishna? How could you. I have got the proofs with me and soon they will be available with media. You need to confess your crime Krishna, you have to do it."

"Sandhya, I am sorry Sandhya, Please don't do this Sandhya, We are also partners in the company and soon going to tie the knot. Please don't do anything that can create trouble for both of us. Okay? I will tell you everything. But please please don't do this to me. I plead to you. Don't do this to me."

"Sorry Krishna, I guess this is the best birthday gift you can get tonight after taking the life of someone who left everything for you. You lost it Krishna and you will face the worst from now onwards. YOUR GAME IS OVER."

Krishna got tensed, he knew this could mean the end of his career and personal relations with his family. His paternal relations like his uncle, his cousins who are still with the business may soon deny him his share of profits and properties knowing the criminal act and could bar him from the board of directors, partnerships, and all other rights applicable as of now. The news of Priya's homicide by the scion of the elite business group of the Shanmughams may spark controversy in the media and this could very well mark a dent on his personal and professional relations as well. With his mind getting all messed up, Krishna searched for the medicine that he has been taking for the migraine pain. He pops some extra pills and soon lay unconscious on his bed with his eyes closing down all by themselves. 

He could see the haunting face of Priya reappear from the drowning car with a scar on her upper right eyebrow and severely cracked cheekbone moving towards him up the bridge, smiling continuously and getting closer and closer until suddenly her blood-soaked hands grab his long neck taking him down into the waters for the ultimate demise. 

12:47 am in the night. 

Banging on the doors continues, some voices can be heard as well from outside. The doorbell keeps on ringing. On the floor lay the lifeless body of Krishna succumbed to a possible drug overdose with eyes half-closed, his mouth wide open with a bit of foaming that seems natural now. 

His mobile phone was continuously ringing. Rest In Peace.

Who would have thought to celebrate his birthday like that!

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..happy birth-dddd........"

#JoDikhtaHaiWohSachHotaNahi #JoSachHaiWohDikhtaNahi

#InsanKoApneKarmoKaPhalIseJanamMeMiltaHai

-THE END-

~P.S~10.08.2020~

Love is a River that flows and...

Continue reading from here-

https://www.sarkartimes247.com/2020/02/the-ugly-truth.html

♪♪Tied to a sallow heart...Why does he want to bring me where he goes? Oh and to find out the reasons why it's enough to make you wanna try for one last night♪♪

"Krish...look how beautiful this looks, no?" Priya was showing him how the big round sun was setting slowly down the creek. Both of them were sitting over the concrete blocks of the now-defunct old iron bridge where no one comes, no one drives. Both of them holding hands of each other with their Merc and Sedan facing each other. 
"Yes, indeed, the sun changes color every time and the sky too."
"So what you are thinking? Shall we go on with this? Is this working?"
"Yes, yes, it's our decision. You should keep that. I am not saying NO. But I am not comfortable with a YES also. I don't know."
"Krish, if anything bothers you, feel free to share. I will accept whatever you say."
"Sure, I am Okay. I am in. Maybe..."
"Is that a Yes? Really??"

Krishna could see the happiness in the eyes of Priya. She had shining kohl-lined eyes and with the setting sun, her beauty was going for a full shot. Krishna nodded in positive.
"I am so happy Krish. Let's get engaged. My parents like you so much. I hope your parents will like me too. Isn't it?"
"Yes, definitely." Krishna's voice was a little low now. He was happy. But there was something that bothered him. He said," What if we can go a little slow? I like you. You like me. Maybe we should go a little slow?"
"Krish, its 2 months. I just have one more month. After that everyone gonna know about us. Do you care now?" Her eyes welled up, Krishna could clearly see the shining pearly drops of her tears flowing. He hugs her and comforts her," Give me a week's time Priya, I promise It won't be that long."
"I believe you, Krish, I believe you." Priya brings her mouth close to Krish. Krish reclines and catches her faces with both palms. The sweetness of the lips finds the way through the hearts of the two evening birds; one tied soul who is caged and another free soul who doesn't know how to fly.
"I will come and wait for you here on the 14th. This valentine will be special indeed. I believe." 
Saying so, Priya got up and started walking to her Merc. Krishna saw her getting inside the car with a big smile. He smiled from there and bade her goodbye. She left.

"Welcome Mr.Iyer, how are you doing? Everything fine?" Said a man wearing a brown overcoat having big glasses on a bald head. He was in his fifties or so. Another gentleman who was a little older than him was accompanying a beautiful young girl. He continued, "And may I know about you, sweetheart? Mr. Iyer's younger daughter?"
"Hello, Mr. Shanmugam. No, I have a younger sister. I am Sandhya. Haha."
"Nice meeting you Sandhya. Hope you will take care of father's aspirations and business very soon."
"As soon as he is a partner in your company, this is not my forte."
Mr. Shanmugam's happy face takes a little departure here and the other old man says," Hey Sandhya, this company is also yours. I have bought a few shares in your name in my company. You know that?"
"Appa, I was just pulling your leg. haha. Don't worry Mr. Shanmugam as soon as he is my Appa, no one is going to stand in front of us. Right, Appa?" They both chuckle and Mr. Shanmugam clears his voice a little now with ease.
"Aah...come let me introduce you to my one and only son, Krishna."
Hearing his name Krishna turns around and Sandhya gets a glance at him. Looking at him, a guy of such a stealing smile and eyes that are deep like the ocean, Sandhya couldn't turn away her eyes off him. 
"Pleasure meeting you Miss..." asked Krishna.
"Sandhya...Sandhya Iyer. Nice meeting you Mr. Krishna Shanmugam." She smiled a little.


01.10 pm
At Dario's.

"What happened? Where are you lost, Krishna? enquired Sandhya sitting in front of him.
Their order comes to the table. 
"Ya, Brocolli and Mushroom Soup here. That Lemon soda over there."
"Thank you. Sandhya..i want to tell you something."
"Yes. what is it that bothers you? This Soup is so yummy." Sandhya felt relaxed after having the first bite of the Chocolate Croissants." They will be bringing the Ratatouille for the main course. Sans mushroom but with a dollop of cheese. Lots of it." She was excited.
"Sandhya I need your answer."
"Yes, please?"
" I got this notebook from someone who gave it to me this morning at my office. And there is something that is really making me upset."
"What thing?"
"Isn't this...YOU?" Krishna places the page of the notebook to Sandhya's side. Sandhya's happy face turned sour this time. Food stuck in the middle of nowhere. Her eyes frozen and she is now in complete shock. 
"This is so..ME...yes! How beautiful. I even have this designer Mustard colored dress! But this is so in black and white. Maybe a sketch of me. I remember wearing this dress someday. But how? "
"You won't believe where I found this.......!"
His pause was enough to make Sandhya uneasy.
"This notebook belongs to..?"
"Priya..." concluded Krishna looking straight into her eyes. Sandhya moves her eyes away in negative.
Sandhya laughs a little now. "Oh.. I was so thrilled for a moment. But how come she sketched so well? She used to write poems? Isn't it? "
"Yes, and there is a poem written just after your sketch in this notebook a few months after her death. Sounds fishy?"
"You mean to say, the last thing she did before her death was...she sketched me in this outfit?"
"Yes, I remember, this was our first Valentine's date, together. The same day she died in the freaky accident. Probably."
"Then who wrote the poem? Not her right? She is not a ghost now..am I right?"
"I don't think she has written this."
"What's written in that notebook?" She grabs the last page of the notebook where there was a short poem and it read,

Quote

'Love is a river that flows,
unending with no hopes or destination,
trying to return back again to the lover
for the one last time.'
'Then it never fades away,
how bad the memories be
It pinches you hard and makes you weak
on your knees, drowning in the creek 
like a car with no brakes indeed.'

- P.N unquote


"Priya Nair. I think this is her handwriting."
"Are you sure.?
"Yes, I believe her. I am scared if she is alive. or is this my vagary? Am I hallucinating?"
"What? Maybe someone else has written. Better concentrate on your starters now. It's not a safe place to discuss right now."
"Here comes the Ratatouille miss, with extra cheese as per your choice. Please enjoy." the waiter delivered the dish in front of them. Both the faces now dull with the spoon just playing with the plate. As if hunger has vanished and the croissants cold.
"I got an envelope."
"An envelope? What's there inside?"
"It says to OPEN at 4 PM only."
" Okay, as you wish. Let me know what you get in surprise. I will wait for your call."

Krishna was looking at the sketch as if Priya was staring looking for answers

"Is there any other girl in your life? Tell me, Krishna, is there?"

And Priya shot her car straight down the creek, with no trace of her found from the wreckage. Is she still alive? If yes, then why is she hiding from me? Why is she playing with me? Does Sandhya know how Priya died in that accident? I only told her that she passed away in that accident and she may not know exactly how and that I cannot tell her?After two years..why she wants to return?

Sandhya's face was dull. As if she was not happy anymore. The fancy main course dish makes no sense to both of them now. She wondered, 'What's there with Krishna? Why all of a sudden he started talking about Priya? Is she still alive? But it is not possible. I saw Priya drowning in the creek with her Merc. No, it's not possible. Or if it so?' Sandhya was silent and had no answers to her questions. Krishna was silent. They both stared at each other as if they were holding the biggest secrets in their hearts. But what really happened? Do they both know?


The final chapter of this series is going to publish soon. Keep watching this space and happy reading.

#KuchBateinAisiBhiHotiHain #KuchSecretsAiseBhiHoteHain #KyaPriyaZindaHai #YaSandhyaKuchJantiHai

~P.S~ 18.04.2020

The Ugly Truth

Continue from the previous post-http://www.sarkartimes247.com/2019/11/the-estranged-and-dead.html

Gupta left the room giving a confused look to Krishna. Wiping his face, he thought for a second that everything is fake. Maybe this is a copy-paste stuff or some very good editing. But the details in it were unquestionable. 

He asked himself, “Who was following them? Where did they meet first? How do they know each other? Why Priya would lie to me now?” Inside the envelope, there was a note. Written with charcoal instead. It read, ‘I know everything that you want to know. I know that was not just an accident.’

Krishna wiped his face full of sweat again. Suddenly he got an SMS.

“Krish…they want to hurt me, Krish. Please save me, Krish.Please.”

Krishna became infuriated and started tearing some of the polaroids that now lay shattered down into pieces. From one of the pieces, he saw the vivacious smile of Priya as if he got betrayed for this time too.

“Krish…Krish come on! Its already 10 in the morning. We need to see the doctor. You promised me last night. Chalo!

“Priya! Please let me sleep na! You also sleep, come to my arms. Come, come!”

“No Krish…I think you should wake up now. Here take your bed tea. Chalo wake up now!”

“Hmm…oh shit! Don’t blame me for this Priya. I forgot to wish you…oh no!! Happy Birthday Priya!” Krish with an apologetic face looked straight to Priya who seemed nowhere impressed with this laid back gesture of Krish. He embraced her and they both were now in bed again…into each other’s arms. “Krish, I wanted to tell you something. About this doctor’s appointment and how we should proceed further.”

“Hmm...I know. Let me talk to my parents. Everything will be alright. Don’t worry.”

“ I wish, I want to meet your parents soon Krish.. let's do this together. Soon.Okay?”

“Hmmm…Soon.”

'For Priya, I was everything. But for me, it was something else.
I still remember the day, she fell off from the stairs. She blames herself for the act. But maybe she was wrong. Unaware of the things that I knew.
For my father, she was sore to his eyes. That day...'
A call distracted Krishna this time. It was Sandhya on the line.
"Hey ..wassup? Lunchtime? Are you coming?"
"Yes, hold on Sandhya, Dario's right?"
"Yes, meet me na. I will be reaching by 1 o'clock, just got some work to finish off. Okay?"
"Hmmm..sure."


The time was 12:20 pm
He took all the polaroids one by one and tore them all into pieces.
He got an intercom from the receptionist.
"Sir, there is someone who wants your appointment right now. I told him it's not possible. But he is insisting."
"What's the matter? Tell him I am not available now. Please tell him to come tomorrow."
"Sir, he wants to give you something."
"Just hold on. I am coming."
Putting off the phone, he said to himself, " I am gonna knock off that guy. Bastard!"
As soon as he left his room and reached the reception, he got stumbled founding the person waiting for him.
"Mr. Dayal?"
"Hello Krishna beta, I hope you remember me. I got something for you. I found a notebook from Priya's room. I thought to pass it on to you. His Father suffered cardiac arrest and left us one year ago. Maybe you  know that. She is missing after that incident. God knows her whereabouts. But she left this. " Mr. Dayal was in the 60s. The old little guy handed him the notebook left. The notebook had a collection of poems written by Priya.
Priya was a brilliant student from schooldays. She used to write poems.
With the notebook in his hands, Krishna took a deep breath.
He turned a few pages and found a sketch in that. His eyes got stuck as if he saw something unpredictable. He was horrified. Dumbstruck.

What happened to Krishna that he couldn't agree with what he found in the notebook? Was it related to him or there was something ugly about it?

~P.S~ 04.02.2020

#SachKarwaHotaHai #Truth&Lies #Lifeisamystery #Unpredictable
Find here next what happened... http://www.sarkartimes247.com/2020/04/love-is-river-that-flows-and.html