...From the backstag......

One fine morning after four years of my birth, I wrote few words and called that a poem! My mother was convinced that her child would turn out to be a legendary poet some day! From that morning onwards I never stopped writing and painting.

My father, in spite of having the capability of becoming one of the finest dramatists of his time, ended up devoting his passion to building his son's future. Even today, his prime goal in life is to see his son as a successful writer.

They injected inspirations that ran with unbridled fervour in my veins.

I am indebted to my wife who relieved me of almost every household duty. Without this, it would have been very difficult for me to pursue my passion as well as do justice to my professional responsibilities as a corporate executive. My daughter's belief that her father is a great man boosts my resolve to attain greater height. My little boy's exuberance reminds me that life has just started...long way to go.

I am extremely obliged to Jayantada for recognising the goodness in my work.

I want to live in this very world for a thousand years and narrate all the stories I have and I shall have.

Finally, I am thankful to life that gifted me more than I asked for.

The The large framed man with neatly carved beard and a pair of expensive sunglasses snugly set on his slightly large but blunt nose drove into the parking area of the food mall. The swanky food mall by the side of the highway was situated adjacent to a petrol pump. The highway stretched infinitely in both directions cuddled by wilderness shriveled under the merciless glare of midday sun. The concrete road looked like a venomous snake wrapped around the poisoned earth stretching from one horizon to the other.

He was hungry as well as frustrated. This hundred-and-eighty- kilometer stretch connecting two major cities ran through arid lands and wild mountains. The dark brown mounds raised their ominous massive heads which solemnly towered over the thin winding concrete road. Sometimes the road looked rather delicate with respect to the rugged vastness under the deep blue sky. Blistering heat of summer singed every object exposed under the sky; but still there were trees and bushes as well as layers of grass which adamantly held on to their residual pale greenness. They sizzled but did not give up breathing. The pale struggling leaves gaped lifelessly at the smug and audacious sun hoping for better days. And...indeed better days always emerged from the glaring heat waves...every year better days emerged...it was just a matter of lasting till they emerged.

There was a cluster of petrol pumps and eating joints every forty kilometers span along the highway. The slogging and sweltering engines as well as stomachs were taken care of in these roadside clusters. After a halt of half an hour on an average to brace the gasping spirit, they dashed away along the concrete highway once again.

...hi this is me the writer...

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As he was adjusting the orientation of his massive car, the cell phone started ringing with a start. He bent his head to check the caller and immediately picked up the phone in a hurry as if another second's delay in responding to the call would decide life and death.

"Hi...so...are you okay now? Feeling stronger? Just woke up?" He said trying to sound calm but his voice betrayed his effort.

“Where the hell are you?"

"Well...look...I was there by the side of your bed till twelve in the morning. Seeing your face I felt that you were recovering quickly. The deathly pallor was gone and it was full of life although you were sound asleep then."

“Come on...don't talk in riddles. Have you deserted me? Talk straight."

“Ahh...you don't understand...I did not leave you for ever... I have an extremely urgent work to attend to and I will be back in say another two days. Till then you will surely recover completely. Your kitchen is fully stuffed with all kinds of fruits and other stuff. Don't worry at all. When I come back two days later, we can then...

“Don't give me that crap. I have heard all that many times from you. You just left me at large to rot alone. You are running to that bloody bitch; the bitch that you call your wife. You are nothing more than a spineless prick, you know."

“You are misunderstanding me. It's not my wife I am running for. I told you that I have some extremely urgent work that I must attend to."

"Tell me! What is that work?"

"Well..."

"That bitch wants to sleep with you right now? She can't wait?” "Oh! You are impossible. It's my son's admission in school and they want to interview the parents. I have to be there tomorrow morning. I have no choice."

"Hmm...I see. I can understand ... either it's a ploy of that slut or it's you who has built the story...but what can I do! Nothing!” She started sobbing convulsively.

"Please...please try to understand ... I am not going away or anything...it's just a few days and I shall be back. In this condition of health you are advised to avoid any kind of excitement. Please don't сry.

“What is it that I have? You tell me...a kitchen full of fruits? A nice apartment with marble floor and a host of expensive furniture? A car waiting at the parking lot? And...and? What?" “What else do you want? Name it and I shall make it yours. What have I not done for you till date? And still you gulped those sleeping pills!"

"Why? Don't you know what I want? I spit on this house and the car...take them away...I don't want them. I want you to marry me and leave that baggage behind. But you are not doing it. You are a coward and a greedy animal. You want both. You want your cushy doting home with that bitch in it and at the same time you want a beautiful young woman stashed somewhere two hundred kilometers away as a mistress so that you can use her for your carnal satisfaction as and when you want. Right? But no! I am not going to let it happen. You will either marry me or I shall destroy your tender and pristine home...do you understand?”

he was silent for a long moment and then said "can we talk after say one hour? I am waiting in the middle of the parking lot oddly blocking the movement of other vehicles...please try to understand.” She snapped the line abruptly.

He threw the cell phone on the empty seat in frustration and pulled the back gear to adjust the position of the car. He started reconsidering his plan of spending two nights at home. It was indeed the interview at the school for admission of his four-year-old son. The school management was hell bent on having a chat with the parents before admitting the child. He could not help but attend the same. may be he will have to conjure up another excuse for coming back by next evening itself. Otherwise things would go beyond control. While he was gathering his purse and cigarette packet, a man walking past his car suddenly stopped and pointed his finger at the front left wheel. He looked at the man quizzically anticipating the most unwelcome trouble. The man swept his palm horizontally in the air indicating that the front left tyre of his car was flattened. He took a deep breath and cast a resigned look in a general direction into the dry and sizzling horizon. This was the last piece of ill luck that could have befallen him. He turned off the engine which died smoothly with a mild tremble as if finally exhaustion took hold of its overstretched muscles. He still did not move but sat inside the car with a comatose mind. He knew that he needed to do some active thinking but could not inject any stimulus of life into the immobile numbness. The air-conditioner was not on and the blower quickly started throwing a hot blast of air on his face. It became impossible to sit any further inside the closed space of the car. He clambered out of the car and lifelessly walked towards the front left wheel with the hope that his interpretation of the man's gesture was mistaken; but no!

The front left tyre was totally deflated and appeared to be in a pretty damaged condition. Almost all the threads were smoothed out. It had rubbed against the hard surface of the road for quite a distance it seemed. He stared at the tyre for a long moment and then concluded that he had no way other than getting it repaired. Slowly his mind started getting back its composure. “First let me have some food, then I shall take care of this matter," he thought aloud.

Locking the car, he walked up to the eating area.

"One grilled fish combo with extra cheese.”

"Hundred and five rupees, Sir.”

“Oh...please add one more slice of cheese with the burger.'

“You will get extra cheese anyway."

"I know what your extra cheese version is. I want one more in that slab.”

"Sorry! That's not our standard. I can't offer you something special like that...you can take a cheese dip along with it.”

“I said another additional cheese slice in the burger! It's not cheese dip."