My Heart Is At Vizag Inn
one
Our story begins in a small city in the south of India-Visakhapatnam or Vizag for short.
The British found it very hard to pronounce the original name and named it Vizagapatnam , this was soon shortened to Vizag. A name that still echoes in many hearts.
There are not many sights here that most people will consider wonderful. Of course with the exception of the beautiful sea that it’s gifted with… but this coastal city has tied two people together, made there hearts one… made them one.
But wait this story isn’t entirely about the city…
It’s just that the story takes its first step here.
So why don’t we sit and dive right in ?
Vivek
( on the phone) ha ma. Yeah I landed. No, the journey was fine. It was comfortable. Yes…yes.. I will take care, don’t worry ma.
Sathya ( Vivek’s mother)
No nana.. I know I shouldn’t worry.. this isn’t your first time but I don’t know. I guess I just didn’t want you to leave this soon…again.
Vivek
Ma. I have to leave some day or the other. It’s part of life but I will always be your little kanna, your little baby.
Sathya ( Vivek’s mother)
Ha.. thank you nana. Go to the hotel and do what you plan to do… I still don’t understand kid’s now days… but what will we do.. you are twenty two now, now you have to make your own choices.
Vivek
Ok ma. Don’t worry. My luggage is here. I have to collect it. Bye. Love you.
Sathya ( Vivek’s mother)
Love you too nana.
Sathya ( Vivek’s mother)
(Aside) how quick children grow up… I wish he turns back into a baby again.
Sathya ( Vivek’s mother)
( she looks at a book by her aside with the name Khalil Ghibran.
She smiles and recites a poem of his.)
Your children are not your children. They are sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself. They come thorough you but not from you. you may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts.
Sathya ( Vivek’s mother)
I may not be able to be by his side forever but I will make sure that he knows that I will be with him as long as I can.
Vivek
( on the road) Anna. Can you take me to kiverel.
Vivek
Yes. The one near beach road.
Vivek
Can help me with the luggage ?
Taxi driver
Sure. You are new here?
Vivek
No… I have been to Vizag before. But I have only been here.. I haven’t lived. So I came back.
Taxi driver
Well. I hope you have great time.
I am also not a vizag citizen. I…
As the driver spoke Vivek looked out of the window, listening.
His deep brown eyes looked at the stars, expecting the unexpected exitedley but fearfully..
He felt ready to embrace another experience…but something made him afraid, nervous.
He didn’t understand why he felt so. He was usually ready. He hasn’t felt this way since a few years.
It made him feel like he was back in the time when he just begun to grow…
Maybe, he realised. It’s a reminder, that I still have to grow.
He smiled.. he liked that thought.
They made their way to the beach road.
Vivek looked at how developed this place was. It was a very popular tourist spot… it was never empty.
You can find people here every day..and Vivek saw that.
People walked down the footpaths buying from street vendors, sitting on the marble wall that divided the beach from the roads.
Lights sparkled everywhere as all kinds of noises roared.
Vivek lowered the window down. He was greeted by cool breeze.
He smiled. He smelled the air. It was musky… but sweet.. he loved it.
Taxi driver
We have reached sir.
Vivek
Thanks Anna…um how much ?
Vivek
Thanks for your service Anna.
I will surely check out that tiffin centre tho told me about.
Hotel staff
Welcome to Vizag sir.
How may I help you?
Vivek
Hello.
Um I have a reservation for Vivek Patel.
Hotel staff
Yes sir.
Your room is 202.
Please make your way to the second floor.
If you have any queries you can…
Vivek jumped onto his bed and groaned. His body was exhausted but his mind wasn’t.. it kept on pulling towards the beach road outside.
He got up and went towards his curtain. He could see the street lights and the waves dancing.
He smiled…his heart couldn’t wait to explore this city.. this city of destiny.
two
Vivek
Um hi.
I realised that I haven’t really introduced myself.
Vivek
I am Vivek Patel.
I am from Vrindavan,Gujarat.
Vivek
My life story isn’t extraordinary, it’s normal but sometimes it seems very special. I had a great childhood. My family is very supportive and understanding. There wasn’t a time when I truly felt like we had problems. We were very happy despite some problems.
Vivek
I have two siblings and two cousins and yeah we are a joint family. My dad is actually Gujarati and my mom is telugu, meaning she is from the state of Andhra Pradesh, where Vizag is. She is one of the reasons I found myself here.
My uncle and aunt are Gujaratis and they live with us… my grandmother always wanted her two children- my mother and my uncle to live together. They didn’t have much of problem and yeah that’s how I spent my childhood, always surrounded with people and love.
Vivek
And now my siblings, I am the second oldest,meaning I am the middle child but don’t worry I wasn’t invisible ,mostly because I was brilliant compared to my dumb siblings.
Vivek
My elder brother Ajay is a typical Dao. He is the responsible elder son who protects the family’s reputation and uplifts it.
He is strict, disciplined, Multi-talented, responsible, you name it. He is basically everything anyone can wish for and I … I agree my dao truly is the best.
Vivek
Now my younger sister Meenakshi is a sweet, little devil. No, don’t get me wrong, my sister is actually amazing. She is an extraordinary girl but um she hits me so yeah devil.
Um and she hits very hard sometimes my mom and she scare me using that as an excuse to get me to do their work… my family can be cruel sometimes…
But I take it why? I make them give me ₹59 rupees afterwards. They have to give me that exact amount. ( they suffer while searching for the coins)
Vivek
But hey never refused me this one thing I asked for. I asked my mom once and she just smiled…
My dad later told me that they enjoy doing that silly thing for me. It makes them forget their worries.
I sometimes remember this when my days go bad it makes me happy and energetic for some reason.
Vivek
My cousins?
Well the older one is a boy-laksh and he is the basic embodiment of trouble.
It’s better to not get on his nerves because well just don’t get on his nerves chances are that you will get your hand broken.
But he doesn’t cause trouble for no reason. He is a kind of a Robin Hood ,to the dismay of my uncle and aunt…
Vivek
The younger is a girl-Tulasi. She is an angel.
The kind of person who I hope will never change.
Vivek
My parents-Prakash Patel and Sathya Patel are everything I could ask for.
They never let me down and always are by my side. My aunt and uncle too are people who I am incredibly grateful for and my Nani, well she is an incredible women. She is my teacher, guide and my friend.
Vivek
And that’s my family. They are every bit amazing and have always supported me.Infact they shaped me into the person that I am now.
Vivek
And I am incredibly grateful too that.
Vivek
Me.. I am not an amazing person…but I do feel special.
I am an idiot but the kind of idiot I know people smile for and i like myself for that.
I am a complicated person but hey who isn’t.
The thing is I don’t sometime remember what I am exactly. The only thing I remember is that I love to make others smile.
Vivek
I am incredibly talented, I know that. I am blessed In a way that I could have many careers… but I haven’t really used that talent to the fullest yet. I have the drive and ambition for doing so but I never found myself actually following it.
Vivek
I am working on that…and that’s the reason I have come to Vizag. To use my blessings to the fullest and do the things I want to.
Vivek
I don’t know where to star but I don’t feel afraid.
I should… I mean, I am not that rich. I am doing all this using the money that I have earned so far on my old job.but I just don’t feel afraid.
Vivek
…yet(wait until I check my bank account and have a tantrum, while whining about it to my dao)
Vivek
So yeah so that’s the first thing I do. Find the first step.
Vivek
Let’s get to work Vivek!
three.
Vivek
My first step:-
1. Eat pani puri at the beach.
Ajay
(On the phone) seriously. That’s your first step?
Ajay
Really you idiot. What are you even..
Wait. Do you know that pain puri is no longer ₹1 or ₹5 right?
Vivek
😶😑😐…🤣you are kidding right?
Ajay
Nope. It can go up to 40 as well.
Ajay
Since you have money go buy a plate everyday instead of working.
Vivek
😤fine. I will do that.
It’s okay even if it ₹40. I will do anything for those 6-8 puries.
Ajay
Yeah sorry bro. You get only 3 nowadays.
Ajay
Yeah. Exactly so be serious vivi. I am not asking you to not enjoy. I am asking you to be responsible.
You say you want to make people smile. Even that is a responsibility and like I said before it’s not easy. If you really want to do that then you have to start working.
Ajay
Vivi. I love you. I know you and I know you will not wish for anything bad. You have a good heart.
But more than that you have hope and faith.
Ajay
That’s why I didn’t argue when you said you wanted this.
Ajay
I know you will do great. Hell. I am sure my little brother will be great. So please start.
Ajay
You are excellent vivi, your only problem is that you don’t start.
And I don’t want this little problem to ever stop you from shining.
Ajay
To start is difficult but I am sure my vivi is strong enough to get through it so promise me that you will make me proud?
Ajay
And promise me that you will make yourself proud?
Vivek
Haha. I promise dao.
Ajay
Ok…SO GO IDIOT. START WORKING.
Vivek
OK OK. Jeez stop screaming.
Ajay
Haha 😛.
I love you ra.
Vivek
😊I love you too dao.
Vivek
Ok. So first steps..
Vivek
Vivek !!
(Talking to the mirror)
You( points aggressively at the mirror until he hits his finger) ow!
Vivek
Vivek. You are an incredible dancer so first, find dance classes or studios.
You can cook like really well… so jobs in restaurants.
Vivek
You are an writer. So journalist?
Vivek
Why is this hard? I thought this is what I wanted to do?
At that moment Vivek felt exhausted. He longer felt special. He didn’t feel like himself but his dao was right.
One thing that’s amazing about him is his faith and hope.
Vivek
Maybe… yea let’s take a break.
( though I didn’t do anything)
He stepped out of the hotel. Feeling the strong sea breeze hit his face.
He smiled.
He walked down to the beach, navigating safely through the sea of speeding vehicles.
The sound of the waves met his ears like a calming lullaby. They sounded similar to his mother.
Man.
You new to Vizag young man?
The man came and stood beside him. Vivek didn’t feel cautious. If course he was alert but he didn’t feel the bit uneasy.
This was a skill he had learnt to master when he decided to live the way he wanted to.
He gave the man a kind smile.
Man.
You seem to be a nice man. Don’t mind me. I speak a lot. My friend left to get something a few minutes ago and I feel a bit alone.
Vivek
I don’t mind sir. You can sit. I prefer standing.
Man.
No… I too prefer standing.
You seemed troubled a few minutes ago but now I don’t feel that from you anymore..
Man.
I am sure you are still troubled but I suppose you don’t let your hurt get to anyone else?
Vivek
Yes sir.
It’s not a very big thing sir. So why worry about it?
I am sure I will find a solution so why think about it for now.
Man.
You know… you can share if you are comfortable.
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