E02 : It's Written

DATE : 15th July, 2012

Life, she's a vicious lady who isn't fair to anyone. Sometimes, she just lures with so many options, each one of them distinctively avid, that it becomes difficult to choose. And sometimes, she just forces us to tread a path that we don’t wish to head. Oh yes, engineers will agree to this fact with all their heart. Compromise is something that most of the engineers have to do when it comes to choose their dream college and their desired branch. Good marks alone don’t promise you your dream destination. It is fate, and sometimes family, that hold the reigns of future.....

“Did you fill Pillai College in CAP form?” Miraya’s mom asked.

“You know that I won’t!” Miraya said stubbornly.

“What IS your problem Miraya!!!?” her mom tried not to lose her calm.

“How many times should I explain you that I don’t want to end up graduating in the same town that I live! Pillai is like just 10 minutes from here, mom! And, many of my seniors from school are studying there. And.... I don’t want to see their faces again! That too everyday!”

“Listen dear, look at me”, Mrs. Acharya made her daughter face her,” I almost lost you a few months back. This time I want to be with you. I don’t want to lose you.” Something was choking her throat, but she managed to swallow her pain.

Miraya felt her past creeping in, her voice started rising unconsciously “See
! You said it yourself!! That is the exact reason why I don’t want to be here!! Even when you were here with me...,when.....when that happened, you couldn't save me.! You did try, but could never understand!” Miraya could feel her cheek burn.

“Enough!! Please..., Mira”, Mrs. Acharya left Miraya’s room in tears, "Do whatever you want!”

 Miraya sighed sadly. Forgive me mum, but those words were necessary to get you out of my room. Sorry. She then rushed back to fill the desired list of colleges in the CAP Round 1 online form.

She looked at the priority of colleges that her mother and she had set after lots and lots of arguments and discussions. Crap it. Hurriedly, she changed all the priorities and made a new entry in the list by giving it the top most position. It was: EXTC, Lohana College of Engineering, Worli.

Now, Miraya was sure, that no one could stop her from leaving her home and her town : Panvel. 

 ________________________________________________________________________________

DATE: 21st July 2012

 Rudra Agnihotri was sure that no one could stop him from leaving BARC (Baba Atomic Research Centre) Colony. He could still not believe that he had scored 147 on 200 in EET (Engineering Entrance Test); and that CAP Round 1 had allotted him his dream college: JD College of Engineering. Luck is always my babe.  Rudra couldn't be happier.

No, he did not wish to get into JD because it was one of the best colleges in Mumbai or because it was famous for its crowd (i.e. girls obviously). The reason was this: It was located in Bandra. His elder brother (ofcourse an engineer) also lived in a rented apartment in Bandra. Getting into JD simply meant getting out of the green gloomy forest of BARC colony and moving into the charming and cosmopolitan ‘Queen of suburbs’.

Further, all his Dance Academy friends had their nests in Western Suburbs. So shifting his base to Bandra meant more fun time with Academy friends and enjoy real independence. Most importantly, he was euphoric that he will finally have the freedom to get intimate with dance.

All these days after CAP Rond I result, he was always fantasizing about his dream life in Bandra and could not stop imagining himself in JD within a few days. It will all be the same, he had thought. Again he’ll be famous in college. He’ll be among semester toppers and would become professors’ favorite.  Again every type of girl would try to become friends with him. And because every girl would be his friend, the wannabe-boys too would start hovering around him. Again his dazzling looks would cause serious slippage of some hearts and also breakage of a few not-so-true relationships. Nothing is really going to change....

That day, he had to report in JD before 4 pm to confirm his admission there. Both his mom and dad had commitments at work. So his brother was going to call a half day and get the Demand Draft (DD) of his admission fees and meet him at JD.   

It was 3.30 pm. The traffic near Bandra station had engulfed Rudra already for 15 minutes.

“How far is JD College bhaiya?” he asked the auto rickshaw driver.

“Minimum 30 mins walk” the driver said.  Rudra got out of the auto, paid the fare, opened Google Maps and started running towards JD.  His brother texted him around same time that earlier he had got stuck in a meeting and now he was stuck in a traffic jam.  

 He called his brother. “Rajesh, where are you yaar!?”

“ I am...uh.. reaching in 15 mins. Hey really sorry. Where are you?.”Rajesh asked.

" I am walking towards JD. It was my dance drama competition in KC College in afternoon yaar. I had left on time but my train was stuck and then traffic... Please try to get there before 4 okay?

"Yea..! I'll try.", Rajesh ended the call.

Time passed nonsensically. His phone ran out of battery so Google maps was no more available for his rescue. On top of that people confused him with directions which got him further late.

At 3.59 he was on the Entrance Gate of JD. He ran madly into the 8 storey building. No better than Jantar Mantar, this building ate his next 5 minutes in search for the ARC room.

 Admission officer met him at that room's door.
"Sir, my admission form" Rudra was breathing heavily, too heaviliy," Sorry sir.. I...got late"

"Yes, you are late, admission process is closed.",the officer started walking away. 

" Please sir," Rudra apologetically followed him," I have an explanation."

"What will you say? That you were stuck in traffic? Or your trains were late?". Rudra swore hard in his mind after hearing his reply.

"My brother, he is stuck in traffic jam. He has got the DD and documents.", He was in no mood to lie before this fierce and furious officer.

" Then I must insist you leave. I am in no position to extend you any help. No rule would allow me, not even my principles. Anyways, students without discipline are never entertained in this college." .

"Sir.. please! Sir listen to me for the last time..!", Rudra cried  to him, but the officer wouldn't listen more. Rudra simply watched him disappear into the corridors.

Only then he could feel the sky falling. A peon who was passing by shouted at him,"Aye! Your phone is ringing."

"Huh? "Rudra snapped out of of nowhere and received the call. 

It was Rajesh. "I am getting off the auto. Which floor should I come?"  

"No need to come up. My future has already changed. I'm coming down." Rudra replied in a blank voice.

He never knew that 4 silly minutes could change the next four years of his life. Before those 4 silly minutes, he was a righteous owner of an EXTC seat in 'The' JD College of Engineering. And now, he was literally nowhere. All his bubbly dreams were brutally burst by that over disciplined admission officer. Every vision was scattering, every feeling running in his veins was of helplessness. 

" What have you written for me!?" looking towards heaven Rudra screamed. 

Meanwhile, some 11 kms away, Mrs. Acharya was filled with disgust as Miraya had confirmed her admission in Lohana College of Engineering, Worli. And our Miraya was more than content. Finally your memories won't haunt me anymore Aarav. I'll miss you...very much, she thought, searching the heaven with her hazel eyes.

People forget that sometimes it is fate who chooses their destiny, not they themselves. And the vicious lady tries to remind everyone of this fact, quite often. Till then, the right cards had turned up for Miraya and Rudra lost his game even when he had already won. Both believed that whatever happened, maybe it was written, maybe it was meant to be that way. 

(To Be Continued...)

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E01 : The Unrisen Sun

DATE : 10th July, 2012

Kashish found herself in a strange space, the one that exists between sleep and consciousness. She was neither drowned in sleep, nor quite awake; but she was feeling trapped consciously. It was just a funny, hanging state of mind where nothing made sense at all. Somehow she snapped out of it and found her body facing the smiling night sky. Her lips reflected the same expression.

Then suddenly, she realized where she was, and sat upright with a start and checked her phone. Shit, 4.30am!

To her left Rachel and Ayush were sleeping peacefully, their hands locked into each other's. To her right, Rudra was still very much awake. His glittering eyes were in some avid talk with the night sky, gazing it intensely. It feels like he owns the sky, Kashish thought, looking at him. Actually he can own anything and anyone effortlessly.

Kashish shifted her gaze to the sea and kept staring at it. It was not just any sea; it was a famous one that belonged to Mumbai’s dazzling Marine drive. 

“So...you are leaving us.” Kashish said in an even tone, never leaving her eyes off the sea.

Rudra sat upright and looked at her; he was surprised to find her face composed.
.

“No Kash, it will all be the same you know, our friendship and fun times, I promise. It’s just that, we all won’t share the same batch. But still we’ll hang out like always.”

“I am not angry about you leaving me or Rachel or Ayush, I am furious about you leaving dance!!”Kash said, looking straight into his eyes, emotions had started surfacing her face.

“I am not leaving it, okay? My dance classes will still continue.”

Rudra knew an explosion was coming, “But you won’t be trained in Dance Diploma Program with us. Don’t you realize that there are really very few who pass even the audition for this course? You were not only chosen, but your performance was announced to be the best by the judges. And here you are, turning your back on ‘The Terrence Lewis Academy’ for some shitty course in engineering!”, She was literally shouting at the dawn hour on Marine Drive.

He smiled wide, and tried to calm her down.

“Listen bozo, you know that I belong to a crazy family of engineers and doctors whole believe that the whole world thrives only on science. Their ideologies won’t ever allow me to pursuit even Law, so forget dance. You know how hard I've tried to convince them, but “

“But Dance is your only dream Rudra!!” Kash cut him in between "I see it in your eyes, even when you’re not dancing, even when you’re watching the sky, I see it.”

“Don’t worry Kash. There are always some crazy dreams in life that are blinded by invincible hope. They just won’t die or get killed.”Rudra winked. He had no regret or remorse for the way this situation had turned up. He never complained and never worried. That is why he was loved by just everybody.

Kash had to smile,“I’ll miss you a**hole.”

“And I’ll be finally happy to get rid of you bozo.”Rudra said proudly.

All of a sudden they both heard a sad sobbing, and turned their heads to find that it was Ayush.

“Awww.” Rudra and Kash both said together and grinned.

“I’ll miss you too” Aysuh stood up, still sobbing and jumped on Rudra to hug him.

“Hey careful!” ,Rudra lost his balance, and before he could regain it, Rachel and Kash too jumped on him.  The moment was beyond perfect with all the hugs and laughs and love. “Yes bitches, I’ll miss you all... too much.”

__________________________________________

“Ready for the final spin, Miss Miraya?” the pretty dealer in black dress asked with the familiar devilish smile.

“I don’t want to do this”, Miraya couldn't hold back her tears anymore, "I beg you, let go of me.”

 The rage in the dealer’s voice was evident, “You were the one who came in here, in my CASINO! I had warned you to trust the better part of me, but it was you who chose to test your stupid heart’s gambling instincts. You are NOT leaving the place until you finish the game.”

“Why is that necessary?”Miraya asked, frustrated.

“Because with every bet that you win or lose, your future changes.” The dealer reminded her once again.

Miraya did not remember how she had ended up in this strange, empty, lifeless CASINO that ringed too loud with silence.  But the memory of the meeting the dealer was still clear.

               Miraya had almost collapsed when she had first seen the dealer, because the dealer had exactly the same face and body as her. “Who are you... And where am I?” Miraya had asked ,bewildered.

But her duplicate in black dress had simply led her to the center table of CASINO, where the game of American Roulette had been waiting for them.

              Dealer had then explained the game rules. ‘You’ll be given 200 coins at the start of your game. Mind you, this is not the usual Roulette that allows one to play straight bets or color bets or even/odd bets’, her twin had said. ‘The layout of your game has only 4 sections – section A, B, C and D. Numbers 1 to 36 are equally divided into these for sections as you can see.’,she had described each section pointing it out on the layout.

‘You can bet on only one coin and on only ONE of the four sections in every turn. If you win, that is if the ball ends up in the pocket of a number from your betted section, you’ll earn your bet coin back. . But IF you lose the bet, you lose the coin too.’

“I don’t win money?”, Miraya was really confused.

“No dear, you earn marks here.You'll play total 200 turns. For every win, you get one mark. At the end of the game we’ll sum up your wins and that will decide your future.”

“Marks, of what?”

“Your Entrance Exam for Engineering....” 

Miraya was helplessly playing the game of her fate for a long time now. She had already placed 199 bets and lost 79 marks.

“Place your last bet Miraya!” the dealer shouted.

She took out her last coin and with shaking and tired hand,  she placed it on ‘section A’ of the layout. The dealer spun the Roulette wheel in clockwise direction and threw the ball gracefully in the opposite direction. The ball started losing its momentum. “D!!” Miraya shifted her bet.

“No more bets.” the dealer announced coyly.
The slowing ball landed in the pocket no '3' that belonged to section A.

 “Oh dear.....” dealer showed some pity ,"So, Miss Miraya has earned 121 on 200, not bad.... but not impressive at all!!”

All of this did not make any sense to  Miraya. “Now, for god’s sake tell me who are you, and what is this place?!”

The beautiful devilish dealer started walking away from Miraya and announced,“I am your mind Miraya, the part of you that you don’t trust anymore. And....”, the dealer said fading, “It’s time to wake up.”

Miraya flew her eyes open, and found herself on bed. Huh....!! I love you god. Thankyou,thankyou...! It was just a  dream!

 Today the results of Engineering Entrance Test(EET) were going to be out. She ran straight to her brother’s room, and found him with his laptop. He was already checking her result. 

“Morning Miraya, was just entering your roll number”, Sanjeet said with a morning smile.

“Morning, bhai”, Miraya replied in an empty voice.

She sat next to him with her fingers crossed and eyes closed. "Read it out loud bhai, whatever it is.”

“Okay",Sanjeet laughed. "Here we go.... webpage loading........and.................. I ....can.... see.... your.... result......ohh....... my...... god unbelievable.....”,Sanjeet teased her.

“Idiot say it now!!!”, even with closed eyes she punched him hard on his arm.

“Ok..... Ok....And.......Your score is........”

“121?” Miraya asked anxiously, opening just one eye and looking at her brother with a questioning look.

“Look for yourself”,Sanjeet said,awestruck.
And Miraya was not shocked to see her nightmare come true.

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