E08 : The Story of Three Tenses

DATE : 13TH SEPTEMBER, 2012
     
 Past, he is an undefeated enemy from a very ancient war, a war that Present had waged against him to protect Future. Sometimes, this old war turns into a never ending one. Present wins, always, most of the times. Present fights, fights hard against Past, with valor and strength, and pushes his enemy back to his undefined territory. Present even kills Past sometimes.

      

 But then suddenly he is left in a trance moment to find out in Future that Past is not dead. After the shocking perception, Present curses his inability to defeat Past and shakes his head after realizing that Past is still alive, very much ‘alive’!Present breaks down; this is a hard time for him.

       

Looking at such a weak Present, Past grabs the opportunity and laughs evilly at him, questions him his existence, too loudly he goes about to challenge Present’s pride and courage. But Present knows, no matter what, he has to stand up and win for the sake of a merrier Future. And so he rises and steps into the battleground with a scarred body and fights until he kills the Past, yet again.

Miraya’s Past and Present battled every time when she was left alone with her thoughts. Hers too was an endless war. But for now, another war was on the priority list: MIDTERM EXAMS.

The stitches on her left elbow were still working along with the medicines to seal the deep wound. Focusing on studies was difficult, but she had no choice other than preparing for exams. After all, internal exams carried quite a lot of weightage in the overall grading system.

Miraya was going to see the college after a stretch of 5 long days which included the weekend too. Her dad was going to drop her to college and drive further to his office in Bandra.

Miraya’s dad was like one of those men whose work had taken toll over his personal and family life. And just like those men, he regretted, a lot; but for the sake of his family, he had to choose work over the latter. Being a Deputy Manager at Arya Tech, life was not simple. He worked hard and smart and for long hours. Meetings, conferences, Project leading, auditing, they sometimes took toll on his weekends too. But of all the engagements, he made a point to take his family for a vacation twice a year by hook or crook.  That was the time when Miraya would be the happiest. 

Dad, my dad is going to spend all the time with me, with mom and bhai. She used to pre-plan and dreamt everything about the vacations, what games to play, what mischief to do along with her brother, which stories to tell her dad - about her school life, her friends and teachers; which songs to sing. And like Miraya, her dad too would have the best time in the whole year, with his wife and both dearly kids.

“When are we going out dad?” Miraya asked.

“Uh, November mostly, I’ve applied for the leave. They should get sanctioned,” Her dad smiled on the steering.

“Hmm.”

Rest of the time Miraya was dreaming, thinking, studying, revising. She met Hari while walking to the college in the lush green campus of SCOE. It had rained in the morning; fog had taken place of the transparent air.

Hari Sadu told everything that had happened in the last few days, about the INFRA council class-breaking in the lunch break, Ishaani entering the room like a typhoon and creating a spectacular scene. He told that Rudra had invited him and Aryan for a football match in his colony on Friday, but how he couldn’t accompany them because he had to visit his cousins. He told that how Aryan and Rudra bunked yesterday to study for Midterms, and that Ishaani did not turn up in the college.

“I’m scared yaar, I haven’t touched half the portion.” Hari’s round face was clearly showing pre-exam terror. They were climbing up the stairs then, Miraya being careful with every step. Steady. Steady.

A slim but firm hand hit Hari’s back, making him wince, “Chill yaar Sadu, if you haven’t studied, you can always study from someone else’s answersheet in exam. Always!” Ishaani delivered the dialogue perfectly and laughed. “Hey Mira, how’s you?”

“Can’t be better Ish, at least falling and getting stitches excused me from studying.”She winked.

Exam started. The guts of some students were rolling due to nervousness, because it was their very first exam in engineering. Others chilled out and got done with them casually.

After the second paper that day, Rudra walked to Miraya when she was discussing paper with Ishaani, “ Hi... How’s your hand? You are looking better.”

“Quite better. I slept a lot over the weekend, hardly studied anything.”, she rolled 

her smiling eyes.

“Well good, so how are you returning home?”

“Dad is sending his car and driver.”

“Cool then.” Rudra was expecting a lift till Mankhurd Highway in her car but that offer never came in any of the three consecutive days of Midterm exams.

After the last paper, Rudra and his friends were sitting in the Amphi Theatre, talking, switching topics and having a relaxed after-exam-time. Ishaani and Miraya walked to the troop.

“Yo people!!!” Ishaani ‘yo-ed’ at everyone.

“Ah, come here where were you both? We were planning to go to Marine Drive.” 

Hari said grinning.

“Now!?” Miraya asked.

“Obviously now Madam, it is 3.45 now. We’ll reach by 5.” Rudra replied.

“But my hand, I don’t think me coming is a good idea.” Miraya shrugged.

“Come on Mira, your doc said yesterday right, not to worry and that you can now travel in train?” Ishaani tried to convince her.

“Come na.” Rudra too insisted.

“Okay, but we’ll reach on time and leave as early as possible. Wait I’ll inform mom.”

Then Rudra, Miraya, Ishaani, Rashika, Hari, Aryan, Nihaal, Rafeeq and Mayank left for Vidyavihar station to catch train to the most beautiful station in all of 

Mumbai, formerly known as Victoria Terminus.

After getting down at the dignified Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus the group reached Nariman Point via taxi.

Marine Drive can be called as the second home of every Mumbaikar. The open sky, the Sun, the skyscrapers and the sea make every evening a perfect one; this is what pulls uncountable number of tourists and locals for a perfect date with the enchanting sunset.

The sea here is always in an endless talk with the tetrahedron shaped rocks that line the Marine Drive. The wind overhears and whispers the talks back to the jealous land above that cannot touch the sea. The same wind was now playing with Miraya’s open hair. She was unsure whether she was liking it or hating it. She was sitting on one of the rocks and staring at the sea, looking at the sun rays dance rhythmically on sea waters. Others continued their fun talks, teasing each other.

Rudra came near Miraya’s rock. “Help me out.” Rudra gave her his hand, but Miraya pretended not to see it and her eyes continued to stare at the sea. Somehow, Rudra managed to sit on her rock beside her.

“Have you ever been here after midnight?” Rudra asked.

“Nah, never.” Miraya wanted to be alone.

“It is much more peaceful at night here, just you and your thoughts. A kind of solitary time that even ever-talkative people like Rashika would love. You’ll toh will definitely love it. It is a natural way to get high.”

Miraya looked at him finally, nodded her head in agreement and smiled.

“What is it Miraya? Is everything okay? I mean are you okay?” Rudra couldn’t pretend anymore that all was fine with her. Somewhere he saw that something was wrong. Only if I could know.

“Yes I am.” Miraya forced a smile while trying to make it seem natural.

“Listen, if you’ve got literally any trouble, you can share it with Ish or me or Aryan. OK?”

“Um hm.” She nodded again and smiled.

“I’ll help you with every trouble, promise, only if it does not have any connection with your brother. God! That man scares me.”

Miraya had to laugh heartily at this one.

“Take your time.” Rudra gently patted her back and joined the ‘group discussion’ back.

Later after the sun had set, they climbed back to the uniform platform above the rocks, and started searching for a cab. Rudra observed that Miraya was much more comfortable and at least seemed happier in company of Hari and Ishaani than his. They both made her laugh much more easily in their unique ways. Rashika was bitching to him about another girl from IT branch but Rudra plainly nodded and laughed and ‘tsk-ed’ at crucial points, never really listening to what she was saying.

Suddenly from behind, a hand came curling tight around Rudra’s neck and gripped it. He could feel also feel fingers pressed like a gun near his left temple.

“GOTCH YA !!!”

Rudra escaped easily from the grasp of the hand and turned around to find a too familiar face that was smiling too brightly.

 “Kashish!!!”

She jumped and hugged him, and from somewhere not very far, a little bit curious, little bit suspicious pair of eyes was staring intensely at them.

(To Be Continued...)