Assi Tussi: Hum Tum

If February is measured to be month for lovers then August is marked as month for friends. Remembering one such dear friend I am writing this today…

We were almost through the first semester and our friendship had reached the stage which was equivalent to ‘fevicol ka majboot jode’.

It was about 6:45 in the morning; I was still sleeping like a bull and my phone rang… “Dus bahane karke legaya dil legaya dil…” popular bollywood number of that year…

‘Tussi’ you are still sleeping? She said.

I said yaa and which ended into a yawn.

Come on! wake up and listen to me, she said.

But ‘Assi’, it’s Sunday! why you want me to wake up so early, I said.

(You all must be wondering what is this ‘Assi & Tussi’ so, madam was very much fascinated by characters of a famous Hindi movie in that year ‘Hum Tum’ she had come up with a Punjabi version of it for both of us ‘Assi Tussi’, I found it very sweet.)

Wake up na ‘Tussi’ and listen to me from Tuesday till next Sunday I am not in the town as my entire family is traveling for a cousins wedding. And, I want to spend whole of Monday with you before I leave, she said. I was still in my half senses, ‘Assi’ but you were supposed to explain me those economics lectures which I missed.

‘Tussi’ you are such a big turn-off, you are bothered about that stupid economics don’t you realize that I wont be here for almost a week, she said. Nothing new guys, most of the time I plunge in such situations where my brain takes over my heart and I end up saying something diffusing.

Sure! Tell me what is the plan? I said.

No plans, I just wanna be with you whole of tomorrow. She said. Next day was very usual one, like any other Monday. Classes and then we worked on a presentation for couple of hours. After the lunch, she also wanted to explain me that stupid economics. Girls! I always wondered how they happen to remember important things.

It was about 4:00 in the evening when she finally started with her economics lecture, but I was not at all interested in it by then. And, she just went on and on and on…

I kept staring at her; she raised her eyebrows and shook her head at my behavior. “Come on concentrate, she said”. I am not looking that good, “but she was and she knew it fully. She wore a maroon top which had a strap. It was not revealing but extremely graceful, and it had settled on her beautifully, highlighting her figure. She carried her usual make-up, little kajal and touch of gloss on her lips. I looked into her eyes. She allowed me to do so and her eyes smirked when I did that. Earlier she would feel shy when I tried to concentrate on her eyes and would laugh and say, what are you doing?

It was more than two hours; she was trying teaching me economics. I asked her to take a break. By then it was dark outside but the moon was gleaming on full volume; once we came out we realized that it had drizzled sometime back. We had an amazing tea at the tea-stall opposite to the college building.

‘Tussi’ let us go to the terrace and spend sometime its is such a lovely evening, she said.

Terrace was out of this world, beautiful smell of wet earth lingered on and brilliant cool breeze was playing with her gorgeous hair. We sat down on a broken bench lying there since ages. Her quietness was speaking a loud that she didn’t wanted to leave me and go next day but she had no option. I moved myself more close to her. I took her hand into mine and looked into her eyes and we both enjoyed the silence as she gently placed her head on my shoulder, I could feel her breath on my neck. She looked so lovely in the moon light, it was a blissful moment. I wish we could sit that way forever.

Suddenly her mobile rang “…every night in my dreams I see you…” I hated this ring tone and we had also fought couple of times over it.

Oh Mom, she said. But, she didn’t take the call. Phone rang again. Come on take the call she must be worried, I said.

Can’t we sit like this for some more time? She asked in an unsettled voice.

I wish we could, for the rest of our lives, but then you have to leave in sometime, I said. She lifted her head slowly from my shoulder and looked into my eyes and said ‘Assi’ will miss ‘tussi’ a lot.

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Today, even I miss you Assi… When you are not around!

Kya paata hum phir mille " kyun ki Zindgi bahut lambi hai aur time bahut kam!"

The name is Khan!

Shah Rukh Khan the king of Bollywood!

If I am not mistaken just couple of months back our former president Mr. Abdul Kalam was stopped for the security check while boarding a flight. This one was an offense because as per the law no one has the right to security check the former presidents (equivalent to a king in real sense); Mr. Kalam could manage to get just day coverage on the new channels and newspapers.

This time Mr. Shah Rukh Khan’s mess with US custom and border personnel absolutely defines how big the King Khan is, he is all over the news channels not only he but all the other Celebes as well, the ones taking in favor or against the incidence.

My mom asked me why is Shah Rukh all over the place from last 4 days (in comparison with Mr. Kalam’s incidence); without taking a second, my brother replies Mom that is ‘the Shah Rukh Khan, the king’ and he is any day more popular.

For a second I thought, yes! That’s true he is more popular and that’s the reason it’s a much bigger hype this time.

It was difficult for any Indian nationalist to believe that US custom were not aware who Shah Rukh Khan is? And it took about two hours at the security check.

He is among the few Indians to have a wax statue at Madam Tussads museum. He is the one who was on cover page of the TIME magazine. He is the one, who has recently made an entry into the list of top 50 most influential people in the world. Irony, but yes he is someone who is more popular than the president himself.

If these Americans were so weak at their general awareness they should have at least googled “Shah Rukh Khan” and found themselves in just 5 minutes; just not who Shah rukh Khan is but how big he is, then wasting so many hours.

One of my colleague very rightly mentioned few days back that these guys are so dumb that if you give them their own country map and ask them to locate their country; they wouldn’t be sure where it is. Loll.

The whole drama happened just because his name is Khan! And he was traveling from South-Asia? Are these the reason which got Shah Rukh into trouble with American authorities? God bless that Indian embassy personnel who vouched for Shah Rukh and finally he was welcomed in America.

Don’t these Custom guys have some kind of online database about the celebrities around the world, at least people who are so influential? Concern in this case was just not security test but identity mess, that to just not Shah Rukh’s but identity of India and entire South-Asia.

Amulet: good luck charm

After two serious write-ups, I feel like writing something on lighter notes today. This one is from my college days. And I always wanted to document this sometime and I think today is ‘the day’.

It was the first day at college, all new faces around. I was soon directed by the in-charge towards my classroom. If, I am recalling it right I was among the first set of students who made it on time. Then, slowly one-by-one everyone started walking in. Everyone looked fresh and I was happy to see my future friends, after all I had to spend next two years of my life.

Got introduced to the ones sitting around me; I turned around almost 90% of the seats were occupied. We all were waiting for someone from the management/faculty to start the day. But there was no sign of any soul.

Suddenly, I looked-up at the passage outside the door and bunch of girls entered the room; my eyes stuck on this one girl among this bunch.

Ahhhhhhhhhh…

Glow on the face, her shinny hair, her smooth walk, her blue jeans and the orange shirt.I cannot explain it better but she was like a painting, a song, a dream and I was totally stunned. Her searching eyes were innocent and beautiful. She had a fresh and fair complexion and her orange shirt made her look all the more glowing.

The moment will remain with me forever...

It was not love at first sight but these beauties hit you like a storm and you never recover.She just passed by me and that aroma of perfume, I was floored. Even today I can sense the same smell whenever I think about her. She walked towards the seats at the back as almost all the front rows were already occupied. Guys, for the first time I didn’t like coming early to the class. I am sure you all can guess why? I wanted do every dam thing possible to see her again and again.

There started this informal induction where we were asked to form small groups and then introduce ourselves to each other. Guess what? We both were in the same group ‘for the first time I started believing, yes God exists, loll.

I called her and as she turned towards me and I was lost again in her brown eyes and light perfume.

Yes? She said. Talk idiot I said to myself.

Hi! I am Saurabh; I said and forwarded my hand. She shook it.

Her hands were soft and she returned a smile. She had beautiful pink lips with a hint of gloss. After a pause other mates started introducing themselves.

For next two days I couldn’t speak to her because I was confused about how to start this historic friendship. Somehow I managed to get her number from college database. Her service provider was idea and I always used an airtel and this small disconnect looked so big at that time, as if a soldier had lost everything before the war could even start.God once again came-up with another opportunity for me. I was asked to collect all the mobile numbers and email-id of all the batch mates. When she walked up to me to give her info it was an airtel number and like a fool it came out of my mouth but yours was idea, isn’t it? She gave me a surprised look and said. How do you know that, that I have just changed my idea number to airtel?

And I was like ah ah hm hm ah… I just guessed it. Most disconnected and foolish thing I would have ever said in my entire life. She again returned the same smile, similar to one on the first day and went away.

It was a Thursday evening I was driving back home on my bike my mobile hands-free were on. I received a call from a unknown but familiar number and it just took a second for me to dive back into my memory and find-out who this was.

I said loudly to myself, it’s her...

I took the call and wanted to behave as if I am not aware who is on the other side. Before, I could say something a loud voice came from the receiver hold-on hold-on cops are around.

Then after ten seconds she explained me that she was driving too and cops were around her car. Guys I wish I could explain what was going inside me that time, for whom I was looking reason to look at and talk. She had called me up on my mobile, ahhhh wow! It was as big as India winning next football world championship.

Before she could say a word, I instantly asked her from where you got my number. She said. ‘Magic’ with a striking naughty laugh. Although we were on phone but I could sense her perfume, God hmmmmm…

I am sure it was not love but I can never as well explain whatever it was!

By the way, she had called me up asking me to join her and her friends for breakfast before college starts next day. And yes we had a long call that night. . .

I am sure all my batch mates reading this write-up must have started guessing so many names. I am also sure few will directly call up and check! But friends keep guessing because I am not telling you anything more…

Later, we became very close friends. She called herself as my Amulet, don't know why!!!

I just loved writing this blog I am sure you guys will like reading it too.