कथेचा पुर्वार्ध - कहाणी साठा उत्तराची
नेहमीसारखाच मी आजही ओरडत होतो!!
'Kill me damn it!! Hit me!!'
"हो करू ते ... पण का?"
"तिला नाही म्हणाला तो हरामखोर! म्हणणारच होता ... पण 'रंग दे बसंती' मधल्या त्या होम मिनीस्टर सारखे झाले. त्याला मारले पण सरकार भारत रत्न द्यायला निघालेले त्याला! ईथेही तेच झाले ... ही मैत्रीण माझी - माझेच सांत्वन करतेय! म्हणे त्याने त्याच्या घरी विचारले तरी!!"
"काय? च्यायला उपकार केला काय? विचारले म्हणे! प्रेमात काय घरी विचारून पडलेला काय? झाला की मोठा आता!"
"exactly ... मलाही हेच म्हणायचेय! म्हणून त्रागा होतोय"
"पण ठीक आहे ना ... संपले की सगळे आता! तुला हेच पाहिजे होते ना ... आहे की सुखरुप तुझी छावी!"
"छावी म्हणू नको रे तीला..."
"बर ... पण संपले ना सगळे आता?"
"हो रे... पण अस्वस्थ होतेय मला ... हरल्यासारखे वाटतय. Insulting वाटतय!! तिला एकदा पटूदे .. की त्या भंपक माणसाचे चुकले!! बास ... मला बरे वाटेल! आत्मा थंड होईल. सांत्वन काय करते माझे!?"
"हे अती होतेय रोह्या ... ! जे पाहिजे होते ते झाले ना. आता उगाच जास्ती क्लिष्ट करू नको. ती कशी आहे?"
आमच्या या अशा गप्पांमधे बऱ्याच गोष्टी उलगडतात ... बऱ्याच गोष्टी निकालातही निघतात. तसेच ईथेही सुरू होते. पण कथा सगळ्या एकदम सुरळीत झाल्या असत्या तर काय मजा!? मी तिच्याशी फार फार बोलतो हल्ली. रात्र रात्र जागतो! मला झोप येत नाही. १-२ ला झोपून ५ ला उठतो.
"ईतका म्हणुन विचार केलाय तिच्याबद्दल की चुकून मीच आता प्रेमात वगैरे पडेन की काय ही भिती वाटते. पण भिती का? होय. भितीच. सगळे बदललेय. ती आठवली की मला चित्र-विचित्र कल्पना येतात या दोघांच्या affairs च्या. पुर्वीसारखे नाही राहीले काही. कदाचीत याचेही दुःख आहे. एक प्रेम कदाचीत सुरू होण्याच्या आधीच संपले.
असेही वाटते. ..... बापरे! प्रेम म्हणालो मी! म्हणालो ना ...? ईतका विचार केलाय मागचे सगळे दिवस की विचारू नको!"
"लेका ईतका विचार करतोस ... आणि अशा गोष्टीमधे सापडतोसच कसा? काय रडका राव झालायस ईतके दिवस! बघावं तेव्हा रडगाणे सुरूच!"
पण खरच. कथा संपतच नाहीए. मी तिला समजावतोय. तीही येडी नाही विचारत की माझा का हा ईतका अट्टाहास हे समजावण्याचा! ऐकते सगळे माझे! म्हणेल ना - none of my business - पण नाही! म्हणते ...
'रोहित, तो माझ्यासाठी मित्रापेक्षा बराच जास्ती आहे! आणि त्याला परत मित्र म्हणुन बघणे मला शक्य नाही!'
'हे बघ, मी आधी पण बोललोय, आत्तापण सांगतो, एवढे सगळे झाल्यावर त्याने घरी जाऊन सांगायला हवे होते. विचारले म्हणुन काय सांगतोय... साला!? आई नाही म्हणाली काय कारण होऊ शकते काय?'
'थोडा तरी respect दाखव त्याच्याबद्दल. at least माझ्या choice बद्दलतरी. किती ...'
'हं. Sorry'
'Sorry नको म्हणू.'
'नाही होत control मला! मला दिसतय स्पष्ट आणि सुम्मडीमे मजा मारके भाग रहा है साला! आणि तुलाही कळत नाही काही! जाऊदे ... सगळे झालेय बोलून आपले. बऱ्याच वेळा. त्रास होतोय मला! बाकी तुझी मर्जी. जे सांगायचे होते ते सांगीतले. तू काहीही ठरव. मी तुझ्या बरोबर असेन. मला पटो किंवा ना पटो.'
'माहित आहे ते मला'
माझ्या स्वार्थी विचाराचा कहर होतो कधी कधी. सहन करतेय ती आणि मी म्हणतोय आता बास ... मला त्रास होतो!! पण ती यावर पण ओरडत नाही मला!
चर्चा वाढत गेल्या. पण काहीच उत्पत्ती नाही! ती अजुनही त्याच्याबरोबर फिरते. पण तिलाही कळून चुकलेय ... की पुढे काहीही भविष्य नाहीए. पण लांबही न जाण्याचा निर्णय घेतलाय तीने.
कोणी म्हणायचे मला की ... 'वेळ लागतो रीलेशन मधून बाहेर यायला. तिला वेळ दे'
पण खरे सांगायचे तर दुसरे काही हातातपण नाही माझ्या.
आमच्या पुर्वीच्या आठवणी जाग्या होतात बऱ्याचदा. दिवसभर काम झाल्यानंतर, कितीही थकलेले असो ... पण संध्याकळी टेरेस वरची भेट. कॉफी. भरपूर गप्पा. समोरच्या अपार्टमेंट मधले काका काय करतायत याचे केलेले धावते वर्णन. ईमारतीवरून उडी मारायची सुप्त ईच्छा! त्यावर उगाचच लावलेल्या पैजा! रात्री १०-११ वाजेपर्यंत बसायचो आम्ही टेरेस वर ... भंकस करत. बिचारा गार्ड येवून जायचा दहादा.
"सहाजीक आहे रे ... ईतका विचार केलास येड्यागत तर आठवणी येणारच की! तू याचे अर्थ लावत बसू नको!"
"अरे मी तिलाही बोललो एकदा ... असेच ... बोलण्याच्या नादात"
"मग?"
"मग काय? तिने विचारले ... you miss me ना?"
बरेच विचार येऊन गेले ... अगदी क्षणार्धात. ती विचारायची मी ईथे आल्यावर
'हे काय आहे स्टेटस मेसेज मधे? कोणाला मिस्‍ करतोस काय?'
प्रश्नाचा रोख कळायचा मला!
'हो ... आपल्या system administrators ना! माझे मशीन गंडलेय' मी द्यायचो बगल विषयाला ... लावायचो सुरुंग!
स्पष्ट दिसायचे मला कोण कोणाला किती मिस करतय!
या सगळ्या आठवणीमधुन जागा होता होता ... मी बोलून गेलो ...
'हो ... मिस्‍ करतोय तुला ... big time!'
ती काही बोलली नाही. काय बोलेल बिचारी. एका रीलेशन मधून बाहेर येता येता दुसरी कडे भरकटली होती. तिथे तोंडावर अशी पडली की हिलाच कळाले नाही. या रीलेशन मधून बाहेर पडणे जड जातेय तोवर मी भरकटल्यागत बोलत होतो!
"अती विचाराचा परीणाम आहे हा ... ईथे तुला बाकीचे विषय नाहीत म्हणुन बसलायस चघळत एकच कथा!"
"असेल कदाचीत. पण एक सांग ... मी चुकतोय काय? एक तर मला पटवून दे की मी जे करतोय ते एकदम चुकीचे आहे ... किंवा अशक्य आहे नाहीतर मदत कर मला."
"भाऊ .. मला ओढू नको. हे सगळे नाही झेपणार मला."
"तू कसा रे ... नाही त्या वेळेला शेपुट घालतो!?"
"शेपुट नाही घालत ... पण तुला encourage करत नाहीए .. एवढेच. तू धड तिच्या प्रेमात नाहीस ... आणि त्यातून बाहेर पण नाहीस! ती कसे काय तुला झेलते रे? हे सगळे तिला बोल ना कधीतरी. टाक संपवून"
"संदीप खरेंच्या कवितेसारखे आहे ... कशीही अवस्था ... कुणाला कळावी ... कुणाला पुसावी ... कुणी उत्तरावी!
पण हो. हे सगळे तिच्याबरोबर बोलून झालेय माझे... सगळे! बऱ्याचदा, ईवन परवाच ... तिचा विचार केला जरा. तिला काय वाटत असेल ... का करतोय मी हे सगळे? वाटले सांगावे सगळे सरळ सरळ. उगाच आणखी गैरसमज नकोत.
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"तुला एक सांगू ... तू रागावणार नाहीसच, पण न सांगता मलाही चैन पडणार नाही"
"सांग. मी तुला कधी नको म्हणालेय काय?"
"उगाच काही अर्धवट राहू नये म्हणुन. न बोललेल्या गोष्टींचे उद्या आपणच काही बाही अर्थ लावू"
"बोल ना ... काय सांगायचंय!"
"आठवतय जेव्हा मी तुला म्हणालो move on ... खरं सांगू, प्रचंड वाईट वाटलेलं. असंख्य नजरा माझ्याकडे रोखून बघतायत असे काहीतरी वाटले. पण काही कारणे होती त्याला."
"काय कारणे?"
"सोपे नाहीए गं सगळं! आपण बोललोय बऱ्याचदा, तुला माहितही आहे. आपण वेगळे आहोत. भिन्न आहोत ... My social life ... personal life ... professional life ... is all complex. या सगळ्यात बराच गुंता आहे! मला कधीच माझे काहीही सुरळीत वाटले नाही. त्यात वर तुझ्या आयुष्यात पण कशाला गुंता करू? तुला काहीच माहीत नव्हते माझ्याबद्दल. किंवा नाहीए माहित अजुनही ... I know ... मी विचित्र आहे, आणि या सगळ्यात मला तुलाही ओढायचे नव्हते. कदाचीत तसा विचार कधी आलाही नव्हता. आपण बोललेलो या बद्दल ... आठवतय?
तू हसताना खुप छान वाटतेस, या माझ्या सगळ्या माझ्या चित्रामधे तू आणि तुझे हासू कुठेच बसत नव्हते. खरे सांगतो ... तुला move on म्हणाल्यावर एकदा असा पण विचार येऊनही गेला होता की तुला कोणीतरी चांगला मिळेल म्हणतो तर मग तो 'चांगला' मीच का होत नाही? पण नाही जमले ... हे सगळे एकत्र काहीतरी विचित्र दिसत होते. काही नव्हतेच मुळात ........... उगाच काहीतरी बनवून आणल्यासारखे वाटायचे. शेवटी तुलाही त्रास आणि मलाही! जो कदचीत अत्तापण होतोय
... कदाचीत उशीरही झालेला.
पण म्हणुन तुझा विचार करणे नाही सुटले. आपण मित्र आहोतच की. आणि राहूच. नाही बघवले तुला कोणीतरी फसवताना. आणि यामुळे मागचे हे ईतके दिवस ..."
"रोहित. मला कोणी फसवलेले नाही. आणि एक लक्षात ठेव. कोणी जेव्हा तुला आयुष्यभर बरोबर रहाण्यासाठी विचारते ना ... त्याचा अर्थच असा असतो की काही वाट्टेल ते झाले तरी आणि जसे आहे तसे किंवा जे होईल तशात. तेवढा विचार केल्यशिवाय कोणी नाही विचारत! No one is perfect but together you become.
असो. तू कधीतरी ... थोडासा का होईना ... मझ्याबद्दल विचार केलास हे ऐकून बरं वाटलं. खरच सांगते. खुप बरे वाटले. पण आपण बरेच पुढे आलोय आता. या ईथून जर मी मागे वळले तुझ्याकडे तर कितपत sensible होईल माहीत नाही पण तू म्हणतोस तसे आपण फार वेगवेगळ्या रस्त्यावर आहोत आत्ता. एकमेकाला बघू शकतोय पण हात धरू शकत नाही!"
क्षणभर कोण बोलतेय कळालेच नाही! मी काय ...? सांगायला गेलो एक ... आणि बोललो एक असे होऊन बसलेलो. पण खरच वाटत होते की ती पहील्यांदाच बोलतीये ... कदाचीत मी कधी विचारलेच नाही तिला की 'तिला' काय वाटतेय? ती पुढे म्हणाली,
"जे झाले ते चुक झालेही असेल कदाचीत. पण मी ईथून मागे नाही येऊ शकत. माफ कर मला. जास्त विचार करू नको की माझे काय होईल. जे व्हायचे ते होईल, काही खराब होणार नाही. चुक माझी होती... त्याची शिक्षा भोगल्याशिवाय मलाही बरे वाटणार नाही. तू म्हणायचास तशी मी खरच भटकती आत्मा आहे! तू सांगायचास ना ... जिम्मेदारी लो ... जिम्मेदारी लो. मी घेतली आहे जिम्मेदारी. आता मला मागे यायला सांगू नको. जोवर होईल तोवर करेन, थकले की थांबेन. अर्थ बदललेत आता. कंटाळा आलाय आयुष्याचा. पण आपण अजुनही एकत्र आहोत. हे जे हसू आहे ... ते आता फक्त यामुळेच टिकून आहे. आपल्या नात्याला नाव पाहिजेच असे नाही. हे नाव शोधण्यापेक्षाही आणि बरेच काही आहे. राहूदे हे जसे आहे तसे. बस आपण एकत्र राहू. बाकी मी बघून घेईन. वेळ जाईल तसे बरे होईल. राहता राहीला विषय या मित्राचा ... त्याला माझ्या आयुष्यातून जायचेच होते ... जाईल तो. माहीत होते मला आधीपासून. मी तरीही अजुन त्याच्या बरोबर आहे. कारण काही संपलेलेच नाहीए अजुनही आमच्यातले. चिडू नकोस. माहीत आहे. तुझ्या logical reasoning मधे हे कदाचीत बसणार नाही. पण मी accept केलेय हे. आयुष्य परत परत सुरू करता येत नाही!
आणि हो ... मी होईन बरी. माहीत आहे मला. Don't worry."
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"म्हणजे ती अजून त्याच्याबरोबरच राहील. तोही अरामात नामा निराळा होणार ... उघड्या डोळ्यानी पाहणार मी त्याना एकत्र, त्याचा शेवट माहीत असतानाही! मी काहीच करू शकलो नाही ही पराभवाची भावना ... परत अनुत्तरीत कहाण्या ... पण हे मला काही नविन नाहीत. फक्त हे सगळे हल्ली जास्ती घातक होत चाललय याचीच भीती वाटते. माझ्या बरोबर बाकी लोकही गुंततायत यात! The game has become more Fatal. Destiny - may be. And I used to love fighting with it. असो ... थोडासा सीन उलट पलट झाला त्यावेळी. पण झाले हे असे झाले."
"काय सांगतोस! म्हणजे तीच तुला नाही म्हणाली आता?"
"तू अजून 'हो' आणि 'नाही' मधेच होय? नाही वगैरे नाही रे ... पण म्हणाली की आता परत फिरणे अवघड आहे. हे सगळे आता हो आणि नाही म्हणायच्या बरेच पुढे गेलेय. आम्ही फार पुढे निघून आलोय ... आणि मीही नाही म्हणत की तीने परत यावे. पण जिथे रहावे तिथे खुश रहावे."
"रोहित ... एक मीनीट थांब. तू काही खेळ तर खेळत नाहीस ना? Are you playing game?"
चेहऱ्यावर एक उगाच स्मीत येऊन गेलं - "नाही ... काय खेळ?"
"हे सगळं होऊन गेलेय आधी! तुला माहीत होतं सगळं! होय ना?"
"कदाचीत हो ... कदाचीत नो!"
"चेष्टा करतोयस काय? की तू सगळं घडवून आणलास? खरे सांग? कशासाठी?"
"काय सांग!? उगाच काहीतरी बरळू नको रे"
"मला थोडी थोडी लिंक लागतीये ... तो विद्वान ... त्याची GF पळवली! तू ... तुझीही GF पळवली!"
"Now you are thinking too much! Who said she was my GF?"
"In fact, now I am thinking. तू नाही म्हणून काय होतेय? होतीच ती तुझी GF."
"If you say so!"
"दोघे जण प्रेमात पडले ... पण कधी समजू शकले नाहीत. तुम्ही दोघेही नाही समजू शकला ...! किती काळ ओळख होती ...? तुमची तरी किती जुनी ओळख होती? एक या गावात, दुसरी त्या गावात ... तू ईथे ... आणि ती तिकडे भारतात! हे सगळे असेच झालेले की आधी? तू आधीच सांगीतलेलास!"
"Give up dude ... Don't think much. It's my World!"
"थांब ... जाऊ नको. तू म्हणालेलास ... दुःख होतेच, पण enlarge केले! तुमचेही हेच झाले! तुम्ही पाठ फिरवलेली ... आधीच. पण या सगळ्या घटनांनतर आता उघड्या डोळ्यानी तू हे पाहाणार. तिलाही शेवट माहीत असताना ती गुंतणार. म्हणजे enlarge च केला की!! तुला माहीत होते सगळे? होय ना?"
"ऐक ... जास्ती विचार करू नको. काही कहाण्या अर्धवट सोडलेल्या ... त्याच नव्याने समोर आल्या! Repeat Telecast types! साठा उत्तराच्या प्रत्येक कहाणीची पाच उत्तरे आहेत असे मला कायम वाटते, फक्त ती मिळत नाहीत एवढेच. सोड ... या पुढेही काय होणार हे माहीत आहे मला. फक्त जेव्हा घडेल तेव्हा थोडा त्रास होणारच की. कोणी सुई टोचणार माहीत असले तरी दुखायचे काय कमी होते काय? जास्तीच दुखते! टोचायच्या आधी ५ मिनीटापासून ते टोचल्यानंतर ५ मिनीटापर्यंत. झटक्यात होऊन गेले असते तर काही जाणवलेही नसते!
कल्पना ... अस्तित्व ... कथा आणि भविष्य सगळेच एकमेकात गुंतलेय. काही भोग भोगायचे असतात असे म्हणते माझी आई. कदाचीत हा त्यातला भाग आहे. समजून न उमगलेले भोग! न मिळालेल्या पाच उत्तरांचे भोग."
"You must be kidding me. I just can't believe this. सगळेच complex केलायस. कळतय काही वाटले तोवर परत भेळ केलास!"
बराच वेळ कोणीच काही बोललो नाही!!
"... पण ... पण ते बकवास मेल ... त्याचा काय संबंध? तू त्याबद्दल पण बोलला होतास."
हातातली भेळ संपली ... पण आमचे विषय सुरूच ...
"You don't know how our so called love story started ... do you?"
[कंपनी मधे रात्री १०-११ पर्यंत टेरेस वर खरोखर बसू देत नाहीत. जास्ती मनावर घेऊ नये! :)]
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
... आणि एक झुळूक पायावर
निळाशार गोव्याचा समुद्र,
"आजतरी जमिन काबीज करुच" म्हणुन ऊसळून येणारी प्रत्येक लाट,
आणि मग "येतेच परत" म्हणुन मागे जाणारी तीच लाट,
भीजलेल्या वाळूमधून उघड्या पायाने केलेली पायपीट,
पाण्याचा हवाहवासा वाटणारा गारवा,
मंद वाऱ्याची झुळूक,
अंगावर आलेले शहारे,
आम्ही दोघे,
उगाच सुरू असलेली बडबड,
मधेच फुलणारे हास्याचे फवारे,
निळे आकाश ... सगळा आसमंतच निळा,
या निळाईत निघालेल्या कॉलेजमधल्या आठवणी,
कॉलेजमधली लफडी,
कॉलेजमधली खुन्नस,
कॉलेजमधल्या पैजा,
प्रोफेसर,
जरनल ... काही हरवलेली पाने ... काही जागवलेल्या रात्री,
हॉस्टेल मधले संगीतमंडळ,
बासरीवाला फुल्या, गिटार घेऊन राजा, गायला मात्र सगळाच गाव आणि माझी रूम,
दुपारचे जेवण, मामाचा डब्बा, भरपूर गप्पा आणि माझी रूम,
जेवणानंतरची सुस्ती, २ बेड वर १० जण आणि माझी रूम,
लॉबी मधे cricket, टकाटक बॉल आणि cricket महाकुंभ!
Badminton mix doubles आणि बाजूची तोबा गर्दी, Badminton Men Singles आणि ओसाड कोर्ट!
कॉलेज
कॉलेज
कोवळे कोवळे प्रेम,
घडवलेले प्रेम, उडवलेले प्रेम, बनवलेले प्रेम,
प्रेमाच्या व्याख्या, प्रेमावर debate, प्रेमातील भावना आणि भावना भोसले
रोज डे, चॉकलेट डे, वॅलेंटाईन डे, ट्रॅड डे
गॅदरींग, गाणे, दंगा, कोजागीरीची दारू
कॉमन ऑफ ... पी एल्‍ ...
लॉन ... ६ ची ट्रेन ... बरेच काही
परत एक पायावर पाण्याची झुळूक,
"येईन परत" सांगून जाणारी लाट,
माझ्या हातामधे एकजीव झालेला तिचा हात,
तिचे निखळ हासू,
कधीही आसू न यावे असा गोड चेहरा,
चेहऱ्यावर आलेली एक बट,
कपाळावरून खाली भुवईपर्यंत ...
वाऱ्याबरोबर हेलकावे खाणारी बट आणि "माझ्या बोलण्याकडे लक्षच नाही" म्हणणारी ती
परत एक पाण्याची झुळूक...
आमची पहीली भेट,
मनामधले हलकेसे हेलकावे ... अगदी त्या वाऱ्यावर हलणाऱ्या बटी सारखे
एक अगतीकता ...
बरेचसे 'घडवून' आणलेले योगायोग ...
लिहीलेली emails ...
मोठे मोठे chats
उगाच केलेले वाद ...
मधे मधे लुडबुडणारे मित्र
पुर्वीची अर्धवट प्रेम प्रकरणे ...
ती सांगण्याआधीची घालमेल
सांगीतल्यानंतर वाटलेले समाधान
सर्व काही सेट असतानाही ... प्रपोज करताना उडालेली धांदल
उत्तरासाठीची उत्सुकता!
आणि एक झुळूक पायावर ...
परत तेच सांगणारी लाट
सुखावणारा गारवा
तिचे निखळ हासू
काहीतरी करून दाखवायची जिद्द
"तू फक्त बरोबर उभा राहा, बाकी मी बघून घेईन" हे सांगतानाचा तिचा आत्मविश्वास
बघीतलेली स्वप्ने ...
आलेले अनुभव
मधेच निःशब्द संवाद
उगाच क्षितीजावर काहीतरी शोधणारी नजर
एकमेकाच्या अनुभवामधे काही ना काही साम्य शोधणारे आम्ही दोघे
हातामधला हात आणि परत एक झुळूक ... पायावर
"आजतरी जमिन काबीज करुच" म्हणुन ऊसळून येणारी प्रत्येक लाट,
आणि मग "येतेच परत" म्हणुन मागे जाणारी तीच लाट,
भीजलेल्या वाळूमधून उघड्या पायाने केलेली पायपीट,
पाण्याचा हवाहवासा वाटणारा गारवा,
मंद वाऱ्याची झुळूक,
अंगावर आलेले शहारे,
आम्ही दोघे,
उगाच सुरू असलेली बडबड,
मधेच फुलणारे हास्याचे फवारे,
निळे आकाश ... सगळा आसमंतच निळा,
या निळाईत निघालेल्या कॉलेजमधल्या आठवणी,
कॉलेजमधली लफडी,
कॉलेजमधली खुन्नस,
कॉलेजमधल्या पैजा,
प्रोफेसर,
जरनल ... काही हरवलेली पाने ... काही जागवलेल्या रात्री,
हॉस्टेल मधले संगीतमंडळ,
बासरीवाला फुल्या, गिटार घेऊन राजा, गायला मात्र सगळाच गाव आणि माझी रूम,
दुपारचे जेवण, मामाचा डब्बा, भरपूर गप्पा आणि माझी रूम,
जेवणानंतरची सुस्ती, २ बेड वर १० जण आणि माझी रूम,
लॉबी मधे cricket, टकाटक बॉल आणि cricket महाकुंभ!
Badminton mix doubles आणि बाजूची तोबा गर्दी, Badminton Men Singles आणि ओसाड कोर्ट!
कॉलेज
कॉलेज
कोवळे कोवळे प्रेम,
घडवलेले प्रेम, उडवलेले प्रेम, बनवलेले प्रेम,
प्रेमाच्या व्याख्या, प्रेमावर debate, प्रेमातील भावना आणि भावना भोसले
रोज डे, चॉकलेट डे, वॅलेंटाईन डे, ट्रॅड डे
गॅदरींग, गाणे, दंगा, कोजागीरीची दारू
कॉमन ऑफ ... पी एल्‍ ...
लॉन ... ६ ची ट्रेन ... बरेच काही
परत एक पायावर पाण्याची झुळूक,
"येईन परत" सांगून जाणारी लाट,
माझ्या हातामधे एकजीव झालेला तिचा हात,
तिचे निखळ हासू,
कधीही आसू न यावे असा गोड चेहरा,
चेहऱ्यावर आलेली एक बट,
कपाळावरून खाली भुवईपर्यंत ...
वाऱ्याबरोबर हेलकावे खाणारी बट आणि "माझ्या बोलण्याकडे लक्षच नाही" म्हणणारी ती
परत एक पाण्याची झुळूक...
आमची पहीली भेट,
मनामधले हलकेसे हेलकावे ... अगदी त्या वाऱ्यावर हलणाऱ्या बटी सारखे
एक अगतीकता ...
बरेचसे 'घडवून' आणलेले योगायोग ...
लिहीलेली emails ...
मोठे मोठे chats
उगाच केलेले वाद ...
मधे मधे लुडबुडणारे मित्र
पुर्वीची अर्धवट प्रेम प्रकरणे ...
ती सांगण्याआधीची घालमेल
सांगीतल्यानंतर वाटलेले समाधान
सर्व काही सेट असतानाही ... प्रपोज करताना उडालेली धांदल
उत्तरासाठीची उत्सुकता!
आणि एक झुळूक पायावर ...
परत तेच सांगणारी लाट
सुखावणारा गारवा
तिचे निखळ हासू
काहीतरी करून दाखवायची जिद्द
"तू फक्त बरोबर उभा राहा, बाकी मी बघून घेईन" हे सांगतानाचा तिचा आत्मविश्वास
बघीतलेली स्वप्ने ...
आलेले अनुभव
मधेच निःशब्द संवाद
उगाच क्षितीजावर काहीतरी शोधणारी नजर
एकमेकाच्या अनुभवामधे काही ना काही साम्य शोधणारे आम्ही दोघे
हातामधला हात आणि परत एक झुळूक ... पायावर
Friday, April 27, 2007
कहाणी साठा उत्तराची
डोक्याचा भुगा झालाय राव ... कोणाला काय वाटत असेल? का वाटत असेल? तसे नाही तर कसे? बापरे ईतका विचार जर कॉलेज मधे वगैरे केला असता तर अत्ता कुठेच्या कुठ गेलो असतो.
विचार थांबत नाहीत ... मीही स्वस्थ बसत नाही. उगाच दहाजणाना त्रास देतो. बिचारे तेही मदत करतात -
'गप रे रोह्या ... उगाच नाही त्या भानगडीत पडू नको!'
'अरे पडू कसे नको? माझी मैत्रिण आहे ती'
'लडकी का चक्कर ... बाबूभैय्या! लडकीका चक्कर...!'
'माहीत नाही चक्कर का काय ते! पण चक्कर येऊन पडायची वेळ आलीये!'
लोक मदत करत जातात ... मी त्याना धन्यवाद करत जातो ... ते म्हणतात फ़ॉर्मल होऊ नको ... मी म्हणतो उगाच त्रास देतोय तुम्हाला ... मग ते म्हणातात की मित्रांचा कधी त्रास होत नाही. तेही खुश, मीही खुश.
विषय राहतो बाजुला.
जरा वेळाने परत ती आठवते. कसा सैरभैर झालेलो, तेही आठवते. पण मीच माझी समजूत कढतो. कदाचीत केल्या त्या चुकांची शिक्षा होती ती की असे लाचारपणे बघत बसावे लागतेय.
काय राडा आहे!? हे का संपत नाही. आणि मीच कसा अडकतो या सगळ्यात ... तेही अलगदपणे?
फार दिवसापुर्वी ...
माझ्या एका मैत्रिणीला कोणी काहीतरी बकवास मेल केले ... ते मेल माझ्या एका जवळच्या मित्राने केले असे काही एका विद्वानाने शोधून काढले! झाली गोची! बराच गोंधळ ... बराच आरडाओरडा झाला ... नंतर सगळ्यांनाच त्रास होऊ लागला ... बिना उत्तराची कहाणी अशीच बंद झाली.
हा विद्वान मला परत भेटला ... कलाकार वेगळे होते ... पण कथेमधे आम्ही दोघे मात्र होतो. हा मला परत का भेटला ... कसा भेटला ... मलाच का भेटला हे अजुन मलाही कोडे आहे! पण योगायोगाला उत्तर नसते! याची GF कोणीतरी पळवली! आता का पळवली ... कशी पळवली ... पुढे काय? ...! झाले विषय सुरू ... आणि गुंतत गेलो आम्ही! परत रहस्य ... बऱ्याच गोष्टी उलगडल्या. बराच गुंता झाला. हा विद्वान आणि मी कधीही चांगल्या भाषेत एकमेकांशी बोललो नाही पण एकमेकाला त्रास बाकी भरपुर करून घेतला.
'कोण हा कुठला विद्वान ... तू गुंतलास कशाला त्यात!?'
'होते काहीतरी त्यात ... की ज्याच्याशी माझाही कुठूनतरी कसातरी संबंध लागत होता! don't we say in corporate life - take ownership? running away is not the way! आणि I really thought I had a some chance to make things better and I tried my best. पण कदचीत मला पाहिजे तसे बेटर नाही झाले काही किंवा my best was not that enough'
'लयी शाणा आहेस ... काहीतरी निरर्थक बोलतोयस! म्हणे ownership! तुला काम कमी असते काय?'
'अरे कामाचा काय संबंध?'
'नाहीतर काय? तुझा साहेब गेला परदेशी म्हणुन तुला हे सगळे धंदे सुचतायत! BTW कधी येणार आहे तो परत?'
'येईल २ दिवसानी'
'चॉकलेट वगैरे आणतो की नाही तुमच्या साठी?'
'आम्ही काय लहान मुले आहे काय? म्हणे चॉकलेट्स!!'
'वा रे वा ... ! जालीम प्यार, चॉकलेट्स आणि आईसक्रिम ... यांचा वयाशी संबंध नसतो!'
'बरे झाले सांगीतलास ... लक्षात ठेवेन!
बिना उत्तराची आणखी एक कहाणी संपली. विषय हे असे भरकटतात ... ऊत्तरंतर माहीत नसतातच पण ती शोधायचा प्रयत्नही होत नाही! बोलता बोलता गाडी सांगलीला यायची ती कोल्हापुरला जाते. आणि आपण काय? आपले लोक दोनही कडे! चिंता कोण करतो. पण कहाणी संपते ... अशीच.
एक मुलगा एका मुलीच्या प्रेमात पडला ... दोघेही माझ्या ओळखीचे ... दोघांच्याही कथा मला माहीत. पण त्या दोघाना नाही माहीत! किती दिवसापासून ओळखत होतो मी त्याना? फार नाही पण थोड्याश्या प्रसंगातून कळुन जायचे की कोणाच्या मनात काय आहे! आता पंगा एवढाच की ... हे प्रसंग कदचीत मला जास्ती visible होते... ! कसे सांगू मी हे त्या दोघाना की लोकहो ... तुम्ही एक मेकावर खरच प्रेम करताय ...! उगाच नाही ते तर्क वितर्क करत बसू नका!
'don't tell me की तू यामधेही पडलास?'
स्वतःवर जाम विश्वास! मग सुरू केले चक्र ... त्यातही नशिब पहा ... एक या गावात ... तर ही दुसऱ्या गावात! आटोकाट प्रयत्न केला दोघाना समजावायचा! पण दोघे होतेच आधी उध्वस्त ... मी आणखी जास्ती उध्वस्त केले! कोण होतो मी त्यांचा? काय संबंध माझा? पण आई शप्पथ सांगतो ... त्याना परत आनंदात बघायची इच्छा होती! आणि तसे झालेही असते. पण असो ... व्हायची ती गोची झाली ...! मधे कोणी माझेच नाव त्या पोरीशी जोडू लागला! पण who cares? शेवटही खरब झाला ..! त्या दोघानी एकमेकाकडे पाठ फिरवलीच की जे व्हायचे होतेच पण दोघांसाठी मी हिरो झालो! काय हा किताब! मी आजही त्याना भेटतो. ते चांगले बोलतात मझ्याबद्दल पण नाही यार !! ते चांगले बोलले की मला हे बाकीचे सगळे आठवते ... गोची ... त्रास ... उध्वस्त ... किंवा, जे मला करता नाही आले ते.
'लोक फार सुखी होते ... मी जाऊन राडा केला!'
'नाही रे ... जे व्हायचे ते होणारच होते ... तू प्रयत्न तरी केलास!'
'पण शेवटी सहन कोणी केले? रडलो काय मी होतो? दारू वगैरे काय मी हाणली! दुःख होतेच रे आधी ... मी जरा enlarge करून दिले!'
'वेडा आहेस'
'तेच आधी कळायला पाहीजे होते. सगळे लोक वाचले असते'
'तुला एक सल्ला देऊ?'
'कुठला'
'तू पीत नाहीसच ... पण कधी पिऊपण नको!'
'हा हा ... हे तू म्हणावेस? का रे बाबा?'
'लेका, न पिताच तुझी ही हालत! पिलास तर गालिबच होशील!'
'तुम्हाला free मधे शेर ऐकवेन ना! :)'
'तेही असेच असायचे!!'
'उगाच चॅलेंज नको देऊ .. हा?'
झाले! बिन उत्तराचा आणि एक विषय संपला.
काय आहे हे? का आपण रोखू शकत नाही! स्वार्थ तर नसावा! मग काय? की स्वार्थच. उगाच लोकांच्यामधे मोठे व्हायचा! रडायला काय, लोक रडतात की ... माझे काय जाते? हा तर माज नसेल! नसेल. असे नसेल. माझेच सगे ... माझाच व्याप... मग मी त्यांच्याहून वेगळा कसा? म्हणुन का मी त्याना त्रास देत बसावा? याला अंत कधी... की हेच आयुष्य? कोणी बोलत नाही काही म्हणजे मोकाटपणे सगळ्यांच्याच अयुष्यात लुडबुड करावी का!? की हा अट्टाहास ... सगळे आपल्या मनासारखे करायचा! सगळ्याला आपलाच रंग लावायचा. पण मीच का? मला काय हक्क!?
एक ना दोन! किती सांगू? कथा घडत गेल्या ... मी गुंतत गेलो. हिरो होत गेलो... पण कधी कोणाला खुश नाही करू शकलो. जे दोघे वेगळे झाले ते खुश आहेत ... नाही असे नाही, पण त्याना जसे खुश मी विचारात पहात होतो ... ते तसे नाहीत.
'हे सगळे relative आहे रे ... तू उगाच भेळ करू नको त्याची! काय ते? खुश आहेत ... पण तुला पहिजे तसे खुश नाहीत!? तू खरच दारू पिऊ नको रे बाबा!'
त्याने भेळ दिली हातात ...
हातात भेळ आली की विषय आपसूकच बदलतात.
'भावा, इथेच मजा आहे. परवाच एका सिनेमामधे पाहिले ... कोणी सांगत होता ... चांगले आणि वाईट यामधले एक निवडायचे असेल तर ठीक आहे, पण चांगले आणि खुप चांगले यातले निवडणे कठीण होते! हा इथे असा पंगा आहे. माझ्या विश्वात हे लोक अजुनही खुश झाले असते'
'कुठला सिनेमा? ते परवा तुझ्या छावीशी बोलत होतास तो?'
'हा तोच... पण तिला छावी म्हणू नको'
'त्यात हे असेही होते होय?'
'विषय बदलू नको रे! तुला सिनेमा दाखवून आणतो नंतर'
'त्याचा काय ambassadorआहेस काय?'
'थांब रे ... मी काय सांगत होतो ? विसरलोच बघ!'
'तू तिच्याशी बोलत होतस ... या सिनेमा बद्दल.'
'नाही ... ते नाही. ...'
'तेच की ... चांगले ... आणि खुप चांगले ... असे काहीतरी.'
'घालवलास बघ! ... पण हो तिच्याशी पण बोललो हे.'
'म्हणालो ना ... ambassador!'
'तिचेही आयष्य बदलून टाकलेय मी! ... प्रेम वगैरे करते ... की करायची ... माझ्यावर. की फक्त आवडतो मी कदाचीत ...!'
'तू नाही करत?'
'मी काही नाही करत ... मी फक्त राडा करतो! भेळ करतो ... काहीच नाही मिळाले तर लोकाना मेल करतो!'
कथेने वेगळे वळण घेतलेले... यवेळी मैत्रिण माझी होती... कथेमधे मीपण होतो... गुंता मीच केलेला... त्रास मात्र तिला होणार होता. त्रयस्थ होऊन गोची करायचे भाग्य नव्हते यावेळी. कथा माझ्याभोवतीच फिरत होती.
'प्रेम करतोस तिच्यावर? की फक्त आवडते तुला ती?'
'काय विचित्र प्रश्न आहे! हे आता अवडते की प्रेम आहे म्हणजे काय? हा काय सायन्सचा पेपर आहे काय? की सांगा हे solid का liquid? असे काही नसते रे! आणि नाही ... मला या सगळ्यात पडायचेच नाही. I don't know if I like her or love her or whatever ... but I know I have messed up something and have to make neat and clean'
'कधीतरी आपली रूम पण अशीच neat and clean करायचा विचार नाही काय येत?'
'You know what? It feels like thousands of suction pumps are sucking your heart all the way down'
'अरे बाबा पण तुझा काय संबंध ... ती नाही ना तुझ्याबरोबर आता? कोण कुठे कोणाबरोबर ...! तिला अक्कल नाही काय? तू कशाला सारखे चमच्याने भरवायला पाहीजे! तिला काहीतरी वाटत असेलच की'
'डोक्याचा भुगा झालाय राव ... कोणाला काय वाटत असेल? का वाटत असेल? तसे नाही तर कसे? बापरे ईतका विचार जर कॉलेज मधे वगैरे केला असता तर अत्ता कुठेच्या कुठ गेलो असतो. '
'गप रे रोह्या ... उगाच नाही त्या भानगडीत पडू नको!'
'अरे पडू कसे नको? माझी मैत्रिण आहे ती'
'लडकी का चक्कर ... बाबूभैय्या! लडकीका चक्कर...!'
'माहीत नाही चक्कर का काय ते! पण चक्कर येऊन पडायची वेळ आलीये! आम्ही अजुनही मित्र आहोतच की! असेच सोडतात काय कोणाला वाऱ्यावर?'
'आणखी एक भेळ आणू?'
...
...
साठा उत्तराच्या बऱ्याच कहाण्या बिना ऊत्तरी संपल्या. तशी ही आणखी एक कहाणी. तीला मी कधीतरी बोललो ... उगाच माझ्यामागे लागू नको, तुला बरेच चांगले भेटतील ... (जे मझ्यासरखे गोचीखोर नसतील! ... हे मनामधे. कारण बाकी कोणाला कधी पटतच नाही की मी गोची करतो!). 'Move on'. तीनेही ऐकले कदाचीत माझे ... दैवाने अजब डाव खेळला ... अम्हाला दोघाना फर फर दूर घालवले ... मी अमेरीकेत आलो ... आणि perhaps she 'moved on'. She found someone!.
पण हे माझ्या विश्वात मला आनंदी दिसत नाहीत!
आहे की नाही गोची? याला म्हणतात नशिब ...
ऊसकीभी जिद है बिजलीया गिरानेकी
और मेरीभी जिद है वही आशियाना बनानेकी!
जित्याची खोड मेल्याशिवाय जात नाही. All well that ends well, and if it's not well then it's not an end yet.
झालीए सुरू आणखी एक कहाणी ... साठा उत्तराची ...
(सूज्ञानी अमेरीकेत भेळ कशी खाल्ली विचारू नये ... ईथे सगळे मिलते)
कथेचा उत्तरार्ध - पाच उत्तरे ... न मिळालेली
विचार थांबत नाहीत ... मीही स्वस्थ बसत नाही. उगाच दहाजणाना त्रास देतो. बिचारे तेही मदत करतात -
'गप रे रोह्या ... उगाच नाही त्या भानगडीत पडू नको!'
'अरे पडू कसे नको? माझी मैत्रिण आहे ती'
'लडकी का चक्कर ... बाबूभैय्या! लडकीका चक्कर...!'
'माहीत नाही चक्कर का काय ते! पण चक्कर येऊन पडायची वेळ आलीये!'
लोक मदत करत जातात ... मी त्याना धन्यवाद करत जातो ... ते म्हणतात फ़ॉर्मल होऊ नको ... मी म्हणतो उगाच त्रास देतोय तुम्हाला ... मग ते म्हणातात की मित्रांचा कधी त्रास होत नाही. तेही खुश, मीही खुश.
विषय राहतो बाजुला.
जरा वेळाने परत ती आठवते. कसा सैरभैर झालेलो, तेही आठवते. पण मीच माझी समजूत कढतो. कदाचीत केल्या त्या चुकांची शिक्षा होती ती की असे लाचारपणे बघत बसावे लागतेय.
काय राडा आहे!? हे का संपत नाही. आणि मीच कसा अडकतो या सगळ्यात ... तेही अलगदपणे?
फार दिवसापुर्वी ...
माझ्या एका मैत्रिणीला कोणी काहीतरी बकवास मेल केले ... ते मेल माझ्या एका जवळच्या मित्राने केले असे काही एका विद्वानाने शोधून काढले! झाली गोची! बराच गोंधळ ... बराच आरडाओरडा झाला ... नंतर सगळ्यांनाच त्रास होऊ लागला ... बिना उत्तराची कहाणी अशीच बंद झाली.
हा विद्वान मला परत भेटला ... कलाकार वेगळे होते ... पण कथेमधे आम्ही दोघे मात्र होतो. हा मला परत का भेटला ... कसा भेटला ... मलाच का भेटला हे अजुन मलाही कोडे आहे! पण योगायोगाला उत्तर नसते! याची GF कोणीतरी पळवली! आता का पळवली ... कशी पळवली ... पुढे काय? ...! झाले विषय सुरू ... आणि गुंतत गेलो आम्ही! परत रहस्य ... बऱ्याच गोष्टी उलगडल्या. बराच गुंता झाला. हा विद्वान आणि मी कधीही चांगल्या भाषेत एकमेकांशी बोललो नाही पण एकमेकाला त्रास बाकी भरपुर करून घेतला.
'कोण हा कुठला विद्वान ... तू गुंतलास कशाला त्यात!?'
'होते काहीतरी त्यात ... की ज्याच्याशी माझाही कुठूनतरी कसातरी संबंध लागत होता! don't we say in corporate life - take ownership? running away is not the way! आणि I really thought I had a some chance to make things better and I tried my best. पण कदचीत मला पाहिजे तसे बेटर नाही झाले काही किंवा my best was not that enough'
'लयी शाणा आहेस ... काहीतरी निरर्थक बोलतोयस! म्हणे ownership! तुला काम कमी असते काय?'
'अरे कामाचा काय संबंध?'
'नाहीतर काय? तुझा साहेब गेला परदेशी म्हणुन तुला हे सगळे धंदे सुचतायत! BTW कधी येणार आहे तो परत?'
'येईल २ दिवसानी'
'चॉकलेट वगैरे आणतो की नाही तुमच्या साठी?'
'आम्ही काय लहान मुले आहे काय? म्हणे चॉकलेट्स!!'
'वा रे वा ... ! जालीम प्यार, चॉकलेट्स आणि आईसक्रिम ... यांचा वयाशी संबंध नसतो!'
'बरे झाले सांगीतलास ... लक्षात ठेवेन!
बिना उत्तराची आणखी एक कहाणी संपली. विषय हे असे भरकटतात ... ऊत्तरंतर माहीत नसतातच पण ती शोधायचा प्रयत्नही होत नाही! बोलता बोलता गाडी सांगलीला यायची ती कोल्हापुरला जाते. आणि आपण काय? आपले लोक दोनही कडे! चिंता कोण करतो. पण कहाणी संपते ... अशीच.
एक मुलगा एका मुलीच्या प्रेमात पडला ... दोघेही माझ्या ओळखीचे ... दोघांच्याही कथा मला माहीत. पण त्या दोघाना नाही माहीत! किती दिवसापासून ओळखत होतो मी त्याना? फार नाही पण थोड्याश्या प्रसंगातून कळुन जायचे की कोणाच्या मनात काय आहे! आता पंगा एवढाच की ... हे प्रसंग कदचीत मला जास्ती visible होते... ! कसे सांगू मी हे त्या दोघाना की लोकहो ... तुम्ही एक मेकावर खरच प्रेम करताय ...! उगाच नाही ते तर्क वितर्क करत बसू नका!
'don't tell me की तू यामधेही पडलास?'
स्वतःवर जाम विश्वास! मग सुरू केले चक्र ... त्यातही नशिब पहा ... एक या गावात ... तर ही दुसऱ्या गावात! आटोकाट प्रयत्न केला दोघाना समजावायचा! पण दोघे होतेच आधी उध्वस्त ... मी आणखी जास्ती उध्वस्त केले! कोण होतो मी त्यांचा? काय संबंध माझा? पण आई शप्पथ सांगतो ... त्याना परत आनंदात बघायची इच्छा होती! आणि तसे झालेही असते. पण असो ... व्हायची ती गोची झाली ...! मधे कोणी माझेच नाव त्या पोरीशी जोडू लागला! पण who cares? शेवटही खरब झाला ..! त्या दोघानी एकमेकाकडे पाठ फिरवलीच की जे व्हायचे होतेच पण दोघांसाठी मी हिरो झालो! काय हा किताब! मी आजही त्याना भेटतो. ते चांगले बोलतात मझ्याबद्दल पण नाही यार !! ते चांगले बोलले की मला हे बाकीचे सगळे आठवते ... गोची ... त्रास ... उध्वस्त ... किंवा, जे मला करता नाही आले ते.
'लोक फार सुखी होते ... मी जाऊन राडा केला!'
'नाही रे ... जे व्हायचे ते होणारच होते ... तू प्रयत्न तरी केलास!'
'पण शेवटी सहन कोणी केले? रडलो काय मी होतो? दारू वगैरे काय मी हाणली! दुःख होतेच रे आधी ... मी जरा enlarge करून दिले!'
'वेडा आहेस'
'तेच आधी कळायला पाहीजे होते. सगळे लोक वाचले असते'
'तुला एक सल्ला देऊ?'
'कुठला'
'तू पीत नाहीसच ... पण कधी पिऊपण नको!'
'हा हा ... हे तू म्हणावेस? का रे बाबा?'
'लेका, न पिताच तुझी ही हालत! पिलास तर गालिबच होशील!'
'तुम्हाला free मधे शेर ऐकवेन ना! :)'
'तेही असेच असायचे!!'
'उगाच चॅलेंज नको देऊ .. हा?'
झाले! बिन उत्तराचा आणि एक विषय संपला.
काय आहे हे? का आपण रोखू शकत नाही! स्वार्थ तर नसावा! मग काय? की स्वार्थच. उगाच लोकांच्यामधे मोठे व्हायचा! रडायला काय, लोक रडतात की ... माझे काय जाते? हा तर माज नसेल! नसेल. असे नसेल. माझेच सगे ... माझाच व्याप... मग मी त्यांच्याहून वेगळा कसा? म्हणुन का मी त्याना त्रास देत बसावा? याला अंत कधी... की हेच आयुष्य? कोणी बोलत नाही काही म्हणजे मोकाटपणे सगळ्यांच्याच अयुष्यात लुडबुड करावी का!? की हा अट्टाहास ... सगळे आपल्या मनासारखे करायचा! सगळ्याला आपलाच रंग लावायचा. पण मीच का? मला काय हक्क!?
एक ना दोन! किती सांगू? कथा घडत गेल्या ... मी गुंतत गेलो. हिरो होत गेलो... पण कधी कोणाला खुश नाही करू शकलो. जे दोघे वेगळे झाले ते खुश आहेत ... नाही असे नाही, पण त्याना जसे खुश मी विचारात पहात होतो ... ते तसे नाहीत.
'हे सगळे relative आहे रे ... तू उगाच भेळ करू नको त्याची! काय ते? खुश आहेत ... पण तुला पहिजे तसे खुश नाहीत!? तू खरच दारू पिऊ नको रे बाबा!'
त्याने भेळ दिली हातात ...
हातात भेळ आली की विषय आपसूकच बदलतात.
'भावा, इथेच मजा आहे. परवाच एका सिनेमामधे पाहिले ... कोणी सांगत होता ... चांगले आणि वाईट यामधले एक निवडायचे असेल तर ठीक आहे, पण चांगले आणि खुप चांगले यातले निवडणे कठीण होते! हा इथे असा पंगा आहे. माझ्या विश्वात हे लोक अजुनही खुश झाले असते'
'कुठला सिनेमा? ते परवा तुझ्या छावीशी बोलत होतास तो?'
'हा तोच... पण तिला छावी म्हणू नको'
'त्यात हे असेही होते होय?'
'विषय बदलू नको रे! तुला सिनेमा दाखवून आणतो नंतर'
'त्याचा काय ambassadorआहेस काय?'
'थांब रे ... मी काय सांगत होतो ? विसरलोच बघ!'
'तू तिच्याशी बोलत होतस ... या सिनेमा बद्दल.'
'नाही ... ते नाही. ...'
'तेच की ... चांगले ... आणि खुप चांगले ... असे काहीतरी.'
'घालवलास बघ! ... पण हो तिच्याशी पण बोललो हे.'
'म्हणालो ना ... ambassador!'
'तिचेही आयष्य बदलून टाकलेय मी! ... प्रेम वगैरे करते ... की करायची ... माझ्यावर. की फक्त आवडतो मी कदाचीत ...!'
'तू नाही करत?'
'मी काही नाही करत ... मी फक्त राडा करतो! भेळ करतो ... काहीच नाही मिळाले तर लोकाना मेल करतो!'
कथेने वेगळे वळण घेतलेले... यवेळी मैत्रिण माझी होती... कथेमधे मीपण होतो... गुंता मीच केलेला... त्रास मात्र तिला होणार होता. त्रयस्थ होऊन गोची करायचे भाग्य नव्हते यावेळी. कथा माझ्याभोवतीच फिरत होती.
'प्रेम करतोस तिच्यावर? की फक्त आवडते तुला ती?'
'काय विचित्र प्रश्न आहे! हे आता अवडते की प्रेम आहे म्हणजे काय? हा काय सायन्सचा पेपर आहे काय? की सांगा हे solid का liquid? असे काही नसते रे! आणि नाही ... मला या सगळ्यात पडायचेच नाही. I don't know if I like her or love her or whatever ... but I know I have messed up something and have to make neat and clean'
'कधीतरी आपली रूम पण अशीच neat and clean करायचा विचार नाही काय येत?'
'You know what? It feels like thousands of suction pumps are sucking your heart all the way down'
'अरे बाबा पण तुझा काय संबंध ... ती नाही ना तुझ्याबरोबर आता? कोण कुठे कोणाबरोबर ...! तिला अक्कल नाही काय? तू कशाला सारखे चमच्याने भरवायला पाहीजे! तिला काहीतरी वाटत असेलच की'
'डोक्याचा भुगा झालाय राव ... कोणाला काय वाटत असेल? का वाटत असेल? तसे नाही तर कसे? बापरे ईतका विचार जर कॉलेज मधे वगैरे केला असता तर अत्ता कुठेच्या कुठ गेलो असतो. '
'गप रे रोह्या ... उगाच नाही त्या भानगडीत पडू नको!'
'अरे पडू कसे नको? माझी मैत्रिण आहे ती'
'लडकी का चक्कर ... बाबूभैय्या! लडकीका चक्कर...!'
'माहीत नाही चक्कर का काय ते! पण चक्कर येऊन पडायची वेळ आलीये! आम्ही अजुनही मित्र आहोतच की! असेच सोडतात काय कोणाला वाऱ्यावर?'
'आणखी एक भेळ आणू?'
...
...
साठा उत्तराच्या बऱ्याच कहाण्या बिना ऊत्तरी संपल्या. तशी ही आणखी एक कहाणी. तीला मी कधीतरी बोललो ... उगाच माझ्यामागे लागू नको, तुला बरेच चांगले भेटतील ... (जे मझ्यासरखे गोचीखोर नसतील! ... हे मनामधे. कारण बाकी कोणाला कधी पटतच नाही की मी गोची करतो!). 'Move on'. तीनेही ऐकले कदाचीत माझे ... दैवाने अजब डाव खेळला ... अम्हाला दोघाना फर फर दूर घालवले ... मी अमेरीकेत आलो ... आणि perhaps she 'moved on'. She found someone!.
पण हे माझ्या विश्वात मला आनंदी दिसत नाहीत!
आहे की नाही गोची? याला म्हणतात नशिब ...
ऊसकीभी जिद है बिजलीया गिरानेकी
और मेरीभी जिद है वही आशियाना बनानेकी!
जित्याची खोड मेल्याशिवाय जात नाही. All well that ends well, and if it's not well then it's not an end yet.
झालीए सुरू आणखी एक कहाणी ... साठा उत्तराची ...
(सूज्ञानी अमेरीकेत भेळ कशी खाल्ली विचारू नये ... ईथे सगळे मिलते)
कथेचा उत्तरार्ध - पाच उत्तरे ... न मिळालेली
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Deal of a Shoe-Polish Box
6 pm … Pune Camp area … riding on the bike … someone playing the song ‘aa aa ashiqui me teri’ … and I was imagining Isha Koppikar or Karina standing outside ‘West Side’ weaving hand at me.
It was a pretty long time since I had been to Pune camp area. This time the visit was going to be different … far different. Varun and Raga were already there (and not Kareena or Isha), waiting for me. I parked my bike and met them. We walked a few steps on road and saw two small children sitting by the road, as if they were waiting for ages. There was a small want in their eyes. I could not really make out if that was for some monetary help or something else. They were shoe-polish walas.
“Bhaiyya itana late kyun aye?”
(why are you late?)
I had absolutely no idea that the word ‘bhaiyya’ was going to astound me like anything in next few minutes. The visit was all about these kids. Varun had met them on the same street a day before and found them interested in schools. However they had their story and reasons why they walked out of school.
Our conversation stared with a deal. A deal of shoe polish box. They agreed to join the school if we give them a shoe polish box! The shoe-polish box was supposed to double their income. In a few minutes we realized that the elder boy, 15 years old kid, was able to comprehend English and was also able to speak a little. The deal of a box at the cost of education of 2 children was certainly a good one and also was not a big issue for us but then a few unanswered questions were still there. We were afraid what if these kids give up schools n studies within a week or two after getting shoe-polish box. Who will guarantee that their parents would allow them to spare time from the ‘business’ to ‘waste’ in school? And why would one believe or agree to us. We were just street walkers and strangers to them. Why would they care and understand the motto benefits this.
There were quite a few children on the road – some selling balloons, some polishing shoes – but all wondering on the road behind people asking for money. We talked to a few and the story was same everywhere. A father who drinks, a mother who begs and a sister whose marriage is these children’s responsibility –
“ma, behen bhik magnate hai to achcHa nahi na lagata bhaiyya, is liye hamane school cHoda aur yaha agaye polish karane ke liye” they lamented.
(it doesn’t look good when our mother and sister beg hence we left school and started shoe-polishing)
I could really see pains in their eyes when they said that. But then it was also true that they did not know what they have sacrificed.
We decided to talk to their parents to find the way out. I was with 2 kids on my bike. They were showing me the way to their home which was in Hadapsar - a pretty long way from camp – especially in weekend traffics. I was hero for those children now. After all a free ride on the bike was something very big for them. They started becoming more n more frank. And at the max what could be a child’s imagination? In a few minutes I had to redefine all my beliefs.
I remember, in my childhood, I used to show people the Mahalakshmi Temple near my house or a lake, or a park. Well … these kids started with a graveyard! They showed me one as if it was a zoo or a playing garden. The childhood for them was all different. I should have realized this fact when they talked about their sister’s marriage and father –
“baap to bekar hai, bhaiyya. woh ghar nahi ata, daru pike pada rehata hai kahipe! Tabhi to hame kama karana padata hai! (Smiles)”.
(father is a waste. That’s why we have to work)
These guys continued to guide me on the road showing and narrating all the pretty places like graveyard! They showed me the train track. Train is always an attraction to any child.
“parasu, yaha ek bachcha baitHa tha. woh sun aur bol nahi sakata. Train ne uda diya use. Mar gaya fir!”
(a dumb n deaf boy was got hit from the train on the tracks! He died)
I was shocked. Not because of the event but by the way they told me. The tone was like ‘I went to market and bought some vegetables and while coming back everything fell off’. How do you react to such situations? I seriously could not understand whether I was supposed to say some consoling words or was just supposed give some reply like ‘pick up the vegetables and go to home’!
I didn’t say anything.
They took me to a remote place. I could guess that they were adivasis. There was a series of small huts like a home we make out of playing cards. Lot many children surrounded my bike at the moment I entered the area. These two kids who were sitting on my bike were catching all the attention now. We got down and started talking to the people there. As expected, people had their arguments ready.
“inako padhayenge to khayenge kya?”
“subeh school jayenge to fir dhanda kaise hoga?”
(what will we eat if we teach them?)
(how would they earn if they go to school in the morning?)
We explained them the importance of education. The folks there also talked about cast and religion! Phew … and we say that we are in 21st century! We also had to explain them that education has nothing to do with cast and religion. At the end the people agreed. I don’t really think that we said anything different. Even now while writing this, I am not sure why those folks argued in the beginning and why did they agree at the end. We had not really addressed their concern about money. But then at least we got green signal from the community. There are lot many things still to be done. We need volunteers in that area – Vaidhwadi, Hadapsar. We need to get these children enrolled in the school and track their progress. But then the good thing was the dialogue with their parents which apparently appears me to be successful.
We came back to Camp. The same couple of children were with me on my bike. I wonder where do children get the question bank. They were not over. They started with even more enthusiasm.
“Bhaiyya, log kyon marate hai?”
(Why do people die?)
Like most of the earlier cases, I struggled to answer.
“Bhaiyya, agar log mar jate hai, to bhagwan unhe wapis kyon bhejata hai?”
(And if people die, why does God sends them back?)
Now this was really a genuine query!
No doubts these kids have been exposed to some weird truths of life but then still it doesn’t explain a child looking for an explanation about life and death instead of asking about cartoon characters and games. These kids also told me about Solar System! When asked where they learned it, they mentioned they had learnt it once somewhere. 10 years old boy who has left school a way back and working as shoe polish wala, talking about Solar System which he probably had read ‘somewhere’ was something worth giving a thought. That boy really had some good memory or grasping capacity. He was able to read English hoardings – no wonders – but he knew about Solar System as well.
He is still there on MG Road running behind people for show polish and dreaming about the shoe polish box which would double his earnings! Not sure, whether I was supposed to be happy to know about his knowledge or sad.
We let them disappear again in the crowd at Camp and came back to the place where we had started from. An education for one child at the cost of one shoe-polish box was really not a bad deal. We, At Dream India team, are going to try our best to make sure that these kids get some education. Would that solve the problem? Perhaps we don’t know the answer but surely it will make a difference.
We need volunteers who can visit this place and track the progress of these children – perhaps twice a month.
8 pm … Pune Camp area … walking towards the bike … someone playing ‘some’ song again ‘… … ashiqui … teri’ … and I was trying to find out those kids in the crowd standing outside ‘West End’ weaving hand at me.
Rohit
(9422760672)
It was a pretty long time since I had been to Pune camp area. This time the visit was going to be different … far different. Varun and Raga were already there (and not Kareena or Isha), waiting for me. I parked my bike and met them. We walked a few steps on road and saw two small children sitting by the road, as if they were waiting for ages. There was a small want in their eyes. I could not really make out if that was for some monetary help or something else. They were shoe-polish walas.
“Bhaiyya itana late kyun aye?”
(why are you late?)
I had absolutely no idea that the word ‘bhaiyya’ was going to astound me like anything in next few minutes. The visit was all about these kids. Varun had met them on the same street a day before and found them interested in schools. However they had their story and reasons why they walked out of school.
Our conversation stared with a deal. A deal of shoe polish box. They agreed to join the school if we give them a shoe polish box! The shoe-polish box was supposed to double their income. In a few minutes we realized that the elder boy, 15 years old kid, was able to comprehend English and was also able to speak a little. The deal of a box at the cost of education of 2 children was certainly a good one and also was not a big issue for us but then a few unanswered questions were still there. We were afraid what if these kids give up schools n studies within a week or two after getting shoe-polish box. Who will guarantee that their parents would allow them to spare time from the ‘business’ to ‘waste’ in school? And why would one believe or agree to us. We were just street walkers and strangers to them. Why would they care and understand the motto benefits this.
There were quite a few children on the road – some selling balloons, some polishing shoes – but all wondering on the road behind people asking for money. We talked to a few and the story was same everywhere. A father who drinks, a mother who begs and a sister whose marriage is these children’s responsibility –
“ma, behen bhik magnate hai to achcHa nahi na lagata bhaiyya, is liye hamane school cHoda aur yaha agaye polish karane ke liye” they lamented.
(it doesn’t look good when our mother and sister beg hence we left school and started shoe-polishing)
I could really see pains in their eyes when they said that. But then it was also true that they did not know what they have sacrificed.
We decided to talk to their parents to find the way out. I was with 2 kids on my bike. They were showing me the way to their home which was in Hadapsar - a pretty long way from camp – especially in weekend traffics. I was hero for those children now. After all a free ride on the bike was something very big for them. They started becoming more n more frank. And at the max what could be a child’s imagination? In a few minutes I had to redefine all my beliefs.
I remember, in my childhood, I used to show people the Mahalakshmi Temple near my house or a lake, or a park. Well … these kids started with a graveyard! They showed me one as if it was a zoo or a playing garden. The childhood for them was all different. I should have realized this fact when they talked about their sister’s marriage and father –
“baap to bekar hai, bhaiyya. woh ghar nahi ata, daru pike pada rehata hai kahipe! Tabhi to hame kama karana padata hai! (Smiles)”.
(father is a waste. That’s why we have to work)
These guys continued to guide me on the road showing and narrating all the pretty places like graveyard! They showed me the train track. Train is always an attraction to any child.
“parasu, yaha ek bachcha baitHa tha. woh sun aur bol nahi sakata. Train ne uda diya use. Mar gaya fir!”
(a dumb n deaf boy was got hit from the train on the tracks! He died)
I was shocked. Not because of the event but by the way they told me. The tone was like ‘I went to market and bought some vegetables and while coming back everything fell off’. How do you react to such situations? I seriously could not understand whether I was supposed to say some consoling words or was just supposed give some reply like ‘pick up the vegetables and go to home’!
I didn’t say anything.
They took me to a remote place. I could guess that they were adivasis. There was a series of small huts like a home we make out of playing cards. Lot many children surrounded my bike at the moment I entered the area. These two kids who were sitting on my bike were catching all the attention now. We got down and started talking to the people there. As expected, people had their arguments ready.
“inako padhayenge to khayenge kya?”
“subeh school jayenge to fir dhanda kaise hoga?”
(what will we eat if we teach them?)
(how would they earn if they go to school in the morning?)
We explained them the importance of education. The folks there also talked about cast and religion! Phew … and we say that we are in 21st century! We also had to explain them that education has nothing to do with cast and religion. At the end the people agreed. I don’t really think that we said anything different. Even now while writing this, I am not sure why those folks argued in the beginning and why did they agree at the end. We had not really addressed their concern about money. But then at least we got green signal from the community. There are lot many things still to be done. We need volunteers in that area – Vaidhwadi, Hadapsar. We need to get these children enrolled in the school and track their progress. But then the good thing was the dialogue with their parents which apparently appears me to be successful.
We came back to Camp. The same couple of children were with me on my bike. I wonder where do children get the question bank. They were not over. They started with even more enthusiasm.
“Bhaiyya, log kyon marate hai?”
(Why do people die?)
Like most of the earlier cases, I struggled to answer.
“Bhaiyya, agar log mar jate hai, to bhagwan unhe wapis kyon bhejata hai?”
(And if people die, why does God sends them back?)
Now this was really a genuine query!
No doubts these kids have been exposed to some weird truths of life but then still it doesn’t explain a child looking for an explanation about life and death instead of asking about cartoon characters and games. These kids also told me about Solar System! When asked where they learned it, they mentioned they had learnt it once somewhere. 10 years old boy who has left school a way back and working as shoe polish wala, talking about Solar System which he probably had read ‘somewhere’ was something worth giving a thought. That boy really had some good memory or grasping capacity. He was able to read English hoardings – no wonders – but he knew about Solar System as well.
He is still there on MG Road running behind people for show polish and dreaming about the shoe polish box which would double his earnings! Not sure, whether I was supposed to be happy to know about his knowledge or sad.
We let them disappear again in the crowd at Camp and came back to the place where we had started from. An education for one child at the cost of one shoe-polish box was really not a bad deal. We, At Dream India team, are going to try our best to make sure that these kids get some education. Would that solve the problem? Perhaps we don’t know the answer but surely it will make a difference.
We need volunteers who can visit this place and track the progress of these children – perhaps twice a month.
8 pm … Pune Camp area … walking towards the bike … someone playing ‘some’ song again ‘… … ashiqui … teri’ … and I was trying to find out those kids in the crowd standing outside ‘West End’ weaving hand at me.
Rohit
(9422760672)
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Anti-Quota Rally - 21st may
Today we attended anti-quota rally. The rally was against government’s decision to implement cast-based system in higher education. Lots have been said and lots have happened so far on this issue of reservation and quota. Students have come out on streets demanding equality.
It really needs courage to shout for own rights and the youth is rightly doing that in many cities now. It was just a beginning for Pune. A few days back received an email about the rally and it happened today. It was one more ‘First Ever’ for me.
Though all over it was projected that ‘Medical students are protesting' and 'medicos have come on the streets’, the fact there was much more pleasant. It was really good to see the people from all the fields gathered and that too for the same cause. There were professionals, there were engineers too. When there is a mob, different mentalities and views are bound to be there. When the crowd grows beyond 1500 in number then the task controlling these people becomes really tough. I did not know that I was going to get chance to see everything.
The entire event was (to be) organized by ‘Youth for Equality’ – who had come up with their own way. Their pamphlets had clear list of their motto and the purpose behind the rally. The group had completed the legal formalities for the rally almost 3 days in advance however the scene there was a bit different.
Police had informed them in the morning that they could not allow the rally to happen. It was due to the fact that the protest in other cities had taken a violent face. However no one from the gathered crowd was in the mood of taking a back at that moment.
In spite of this bad beginning, the group went ahead with a big sabha. People cheered the speakers and it ended with following note,
“There will not be any official rally. ‘Youth for Equality’ is not officially going to take any responsibility of the any rally. However if you all fee that this rally should happen then you can still do it. Start marching in pairs of 2. We can have silent march WITHOUT disturbing traffic or anybody. Indian constitution gives us right of expression. Let us practice it.”
That was amazing stand taken by the organizers considering the fact that there were police standing outside. The march began as expected. The Entire mob (of almost 2000) started walking from SNDT play ground and finally came down on the road. Every one was in a team of 2 and was walking. A few also had the sign boards in hand. The group which was NOT officially organizing the rally was controlling the crowd which was now a line of thousands of teams of 2.
The organizers made it sure that the march is not disturbing the traffic. It was almost 4.30 pm and traffic had just started building up.
It might be little exaggeration, but I had started remembering all the freedom fighters and their stories. Not many times, we get chance to fight against the wrong. And believe me, when we do, it feels really great.
Finally everyone reached Sambhaji Park where the rally was supposed to end. The organizers thanked the participants and requested to disperse. They promised to convey the further updates to everyone.
And the next drama started …
The police van was standing outside the park since it was almost past 6pm. The peak traffic and the busiest road along with the HUGE crowd inside the park were perhaps making them worried. The organizers mentioned that during the whole movement nobody would make any illegal act and hence would not gather collectively at the park because it was also not legal.
A few from crowd came forward and asked, “Why the heck did we walk for last 2 hours?? Just to disperse?” “We would not go anywhere. Why to go when we are fighting for right thing”
Well… dint I say, we are bound to get people with different mentality! No doubts that everyone there was with the same cause but perhaps the patience levels were different. The moment people found no further clear course of action, they started thinking. Thousands of minds came up with thousands of ideas and it was the beginning of the chaos. The mob which walked silently during the peak traffic hours without disturbing anybody was about to burst on the busiest road of Pune in just 15 minutes.
The “organizers” really had tough time explaining the after-effects to the crowd. The crowd was now in hundreds only but still together it was still BIG. Police were about to call double police force than the crowd. The organizers did not really want anything wrong to happen. The reason was clear – because they had some plans to do and one wrong move was going to ruin them before they could have even started. Who cares? In such moments, no one listens to the logic!
All the freedom fighters whom I was remembering a few minutes ago were now staring at me. That was bad. That was really bad. People started arguments there inside the park. A few of them started shouting and booing some politicians. Gosh! It was irony. Everyone had gathered there to get away with castism in the country and now the crowd was now screaming against some people and not their decision. Had someone brought those people in front of crowd and killed them right away, perhaps the anger would have died out … despite of the existence of the cast-based systems. No wonders why people said ‘hate the crime and not the criminals’.
I really hope, what I said just now was not the fact.
Finally I realized one more scary fact. To make this rally happen, almost hundreds of students had signed non-bailable warrants. Meaning thereby, hundreds of careers which had not even started were at stake. And still a few asked to these organizers “WHY? Why did you sign such warrants?”
Organizers who were arguing with the Police a few hours ago were now struggling with their own people! I don’t know what should I name it but the entire scenario was disheartening. After the successful march of 2 hours, the last half an hour was really heart-breaking.
There were people who had some really good plans in their minds and made the march successful. There were people who were really upset with government’s decisions like others and were part of the march. With the crowd gathered around the latter were really making the situation tensed.
Make no mistake; no one was having ill-thoughts. But still it happened. After lots of debates and arguments, the crowd dispersed. Perhaps a few went because there was nothing ‘happening’ for a long time. A few vanished because they wanted to and a few disappeared by seeing the less crowd.
Finally everyone – the organizers and the remaining public – agreed to come up with a strong plan next time and went off. Police also were happy to see that their extra force did not have to come and the situation did not go out of control.
A few were still wondering in the park in small groups and deciding about the action they can take independently! Perhaps this is what people call ‘divide and rule’. There was a mob that was together a few minutes ago and was all set to protest against the government’s decision. And now after a few arguments by a very few people the crowd was in different groups deciding for themselves and forming their own groups. Those who were wise … said the things and went off. But those who were not, they were still there.
Whatever happened, that was happened inside the park. For outsiders, it was enough to understand that the youth has really awakened. The organizers also would have realized the same!
Let me end this with a very positive note. Despite all arguments and debates that took place there, the whole mob would surely come together again whenever the next steps would be taken. The reason is very simple – all are young and hence they do not have much ego! And all share really good motive. Hence they are bound to come together.
Let us come together people and do a collective effort to remove the cast based system from the country. It is not for any individual … it is for everyone … it is for us!
It really needs courage to shout for own rights and the youth is rightly doing that in many cities now. It was just a beginning for Pune. A few days back received an email about the rally and it happened today. It was one more ‘First Ever’ for me.
Though all over it was projected that ‘Medical students are protesting' and 'medicos have come on the streets’, the fact there was much more pleasant. It was really good to see the people from all the fields gathered and that too for the same cause. There were professionals, there were engineers too. When there is a mob, different mentalities and views are bound to be there. When the crowd grows beyond 1500 in number then the task controlling these people becomes really tough. I did not know that I was going to get chance to see everything.
The entire event was (to be) organized by ‘Youth for Equality’ – who had come up with their own way. Their pamphlets had clear list of their motto and the purpose behind the rally. The group had completed the legal formalities for the rally almost 3 days in advance however the scene there was a bit different.
Police had informed them in the morning that they could not allow the rally to happen. It was due to the fact that the protest in other cities had taken a violent face. However no one from the gathered crowd was in the mood of taking a back at that moment.
In spite of this bad beginning, the group went ahead with a big sabha. People cheered the speakers and it ended with following note,
“There will not be any official rally. ‘Youth for Equality’ is not officially going to take any responsibility of the any rally. However if you all fee that this rally should happen then you can still do it. Start marching in pairs of 2. We can have silent march WITHOUT disturbing traffic or anybody. Indian constitution gives us right of expression. Let us practice it.”
That was amazing stand taken by the organizers considering the fact that there were police standing outside. The march began as expected. The Entire mob (of almost 2000) started walking from SNDT play ground and finally came down on the road. Every one was in a team of 2 and was walking. A few also had the sign boards in hand. The group which was NOT officially organizing the rally was controlling the crowd which was now a line of thousands of teams of 2.
The organizers made it sure that the march is not disturbing the traffic. It was almost 4.30 pm and traffic had just started building up.
It might be little exaggeration, but I had started remembering all the freedom fighters and their stories. Not many times, we get chance to fight against the wrong. And believe me, when we do, it feels really great.
Finally everyone reached Sambhaji Park where the rally was supposed to end. The organizers thanked the participants and requested to disperse. They promised to convey the further updates to everyone.
And the next drama started …
The police van was standing outside the park since it was almost past 6pm. The peak traffic and the busiest road along with the HUGE crowd inside the park were perhaps making them worried. The organizers mentioned that during the whole movement nobody would make any illegal act and hence would not gather collectively at the park because it was also not legal.
A few from crowd came forward and asked, “Why the heck did we walk for last 2 hours?? Just to disperse?” “We would not go anywhere. Why to go when we are fighting for right thing”
Well… dint I say, we are bound to get people with different mentality! No doubts that everyone there was with the same cause but perhaps the patience levels were different. The moment people found no further clear course of action, they started thinking. Thousands of minds came up with thousands of ideas and it was the beginning of the chaos. The mob which walked silently during the peak traffic hours without disturbing anybody was about to burst on the busiest road of Pune in just 15 minutes.
The “organizers” really had tough time explaining the after-effects to the crowd. The crowd was now in hundreds only but still together it was still BIG. Police were about to call double police force than the crowd. The organizers did not really want anything wrong to happen. The reason was clear – because they had some plans to do and one wrong move was going to ruin them before they could have even started. Who cares? In such moments, no one listens to the logic!
All the freedom fighters whom I was remembering a few minutes ago were now staring at me. That was bad. That was really bad. People started arguments there inside the park. A few of them started shouting and booing some politicians. Gosh! It was irony. Everyone had gathered there to get away with castism in the country and now the crowd was now screaming against some people and not their decision. Had someone brought those people in front of crowd and killed them right away, perhaps the anger would have died out … despite of the existence of the cast-based systems. No wonders why people said ‘hate the crime and not the criminals’.
I really hope, what I said just now was not the fact.
Finally I realized one more scary fact. To make this rally happen, almost hundreds of students had signed non-bailable warrants. Meaning thereby, hundreds of careers which had not even started were at stake. And still a few asked to these organizers “WHY? Why did you sign such warrants?”
Organizers who were arguing with the Police a few hours ago were now struggling with their own people! I don’t know what should I name it but the entire scenario was disheartening. After the successful march of 2 hours, the last half an hour was really heart-breaking.
There were people who had some really good plans in their minds and made the march successful. There were people who were really upset with government’s decisions like others and were part of the march. With the crowd gathered around the latter were really making the situation tensed.
Make no mistake; no one was having ill-thoughts. But still it happened. After lots of debates and arguments, the crowd dispersed. Perhaps a few went because there was nothing ‘happening’ for a long time. A few vanished because they wanted to and a few disappeared by seeing the less crowd.
Finally everyone – the organizers and the remaining public – agreed to come up with a strong plan next time and went off. Police also were happy to see that their extra force did not have to come and the situation did not go out of control.
A few were still wondering in the park in small groups and deciding about the action they can take independently! Perhaps this is what people call ‘divide and rule’. There was a mob that was together a few minutes ago and was all set to protest against the government’s decision. And now after a few arguments by a very few people the crowd was in different groups deciding for themselves and forming their own groups. Those who were wise … said the things and went off. But those who were not, they were still there.
Whatever happened, that was happened inside the park. For outsiders, it was enough to understand that the youth has really awakened. The organizers also would have realized the same!
Let me end this with a very positive note. Despite all arguments and debates that took place there, the whole mob would surely come together again whenever the next steps would be taken. The reason is very simple – all are young and hence they do not have much ego! And all share really good motive. Hence they are bound to come together.
Let us come together people and do a collective effort to remove the cast based system from the country. It is not for any individual … it is for everyone … it is for us!
Monday, May 15, 2006
Comedy Show (contd)
With an opplogy for being late in posting the next sequence let me start. It is already pretty late anyway ... now even we are about to get the VCDs soon.
Anyway, coming back to the show.
Dedipyaman aNi pradirgh Tejas
Tejas entered for his Shirish Kanekar act.
Right from the beginning with "pradirgh aNi dedipyaman karkird" till the end, he kept on commenting on the bollywood movies.
Continuing the theme of bollywood, the next sequence was Koffee with Caran! Gujjua buddha introduced the show as the one which his bahu liked much.
Kofee with Caran
The show made Caran (Arun) a popular personality among all the HOMOsapians of Persistent!
All his guests were very unique - SRK, Dharamji and Hema (Priyanka), Ajhar and Siddhu (all performed by Amber). Every sequence left audiance laughing and jumpin like popcorns! ;-)
Hema's "main to nachungi" became a tag line for Priyanka.
The show was supposed to take 30 minutes and it went past 45 minutes.
The next sequence was the dance sequence which was to be introduced by the 3 oldies but because of the ime crunch, it did not happen and the dance started with absolutely no clue!
A tapori (Rohit) entered on the stage running and a cop following him (Kaushik). After music making some funny sound and spoiling the dance, again the whole tapori chase happened and this time it was better music (thankas to Tejas!)
Statues do see
Tapori started acting as a statue ... and then the whole dance sequence. Though started with little problems, rest of the sequence went well.
Oldies and the statue dancing ...
Finally after lots of funny sequnces in dance, the oldies also entered and comedy show ended.
Anyway, coming back to the show.
Dedipyaman aNi pradirgh Tejas
Tejas entered for his Shirish Kanekar act.
Right from the beginning with "pradirgh aNi dedipyaman karkird" till the end, he kept on commenting on the bollywood movies.
Continuing the theme of bollywood, the next sequence was Koffee with Caran! Gujjua buddha introduced the show as the one which his bahu liked much.
Kofee with Caran
The show made Caran (Arun) a popular personality among all the HOMOsapians of Persistent!
All his guests were very unique - SRK, Dharamji and Hema (Priyanka), Ajhar and Siddhu (all performed by Amber). Every sequence left audiance laughing and jumpin like popcorns! ;-)
Hema's "main to nachungi" became a tag line for Priyanka.
The show was supposed to take 30 minutes and it went past 45 minutes.
The next sequence was the dance sequence which was to be introduced by the 3 oldies but because of the ime crunch, it did not happen and the dance started with absolutely no clue!
A tapori (Rohit) entered on the stage running and a cop following him (Kaushik). After music making some funny sound and spoiling the dance, again the whole tapori chase happened and this time it was better music (thankas to Tejas!)
Statues do see
Tapori started acting as a statue ... and then the whole dance sequence. Though started with little problems, rest of the sequence went well.
Oldies and the statue dancing ...
Finally after lots of funny sequnces in dance, the oldies also entered and comedy show ended.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
RD show and great comedy show at Persistent
[25th April ... Siddhi Lawns ... 7:30pm]
The comedy show began after 7 vocal performances ...
Here is the group that rocked
Troup of Singers ...
Music n the voice ... both were simply awesome ... still remember the tunes ...!
Comedy show started with 3 Buddhas - One Parshi (Arun), one Gujju (Amber) and one maratHi (Kaushik)
Buddhas Introducing each other
when Kau gathered public's attention by commenting on outsiders in Pune right in the beginning ...
It followed by the sequence 'ek woh jamana tha jab ... aur aaj ek yeh jamana hai ...'. The buddha's commented on various topics right from Sachin Tendulkar, Shivsena till Persistent Systems of old age and this age.
Finally sequence broke when Mangal (Rohit) Entered on the stage ...
Mangal with Coke
All the Buddha's outsmarted Mangal/Amir and he left the stage finally with a bottle of coke and straw in hand...
Show continued when Gujju told about her niece's experience when she had to interview one guy who was die-hard bollywood fan ... It was next scene.
Interview opened when Vijay Dinanath Chauhan (Mayuresh) entered as an interviewee and starts all his crazy dialogues.
Interview Begins ...
Interviewer (Swati) tries her patience with this irritating fellow ...
Vijay did all the tricks with famous dialogues of Amitabh ... nana ... dilip kumar ... amir khan and at the same time Interviwer was catching attention of public by good reflexes ...
Interview ended when Vijay left with "aye teri beNdi .. yeh to Hindi jaNati hai yaar ....."
Show returned again to 3 oldies sitting in a park ... when the parshi baba find his x-patient Bilawa gates (Abhijit) with i-Pod who described himself as software consultant (SC).
SC ke funde
Public enjoyed a lot when SC cracked his fundas about IT industry and PSPL ... ;-)
SC did mention about slow lifts ... software belly syndrome ... lot many things ...!
The comedy show began after 7 vocal performances ...
Here is the group that rocked
Troup of Singers ...
Music n the voice ... both were simply awesome ... still remember the tunes ...!
Comedy show started with 3 Buddhas - One Parshi (Arun), one Gujju (Amber) and one maratHi (Kaushik)
Buddhas Introducing each other
when Kau gathered public's attention by commenting on outsiders in Pune right in the beginning ...
It followed by the sequence 'ek woh jamana tha jab ... aur aaj ek yeh jamana hai ...'. The buddha's commented on various topics right from Sachin Tendulkar, Shivsena till Persistent Systems of old age and this age.
Finally sequence broke when Mangal (Rohit) Entered on the stage ...
Mangal with Coke
All the Buddha's outsmarted Mangal/Amir and he left the stage finally with a bottle of coke and straw in hand...
Show continued when Gujju told about her niece's experience when she had to interview one guy who was die-hard bollywood fan ... It was next scene.
Interview opened when Vijay Dinanath Chauhan (Mayuresh) entered as an interviewee and starts all his crazy dialogues.
Interview Begins ...
Interviewer (Swati) tries her patience with this irritating fellow ...
Vijay did all the tricks with famous dialogues of Amitabh ... nana ... dilip kumar ... amir khan and at the same time Interviwer was catching attention of public by good reflexes ...
Interview ended when Vijay left with "aye teri beNdi .. yeh to Hindi jaNati hai yaar ....."
Show returned again to 3 oldies sitting in a park ... when the parshi baba find his x-patient Bilawa gates (Abhijit) with i-Pod who described himself as software consultant (SC).
SC ke funde
Public enjoyed a lot when SC cracked his fundas about IT industry and PSPL ... ;-)
SC did mention about slow lifts ... software belly syndrome ... lot many things ...!
Finally he left the stage and the next sequence to follow was Tejas doing Shirish Kanekar ... and a few more ...
(continued ....)
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
My First Blog - Unending Chain
My stay in Jakarta was always fun. I still remember the thrilling moments of the last visit. May it be me standing in front of the ticketing supervisor at airport – looking with some strange expressions when she said “Sir, you do not have a valid ticket!” or may it be me sitting in a park with a tiger on my laps!! Whatever, it was always entertaining. Same is the case this time as well. But apart from it, there is more to learn. Interaction with varieties of people makes me think. This often throws to me some unending chain of questions. I am going to put something similar here as my first blog.
I had an interesting chat with one of my friends here. A few days back, he came back to apartment from some meeting with his boss and the client company’s managers. The meeting was all about the promotion of the new product. (Even I am working on somewhat similar project, so was a bit curious).
He mentioned about the meeting that everyone was only trying make own interest safe!! In the meeting his boss tried really hard to advertise the new product and convince client’s manager. What was the approach of client side’s manager? He was trying to understand how that product could put him in a better position in the company if he accepts the deal. What was my friend doing there?? Well, he was listening attentively most of the time and was just supposed to do nodding whenever his boss puts some new feature in front ambitiously. He was the tech-export, after all. The whole thing was going on with lots of boozes and lasted almost for 3-4 hours.
What was the objective behind these 3-4 hours? How to earn more money for self … not even for the company? This apparently doesn’t even sound odd. Let us not get in to the debate if this was right or wrong but it was enough to initiate a chain of questions for me. When it comes to money why do we often act such that it is THE ONLY objective in life?
Somehow everything has gone money oriented … for me as well, perhaps. Is that what we call professionalism? And most importantly is it really THE ONLY thing in life?
well, money is certainly a part of life … but now it is now becoming heart of life. Earning money used to be ‘one of the things’ which now is THE ONLY thing in life. Why do we feel really satisfied when we earn more money? Is there not anything beyond that? Yes, we do need money, but then one needs to have some goals for which money might be one of the resources. Somehow today we earn money to make ourselves capable of earning more money! Isn’t it?
Simple example … My friend got an offer from a company which was ready to pay him thrice as much as he was getting that time. Also there were experts ready to advise him then how to earn more. Isn’t it funny? There were experts to advise how to earn more money to the person who was going to earn anyway more! And there is a major sector of society which strives for earning; there is no one to guide them!!
Well, the experts came to him because he was ready to pay them for the advice. At times it sounds fair. But is it really? Should it not be need based rather than money-oriented? If I have a skill to make things better then should I not be using it for someone who really needs to make the things better? What is the point really in using it for someone who already has better things?
This is how chain of thoughts started… Let me continue further.
Somehow I am also a part of the same society and call the above mentioned tendency as the culture. I do salute the great souls like Shivaji Maharaj and Mahatma Gandhi who used there skills to understand people and show them the way of living and made the lives better. The people who earn revenue for social cause, appeal me a lot. I look at the organizations like CRY. These people are working for children. They are making business to return something back to society.
No arguments that one has social life as well as personal life and both of them have to be balanced. But then it has to be on both the sides.
Questions still continue…
What am I doing then? If I understand all this and really feel something then why am I not acting over it? Sitting in an AC room and commenting on social life doesn’t really reflect real urge for social work.
Sometimes I really wonder why each chain of questions ends up in maligning my own image in my mind! Anyway, the point here is about glamour. We have attached glamour to wrong things. Now all the consequences are reflection of that. Should we not give importance to the things that are really important?
We work for the team Dream India 2020. In fact, we are Team Dream India 2020. We are making an attempt to make a strong India by year 2020 with no odds. Though I am doing it, at some corner of the mind, it feels that I am not doing at the fullest. I, myself have not reached to the level what we talked about so far however I am leading towards it. This feeling certainly gives a bit of relief. But that is not an end. I know there is going to be a next incidence and the chain is going to start again! But this helps to improve. And I believe it helps to improve in positive direction. But it is also true that after certain stage in this questionnaire, I try to satisfy myself with some vague answers and try to run away! :-)
However working for social cause or making use of our skills to make the society better, is like a knowledge transfer that grows when spread. Similarly more we work for this cause; more energy we get. If we give your best, best of the best comes back to us.
I am not sure when this journey would end and I could finally get over this chain of questions. Well … this adds one more question to the unending chain! :-)
I had an interesting chat with one of my friends here. A few days back, he came back to apartment from some meeting with his boss and the client company’s managers. The meeting was all about the promotion of the new product. (Even I am working on somewhat similar project, so was a bit curious).
He mentioned about the meeting that everyone was only trying make own interest safe!! In the meeting his boss tried really hard to advertise the new product and convince client’s manager. What was the approach of client side’s manager? He was trying to understand how that product could put him in a better position in the company if he accepts the deal. What was my friend doing there?? Well, he was listening attentively most of the time and was just supposed to do nodding whenever his boss puts some new feature in front ambitiously. He was the tech-export, after all. The whole thing was going on with lots of boozes and lasted almost for 3-4 hours.
What was the objective behind these 3-4 hours? How to earn more money for self … not even for the company? This apparently doesn’t even sound odd. Let us not get in to the debate if this was right or wrong but it was enough to initiate a chain of questions for me. When it comes to money why do we often act such that it is THE ONLY objective in life?
Somehow everything has gone money oriented … for me as well, perhaps. Is that what we call professionalism? And most importantly is it really THE ONLY thing in life?
well, money is certainly a part of life … but now it is now becoming heart of life. Earning money used to be ‘one of the things’ which now is THE ONLY thing in life. Why do we feel really satisfied when we earn more money? Is there not anything beyond that? Yes, we do need money, but then one needs to have some goals for which money might be one of the resources. Somehow today we earn money to make ourselves capable of earning more money! Isn’t it?
Simple example … My friend got an offer from a company which was ready to pay him thrice as much as he was getting that time. Also there were experts ready to advise him then how to earn more. Isn’t it funny? There were experts to advise how to earn more money to the person who was going to earn anyway more! And there is a major sector of society which strives for earning; there is no one to guide them!!
Well, the experts came to him because he was ready to pay them for the advice. At times it sounds fair. But is it really? Should it not be need based rather than money-oriented? If I have a skill to make things better then should I not be using it for someone who really needs to make the things better? What is the point really in using it for someone who already has better things?
This is how chain of thoughts started… Let me continue further.
Somehow I am also a part of the same society and call the above mentioned tendency as the culture. I do salute the great souls like Shivaji Maharaj and Mahatma Gandhi who used there skills to understand people and show them the way of living and made the lives better. The people who earn revenue for social cause, appeal me a lot. I look at the organizations like CRY. These people are working for children. They are making business to return something back to society.
No arguments that one has social life as well as personal life and both of them have to be balanced. But then it has to be on both the sides.
Questions still continue…
What am I doing then? If I understand all this and really feel something then why am I not acting over it? Sitting in an AC room and commenting on social life doesn’t really reflect real urge for social work.
Sometimes I really wonder why each chain of questions ends up in maligning my own image in my mind! Anyway, the point here is about glamour. We have attached glamour to wrong things. Now all the consequences are reflection of that. Should we not give importance to the things that are really important?
We work for the team Dream India 2020. In fact, we are Team Dream India 2020. We are making an attempt to make a strong India by year 2020 with no odds. Though I am doing it, at some corner of the mind, it feels that I am not doing at the fullest. I, myself have not reached to the level what we talked about so far however I am leading towards it. This feeling certainly gives a bit of relief. But that is not an end. I know there is going to be a next incidence and the chain is going to start again! But this helps to improve. And I believe it helps to improve in positive direction. But it is also true that after certain stage in this questionnaire, I try to satisfy myself with some vague answers and try to run away! :-)
However working for social cause or making use of our skills to make the society better, is like a knowledge transfer that grows when spread. Similarly more we work for this cause; more energy we get. If we give your best, best of the best comes back to us.
I am not sure when this journey would end and I could finally get over this chain of questions. Well … this adds one more question to the unending chain! :-)
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