Out of the World

Ayanti, was born in Kolkata in a family that had a legacy to talk about. Her home was an ideal ‘Bangali Bari’. Tagore was the only legend in the world and Uttam Kumar -the only Hero of the Film Industry (Bollywood or any modern Hindi Films were never considered to be viewable). Nothing but Bhaat-Maach was considered the best cuisine in the world. If possible they could even have pizza bread with rice and fish toppings on it!

Amidst this well-fed Bengali family there laid Ayanti on her bed. Weight-wise she did represent her family (She had never been a thin girl in life). She looked good. She was fair, curly-haired sweet-looking Bengali girl. But, yes deep inside her soul there was a wild, punk.

Every afternoon as she saw the fan moving over her head she could see her life moving in snail-speed before her eyes- without having any adventure or meaning or direction.

Each day she used to wish; wish of being someone else. Wished she could be one of those stylish lots. Wished of being one-of-those people of the society who  are considered to be ‘Modern’ (though the word is relative) by the conventional world.

One day, in Ayanti’s life the-much-awaited miracle happened! 

And truly what a miracle!

On her 21^st birthday, while having a spoon of payesh (rice kheer) from her mom’s hand she closed her eyes and wished to have not been in the world- where she lived.

She wished for a world which would be less predictable. She wished to live in a society where there were no boundaries. She wanted to live in a world where colours mean word and a thought means language.

Her heart was craving for a little bit of ‘indiscipline’. She was wanting to be a little bit more free.

But, little did she know that her wishes would come true!

Few weeks later, she (as usual lost in her own thought) was coming out of her house when to her amazement she found a weird vessel outside her house.

She stared at it for a while, not knowing whether to scream or ignore. For few minutes she kept ogling at it. Something struck her. She looked at it from a distance. It did resemble a map of some Indian state. But she could not understand which one, though.

A huge magnet came out from the vessel and came close to her. Like a north pole getting attracted towards a south pole of a magnet, Ayanti got stuck to the magnet so strong that she forgot about her family-inhibitions, traditions, conventions. 

She just went away!

The vessel landed her to a land-unknown.

A land known to the ‘normal’ world as ‘The world of Chaos’.

Ayanti, had no clue what to do. 

Though, she had been an ardent book-reader but never had she come across this world or heard about this world in her life. 

She didn’t know that the ‘Chaotic’ world she was getting into is a place where a girl hailing from such family (read: legacy) is not suppose to. 

For the initial days Ayanti had to struggle. She struggled to survive the indiscipline. Though she always longed for it, but when it actually started happening, her mind, her body and even at times, her soul would give up.

It was the world exactly she had wished for- full of struggles, weirdness and unpredictabilities. But, wishing for it and living it are two different aspects. She understood that the phrase ’Easier said than done’ had such deeper meaning than she has assumed of.

She felt like an alien. She felt like a person from Earth landed on some other planet.

For the world, morning starts as soon as the sun rises. But, for this chaotic world every sunrise declares the end of a day. It was a time to catch up on a quick sleep, before the office hours of human beings-dressed-in-formal-whites starts!

When the world thinks of planning for the weekend, creatures of this world plans for a quick drink in the nearest/cheapest bar before coming back to their desks and cracking new ideas.

Commonly, the world would be concerned about the ‘pitch report’ while dwellers of this world are always out on a war to win new pitches!

Here in this world where Ayanti has arrived imaginations, Ideas, Out-of-the-world, Out-of-the-box, are the common lingua of the dwellers but living a common life is very fictitious and imaginative for them. 

It’s a place where being crazy is considered normal. 

Where a guy with a straight hairstyle or girls with plain Jane clothes are considered weird!

After the initial hiccups (figuratively) Ayanti  could find her place in this WORLD. She now walks, works and are very much one of those weird who gets up at 1am picks up a pen to scribble down ideas before it runs out of the head.

She chose to get over her sufferings and started stepping out to explore the ‘new’ world where she has arrived.

It was partly because deep down inside she knew, it was her wish. Back in her ‘normal’ world she could easily live her life like a princess but she always wanted to break-free!

She decided to explore. She decided to celebrate each day of her stay on the Chaotic world.

After her decision, never did she turn back. Never did she think of going back to her normal world. Though she knew that in her normal world she would get all her happiness packed in a chest but the uncertainty, unpleasantness, hardships for every small thing, adventures at every moment of life, struggle for existence attracted her.

She found her happiness in her own way. Further, she also found love in this world. It gave her a bigger reason to stay.

She reached the world as an Alien. But now she has become a dweller.

She finds anger, hatred, jealousy, selfishness and greed flying from all corners on this world but still it’s the courage that prevails and passion –the driver who never lets these aspects affect her living.

After almost a decade of staying on this chaotic world she finally understands that though weird in its own way, this world knows how to give back. You give this world hard work it pays you back while you give this world laziness or dishonesty it knows how to hit you back hard.

But, the world has place for all. It never rejects anyone. Be it an outsider like Ayanti or a native. This world knows how to accept all. It doesn’t know how to minus people. 

 It’s truly an ADd-world!

Life of a LIFE

It all started on 5^th January 1996 when Stacy gave birth to Raja. Raja was born in an old dilapidated house of Kolkata. The huge size of the house was enough to conclude that it had once belonged to some rich landlords of the then Calcutta, which now stands under the care of a 75year old bihari man, Bansi.

Bansi, was alone and he knew what the pain of solitude is. Hence, when a year ago in monsoon he saw Stacy standing near the door all drenched and hungry he didn’t give a second thought before asking her to come inside. He provided Stacy food & shelter while unknowingly Stacy provided the old Bansi, accompany.

Last summer, Stacy met Jackie, also an orphan adopted by a Chaiwalla! Stacy’s dark big eyes were enough to sweep the young blood off his feet. But little did Stacy know that Jackie never believed in commitments. He left Stacy after 6 months of being together. Stacy was heart-broken and pregnant, too!

Again, Bansi came to her rescue. He comforted her and showered all the care & support she needed to bravely tread through her trimesters.

Then, Raja was born.

His dark eyes resembled Stacy but his dark brown complexion was enough to remind of Jackie.

They say, Raja got his name from the movie Raja Hindustani. It happened when Bansi, took him in his arms for the first time and looked up, his eyes caught sight of a torn poster of the movie stuck on the walls of the road just outside the house.

Bansi, wished may the baby grow up to live a life like a king. So, he was named Raja!!

As a young boy, Raja turned highly popular in the locality. From the fish vendors to the grocers to the Chaiwalla or the Cobbler, all knew and somewhat loved Raja. His energetic face and loveable eyes could melt any heart.

So, Raja though got introduced to a tough life never had to face problems like hunger (since everyone used to give him food) or shelter.

One day, Raja was playing with a newspaper ball near the staircase of the house he was born in- a girl in her early twenties came and picked him up in her arms. She readily fell in love with Raja and hence wanted to adopt him. Later, since all these years Raja had been in the custody of Bansi, so the girl asked him about it. Bansi, considering his own age and financial conditions did not mind to give away Raja, hoping for a better life and comfort for him.

Little did he know that Raja would get more than just a comforting life!

Raja was given his own room which was light blue in colour and full of toys. Raja jumped with joy seeing his new world.

As predicted by Bansi, Raja did grow up to be a brave, courageous & charming youth who ruled over every heart (thankfully he stood up to his name).

Every, feminine counterpart in the locality wanted to be spotted with Raja. He had many eyes following him, whenever he walked in the garden or went out for a casual stroll with his sister, Juhi (the girl who adopted).

All looked like a dream life for Raja before his life again hit the rock!

It was celebration time in Raja’s house as the news of Juhi’s marriage broke. Everyone was busy and even Juhi was too excited and occupied with her marriage preparations.

Amidst all the pomp & show, glitterati and noise of marriage, Raja started feeling lonely. It was for the first time that Raja, felt like an outsider in the house. Suddenly everyone started ignoring him and even stopped spending time with him. Juhi would shout at him, if he tried entering her room, as she would be busy with her girl friends.

He felt lonely!

 It was as if, the true life of Raja came back to him. A life full of misery, solitude and grief.

One night before the wedding, Raja decided to leave the house.

He silently opened his room’s door and slid though the garden gate.

He ran in the open air but tears made him blind. He could not run very far, as he could not run over the love, care and comfort the family have given him all these years. But, Raja knew the truth- that he is not an integral part of Juhi’s family.

 He ran miles & miles till he was tired. He sat beside a lamp post on the road and fell asleep. In the morning, the hustle-bustle of the street, the honking of the cars, busses and trams woke him up.

He found himself beside a beggar. The man offered him stale bread. Raja figured that the beggar could not speak or hear. But, his silence could make Raja hear his hearts that spoke of love. His eyes would speak of care and attention for Raja.

Raja, always longed for this.

It does not matter from whom he gets. What matters is this bliss in life.

Raja, never left the man alone. He would walk with him, sit with him, sleep, eat and even beg with him.

People passing by would sometimes stop and ogle at Raja, since he did not look like a beggar but nobody dared to ask him as his fierce stare at the strangers were enough to ask the people to leave.

Years went by; Raja continued being the beggar’s best friend. They were faithful to each other and support for each other. They shared joy & sadness, shelter and heat, hunger & thirst together. It was their togetherness that was the prized possession for them.

Raja, lived through some very happy, adventurous and excited life till, one winter night sleeping beside his best friend he closed his eyes for the last time.

Raja died at the age of 16.

He lived his full life going through all the emotions just like any of his friends-Bansi, Juhi or the beggar! 

He lived through hardships, hunger and dangers and on the other side he even experienced luxuries, joy, love & care.

He lived life like a human!

It does not matter which species one is, what ultimately matters is living life.

And, Raja lived his.

Raja, a Labrador

Born: 5^th January, 1996

Died: 24^th December, 2012