The Nest

“I found it!” said Mr. Pigeon.
Mrs. Pigeon got anxious and instantly questioned, “Where??? Besides are you sure that is harmless??”
“Harmless??” thought Mr. Pigeon. “Well I am positive about that! I have been closely watching it for about more than 8 suns. And I haven’t seen any humans there?”
“If you are sure, we should start at once! Time has come!”
Mr. Pigeon and Mrs. Pigeon had a flight at once.
They landed into a balcony, where there were no signs of human dwelling. There was a small garden full of pots. All the plants into the pots were cheerful!
Mrs. Pigeon said, “if there’s no human dwelling here, how come the plants are so alive? Are you sure this place is the most harmless of all the other places?”
“Yes” assured Mr. Pigeon, “nobody is seen here, for the last few suns!”
“May be they are just out of the dwelling for what they call a vacation”, wondered Mrs. Pigeon.
“That might be! Then?” Mr. Pigeon sounded unsure.
“Then?? Need not to say, this is not a safe place. Nothing can be more dangerous than humans. We have already experienced that.” retorted Mrs. Pigeon.
“But now we have no option! Its already late. Watch out for yourself!” exclaimed Mr. Pigeon
He was right. Mr. and Mrs. Pigeon are expecting their first eggs. Mrs. Pigeon had to lay the eggs now. Already 10 suns passed, since they had mated.
As advised by the elderly pigeons from there ethos, they had been looking for an innocuous place for their nest for a very long time. they had built a nest of straw and sticks. It was on the window ledge of a construction, which they believed, was free of human dwelling. They have been decorating the place by different sticks found everywhere. They were excited and were eager to lay their first eggs.
But, once during the sun time, while returning to their nest, they saw, some humans had entered the dwelling and though the nest was not disconcerting the human dwelling, those humans had not only removed but flung their nest.
After all the hard work they did to find a place and decorate the nest, it was just for these humans to think of their nest as unwanted and throw it away!
All the elderly pigeons from their family had advised them not to choose any construction for the nest. But Mr. and Mrs. Pigeon thought that it would be a need of just 30 suns. The ledges were high enough and were covered. Hence they thought of it as a protection from the crows and falcons. But still after all the research and efforts, they were left homeless.
Mrs. Pigeon broke down.
“Our nest is not the sticks and straws. It is us. We shall rebuild the nest” consoled Mr. Pigeon
And now it was almost 8 suns since the mishap they were finding a place for a new nest.
“Are you sure?” enquired Mrs. Pigeon and expressed her concern “Nest can be rebuilt but eggs….!?”
“Mrs. Pigeon! Don’t worry! We won’t let anything happen to the eggs!” Mr. Pigeon tried to calm her. And may be to calm down himself.
At last, Mrs. Pigeon laid down a single egg into one of the pots, which they believed was the cosiest one.
Now, they were to brood the egg.
For nearly about 15 more suns, they were going to be into that human dwelling incubating their egg. Frightened and nervous were they.
“We would find another place before the time our little one comes to this world,” assured Mr. Pigeon.
All through the sun, till the moon emanated, Mr. Pigeon incubated the egg. And during the moon time till the sun moved overhead, Mrs. Pigeon was in-charge of the incubation.
During their shifts of incubation, Mr. and Mrs. Pigeon were busy finding a safer place for their nest.
“Instead of looking for a construction place, I am looking into trees for a harmless place.” reported Mrs. Pigeon while having lunch with Mr. Pigeon “There are nets, called ‘Pigeon nets’ attached in almost every balcony of these human houses, to evade pigeons. It is tough to enter, hatching is impossible.”
“But what about the falcons and crows? if we choose for a tree?” enquired Mr. Pigeon
“yeah! That’s why it’s been difficult to find a tree” replied Mrs. Pigeon.
“In this world of humans, we can get to eat, here or there, but we cannot find a place to survive into these weathers!” Mr. Pigeon expressed his concern.
While they were lost in their conversation, they heard the balcony door open!
At once they both flew away, but didn’t lose the sight of their egg.
They saw humans entering the balcony. There was a mother and the squabs of the humans.
Mrs. Pigeon got terrified by the sight. They saw the human squabs near the plant pot where their egg laid silently. One of the squab went away and was back with his mother, showing her the egg and was almost lifting the egg. Mrs. Pigeon felt dizzy and scared.
But the mother did not allow them to lift the egg, and took them inside closing the balcony door.
“They touched it! Now? What are we supposed to do?” For a moment, Mrs. Pigeon considered returning to the egg.
“What are we supposed to do? Are you out of your mind! We are returning to the egg! That egg still needs us!” scolded Mr. Pigeon.
“But the rules laid down by our ethos says to abandon the egg if humans touch it!” reminded Mrs. Pigeon.
“How can you even think of getting rid of your egg!! Only because some stupid human squab touched it! I understand humans are evil but C’mon Mrs. Pigeon that’s our egg! We have been struggling so much to make it survive. You should not let these superstitions come your way! Besides nobody from our ethos is visiting this place to check the humans have touched the egg or not. So do not mention this to any of the elders. Rather forget it!”
They returned to the egg. But they saw the human squab were watching them from a distance. The doors were closed.
“Mrs. Pigeon”, said Mr. Pigeon, “Let us, for once trust the humanity into these humans!”
Scared Mrs. Pigeon agreed with no choice. It was already 8 suns they were staying with the egg into that balcony. And she now understood the urgency to find a tree at the earliest. These humans might be ‘humans with humanity’ but still pigeons were birds and they have to lead their living differently. In just 6 more suns, they should find a new dwelling.
The humans were certainly good. They abandoned the balcony for a couple of suns. And later they started entering with prior indication, so that the Pigeon would get alarmed. There shifts of brooding were still the same. But now, neither of them moved while the humans entered the balcony.
Occasionally it rained, but they didn’t budge. The heat of the sun hardly reached the egg. Still both the parents were trying their paramount to keep the egg warm.
It was the sixth sun from the arrival of the humans. Mr. and Mrs. Pigeon were successful in building another nest, into the trees. The tree was situated into a human crowded place, hence there was less fear of Falcons and crows.
Now the most difficult task. Carrying the egg to their new nest, before it hatches and that would be at any time.
“Ready?” asked Mr. Pigeon.
“Yes!” came a determined response from a mother.
They waited for a while so that the humans would abandon the place. They didn’t want to entertain the humans anymore.
Mrs. Pigeon lifted the egg into her tiny yet strong legs. Her heart started thumping faster. She was afraid. But she knew she had to do that. Mr. Pigeon was silently flying with her. Protecting Mrs. Pigeon and Praying for the safety of Mrs. Pigeon and their egg.
Finally, they reached the tree. Both breathed a sigh of relief.
That indeed was a place where the falcons and crows would not visit and though crowded by humans, free from human dwelling.
During the moon time Mr. Pigeon did not leave Mrs. Pigeon alone.
As the moon was leaving and the sun was rising, Mrs. Pigeon, still brooding the egg experienced something was happening with the egg. She flew to the borders of the nest. Mr. Pigeon joined her, one of his wings around her. They were witnessing the hatching of their first egg.
Mrs. Pigeon welcomed her little squab into her wings. With tears in her eyes, disremembering all the struggle for a while. Till the time their little one would learn to fly, it was safe in their nest.

The Signal

"Are you not ashamed of yourself?" I enquired, devoid of realising that I am standing in the middle of the road and questioning.

"Ashamed? Of what?" He responded.

"Ashamed of what you are?" I said in almost repulsion.

While the conversation was going on, the signal got green and I left that place trying to look into the mirror at him.
He was a transgender. I was spotting him at the signal almost every day.
Wearing a saree and begging for money!
Trying to pester the male travellers.
Nevertheless, I had noted that he and most of the transgender never bothered the female travellers.
I always wondered what could be the reason!
May be because most of the females express a feeling of disgust towards them.
Nonetheless, I thought even that was also justified, as most of them were so over dressed with extra make-up every time, in order to get easily noticed.
But why should anybody notice their existence?
Why can't they be just as normal as the other two genders in this social system?
These queries used to bug me whenever I thought of them or saw them!
But today, even before I could realise I had interrogated him. The question, had at once prompted me!

Next day again, at the signal, I saw him, but I didn't get the red signal for more events.
After a couple of days, I got a red signal and as soon as I stopped. I was looking for him!
"Madam!” Commencing from behind, came his speech, “Yes, I am ashamed of what I am!"
"But why?" I interviewed.
"Because people in this civilization have no respect for us!" he answered serenely.
"I understand! The structure of our society is so substantial that you have to earn your respect and if you don't earn it! There’s a possibility you would not get it!" I tried to advise him.
"And to earn it is what is difficult for people like us." He said with the same tranquil.
"You mean a transgender?" I questioned again.
"Off course! Who else?" he reacted.
"Being a woman I understand how you would be feeling, because at some or the other point of time in our life, even we women’s have struggled for getting respect in this male dominating structure". I said influentially.
"Yes. that is the reason we are trained to try and influence the males!” I got the answer to my question as well. He further inquired, “And how did you deal with those situations where you felt that there is no respect for you".
"I don’t care who is respecting me. I did that myself. I respect myself.” I made a statement questioning him, “Do you respect yourself?"

The signal got green and I left. But I saw him crossing the road with a thoughtful expression!

May be I spoke too much.
I noticed other people standing at the signal were staring at us. Some were surprised. Some were in disgust. Some were neutral. But none failed to grasp that I was conversing with a transgender for a complete minute. Women are not seen doing that!

Nevertheless, my curiosity about their (transgender) feelings forced me to enter into the conversation!

We are always taught about equality. But that equality was always about male female equality; it was never about the three gender equality.
Why are we not taught “Equality” in its pure form?
Other things aside why are we not taught to respect other living beings. Is that so difficult?

That day I decided, I would at least smile at the transgender showing my respect to them or at least expecting them to feel that.

I was never at the signal for the next few days.

One day while waiting for the green signal, I saw him coming!
I smiled at him. He smiled back.
I could sense he was pleased.

"Yes you are right! I have no respect for myself. Since the last weeks I have realised that very few of us would be having respect for what we do!" He confessed.

"Yes! I can understand. That is a product of our social system!" I agreed with him.

"But I want to respect myself!" he urged, as if asking for a solution.

"Then stop begging for it!" I answered instantly.

I left with the green signal.
It was too crowded and I could not see him from the mirror.

Later for couple of weeks, I didn’t see him at the signal. I thought of enquiring, but could not! I felt awkward!

I got busy with my priorities and his thought went to the back of my mind.
After few days I saw him at the signal.
His appearance was different.
He was not in a saree. But was wearing a pant and a kurta.
He was happy to see me. And was not begging for money!

"Can we talk?" he questioned
"Yes. Sure.!" I answered.

"After the signal gets green can you stop to the side of the road?" I didn’t guess that question. I was reluctant to say yes!
I had never thought of stopping out of my way to have a chat with a transgender.
"I am not overdone today! Nobody would realise that you are chatting with a transgender!" I was shocked, he had actually read my thoughts. I felt embarrassed!

"No! I was just thinking about the office time but okay will wait!" I tried to cover it up.

While he was crossing the signal I realised he was not doing the weird cat walk he typically did. He was walking as normal as others.

I too crossed the signal and went where he was waiting!
"Thank you!" He said with a cheerful smile.
I just smiled.

"Somebody like you sparing time for a person like me is itself overwhelming! And you have been so nice to me". Humbly he complemented.

"But I didn't give you anything!" I said.

"May be you gave me something I needed!
Respect! And taught me to respect myself!
I must mention that there are things and persons who force us (transgender) to do the things, I did.  But I have quitted all that. I have decided to struggle with them. All my friends have started respecting me. And I am respecting them as well. I had realised that the thing we were waiting from outside to come was so within us. Thank you for helping towards that realisation!"
I smiled but I couldn't say anything. I was amazed and listening.

"Can I give you something?" very politely he asked.
That was a surprise request.

"Sure" even before I could realise, I had answered.
He was holding something in his hand. He opened his hand.
It was a friendship band!

I lifted my hand! He kept the band in my hand, without tying it.

“I won't tie it.” Said he.

“But still this would always be with me. Thank you that you thought me as your friend!" finally I found some words.

"Because you thought me so!" He said with great respect. "And don't worry I won't be putting you in any awkward situation in future as well. I don't even want your contact.” He clarified urgently and continued “I just wanted you to know that I respect you."

I had never ever felt so appreciated.
I too thought of giving him something.
I took the keys of my bike, removed the key chain and handed over it to him.

"Thank you! This means a lot" I said to him pointing towards the band.
With a wide smile he accepted the souvenir.

"I got a house keeping job in a company, far away from here. Won't be seeing you again. Hence asked you to wait today."

Wow! he is having a job!
All the curiosity about his past, his childhood, his education ran towards me!
But considering his future was on the way I ignored my curiosity.

"Congratulations! And all the best!" I said happily.

"Thank you! Hopefully we would see each other some time again!" He responded.

"Yes! Sure" I did hope for that.

He said good Bye and left!
I kept the band in my valet.
As I started to leave all of a sudden I realised, I had never asked him his name! That unnamed fellow certainly had changed something within me.
I understood the importance of respecting anybody and everybody. I understood the importance of respecting self.
That day, I didn't receive a friendship band but I received a responsibility.
I may have affected his life a bit! But myself got a lesson.
A “by the way” conversation resulting into an “all the way” lesson for life!

"There's a Ghost"

“I think there's a ghost”

Said Gaurav to Luxmi.

Luxmi replied “Okay!”

“O K A Y! What to do you mean by okay??” said Gaurav.

Luxmi then realised her reaction was too lame. 

She reacted again, “ Oh My God!! What are you saying? Are you sure you didn’t accidently look into the mirror?”

“What!” Gaurav shouted in disbelief “NO!! by Ghost I mean an invisible spirit is existing in our house”.

“And you really want me to belive that?” questioned Luxmi.

“yes! Because I have seen that”

“Seen?”

“I mean unseen that! I mean I have experienced that!!”

“Okay!!” said luxmi by flipping the laptop down “Please share your experience so that even I would share your worry about finding and throwing that ghost out of our house!!”

“My clothes are missing! And I cannot find them!”

“Doesn’t that mean you should be more organised and disciplined with all your stuff!” why would luxmi miss an opportunity of hitting the ball out of the court!!

“I do keep my stuff organised. But the point is from last few days I feel my clothes are vanishing!

From the Washing Machine!!!!”

“you want to say that the ghost in our house stays into the washing machine!”

“YES!! Actually there’s a ghost into the Washing Machine”

“Okay! I understand, there’s an invisible spirit in the washing machine that is stealing your clothes!”

“or may be wearing my clothes and so I can not find them after the wash!”

“WOW! I didn’t realise your choice of clothes would amaze a ghost so much that he would actually steal that and wear them to make them invisible.”

“Haha! That’s not funny! Show some seriousness!”

“Offcourse I am serious!” Luxmi was controlling her laughter! “ Its just that I am just thinking of a plan to find your clothes!”

“And what about the ghost?”

“And off course a plan to find the ghost who is wearing your clothes!”

“Hmm.. even I am thinking about one”

Both then resumed their work.

Gaurav was very sure that there’s a ghost, which is probably a peaceful ghost, who is interested in clothes, rather than any revenge.

‘may be the ghost is a female ghost, whose last will was to steal clothes and that could not be fulfilled because of her sudden death.’ Gaurav entered into his world of thoughts.

‘NO but if the ghost is a female, she would have stoled luxmi’s cloths not mine! May be the ghost would start stealing luxmi’s cloths and then luxmi would believe me.'

As he was thinking, he suddenly remembered that he has not checked todays cloths. So he got up and went to the place where all the clothes are kept after there washing. He was trying to recall what all clothes he had put for washing! Obviously he could not recall, and surrendering to the situation he decided he would have a general look into the clothes and realised something!

He rushed to Luxmi, “Come fast! I found something! I mean I unfound something! My clothes are missing again!”

They both arrived at the laundry area. And with great feeling of achievement Gaurav told Luxmi, “See there really is a ghost! One of my socks is missing!”

“Why would anybody steal a single sock?”

“There is no reason why a ghost is doing something! Besides may be the ghost is having a single leg!”

“okay! Now please explain, how a single sock comes into the category of “Cloths””?

Gaurav took a deep breadth, “ You should have watched ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’. Harry Potter gives dobby the Elf, a sock, which mean that he was offered clothes by his master and he got his independence.”

Luxmi was looking at Gaurav in disbelief. “R E A L L Y ?” she sighed and returned to her work.

Gaurav was desperately waiting for Luxmi to finish her work. Once she was seen winding up, he rushed and willingly offered his help for cooking. She understood the reason but didn’t deny.

Once dinner was done she approached Gaurav and said, "I have thought of a plan!”.

“Really??” Gaurav was more than happy. Very impatiently he said. “Tell me”

Luxmi started explaining the Plan, “From Tomorrow while putting the clothes for washing we would count them and recount them after the washing is completed.”

“Superb”, exclaimed Gaurav and thought, ‘Does that really is a plan?’ but still he was convinced! They had to start from somewhere.

Next Morning like every day after completing other routine things they went to the ‘haunted’ washing machine. Cloths were put into the machine after completing the counting. All clothes were counted to 14. Machine was ON its job and so were they both.

However, Gaurav was eagerly waiting for the machine Bell. As soon as the Bell Banged, both went to the washing machine. Luxmi counted the clothes one by one. The recount was the same as the count i.e. 14. She looked at Gaurav! Gaurav was expressionless as he felt defeated! He said Nothing and went back to work.

After a week of this routine Luxmi finally declared, “ So the Ghost has vanished and our washing Machine is no more haunted”. Gauav just nodded. He was still in disbielf.

He said to himself, ‘I was so hoping that I would have a ghost as my pet, who would be like a Genie to me. He would revert to all the emails and fix all my bugs, just like Bhootnath.”

That day they didn’t count the cloths and were not at all consciously checking them.

In the evening when Gaurav went to the laundary area. He found that one of hand gloves are missing! He rushed and updated that to Luxmi.

Now even Luxmi was surprised and went to check the same. Yes!! One of the gloves was really missing! Gaurav was waiting for her to comment!

“Now what? Your ghost is having one hand and one leg?”

“Probably Yes!!” said Gaurav, “and may be he didn’t like us keeping a watch on the clothes, hence no stealing happened for these many days.” His eyes sparkeled as the hope of having a pet ghost returned to him.

He went to work, leaving luxmi alone with the washing machine.

Luxmi, still in surprise and shock!

Obviuosly she didn’t belived that there was a Ghost!

“Kuch to gadbad hai!” exclaimed luxmi and decided to investigate into the “There’s a Ghost case”

That day she winded up her work early, and with her cup of tea, went near Gaurav for her primary interrogation!

“Gaurav, Tell me, what all your cloths you think are stolen by the ghost?”

Gaurav said, “Lets name the ghost.. I think we should name it Bhootnath!”

“Yup” said luxmi sipping a sip of tea from the cup, “Bhootnath: The Cloths Thief”

Gaurav didn’t like the tag line, he had already made an imaginary friendship with this invisible ghost.

“Or we can call it….”

“Or we can just call it a “Ghost”. Luxmi didn’t allow Gaurav to pet that thought. “now tell me what all is stolen?”

Gaurav recalled, “One Sock and one of the gloves you know. One of my Monkey cap, two of my handkerchiefs, my sweat Band and an office Tie is missing!”

“Okay” said luxmi and triggered her thought process. ‘that means this so called ghost is stealing cloths which are short in size. And what would a ghost do of a Tie? Do they have presentations as well?'

She laughed at her thought imagining a presentation given by a ghost wearing a neck tie.

She went to the luandary area and started looking for the missing cloths. Next to laundry room was there Bedroom. She continued her search into the Bedroom.

She peeped down the Bed. There was something under the Bed or somebody under it!!!!

She jumped on the Bed and slowly slowly peeped down the Bed again.

She tried to have a close look of what she wanted to see!

She could not believe her eyes. All the cloths which were missing were found loaded in a corner under the Bed. She went under the Bed and found that there is a hook like thing on one of the legs of the Bed and the monkey cap is stuck into that hook, while other stuff is just sticking to the monkey cap.

Thus, it was proved that there is no ghost into the washing machine.

Now, the task was to find out how these cloths went down the Bed!!!!

She was tempted to narrate everything to Gaurav, but firstly that would interrupt his thoughts about finding a pet name for the ghost and secondly he would again be hopeless about finding a pet ghost.

For the next two days luxmi was observing every activity in the laundary room.

Finally!! She was successful in finding the ghost.

She thought, “Now the time has come for reveling the happening of events.”

She went to Gaurav and said, “I got a name for the ghost! Shantabai”. They had a robotic Floor Sweeping machine, which they called as “Shantabai”.

“Why?” Gaurav didn’t like the idea. “ we already have one”

“Because the ghost stealing your cloths is none other than Shantabai!”

“That’s not possible! Wait! You mean we have a Floor cleaning machine that has developed human like feelings and is stealing all my cloths!!

Oh God!! We don’t have a bhootnath but we have a small Wonder!!”

“It’s just that, all the things you think are being stolled is just an accident or just a happening of an event.”

“Okay! Please explain further!”

“Instead I would demonstrate to you.”

She lead Gaurav to the laundry room and dropped the monkey cap at the foot of the washing machine.

Gaurav was surprised to see the stolen monkey cap, “where did you find that?”

“In a moment you would come to know!”said laxmi.

She switched on the Floor sweeping machine. Shantabai started with the cleaning activity. While sweeping the floor, the monkey cap fallen on the floor, got stuck into shantabai and was carried along with her. Shantabai went into the Bedroom with the monkey cap still stuck on it, Gaurav and luxmi followed her. 

While she went under the Bed, they peeped under it. The moment she went near the hook on the leg of the Bed., The monkey cap got stuck there. Shantabai left the cap to hang on the hook and continued her sweeping job.

Gaurav after the realisation, exclaimed, “Oh the cloths are not stolen they are just getting stuck. So whoever is dropping the cloths on the floor in the laundry room is the real ghost.”

“yes! That’s right!” confirmed luxmi “I Told you earlier as well. Just look into the mirror and you will find the ghost.”

गोष्ट तिची आणि माझी

'काय बरे टोपण नाव द्यावे हिला?'

माझा मनात विचार सुरू होता!

खरं तर टोपण नाव आपण आपल्या एखाद्या आवडीच्या व्यक्तीला किंवा आपल्या प्रेमळ पाळीव प्राण्याला देतो..

पण ही तर माझ्या अजिबात च आवडीची नाहीये.. आणि माझी ईच्छा नसताना, ही "पाळीव" होऊ पाहतीये.. मग माझी नैतिक जबाबदारी ठरते हिला टोपण नाव देण्याची.

तसे घरात बाकी लोकांना हिच्या बद्दल काही problem च नाहीये.. त्यामुळे सगळे कदाचित त्या टोपण नावाबद्दल खूप खूषच होतील.. किंवा कदाचित कुणाला काहीच फरक पडणार नाही.. 

पण मी आता ठरवलंय की हिला टोपण नाव देऊयात.. 

तसा हिचा गुणधर्म मुळातच चिकट.. दिवस दिवस एकाच ठिकाणी बसून राहू शकते ही.. बसून नाही म्हणता येणार चिकटुन असते.. आणि डोळे रोखून एखाद्याला बघत बसते.. म्हणे ही घरातले किडे वगैरे खाते, पण मला तरी ही 'पिंटी' (हे टोपण नाव सुचले आत्ता मला) कोणतेही काम करताना कधी दिसत नाही.. 

आता जाऊदे म्हणा प्रत्येकच जीवित घटकाचा आपल्याला उपयोग होईल असंही काही नाही.. म्हणून आपण काही किळसवाण्या घटका कडे दुर्लक्ष करत असतो.. पण ह्या घटकांनी जर आपल्या हात धुवून मागे लागण्याचे ठरवले असेल तर आपण तरी काय करणार? मग हताश पणे आपण हिला टोपण नावे वगैरे शोधत बसणार..

कधी तर मला वाटतं ह्या पिंटीचं आणि माझं मागच्या जन्मीचे काहीतरी नातेच आहे.. मी जिथे जाईल तिथे ही येतेच.. जसे काही "में तुम्हे कभी छोडके नही जाऊंगी" types वचन वगैरे दिलंय.. 

कधी चुकून उठायला उशीर झाला, पटापटा घरातले काम संपवून ऑफिसला जायची घाई असली.. की ह्या पिंटी बाई दारावर, नाहीतर दुधाच्या पिशव्यांसाठी gate ला टांगलेल्या पिशवी मागे नाहीतर हेल्मेटच्या आसपास, अश्या दबा धरून बसलेल्या असतात.. जणू आम्ही लपाछपी खेळतोय आणि बाईसाहेबांवर राज्य आहे.. आणि आता धप्पा करतील.. धप्पा करो ना करो, हिला बघून मी तशीही out च.. 

पण तरी लोकांचे असे म्हणणे आहे की ती मुळातच शांत प्राणी आहे.. माझ्यासाठी तर तिची शांतता वादळा पूर्वीची असते..

एकदा प्रचंड पाऊस पडत होता म्हणून मी ऑफिसला दुचाकी ने न जाता चार चाकी ने जायचा निर्णय घेतला.. मुलांना आई कडे सोडून ऑफिस ला जायचे होते म्हणून खूप घाई चालली होती माझी.. गाडी बऱयाच दिवसांनी बाहेर काढली होती म्हणून जरा अस्वच्छ होती.. थोडया वेळेने काचेवर काही हलतंय असे वाटून, मी काचे कडे पाहिले.. तर आमची पिंटी तिथे.. जणू आता मला फिरवून आण म्हणतीये, किंवा ऑफिसच्या कामात मदत वगैरे करायची होती की काय!

मी भरा भरा काचा लावून घेतल्या सगळ्या.. 

ती तशी आत आलीच नसती (कदाचित) पण कोण risk घ्या.. माझे हे चमत्कारिक वागणे बघून मुलांनी काय झाले? काय झाले असे विचारले.. मी सांगितले पिंटी आहे काचेवर म्हणून सगळं बंद केलंय.. तर त्यांनी धक्कादायक प्रतिउत्तर दिले की, 'अगं आई, पाचोळा आहे तो'!!!!!!!!

मला वाटले काहीही काय, म्हणून मी नीट पाहिले तर खरचंच पाचोळाच होता तो.. 

"बापरे!" मला वाटले, 'आता मला हिचे भास पण व्हायला लागले!!" किंवा पिंटी च्या कुणी पूर्वजांचे भूत वगैरे नाही ना जे माझ्या मागे लागलंय.. पण मी असं काय वाईट केलंय ह्यांच्या जमातीचे की ह्यांनी मलाच येऊन असा त्रास द्यावा.. त्याच विचारात office ला पोहचले आणि ऑफिसच्या कामात थोडा वेळ पिंटीचा विसर पडला.. 

संध्याकाळी घरी येताना परत धाकधूक की ही पिंटी येते का परत! पण नाही मी सुखरूप घरी पोहचले..

तरीही हीचा चेहरा काही डोळ्यासमोरुन जात न्हवता!

सकाळी मी आईला सगळा किस्सा सांगितला.. तर आधी आई पोट धरून हसली.. मग माझी चेष्टा करत म्हणाली की आपण तुला 'पाली'ला नेऊन तुझी शांती करून आणुयात.. तिला गंमतच वाटत होती, मग ती मला म्हणाली तू तिच्याशी मैत्री का नाही करत?

मैत्री??? काय संबंध??

काहीही काय??

मग मीच शांत पणे विचार केला, मैत्री वगैरे तर काही शक्य नाही, पण आपण ह्या पिंटिकडे दुर्लक्ष तर करूच शकतो!

ठरले तर मग, इकडे तिकडे बघायचेच नाही झापडे लावल्या सारखे आपले आपले काम करत राहायचे!!

पण हे मी ठरवून उपयोग न्हवता ना, हे सगळे तिने ठरवायला हवे होते!!

सकाळी उठून किती वाजले आहे बघायला घड्याळ पाहिले तर घड्याळा शेजारी पिंटी ताई मला good morning करायला आल्याच होत्या.. जाऊदे म्हणून स्वयंपाक संपवून अंघोळीला गेले तर बाथरूम च्या दारा मागे होत्याच.. मी लगेच घड्याळा कडे धावले भास तर नाही ना म्हणून, तर नाही घड्याळा कडे पिंटी ताई न्हवत्याच.. 

दुसऱ्याच बाथरूम मध्ये आवरून घेतले मग!

लिफ्ट मधून बाहेर आले तर नावांचे जे फलक आहे तिथे पिंटी ताईंचे कुणीतरी नातेवाईक होतेच... 

कितीही झापडे लावली तरी ही पिंटी त्या झापडावर येऊन चिकटेल...

आता मला वाटू लागलंय की तिला मी खूप आवडते.. 

पण मला ती अजिबात नाही आवडत, ती कदाचित मला बघण्यासाठी अत्यंत आतुर असते पण ही पिंटी समोर असेल तर मी फक्त अस्वस्थ असते, ती कदाचित मला साथ द्यायला बघते पण मी मात्र सतत तिला झटकत राहते, मी जितकी तिच्या पासून लांब राहायला बघते तितकी ती माझ्या समोर येत राहते.. 

घरातून निघाले की लिफ्ट च्या भिंतीवर.. जिन्याने चालले की कुठल्याश्या कोपऱ्यात, घरी आले की घराच्या दारावर.. सकाळी उठून kitchen मध्ये गेले तर गॅस च्या खाली.. रात्री चुकून तिथेच गेले तर फ्रीजच्या पाठी, घड्याळ, फोटो फ्रेम कुंड्यांचा आडोसा तर ती सतत घेते, बऱ्याचदा तर फक्त मलाच दिसते.. 

तिच्या माझ्यावरच्या ह्या निःस्वार्थ प्रेमाचे अगणित किस्से आहेत.. अगदी लहानपणापासूनचे.. 

तिला मला घाबरवण्याची आवड आणि मला त्याची सवय.. 

मी जशी मोठी झाले तशी माझी भीती पण मोठी झाली पण ती तेवढीच राहलीये आणि तशीच राहलीये.. 

केव्हाही कुठेही येऊन मला घाबरवण्याचा कार्यक्रम ती करू शकते.. 

आणि वेला पण तिच्या एकदम special ठरलेल्या.. 

मी घाईत असेल किंवा मी घरात एकटी असेल किंवा मी काही स्वच्छता करायची ठरवली असेल, तर पिंटी madam तत्परतेने हजर.. म्हणजे माझे सगळे अवसान कोलमडून जाणार.. आणि मी बाकी काही न करता हिच्या हालचाली नोंदवत बसणार! मी आपली डोळ्याच्या कोपऱ्यातून ती गेली का बघत राहते आणि ही आपली सतत रोखून बघत असते, 

कोणत्याही कोऱ्यात कधीही प्रकट होणे..आणि गेली गेली म्हणे पर्यंत अचानक समोर येणे.. एवढं अति एकतर्फी प्रेम सहनच होत नाही मला..

तिचे माझ्यावर जेवढे प्रेम आहे त्यापेक्षा माझे तिला घाबरणे खूप मोठे आहे.. 

आमच्या मध्ये हे अजब नाते किती जन्मापासून आहे माहीत नाही.. पण हे भगवंता!! पुढच्या जन्मी तरी हे नको रे बाबा!!

Nights

At the stroke of the midnight hour.. when all your neighborhood is sleeping.. suddenly the moonlight enters from your window and you awake to experience the silence of the midnight..

You peep out of your window to witness how the roads take rest, to be prepared for the dawn.. for a day full of rush.. for the sun and the rains..

You see the quiet playgrounds.. tired with all day play.. And the silent river.. flowing with her gradual routine.. continuing the giving of all that she has.. 

You observe the prosy construction sights.. contributing to the cement jungle..

Trees though asleep, swinging to the rhythm of the cold breeze..

As you try to look far and far, away, you  see lights and more lights.. on the backdrop of the darkness of the night it seems to you as if all the stars are around you.. 

Then remembering the stars you watch the sky... But you could hardly find any star.. and for a moment you wish for a power failure just to see the stars..

Somewhere in the dark corner dogs seems to have there board meetings.. some vehicle honks disturbing their routine

Every body seems to be resting.. except the street lights, who enjoy there conversations with the crickets.. 

and the All time Handsome Moon monitoring everything around.. imparting his tranquil light.. You watch the moonlight coming in, towards you.. and then You turn to see inside your room to find your world fast asleep.. gathering energy for the coming day..

Storing this beautiful and charming night in your mind you re-enter into your rugs and devote yourself to the goddess of sleep.. listening to the sound of silence..