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Is this the end?

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“Yeah, my flight is tomorrow evening, and there’s still so much left to do. I’m gonna call you back,” I said to someone from work, before turning back to the checklist that still had far too many boxes left unchecked. “Iru?” Maa called from the kitchen. “Kal raste ke liye kya bana doon?” “Maa, flight mein hi kha lungi . Don’t worry.” Right then, my phone rang. Aditya calling... “Hey! What’s up? How’s the packing going?” “Don’t ask. Tiring. Confusing. Even worse than getting a CSAT at work. But who am I complaining to? The top performer of the month? Huh! What do you know?” I said, rolling my eyes even though he couldn’t see me. “I didn’t call you to discuss work, silly. You’re leaving tomorrow. I’m getting anxious, but I’m also happy for you. Seeing you happy makes me happy. But tell me honestly, Ira. Are you really happy?” There was something about the conviction in his voice that made lying feel impossible. “Ads, to be really honest, I do want what I’m about to get tomorrow. Once I t...
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Stay

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I walked to where you lay, wrapped in a quiet kind of grey. "Are you okay?" you gave a nod, a silent sway. I called you over to my place. You came, and settled close enough for the world to lose its pace. "If you need to rest, then rest with me." You smiled, as though that's where you'd always wished to be. My hand found your face without a sound. For a moment, it felt like home had finally been found. I pulled away. You opened your eyes and softly said, "Leave it there." So, I did. My fingertips wandered every line, every curve, every trace, trying to memorize the poetry of your face. It felt too gentle, too tender, too true, like a dream that somehow had learned how to come into view. You kept your eyes closed, then opened them slow, just enough to let me know that peace had found you too. "Sleep," I whispered. "I'll be here when you wake." You wrapped yourself inside my rug, then reached for my hand with effortless love. ...
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Everyday younger!

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"How old are you?  (I hope she does not mind me asking that) "Uh! I am 22". "You're WHAT!?!" "Uh-oh! Why is that shocking?" "Nothing, it just is, I don't know!" The next day, I saved her a seat on the left side of me, and that was it. It took me 7 seconds to get to know her, because you see, obviously we got along over Taylor Swift's songs and might have shook a leg on Gallan Goodiyan too.  I neither know her from school, where you can count the years, we've known each other for, nor do I know her from college, where we have bunked classes together. She just randomly decided to share her darkest secrets with me, and I had shared even darkest of the secrets with her, and that was it, bonded by the trauma.  She finds me very smart, and funny, deep thinker that tends to have brain of a 7-year-old. She keeps telling me the way I look so good in her eyes and the way our minds just *click*. The kind of telepathy that only my other ...
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Pretty, Patient, and Proud

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there’s nothing that I don’t know already, how I wanted my life slow and steady. I have been so calm for the longest time, but also leaving my wisdom and prime. but maybe silence was just a test, to see if I’d rise when life said rest. rest? the inner chaos or the memories, that came with tears worn like accessories. but accessories were meant to enhance the beauty, family, life, career- my prioritized duty. duty I did not consider a priority at first, started feeling like I was maybe cursed. cursed for those who did not let me shine, never from those whom I actually called mine. mine, not for them, maybe just for me, their love so pure, yet too hidden to see. now, I have set my priorities straight, not opening any more new gates. even the windows are shut tight, so, friends can no longer backbite. not really worried about the marks they leave, though they still make me ache, still make me grieve. for a love like that, I won’t grieve now,  I finally found me, again, somehow. - Taru...
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The Namesake

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"Excuse me? Hi!"   I turned around and saw a boy, sweaty and tired. His eyes showed that he had been walking for a long time. "Hieee!" I said, with an even wider smile. "Could you please help me with this address and the exact location? I am new to this place."  "Of course, go straight and take a right turn...(I proceeded to explain him the address he was looking for)." "Thank you. By the way, I am Vayu." "Vayu!? With an A or two As?" "With two As. And you are?"  "I am Taruna."  "Karuna?" "No, Taruna, with a T." "Oh, Taruna, okay. What an unusual name! What does it mean?"  (With a smile) "It means, a young beautiful tree." "Hmm...a young beautiful tree!" I boarded the metro at 6:04 pm. Exhausted. Tired. Toggling inside. I reached home.  Told my mother about the entire day and how I spent it, which mostly included fighting over an extra laddoo with my collea...
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किराये का कमरा

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एक कमरा है। वही, छोटा सा, किराये का कमरा।  पता नहीं, कितने ही लोग, कितने ही परिवार उसमें रहकर चले गए।  लोग- हर जाती, हर धर्म, हर शख्सियत, हर किरदार के लोग।  उन सब में और हम में, प्यार तो था, पर तकरार ज़्यादा थी। कभी पानी को लेकर, कभी बिजली को लेकर, कभी कपड़े सूखने- सुखाने की जगह को लेकर। क्या करते! छोटा था न वो कमरा।  ताज्जुब की बात है कि उस कमरे में रहने वाली सारी औरतें ही रहीं- कोई ब्याही, कोई बिन-ब्याही, सब अपने परिवारों से दूर।  फिर एक दिन आया, जब उस कमरे में मुझे ठहरना पड़ा।  इस कमरे में रहते हुए मुझे अभी कुछ हफ़्ते ही हुए हैं। यह कमरा देखने में खास सुंदर नहीं है, और इसकी दीवारें भी टूटी-फूटी सी हैं- कहीं से सीमेंट उखड़ा हुआ है, कहीं दीवारों में छोटे-बड़े छेद हैं। मगर फिर भी, मैंने इसे बहुत सहेजकर रखा है।  यह कमरा उतना ही बड़ा है जितनी हमारी ज़िन्दगी- रहने की जगह तो हर किसी को मिल जाती है, मगर उसे सहेजकर रखना, यह औरतों का ही हुनर है।  इस कमरे में मुझे उन सभी औरतों की हँसी की गूँज सुनाई देती है। उनकी धीमी, थकी हुई हँसी, उनके बे...
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बहुत ज़रूरी है, वो पेड़

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सत्ताईस साल हो गए उसे।  सत्ताईस साल।  एक पेड़ है, ठीक मेरे कमरे की बालकॉनी के बाहर।  कितने तूफ़ान, कितनी आँधियाँ, कितनी तीखी-चिलमिलाती धूप देखी होगी उसने... ...पर फिर भी वह खड़ा हुआ है, वहीं, उसी जगह, उसी वातावरण में, उन्ही अन्य पेड़ों के बीच।  ताज्जुब की बात है कि उस पेड़ पर हर साल आम आते हैं। और हम हर साल उन रसीले आमों का लुत्फ़ उठाते हैं।   वो कहते हैं न, "पेड़ कभी खुद अपने फल नहीं खा सकता",  शायद इसीलिए उसकी जड़ें इतनी गहरी होती हैं, ताकि वो अपना सर्वस्व देने में ही जी सके, लेने में नहीं। बरसों से उसने अपनी छाँव दी, अपने फल दिए, यहाँ तक कि अपनी डालों में परिंदों का घर भी बसा लिया, पर कभी किसी से कुछ माँगा नहीं। सिर्फ खड़ा रहा, चुपचाप, सब सहते हुए। मैं अक्सर, सुबह उठ कर, अपनी बालकॉनी में जाकर, उस पेड़ के सामने खड़ी हो जाती हूँ। मेरा घर चौथे माले पर है और इस पेड़ का कद भी कुछ इतना ही है। मैं उस से कुछ ख़ास कहती तो नहीं, बस उसे देखती रहती हूँ ।  सोचती कुछ नहीं पर बहुत कुछ सोच लेती हूँ।   मुझे पता है, उससे बातें करके कोई ...
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