Have you ever been accepted and then been rejected at the same time?

Yes, It was one such day. Being excited about the interview about the job proile and having thought a lot about it, I felt I should give it a try. After all, trying is better and interesting. But, in the present case, I'd to risk the chance since I'd no idea about it.

The clock struck 8 in the morning. It was time for me to leave to the unknown place for the interview having a thin tall zero knowledge about the job designation. After a while, I'd literally lost my way due to confusing sector main roads and somehow made it for the office building late just a few minutes from the fixed appointment time.

It was a fresh sunny day with slow moving traffic as usual in one of the heaviest and busiest highways in Bangalore city. The tension was building up inside my blank mind which was more concerned than my heart about the job. In the signal, a poor weak woman sold yellow large balloons for ten rupees each to make her living for the day. She looked terrible carrying a baby in her arms. Why is life soo miserable? I wonder.

I wanted to forget my interview and just go help the lady in all the ways that I could. She had the baby covered in a black dotted shawl. Eyes spoke paleness. Hands stretched begging for money in the signal. It was helplessly crying out loud for food. I closed my eyes for a moment and said a little prayer thanking God for all that I've been gifted and blessed, praying this poverty will eradicate soon from this world.

Having been in the hangover of the moments passed in the signal, I reached the office help desk to enquire about the HR for further interview process.

Interview process included four prolonged rounds namely Self introduction, Email writing, PPA test, IQ test. There were ten to fifteen candidates for various job designations. Most of them were experienced persons among them except me- "The fresher".

Ofcourse I was scared competing with the experienced candidates. Before the interview started, at one moment, I even felt like running away out the door screaming. But then I had to clear and erase my mind screen from such negative feelings. Honestly speaking, this was not my domain and associate interest.

I was least interested in software, corporate and 'computer' coding. It was a vex, torture sitting in the air getting hot and tight around me in the hallway.

Pen is mightier than the sword. I wanted to write. I wanted to dance,sing and just go out there and help that poor balloon woman. But I had to try corporate for many other good reasons!

After the application forms were filled with all the document details, the candidates were asked to wait in the lobby. After a while, we were lifted to the first floor of the building where the interview rounds were to be held.

A young tall lady approached us calling each one of us for the PPA test. She had strawberry sweet voice, long hair and an ecstasy figure! Ofcourse guys kept looking at her whenever she passed by us and pretended to act all innocent.
She gave the clear instructions on how the PPA test had to be taken. She had the longest hair I've ever seen anywhere. Ever! She looked exactly like one of my aunts. Test was normal. Good results.

Further we were directed to the next floor of the building for the second round of the interview which was 'E-mail writing'. I chose to write on requesting the client to be the guest speaker for our upcoming webinar. I was lucky enough to pass this round too. Few candidates were eliminated. Others had to wait for the other two rounds i.e. IQ test and the final HR face to face interview.

There were special services for the candidates who had been waiting from a long time now. A staff boy served us tea in eco-friendly white paper cups. He was decent, hair being neatly combed to left side of the bisector. The empty cups were collected by him once we were done.

The best part of the building was, each step has a humourous quote printed on them, as in like one of them being- "My dream is to be a millionaire like my uncle,he's dreaming too".

Another one that I remember is-
"when trouble shoots you, you've to shoot back the trouble".
The last step read- "you can take my advice, I don't use it anyway".
This was the only green plackards on the stairs that eased our stress level.

I made few momentary friends while waiting to be called for the further rounds. One guy having worked for two years with a backlog in his 11th grade was having excellent communication skills but was whining about his backlog subject. He told his sad story of how he still couldn't pass the commerce subject even after four faithful attempts.

The lady with the long hair who had tangled a plait now called my name and asked me to meet the HR. She took me into the sub cabin where in HR was waiting for me and she closed the door behind me. My heart started pounding against the chest. It was the final round for the day! I sighed a relief and told myself that I'm going to do this.

I slightly opened the HR main cabin where he had been seated. He asked me to come in, made no eye contact. He was busy updating the resume details in his personal computer. I was asked to take my seat. I gently closed the door and pulled a wheelchair next to the door. While I pulled my chair, unknowingly I hit right side of my head to the right edge of his computer monitor that he was busy with. Edge's angle rotation was about 10 to 12 degrees anticlockwise after the thud. He continued to stay calm while I panicked.

Many files lay on his left hand side of the desk. A coffee mug on his right along with a bunch of lazy ballpens with various colors. I suppose many among didn't work.
He shone with bright blood red casual Tee. His brown eyes were well protected in the rectangular frame spectacles. Smile that he gave was calm,friendly and peaceful. He was a bald man with few millimetres of hair pending on the behind surface of his head. Ofcourse the head shone like the ghatam instrument.

I always love to answer for the most famous question-
''Tell me something about yourself''.
We had a great talk on the resume details. He was all completely fine with all that I answered except the technical question area.

He seemed quite upset when he got to know I've least knowledge in the post that he was hiring me. I wasn't surprised! That had to be obvious. He informed me about my weakness and on the topics that I was supposed to improve. But the miracle that happened was, he gave me a second chance and asked me to come back in a month.

Apparently, he was too much impressed from the talk that we had and he wanted to hire me in any situation and all the cases and he promised me he'll definitely offer me the joining for the job in a month. I had never thought this would happen when I woke up that morning. The job that I never wanted to attend but was offered a second chance with maximum benefits.  Never in my dreams had I thought about it. That's when you know the result of trying. Don't you think, that's when you rediscover your hidden potentials?

Think Again

You are so very far away
further than I dare to wander
you are almost further
than my thoughts can capture
you seem to know how to escape
just when I think I've got you've found
you move beyond and I
have to
think again

think again
of the last time I saw you
think again if the times
will be empty and how
I will never see you again

You are very far away
further than I dare to wander
you are almost further than
my thoughts can spare
you seem to know just how to escape
to leave no trace
vanish into thin air

And just when I think
I've got you found
you move just beyond my broken reach
you've given me many a sleepless moment
and many wretched opportunities to weep

So many times spent when I have
to
think again.

Some things come full formed in your head when you wake up. This did.
I know I have
written many pieces here on line.
When I dream, I feel I 

must write it down. Messages are contained in dreams. Especially repeated dreams. Think again

-Posted by Namratha Shekar

Conversation with the sea

Things are changing, said I, to the sea
The tide comes in, I whisper my plea
Going here and yon, no answers I see
Things are changing, the sea said to me
Nothing is visible, yet I sit here and wait
A spiritual thing, I anticipate
My eyes are blind to his medical fate
Never to be visible but God has a date
The curtains go up, we must see the show
The stage is being set, of this I know
A manic feeling, back and forth I go
Close the curtain, the show I forego
By the water's edge, I take my place
These thoughts I see, his name and face
Upon the sand my tears will trace
By the water's edge, nothing but space.

-Posted by Namratha Shekar

The dance I sing

Curled in the belly of an ancient goddess
I paint my songs in colors of darkness
Diamond shaped notes dance in sadness
It's my sacred place inside my own madness

Stripped of reality I retreat to dwell
I become the song that I sing so well
The wings of my soul will wear a veil
While chanting a story and telling a tale

My melody glides in the clouds to soar
Tuck me away to awake no more
I feel at peace with this metaphor
Inside yon belly; she's the goddess of yore

-Posted by Namratha Shekar

Un Omicidio.

Click here to read the previous episode.

2. The Night It Happened...!

It is raining heavily.  The humungous clock above the old building declared it is 12 in the midnight. It’s an empty boulevard drenched in the rain pouring down hard. It has been almost an hour since the rain started. As usual all the drainages have overflown and the water is getting logged on road, with nowhere else to flow to.
It’s a small shop which is open mostly during nights, when all the other shops are closed. Having a broken roof and a patched wall, it acts as a perfect disguise for all the illegal things that they do here. But it also has some essentials like water and few eatable. During night it is the only shop around which is open in the surroundings making it an obvious choice for the people to get in.
There is nobody except an old man walking, who is moving as if he has forgotten where to go. He seems lost and tired. His face covered with an old and torn out rag. Wrinkles on his face analogous to the number of years he has lived. Everything except his eyes seems to have lost enthusiasm. His eyes although has a sense of zeal. If you just look at his eyes you would love them, for their sheer focus and intensity. It’s as though his eyes are some sort of energy sources that it keeps him going.
He had this thing in his left hand. At first it appeared as though it is a part of his hand covered in shabby cloth. It was only when the old man reached the shop, Antonio, the shop owner could make out it is not a part of his hand. The sight of it started to give Antonio chilly feelings even though it was raining cats and dogs outside.
The old man had a hint of smile on his face, almost a shadow of grin. It was something the old man did then, that made Antonio scream. But nothing came out of his mouth but a frail cry. The thing in disguise under his arms was a sharp knife, shining in the little night that the shop could offer. And the old man was all set to swing the knife in his direction. Like a Lion which is taunting its prey, once knowing that the prey can’t move, old man was teasing him.
The night was getting into darker hours. Antonio could do nothing but look at the old man in utter distaste. Old man was pacing inside the shop with perhaps an intention to find something. After sometime he stopped and he was now looking straight into the eyes of Antonio, the shopkeeper. It was then that Antonio wished he had never set foot in Bengaluru. The kind of expression a man wears when he realizes that it’s going to be the end. He had already started to think about his family, his wife, son and the lovely daughter who made him want to live more. But it appeared as though it was all going to end.
‘A refugee Italian man was killed’ will make a short story in newspapers; no one would give a damn about it. Police will raid the shop, the same police whom he bribes every day to stay off, will get in and make a mess of his shop. The world will know about the things he sold in the shop. Perhaps the news won’t be just ‘A refugee Italian man was killed’, it would be ‘A refugee drug dealer was brutally murdered’.
The news would go on and describe how Antonio managed to sell drugs under the guise of a small shop. His beloved wife would know. Instead of mourning she will detest him. She would remember him for the rest of her life as man who sold drugs. Antonio struggled in desperate attempts to make things right. And then in a flash his eyes lit up.
                                                              ***
I came home late that day. It was raining and the traffic was way beyond the normal on road, the memories of the face yet fresh on my mind. Although I got it clarified from the commuter sitting next to me that he was not yelling my name, it was obvious for me that I had known that face. For a moment I thought I have known this face forever.  The instinctive fear that the mere face of that person evoked, put me in deep thinking. It was like watching a movie and then recognizing the actor in the movie in real life when you bump onto him, except my feeling was not as cheerful as meeting an actor can be.
Malvika, my wife opened the door on second bell. She was as lively as she is ever, full of life. Radiating absolute bliss from her eyes, she stood with her arms held wide open for me to get submerged. For a moment I felt like as if I have forgotten everything. Once I am in her arms, the world seems to collapse and fade away. But this incident took about an hour of her asking if everything was OK, running behind me. She would start the stories from her office and at intervals she would ask if I was fine.
I resisted telling her; partly because I was shy, she would laugh and other reason being I was not clear why I was afraid. If it’s just another face looking at me then it’s rather a thing to laugh at than to be afraid of. It’s the unknown fear that the face has created made me feel terrified. As every other thing, I ended up telling it to her. I can hardly resist telling everything to her. Her fingers in my hairs, searching for something not present there, me lying on her lap. At first she laughed and then looking at my face she decided better than to laugh at me.
It seemed forever before she opened her mouth, and when she did, I knew things she is going to say is not going to make me happy. When she had finished, it was raining again, with more intensity this time. Her hands around my shoulders clenched hard. I sat there with utter dismayedness.
                                                   ***
Antonio had an idea now. In all these moments he had never spent a thought about actually confronting the old man! He seemed weak and although he is not seen around often, he didn’t seem he could stand a fight. Antonio did not give much of time for his newly bred thought to grow and went onto execute it. He grabbed hold of an iron rod lying beneath him and tried to reach the man. The moment when he reached nearer, he came to know! His eyes wide open he kept on looking at him. The old man had a smile on his face. Now that the distance was less, Antonio could clearly see the man.

-By Srinidhi VN.

ಮೂರ್ಕಥೆ

1) ಪಶ್ಚಾತ್ತಾಪ
      ಮೊನ್ನೆ ತಾನೇ ಖಾದರ್ ಸಾಬರ ಲೆಗ್ ಫ್ಯಾಷನ್ ಶೂ ಅಂಗಡೀಲಿ ನೂರಿಪ್ಪತ್ತೈದು ನಿಮಿಷ ಚೌಕಾಶಿ ಮಾಡಿ ಕೊನೆಗೆ ಒಲ್ಲದ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದಲೇ ಸಾವಿರದ ನೋಟು ಕೊಟ್ಟು ತಂದಿದ್ದ ಝಗಮಗಿಸುವ 'ಬ್ಲಾಕ್' ಕಂಪನಿಯ ಫಾರ್ಮಲ್ ಶೂಗಳು ನಿನ್ನೆಯೊಂದೇ ದಿನ ಹಾಕುವ ಭಾಗ್ಯ ಕರುಣಿಸಿ ಇವತ್ತು ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ ಚಪ್ಪಲಿ ಸ್ಟ್ಯಾಂಡಿನಿಂದ ದಿಢೀರನೆ ಕಣ್ಮರೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದು ನೋಡಿ ಒಂದು ಕ್ಷಣ ಎದೆ ಧಸಕ್ಕೆಂದಿತ್ತು. ಆಫೀಸಿಗೆ ಹಾಕಿಕೊಂಡು ಹೋಗಲು ಬೇರೆ ಶೂ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಸಂದಿಗ್ಧತೆ, ಎರಡು ದಿನದ ಸಂಬಳ ನೀರಲ್ಲಿ ಹೋಮವಾಯಿತೆನ್ನುವ ಬೇಸರ ಇವೆಲ್ಲಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ ಕದ್ದವನಾರೋ ಅದೆಲ್ಲೋ ನನ್ನೆಡೆಗೆ ಹೇವರಿಕೆಯ ನಗು ಬೀರುತ್ತಾ ಕುಳಿತಿರಬಹುದು ಎನ್ನುವ ಕಲ್ಪನೆಯೇ ಮೈಯೆಲ್ಲಾ ಉರಿ ಹತ್ತಿಸಿತ್ತು. ಹಾಗೇ ಆಗಿದ್ದಾಯಿತು ಎಂದು ಆಫೀಸು ಮುಗಿಸಿ ಸಾಯಂಕಾಲ ನಾನು ಮನೆಯ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಬರುವುದಕ್ಕೂ, ಮೆಟ್ಟಿಲ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಕೂತಿದ್ದ ಹೊಸದಾಗಿ ಬಂದಿದ್ದ ಪರಿಚಯವಿಲ್ಲದ ಎದುರುಮನೆಯ ಅಂಕಲ್ ಬಳಿ ಅವರ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಮಗಳು ಸೂಚನೆಯೇ ಕೊಡದೆ "ಅಪ್ಪಾ ಈ ಶೂ ನಂಗೆ" ಎಂದು ಮನೆಯೊಳಗಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದ ನನ್ನವೇ ಶೂಗಳನ್ನು ತನ್ನ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಕಾಲುಗಳಿಗೆ ಹಾಕಿಕೊಂಡು ಮುದ್ದಾಗಿ ನಡೆದುಬರುವುದಕ್ಕೂ ಸರಿಯಾಯಿತು. ಒಂದು ಕ್ಷಣ ಕೊಳೆತುಹೋದ ಪಚ್ಚಬಾಳೆಯಂತಾದ ಅವರ ಮುಖ ನೋಡಿ ನಗುತ್ತಾ "ಏನಂಕಲ್ ಹೊಸಾ ಶೂ ತಗೊಂಡ್ರಾ?, ಚೆನಾಗಿದೆ" ಎಂದು ಮನೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಹೋದೆ. ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ ಏಳುವಾಗ ಚಪ್ಪಲಿ ಸ್ಟ್ಯಾಂಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತೆ ನನ್ನ ಶೂಗಳು ಝಗಮಗಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು...

2) ಅರಿವು
"ಅವಲಕ್ಕಿ ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೇದು, ಹಾಳಾಗಿರೋ ಹಾಗಿದೆ, ನಂಗೆ ಬೇಡ" ಎಂದೆ. "ಹೊತ್ತುಹೊತ್ತಿಗೂ ಬಿಸಿಬಿಸಿ ಬೇಕು ಅಂದ್ರೆ ನಾನೆಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಹೋಗ್ಲಿ?, ನಿನಗೆ ಕಷ್ಟ ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಏನು ಅಂತ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ ಅದ್ಕೇ ಹಿಂಗಾಡ್ತೀಯ" ಅಂತ ಅಮ್ಮ ಬೇಸರದಿಂದ ಅಡಿಗೆ ಮಾಡಲು ಹೊರಟಳು. ಇತ್ತೀಚೆಗೆ ಯಾಕೋ ಊಟವೇ ಸೇರುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಜೊತೆಗೆ ನಿದ್ರಾಹೀನತೆ ಬೇರೆ. ವೈದ್ಯರು ಗಟ್ಟಿಮುಟ್ಟಾಗಿದ್ದೀಯಾ ಎಂದರೂ ಯಾಕೋ ಒಂಥರಾ ಅನುಕ್ಷಣವೂ ಹಿಂಸೆ. ಕಾಲೇಜಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಠ ಕೇಳಲೂ ಆಸಕ್ತಿಯಿಲ್ಲ. "ನಿನ್ನ ವಯಸ್ಸಿನ ಹುಡುಗರು ಎಷ್ಟು ಉತ್ಸಾಹದಿಂದಿರಬೇಕು, ನೀನೊಳ್ಳೆ ಕಟ್ಟಿಹಾಕಿದ ಎಮ್ಮೆಯ ತರ ಇದ್ದೀಯಲ್ಲ, ನಿನಗಿಂತ ನಾನೇ ಪರವಾಗಿಲ್ಲ" ಅಂತ ಅಪ್ಪ ಹೇಳಿದಾಗಲೆಲ್ಲಾ ಸಿಟ್ಟು ಬಂದು "ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ತಿನ್ನೋ ಆಹಾರ ಶುದ್ಧವಾಗಿರ್ತಿತ್ತು, ನಮ್ಮ ಕರ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಈಗ ಎಲ್ಲದರಲ್ಲೂ ಕಲಬೆರಕೆ" ಅಂತ ಉತ್ತರ ನೀಡಿದರೂ ಯಾಕೋ ಈಗೀಗ ಉತ್ಸಾಹಹೀನತೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಜಾಸ್ತಿಯೇ ಚಿಂತೆಯುಂಟುಮಾಡಿತ್ತು. ಇಷ್ಟರ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಅಪ್ಪನಿಗೆ ಹುಶಾರು ತಪ್ಪಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ಅವರ ಕೆಲಸವಾದ ಮನೆಮನೆಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಪಿಗ್ಮಿ ಸಂಗ್ರಾಹಣೆ ಮಾಡುವುದು ನನ್ನ ಹೆಗಲಿಗೆ ಬಿತ್ತು. ಬೆಳಗ್ಗಿನಿಂದ ಸಂಜೆಯವರೆಗೆ ನಡೆದೂ ನಡೆದೂ "ಅಪ್ಪ ಪ್ರತಿದಿನ ಇಷ್ಟೊಂದು ಕಷ್ಟಪಡ್ತಾರಾ" ಅಂತ ಯೋಚಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಸುಸ್ತಾಗಿ ಮನೆಗೆ ಬಂದವನಿಗೆ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಯಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲಾ ಚಿಟ್ಟೆ ಹಾರಾಡಿದಂತೆ ಸಂಕಟ. ತಡೆಯಲಾಗದೇ ಪಾತ್ರೆಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಸಾಂಬಾರಿಗೆ ಅನ್ನ ಕಲಸಿ ಗಬಗಬ ತಿಂದಾಗ ಅದರ ರುಚಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ರೀತಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿಯವರೆಗೂ ಆಗದಂತಹ ದಿವ್ಯಾನುಭವವಾಯ್ತು. ಹಾಗೇ ಸೋಫಾದ ಮೇಲೆ ಕಾಲುಚಾಚಿದವನಿಗೆ ಕಂಡುಕೇಳರಿಯದಂತಹ ಪ್ರಚಂಡ ನಿದ್ರೆ. ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ ಅಮ್ಮ ಎಬ್ಬಿಸಿ "ಆ ಸಾಂಬಾರು ಯಾಕೋ ತಿಂದೆ??, ಹಾಳಾಗಿತ್ತು, ಎಸೀಬೇಕು ಅಂತ ಇಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೆ" ಅಂದಾಗ ಒಂದು ಮುಗುಳ್ನಗೆ ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಡಿತು....

3) ದೃಷ್ಟಿಕೋನ
"ಈಗ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಗಾಡಿ ಓಡಿಸ್ಲಿಕ್ಕೆ ಭಾರೀ ಖುಷಿಯಾಗುತ್ತೆ ಮಾರಾಯ್ರೇ, ಚಂದ ಮಾಡಿದಾರೆ ರಸ್ತೆ, ದಿನಕ್ಕೆರಡು ಸಲ ಬಸ್ಸೂ ಬರುತ್ತೆ" ಅಂತ ಆಟೋ ಚಾಲಕ ಸುರೇಶಣ್ಣ ಬೀರಿದ ದೇಶಾವರಿ ನಗುವಿಗೆ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯಿಸುವ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಉಹ್ಞುಂ, ಯಾವುದನ್ನೂ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿಲ್ಲ, ನಾನು ಮೊದಲಬಾರಿಗೆ ಹತ್ತಿ ಕೈಮುರಿದುಕೊಂಡ ಪೇರಲೆಮರ, ಮುಂಗಾರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಜಂಗುಳಿಯ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಸೆಲೆಬ್ರಿಟಿಯಾಗಿರುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಹಳ್ಳದ ಪಕ್ಕದ ಮಾವಿನಮರ, ಕಿಟ್ಟಣ್ಣನ ಮನೆಹಿಂದಿನ ನೇರಳೆಮರ, ನಮಗಿಂತ ಕರಡಿಗಳಿಗೇ ಡಾರ್ಲಿಂಗ್ ಆಗಿದ್ದ ಹೆಬ್ಬಲಸಿನ ಮರ, ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಇರಲೇ ಇಲ್ಲವೇನೋ ಎಂಬಂತೆ ಮಾಯವಾಗಿದ್ದವು. ನಾನು ಕೂತಿರುವ ಮೋಟಾರಿನ ಕೆಳಗಿರುವ ಕರಿಬಕಾಸುರನ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಗೆ ಆಹಾರವಾಗಿದ್ದ ಅವುಗಳ ಶವದ ಮೇಲೆ ಮೆರವಣಿಗೆ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿರುವ ನನ್ನ ಮುಖ ನನಗೆ ಆಟೋವಿನ ಎದುರುಗನ್ನಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಯಮನ ತರಹ ಕಾಣಿಸಿತು. ಹಾಗೇ ಇತ್ತೀಚೆಗೆ ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧವಾಗಿರುವ ನಮ್ಮೂರ ಜಲಪಾತದ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಬಂದಾಗ ಸಾಲುಗಟ್ಟಿ ನಿಂತಿದ್ದ ಪ್ರವಾಸಿ ವಾಹನಗಳನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ಗಾಬರಿಯಾಯಿತು. ಹತ್ತಿರ ಹೋಗುವವರೆಗೂ ಕಿವಿಗಡಚಿಕ್ಕುವಂತೆ ಕೂಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದರೂ ತುಸುನಾಚಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ನೂರುಗಟ್ಟಲೆ ಮರಗಳ ಮರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅಡಗಿರುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ನಮ್ಮೂರ 'ಅಬ್ಬಿ'ಗೂ ನಾಚಿಕೆ ಬಿಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂದರ್ಥವಾಯಿತು. ಹಾಗೇ ಬೇಸರದಿಂದ ಅಜ್ಜಿಮನೆಯೆದುರು ಹೋಗಿ ಶೂ ಬಿಚ್ಚುತ್ತಿದ್ದವನನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ಓಡಿ ಬಂದ ದೊಡ್ಡಮ್ಮ "ಬಾರೋ ಹುಡುಗಾ, ರಸ್ತೆ ಆದ್ಮೇಲೆ ಬರ್ಲೇ ಇಲ್ಲ ನೀನು, 'ಅಬ್ಬಿಗುಂಡಿ' ದೆಸೆಯಿಂದ ನಮಗೆಲ್ಲಾ ಶುಕ್ರದೆಸೆ ಬಂತು ನೋಡು. ಮೊನ್ನೆ ಮೇಲಿನ್ಮನೆ ಹಿರಿಯಮ್ಮಂಗೆ ಹುಶಾರಿಲ್ಲ ಆದಾಗ ಮನೇವರೆಗೂ ಶೃಂಗೇರಿ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆ ಆಂಬುಲೆನ್ಸ್ ಬಂದಿತ್ತು. ಮುಂಚೆ ಆಗಿದ್ರೆ ಆ ಕಾಡುದಾರೀಲಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಗೆ ಸೇರಿಸಿ ಉಳಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳೋಕಾಗ್ತಿತ್ತಾ?. ಈಗ ಪೇಪರ್, ಹಾಲು, ಪೋಸ್ಟು ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಮನೆಗೇ ಬರುತ್ತೆ. ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಯಾಕೆ ಕೆಲಸ ಕಾರ್ಯ ಇಲ್ದೆ ಅಲೀತಿದ್ದ ಸೀನಣ್ಣ ಈಗ ಫಾಲ್ಸ್ ಹತ್ರ ಕಾಫಿ-ಟೀ-ಪಾನಿಪೂರಿ ಅಂಗಡಿ ಇಟ್ಟು ದುಡಿಯೋಕೆ ಶುರುಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ನಮ್ಮೂರಿಗೆ ರಸ್ತೆ ಬಂದು ಒಂದು ಕ್ರಾಂತೀನೇ ಆಯ್ತು" ಎಂದಾಗ ತಲೆಯೆತ್ತಿದ ನನ್ನ ಕಣ್ಣುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾತ್ರೆಗಟ್ಟಲೆ ಗೊಂದಲವಿತ್ತು....

- ಸಂಪತ್ ಸಿರಿಮನೆ

..............ಏನಾಗಬಹುದು ಗೆಳತಿ ???

 ..............ಏನಾಗಬಹುದು ಗೆಳತಿ ???

ವರ್ಣಿಸಲಶಕ್ತನಾಗಿರುವೆ ಗೆಳತಿ
ನಿನ್ನ ಭ್ರೂಭ್ರಮದ ಅನೂಹ್ಯತೆಯ;
ಮೇಲೆ ಮೇಲೆ ಮುಖವ ಬಡಿದು ಸವರುತ್ತಿರುವ
ನಿನ್ನ ಮುಂಗುರುಳೊಳಗೆಲ್ಲೋ ಸೆಳೆಯಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ
ನಿನ್ನೆದೆ ಬಡಿತದೊಳಗೆಲ್ಲೋ ಮಿಳಿತವಾಗಿ ಹೋಗಿರುವೆ
ನಿನ್ನ ನಗುವನ್ನು ನೋಡಲಾಗುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ ಮನದೊಡತೀ,
ನಿನ್ನದೇ ಕಾಡಿಗೆ ನನ್ನ ನೋಟವ ಸಾಲ ಪಡೆದಿದೆ
ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಸೆಳೆದದ್ದು ನಿನ್ನ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆಯಿರಬಹುದಾ ಹುಡುಗಿ?
ಅಥವಾ ಅದನ್ನು ಆಕರ್ಷಕವಾಗಿಸಿದ್ದ ನಿನ್ನ ಗೆಜ್ಜೆಯಾ?
ನೀನು ಕಣ್ಣೆವೆಯಿಕ್ಕುವ ರವ ಕೇಳಲು ನನ್ನ
ಉಸಿರನ್ನೂ ಶಾಂತವಾಗಿಸಲು ಅಣಿಯಾಗಿರುವ
ಅರೆಹುಚ್ಚ ನಾನು
ನಾನು ನಿನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಲೀನವಾಗಿ ಒಂದು ಸಾವಿರ ವರ್ಷವಾಯಿತಾ?
ಹಾಗಾದರೆ ನನ್ನ ರೆಪ್ಪೆಗಳು ರಂಪ ಮಾಡುವುದನ್ನು
ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿಯೂ ಆಗಿರುವುದು ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಕಾಲ
ನಾನು ಕಬ್ಬಿಣದಂತಾಗಿಹೋಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ ಹುಡುಗಿ
ನಿನ್ನದೇ ತಪ್ಪು, ನೀನು ಆಯಸ್ಕಾಂತವಾಗಿದ್ದಿಯಲ್ಲ
ನನ್ನ ಮುಖ ಹೇಗಿದೆಯೇನೋ ನೆನಪಿಲ್ಲ,
ಕನ್ನಡಿಯೆದುರು ನಿಂತಾಗಲೂ ಕಾಣಿಸುವುದು ನೀನೇ
ನೀನಿಲ್ಲದಾಗ ನೀನಿದ್ದಂತೆ ನಾ ಕಂಡ ಕನಸುಗಳ ಕೊನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ
ನನ್ನ ಒಂಟಿತನವು ಕರಗಿ ಕಣ್ಣಿಂದ ಜಾರಿ ಹೋಗಿದೆ
ಒಂಟಿಯಲ್ಲ ನಾನೀಗ; ಅಲ್ಲ ಜಂಟಿಯೂ
ತೇವವಿಲ್ಲದೇ ನನ್ನ ರೆಪ್ಪೆಗಳೀಗ ಮರಳುಗಾಡು
ಅಕಸ್ಮಾತ್ ನೀ ಸಿಕ್ಕರೆ ಖುಷಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಂಗಾರು ಬರಬಹುದು
ಯಾಕೋ ಈಗೀಗ ಹುಚ್ಚು ಕಲ್ಪನೆಗಳನ್ನೇ
ಕಚ್ಚಾ ಕವನವಾಗಿಸುವ ಎಂದೆನಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ
ನಿನ್ನ ಕಲ್ಪನೆಯಲ್ಲೇ ಅರ್ಧ ಸತ್ತಿರುವೆ ನಾನು
ನೀನೆದುರು ಬಂದರೆ................

                                    - ಸಂಪತ್ ಸಿರಿಮನೆ

Un Omicidio.

It's a particular smell that hits me when I enter this place. The smell itself, I feel, has a sense of being lost. Dry air, overflown drainage, the flowers on women’s body standing all over the street, with a decorated smile on their face, waiting for their customers. It's all  or one of those that causes the smell. 

 There's a sense of urgency for everyone here. Right from the BMTC buses moving with a perception that road is empty and can move along all over the road to people on bikes, this place is always moving. Right there, somewhere in between these busy faces that I see every day sitting from the office vehicle, I saw this face. At first I was glancing like the way I do every day when the bus stops at every signal, searching my surroundings with no particular interest of finding anything.

 I stared at the teenager on the bike, restless that he was struck in traffic, the guy on the bike, what appears to be his girlfriend as his pillion rider, the school kids, probably heading back, finishing their tuition,

Perhaps a newly married couple, or not married who cares, all energetic stud with his muscular body being shown to its fullest, how primitive we still are in terms of sex, after all the civilization that we boast we have attained!

 I see young pretty girls with all their body covered except for their eyes, I love this. Since eyes can't hide what you want to hide through the rest of the body. And there's this crowded BMTC for which it is always natural to be filled like a paper bag. I was just moving my eyes from the bus to the car next to the bus when this person caught my attention!

Not an exquisite look, although the face had an I-have-seen-this-person thing attached to it. My eyes rolled back onto BMTC. Although the person seems to have touched a string or two in my memory, I didn't think in the beginning that the person is actually looking at me. I assumed that the person was looking at the stud on the bike right in between the bus I was in, and the BMTC, but it turned out that the stare was aimed at me and I later realized that I should have stopped things right there and then.

 It was all clear now and the person on BMTC was looking all furious now. With tongue out and eyes red, the face reminded me of all the demons from scary dreams in the childhood. It was as if only the face has been cut and placed there in the window and nothing in the surroundings seemed to suit the attire the face was associated with.

Now I could almost see the face cursing and trying to put the head out of the window, perhaps in an attempt to reach me. Thankfully, people around were all fixed on the person doing the tantrums that they never saw who the face was looking at.

I was almost terrified now. But still somehow managed to keep on looking at the face. I guess I was into some stupid game already with the person. I thought if I keep on looking at the face I'd win eventually a game which I didn't even know a thing about.

Right when the timer at the signal hit zero a horrific thing happened. The face now was cursing out loud and probably was trying hard to reach me. Then it went on to scream and shouted out loud my name with a tone that still makes me scared.

The bus I was in took a sharp turn and now I was closer to the BMTC. Then in that closer view I could see that the face was missing nose and all that was left there was just a couple of holes, adding to the horror that the face was creating.

 Now I knew, the reason why I felt De ja vu. I knew the person and something cold started to rise from the rear part of my backbone...!