Some nights cannot be forgetten Page 2

After riding on the engine for an hour and then suddenly Sumeet, tapped on my back. As luck would be ever against Sumeet it started to rain. That made all the money in the plastic bag wet. I thought we reached the spot so I parked the bike at the side. He got off the bike and looked at me. I gave a confused look in return. "I will go from here, please don't come with me...you have done a lot for me....please wait here" Sumeet said his voice was shivering both out of fear and wet rains.
I restarted the bike and held his hand. "Sumeet don't be ridiculous it is not safe for you to do this alone.....please shut up and follow what i say now on............." I had a simple idea for Sumeet to take me with him and if there is just one man with no gun but a knife we can attempt to catch him. After all it was 10000k dollars at stake. Sumeet did not take my idea, he saw a cab coming, he pushed me back. I was almost imbalanced on my bike and was about to fall. Before I could get control, Sumeet got into the cab and took a sharp turn. I followed the cab but lost it in multiple turns.
Sumeet returned in a different cab. I was making sure I was at the same place that he had left me. My bike engine was warm however Sumeet would not know that I followed him. He got out of the cab, I paid the driver the money and the cab left. Sumeet hugged me and started to cry. I was not sure what to do, luckily I carried a bottle of water which I offered him. He drank the bottle of water. His clothes were wet and so were mine. I drove the two wheeler slowly, and dropped him at the hotel gate.His wife hugged him and they cried again.
There after the whole trip went very boring and frustrating. Sumeet made up his mind to not return to his country again. I tried t make him understand that we need to complain, however Sumeet did not agree with me. He was very scared that the man who knew about when he arrived, where he lived can easliy kill him. After another lifeless week, Sumeet, his wife and there 1 year old kid left India. I accompanied them to the airport. It was not a trip that Sumeet would remember. For years even I tried to forget it. But as I mentioned, some memories just don't get erased and a little trigger was enough to make you remember the whole episode as if it happened yesterday. The trigger for this story was the 100$ bill that I had kept in a book to dry up. One bill still remained with me..............................

Some nights cannot be forgetten

It seems that human memory does not have the same cleaning procedure as a computer would. Even if the files are old they just do not happen to delete. Very old incidents some times just open up when you see something that reminds you of that incident. Sumeet was a good friend of mine and we shared almost every school and class. We also played, partied together until 1992 when he decided to go abroad for studies.
It was heart breaking incident for both of us. I continued studying in India while Sumeet completed his education in abroad and also then got a good job there. In the early years of 1998 where email was started to pick up in India Sumeet would send me emails on my newly formed email address. His email would tell me that he had hit gold and now lives a rich life. It always made me happy for him. His news about marriage and his first baby all was communicated to me via the same email.Then one day he sent an email that he is going to be in town for 3 weeks.
Sumeet arrived on the airport and I was impressed to see him grow in to such a big man. His wife was not Indian, however looked good in the Indian outfit. I hugged him and after sharing some famous childhood lines dropped him at the nearby hotel where he had decided to stop. A thousand times I asked him and a thousand and one time he declined my offer to come at my place. I was not that happy but then it was not that bad since the hotel was an hour drive. That night I was going through some of my P.H.D notes when suddenly my phone rang.
I picked it up and other side was Sumeet who was gasping for air. I was not sure and asked him to drink water or settle down.After a couple of minutes Sumeet said "I had an anonymous call, the person sounded very serious he wanted 10000k US dollars in two hours, else he will kill all of my family, .." it was difficult to control him and I felt bad I was not with him. But nothing was still bad, I asked Sumeet to stay and calm and promise him to be at the hotel within an hours time. I rushed out kick started my cousins bike and left.
Sumeet met me below at the hotel lobby, he was carrying the money. "Lets just go and give him the money...........I don't trust Indian police or security......he gave me the address please let us go....." Before I could educate my friend that his methods are wrong he was on my bike pinching me start fast as he murmured an address. I thought it was a very bad idea but then seeing Sumeet just did not say anything and started the engine again.

Cup of tea page 2

Meena's father mentioned Jai that he still works to support his family. Meena's father worked in a mill as a supervisor, he mostly had night duties and would live late and come early morning. Meena's mother made a tasty sweet dish, which Jai and Meen's father both gulped in as if they were hungry for daya. Both mother and daughter watch the two in worry. Jai cell phone started to vibrate he picked it up and it was Radhika on the other side. "Sweetie you know you have to come to our house and not at my hostel......." In reality this info was a bit misplaced by Jai in his brains. Radhika lived in a hostel and her parents lived on the outskirts of the city. It was a hour and half drive on a bike. Jai, quickly got up and did not converse much to both Meena's Dad or Mom. They wanted to speak with Jai more but he made up his mind. Rich farmer's daughter Radhika is always a better choice than Meena. He would soon let Meena know that and get away from this relationship.
It took him 2 hours to reach the farm house. He read the time on his watch and it was 9pm. He was a lot late than he anticipated. At the entrance was a dog tied, that seemed like hungry to eat anything and everything if he been freed. He walked in scared of what would happen next. He entered the bungalow that stood besides the large farm.There were so many lights in that one house as there would be in a small village. Solar panels installed on the terrace suggested that the family had some modern science knowledge with them. Radhika quickly greeted him, so did her mother. They had prepared a large Supper for him. Radhika said "Jai, my father goes to the city everyday for some paper work, else we really feel no need to work, with such a large farm and so much of money, my family makes enough" Radhika's mother stood besides Jai as he gulped in some food and prayed that he do not have an upset stomach tomorrow with so much food in one evening. Just then a man entered the house, Jai looked at him, and gave a smile as Radhika introduced him to be her father. His smile shrunk, his face got red and then he smiled again. Jai looked down and continued eating. It seems he did not want to look at the man's face directly. He was amazed with his luck, the man standing in front of Jai had seen Jai with Meena.
After the dinner, Radhika's mother explained Jai and Radhika on how the marriage works and why she loves her husband. She also told Jai that he should care about her daughter and this relation needs to be a bigger success than her marriage. All this while Jai was busy thinking what would Radhika's Dad say. Radhika's mother and Radhika left to sleep and then the moment came. It seems like the end was near, Jai saw Radhika's Dad approaching him with a cup of tea. "Son lets talk about something that I know, and I know that you know that I know, but then even you know something that I did not want anyone to know........but then I want to know, what you really have known..........." Jai took the cup of tea from the man, and offered him an hanker chief to wipe off his forehead. Jai then stood and said "I love your daughter Radhika....I have taken my decision............now you have seen me with Meena and you would not like a guy like me to marry your daughter Radhika............."
"Who said that ?" the man aksed and continued, "if you love Radhika it is alright, but remember that then you will have to tell the other girl. I don't want you to do a mistake that I did years back............"
Radhika'a father was about to leave when Jai said "Thanks Dad, little would have I known I would have brought you with me on my bike............." The man smiled, both his daughters Meena and Radhika had apparently chosen the same man........................

Cup of tea

..............placing the cup of tea on the table he asked again "Are you sure, they want to meet me..." Jai was holding Meena's hand now. Meena with her very beautiful eyes and neatly curved eye brows, her smile that made a perfect symmetric curve. "Of course dumbo............and please wear some good clothes and not the one that you wear when you meet me. "You said you love the way I dress.............and you use to like the torn jeans.........." Meena was giving an angry look, Jai then looked down.
Meena after some time stood up and picked her purse to leave. "5pm sharp remember I will be waiting..............." Meena left on her scooty while Jai waved her. When she passed away enough to be not seen by Jai, Jai took his cell phone from his pocket and switched it on. Then he quickly called and said "The lecture is over, sorry but you know I cannot switched on the cell phone during the lecture........." Jai continued to talk and walked towards the nearby cab. He sat in the cab and the cab left the scene.
At a very quiet garden a girl sat reading sms on her cell phone. Most of them seemed to be from a person who loved her. She smiled after reading every sms and then looked upwards and blushed again. She heard a cab arrive, and out came Jai. Radhika was university topper and met Jai in her college when he worked there as a lecturer.After getting out of the college, Jai still remained in contact with Radhika and soon they started to love each other's company. Jai walked to Radhika, she looked around quickly hugged him and kissed him on his cheeks. Then she sat back on the garden seat, Jai gave her a smle and slowly placed himself at the corner of the seat. Radhika moved towards him and slowly held his hand. "Jai, its been about 2 years now and I think it is time............."
Radhika left the garden and Jai was left in a fix. He was not sure what to do. Handling relationships with two different girls for last 14 months, he knew this day would come but was just not sure when...............he was in problem now, and it seemed even God would not help him.
Next day he made two entries in his diary, and then he prayed to God. Evening 5 pm with Meena and 8pm with Radhika. He was not sure what he would do, but one thing was clear that things had gone far away from his hand. He dressed up nicely and reached Meena's place a little after 5pm. The apartment was a fairly large one and it seemed was more populated by the upper middle class. He tooke to the elevator which carried him to the fourth floor. Jai rang the bell and now, was greeted by Meena. She quickly pulled him in. Just then her Father came from one of the inner rooms. He was a man in his early 50s, he was wearing a thick sweater probably to protect him from the air conditioner that was blowing in full power. "Have a seat son............Meena's mother is making a special meal for you. She is very excited to meet you." Meena's father welcome Jai.
Jai was sweating and his conscious was eating him from inside, he was not sure how the evening would end...............what he knew was that he was not doing things in the right way.....................