Birthday Gift

Welcome to New India

Bastard, it has been two years now that you have completed your MBA. Now you are 25 year old man. Have some shame. Ride away from this ghost of becoming a civil servant or else everything would be lost. I have already spent too much of money on you and won’t continue doing so all through your life. Why don’t you look for some job in private sector? In this time of inflation when prices are going sky high, it’s difficult to arrange for daily meals and you are asking me to give you more money. Take a look at your sister. I have to get her married. From where I will arrange to all the expenses, I have no idea. In any case I can’t look for support from you. I am tired of everything. Now, I can’t give you any money. You better look for some work to take care of your expenses.

The above speech is given by my revered father to honour me on the occasion of failing in the main examination of the civil services. People who are there to listen to his speech included me, my mother – who is a house wife. She sometimes look towards me and at times at my father, but doesn’t utter a word as my father is going mad with anger. Dad is wearing a half pant and a string is hanging from his knickers reaching to his knees. His voice echoes in the entire hall when he speaks with high pitch and the drawstrings of his knicker swings along with his belly. And then there is my elder sister, Richa - who is two years older than me. She is M.A in English. Quite beautiful, and proud. From past one year my father is looking for a suitable groom for her. Whenever dad finds someone suitable she oppose to that – as she believes that her groom should be more beautiful than her, must be rich and they should travel to various places. But he must never ask her to do any household work. If he dares to do that, she will make his life hell. Considering the above considerations I don’t think she will ever get married.

Dad is unnecessarily troubling me with the discussion about the expenses of her marriage. I don’t know why! But he never talks about my marriage. Is he intended to keep me single forever? I am also young and do want to get married. But no, according to Lord Krishna saying Keep doing your work and don’t worry about the result, you will get your reward at appropriate time. So I must keep up with my work, but I am afraid, if the reward may be to delayed. May be in my old age –only God knows…

Well so, we have a small family. My father finishes his speech and moves on to take bath. And now a new speech on television – our prime minister’s address to the nation from Red Fort on the occasion of Independence day. My elder sister who is sitting relaxed on sofa watching television, amplifies the sound, and now on today morning, 15th August, on Thursday, 9:30 am, we are watching and listening to Mr. Prime Minister who is talking about inflation. He attributes inflation to recession in western countries and like always gives wrong assurance to the people to bring down the rising prices. Before he would continue any further, power cut, and TV shut. Picking on occasion mom goes inside the house. She returns back with some money which she put into my shirt’s pocket.

How much? I whispered in my Mom’s ear.

Ten thousand. Mom replied in slow voice.

But Mom it’s not enough, I need more, at least fifteen thousand. I said.

Sikandar! Not anymore. Can’t you see your father is so angry. There are so many other household expenses. Mom replied angrily and closed the top button of my shirt.

These days everything is so costly and only ten thousand rupees. I muttered and took out the money from my shirt and put it into my jeans.

I must leave before dad finishes up with his bath otherwise he will start again with the same dialogue, I thought. I took permission from mom and sis to leave. Mom advised me to study more thoroughly. Mom and sis embraced me and allowed me to leave. My mind was still occupied with the bitter talks of my dad. After all it is not an easy job to become a civil servant. You have to apply so much brain. But now my mind is not working at all. Dad said so many things to me this morning. Then I took a bus and lost in my world. I came to Ghaziabad 20 km from my home. Ghaziabad is a big industrial city in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Closely located to the capital city New Delhi. It is also acquiring the taste of a metropolitan city. After leaving bus I took an auto and reached St. Mary school, situated in West Model Town. West Model Town is a posh area of this city. The owner of St. Mary High School, Mr. Narsingh Arora who is 70 years old, is a very social and kind hearted man. I have good relationship with him that’s why he allowed me to stay in Arora house. A small house located adjacent to the school. It has two rooms of 14×18 sq ft each. There is a big corridor covering both rooms. 5× 8 sq ft Kitchen adjacent to the room. Its door opens in the corridor, right in front of the corridor there is a 20×30 sq ft. lawn filled with green grass. The front door of this Arora house opens right in the front of the main lawn of the school. At times Arora sir comes down to meet when he is out for a morning walk in this lawn. That’s why the main gate of our house remains open. Arora sir had lived in this house along with family for a long time. Now, he lives in a new house in front of the school. Out of the two rooms of Arora’s house I live in one room along with my classmate Rohan. We have been living in this room for past five years, and these days we are preparing for civil services examination. Other room was with a English school teacher, who left the job and room both about a month ago.

In our room, there is a big wooden dining table of old times along with four chairs placed around it. A candle stand is placed on the table. A huge wooden almirah fixed inside a wall. We keep our books and clothes in it. Two new beds are bought by us. One computer table, our Dell Laptop is placed on it. Right under the table there is a Sony music system that is for entertainment. On the occasion of Independence day a cultural program is going on in the school premises. School is till 10th standard. Students as well as teachers are dancing on Punjabi and pop songs.

In my mind, there was much turmoil. I didn’t attend the school program. My mind was not working. Failure do make man sombre and disinterested. No matter in which field you are experiencing failure, if your own people start criticising or ignoring you because of failure, you don’t feel like starting all over again. For how long you can complain to God, as he is not paying any attention to the request even otherwise. In such a miserable situation, you can only look forward to your girlfriend. You forget all the worries of the world when you are close to her, but then I don’t even have a girlfriend. Rohan must be enjoying his time with his girlfriend Ruby. Now where should I go to tell my worries or to make myself happy. Rohan had urged me many times to have a girlfriend. Many beautiful girls had shown interest in me, but I didn’t take any note of that, right then, I was busy with studies. Now I think I must have someone as my girlfriend. I am feeling that vacuum somewhere.

By the way I must try, I thought. Then an idea clicked in to my mind. I started my laptop and logged on to my facebook id. I was amazed to see so many messages and friend’s request in the message box. There were many friends request of girls from Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Chandigarh, Gurgaon etc …I started analysing all the friend requests and after going through all the profiles I shortlisted ten requests in the hope that at least one of them would be suitable to be my girlfriend. And that’s all I need.

Now it’s two pm and I am feeling hungry. Rohan is still not back, didn’t know where he would be? I took my mobile phone to call Rohan. I dialed his number. The bell kept on ringing, but Rohan didn’t take the call. I tried again, but no use. May be he is with his girlfriend……. I didn’t find it appropriate to disturb him further. He will call back at his own. I got up from my chair and entered the kitchen and started looking for something to eat. Rohan and I both like to eat good cuisines and that’s why our kitchen is nicely arranged. Two eggs in the tray were just waiting for my arrival. I prepared tea and omelette. Then my phone was ringing in the room. It must be Rohan- I thought.

Yes what, I received the phone and replied.

You are still at home or reached our room, Rohan asked.

Where are you right now? I questioned in response.

I am here at MMX mall along with Ruby to watch a movie. Rohan said.

So you are having good time with your girlfriend. I laughed.

You can also join us, there is almost half an hour left for the movie to start. Rohan invited me.

No, some other day, enjoy in her company. So, when you would be back?

Not today, as I have to leave for home tonight. Tomorrow afternoon. Rohan informed me.

Fine, then we will meet tomorrow ok bye.

Ok. Rohan replied and disconnected the phone.

I turned back to kitchen, poured some tea in a cup and placed omelette in a glass plate and returned to the room, switched on the FM radio, started enjoying my omelette along with melodious songs, and started thinking about my facebook girlfriends.

I was preparing a list of do’s and don’ts for my would be girlfriend. She shouldn’t be demanding. These days men are just running behind their girlfriends. As girlfriends never get satisfied. They are not realistic and push their boyfriends to limits to get things done as per their choice. Boyfriends are treated like servants. Other requirement is that she should be beautiful. But above all she must love me with all her heart. I was wondering if any of those ten facebook girlfriends would fit into my dreamworld!

Probably I would know that only when I will take them for a date.

In the evening I went to the Model Town Park. It is located adjacent to the school and here one can often see college couples sitting close in the comfort of each other’s arm. I kept looking at them and in the end I was feeling lonesome. I stayed there till late evening and on returning to my room after dinner finally retired into my bed. Next day I felt like taking a walk at Janpath market in the capital city New Delhi. There was a local train to New Delhi around 11 am. I walked about a mile to reach to the railway station. Without buying a ticket I went straight to plateform no - 5. There was medium strength in the bogie. I went in and within a minute train started moving as if it was just waiting for me to board in. Although there was a separate compartment for ladies, most of them would prefer to travel with their male companions. Two women sitting next to me were busy criticising their mother-in-laws. And right in front of me I could see a couple was sitting; the girl was enjoying music from her mobile phone. She was really beautiful. Her boyfriend was downloading something on his mobile phone. Slowly the train gained speed and left the city and entered the capital city NEW DELHI.

After getting off the train at Tilak Bridge railway station I took a bus from Mandi House metro station and reached to my favourite place- Janpath market. This is one of the best and renowned Market in the capital. Connaught Place is close to Janpath market. People from different places come here to visit these markets. Shops are filled with a variety of useful and beautiful goods. These shops are always a centre of attraction for people. They have so much to offer. Here you will find variety of clothes, dress material, shoes and other footwear, paintings, books - notably Novels, jewellery, carpets, gift items etc in abundance. Almost on every shop you can see buyers negotiating with the shopkeepers. You will also notice some people wondering around to sell goods. They use to target foreigners to trick them into buying goods at fairly high prices.

A little away from the footpath close to the roadside there was a small tea shop. Whenever I would come here I always visited this shop for a cup of tea. It would taste good. So I went to the shop and sat on a bench to have a cup of my favourite tea. In a slow volume, old songs were playing on a radio at the tea stall. I ordered a cup of tea. Shopkeeper’s wife, clad in a saree, was busy in washing utensils. It was rainy season, just two days back there was a heavy shower and today one could feel the cold breeze.

Right in front of me a teen aged boy in the age group of fourteen -fifteen was using all his English speaking skills and salesmanship to sell off a statue of Gautam Buddha to a beautiful middle aged woman of foreign-origin. She was trying hard to get rid of him. But the boy didn’t give up. After using ‘please’ word a number of times he finally convinced the lady that -keeping that statue at home will bring her good luck. Finally the deal was done and both were carrying their goodluck, lady her Buddha statue and the boy his money. May be the lady trusted the boy too much- she was sitting on the footpath, repeatedly looking and analysing the statue. She was wearing a black coloured short made up of jeans and a transparent top which could hardly hide her white bra. Her white colour, beautiful skin and well build body was a source of attraction to all four of us. We all had different attitude and opinions about the foreign lady. In all four, I am including myself, and sparsely built middle aged man who had just occupied the bench next to me. The third one was a police man duty - more vigilant about the lady rather than his duty. Fourth person was the wife of the tea stall owner -who had just finished washing utensils. My own opinion is that if she finds weather conditions too harsh to adjust with then why she is visiting here. Just to know the view of the person sitting next to me I jumped on to a conversation with him.

What are you looking at- she is too good to be yours, I said with vicious smile while finishing the tea.

In a moment he came alive. He felt offended. I can see it in his widely opened eyes.

What are you talking about, she is not a big deal for me. He said.

Just to have more fun I pinched him harder and said, You are over confident, I don’t think you can ever get close to her.

It’s not difficult to catch on her, I can win over her at any given time. If I fail you can change my name. That thin weak looking man was throwing an open challenge about wooing the lady.

I was amused by his big-talks.

It was quite apparent that if given a chance he could get into sex with the lady without any hesitation. In the meantime even the Policeman went around the lady to have a look at her. And then came back to his previous position. I over heard the voice of the wife of the shopowner, she was presenting her point of view in a very mild voice It is because of the women like her that there is a rise in rape cases every day. Why to put blame on men, if they can’t dress up appropriately. I was agreed with her thoughts.

In the end it was that teenage boy who emerged as a winner. For that Buddha statue, which otherwise would be of not more than fifty rupees he demanded five hundred rupees from the lady and she even paid the said amount. After keeping that Buddha statue in her small bag she left the place with a smile on her face. The boy came close to the bench where I was sitting. He got under it and emerged with a statue. It was a replica of the statue he sold off a minute ago. Now he was behind another foreigner to trick her into buying this lucky charm. I paid for my cup of tea and started roaming around in the market. Whenever any beautiful girl was coming around I was taking a look at her assuming for a while that she is my girlfriend. After wondering there for some time I was in front of a shop where the shopkeeper was screaming with all his might.

Fixed price four hundred rupees. Pick any T-shirt. Fixed price four hundred rupees.

A fairly large gathering was there for picking up T-shirt. Since I was also interested in buying a T- shirt, I got into the crowd and started looking for a suitable T-shirt for myself.

Take a T-shirt at fixed price - four hundred rupees. You will not find it as cheap as this. The shopkeeper shouted again.

Out of that big piles of T-shirt I picked one in sky blue colour. Being Human was written over it in big font size with white colour. I didn’t find it interesting. Another partner of the shopkeeper was wearing a pink T-shirt with playboy written over it. Playboy’s Logo was also inscribed on the T-shirt. He was continuosly looking at a woman in red T- shirt. She was one of the many who were picking T-shirt from the piles of T- shirt. His eyes were on her big breast which were quite visible because of the deep neckline of the T-shirt that she was wearing. Suddenly I found a white T- shirt. Welcome to New India was inscriped on it in blue rubber paint. Yes, this one is for me, I said to myself and paid for it. As I started walking away from the shop my phone rang.

Arora sir was calling, although I was in a crowded place still I took the call.

Yes sir, what can I do for you, I said in a loud voice..

Sikandar, are you in new Delhi, sir asked me.

Yes sir, I have come to Janpath market. I replied.

Yes Rohan had told me about that. Son, do one thing bring two bottles of Blenders Pride whiskey. Sir ordered me.

All right sir I will bring it, anything else sir. I asked.

No only this much, and come back on time. Sir was worried about his evening dose.

Sir, I will reach there soon. Before I could talk any further, sir had disconnected the call. By the way, Arora sir takes good care of me. Just like my father. Whenever Rohan or me is in Delhi, sir always asks us to bring whiskey. Here it is quite cheaper than in our city. Every day in the evening hours sir drinks along with his friends to make it more beautiful.

Now it’s time for Sun to say good bye to the city.

Bright lights are on and the city, market place, roads etc are looking far more beautiful. He must go back now, I instructed myself and went to a wine shop in CP to buy two bottles of Blenders Pride whiskey. Then I hided them in black polybag of the T- shirt. After all it is alcohol. I took a bus from Connaught Place bus stop to Tilak Bridge Railway station and reached there around 7:30 pm. There were only a few people at the Railway station. My train was at 8:00 pm. I went to the platform without buying a ticket. There was a stall on railway station and a deaf and dumb boy was in-charge of it. After purchasing a chilled bottle of coke, I started drinking it. I never buy a ticket because I and Rohan are travelling on this route for past seven years and not even once we have seen a ticket checker on this route. At Platform no:2 a train arrived and people who were standing there boarded the train. The train was for some other place. I look for the time in my mobile phone- it was 8:10 pm and there was no sign of train to my route. After some time there was an announcement Due to some unavoidable reasons the train which arrives at 8:00 pm, has been cancelled. We regret the inconvenience. I was already feeling frustrated waiting for the train. Here is a custom that trains never arrives on time. I went to the enquiry office and asked about the next train. It was at 9:00 pm. I was thinking how I will pass this time, right then there was a call from Rohan.

Yes darling. I received the call.

Where are you, and what about the goods? Sir had asked for…… He recalled me.

Oh yes, I think that I won’t be there on time….

Why, what’s the matter"? Rohan asked.

I informed him about the entire matter. Rohan suggested me to return by a metrorail. I was busy on call and in the meantime suddenly Rajdhani Express from Mumbai crossed from there.

I will manage at my own. Do one thing, buy that thing locally which sir had asked for and give him. I suggested.

Don’t worry about that thing. I am preparing meal. Just return as early as possible. Rohan said.

All right darling I am just leaving from here. I replied and disconnected the call.

After collecting up my black polybag I started moving towards the Mandi House Metro Station. After crossing the platform, I took the slightly dark way along the railway track. From here a kuchcha road goes to the main road. As I moved forward I heard someone screaming loudly. I stopped there. I again heard the same voice. It seemed like voice of some woman. I tried to identify the direction of the sound. The voice was coming from exactly my left side. I got worried and scared. I immediately crossed 5-6 railway tracks in between and saw that three men were claying into one right in front of me. A pale light of the platform was reaching here. I kept my polybag on the ground and attacked them. After screaming police-police, I started throwing the stones from the railway track at them. They also did the same. They were young. Two of them moved towards me and the third one drag the lady in the grass. She screamed again. Those who came towards me were quite light. I hold one of them in my arms and threw him on the railway track. The other one pushed me hard from behind. I fell down. I got up and immediately hit him with a stone. Then I started attacking both of them with rapid kicks and punches. I was constantly abusing them left and right. The third one was not able to control the lady alone. All three of them ran away. I threw stone at them as they ran away. The physique that I had built in five years of hard work in the gym was being put to use today.

But those buggers had also beaten me too much. My shirt was torn. Without bothering about myself, I gave a hand to that lady and helped her to get up from the grass. She screamed. Because of the darkness, I could not see her face properly. I consoled her and threw the light of my mobile on her face. Light fell straight into her eyes. Those deep blue eyes were full of fear. And… what the hell, she was completely naked. There was not a single clothe on her body. Because of shame she covered her genitalia with her right hand and tried to cover her breasts with her left arm. What else could she has done? Her eyes were full of terror and her body was trembling with fear. She got even more scared upon seeing me. As soon as I touched her she got feared and fell down. Seeing her condition, I also got very scared. I was seeing this kind of accident for the first time in my life. I immediately gave water to her which I had and she came back to senses. I lifted her on my shoulder and pulled her away from the bushes and walked towards the muddy road. My heart was beating very fast. Very light pale yellow light was reaching here. At that moment a fast train passed on the track nearby, there were no slipper in her feet and she was bleeding over there and she also appeared shaken at the back. I left her on her own and rush towards the platform to fetch water.

I was also scared that some insect or snake might bite her. I bought a bottle of mineral water and came back. As I sprinkled few drops of water on her face, she came back to her senses. Then I supported her neck with my hand and helped her to drink water. She was scared and could drink very little water.

‘She looks like a foreigner’– I guessed

Don’t worry everything will be fine. I am like a friend. I said this to console her.

I again saw her in the light of mobile.

She looks like of my own age– I guessed. She began to cry. Her white, dust soaked naked body, and golden hair were seemed like as if I had rescued a mermaid from clutches of fishermen, and she was lying without water.

I made her quite and wiped her tears. I asked her to keep calm and get her grip. But she kept weeping. Because of the long drawn fight my throat had also dried up. I also had some mineral water that the mermaid had had. I came into my own. Now I remembered my polybag that I had left near the railway track in a hurry. I switched on the light of my mobile and located my polybag. I opened it and took out a white T-shirt which I bought for myself. I made the white foreigner woman to sit up and gave her the T-shirt to wear. But now the problem was what to make her wear below. I had nothing suitable for this purpose. If I gave her my jeans, then I would be naked. Then I thought of an idea, I went behind the bushes and took off my jeans and underwear. I wore my jeans without the underwear and gave the innerwear to the girl. She tried to wear it but due to her fear and pain, she couldn’t wear it. Then I helped her to wear it. Thank God, she was completely covered by the T-shirt.

Now what should I do. I was thinking. It was 9:20 already. I was unable to figure out that what should I do. I had two options going on in my head. First was to leave her there on the station, and the other was to be human and at least help her to get first aid or drop her at the medical. Those mother fucker bastards have already ran away after raping her. I couldn’t have gone to police, otherwise they would slap the rape charge on me only. Even if they don’t do that, they will definitely ask me several questions. And if the police knew then media would also jump at this innocent girl like hungry vultures. And even before she could get any first aid the whole world will know about her rape. This will ruin our respect and also that of this innocent girl.

I chose the second option. That of being human. I left her there on her own and came down to the street to get an auto. Vehicles were moving fast emitting their colourful lights. I stopped an auto and asked him to drop us at All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Auto owner immediately left upon hearing about the rape incident. In the same manner 3-4 autorickshaws refused to go with us.

Then one auto came and stopped near me.

Where will you go? The middle aged auto driver asked in his imprecise crisp voice.

Because of his long moustaches and crisp voice, he was looking more like cop then auto driver.

Upto medical, I said.

Sit down, he said.

A friend is also with me, she is there near the railway line. She escaped coming under the train, but she is still unconscious. I lied to him.

Is she not in a position to walk down till here. He asked.

No, her condition is very delicate, we should not delay further, her life is in danger… if you could come up with me…

What will you give me? He asked.

I have a bottle of liquor. I whispered in his ear. His face become brighter on the mention of liquor.

Okay, let’s go. He said and pulled over his autorickshow to a side and followed me to the station. I felt relieved seeing him coming with me. Both of us came near the white foreigner woman who was still sobbing. Both of us helped her to get up because she was not in a condition to walk because her legs were hurt. After a while I took her on my shoulder and took her in the auto. The auto driver was carrying the polybag in which there were two bottles of liquor. I looked around to make sure that there was no cop around looking at us. Anyhow, both of us very carefully seated her on the rear bench. I also sat with her. Auto driver quickly rushed his auto towards medical. The girl had put her head on my shoulder. She seemed quite scared and was claying on to me. After a short while we were at the main gate of medical. With the help of auto driver, I took the girl inside and made her sit on an empty bench. She again fell unconscious and lied down on the bench. I and auto driver came back to the auto and I gave him a bottle of Blender’s Pride whisky which was fixed. Auto walla disappeared as soon as he got his bottle. I came back inside and asked about the emergency at the enquiry. I couldn’t get any satisfactory answer there. So I went straight into the emergency ward. There was already a huge crowd over there. When I came back I saw a ward boy was steering at the naked legs of the foreigner girl. He got scared when he saw me coming closer to him. I gave him a Rs.100 note and asked him to get a new patient’s pyjama (lower). He quietly kept the 100 rupee note in his pocket and went off to get the pyjama. I could not see anything working out here. Mobile battery was absolutely low due to excessive use. I immediately called up Rohan.

Hello Rohan.

Yes tell me where have you reached, I have been waiting for you, said Rohan.

Listen, you immediately come over here to medical with the van. My condition is bad. I have met with an accident. I said in a frail voice.

How… and when? Rohan asked in a worried voice.

Listen you just come here. Do not tell anything to anyone right now.

But… Before Rohan could enquire further the phone got disconnected me.

I deliberately lied to Rohan. Because had I told him the truth he would have never come. I kept my phone in my pocket and sat down on the bench. I kept her feet in my lap and began to take out the thorns from there. The pain in her feet again brought her to senses. She pulled her feet away from me. The ward boy arrived with a blue pyjama. I picked her up slightly and help her wear the pyjama. I asked the ward boy, if there was any way to admit her to the hospital. He said– first report the matter to the police. Only then something can be done. He left. This is the condition of our country, several people were lying on the sheet they had spread in the lawns. After about quarter past one hour, I saw Rohan rushed towards me fastly.

What happened? How come you are in this condition? Rohan asked me looking at my torn shirt.

Rohan … I am perfectly fine. That actually matter is that….

Standing there I narrated the entire incident to Rohan. And told him that we would have to take the girl lying on the bench to our place.

Rohan raised his eye brows upon listiening to this.

Are you in your senses? What have we got to do with her? Leave her here. Why get into unnecessary mess. Let’s leave. Rohan asserted his opinion on me.

I saw Rohan’s anger and gave a fake smile.

Rohan, try to understand, this poor woman is victim of her circumstances. She has lost whatever she had, now who will support her? I said to Rohan with a request.

"Are we responsible for people like her? Every day