i.n.d.i.a.n pie......(dating) -4

“Ahem, this is Laxman, Neha. Well, I have the book which you want, Harry Potter. Actually, I went to British library today, librarian recognizes me. He called me and asked if I was planning to return the book early, before the returning date. When I asked why he wanted so early, then he told about you. So, I took your details. Now I called you to say that I’m going to complete the reading of the book by tonight so I can give you the book for three days. Where will you meet me to take the book?”
“Why don’t you return the book, if you are going to complete it today?”
“Well, I’m going to complete but my sister is yet to start. The thing is she is out of town and she’s going to return after three days, so I thought of giving you for three days”.
“Oh, ok, well, then where should I come?”
“Where do you stay?”
“Himayatnagar”
“Ok, come to U-Kop, we’ll meet there at eleven in the morning. Is that ok?”
“Yeah, it is ok”
“Ok Neha, see you tomorrow, bye”
“See you, bye”
We all felt a rush of adrenaline.
“How was it?” lucky asked excitedly as we sat down. “It was fine dude, good going”, I said. Lucky looked pleased, like a little boy.
“Ok, should I ask her for date tomorrow?” Lucky asked, suddenly worried.
“NO! you would not”, Raj said. Everyone nodded in agreement.
I smiled at Lucky. “Well”, I said,”I did something positive for you today so party tonight dude”.
“Yes, thank you Avi”.
I sat back, sighed and looked around at the faces of my buddies’ excited faces.
“So are we going to accompany Lucky tomorrow?” Uma’s voice sounded full of energy, almost flying. I was not surprised to see her excitement.
I told her we would go.
“Let’s hope Lucky doesn’t panic tomorrow”
Uma gave a strange smile. She had always known for how to enhance her somewhat plain looks.
“Where’s Raj?”, I looked around the room, searching for Raj, but I didn’t see him.
“He’s outside”, Navya said.
“Thanks for playing cupid, not literally though,” Sameera said, she gave my arm a squeeze. Lucky was silent, his eyes looking out the window. I gave him a hug and took him outside.
“Meow!” shouted Raj, and he jumped up onto us.
We headed out the gate, started our bikes and headed to Love Bird café for hot cup of irani chai.

At the café, lighting the cigarette, I suddenly thought about the scooty girl and the phone call, all happened in less than twelve hrs, and told Raj and Lucky about this.
“I know,” Raj answered. “I wondered when we’ll see that girl again,” Lucky said, smiling.
“Let’s get back to home,” I said, looking at my watch. “It’s already pretty late. I’ll call you guys in the evening,” I said, looking at Raj and Lucky.
“Do you think she might accept to come for date with me?” lucky asked in a hopeful tone.
I felt lucky’s eyes looking deeply into mine. “I wouldn’t want to bet on it”, I said.

(to be continued..)

BAN !!!!

Taking the cue from Tamil nadu and four other states that have prevented the screening of controversial film ‘The Da Vinci code’, the Andhra Pradesh government too has decided to impose a ban on screening of the movie, much to the dismay of cinegoers.

The reason cited by the government for its action was the protests lodged by the minority community, particularly by Christian organization and also from others “including Muslims”.

“After taking into consideration the reports and complaints from the minority community regarding the “The Da Vinci code” and having come to the conclusion that exhibition of the film might hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims and Christians thus leading to law and order problems, the ban was promulgated” the order said.

Andhra Pradesh now followed in the footsteps of Punjab, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Nagaland in banning the film which is based on the international best-seller authored by Dan Brown.

Guess what, the original novel had already sold more than 60 million copies throughout the world and no Christian country had preferred the ban.

The government’s decision to suspend the screening of the movie was unfair. Particularly, when it has been released elsewhere in the country. Why should the people of some states alone be denied the privilege of seeing a much awaited movie? The argument that it might hurt the feeling of Christians (and Muslims) is unacceptable because ‘The Da Vinci code’ is being screened with a disclaimer that it’s a “work of fiction”.


P.S: While making the New Year resolutions one of my resolutions was not to see movies of pirated ones. But I think I should reconsider it.

i.n.d.i.a.n. pie ........(dating) -3

I decided to go to British library to return the book which I took last week. I called Lucky to ask him to come along with me.
‘Lucky library chalegaa,? I got some work over there’
‘Sorry baap, I have to go to super market to get groceries. And that’s my mom’s order’
‘Hmm… okay yaar, akele chalajavungaa don’t worry’
‘Anyways call me when you return back home’
‘Yeah fine… bye’
‘Bye… take care’

Well I thought of asking Raj, but I felt his answer is most likely to be “NO”. It was nine in the morning, I bathed and had breakfast. I started to British library at fifteen minutes past nine. On my way to library I had to face heavy traffic, and finally reached my destination at nine fifty five. I entered the library returned the book and started browsing for a good novel. I was about to budge, I heard a beautiful voice from the counter.
‘Excuse me sir, I can't find Harry Potter’s latest book anywhere. Can you please help me out?’
‘Betaa this is vacation time and it’s most apparent that such kind of books are most wanted among you youngsters. Well let me check out if its there in list of issued ones. After checking the entries in his log he said, 'And I was right, it’s under issue.’
‘when is it’s returning date?’
‘It’s on ninth of this month. Well, don’t worry give me your details so that I can contact you if the book is returned before 9th. Tell me your name, phone no.’
‘My name is Neha, my cell no. is 9393934939.’

That girl was none other than the scooty girl whom we saw this morning at Victoria grounds. While she was giving her contact details to librarian I took out my pen and wrote the phone number on the fifty rupees currency note. I felt elated at this moment and was desperate to share this with my buddies.

I took out my mobile and dialed Raj’s no.
‘Hello, bolre Avi’
‘tu kaha peh hein?’
‘ghar peh… kyu ? tu kaha peh hai?’
‘Ok, do one thing call Lucky and tell him to come to your place. I’ll be there within an hour’
‘kyu bhai… what’s the matter?’
‘You’ll come to know in the next hour’
‘Okay baap, tu udhar se nikhal pehle. I’ll tell everyone to come to my home by eleven. Ok then see ya’
‘Yeah bye’

At eleven five I reached Raj’s home. Everyone were busy watching seniors farewell party’s cd which we gave them last week. As I entered the room everyone’s attention fell on me.
Uma was first to ask me. ‘Kya bey, what’s the matter, why did you ask us to come here?’. I said in most dramatic way, “well guys, guess what??? I saw Neha in British library”. I saw no amazement in anyone’s face; at least no one kept the puzzled face.
Sameera said uninterestedly,” so what dude?”. “well, she’s the scooty girl”, I said.
Uma said, “Avi dude, guess what? we knew her name much before you”. I was taken aback by what Uma said. “But nobody knew her right. Then how cum you people all of a sudden know her name?”. Sameera said, “we also know her cell no.!!”. Now that was too much. “What the heck? Okay I'm late to the party. Now will someone will tell me how you guys came to know all the details of that scooty chick.”

Navya came out from the other room laughing and said, “I was in the British library dude much before you came. I didn’t want to disturb you. I was right behind you when Neha was telling her details to librarian. I also jotted down sneaked out and started to Raj’s place as I heard you telling Raj to call everyone to his place. And I was three minutes early here before you came. I leaked the details.”
“Oh wow! That was really cool.”
“Well I’ll tell you most shocking piece of news”
“Please go on”
“Neha asked for Harry Potter’s latest book right”
“Yup”
“Guess what?”
“Don’t tell me one amongst you guys are having the book with you”
“You got that right dude. Intelligent guess, well to everyone’s surprise Lucky’s having the book”
“WHAT?”, I shouted out loud in joy. I turned to Lucky, who was sitting silently on the sofa. “mayeebaap ye kab se, huh? Aap library bhi jaatey hai… yeah tho kamaal hogaya.
Chal chal ley apna mobile and dial Neha’s no. tell her you are having the book, ask her to come to some place to take the book.”
“nahi yaar I can’t do this please”
Raj asked lucky, “why can’t you ?”
“that’s because she knows my name”
“so what? Yeh aur bhi achi baat hai … now she‘ll definitely become your friend then it depends on your ability to ask her for date.”

Uma dialed Neha’s no. and gave it to Lucky. It was kept in speaker mode...
“Hello”
“Hello, may I speak to Neha?”
“Yeah speaking, may I know who is this?”
“Laxman…”




(To be continued)