Maximum city!!

I was damn sure I’ll be sleeping through all de precious days of winter vacations instead of going through stupid novels as I usually do in my vacations .After five long days of module exams my cozy bed at my very own room was all I was dreaming about. Though its not mine now as it is occupied by my younger brother n fluffy but still I prefer to sleep in the room which envelopes secrets of my school life.. Being in that room brings all the sweet n spicy memories back. My place being closest (to the school) n safest (due to same timing of mom’s office as of our school) was our joint after bunking the school. Be it the play practice or dance party or love birds meet that room gave us the place whenever we needed. I am very attached to that room. I have studied whole nights in that room for my board exams after making my mom pride by passing two subjects(English and Hindi) out of five in pre-boards, my first date, first porn all happened in that room only.

With dreams of sleeping comfortably in the holy room I was about to leave the hostel but thought of 33 hours journey made me land into Harsha’s room. I asked him for any non-fiction book n first time it took 6 days to complete a book of less than 600 pages. No wonder it took Suketu Mehta 7 years to complete the book its characters sometimes came outside the book in front of me as real characters I can correlate too. Its richly varied cast of characters, drama n minute details made the writer’s quest to plumb both the grimy depths and radiant heights of the Mumbai a brilliantly illuminating portrait of the megalopolis and its people in the form of MAXIMUM CITY- Bombay Lost And Found.

He describes underworld, politics, cops, media, bar dancers n common mob of Mumbai through stories of his characters n then shows how they r interrelated . Book is divided into chapters, all of them are interesting and exciting… especially I liked powertoni and a cop’s life…here Mehta describes about riots of 92-93 through the characters who were really involved in riots.. Shivsena ,Dawood and Chota Rajan’s involvement n their deeds during that period and sufferings of common man. Organized crime and role of politicians and cops is very nicely described. Bar dancer’s life is also an interesting part of the book. Every character lives to extremities but being in limits of character.. that’s the best part of it.. Characters are so realistic that you can correlate them with the characters in your life but they are not common.. Mehta didn’t write his book as normal non-fiction ..characters speaks not the author…he haven’t preached sin and virtue ,good and bad …every character lives his own life and does what he likes and have his own reasons for his demeanor. I wish to write about the whole book but that won’t be possible ..reading the book will be a better option for you…you’ll be investing your time on something good..

Whenever Jain (my best friend) and I watched movies or read books we used to imagine the story as ours and then we give the name of characters to our friends... Most of the time Atul gets the best and interesting characters.. can’t remember all of them but lemme try to recall few …yeah…

Kaali ( Ajay devgan in Kaal)

Electra( main female lead don remem the name)

Daredevil(x-men)

Hulk ( hulk )

Trinity (Matrix)

We didn’t care much about female or male leads while Atul’s casting.. we gave him the important n stylish roles.. I never understood why he didn’t like this naming stuff.. He was the fastest rider in our college so we made him Trinity , he was most energetic so we made him Electra but everytime he was given the female lead he starts arguing but we were very choosy about casting…we never compromised with characters ..so everytime he was given the female lead he wanted to made us watch a new movie asap…I think I am diverting from the topic…yeah …point I want to say is situations n characters we see in movies or read in books exist somewhere near us(though not in Atul’s case ….we never expected him to cross 7-8 buildings in a single jump like Hulk)…Maximum City made me remind many such incidents and characters…lemme share one with you…names are changed for anonymity(Though its of no use as those who were there with me will guess the characters with real ones and those who don’t know it doesn’t matter who is who)but still my filmy knowledge says names should be changed..

Story starts in class 11^th…Yash Thakur , Rahul Saxena and Rehaan Khan were good friends . They didn’t have anything in common but friendship doesn’t need common interests and habits…How they become friends is also a strange story…Rahul was a silent n shy student when he took admission in new school. There were two groups in school Yash’s and Asif’s..I have seen many groups and fights in schooling and college…n there aren’t any different reasons behind these stuffs in any part of the world…ego clashes ,girls, power ,posts are few of the common reasons behind these fightings and groupings.. same was the case here…Yash and Asif were in different sections …they were captains of different house(inter school comptt)…both were good sportsmen...both were good in cultural…all these reasons were enough for the foundation of groupings…when Rahul joined the school asif’s group started ragging him as he was in yash’s section. That was the time Yash and Rehaan came by Rahul’s side not because of anything but because of their own reputation but few months later they were good friends.

Yash was topper of his section and Rehaan anyhow manages to pass if he wasn’t allowed to sit next to Yash . All of the three used to sit together but during class tests they were made to sit separately. Once during Physics test Yash and Rehaan were sitting together .Rehaan was praying may be teacher don’t give attention and by his good luck prof didn’t noticed but that didn’t worked long..soon he was spotted while leaning over Yash’s test copy .Rehaan was sent to sit in the front row in Yasmeen’s seat and she had to come to sit next to Yash. Yasmeen was the only girl Yash didn’t had any interaction with.But same was with everyone. Yasmeen didn’t have a single friend. I guess half of the class haven’t even listened her voice except “present sir” during attendance.

(I am not used of writing in third person so from now onwards .I’ll write in first person as Yash )

It was hardly ten minutes after Rehaan’s substitution with a beautiful gal I heard someone sobbing in very low tone. I didn’t expected to see someone crying due to exams in class 11^th .It was Yasmeen. I generally don’t initiate talks with gals by my own but after seeing her I was tempted to ask coz generally I don’t see gals crying too. But she didn’t replied and continued crying. As if I care..I am not used of such behavior. First of all I ..Yash Thakur asked a gal something ..that too out of humanity and she didn’t replied. I started scribbling again n she started sobbing again. Five minutes…Ten minutes…sobbing didn’t came to a stop. I didn’t want to but somehow I asked her again but this time a simple question or rather a solution in itself. I opened my copy n offered her to see whatever she wants to n copy it. But fools are fools…you can’t help them as they don’t want to help theirselves.. all what she has to do was to use her eyes but I think they were busy dropping tears.. n she didn’t want to act against law of inertia..

Days passed… I didn’t knew why but I started observing her.. She was the simplest gal I have ever seen. White full shirt n knee length grey skirt made her look smart but that was all illusion of her school dress…but she was different…very different indeed.. quiet n reserved…she didn’t had a single friend rather I never saw her speaking to anyone ..not even the important issues.. once we got a group assignment…I was observing her that what will she do now…she didn’t asked anyone and next day she was the only person who has completed the assignment assigned for a group of 5 students alone. She had an invisible coat around her which distinguished her from a normal gal.. If I haven’t seen her sobbing I could be having very snobbish image of hers.. She was a mystery for me.. Her big green eyes n flawless skin made her look heavenly beautiful. sometimes I wander why guys don’t try to talk to her…I thought discussing about her with Rehaan and Rahul but they’ll think it in other way so I didn’t tried …it wasn’t attraction or anything.. It was just the curiosity …a quest of an inquisitive mind…

I decided to talk to her…I came early in class n took the seat next to her. It was awkward as everyone knows I sit with Rahul and Rehaan …and she used to sit with two gals. Preity saw me sitting in her place n I requested her to take my seat and gave logic as I am not able to concentrate on lectures due to rehaan. Yasmeen entered in class and took the seat without even looking at me. It was embarrassing as Rehaan started teasing me as gaddar n dhokebaaz and whole class was looking at me n Yasmeen. I thought she too must be feeling odd but she was reading her book. (She was alone even in crowd because of her invisible coat). I wanted to start a conversation but I didn’t. My seat was changed permanently and I noticed even I was becoming quiet and quiet …most of my time was spent in thinking about her…

Weeks passed but we didn’t even say hi to each other. I was confused how to start a conversation till she once asked me for a pen. It was the perfect occasion to start a conversation. “Can I ask you a question if you don’t mind?” First time her green eyes made contact with mine. she didn’t replied in yes or no but her eyes were affirmative for listening to me. “Why don’t you talk to anyone?”. And first time I listened to her voice… “It isn’t so but there is nothing to talk about”. I didn’t understand the logic. Even I am quiet reserved but there are few people whom I can talk to anytime and there is always something to talk about. I gave my logic… “But still I found you never talk. It isn’t necessary to have something really important to talk with someone and in your case you didn’t even talk on important things” then I gave her example of that group assignment. “If I can do that assignment by myself then why to ask for help”…She replied. Come’on what help?? that was a group assignment and was supposed to be done by a group of five .where the hell this help stuff comes from…I thought but didn’t said to her instead I shoot her the next question “And why were you crying that day and when I offered you to copy you didn’t even replied”. She replied… “I wasn’t crying because of that paper”. “then why were you crying??” n then I realized I shouldn’t have asked that question. She just said.. “you asked for one and I replied two of yours.. ” she smiled and professor enters.

That’s how we started talking. We never discussed anything personal nor even usual stuffs like movies, music, sports etc. but subjects and studies. I was the only soul in school she talks to …was the only feeling which gave me the drive to continue talking boring stuffs like studies with her instead of talking about hundred times interesting topics with Rehaan n Rahul. “Nah…it isn’t attraction! Not at all..she is not my types..” that was all I used to reply to Rahul n Rehaan. But she possessed an aura that always made me think about her.

“We had to present a play and a group dance in zonal comptt .Yash ‘ll be looking after play and Asif ‘ll take care of dance” Jacksom mam said in assembly. “I don’t want to take part in all this stuff”.. I said to Rehaan.. “Why?”Rehaan replied. “As I don’t want to.. ” I said to him.. “I know the reason behind but what if this play thing provides you the opportunity to be with her” Rehaan said… “what her?? I am not saying this because of Yasmeen”.. I replied… “See ..I even didn’t took any name…” Rehaan smiled… “But she doesn’t even talk to anyone …she wont take part in play…” I told Rehaan. “Why don’t you try it out once”.

I can’t even call her friend as I can’t talk to her all what I want to..nor did I knew what I want to talk …but still there was something which made me feel close to her…n I feel comfortable in her presence … I think she always knew what was in my mind.. She herself asked very next day whats the problem…and what I want to talk to her… I asked…She just said ‘ll let you know tomorrow. She replied in affirmative and we were acting on that play next day. Practice started….I get very irritated when things don’t go the perfect way… and sometimes I scolded the team members being the director of play but everytime I said something to her ..She used to just smile… that smile was so innocent n sweet…till that time I knew it was not just curiosity or inquisitiveness …but her presence was something which was becoming an essential part of my life....

Play went fine..We won the first prized n she acted so well… it was hard to believe that was her first play…we become good friends after that… I never bring lunch as I felt very odd eating like small kids 4m lunch box… but she made me share her lunch everyday n most of the times I was forced to eat whole of it… I think I was very obstinate b4 meeting her but she was the one n only one who could command me …she didn’t used to ask me but order me whatever she wants …I didn’t followed most of her advices for studies n my well being but that was because I love her scolding n preaching …

But things don’t go the way as we wish to most of the times…same was our story… she was absent for more than a week…I thought to call her up..But didn’t had her number…I asked her once.. she said it wasn’t possible …but now I didn’t had any option…I was worried.. I had good contact with office attendant n he gave me her number by looking in office register in exchange of a pack of wills navy cut. I tried the number… a male voice came n I put the receiver down. Then Rahul dialed up n pretended as wrong number listening again to a male voice . We went to Rehaan’s place that evening as she lived in the same colony. For the first time I saw her fort… that wasn’t a normal house from any angle…4 armed guards were standing at the main gate.. then we watched 12 more in her compound. People were standing in queue to get into her place…I got it in few minutes only that it wont be possible to meet her at her place. Rehaan told me her father was an Ex-MLA n now he z holding very important post in a political party.

Few more days passed…I wasn’t able to concentrate on anything.. It was getting worse.. all I could think of was Yasmeen only.. She came back to school after 2 weeks..

“Where have you been?”.. I asked .. “I was out of station”.. she replied.. “Don’t you think you should have told me …”…no reply… I repeated the question…no reply… suddenly I found everyone staring at us… “You don’t have any right to scream at me”…I got my answer…I didn’t attended class n went back to my place…

I didn’t felt like going to school. It was so bad of her…how could be someone so rude?? I was not feeling well… I didn’t went for sessional tests…Rehaan n Rahul came to my place.. I told them not to discuss or ask me anything that I don’t want to.. and they didn’t started any such topic.. we watched a movie.. though I didn’t get anything of it..but still that was the better way to avoid awkwardness of sitting silent…Last thing Rehaan told me before leaving was.. “She didn’t gave any of the tests even after coming to school..better you come to school tomorrow”.. He walked away before I could have asked something..

I went to school next day…..She came n asked me to bunk the class…n I am very bad at saying no… it was the first time we were bunking class…we started walking towards my place…I found we were holding hands…can still feel the warmth of that touch…tears were rolling out of those green eyes… “Sorry” she said n that made me feel guilty…that’s the best part of gals… they made you feel guilty though you not really are… we spent next six hours in my room …she kept on talking n I kept on listening…..neither she said anything nor did I but till that time I knew it wasn’t just curiosity…

We spent next one month at my place instead of going to school. There wasn’t any new topic to talk about nor I can say those talks very interesting but being with her was the only thing I could think of.. most of the times I didn’t even listened to her talks ….she too knew that…she kept asking me questions to confirm whether I am listening to her properly or not…n I used to reply I like the voice not the content .. She made me learn dancing… we danced for hours....We used to dance on every type of music…even on idiotic numbers like “aish to kar” of devang Patel.. She was a great dancer … she used to cook and made me eat by her hands ..those were the days I can’t ever forget in my life….everything was just perfect…

And one day I got a call 4m Rehaan to inform that Yasmeen’s brother is in school to look for her n me with 10 jeeps filled with university students...n I didn’t knew at that time… next few days were going to change everything..

To be continued…