Love me the way I Love you

Disclaimer: The story is fictious,the characterizations in the story are real. Taken some incidents happened in real life and made into a story.

The narrator is a journalist in a NEWS channel (TV1).

I am Mahesh, a journalist in TV1. I have been a part of investigation journalism from past two years, but I always remember the case that occurred on 08 April 2009. On that day morning as usual I got up and opened my bed room window and found rain drizzling outside with cool air touching me, I felt as though I was in heaven for some time, I ran towards my front door opened it and went jumping outside and saw kids playing in the rain, I became a kid for some time and enjoyed with them by jumping in the water and playing with them. My mom called me “you are grown up for marriage still you are playing like a kid” , I went inside and got ready , to go for office.

              Now my routine work starts , from a long time I did not find any interesting news to cover , so thought of taking an off, called up one of my school friends and we went to Lumbini park in Hyderabad ,we were watching the musical fountain show suddenly I heard a shout from a guy “ run away!!! there is a bomb here.” everyone was in a state of panic and they started running away from that place ,suddenly I heard a blast but god’s sake everyone cleared that place but the plastic chairs and stuff near the blast area were thrown away into air, and few people got injured because of it , but a plastic chair which was above the bomb flew and injured the guy who intimated about the bomb,  he became unconscious, I called up 108 ambulance service and  rushed to hospital with the guy, Similarly two more blasts occurred in two other parts of Hyderabad and for god’s sake no one got much injured but three other people, including the guy I rushed to hospital were in coma, after enquiry I found the other guys also came to protect the people from blasts in other areas.

       As I am a journalist called up whole my team to hospital and Our TV channel gave the live updates to the people all over  world about the blasts, many rumours came up saying the four guys(two guys and Two gals) who were in coma are terrorists , the police surrounded the hospital even the CM asked for CID enquiry.

The whole city was in Panic and there were mixed opinions about the guys, some felt they are good, some felt they ran away from terrorist troops , after listening to many opinions I felt they might not be good people.

       Day 2 : 09 April 2009 it is early morning 5 Am small kids of ages 5-15 started gathering near hospital (they were around more than 50 kids), followed them with some ladies(around 8 of them) they were trying to go inside the hospital, the police were pushing them outside. I with my team went to them the kids were crying, one of them who is of age 15 is trying to convince police to go inside; the police threatened the guy saying “they were terrorists they will kill you if you go inside”. The guy answered “they were not”, again after 5 minutes time 8 to 10 beggars came to the hospital to meet the guys, again after some time a red parrot followed by birds and animals (they were 10 birds,2 dogs, 1cat) came there to the hospital, I was surprised by seeing animals coming to meet the persons in hospital, then I thought this might be very interesting case.

        I asked my team to switch on camera “let’s take the interview of all the people who gathered near hospital”. But the police did not allow us, Its morning 6:30 am the sun is just peeping out from sky, the road to the hospital was full of trees , we can see shadows of trees and the flowers were falling on the road , suddenly I saw a wind coming like hurricane towards the hospital and when it is about to come near ,I found it was some one coming on bike with a very high speed, he stopped the bike near the hospital, he is well built, wearing  a Hugo boss T shirt , he  went near the hospital door he confessed to police “ I am  the friend of the four guys”, the police stopped him going inside.

      I with my team went to him , I started asking questions as a journalist, who are you….blah blah blah…he answered that his name is Hari friend of those four guys working in Hyderabad, he did not want to reveal anything apart from that he went to the garden near the hospital and sat there , slowly I also went there and started questioning are your friends terrorists then he shouted at me “why do you think so?” and then cooled himself and replied “Yes they are”, he started recalling his past and  started telling about the past.

The below story is written as narrated by Hari.

Meeting New friends:

It was a hot surreal day and we were shifting to the Quarter allotted to mom by the government’s was 13 then. Dad died recently (He is a military officer, government alleged a false case on him, so he himself shot with his gun and he died as he could not tolerate the false allegation) and so we had to move to the railway quarters. Mom worked in Railway Mail Service and so she was allotted a quarter. We reached the entrance to the township and asked the guards about the quarter we will be living in. The guard gave the directions to us and we headed to our quarter. Mom was holding a small briefcase and I was holding my school bag along with a pouch mom told me to keep safely.

We told the truck driver to proceed. We didn’t have many belongings, so a mini truck did it all. Soon we reached Quarter No. 781, and I told mom that the right corner part will be ours as it was marked C. There were three other families in the same quarter in different blocks, i.e. A, B and D. I was happy that the playground was very near to our quarter. We headed towards the door and Mom brought out the keys to open the door. We went in and the peoples we hired brought the things in. Mom paid the truck driver and told me to freshen up so that we can lay the things in correct places.

I could see that my mom was not at all happy. Sadness was all over her face. Due to the hot weather she looked even more terrifying with beads of sweat all over her eyelids and forehead. She resembled a corpse who after struggling for survival, at last was dead. I told mom to sit and rest for sometimes in the chair that was unpacked. She did as I said. I went out to block A and rang the bell. Someone from inside said,

"Coming...!!!",

I was standing in front of the door and suddenly the one who responded opened the door. As soon as the door opened, I saw someone whom I had never seen earlier. Oh

how stupid of me, how can I see her earlier. My eyes were transfixed on her. Her eyes had depth and I was going deep into them. She had a fair complexion and had red cheeks.

I was gazing at her like anything when suddenly she replied,

"Excuse me.... Do you want something?"

I said stammering, "Ah...h..h. actually we have just shifted here. Me and my mom in Block C. I am Hari and I thought if I could get a bottle of cold water from you. If you don’t mind."

"No, not at all !!! Come in... " She replied and we went in, she continued, "So you guys 

shifted in today. Cool !! Well feel free to ask anything... We are there to help you guys."

This gal was so humble and helping. I was really happy to find such great neighbours.

I was genuinely in need of good friends and she seemed a good option.

"Mom, Block C is being occupied. Our new neighbour is here. " Shouted my neighbour.

"Wait Neeti, 'm coming...." said her mom...

Oh her name was Neeti. Wow!!! Great name... I gave a smile back at her and said,

"So your name is Neeti ."

"Oh yes!! How did you know that?" she said...

I was astonished, Just now her mom called out his name and she is asking me how I knew. 

I gave a blank expression and said, "I guess your mom called you out with that name only."

"Oh!! What a fool I am!! Hahahahaha...." she laughed...

I too released a small laughter and she gave the bottle of cold water. I told her, "I think I should leave now. Mom is alone and she need to drink some water as she is very tired and worn out."

"Oh sure. Mom, he is going!!!" she said.

"Ya coming in a minute...." her mother replied.

Soon her mother arrived and we had a hi-hello session. I told her about my dad and mom and finally decided to leave. She was sorry for what happened with us but I said its ok.

I went out and headed to my block. I went in and handed a glass of cold water to Mom. She had it and said thanks to me. We freshened up soon and then ate the things we bought from market. We than started unpacking the furniture’s and placed them at right places. My mom was my friend. We both shared a good space between us. We had fun with each other. We would mock each other and all sort of stupid stuffs. I was happy to get a mother like her. She is just awesome. It took almost the whole afternoon and also the evening to unpack things. Finally it was over at around 7:30 in the evening. Our bell rang at around 8:00 and I opened the door. It was Neeti along with his Mom and Dad.

"Hi Hari... Unpacking over!!! Hi aunty, I am neeti... your neighbour." said Neeti

I said Hi to her and told uncle and aunty to enter. Mom gave a warm smile to all of

them and they sat on the sofa. Mom and Neeti's parent talked about this and that.

So we decided to skip it and went outside to have a word with each other.

"So Hari... Which class are you in?" Neeti asked..

"I am in eighth standard. " I replied...

"Oh that's even more cool... I too am in eighth standard." she said

"Really, than we will go along real well..." I said. In our conversation I noticed one 

thing... She repeated cool every now and then. She was cool....

Her parents invited us for dinner the same night as our kitchen was not yet ready.

Mom had to accept and finally we landed up having dinner at Neeti's place. In her I found someone, for whom I was waiting. I was longing for her and I finally found her'

It marked a new beginning in my life... A new dawn...

I don't know how my mom managed to get me in Delhi Public School. I was expecting the Railway govt. School, as now we had to live only on mom's income. But mothers are always concerned about the career of their kids. So was my mom. That's why she thought of opening a shop within the campus in our block where in frocks, salwar kameez, sari will be stitched by her. The whole responsibility was upon her but she managed well. She never made me feel that we were lacking something. I was very lucky to have her as my mother. On 1st of April new session was going to start. I have already bought the books for class eight from a second hand book shop.

          It was last of March, the next day in Town ship. I woke up early in the morning and brushed my teeth. Then I had a shower and went out to offer prayer to the tulsi that was placed in front of our quarter just in the left corner of the empty space. I saw that a girl almost of my age was offering prayer to the tulsi. I was waiting and watching her doing prayers. She lifted the jar and placed some water on the foot of the Tulsi.Then she placed the incense sticks in the place that was available for them along with the diya. She then burned them and kneeled down in from of the Tulsi. I too kneeled down along with her and when she turned, she saw me and asked,

"Hey!! Are you new here? I am from block D, right corner upper stair. So what is your name? How big is your family? So you pray in the morning. Good huh !!!"

My God... will she let me speak... I thought once and as I was about to open my mouth again she said,

"Why are you silent yaar... Reply naah!! No need to be shy. I am Anju."

This girl is real crazy... I just gave a smile and said, "Nothing like that. Hi, I am Hari.Me and my mom shifted yesterday. My family comprises of us two."

She replied, "Okay... So you are from block C. Why only mom and you? Dad works somewhere else?"

I was a little bit uncomfortable but this question was often asked to me so I was sort of used to it. I replied, "My dad is no more. He died a few days back."

She gave a look that was hard to read but I could sense she was lost. Maybe she was upset with herself for asking that question. All she said was, "Sorry !"

I said that it was ok and asked her in which class she was. 

She replied that she was in eighth standard. 

I was amazed and replied, "Is it? Great... Me also in eighth standard. I found two new 

friends who will be in same class as mine. I am very happy. So friends?" saying so I forwarded my hand towards her. She also shook my hand with hers and with a smile

replied, "Friends !!!"

She headed towards her block and as went up through the steps she looked back at me and waved her hand to say bye. I too reciprocated and went in. 

"Mom, you know there is another girl Anju in the same quarter that is also in eighth standard. I got two new friends. I think I will be able to adjust here soon." I said.

The next day morning it was so pleasant I called Neeti,Anju We three rode our bicycles and went to their usual place of hangout. The township 

was full of quarters and bunglows. There were dense forest on either side of the 

campus and also the right hand cross road linked the township to a small place

with trees ,flowers , benches made of wood and also swings. That was the usual place of hangout. Under every tree there were benches and we went inside one of them. It was a little bit secluded from the rest and when I looked in the trunk of the tree, I saw Anju, Neeti's and Vikas(chotu)  name craved in it. They told me that I was also a member of the tree club now, so I will also have to crave my name myself. Neeti handed me a knife like thing and told me to crave Hari.So I did.

Neeti said, "Welcome to our tree club... And enjoy the beauty of nature."

I was very happy to find her as my friend as well as Anju....

I enquired who is this vikas , Anju thought for a minute “ohh chotu “ ,he went to his native With his parents for vacation.Anju told that vikas pet name is chotu and we are used to that name she also told me “He dislikes that name(chotu) if some unknown person calls him”, then Neeti replied, hey see chotu is coming.

I saw a short fair guy ,blinking his eyes frequently with a naughty smile on his face came towards us.Anju introduced me he is vikas one of our friends.I introduced myself to him and asked him “which class are you studying?” he replied “I am in eigth standard”. He always has a smile in his face ,I suddenly called him chotuuu!!! His face became  violent red then I understood the situation and gave him a hug , with a smile asked him “friends”. He replied “friends” with a naughty smile.

The rest of the afternoon we talked and finally we decided

to leave our tree. I never expected that within a day I will get such good friends

but I did get them and I was really happy.

Episode :2

The School:

   It is mid June our school reopened, I got up early and was in anxiety  going to New school to meet new friends, even my mother also came with me  as the school arranged parent teacher meet for the new joiners, along with me many students were joined on that day, the meet was arranged in a auditorium of the school, A dark short person with a tummy wearing a suite, hosted the stage, he came near the MIC and started giving intro of him “ I am Anand Principal of the school and started to tell about the history of the school”. His speech lasted more than half an hour I thought myself “what a crazy person he is digging whole ancestral story of the school every one were madly listening to him, what they can do he is the principal.” Afterwards there is a get together between teachers, parents and new students.

   From far I saw someone is coming towards me they are Anju and neeti, they came to me and said “hi howz the meet, did you get the intro of our old motor mouth” I suddenly asked “who is that?, They just laughed and answered “Our principal”, then I thought this is the best chance to comment Anju, I said “Anju is that you commenting our principal?, the chatter box”. Then she gave me blow on my shoulder.”Eee” I yelled at her.

  Suddenly the wind started blowing and the trees around our campus started shredding leaves and flowers, it was a sunny day but slowly it started drizzling, we saw a rainbow appeared touching two clouds, it’s an awesome Scenic beauty. A tall handsome guy with athletic build from far started running towards us and the water on the ground was splashing out when he was running, his mom was standing there she gave him kerchief to wipe his face.

    He just saw Anju came towards her and introduced himself “ I am Deepu”, I don’t know what happened to Anju, she shook her hand with him and stuck like a statue staring at his eyes, even the guy was staring at her as though he was looking at a strange curious thing. Then Neeti interfered in middle and said “Cool I am Neeti” , Deepu just came to this world and said “Hi!” ,even I introduced myself to him,he bid bye to us and they went to meet principal.

    We saw  Vikas coming to meet us he said hi to us , we also said him “Hiii”.Anju was so curious and told  vikas “u know know” in anxiety, we met a person just now “ Deepu” he is like “Greek God” ,then vikas asked her innocently “Then what am I?”  , Anju replied “hoo your our sweet chotu” then vikas  started beating her “uuuu don’t call me chotu again” then Anju has beaten him on his back and ran away , from far she shouted “Chotuuuuuu.”

Next day the classes begin me, Anju, Neeti went together to the school, walking down the street full of trees. We came into the school premises and our class room is in second floor 8th B section, we said bye to Neeti who is in 8th A section. Slowly one by one student is entering the class, Me Anju,Vikas were sitting in the 3rd bench, and we did not allow anyone to sit in our bench though four pupil can sit comfortably.

   Deepu entered the class room, all the girls were starring at him,Anju was so excited, called deepu and offered to sit in our bench,Vikas was so angry and asked Anju “ what are you doing? You only told us we three only will sit in this bench?” Seeing this deepu said “sorry” to vikas and he went back to sit in some other bench,Anju pleaded deepu to sit in the same bench, she got angry on vikas and said “chotu be in your limits”, finally she managed and deepu sat in our bench, first few days we did not speak to him but latter on we became good friend of him.

           Deepu showed great affection towards me and chotu…and all were now best buddies….We all are now group of five best buddies in the school(Deepu,Hari,Vikas,Anju,Neeti)…

 One fine Sunday we all gathered in our quarters, we went to our tree house, now its time that Deepu name is written on our tree and we all together said “ Welcome to the Tree club and enjoy the beauty of nature…”,

There is a river stream near our tree club…and an old demolished house near by, so we enjoyed playing in the river stream, then we went to the old house,there we saw a lizard which was stuck to a mole, we tried to remove that mole and protect but we could not, we thought latter on we will call someone and ask for their help, while we are going to the house we need to pass by the river stream there we saw a red parrot which was floating in river water,Deepu has taken that in hands and found it was still alive,Deepu asked us “Is there any doctor in your quarters?” Chotu replied “ Ya an old vaternity doctor is there near by”, we all rushed to him…Doctor is an old person who just going to be retired…they were only two people in his house old doctor and his wife, we enquired “are there any kids to play in the house…? ”they replied no”, all our sons and grandsons and grand daughters were in US and settled there…they come once in a year to visit us…the old doctor treated the parrot ,within three days it was in its normal position…we named the Parrot as Tweety…She knows even how to speak…she heard us calling chotu …so the parrot repeated chotuuuu…Vikas got angry ….and yelled at us …even you guys spoiled the parrot also…we started calling the doctor and his wife as grand pa and grand ma…they were very much affectionate towards us…

Part :2

We all are studying in the same class, One day Deepu came late to the class .The teacher asked “Hey stand out, why did you come late?”  he did not utter a word. I stood up and said .Madam deepu was helping the old beggar who was shivering with fever outside. He took him to the hospital. I told him that you are getting late to school, he did not listen to me.

Then the teacher asked him to come inside .She tapped him on his shoulder and said “good work Deepu, I am proud to be your teacher”. she started telling about mother Theresa. We as a teacher feel proud that our students are keeping up the moral values which we teach, when they grow up. Not just earning perks. Everyone was keenly listening to her. I was not interested on all these though my father use to do good to the society, he was proved guilty that lead him to suicide.

Human Value Club:

Days and months passed we all became best buddies now we are in 12^th .All were about to reach our 18 years. One fine Sunday we along with the Doctor Grand pa and Grand ma decided to start human value club.

Free hugs:

Grand pa asked us to come up with good ideas, how we can serve the society better?
Then chotu started telling that Why can’t we do free hugs campaign. I said “What?”.He explained “Free Hugs Campaign is all about spreading love and happiness by giving a hug to a stranger.”

I prompted “Weird hugging the stranger”.Deepu, Anju, Neeti agreed for that. Next day we all met near the Husain Sagar Lake with a board “Free hugs” .Anju and Neeti were hugged by many but no one hugged us. It’s already one hour we are waiting here no one has come to hug us. I laughed at everyone. How will a stranger hug you. Stupid idea chotu. Then a beautiful young lady came near chotu hugged him and kissed him on his cheeks. Then he winked his eye and said “see” “isn’t this stupid idea?”.Then I took over the board from him and started shouting “free hugs”. I am so unlucky that all old ladies started hugging me.Chotu and others started laughing at me. I felt embarrassed, yelled at chotu , threw the board at them and left from that place.

Peaceful Orphan and elderly home:

With the help of Doctor Grand ma and Pa we started the Orphan and elderly home with a new concept.Got the Orphans from the streets and elderly people who need love and care to the Home,2 kids 1 elder and 1 younger and one oldage woman was made like a family.
We said  to elder kid "Believe that the younger one is like your eown brother or sister take care of him/her like your own".Same we said to old woman "Treat those kids like your own kids"...The Home went well with the bonding of happy families.We collected donations to run the home...send the kids to the school...got the oldage persons treated in hospitals.
A Trust was formed under the name of Peace home
The smile on the faces of kids and old age people made the Grand ma and Pa more happy.
We all were very much happy in that teenage.

To be continued ... >>>