Times Of India has started a story writing competition, panning over 11 months. Each month a published author will give a theme in the form of a paragraph.Contestants are to spin a story around that. You can read more about it at 'Write India Campaign'.
I wrote one for the September contest.
The paragraph was by Ashwin Sanghi. This is how it read.
'I observed him carefully as he walked to the door. I knew that time was running out but suppressed the urge to check my watch. I took a deep breath and started counting in reverse under my breath. "Ten, nine, eight, seven...". '
And this the story I spun around it.
" BACK TO WORK "
It had been about four months. Going back to the same office where I worked for the past 3 years still felt strange. Even alien at times.
People were polite, but cautious. Their courtesy suppressed their impatience. Or may be it was just my imagination. These things happen. They are bound to happen. I some times reasoned with my unsure mind, some times reprimanded the impatient brute.
My mind worked strangely these days. It was always busy thinking about him. It played the same images again and again. Some times it made me smile. Some times it made me chuckle out loud. I drew strange looks from my colleagues then. Some times it made me grab my phone and rush out for a call. And it made me tap my feet or drum my fingers in the middle of a meeting - letting every one know that I longed it to be over.
"Is this how things are going to be from now on? " I asked Maya, my senior colleague and now designated agony aunt.
"May be. May be not. Once this happens, life is never the same." she replied with a knowing smile.
I sighed. I was good at my job. At least I was, till now. But now everything seemed changed from the time I was away. It was ruffled and rattled.
I felt like I had been thrown into rough waters and I was struggling to recall how to swim. Was it the hands first? Or the legs? Or was it together? And when do I breathe? Now? Later? Or everything at once?
Can't I just float? Just be like a log? I was so tiered already.
I tried to shut my mind off. I stared at the computer screen.
I was suddenly aware of the small box flashing there. '3 minutes overdue' it said.
I dismissed the reminder and reached out for the phone.
I waited as it rang. And rang some more. Panic started creeping in - slowly, very slowly. And a hint of anger just mixed in.
What is she doing? Where is she? Why isn't she picking the phone?
I wondered where he was. Is he with her? Or is he sleeping?
Suddenly I heard her voice on the other end of the phone. She was in the kitchen, she said.
"He ate, and he is sleeping. He is fine."
"Anything new?" I eagerly asked.
"No. But don't worry."
I hung up after a bit of small talk.
"Yes I had lunch. You eat. Ok. Bye."
What did she mean by don't worry? Should I be worrying? Does everyone start worrying by now?
11 months is not very late. But not very early either.
There were about 15 messages from Jayesh. Half of them were just hearts and roses. I smiled. He never forgets to send these. Five years is not such a long time after all. May be, everything does not change completely as Maya had said. I opened the calendar and clicked around aimlessly the date three weeks from now. Three more weeks. That's a long time. He should travel less. Isn't he missing so many things? I made a note to myself to discuss this with him once he was back.
"I will be working from home tomorrow". I mentioned as I picked my bag to leave. I tried not to sound apologetic.
Maya smiled. "Sure.Everything al right at home?"
"Yes. Regular doctor's visit. Jayesh isn't back yet, so have to go on my own this time."
I knew I won't be in for the rest of the week. A day at home and my resolve melted - I wish I was at home always.
I felt guilty. Didn't I always assure myself that work won't suffer?
A moment later defiance flashed within. Things have changed. They should support this phase. All employers should.
Why am I left feeling guilty? I shouldn't. And I won't.
As I cleared the dinner table, I watched them from the corner of my eye. She looked tiered. I noticed the slight limp as she walked across the room.
He sat on the floor with his legs stretched before him. He pointed to something under the sofa and screamed for it.
Before I could reach there, she laboriously bent forward, clutching her left knee.
"He always wants this one." she smiled.
I watched as they sat on the floor rug together.
Did he notice me? Does he even want me?
Again the familiar guilt crept in. She is old. May be she should not be doing this. He needs me. What am I doing?
"It's a day trip. The whole team is going. What do you say?" my colleague asked.
I smiled politely. The offsite event was a week away. May be I will go.
"I will let you know." I said. My colleague nodded knowingly. Or did I just imagine he did?
A whole day away? How can she manage?
I always enjoyed team outings. Everybody seemed to come out of their shells.
Everyone transformed into normal human beings as the armours of titles were cast away.They spoke freely and laughed loudly.
It would be good. I can mend a few broken bridges if I can go along.
"I am logging in from home today. She is not feeling very well. Same knee pain. And I can't join for the trip. Sorry." I told my manager, and hung up.
I resented her. Why me? Why now? I wonder what they all are doing. She is done, they must be saying. I can't believe I missed it.
I dragged myself to work that Friday. A whole week at office. And so much work done. I think the week had gone well. Am back in the game! I smiled smugly to myself.Can't wait for the weekend. Just then the phone beeped. She had sent a video clip. My smile vanished.
I played the video clip once more, probably for the 100th time now. He looked so small, so vulnerable. On all his fours, face going red with effort. He won't give up. He just won't. Tottering on three limbs, he lifted one hand to grab the chair near him. He pulled himself up and clung to the side. He turned towards the camera and smiled.I could hear her clap and cheer. I couldn't see her. I wanted to be there. I wanted to be her. I could feel jealousy rising up in my stomach, I could almost taste it in my mouth. Why aren't there two of me? One here in the office and one there at home?
"Hummmm.." I said absent mindedly.
"Are you there? Are you listening? " Jayesh asked at the other end of the phone.
"Yeah. Look, am exhausted. I think I will sleep. Aren't you getting late for office? Do text me your flight details." I said.
I closed my eyes. I could feel tears welling up. Why am I crying? What is wrong?
I woke up with a sore throat. Another sick leave. I switched on the kettle and waited for the water to boil.
For once, I didn't feel guilty to be home. I was home for a valid reason. For a real reason.
Many people fall sick , many people apply for a sick leave. This was no special case. I was taking off just like any other colleague of mine.
Strangely, I felt equal to them. Tomorrow I will login from home, but today was my day off, for myself.
I observed him carefully as he walked to the door. I knew that time was running out but suppressed the urge to check my watch. I took a deep breath and started counting in reverse under my breath. "Ten, nine, eight, seven...".
A few more steps and he will reach the door. Though I was working from home,I had to get into this call. But my phone camera was recording every little move. Hidden,un-noticed. He should not see it. Not now.
'six, five four...' God ! Oh God! Please. Please.
He stumbled. I almost gasped. I skipped a heartbeat. Just a few more steps.
'...three, two, one!'. Yes, Yes! He did it. He held the door and turned back to smile at me.
"Aaaannnnd Cut !! Daddy, your little boy has started walking!!!! You missed it , but I didn't !!" I smiled and spoke into the camera, and then stopped the recording. Wait till Jayesh sees this one - hah!
I rushed and gathered my baby in my arms. I kissed his hair and hugged him closer. We did a little jig together.
"Look Grandma - who just walked all by himself! 5 whole steps. From here till the door!" I called out to my mother in law.
She walked into the room and smiled. I beamed at her.
"Not even a year old yet, and already walking. How much more will your old grandma run after you? " her words dripped with unconcealed pride.
Grandparents! I shook my head in mock exasperation.
"I need to get back to work. Please take him." I handed him over to her, and closed the door behind me, ready to take the office call.
I wrote one for the September contest.
The paragraph was by Ashwin Sanghi. This is how it read.
'I observed him carefully as he walked to the door. I knew that time was running out but suppressed the urge to check my watch. I took a deep breath and started counting in reverse under my breath. "Ten, nine, eight, seven...". '
And this the story I spun around it.
It had been about four months. Going back to the same office where I worked for the past 3 years still felt strange. Even alien at times.
People were polite, but cautious. Their courtesy suppressed their impatience. Or may be it was just my imagination. These things happen. They are bound to happen. I some times reasoned with my unsure mind, some times reprimanded the impatient brute.
My mind worked strangely these days. It was always busy thinking about him. It played the same images again and again. Some times it made me smile. Some times it made me chuckle out loud. I drew strange looks from my colleagues then. Some times it made me grab my phone and rush out for a call. And it made me tap my feet or drum my fingers in the middle of a meeting - letting every one know that I longed it to be over.
"Is this how things are going to be from now on? " I asked Maya, my senior colleague and now designated agony aunt.
"May be. May be not. Once this happens, life is never the same." she replied with a knowing smile.
I sighed. I was good at my job. At least I was, till now. But now everything seemed changed from the time I was away. It was ruffled and rattled.
I felt like I had been thrown into rough waters and I was struggling to recall how to swim. Was it the hands first? Or the legs? Or was it together? And when do I breathe? Now? Later? Or everything at once?
Can't I just float? Just be like a log? I was so tiered already.
I tried to shut my mind off. I stared at the computer screen.
I was suddenly aware of the small box flashing there. '3 minutes overdue' it said.
I dismissed the reminder and reached out for the phone.
I waited as it rang. And rang some more. Panic started creeping in - slowly, very slowly. And a hint of anger just mixed in.
What is she doing? Where is she? Why isn't she picking the phone?
I wondered where he was. Is he with her? Or is he sleeping?
Suddenly I heard her voice on the other end of the phone. She was in the kitchen, she said.
"He ate, and he is sleeping. He is fine."
"Anything new?" I eagerly asked.
"No. But don't worry."
I hung up after a bit of small talk.
"Yes I had lunch. You eat. Ok. Bye."
What did she mean by don't worry? Should I be worrying? Does everyone start worrying by now?
11 months is not very late. But not very early either.
There were about 15 messages from Jayesh. Half of them were just hearts and roses. I smiled. He never forgets to send these. Five years is not such a long time after all. May be, everything does not change completely as Maya had said. I opened the calendar and clicked around aimlessly the date three weeks from now. Three more weeks. That's a long time. He should travel less. Isn't he missing so many things? I made a note to myself to discuss this with him once he was back.
"I will be working from home tomorrow". I mentioned as I picked my bag to leave. I tried not to sound apologetic.
Maya smiled. "Sure.Everything al right at home?"
"Yes. Regular doctor's visit. Jayesh isn't back yet, so have to go on my own this time."
I knew I won't be in for the rest of the week. A day at home and my resolve melted - I wish I was at home always.
I felt guilty. Didn't I always assure myself that work won't suffer?
A moment later defiance flashed within. Things have changed. They should support this phase. All employers should.
Why am I left feeling guilty? I shouldn't. And I won't.
As I cleared the dinner table, I watched them from the corner of my eye. She looked tiered. I noticed the slight limp as she walked across the room.
He sat on the floor with his legs stretched before him. He pointed to something under the sofa and screamed for it.
Before I could reach there, she laboriously bent forward, clutching her left knee.
"He always wants this one." she smiled.
I watched as they sat on the floor rug together.
Did he notice me? Does he even want me?
Again the familiar guilt crept in. She is old. May be she should not be doing this. He needs me. What am I doing?
"It's a day trip. The whole team is going. What do you say?" my colleague asked.
I smiled politely. The offsite event was a week away. May be I will go.
"I will let you know." I said. My colleague nodded knowingly. Or did I just imagine he did?
A whole day away? How can she manage?
I always enjoyed team outings. Everybody seemed to come out of their shells.
Everyone transformed into normal human beings as the armours of titles were cast away.They spoke freely and laughed loudly.
It would be good. I can mend a few broken bridges if I can go along.
"I am logging in from home today. She is not feeling very well. Same knee pain. And I can't join for the trip. Sorry." I told my manager, and hung up.
I resented her. Why me? Why now? I wonder what they all are doing. She is done, they must be saying. I can't believe I missed it.
I dragged myself to work that Friday. A whole week at office. And so much work done. I think the week had gone well. Am back in the game! I smiled smugly to myself.Can't wait for the weekend. Just then the phone beeped. She had sent a video clip. My smile vanished.
I played the video clip once more, probably for the 100th time now. He looked so small, so vulnerable. On all his fours, face going red with effort. He won't give up. He just won't. Tottering on three limbs, he lifted one hand to grab the chair near him. He pulled himself up and clung to the side. He turned towards the camera and smiled.I could hear her clap and cheer. I couldn't see her. I wanted to be there. I wanted to be her. I could feel jealousy rising up in my stomach, I could almost taste it in my mouth. Why aren't there two of me? One here in the office and one there at home?
"Hummmm.." I said absent mindedly.
"Are you there? Are you listening? " Jayesh asked at the other end of the phone.
"Yeah. Look, am exhausted. I think I will sleep. Aren't you getting late for office? Do text me your flight details." I said.
I closed my eyes. I could feel tears welling up. Why am I crying? What is wrong?
I woke up with a sore throat. Another sick leave. I switched on the kettle and waited for the water to boil.
For once, I didn't feel guilty to be home. I was home for a valid reason. For a real reason.
Many people fall sick , many people apply for a sick leave. This was no special case. I was taking off just like any other colleague of mine.
Strangely, I felt equal to them. Tomorrow I will login from home, but today was my day off, for myself.
I observed him carefully as he walked to the door. I knew that time was running out but suppressed the urge to check my watch. I took a deep breath and started counting in reverse under my breath. "Ten, nine, eight, seven...".
A few more steps and he will reach the door. Though I was working from home,I had to get into this call. But my phone camera was recording every little move. Hidden,un-noticed. He should not see it. Not now.
'six, five four...' God ! Oh God! Please. Please.
He stumbled. I almost gasped. I skipped a heartbeat. Just a few more steps.
'...three, two, one!'. Yes, Yes! He did it. He held the door and turned back to smile at me.
"Aaaannnnd Cut !! Daddy, your little boy has started walking!!!! You missed it , but I didn't !!" I smiled and spoke into the camera, and then stopped the recording. Wait till Jayesh sees this one - hah!
I rushed and gathered my baby in my arms. I kissed his hair and hugged him closer. We did a little jig together.
"Look Grandma - who just walked all by himself! 5 whole steps. From here till the door!" I called out to my mother in law.
She walked into the room and smiled. I beamed at her.
"Not even a year old yet, and already walking. How much more will your old grandma run after you? " her words dripped with unconcealed pride.
Grandparents! I shook my head in mock exasperation.
"I need to get back to work. Please take him." I handed him over to her, and closed the door behind me, ready to take the office call.
