FOUR MEN…AND A BLAST…

FOUR MEN…AND A BLAST…

First Guy: Abishek

I woke up at 1:00 PM… Mind you, Its P.M… It is nothing unusual for a software engineer in Bangalore to wake up at 1:00 PM on a Saturday. I kept lying on my bed for another 10 minutes or so listening to “Rooo-ba-rooo” from “Rang-De-Basanti”. My Room mate had put this song to wake me up it seems! I tried to figure out where exactly was this song played in the movie.. I could not!!!

I checked my mobile phone, which was lying somewhere on my bed… I had switched it to “silent mode” so that no one will disturb me from my weekend sleep. I was not shocked to see that I had 17 Missed calls and 5 unread messages … This has been happening since the first Saturday I reached Bangalore and I knew everything would be from my girl, Archana…

I checked for the missed call list: 16 were from Archana and one was a local landline number, may be from some credit card marketing guy. I did not call back to either of the numbers….Both cause severe headaches if you talk to them for more than 2 minutes over phone!!!

I checked the messages:

Message 1: Wake up dear...Pls call back. I am waiting. love you.

Message 2: Where are you Abishek?… I am waiting for your call. ASAP.

Message 3: Where are you, you stupid creature? Its boring here. Call back fast.

Message 4: I hate you. I am going to switch off my mobile phone.

I did not read the fifth message… Why to spoil a nice morning… I mean afternoon!!!

By 2:30 PM, I had my lunch from “Some Sagar “hotel (They have a lot of sagars here..Shanthi sagar, Ram dev sagar etc...) . I paid the bill and since I dint have any plans for the day, I called my girl friend, Archana… I selected the last dialed number and pressed the call button… Good God…Please help me!!!

She picked up the call with in a ring and there was a silence from the other side.

Silence, for girls, has got many meanings depending on the situation. Boys, the poor souls, have to recognize the meaning and respond back accordingly…

Now, this silence from her was a kind of protest for keeping her idle since morning!!!

Finally I responded –“I thought I read the message as, I am going to switch off the mobile phone. How come you picked up the call so fast?”

“Ya... It’s my mistake…everything is my mistake. I should have switched off the phone.

I should not have called you these many times and I should not have messaged you.”

I knew much more was coming…I kept silent. Why stop her…? My silence had no meanings as such…

She continued –“ I believed your words. That’s again my mistake. You told you will be there at Brigade road by 4:00 P.M and you are still in your room.”

Time to interrupt – “No Archu. I will reach on time itself. Everything is as per plan. I just had my lunch. I will reach there by 4”

There was again a silence from the other side. This time it meant that –“ I am not completely convinced, but still the ice is melting”

“But you stupid idiot… Why dint you pick my call?”

She knew the answer, but still she asks it. Why?

“I was sleeping Archu… I was really tired after working hard for the whole week “

“Hmm… ok…But will you reach at 4? You told you wanted to visit your friend….?”

“I will reach at 4... I will go to his room…get my book and come directly to Brigade road from there… wait for me in front of the cinema hall..Ok?”

Silence from the other side….

“Archu….Okay?” – I asked again

“Okay….Hmmm…. I love you”- She replied

“Love you too…See you……” I disconnected.

Second Man: Rajat Dev

It has become very difficult for a Traffic policeman in Bangalore. I did many things to change myself to accustom with changes of the city. I learned English. I started behaving politely. I learned new traffic rules applicable only for Bangalore…the list goes on!!!

I have been a spectator of the city‘s development for over a last few years. This Brigade road where I stand now was not like this 20 years ago. Nothing was there…except this cinema hall. I have parked my scooter in this road in front of the hall and watched many movies. Now, if I find anybody parking their bikes there, I can “Fine” them. The “fine” people pay is the only good thing about this city. Otherwise I would have left this expensive city with my family long back!!!

I saw a car “jumping” the signal… I whistled 4 or 5 short Beeps… But he did not stop!!! I knew he will not stop, but still its my duty… I dint even bother to note down his number… What is the use?

Earlier I used to do hand Signals at this Brigade road junction. Now we have traffic Signals here.. My only duty is to check whether all the vehicles are following the signal rules or not.

My mobile phone beeped. It was my wife, Anjali.

I Answered – “Yes Anjali”

She spoke from the other side –“we have to go for Rena’s marriage party. When will you reach home?”

“I am on duty now. Will be here up to 5:00. I will reach by around 6 there. We will go after that.” I disconnected the phone.

Third Guy: Aslam Ali

This movie is not good I think… There is not much of a crowd to the Cinema. The juice sales depend a lot on the movie which is played in the theatre. Usually, Saturday’s are much more crowded. Damn Salman Khan and his movies!!!

“Juice. Juice…Milk shakes….” I called out so that someone may get tempted and have one.

I saw one beautiful girl coming and I asked – “Which juice mam?”

“Orange” – She told.

I started preparing an orange juice. She was beautiful. I wanted to ask something to her.

“What is the time mam?” – I knew the time.

“3:30”- She told

I gave her the orange juice. She started drinking it, while another couple came to have a drink.. I noticed the girl…She was wearing a mini-skirt and she was very beautiful too!!!

Brigade road always has a good collection of Girls…

Fourth Man: Mohammed Zuber

I need not think about anything else…

Faizal Mian looked deep in to my eyes and asked –“Are you scared?”

I was not. Really Not.

“No Mian. I am not at all worried. I am happy to do this “

“Ok. Abdul is waiting outside with the bike. You may leave now. Make sure everything works as per the plan”- Mian gave the last instructions.

I walked outside the room with the bag in my right hand. The Bag had the bomb to be blasted in Brigade road, Bangalore.

I saw Abdul sitting on the bike and I greeted him. He greeted me back.

I sat on the backseat of the bike with my bag. The bike started moving.

I explained the plan to Abdul: “First we will go to M.G Road. Park our bike there. Go by walk to the Brigade Road. In front of the theatre there is a Dust Bin, where we will leave this bag. We will go back to the bike and dial the number given by Faizal Mian. That’s all!!! Simple “

I noticed Abdul’s face… It was pale and he looked worried!!!

Why Mian is arranging such people for these tasks… I always wonder!!!

4:00 P.M, Brigade Road, Bangalore

Abishek:

“Saturday evenings are very busy here. Any way I am on time. I will stop somewhere over here and call her. “

I stopped and pulled my bike on side stand. Got down a called her.

“Hello…Archu.. Where are you?”

“Hi…Abhi..Where are you?” She replied.

“I am here in Brigade road…hm……you?”

“I am here only… Near the cinema hall…One Juice Shop is there, facing the road. I am having a juice. Do you want one?”

“Ok.. I will come there….” I told. I wanted a juice.

I saw the Juice Shop, which was very near by, and she was there in a white top and Blue Skirt. I waved my Hands to her and called out her. She neither saw me nor heard me.

Suddenly I saw a police man running towards my bike with long whistles!!!

Shit!!! I have parked in a No-Parking Zone!!!

I Ran back to my Bike… I again heard the song from somewhere “Roo-Ba-roo…..Roshani………”

Then, I saw a Beautiful streak of light, which I had never seen before in my Life…!!!

Rajat Dev:

“Hmm… Somebody is parking his bike right in front of the “No Parking” Board.

Time for another fine”

I saw him taking the mobile phone from his pocket.. He talked to someone.

Let Him go a few feet away from the bike, and then I will enter the scene …

I saw him waving hands towards someone in the juice shop.

“Yes. It's time for me to get another fine”.

I took my whistle and blew some long whistles…In a typical Police Style I ran towards the Bike. I saw two other people in front of me, getting frightened and running!!!

I saw the Boy, who parked the bike running towards the bike!!!

Then, I saw a Beautiful streak of light, which I had never seen before in my Life…!!!

Aslam Ali:

I knew the time but still I asked her: “What is the time Mam?”

“4”- She Replied. She was wearing white top and a blue skirt. She was beautiful.

Then her phone started ringing.

“Hi…Abhi..Where are you?” – She asked.

Hmm... Abhi...Must be her Boy Friend. Lucky Guy!!!

“ I am here only… Near the cinema hall…One Juice Shop is there, facing the road. I am having a juice. Do you want one?” I heard she speaking.

I saw a guy waving his hand towards the girl from some distance. That must be Abhi.

I called the girl and tried to show that guy to her..

But suddenly, he started running back!!!

I saw the police man running towards his bike!!!

I saw two other People running in front of the police man!!!

Then, I saw a Beautiful streak of light, which I had never seen before in my Life…!!!

Mohammed Zuber:

I checked my watch. Time was 4:00 P.M. everything was as per plan.

I reached near the dustbin. It was written in red letters on it – “USE ME”

My Heart started beating with a different pace!!! I did not know why I was getting tensed. For a moment, I thought about the people who would die in the blast.

I regained my courage!!!

Abdul was standing near me. I could hear his heart beat. I dropped the bag inside the dustbin.

I wanted to look around, to check whether anybody has seen me doing the same. But I had strong instructions from Faizal Mian not to do that!!!

He had told –“ Just do everything cool. Put the bag inside. Turn around and walk. That’s all!”

Suddenly, I heard a police whistle!!! Allah!!! Somebody has seen me!!!

I started to feel a bad pain inside my stomach…..I turned around…I saw a police man running towards us!!!

We started running!!!

Then, I saw a Beautiful streak of light, which I had never seen before in my Life…!!!

FIFTH PERSON: Unknown

Am I a psycho? I don’t know…Some people call me so. But, I love to be called like that. I love many other things in this world. The best thing I love is the uncertainty with which we live our lives.

The uncertainty of when we all will die!!!

We all live with lot of dreams, ambitions, etc…We do many things to achieve those dreams. We cheat, lie, play politics…whatever!!!

This Life is very short…We have some few years…In between which we do all this stuff!!!

Why???

The So-Called “Terrorists” blast their low grade Bomb in the busy streets to kill the crowd…Why… to spread terror!!! Bull Shit!!!

These people are also men…they also have their own dreams!!! But they kill the innocent…

People who knew nothing…People who never knew why they were dying…People who live with lot of dreams….

I took the newspaper and read it:

Bomb Blast in Brigade road kills 4, many injured.

Bangalore: In a bomb blast which happened around 4:00 PM at brigade road, one of the most crowded streets of Bangalore, 4 people were dead and many were injured. Police bomb squad has found and defused another bomb very near by to the blast area. No terrorist group has taken the responsibility of the blast up to now.

Police has confirmed the death of Abishek, a software engineer; Rajat Dev, a traffic policeman; Aslam Ali, a shopkeeper at brigade road. The identity of the fourth person is yet to be disclosed by the police………

I wanted to know, what mental pleasure does a “terrorist” get from killing people in a Bomb blast. I had placed a time bomb in Brigade road which blasted exactly at 4:00 PM. I wanted to know how many of them would die….

I wanted to know…How it is…Killing the dreams of a stranger in one second, when the stranger never knows why he is being killed.