The Deceptive Mind - Chapter 3

The Deceptive Mind

Chapter 3

It was not clear as what Aron was shouting while I was running but I was fast enough to board the bus and looked for Gina. There she was at a window seat and lost in some thoughts. I stood next to her and was waiting for her to see me and speak to me first. I, sometimes, don’t understand whether women are inattentive or they just deliberately ignore their surroundings. It has been whole 15 minutes that I have been standing there and she didn’t notice me. Generally the longest time I waited for was 5 minutes to have my food tray filled for my breakfast by my mom. Here I have invested thrice my patience and the best possible manners in waiting for her to respond. I am usually an impatient and a daring person and have always challenged my circumstances to beat me but I have won most of the times. It is so demeaning to see me disregarded like those trash cans on the streets. I couldn’t wait any longer and besides I was doubtful if someone will take the seat next to her, so I just sat and gave her a push which looked so natural. She turned and was so surprised to see me and she was sounding as if she really never saw me standing earlier. She had such a gorgeous smile that I forgave her for not noticing me and felt very glad to talk to her after a long time.

I knew Gina from her childhood; she used to be very inquisitive girl. She had this habit of asking a question three times back to back. After her father gives her the answer she will ask the same stupid question thrice. When she grew up and when we were in High School she used to look different. She was generally a bright student but I never bothered in competing with her. According to me schooling is a big farce. All the schools fool our parents and make them believe that unless they send their kids to school the child cannot survive in this world. They scare the innocent parents and make them believe that education gives them a good life. I have known many people who did remarkable jobs without formal degrees. Take for instance, our washroom tap was always leaking, my father who was an educated accountant could not fix it. He tried all those household items shown on TV like Fevikwik, M-seal and all but that goddam tap never gave up. But one day we called a plumber, he came and fixed it. I asked him how he knew this. He said “I laurnt it ba ma self mike, ma pa did it faur fiftee eeeyars and I laurnt ba ma self”. That was an incredible thing to know that you can learn without the school.  Our school bus driver too affirmed that he makes a good living without going to school.

There I was sitting next to her and all those thoughts flashing in my mind. It will be unfair if I don’t pay attention, so I tried to wipe off all those distracters and tried to listen to her. She was talking some nonsense about some family gathering that is going to take place next week and her mom is going to come to our place and invite. It reminded her of some distant cousin who will be coming after a long gap and she even recalled that he had visited my house around 8 years back. I was sitting there like a lame duck and listening to all that crap she was saying. I wonder if she will ever come out of those childhood thoughts. I mean we are grown up and those days are gone to talk about how we played in mud and all. Can’t she just think how nice it is to sit next to me and how I have been looking deeply into her eyes. Didn’t she notice I was falling on her when every time the bus took a sharp turn to the left?  Couldn’t she get any romantic thoughts as how far my hand was away from hers? She should at least know that I was making a keen observation as how gorgeous she was.

No, she never got over her talking. I started feeling dizzy with all of her talks and some tune started playing faintly in my mind. I tried recollecting the song; it was something about goddam woman. I know it was slow and the singer was soft and was saying all those wonderful things about them. I am sure woman will love to listen to such bluff, they always live in fantasy.  Yes, there you go. The song I was humming inside was “You love a woman” by Bryan Adams. He was so true that if you love a woman then you have to keep giving her. Only he said in a decent manner but all that he meant was just keep giving it to her.

There was loud screeching sound of the tires of our bus and it came to a grinding halt. We heard that the driver saved some drunkard from coming between the wheels and had to apply brakes with full force. This brought me back to the present situation and I struck me that I should give something to her.

“Hey Gina, do you mind if we have coffee, some cappuccino or something”

She said “I have stopped having cappuccino, it gives me heart burn and I read that that coffee shops put charcoal or something to get the flavor. Milk shake is a good option but that is too sweet and has lot of fat. I hate bagels or croissant”

Why can’t she say what she wants to eat, this goddam dragging for a small talk is so tiresome. I really cannot date women anymore.  As men grow older they get wiser and it is really a big task to bear all those tantrums of a woman. Well, finally we decided to have green tea and we got down from the bus.

Those days our locality was getting a facelift with all the new shopping centers and food outlets and one of those was Café Coffee Day. You can get so many varieties of Coffee that you get confused what should be your choice. The store associate himself do not know what various flavors stand for. They are trained like a parrot to sell as much as possible. So we ordered two cups of Green tea and sat at the corner of the café where there was not enough light. She asked me “Do you know where Viju is ? I haven’t seen him from sometime. He used to live in the same street of yours. What happened ?

“Yeah I know Viju, he went to USA to do his graduation in Oklahoma University”

You should see her eyes, I felt it will pop out and fall into the tea cup. There were fanatic expressions of love towards America in her. Her mouth too was so wide open that I had to caution her that she is in a public place. She was gasping for breath and said “Omg omg Viju….lucky chap….nice place….love America….heaven…Viju…that handsome chap….America….good choice” This broken language said many things about her. This made me so upset that I wanted to make her a damp squib. I said “Did you hear from Sanji recently”. I won; it really killed her spirit to ask more info on Viju. Her smile dropped and countenance more serious and morose.

“Oh never mention about that stalker, I haven’t heard from him and I don’t want to talk about it”

“But before he left our school he swore to God that you accepted his proposal when we went for that science fair”

That was it, I saw her sweating and nervous. She was ill and was trying to say something but she had some overwhelming emotions in her that she was trying to hide. It was best for us to part for that day and I made her board the bus and go home. I came back and sat at my table sipping my green tea which was no less tasty than a cat’s piss. 

The Deceptive Mind - Chapter 2

The Deceptive Mind – 

Chapter 2

This is purely a work of fiction and is not intended for any one dead or alive. Although it has been written in autobiographical style this is no way related to my experiences or a memoir. Since the content is suited for adult, readers discretion is advised.

I took Computers Science in my college and Aron took Biology. Somebody’s mom told my mom that computers will be a big thing soon and will bring a lot of money to people who have formal education in it. So she made me join this course and as this branch of study was fairly new in the system it was not that easy to find a good teacher who can handle the folks and the subject. We had this Computer teacher called Prakriti, it took me a while to pronounce her name. She was the most attractive of all the staff in the college. She didn’t have good dress sense and always looked odd in her dressing. If only one has the eye of a tiger can notice how rural her choice of colors and clothes were. Fair complexioned and lean she used to wear those big large framed glasses to look more old and aged. She had a slender figure with the curves at right places on her. She used to deliberately wear oversized clothes so that she could avoid being noticed by boys like us.

She always used to get nervous and sometimes whine at us if she gets upset. It is really fun to make her sore and cry. Especially boys in my class used to push me to taunt her. I sometimes pity her that she becomes a scapegoat quiet often. But the fact that she is 2 years elder to us and was a student in the same college and took up this job will always remain in our mind and I think we can never get over that feeling and accept her as some middle-aged lifeless nun. Probably it is for the same reason that she used to dress herself unattractive. But she had a knack to control us; she knew our parents. So she used to threaten that she will complain about us to our folks and used to ring some bells in our minds and keep us sober.

One day she just threw the door open and walked into the class and her face was all burning red with anger. I think she was too furious and was breathing heavily. I never saw her so upset and angry before. After a pause she looked right at me and said “You followed me last evening and came to my street, my neighbors saw you and informed me. I could take all your nonsense as long as it is in the class. But if you go over your limits then you will see the wild side of me” At that time I could really see her wild side. I never saw her to be so upset and I felt she was really serious. But before the matter could escalate I just softly said “Sorry Mam”. It really had some effect and she calmed down and left the class. But I was sitting there like a stupid boy. I mean, there is nothing wrong flirting with our teacher because technically she isn’t one, she is just our superior and I have dated girls of her age before. But the way she was reacting and all was very crazy, it sounded as if I was a stalker and going after her. Oh by the way I went to her place to really check if she wears those oversized clothes when not at work.

At the recess nobody spoke to me but they were all speaking about me in low voice, I could hear that. I knew these guys had the meanest minds and must have pictured me loitering around her house. I think they wished I was caught this time and beaten up like a mad dog. Such crass guys are never scarce in this world.  I have few friends who stood by me and Menish is one among them “Yo bro don’t worry man, I know this is all too much but you will get over it”. Such a relief it was to see someone supporting during humiliation. “Thanks man” I said.

“By the way, did you get a nice look of how she looks at her place, mate ?”

“You are a creep, you really think I went to her place”

“Bro I saw you turn towards her street, so now tell me what you have to share”

There was no use trying to look innocent.

“Well what else could you expect. She is no good at home either, all the same. Actually she looks even horrible at home; you know at home girls don’t even keep their hair tied. They think grooming is only when outside. You will really puke if you look at any dame at home.”

“Is it? But Vinoy said she wears 3/4th at home and doesn’t even wear glasses. He also saw her wearing wide neck shirts, you know the one which falls off their shoulders and all boys die to have a good look at”

“Bastard when you knew how she looks why do you even cared to check with me”

“Chill bro, this time I was checking if you saw something more revealing”

I swung my bag on my shoulder and left that place and that day I didn’t feel like attending the class. Anyway the next class was of Computers and I am sure she will whine and make a big issue. You thought that my sorry would have kept her quiet. No way, girls will get complete pleasure of revenge only when they see their opponent on their knees begging for mercy.  They will spit on you, condemn you, disgust you and finally hate you and that is when all their venom gets over. But the funny part is, later they become so friendly. You should try this, after you have been slaughtered by the girl wait for some time then go to her and tell her she has been so nice to you. You could see Holy Mother in her eyes with that entire merciful attitude and how she feels that she is tender and and how she could take on the world with her patience. And the best part is, you just tell her you loved watching her being bad like a maniac. Her heart melts right there, probably that is the best time to even kiss her.

But I will not try all this with Prakriti, no way. Not that I do not want to kiss her but she is a menace later. One day I was bothering her too much and she took the name of my grandfather and said she will come and talk to him. You don’t know him. He is a very old man but fit and healthy. I know most of the people that he knew were all dead. Whenever some historian is shown on TV he jumps out of the chair and says he worked or been with him earlier.  I don’t know how many goddam friends he had. And guys of that age usually have plenty of time at hand. You should talk to them on any topic and they will go on and on for hours and finally we will forget where we started. And imagine if she comes and tells my grandfather about my behavior and all. I think that will be amusing to him to discipline me and teach me about ethics, manners, respect and responsibility. So generally Prakrithi is a threat to me than a pleasure. I would keep her only in my thoughts and let her wander in them till I find something more interesting.

So while I was passing by the Biology lab and happened to see Aron surrounded by some of his classmates and I saw him holding a burette with some liquid in it. I just went in to see if he can join me for a game at the video games parlor.

“So guys just see this, I pour this herbal extract into this acid and you see those fumes, whoever inhales them will get his brains working twice than they would normally. You could use this during your exams and get all that crap into your head while studying in just a week”

“Hey Aron, are you up for a game of Space Commandos? I am planning to go”

“You got your class now? Are you not going?

“Na bro, Prakriti is on leave today”

“Ok, I got nothing much to do today, so let us go”

We started walking to the gaming parlor. It opened few months after our college started computer courses. I think there is some relation to it but I could not figure out. The gaming parlor had some big screens and some joysticks to hold and you start shooting all the creeps that appear on the screen. If you kill 50 in a row then you are allowed to play for another 10 mins as bonus.

Aron was deeply involved in hitting those aliens and I said “Did you know anything about Gina and that guy in the park”

“No, but tomorrow I am going to meet someone who studies in the same college, let us see what he has to say, Why are you so interested in her ? Do I have to know anything?

“Ah hell, nothing man, you know she is sort of family friend and if their parents come to know about her going around with that guy then they will ask me if I knew anything. And they will blame me for not telling them of what I know or didn’t know. “

“I thought some special interest in her. If that is the case then I will not bother to tell you that she just boarded that bus towards the downtown”

“What? Where? Which bus? Looks like it is moving slowly, maybe I can catch that, I will see you later”

The Deceptive Mind - Chapter 1

This is purely a work of fiction and is not intended for any one dead or alive. Although it has been written in autobiographical style this is no way related to my experiences or a memoir. Since the content is suited for adult, readers discretion is advised. 

The Deceptive Mind 

Chapter 1

It was summer weekends of 2000 where we had nothing to do except meet friends during those hot sweating days to have some stupid snacks, as I was not used to drinking by then. I was, as usual, going to meet my friends near the library, the reason I said near is because we never went inside it. God knows how long I had been to it, I think it was when I failed in Science in my school and my teacher complained to my mom saying I had not an inch of an idea about this “The Solar system”. My mom was so upset and crying all about that incident that I had to promise that I will learn about that goddam Solar System and then pretentiously I used to go that Library to read some crazy books written by Copernicus and Who was that….I think Kepler, yes he was the guy. These guys wrote some sort of important thing on Solar system, that’s what I remember during my classes. Anyway I was going to meet my folks outside the library and from there we were planning to go the Lake front. Guys my age were always seen at the Lake front and the only reason was that all the girls in the town were to be seen there. 

It was a killer instinct to watch all those babes going with some stupid morons whom they think are the smartest guys on earth. I tell you, these girls are so stupid sometimes that we even made some fun on their naive way of picking mates.  But sometimes we do see some single girls in the park and loitering and probably thinking like we do but may be they thought on how stupid guys are to spend hell of a money on these creeps who keep changing boys like they change their lipstick. So while we were picking on those couples and were making fun of them among ourselves, I saw one gal in the corner of the shore on a bench with some dirty looking guy.  The moment I saw her I felt I knew her but I could not recall who. Then I quickly drew Aron’s attention to have a keen look at her and refresh my memory.

Aron was my childhood friend. He had been with me in my school and was my college mate as well. It was very unlikely that he would not know the people I knew. Besides Aron had this sleuth mentality that he keeps a track of all things and people he ever comes across and sometimes even fantasizes to be chasing some mystery. He always thinks there is some mystery in everywhere and he has that uncanny way of finding it. So Aron was staring at that couple for full two minutes with one of his eye brows raised and he looked as if he is not just finding the gal but the whole story of their presence at the shore. I almost thought he is going to unravel some big mystery very soon. Suddenly I could see his expressions changing, his eyes were wide open and he was trying to tell me in some excitement. Before even he could speak I saw his hands were moving hysterically and I felt he will die of breathlessness. Finally he could spit the name of the gal to be Gina.

“Which Gina? You mean the chick whom Rocky has been necking?

“No”

Oh I hope it’s not our Science teacher’s daughter. That will be too sad for her to know that her daughter has been going with a dark pig that has this hair already falling off and looking bald.

No you moron, she is our classmate and from your locality, what you call it, I mean call him, Giesham, yes Mr.Giesham’s daughter.

No kidding, that Giesham girl whom our Sanji was deeply in love with and used to flock around her house.

Yes the same chick

We got curious to have a close view of them so we sneaked behind the bushes. While Aron was looking with that suspicious intensity I really wanted to know who that bastard was and how far has he advanced while sitting beside her. I could see that he had put his arms on the bench and around her neck but looks like she is not too keen to have it too close to her bosom. I could see her holding his fingers and it looked to me that it was not out of love but out of caution to avoid that creature to take advantage of that lovely sunset which was indeed romantic. I think he was speaking some shit and was trying to be romantic and probably mesmerizing but I don’t think it really did any charm on her. I mean who would really feel amused with a porcupine. While I wanted to give some ear to what there were discussing we suddenly heard our folks yelling out for us and this stupid Aron answered them with a loud voice. That alerted those love birds I think, he turned his head around to see if someone was behind but we were hid nicely in a bush that he hardly could make us out. But they started walking towards the parking and we had to go back to our folks. I don’t know why but I was feeling sick of thinking about her going with that guy. He may be a good guy but somehow I was not comfortable to see her with him.

She was our classmate in the school and our Sanji was madly in love with her. Her parents were our family friends and since we lived in the same locality we used to visit each other houses too often. So this Sanji guy used to hang around with me and used to push me to take him to her house. I did that couple of times but her mom was very shrewd lady and she found out that something was fishy. She called me once to her house and gave a warning. Later I never took him anywhere near her. But after our school I hardly saw her. I heard she joined some good college in the city and spent most of the time studying. But I really felt she was like my kiddy friend. She too was with me from my childhood like Aron. But he hardly used to speak to her. But she was very friendly and talkative with me. She had this wide smile and nice lips which used to open up to show her teeth while smiling. She was little dark but what a charm she was. I think whole class was having a crush on her but all, and including me, were respectful for Sanji and never mentioned anything cheap about her.

We left the Lake Front as it was getting dark and while we were walking towards the library I told Aron to keep an eye on this guy and give me a report as soon as possible. Aron got excited so much that he almost felt like a Sherlock holmes that got a new case to solve. We reached the library and bid good bye.

I was walking back home and it hit me about the story of Sanji. He was really mad of her and he got some stupid movies in his head and started thinking himself as some Richard Gere or something. I know he used to get lot of money from home. He used to spend on buying gifts and all she does was throw it off or keep it at her desk in the school. What is the use of keeping the gifts at school which are supposed to be in her room? I think she was scared of her mom asking too many questions and make her confess that she is actually in love with that guy. It doesn't matter to moms whether the girl loves or not all they want is to accept that it is a mistake and promise to never do it again. I think parents get this sadistic pleasure in finding faults in their kids and mend them their ways and feel contended that they made a remarkable change in their kid’s lives.

I saw Gina was never too close to him and never entertained his theatricals. But in the final year of our school Sanji really got crazy and once cut his forearm with a knife and wrote her name on a paper. He even wrote I love you, I wonder how much blood he must have wasted. I mean no pun on him and I do respect his love and all those feelings but what does he get by writing names with blood. As if he is Jesus to wipe all her woes with his blood. I think this news got out soon and the paper landed in the hands of our Science teacher. You must have seen her face on that day. It was red like hell and she was so hysterical that she almost broke his bones. Later Sanji was crying all day with bruises and all but it really scared the shit out of him and he stayed away from Gina for some time. But hardly did he realize that we were nearing our final days of our schooling. When we finished our exams and we were just having our send-off party we were all too emotional .I didn't notice what Sanji did as I was too absorbed in talking to everyone out there. Later I never saw him in our locality. And as I said I never met Gina later. 

To be Continued...