House of stories

  1st and last date. Conversation on phone. “I will call you once my final exam is over.”  “Okay” she replied. I cut the call and put all my entire focus on exam preparation.  On the last day of the paper, friends plan to get together at a hanging garden. From Charni road station we walked to the garden which was situated on top of the hill. From there the view of Mumbai was awesome. It gives a bird's eye view. We clicked so many pics and had a lot of fun.  When I saw couples, I remembered someone. I came aside from a group of friends and called her. But she did not pick up my call. I texted her “ My exam is over. Can we meet tomorrow?” “Sorry, but I can't meet you tomorrow.”  “Then when will you be free? I have purchased a gift for you. Please come for the last time. Later I will not force you. Please.” “Okay, on Friday I will be free.  “Thank you, meet me at Churchgate station at 9 o'clock.” “Okay.” I could not sleep properly in excitement. I woke up earl...

“Bala( my brother)”, what is beyond that mountain? “Other villages like ours", Bala replied. "How far is Borli (village) from there?" I asked curiously. "Once you cross that mountain, hardly 1 to 2 km from there". “Wow, it means that if I cross that  mountain I can get a chance to meet her” (I imagined in my mind). “Why are you smiling Dada? Bala asked. “Nothing. I want to cross that mountain”.  “What? Are you crazy? It is 25 km from here. There is no clear road to go there. You will have to make your way. Apart from it, there might be dangerous animals waiting for you like wild pigs, poisonous snakes, black scorpions, and thorny bushes."  He tried to persuade me not to go there as seldom any villager visits.  Whatever it may be, I will cross that mountain at any cost. Apart from adventure, I might get a chance to meet her. But I was afraid to go alone. One person who can come with me is my langotiya yar (childhood friend) Vaibhav who is fond of adventure....

“बाला(माझा भाऊ)”, त्या डोंगराच्या पलीकडे काय आहे रे? "आपल्यासारखी इतर गावे अजुन काय असणार", बाळाने उत्तर दिले. "बोर्ली (गाव) तिथून किती लांब असेल?" मी कुतूहलाने विचारले. "एकदा का तो डोंगर पार केला की तिथून 1-2 किमी अंतरावर असेल". "व्वा, याचा अर्थ असा आहे की मी तो डोंगर पार केला तर मला तिला भेटण्याची संधी मिळेल (मी माझ्या मनात कल्पना केली). “दादा! तु का हसत आहेस मनातल्या मनात? बाळाने विचारले. “काही नाही रे. पण मला तो डोंगर पार करायचा आहे. जाणून घायच आहे तिकडचं जग". "काय? तू वेडा आहेस का? २५ किलोमिटर तू काय चालत जासिल. तिथे जाण्यासाठी मोकळा रस्ता नाही. मार्ग शोधत जावं लागेल. या व्यतिरिक्त, जंगली डुक्कर, विषारी साप, काळे विंचू असे धोकादायक प्राणी तुझी वाट पाहत असतील." त्यांनी मला तिकडे न जाण्याचा सल्ला दिला. काहीही असो, मी कोणत्याही किंमतीत तो डोंगर पार करेनच. Adventure व्यतिरिक्त, मला तिला भेटण्याची संधी मिळू शकते. पण मला एकट जायची भीती वाटत होती. माझ्यासोबत येऊ शकणारी एक व्यक्ती म्हणजे माझा लंगोटिया यार (बालपणीचा मित्र) वैभव ज्याला adven...