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The lost and found

 

It was a night with full moon.

 

Brishna gave up efforts to fall asleep and opened his eyes. He could see moonlight through cracks of windows and doors of his ramshackle bedroom.

 

How can it be called a bedroom? All alive family members were sleeping in the same room and this was the only usable room they had. The room filled with all the stuff they had...

 

Brishna glanced at sleeping family for a second and got up from the bed. Very silently, he managed to open the ratty door, went out in quiet, lonely street and closed the door discreetly.

 

Serene milky white light of the moon was showering entire street of Aleppo. It could have been a delighting scene.But alas, the street was now a place of ruined, devastated structures.

 

Brishna looked at the structure he was living in and thought it was not much different from the neighboring ruins. Dilapidated and scruffy in the same way.

 

But somehow today’s moonlight was giving strange peace to Brishna’s heart. He felt that condition of his street and deep state of his heart are same –devastated and lonely. For the first time, the sight of his ruined street didn’t give him pain, instead, he felt at ease sitting among the ruins.

 

He looked up at the sky. Was that pretty moon reminding him of something??  Or someone??

 

His own voice rumbled in his mind – “Poonie, if the moon had a face, it would have been a face of yours.  Noooo one in the world is prettier than you sweetie”. He could also hear her heartwarming laugh in answer, sounding like a wind chime.

 

This remembrance brought a smile on his face for a while. And he took a deep breath before plunging into the ocean of those lovely memories...

 

The city was not the same, the street was not the same, his life was not the same a few years ago.

 

Aleppo was alive and happening.So was his street.  He firmly believed that his street is the best place in the world. Nothing less than heaven as Pooneh was living there. Beautiful, bubbly, sweet, charming and lovely girl Pooneh. 

 

He thought of her as a fairy. How can a human be so beautiful, he used to think. “And yes I must have done something good as almighty blessed me with Pooneh”, he thought.

 

“Poonie, boys of entire area.... entire city are crazy for you. But you get along well only with me...Why?”, Brishna used to ask his dream girl.And she laughed every time saying, “You are special”. The laugh that Brishna felt was sweeter than the sound of a wind chime. He used to forget his own existence while talking to her.

 

A barking street dog broke flood of memories. Brishna threw a stone.Dog ran away barking at him and disappeared behind ruins of a house at end of the long street.

 

That was the house where Pooneh lived. Brishna could see the house in intact position in his memories. How can he forget it? Can anyone forget those wonder days?? Especially that day when Pooneh called him in front of all.

 

“Come fast Brishu, I want you to see something”, she yelled from the balcony while he was passing by. (Well, actually he passed by the house sixth time that day just in hope to have a glance of Pooneh.)

Brishna’s cheeks turned red as the prettiest girl called him Brishu in front of all and invited him to her house. His heart started beating a horse’s pace.

 

“Yes....ok....but what.....”, he blabbered being aware that everyone in the street was staring him.

 

“Just come fast please....”, Pooneh yelled in a sweet voice.


Brishna was still in dilemma. And before he moved his leg Pooneh yelled again, 

 

“Faaaast.... Faaaaaaaast......Faasst”

Now there wasn’t any chance he could let his brain intervene. He quickly rushed inside. But oops...Pooneh’s Abbu stopped him. “ Oye Brishna, what do you think of yourself”, he asked in scolding voice.

 

Brishna lost his confidence again. “No....No...I.....I....actually.....”

But her father stopped him and asked “why do you make Pooneh yell. She has got an iPad and wants to show to you. Just go fast.”

 

Brishna could breathe now in relief and said, “Yes... Yes... Of course uncle...” He moved upstairs while he heard her father again, “And pls help her operate it as none of us know how to do it..”

Brishna shouted “yes... Yes.....yes sure....” as he reached Pooneh’s room upstairs.

 

“ Yes...yes...yess”, Pooneh dragged him inside the room and closed the door while imitating his recent blabbering and laughed out loud.

 

Brishna blushed and was feeling excited she was still holding his hand.

“Poonie...”, he tried to start.

 

But Pooneh stopped him saying, “what Poonie...?? When I was calling, you were still thinking and asking questions and when Abbu told you immediately obeyed...” She smiled and looked in his eyes and said dancing her eyebrows, “ I think......you like Abbu more than me.”

 

Brishna could not breathe. Pooneh was so close that even if any of them moved an inch ahead they would be kissing each other. Her soft white perfectly shaped body, her mesmerizing sweet fragrance, untied hairs and sight of her peekaboo cleavage. .....all was driving him crazy.

“Should I take a chance and kiss????”,

 

Brishna thought but felt guilty and lost courage.

His lips trembled.

 

“Poonie....actually....actually I Iike you more than anyone in the world... in fact....I .....I....”

 

Pooneh again giggled while imitating his style, “I.......I.....” and laughed again. “ Ala hazrat... seems that I have to teach you alphabets again. J comes after I.”

Brishna too broke into a laugh. Both laughed for long holding each other’s hands. He felt that if there is any damn thing in the world known as love, THIS IS IT. And it’s damn beautiful.

 

“Let’s see your iPad”, he said coming back to senses.

“Stupid....!! Ipad was just a fake reason I gave to Abbu.”, she winked.

 

His excitement again reached a new peak.

 

She had never been so close to him before. He thought perhaps she is going to propose.

 

“Yes man...get ready for the moment..”, he said to himself. “Oh damn, my mouth will stink when we kiss. I had onion Omelet in breakfast..”, he thought and again got nervous.

 

“Oh..then??”, he could say with great efforts of hiding excitement.

 

“See this...”, she removed her full-length coat and threw it on the bed.

 

“ Oh damn..” Brishna’s jaws dropped down. She was wearing short dress inside the coat. The dress that was banned there as it revealed thighs and shoulders.

 

“How am I looking...??”, she asked dancing her eyebrows and took a round on her heels.

 

Brishna was still staring her. Her milky white thighs, smooth shining shoulders, hairless armpits, and skimpily clad round hips...all these were casting spell on him.  He has never seen a girl, a prettiest girl so close to him.

 

His excitement broke limits, he breathed faster and his heart was beating so fast that he felt as if it will come out of his chest.

 

He tried to speak but the voice didn’t emerge. He wanted to hug her immediately, squeeze and stick her to himself tightly and whisper I love you Poonie in her ears thousands of times.

 

He could see her saying something but he was so excited that her voice was reaching to his ears but not to the brain.

 

He moved towards her and held both her hand with his one hand and put second on her lips. Pooneh was surprised with this. But before any of them could say anything, there was a knock on the door.

 

All the fizz of excitement immediately disappeared. He didn’t know what to do. Before he could react, Pooneh opened the door, drag the visitor inside and closed it again.

 

It was her little sister. Brishna took a breath of relief but also knew that now chances of proposing are nil.

 

“Brishna.. See her amazing dress like Hollywood staaaar. How is she looking?”, sister asked him.

 

“Well.....that’s ....that’s amazing and she is looking damn hot in it. I am going crazy Doa”, he gathered courage and spoke his mind.

 

Both sisters laughed giving high five to each other.

 

“ But how did you manage to get it.???”, he asked. Both sisters stopped laughing and got serious. They both looked at each other and again burst into a laugh.

 

“ Brishnaaaaa.....” her mother’s voice broke his dreamy state and he realized that it’s almost morning.

 

“Get ready dear. Mr. George will be coming”, mother said. It was little hard for him to come back to present. He got up from the stone and moved inside the house.

 

When he came back after bath, he saw that mom had kept his breakfast ready. He sat and started eating without looking at her. He feared mother might read his eyes.

But he wasn’t aware that mom had already understood his mental state.

 

“When your father passed away, I had two choices. One was to remain in state of depression, and negativity, live life cursing myself and the world.

 

The second was to hand over all you four siblings to any of our relatives, get married to someone and start a new life.....”, she spoke in one breath while serving him another omelet. And paused for a while to know his reactions.

 

She saw that Brishna froze for a while and stopped eating. Mother knew that it means he is paying attention.

 

She continued while serving the sauce on his plate, “But my Mom gave me a thought. And I chose to live happily for and with the ones I love... You four Brishna, you four siblings...And it was easy once I decided.

 

Today I am proud that I chose wisely.

Remember, either we can let situations design our destiny or we can go ahead, take control and choose to design destiny our way”, she completed and went away.

 

Brishna was stunned. He never thought the struggles of his mother. He never cared to care about her emotional state. He felt quite embarrassed.

 

“Taste that hummus. Sabr has made it for you.”, mother said while going out for fetching water.

 

It again spoiled his mood. “Why Sabr is doing all this. Can’t she see that I  am simply not interested in her? She is not even half pretty compared to Pooneh.” , he said to himself.

 

Brishna was angry that he couldn’t stop memories about her.

 

That day Doa came with sweets to his home. She gave a box of sweets to his mom and said this is for Pooneh’s engagement. She knew Brishna was there and without even looking at her she ran away.

 

Brishna thought it was sort of practical joke and rushed to Pooneh’s home.

 

Pooneh was alone. “Hey Brishu...” she immediately responded. She seemed shying. Before Brishna ask anything she put sweet in his mouth and said “this is last time. Now I will be someone’s wife.”

 

Brishna was shocked. He was severely frustrated and angry. He grabbed both her shoulders and shook her fiercely. “Then what about us Poonie... Why are you marrying someone else??”, he cried.

 

She gently pushed him away and said, “What are you talking Brishna? Are you kidding? You are like my brother. I have never seen you that way.....”

 

“STOP....”, he yelled. “Brother?? Did either of us EVER said that we are brother and sister?”

 

She quickly replied, “Did either of us EVER said that we love each other or will marry??”

 

Brishna cursed himself for not proposing her at right time. He had no answer.

He tried to put his point, “But.... but... I...I love you...”

 

“Pls understand Brishu... I always wanted to marry someone from my own cast. And I am happy today. My parents are happy today. Please forget everything taking it as time pass.We will always be best friends. You will find a better girl ....and....”

 

Rally of memories could have lasted longer if an unknown voice had not broken the trance.

 

“Excuse me....is this Mr. Brishna Abdel??”, a man in white uniform knocked the ratty door and asked politely.

 

Brishna nodded. He didn’t like interruption in his thoughts. But kept his expressions polite.

 

“Mr. George has sent this. It’s your first assignment of job”, chauffer said giving him an envelope.

Brishna opened it after he left and started reading.

 

Brishna had never been to Istanbul before. Also never had a chance to fly. He was happy during the flight that finally his life was on track. After all, how many get such job where the employer gives flight tickets and international travels at company’s cost.

“ I will make Mr. George proud”, he promised himself.

 

The flight was about to land. The sight of Istanbul from the sky was so pleasurable that he forgot everything else for a while.

It is 7.30 in evening and Brishna has entered golden banquet hall. He is wearing Indian style outfits as the dressing code of the gathering is Indian dressing.

 

His mission is to get snaps of Turkish business tycoon’s arrogant and inaccessible wife. No one from media has her photos. The hall is full of elite class people and no one from media is allowed to have cameras. But Brishna has no reason to worry as he is given identity of a socialite and he is going to click photos with hidden camera.

 

He was looking for a girl, who does not know he exists, or the story that has brought him here. He had no reasons to be discreet but still he had to be careful. He was standing near the doorway and surveying the golden banquet hall, which is filled with refined bodies in saris and jackets, and beautiful young women with straight hair who never make facial expressions.

 

And the moment came..... Business tycoon Alim Demir entered the hall with his spouse. He was surrounded by associates and bodyguards. Demir couple was hardly visible. He slowly and carefully moved towards them. It was paramount that no one gets to know his intentions.

 

He could see back of gorgeous woman with straight hairs in sleeveless blouse and saree holding the hand of Alim Demir.

 

“Damn these business tycoons... They always manage to get wives much beautiful and younger than them”, he thought.

 

He moved closer very slowly keeping his eyes on Mrs. Demir. If she turns back, he was ready to capture snap with hidden button camera .

 

The back view of her reminded him of his love – Pooneh, for a moment. But he forcefully pushed the thoughts away to concentrate on the mission.

 

Now he was very close to the group surrounding the couple. He was ready with gadgets to take snaps any moment.

 

And the couple turned back. He immediately clicked the button of device in his pocket. But he was shocked the very next second and couldn’t click further. She was Pooneh.

 

He rubbed his eyes shook his head. But no.... his eyes weren’t cheating him. He couldn’t withhold his outburst and screamed – “Poonieee....”

 

He was so loud that it drew everyone’s attention.  Alim seemed angry. And people could see his wife anxious. No one had seen any expression on her face during any public event.

 

Alim gave an inkling to his bodyguard and they moved towards Brishna. Immediately she whispered something and Alim called back his bodyguards the very next moment and he moved ahead with the group as if nothing has happened.

 

Brishna couldn’t understand what happened. He was about to call her name again when he felt tight grip on his shoulder.  The cruel looking man cued him to stay silent and come with him. That man’s cruel face brought Brishna back to reality and he thought it’s advisable to follow his instructions.

 

He took Brishna to room away from the gathering, pushed him inside and closed the door from outside.

 

Pooneh was waiting for him angrily. Before he could speak she said, “I thought you were dead in civil war...Why you came here and why you called me in front of everyone...?? I am married now. Don’t you understand?”

 

“But you said you had married in your cast. My foot. Alim is not of your cast and not even of your age. I was a much better choice. Why you dumped me? And if you were not interested then why got so close.....?”, Brishna couldn’t stop his cry.

 

“Please stop this nonsense”, she yelled for the first time at Brishna. “Listen...The only cast in the world is wealth which you didn’t have.  So I chose Alim. And everyone needs a friend of their age which I didn’t have. You were the only person of my age in entire street. .... Please understand. I beg you to leave.”

 

She clapped and the cruel looking man got inside to take Brishna away.

Brishna was shocked to death by her words. But he recovered fast sensing the situation. He wiped his tears and said, “Ok. I’ll leave.... But can I see your smile please... I love you and always wanted to see you smiling.... Please, for the love’s sake...”

 

She thought it’s okay and smiled. It was that dazzling smile that Brishna always craved to see.

 

As promised, he turned back with tears and left. He was taken directly outside without entering the hall.

Brishna took a cab to go to airport. He wiped his tears and burst into laugh. He dialed George and said, “Mission accomplished sir. I got her snaps. Smiling ones too. And guess what. We will be the first newspaper to have her full background. I have it all.” George apparently seemed happy.

“The only cast in the world is wealth”, he murmured remembering the biggest lesson of his life and smiled.

His cab was entering the airport premises where he made the second call to his mother. “Ammi, I am returning by morning. Please ask Sabr to keep hummus ready for me.”

 

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