Auf gehts Deutsche scheisse torrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I just had a (decently) long conversation with Sneha in German, and I am extremely elated! Here are a few excerpts!

Priyanka: ah gut (oh good)

Sneha: ja, das ist richtig (yes that is right)

hast du anderes unterricht ? (do you have any other classes?)

Priyanka: unterricht means (that’s English!)

Sneha: lessons (again!)

Priyanka: aah

Ja (yes)

ich habe biological perception in digital media um zwei uhr (I have biological perception in digital media at 2 o’clock)

Sneha: zwei uhr (2 o’clock)

sehr gut ! (really good)

von zwei bis drei uhr ? (from 2 to 3 o’clock)

Priyanka: nein (no)

von zwei bis vier uhr (from 2 to 4 o’clock)

Sneha: ah sehr gut (ah very good)

wie geht vaasithwam (How is vaasithwam)

Priyanka: vaasithwam ist sehr gut (vaasithwam is very good)

es ist bei dsc unterricht (he is at a dsc lesson)

ist das richtig? (is that right?)

Sneha: ja dast is richtig (yes, that is right)

im dsc unterricht is auch richtig (‘im’ dsc lesson is also right)

Priyanka: im

aah ja ich remembere (aah yes, I remember)

:P (:P)

Sneha: ja , das ist dativ (yes, that is dative)

hahahha

errinere (to remember)

:D

sehr gut (very good)

Priyanka: was machst du jetzt? (what are you doing now?)

Sneha: ich sehe that 70’s show … (I am watching that 70’s show…)

Priyanka: haha

das ist genau (that is awesome)

Sneha: ich muss studieren bald (I must study soon)

hehe

und du? (and you?)

Priyanka: wo isst du bei nachmittag (where are you eating for lunch – it is the literal translation)

Sneha: was machts du im Bibliothek Zentrum? (what are you doing in Central Library?)

Priyanka: oh ich lese fur FYP (oh I am reading for FYP ( Final Year Project ))

fuer*

Sneha: ah .. ich weiss nicht … i habe um 10 uhr fruhstuckt . also, habe ich keine HUnger am nachmittag (Oh… I don’t know.. I had breakfast at 10 am… also, I do not have any hunger till afternoon)

Ja (yes)

und mein Hausaufgabe (and my homework)

ich habe Mittagessan nach vier uhr. ( I will have lunch at 4 o’clock)

Priyanka: was ist ‘weiss’ (what is weiss)

Sneha: weiss – know

Priyanka: aah

Sneha: wir mussen unsere blog updaten :P (we must update our blog :P)

Priyanka: ich verstehe jetzt (I understand now)

oh ja (oh yes)

ich kenne (I know)

sigh

genaaaau work (so much work)

:P

Sneha: Ja. (yes)

Weil , lange Zeit hat passiert (because, it has been a long time)

also wir mussen updaten (we must update)

haha

Priyanka: ja du bist richtig (yeah you are right)

aber ich kenne nicht was schreiben (but I don’t know what to write)

Sneha: ja ! (yeah)

ich auch (me too)

hehe

Priyanka: hehe

diese eine sehr gut dialog (this is a very good dialogue)

Sneha: wir kann schreiben ein Gechicht (we can write a story)

Priyanka: ich bin eine gluecklich damen (I am a happy girl)

Sneha: haha ist das richtig ? warun ? (haha is that right? Why?)

warum *

Priyanka: weil diese eine sehr gut dialog lah :P (because this is a very good dialogue, lah (singlish not german) :P)

liesst du bitte! (you please read!)

Sneha: hahaha

ja , jetzt bin ich verstanden (yeah, now I understand)

Priyanka: aah ich kenne! (aah I know!)

Sneha: ich hore einer sehr gut leid (I heard a very good song)

Priyanka: ich update meine blog mit diese dialog und ich schreibe about meine Glueck! (I update my blog with this dialogue and I write about my happiness)

Sneha: er heiBt coz i M tnt , i am dynamite ! :D (he calls cos I am TNT I am dynamite)

hahahah

das ist eine Gute Idee! (that is a good Idea!)

und martin doepel hat einen blog! (and martin doepel has a blog!)

Priyanka: ah du spricst ich (ah you told I)

entschuldigung bitte (sorry please)

*mich (me)

Sneha: haha keine Probleme (haha no problem)

Priyanka: hehe

okay ich gehe und ich lese (okay I go and I study )

ich sehe dich bei abendessen! (I see you at dinner)

Sneha: Ja! (yeah!)

sehr gut (very good)

bis bald ! (so long!)

Priyanka: ja (yeah)

guten tag schatz! (good day darling)

Sneha: Guten tag libeling (good day darling)

Priyanka: :D

i am soooo going to put this on my blog

Sneha: LOLLLLLLL

Priyanka: cha ich vergessen meine passwort! (cha I forgot my password!)

Sneha: :O

YAYYYYYYYYYYYY!

Diya : An experiment

I have been writing the Diya series for over a year now.

Strange how the plot kept changing initially and after a year when I continued the next two parts, I had forgotten what my original plot was. So it is finally done. The Diya Series.

I just wanted to share my experiences on this post. It was an absolute delight to write about Diya and her life. Because it is always a personality I have wanted to own. For people who know me, I am quite the bubbly, and outrageous! For a few moments atleast I was able to be someone who is calm, sober, and collected. Therefore Diya is extremely important to me.

I thought long about the ending for this story. No ending would not be a cliché because the basic story is quite predictable. That is why I have attempted to bring about a twist. I don’t know if it has justified my thoughts. But again. I am an amateur and this is an amateur attempt.

It was extremely difficult to not write words like see, look etc. If it is so difficult writing it, I can’t even imagine how difficult it must be to live with it. So, I bow to all those visually challenged people. Hats off! It needs so much courage and conviction to compete in a world where other people can ’see’ things. Kudos to that courage. In no way, can I write, let alone imagine the immense courage with which they succeed.

Lastly but most importantly, I would like to apologize to anybody if they felt that my story is offensive or struck a wrong chord with them. It was an honest attempt to write a nice story, and in no way to make anyone uncomfortable.

Hope you all enjoyed it.

Diya: The truth

It was a beautiful Sunday morning. The sun was just up and the morning dew was slowly disappearing into the wet mud. The grass was green, as green as it would be every Sunday morning. As it would Diya and Karan would walk on the green grass bare feet and bask in the morning sunshine. To honour their togetherness, companionship and love.

“Mooooooooooooom! Where are you?” came a thoroughly excited voice from inside the house. It was Neha. She ran outside to the garden looking for her mother and gave her the tightest bear hug anyone could imagine. Mother and daughter were reunited after a whole year of being apart. It was the same every year when Neha was back from boarding school. Neha was extremely delighted at being back. At being able to lie down on her mother’s lap and talk about life for hours together or talk to her father about politics and sports, or devour home-food rather than that oily greasy stinky food at the hostel canteen,  or just being able to lie down on the huge garden. Every little moment spent home was important for Diya. Her joy knew no bounds.

As mother and daughter made themselves comfortable in the living room, Diya was dreading the question that would be next asked. And it came no sooner than she thought it. “Hey Mom, when is Dad going to come home?” She told herself to be strong. Told herself not to lie to her daughter while she was going to deliver to her the news of Karan’s untimely death. Karan, the love of her life who had given her everything, a home, a daughter and so much love. How could she break it to her daughter? The question had been reeling in her mind for every one of the last fifteen days from the time of his death. Neha had her final exams then and it would have been so difficult for her to deal with something like this. Yes, she had done the right thing. By waiting for this time to tell her. She felt so torn. She wished for the first time truly that she could see Neha, to wipe her tears, to make sure she was okay. It was time. For the truth. “Sweetie, there is something I have to tell you. Karan is no more. He was in a car accident on the way back from work last Monday evening. I was not with him. He was admitted to hospital immediately, but the doctors couldn’t do anything. I am so sorry.” Silence. A very long silence. “Baby, talk to me. I really need to know what is on your mind.” “What can I say mom? I am just really shocked. I didn’t even have the opportunity to see my father before he di… died.” She choked. And both of them cried for Karan, the most important man in both their lives. A shelter, a great man, full of strength, wisdom and courage. A fantastic father and a loving husband, had just gone from their lives.

As it turned dark that evening, Neha still recovering from the truth started up a conversation with Diya. “Mom, have you ever wondered why Dad would never let you go in the study?” “Hmmm, yes. Why do you ask?” “Here.” And she handed Diya a letter. “Read it out. You know I can’t read this.” “Trust me, you will be able to.” And she touched the letter. Braille. She got emotional. What a man, he had thought of everything so perfectly. She missed him so much. She hated that she was going to cry in front of Neha, for whom she had to be strong. But Neha had taken this news very well. Neha was an intelligent girl. She was very aware of everything around her and she took a lot of care and caution and thought every action out. She was a part of him. And she missed him even more.

The letter started:

Dear Diya

How are you? I know you are very upset and sad right now. I hate that I have to do this in a letter. I wanted to tell you all this when I was on a death bed, but I had given this letter to Neha to give to you if I had had an accidental death. It is important. Certain things, truths of life are better known when the people involved are long gone. It is necessary to understand my rationale in telling you this at this moment of your life. It is but strange, how life has turned out for me. I have shared every bit of my life with you. Well almost. In all our conversations, it just never came up. Thank Neha, because I had told her not to blow my top from the time she was a child. And thank God, it never came up in conversations with other people. I guess it was just an awesome stroke of luck.

I was visually challenged. It took me about 12 hours to figure out a way to word it in the way that you would understand best, but I finally just thought I should lay it on you. It has been horrible hiding this from you considering we shared everything. My rationale behind this was just simply that I didn’t want you to feel like you have to be with a visually challenged person all your life just because you are. It is just a matter of coincidence; that I met you, loved you and married you, but all the same, WE were meant to be together. I love you Diya.  You might be feeling awkward, strangely empty and maybe even cheated. I can understand every one of your feelings.

To rid you of those feelings, just think about this. Was our love defined by whether I could see? It was based on truth, and for the most part we both have stuck to that. It was based on an emotion, a feeling that brought us both together. It was based on how beautiful, or stunning you were which I always said. Not on how beautiful or stunning you looked, which I never said. I never let you come to the study because I didn’t want you to get any clue to the fact that I couldn’t see.

I remember the time when I first met you. I was blown away by your confidence. I was literally sensed a symbol of power in you. I was so blown away by what you had said at that interview. I keep bringing it up because I think it was when I actually fell in love with you. It was a sign from heaven. I have never been able to see you. But I know I could just feel your beauty, your raw enthusiasm for life and your undying faith in me. This part of our destiny, to be together would not have changed even if the sky fell down.

Diya, I have no more words left now. All I can ask from you is to forgive me. And to accept my spirit in the same way you had accepted my being. I love you and I will always.

Love,

Karan.

Numbness. Silence. Confusion. Clarity.  And strangely unimportant. Diya loved Karan. Karan loved Diya. And that was the truth. No other truth was beyond that. And now she missed him even more.

DIYA: The soulmate

Tall, handsome, athletic, Karan Walia was every woman’s dream. He had everything, a multi million dollar construction company, an Ivy League education, and now a lovely home designed by none other than his favourite person, Diya Patil. She had done it beautifully. “Karan, I so want to live in this house. I think this is my best creation so far!” she exclaimed. “Yeah, me too, me too”, he breathed in reply. He was in love. For the first time in his life and he felt so happy. Nothing can match this, he thought, as they sat that night on the grand new terrace garden under the stars, with the moonlight on her face and the breeze blowing through her soft, silky black hair. Diya said to him, “Your parents must be so proud. You have such a great company to your credit, such intelligence, such passion all at such a young age. Your future wife will be such a lucky woman. Haha. Are your parents coming to the havan tomorrow? I would love to meet them!” Karan smiled and answered, “When I was really young, my parents relocated to the United States and they left me at boarding school. I would go to my grandma’s house at Panchgani for the vacation. Not once would they ask me to go there and spend my holidays there. My childhood went by with me feeling a weird sense of, I don’t know what to call it… hmm… abandonment, I guess. It was horrible. When all the other kids in class would hug their parents after annual day functions or prize distribution ceremonies, I would just stand there and wish at least that Grandma was there. But she was old too, so I couldn’t expect that from her, could I? Anyway, as time passed by, I got stronger and such things affected me lesser. I was not becoming a cynic mind you; I was just accepting reality and facing it on my own terms. Then just as I finished college, Grandma passed away. I found that out on the day I got the admission confirmation from Cornell. I won’t forget that day, I saw my parents for the first time in 14 years. I wanted to cry but my only shoulder was gone. My mother came to me crying and hugged me. It felt so strange. After the funeral rites, my parents started asking me what I was planning to do – Cornell or India? And if I needed any monetary help. I just walked off from that conversation. And I have not seen them ever since. I guess they realized that considering that they haven’t been around to see me grow into the person I was then, they had no right to advise me either. So it has been a cold silence from then.” A sigh. Diya said, “I disapprove, but I understand. Let me rephrase what I should have said. Your Grandma would be so proud. Anyway, I am proud of you and proud to be working with you.” She put her hand on his and at that moment, he felt nothing could ever shake him. He felt this security that he had last felt only in his grandmother’s arms. And all this, without knowing about Diya’s feelings for him. But he never thought of that, he just preferred to be in his own dreamy world and he would tell her when the time was right. He would wander around the streets only thinking about her and would occasionally bump into random strangers, who would abuse him, and all he would do is return a smile. A content smile of a man, who was in love.

It was a Friday night and the whole team was out partying at a new bar called In-Sync. Diya was as usual looking simply gorgeous in a wine red dress on her perfectly sculpted figure. The team was engulfed in conversation and was feeling good about their just completed task – a multi-million dollar housing complex for the rich and the famous. Karan was blissfully enjoying the evening knowing that Diya was around. As it turned out, his colleagues noticed him daydreaming and schemed to get Diya and Karan on the dance floor. After a series of “No! No!”, “You guys come too!” and finally “Why Diya? Are you shy to dance with me?” Diya obliged. Karan decided that those had to be the best ten minutes of his life. Holding her around her waist with her arms around his neck and just getting lost in the moment with the person he felt so happy with, he felt it was time. He whispered in her ear, “I have been wandering like a nomad for some sort of security, some love, some sort of faith that would drive me along. Right from the time I met you, when you came down to interview with us, I have been blown away by your intelligence, simplicity, confidence, your ability to make anyone smile by just your being, dazzling brilliance and most importantly your million dollar smile. I could give anything in the world away to see you smiling and I want to do it for the rest of my life. I know you might think this is a speech out of the blue, and it probably is. I hadn’t planned on saying these things to you, it just came naturally. As naturally as loving you. Yes, I love you Diya. Please be mine. Marry me.”

She stopped dancing. They were face to face now. Karan wondered how much of his little proposal speech she had really heard, over the music, albeit soft. He suddenly wished he had said it at a better time and place. But he found himself telling himself that there is no better place or time for these things. All that mattered was how sincere he sounded and some love in her heart. He waited with bated breath…