three

Taking half a step out, Amelia peered around, not sure what she was expecting to see. She stepped back in and closed the door. No light. "Of course not," she thought to herself, "I must be losing my mind."
She walked over to her bedside table and picked up her phone. 4:48 AM.

Amelia looked at the door. She knew she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep right now, so she grabbed her sneakers and headed out for a jog. It was a bit early but that was fine, the park down the street usually began filling up with joggers and dog owners around 5 AM. 

two

Shuffling over to the door, Amelia tucked loose strands of her hair behind her ear and reached for the door knob. Gasping, her hand reflexively let go of it as her heart hammered against her chest. After a few breaths, Amelia reached for the door knob again. This time her hand was shaking.

Once again, as soon as her palm met the metal knob, the sound of chattering voices and clinking glasses filled her ears. Amelia forced herself to keep holding it. Listening closely, she could make out faint music and the clicking of heels on the floor. Slowly, she turned door knob. The light disappeared and she opened the door to her empty hall. 

one

Feeling cold but not wanting her sleep to go away, Amelia felt around for her blanket. Unable to find it, she groaned and opened her eyes. Before she could continue her search, Amelia's attention was drawn to the yellow light flooding in through the crack between the door and it's frame.

"How strange," she thought, sitting up and rubbing her eyes, half sure she must be dreaming. Her house didn't have a single yellow light and the hall had no windows from which the light may be streaming in. Swinging her legs over the bed, she got up to investigate. 

The Game of LIFE

To the creators of 'The Game of LIFE':

If only it were that simple. Perhaps it is. Perhaps there's an invisible dice dictating our every move. That would explain how indecisiveness often leads to spontaneity. We consume so much energy trying to figure out our next move, only for the wheel to spin and decide for us. (There are no dice in LIFE.)

I find it amusing how easy you make it all seem. A clear path, with only one or two branches, all leading to the same 'Millionaire Space' (unless you decide to gamble and end up broke). I believe you haven't read Frost's 'The Road Not Taken,' or perhaps you simply disregarded it. "Way leads on to way," they don't merge back again.

I don't blame you for giving kids a misconception of life. If your game was like the real deal, I'm sure it wouldn't be as popular. But tell me, what am I supposed to do now? I'm standing at the fork in the road, knowing they don't merge back, knowing there's no 'Millionaire Space' waiting for me at the end. Even Frost is of no use here. There are no trodden leaves, no clear paths, and definitely no going back.

I guess that's one thing you definitely got right - forward is the only way to go. No running around the same loop like in 'Monopoly.' Of course, 'Monopoly' does have some things right, but I'll save that for another day.

Regards,
Charvi

We Are Monkeys.

This is something that I wrote a couple of months ago and came across again today when I was looking for another file.

---

We are monkeys.

This is not a reference to the apes of the evolutionary theory. This is a reference to the monkeys from the story of the cap-seller. This is the tragedy of mankind’s Monkey See Monkey Do nature.

We are monkeys.

All around me is a jungle. Not of trees or concrete – of students hustling about. In every lecture, every direction, as far as the eye can see are students scratching on paper and ticking their books. Which books? Related to the ongoing lecture? Of course not! That would be crazy. Aptitude is the new mantra for all final year students. For GRE, CAT and of course, placements.

“What are you preparing for?” I ask.

“For everything!” One girl replies.

We are monkeys.

One person picks up an aptitude book and everyone follows. It makes sense though, we all want to do well and aptitude is a large part of the criteria. But do we really know what we are doing?

“What plans after you get your degree?”

“I don’t know. Either a job or masters.”

“Well of course, what else could there be.”

What else could there be? Surely there must be something. A third choice, a hidden door. Placements have started, postgrad deadlines are soon and we are still hustling about, directionless, knocking on all the doors – hoping to find a way out.

Once Upon A Memory - Part 2

Dear Papa,

Once upon a memory, we went off to work together, you and I.
That day started out as a normal day. Mom woke me up, gave me breakfast and helped me get ready. She combed my hair as I picked out a rubber band that matched my tee-shirt.
At the office, you were busy working and I was busy exploring. The fact that there was more than one clock intrigued me. One for East coast time, for West coast, for London, Delhi, and so on. Today I have a digital version of that wall on my phone - the world clock with all the time zones of places close to my heart.
Well, a kid can only explore so much and I'm sure I fell into a cycle of non-stop chatter soon after you explained the clocks to me. But you were used to that, weren't you? I used to always talk.
I remember feeling like a grown up when you gave me some work to do. Important work. I was really helping you out. There were some blueprints that needed to be stamped.
"Stamp here," you showed me. "Can you handle that?"
Apparently not. Did I stamp in the right spot? Of course. But apparently they were all upside down.
Regardless, all the hard work and effort I put in had made me hungry and my stomach was grumbling. Dad to the rescue, of course. We went to pizza hut and ordered take out. I ate an ENTIRE pizza all by myself (personal pan). Yet another accomplishment in such a short amount of time.
Finally, the day was nearing it's end so I drew on the dry-erase board while you finished your work (my work was already done because I was VERY efficient - even as a child.) I drew and drew and drew. So many different colors. Such a huge board. It was every child's dream*.
As you saw what I had drawn, you noticed something else too - the collateral damage. I had somehow managed to mess up the wall under the board. I hadn't drawn on it - I was way too professional to make an amateur move like that. But the particles from the duster must've gotten on my hands and then the wall. Let's be honest, I was short and the board was out of my reach. Something like this was bound to happen.
All in all, it was a pretty productive day. Probably the most productive that office has ever seen (no need to thank me). After cleaning up my mess, we took off and headed back home.
The end.


* At the time.  There was honestly nothing more fun. Kids today are missing out.

Magic8

Dear Magic8 Ball,
Please tell me what to do
Don't tell me "cannot predict now"
I'm relying on you

I don't need "it is certain"
Or "it is decidedly so"
I can work with "don't count on it"
Or "my sources say no"

Just don't leave me hanging
With "concentrate and ask again"
If I concentrate anymore
I'm sure I'll damage my brain

Is the future "outlook good"?
Do the "signs point to yes"?
Please tell me now so I can be
Relieved of this stress

So Magic8, please tell me
Don't be indifferent
Sincerely, a desperate
Final year student