RioZee

Yes, the celebrations were over and God graced Rio family with junior Rio soon. Rio family was fully excited to welcome the junior into the Rio net. Party was thrown, and the whole village welcomed the arrival of the junior Rio.

Soon days passed into months and months into years and life rolled beautifully and Rio too tried his ultimate best to fulfill the family desires to the best of his abilities. He had full faith in the choice of Lord Ganesha and after a span of 5 years rolling away fast enough another smaller junior Rio saw the light into the family. 

It was during this time that Rio was allured to try his luck into the stock markets and gave his share of two cents there and retracted back to the calmness of the village life for good.

Junior Rio had reached the age of six and Rio had to take a bold decision in the family. Rio wanted Junior Rio to be sculpted in the best of the schools and he had to put him in a good school of learning in an education hub town and took junior on to Nainital, the hill station. Here he searched for a good coaching school for kids and though it was a heartbreaker call, he left him to be taught and groomed there. After a month Rio again went to Nainital to see if junior Rio was hale and hearty and the first question junior Rio threw upon Rio was if he had cried after leaving him to the care of warden in the institution of learning. Rio was stumped there but not to be outdone, Rio threw the same question upon the junior if he had cried, and his reply in his own words, "no, just little water had come out." shook Rio's heart but confirmed Rio of one thing, he has the mettle of the Rios. Both father son duo enjoyed their two day stay. Seeing a snake charmer with snake on the road junior Rio said he wanted to put the snake in his neck and Rio instantly got it done and clicked a photograph. A newlywed wed sardar couple were coming from behind and seeing junior Rio garlanded with the snake, sardar ji's wife asked her hubby to get the snake in his neck and get a photograph done but sardar ji outright rejected the proposal. Her reaction downgraded the dignity of sardar as her retort "tussi darde ho, enna chota munda ni darda."(you are afraid, such a small boy isn't afraid.)  Sardar's prompt reply was, "enni vaddi naagin gale vichh daali, hor ki proof chaaida tainu."( such a big cobra snake he already adorned in his neck and what further proof was needed of his bravery.)

Junior Rio soon had reserved his seat at Welham boys, Doon after successfully answering the tough questions thrown upon him. The sharpness of Rio could be seen in this answers. To the question, which T.V. Serial he liked, while the other students answered snakes and ladders, etc. our cunning junior answered "News" and upon the next simultaneous question, as to where the aeroplanes had collided head on the earlier day, but our junior had the shrewd Rio brain in him because he had replied boldly, "he could not watch T.V. because he was traveling in train." 

Teacher not to be outdone had asked our junior about buying a newspaper in train and Junior had him stumped by saying that his dad doesn't buy newspaper in train. Though junior rejected that school and chose Mayo college because of big cricket grounds there.  

Life rolled on and soon his younger brother too joined him. Their childhood began with their letters coming up and Rio always there in times of need. 

To be continued..,,........,

The next very day the engagement ceremony  was set to take place as Lord Ganesha never  liked delays of any sort. And within a month Rio was to be a happily married man, as they say. The ceremony, a simple one and they were tied to become one soul. The day, saw nervous Rio, eating the shaadi ka laddoo. 

Was he to repent?  Not at all, as Lord Ganesha had chosen the match. Moreover, he was the almighty Lord. It was a real conspiracy of family members, which Rio came to know later. Had he chosen Lord Hanuman for the decision making he may have been granted 10 years respite, but Lord Ganesha, how could he give 10 years life when he himself had married in such a haste. 

A lot of actions were performed by Rio in that period. Did he write love letters? Surely yes, but such that only brilliant Mrs. Rio to be could only read it because the writing needed the heart to read, not the mind. Rio would be uploading his memorable Love letter that he had sent to then Miss Rio. Since this is a rare piece of art, read with patience and if you can decipher the letter, well, you are a genius as well. 

To be continued ..........,

She left the office sooner than later and the office head had searched a better option this time, an old lady, which was better for the progress of office work. Since my cabin's strategic location I saw the number of times people uselessly used to pass her desk to go towards the restroom had lessened. I am trying to be as truthful as I can. I know not what happened to her or where she joined next because I was never interested in these things or was I. [Reader Discretion Allowed]

While commuting, I thought to play a prank on my dear little friend. I broke upon him that the boyfriend debacle was all false and offered him to come to office today and I will get the intro done after the office hours. I think he had come up to the office and seeing the old lady left from the gate itself because next day I had to bear all his abuses head on, but I enjoyed the gaali's also because I had successfully fooled him. I didn't know he was fully serious about her because he wanted me to get her address from office recruitment files, which I sheerly denied. I then again had to bring in the fictitious boyfriend of her's in the picture but he simply wasn't ready to believe me now. I still remember his "foola huaa gaal" all the way. "I had acted a villain in his love life." I knew his anger wouldn't last and he will be his old self again. Suddenly, as the bus crossed chowringhi, his old reaction came up as expected, "arrey yaar, these old ladies should be banned to wear these frivolous skirts and roam around like that. Poora kachra kar dia."  He had been eying that shapely lady from afar but seeing old lady as the bus went past her, his mood had again gone berserk. So this was our friend and I knew he was never serious on anything. 

To be continued.....,,,

One or two days later, my college friend had come to my office for some book from me and seeing the stunning lady went all bonkers. 

When he met me in the cabin, his dilemma was explicitly written on his face. His shock was beyond repair. We both used to catch the first bus 3B in the morning at 5 a.m. from Alipore to college street. He wanted innumerable answers. I could read it in his horror stricken eyes "Why had he been kept in the dark"and I was like "what was the hurry for the book." " You won't become Kalidasa in a day".

I gave the book to him and he left immediately, knowing the strict decorum of the office which had been fed in his mind by me. I knew he will be at bus stop half hour early and wait for me for explanations. Before going out of office, he deliberately asked the stunning Lady where the restroom was and went to relieve himself. I knew he was trying his futile best to impress the lady. Since the office was a real worse than Adolf Hitler's pin drop silence one, he had come out of the restroom with face more shining after the deliberate wash and he asked the lady the permission to go to my cabin again, because of my strategic location I saw him talking again with her and approach my cabin. I knew what he would be saying. "Abey, kal jaldi aaiyo sabere."

Yes, he had said that and left. That age never dreamt of the tech we see now, whatsapp etc. that plans program to the nearest second. We had to wait for another day and time. I sometimes now feel that was better because we got time to plan the plots to clear the air. Now a days people get caught off guard. I am tempted to deviate a bit from my main story here as an interesting phenomenon of pager came to my mind. I remember when pager system was launched it was tough to deny receipt of information and my one colleague had dumped it and when inquired why he hadn't done as directed by pager message, he replied sheepishly, "sir, when I went to toilet the pager fell in the commode."

Coming to the point, we met next day and as expected, he wanted explanations as to why wasn't he informed of her and was their any chemistry between us and the relief he got when I said I had my books as my first love and she is just an office colleague, that's all. 

Now he wanted an introduction of himself with her properly. In his own words, "abey, tere se to kuch hone se raha, meri intro karwa aaj."  (You can't do anything, introduce her to me today.) 

I had weaved out my plan of action and the blow I was to give him was more a more fierce one. I never wanted to be a part of intro's where any mishap and I am stuck with the tensions of patching ups and all. You have the calibre, go ahead and fall in ditch. 

Expressly I said,"her boyfriend comes every evening on bike to pick her up."

And our conversation came to a dead halt. He sat mourning his newfound love...,,

To be continued..,.......,

I picked the phone knowing the ripple effects  of hair reached the beautiful lady and she must've been concerned for me. My mood wasn't ready for any talks upon the topic in office, so I discretely told her to disconnect at the time. 

I knew in my heart about the fate of this affair, if it was given water to grow, it would get into a difficult stage to back out. I had to close the chapter today itself before it began, as they say, nip in the bud. My motto had been to be married to my books. 

I used to walk from Dalhousie square to YMCA club after office to play table tennis after office hours daily. Today I offered the beautiful lady to accompany me to YMCA and we would have some chat along the way. 

As we walked, hand in hand, I knew I was going to be harsh and I didn't want to keep someone in the lurch. 

I, a reader, had plenty of words to crawl myself out of it as this was a start only. She had some fascination for me and at that age I too had that zing but I had one more thing, prudence. That prudent knowledge which my books had lavishly adorned me with. I had created a fictitious girlfriend out of thin air and plainly told her that I am in love with a girl and we plan marriage in near future. She liked my frank talk and told me about her fascination for me and her heart was clear and she liked my clear talks first hand. We agreed to be just good friends and nothing more. We had coffee at YMCA, and she left.

I had successfully cleared the air. Next day I reached office with nice military cut haircut and clean shaven, looking more dashing than before. I had bought another book that day, of "Irving Wallace, The Word " and already started the read.

To be continued........,

My college was morning one and I did everything there except study course books. The office that I worked in was a little lenient on me as I used to reach there by 11a.m. When everyone had settled with their works. 

I reached office little jubilant by yesterday's brief talk. I hadn't shaved and my hair was at it's rocking best, disheveled and flowing freely like my heart. I never used oil in my hair because I liked each strand of hair on my head to freely enjoy the air and breathe. 

The first exclamation was received at the gate itself, "kee daaroon, khoob bhalo laagche" ( looking dashing in hair style and beard.)

I too complimented her and cheerful by the nice start went on to start the daily routine job. Reporting to the boss, he took notice of my arrogant hair and beard. "Ei kee tomaar college naa ki, chool kaatiye, daadhi baaniye bhadro maanush motun officei aashte hobe. Ei yaarki eikhaane cholbe naa." ( is this your college, you have to come to office like a gentleman with clean shave and proper hair cut nicely groomed. This type of attitude won't work here.)

I understood that this man must have overheard the remarks of the beautiful lady. He didn't have trouble with my hair earlier and now this sudden change of attitude was perplexing. I didn't reiterate at that moment but I sat thinking at my table. "Is this company worth the sacrifice of my beard and hair." and I had found my answer, and I wrote a resignation letter and gave it to my boss. I clearly stated I am working sincerely but if my hair is problematic, I cannot leave my hair behind and come to work. 

Then I came to know one hard fact, i had resigned but this boss seeing the letter started hollering, "ei ki yaarki aache, eikhuni paalao eikhan theke, onek deserving staff peye jaabo." (What a joke this is? Run away fast from here, will find numerous more deserving staff than you.)

The hard fact was that just for some admiration I had kicked a nice job..............,suddenly I heard my line ring and awoke from dream. How could I get rid of this company. No, I had to do away with beard and get haircut the first thing tomorrow morning. Destiny beckoned......,

To be continued....,.....