Cross-Roads

As usual, we gathered that evening at our regular meeting point, Aamir’s home.

Aamir’s home, a century old building, with its traditional Kerala architecture is a grandeur to see. That splendour house with a character of his own might have seen so many stories winding and unwinding in front of him. Our story was the latest one unwinding in front of him. Watching us, he would have had a thought like how different each generations of human evolve but inherently still the same.

We four were in our phase where life is yet to take its best turn. Done with graduation and having unemployed tag, we all were pondering about the options we had. Dreamers that we were, these meetings were the time when we shared it. While sharing, we always make sure one pragmatic dream is coupled with an unrealistic one just to appease our deepest desire.

Each plan and whatever it is, would be a brain child of one person in our gang, Fahdi. A million plans in his head, he tries at least thousand, executes 500 and be successful with 100, and he makes sure that successful 100 always counts. And that evening came a plan from him.

“Guys, let’s go to Goa?” Fahdi was excited when he said that. But it fell on deaf ears as we all thought it’s his 101th plans which won’t work considering our situation at that time. Dead broke, no reasons which will hold ground with our parents, as we all have made much trouble back at home that they don’t trust us and our reasons (I don’t blame them though, it’s on us). Main thing which went in my head is that, it is my elder brother’s marriage in a week, so question doesn’t even arise that I go anywhere out of town, period. So that plan ended abruptly as it started.

The second topic after every topic in our hometown would be about food, and should tell you our people loves to eat and is proud about the variety of delicacies you would see only in this part of Kerala. My personal preferences are the options we have for evening snacks, which includes both veg and non-veg (too much to talk about if I am to name each one of the items) And to tell you, I would be the first one to raise my hand for any plans to go eat. And that plan was unanimously voted as yes.

Checked the bike keys

Checked the petrol

Kick start the engine

Gear shifts up and down

Familiar faces on the way

To all we said our hi and byes

Reached, ordered and had to each one’s fill

Checked the bike keys

Kick start the engine

Gear shifts up and down

All this happened in a jiffy

We were back to where we started

That century old building

And there were us four in front of it

For all the topic which comes after the food, there is a lag. When our tummy is filled comes the feeling of stretching our muscles and to lay down. Ah, I missed to tell you what comes with that century old building, a compound covered with decade old trees, well covered and shaded that even the summer heat of Kerala found it hard to penetrate it. And we were peacefully seated underneath that canopy of trees.

When our muscles are stretched enough and rested comes the existential questions that we try to find answers for. That was our way of reasoning (mostly within ourselves) for wasting time and to give ourselves a conclusion to each day. That was our way to convince ourselves that we have a plan and that we are utilizing each day as productive as it could be by thinking two or three points about our plans, didn’t you hear too much of anything is also not good. We never bother asking ourselves much with the execution part of any plans, as we were of believers that everything happens in its own pace and we were in no hurry.

Round of existential questions and answers went around for a while when suddenly Fahdi got excited about his plan again.

“Dude, our life has become monotonous and I am tired of seeing your faces every day! let’s go Goa!”

This time it sounded more like Fahdi was convinced about it to happen than he was asking us and he had a tinge of sarcasm hidden in his tone like “Guys, when will you say yes to my plans without me trying to convince you first every time”

Me, Sadeet and Aamir was not excited though, as this was Fahdi’s usual routine of getting excited about a plan and dropping it when we get into details about logistics and budget. And to tell you, we three hoped for the same as it was a difficult plan to execute at that moment as we had our personal responsibilities, commitments and questions, ask me not, what!

“How much money would you be having?” Fahdi was already at his best, he was just suiting up his problem solving skills as if to address the issues in hand. That question was directed to Aamir.

“I should be having 2000 with me!” Aamir answered after a while of thinking.

“Then he should be having at least 3000!” rest of us thought at once hearing Aamirs reply and a sly smile spread across each one’s lips.

But Fahdi knew one thing, the definite answer always comes from Sadeet. Fahdi knew this plan is on, only when Sadeet is in, and the chances of it solely depends on how he gets convinced about all this. So the next question was kind of obvious.

“What about you Sadeet?”

Sadeet raised his head as if Fahdi just disturbed his chain of thoughts inviting him to conversation which he is not interested in. Fahdi knew he won’t find any luck there now, so he turned over to me.

“You?”

I was in my usual demeanour, giving an intellectual look with angle poised posture and as if immersed myself in nature and beauty around. But in reality I was thinking, what I was thinking and kind of lost how the thought drifted. Yeah, mostly I never find any conclusions while I am in that posture, thoughts just drift from one to another, as it comes, as it goes.

I gave Fahdi a thoughtful expression, as that question sinked in and calculated how much I had. Mostly what came in was my brother’s marriage than my financial constrain. I know, I was kind of not in a position to even to think about that plan, for one thing I wasn’t sure what reason would I give to my Folks.

“I should be able to arrange 500, not more than that and don’t expect more” I said coyly. Sadeet gave Fahdi a look like “how are you going to deal that?”

So, is the plan still on?

It is, for something Fahdi is not one who let loose of his plans like that. Aamir as usual was ready for anything, we just had to plan. Sadeet’s plans is only confirmed only when he says it so. And me, for obvious reason was stuck between being a responsible brother or the experiences I would miss if I don’t go with this plan.

Under the canopy of trees was a better place to argue, reason and talk about constrains to execute that plan, and that’s what we did. Fahdi mostly trying to convince with counter measures and action plans to whatever constrains we thought through and us three just enjoying the pace of how this all going. At least it kills time if not anything.

“I have 3500 with me, he has 2000 and you 500, we have 6000 to start with now! We will try to arrange more by tomorrow else we will leave with what we have and let see from there” Fahdi said addressing everyone, as if to ask everyone if the plan is still on.

“You guys go ahead, I have some work tomorrow to handle” Sadeet quoted deeply in thought, probably taking an account of the works he had in hand and prioritizing it.

“What work do you have?” Fahdi was kind of annoyed how Sadeet was behaving and replying.

“Why should I state that to you? You guys carry on!” reply came as of spontaneously. Sadeet knew there is no turning back if he talks about his work in front of Fahdi.

“We planned this together and we all stick to it” Fahdi tried his authority tone but he knew it won’t work with Sadeet.

“How urgent is that work?” I took the advantage of a minor pause in between and squeezed in my question.

“Some of my client’s payment won’t come if I won’t do it by tomorrow and it’s going to create a lot of ruckus” Sadeet said as if to himself of how much the trouble it would be. But my thought was that he didn’t do good to himself by telling about the payment, and that’s exactly what Fahdi got curious about and we all knew he is already thinking a plan B with the payment which Sadeet just mentioned. Everyone knew, Sadeet more sure, that Plan B won’t workout though.

“You complete the work by 6. There is a train at night 9, so if you’re able to finish off your work we should be able to catch that train to Goa” Fahdi stated his final plan.

Sadeet just looked blankly, Aamir was probably thinking about the clothes and stuffs he needs to pack. Me,

“Well, I only have 500 with me now and as you’re aware my brother’s marriage is in a weeks’ time that I don’t think I can arrange anything much other than what I have now. But if this plan is on, I am in! no matter what, and you all will have to bare me with that” I said with much authority as a way to tell others that they are not leaving without me, period.

There was a moment of silence, when probably each one was weighing that plan inside them.

“So shall I tell my Mom already? We should be back by Wednesday, right?” That question was from Aamir, which clamoured on other three mind as “what should I tell home?”. Fahdi stood there as if he already has found a reason to tell home giving us a victory smile. Less mattered to Sadeet as he knew he just have to keep them informed of his travel. Me, I was giving a calm and composed demeanour while my mind was running hither tither thinking what reason I will give.

“Yeah, we will go tomorrow and be back by Wednesday!” Astonishingly that was me who said that. Partially because I knew Wednesday is the last day I can stretch it at home, a day more is going to be trouble. I said it more like a request to others to consider my situation.

I very well know Fahdi expression to that request. Sadeet give it a chuckle and looked at Fahdi, Aamir cared less and was thinking when to inform his Mom. I gave a pleading look to Fahdi.

“Do any one here been to Goa before?” Even though he didn’t confirm yet to join, it was Sadeet who asked that.

“I have been, a couple of times already” who else it would be, master planner Fahdi retorted kind of proud.

“So where would we go when in Goa?” He didn’t confirm but wanted an itinerary of the travel already, but Sadeet cared less while he asked it.

“First tell us if you’re coming or not?” Fahdi was quick to correct Sadeet with his question.

“Let me think” Sadeet’s reply was bland.

“You both are in, right?” Fahdi asked nodding to me and Aamir to which we shook our head, yes!

“Are we set? I know where to go in Goa. Trust me! do as I told, there is a solution to every problem dude” Fahdi said coyly, while in his infamous posture when his plan works.

Sadeet gave a sarcastic look to all knowing Fahdi for the last statement he made, Aamir was already out from his home packing his best attires and flaunting it in front of European ladies. Me, I was giving my intellectual demeanour, who has nothing to think about, but wants to deliberately think about something while giving all out of context expressions.

That night, we said our adieu saluting each other with “Goa is on, comrade”

Mostly in my head I was thinking how to inform and convince my parents and how to evade my brothers much interrogating (not literally) questions. I knew rest of three would be thinking the same, or for the sake of not being alone I wanted to think that other three is going through same like what I am going through and hoped each of us the best.

That night I laid the ground works at my home.

“One of my friend is getting married and I am off and will come after two days” there I said it at home.

“I will be going tomorrow and probably back by two days after, by Wednesday” and as is with any wannabe intellectual, I am not the one who indulge others in nit-pick of things.

“Who is getting married?”

“Someone I know from college; you don’t know him”

“Why didn’t you tell us before”

“I just planned it today”

“You know, you have your brother’s marriage in a weeks’ time, right?”

“I know; I will be back before it”

“It’s always your wish right! Do whatever you want to do!” Finally, that statement would have almost ended the questions only if one of my elder siblings let it end there.

Question and detesting went on something like that at my home. For obvious reason, I was a miser in giving much details for them to get convinced entirely but was generous enough that they don’t doubt me either, I let them hang somewhere in the middle. I know convincing them is beyond me and I just have to go with the flow, that’s to go with the plan, if it’s happening and face the repercussions once after I come back, which is what I always do. What might be the reasons that floundered in other three homes, I wonder.

The next day as usual we four met at the usual spot. In the presence of that splendid building, under the canopy of trees, that day there was no other topic to think about than going to Goa. So is it still on?

“Dude, we planned it already yesterday. Sadeet, are you done with your work?” Fahdi was in commando mode.

“I have some work pending, but I think that Dude at my shop will handle it” Sadeet said rethinking it through. A sigh of relief went through the rest of us when we heard that.

“So go pack your bags, we will meet at 8” Fahdi was the one who gave that ultimatum, but who came out from his home at 8:45. Lucky that railway station is nearby, else the abuses would have staggered much longer, Fahdi to his part doing the best.

Alas, we did board that 9 clock train that night, we did reach Goa, we did experience Goa that time in each other’s company, we did get curious about Goa, that we travelled to that place many times more after that, we did go with flow and make a memory out of it all.

This travel happened many full moons ago, times have changed and so did each one of us. We have evolved as a person in different level you can say, personally, in career and with each one’s life choices. We chose different paths which criss-crosses now and then for all the good time sake we had before. Each one settled in their life, independent and each one grew his perception and his will to survive in this world.

While travelling, we made memories, some to look back fondly, some to taunt each other with, some nick names where born in this travel, some situation happened which is itched in our memory, some phrases and situation that was born in that travel is still immortalized through our conversation when we gather. This travel happened when we were not ready for this world and stand as a testimony of how we have bonded as friends, as brothers, how we connected as humans, how we understood the value of sharing.

Our trip to Goa, is immortalized many times and over whenever we gather and I believe life simplest pleasure lies in reliving the memories that we shared with our loved ones and our trip to Goa is one such memory.

And personally, me who went with 500 returned with 600. Don’t ask me how, I don’t know how and I have not bothered to ask that question to myself until to this time, I just give it a chuckle whenever I think about it mainly so I know the rest of the people came all broke after trip and I was generous enough to give them a treat with this.

As of what happened at home after I came back from that travel (that too two days after I had originally promised my folks) is another story. I might indulge you on that next time When thoughts come like a butterfly.

Until then stay excellent!

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