Mona Mona Mona Mona

Justin Justin Justin Justin

Claire: Just give up Justin, or else you are going to choke on that beer and die. And I don’t want dead people in my club.

Nina: Yeah Justin, accept defeat now. You have lost it.

Jonah: Who are you talking to, girls? Justin is not going to lose to a girl in beer drinking competition. No way, that will be an embarrassment to all male drunkards.

Nina: When was the last time he won against her anyway. Let me think. Maybe the poetry reciting competition in kindergarten. Oh no, Mona had beaten him there as well. Let go Justin, you are done.

Justin was almost choking without air, but he couldn’t give up. Monica drank the beer with ease and a smile on her face. At last Justin choked on his beer and coughed and tried hard to breathe; Monica subtly drank up the cup and kept it on the table with a huge bang.

Nina: Winner

Monica: Justin, next time, pick someone your own size. You ain’t winning against Mona in this lifetime.

Monica looked at Justin who was lying on the floor struggling for air and she got scared. She sat down next to him.

Monica: Justin, Justin, what happened. Please don’t die. Please don’t die.

Monica sat him up and gave one slap on his back and he coughed and vomited the beer and was able to breathe properly.

Monica: You idiot, how many times do I have to tell you not to compete with me. I always end up taking you to the hospital.

Justin breathed heavily. There were about twenty to thirty people in the club who were laughing at him.

Justin: I am fine, I am fine. You won this time, but you will lose the next time.

Justin fell on the floor unconscious and people laughed out loud.

Monica: Here we go again.

Claire: Do you want one more cup, Mona?

Monica: Well, maybe. No, no. What time is it now?

Claire: It’s 10, why?

Monica: Oh crap. Grandma would be waiting for me. She asked me to come home before 9.30. I am dead.

Monica immediately picked up her jacket and ran out of the club. She started her bullet and rode to her home. The night wind made her untied hair flow in waves below the helmet. Monica increased the speed of the bike.

*********

tum hee socho jara, kyun naa roke tumhe jaan jaatee hai jab uthake jaate ho tum.

(Why should I not try to stop you, my soul leaves me when you get up and leave)

It was a beautiful night and the sky shone with a million stars. Ali was sitting with his friends and the locals in an open space and they were singing ghazals and were playing musical instruments. A night as beautiful as this was not to be wasted without music. Ali continued singing.

tumko apanee kasam jaanejan, baat itanee meree maan lo aaj jaane kee jid naa karo, yu hee pehlu me baithe raho.

(I swear on myself my dear, please listen to my words, please do not leave me today and sit beside me)

Ali finished the stanza and took his flute and started playing the same on it. The music flowed through the valley and towards the ice caped mountains. The crowd immersed themselves in his music. Ali was about to sing the next stanza when he heard a voice.

Nigam: Bhaijaan, Bhaijaan. Where are you? Abbu is calling you.

Ali got really annoyed. This happens every time. Whenever he is enjoying with his gang, his brother would interrupt. He got up from the place and said good-bye to his friends and walked to Nigam.

Ali: What now, Nigam? How many times have I told you not to come for me when I have specifically said that I will be singing here. We seldom get peaceful nights like these where everyone is free. You always know how to kill the mood.

Nigam: Bhaijaan, it’s not me, it’s Abbu. He has something important to tell you. He said it can’t wait till tomorrow. He looked both excited and tensed.

Ali was confused. What would be bothering his Abbu? He walked towards his home and Nigam followed him pushing his bicycle. There was slight fog in the air and the cold breeze blew past both.

********

Monica slowly opened the door to her house and walked soft steps hoping that her grandmother was asleep. She almost reached her room when the lights were turned on and Monica saw her grandmother standing a few feet away from her with a look that can turn her in to dust. Monica knew that she had messed up.

Monica: I am sorry grandma. I wanted to come early but it was Claire and Nina. They asked me to stay at our club and help them out with cleaning.

Grandma: Are you done with your lies? If so go and wash your face and kneel before Christ and read from the Bible. I will get food for you.

Monica: I am tired grandma. I want to sleep. I am not hungry.

Lisa got angrier and she walked towards Mona and pinched her ear. You are turning 29 next month. When will you learn to be responsible Mona? Today is your parents’ memory day and I thought of praying with you. You don’t like coming to church right? So at least a prayer and a dinner together would have meant a lot to me. Well, from whom am I expecting?

Monica felt sad. She lowered her face and Lisa removed her hand from Monica’s ear.

Monica: Why should I remember this day grandma? They left me alone and went away. Why should I care about them? They didn’t care about me. They should have taken me with them.

Grandma: So that I will be all alone, right? You are all I have Mona. I thank God every day for letting you live.

Monica’s eyes became watery. She hugged her grandmother.

Monica: Can I sleep now?

Grandma: No, go and kneel before Christ and read the Bible, loudly, I need to hear your sound in kitchen. Go.

Monica: So, the emotional drama didn’t work.

Grandma: No, it didn’t.

Lisa left Monica in the hall and went to the kitchen and Monica kneeled before The Cross and took the Bible and read from it.

‘Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter– you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once more.’

Pslam: 71. 20-23

Monica folded the Bible and kept it on the stand and prayed to Jesus and got up from there and walked towards the wash and got freshen up and sat in front of the table.

Grandma: So, did Justin reach hospital today?

********

Ali rushed towards his father when he saw him standing outside the house.

Ali: Abbu, what happened? Is everything alright? Is there anything you want me to do?

Abbu: There is nothing Ali. I just wanted to tell you something and I couldn’t wait till morning.

Ali: What is it Abbu?

Abbu: Your acceptation letter from IAA has come. The Postman gave it to me when he found me in town. I wanted to give it to you right away, but I had some important work to do and I got late. Are you happy son?

Ali couldn’t express what he was feeling at that moment. He felt like he was flying on the ninth sky. He went forward and took the letter from his Abbu’s hand and read it. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He howled and laughed and hugged his Abbu with happiness.

Ali: Thank you Abbu.

Ali ran inside his house to tell it to his mother and his siblings. He had been working hard for this for the last one year. At last he passed both physical and written test and now the psychological test as well. It all felt like a dream.

********

Ali went to mosque with his Abbu and Nigam. They completed fajr and got out of the mosque. Ali and his Abbu spoke to some of their friends about his selection for IAA. Some were happy, but many were skeptical about it. Ali didn’t mind any of it. He was happy. This is what he wanted and finally he is going to realize his dream. Ali thanked Allah wholeheartedly and he and Nigam went towards the counter were the authorities were providing free food for the poor and Ali joined them and started serving food for people.

Qazi: Ali, I heard that you got selected for IAA. So, you are going to leave us all now, right? I am already feeling bad. Without you our singing group will not be the same again. Do you really want to leave the valley?

Ali: I am not leaving Qazi, I am trying to do what that is right for the valley. I am not sure how much I can contribute but even if it is a little, I must try. I want to lead by example for my friends in Kashmir.

Qazi: Many feels that you are going in the wrong path.

Ali: I can’t change what other people think Qazi, what I can change is what I do, and I am going to do that.

Qazi: So, are you going to say good-bye to Zeenath, Shabna, Naseema, Aliya and Rukhina?

Ali was confused.

Ali: Why would I say goodbye to all of them? I don’t even know them.

Qazi: But they all know you and love you Ali. They are already heartbroken, and they have cried all day. Their eyes were so puffy.

Ali: How do you know?

Qazi: Because I look at them.

Qazi laughed out loud, and Ali smiled controlling his laughter.

Ali: Shut up and serve the food you idiot.

********

Monica was at the church. She joined the choir and sang prayers before the altar.

‘Life can be so good, Life can be so hard, never knowing what each day will bring to where you are.

Sometimes I forget, and sometimes I can’t see that whatever comes my way, you’ll be with me.

My life is in your hands, my heart is in your keeping.

I’m never without hope, not when my future is with you.’

Monica sang the lines and the chorus joined and they offered prayers to Jesus and after that she visited the cemetery with her grandmother and cousins. Monica walked towards her parents’ and grandfather’s graves and lighted candles and prayed for their souls. It was raining slightly. Suddenly her phone started ringing.

*******

Ali was arranging clothes in to the bag when his mother came to the room. She started helping him to pack. Rukiya didn’t say a word but Ali understood her heavy heart.

Ali: Ammi, I am only going for studies and would come back here on leave. You all are acting like I am going away forever.

Ammi: Do you really want to go, Ali? We still have our store and you can help your Abbu and stay here.

Ali: I am going Ammi. I have to. I once heard someone saying that if you want to change the system, instead of fighting it, be a part of it and change it your way. I want peace between our people and the forces and for that more should join the army. I want to lead the way.

Rukiya didn’t say anything after that. She knew that once Ali decides to do something and if he feels that it is right, then there is no turning back.

********

Justin: You shouldn’t really go, you know. I had many competitions planned.

Monica: When would stop losing to me, Justin? Don’t you feel bored?

Justin: I am serious, Mona. Don’t go just this once. I don’t feel it right at all. Take a medical leave.

Monica: You have gone nuts. It’s my job, it’s what I love the most. Stop worrying about it and think about proposing Carol. If you won’t do that this year, she will probably marry someone else.

Justin: I am planning on that. And what about your love life and that Ardeep guy?

Monica: We broke up.

Justin: Really?

Monica: Nay, but I think we are going to soon.

Justin: Do whatever you want, just don’t die, Mona.

Monica: I won’t. Then I will miss the expression on your face when you lose to me. The entire town will miss it.

Monica smiled, and Justin smiled with her. They both danced to the tune of the song that was playing at The Ronald’s, their club.

**********

Monica got ready for her flight. Lisa came and stuffed Monica’s mouth with a piece of tart.

Monica: What grandma? I am doing something here.

Lisa: I can see that and that’s why I helped you to eat it.

Monica: Are you angry with me for leaving?

Grandma: Why would I be?

Monica: I was supposed to stay here for three months and now I am leaving even before three weeks. I am sorry, Grandma.

Grandma: Mona, when your great great grandfather decided to come to India, he never thought that this country would be our home. We decided to stay here, and this country has given us our identity and a place to call ours without asking anything in return. Now it’s our time to give back and you should do your duty without remorse.

Monica hugged her grandma.

Monica: Thank you, grandma.

Grandma: You go and make us Ronald’s proud, girl.

*****

Ali sat next to the window of the train and looked at the valley disappearing in front of his eyes, his family, his friends and everyone he loves and cares for becoming a blur. He felt a hole in his heart and an unbearable pain in his forehead. Ali closed his eyes and thought if he really wanted to do it and then erased the thought that instant. He always wanted to be a man of uniform and that’s where he belongs. He opened his eyes and watched how his old life was moving backward and how he was moving forward to realizing his dreams.