Good People: Best Fiction

Next day Shaan woke up quite early in the morning and before he could set out with Kelly on the next day’s rescue operations, he went to meet Medhavi.

Kelly was already awake when Shaan woke up but kept lazing around on her mattress.

She got curious to know what Shaan was doing. Shaan took the direction of the camp and Kelly followed him. She had an inkling that Shaan wanted to meet Medhavi. She was in love with Shaan and wished to understand the relationship between Medhavi and Shaan.

Shaan reached Medhavi’s bed and sat near her. He smiled at her, “How are you this morning, Medhavi?”

“I am good. I could not even thank you properly yesterday.”

“No formalities. Aren’t we old friends? Formalities don’t have any place between the friends.”

Medhavi felt ashamed of herself. She had tears in her eyes. She mumbled, “I am sorry Shaan. I did not understand you then. I have started understanding only recently what you used to tell me about humanity being over and above the petty things like religions and castes. How wrong I was!”

“Medhavi, it’s all right. Just relax.”

“No, I need to tell you that I was utterly stupid. I was overambitious and very jealous of you. I was a fool then.”

“Medhavi, I must not forget to tell you that your husband reached here yesterday and in the evening he came to see you. You were asleep then. We did not think it proper to wake you up. He will meet you shortly. Take a full day’s rest and then you can move with him in his hotel after consulting the doctors.”

Kelly was standing a little away from the bed of Medhavi but out of her or Shaan’s sight. But she could hear the entire conversation that took place between Shaan and Medhavi.

Then she saw Shaan moving away from Medhavi’s bed only to turn back and reach Medhavi again. Kelly got more curious to know why Shaan wanted to meet Medhavi again.

So Kelly remained where she was positioned earlier and listened to the conversation between Shaan and Medhavi.

Shaan reached Medhavi and said, “Hey one more thing. I am curious to know why you still have my handkerchief with you?”

Medhavi smiled and replied, “Shaan, when you travelled with me to USA and dropped me at Anji’s apartment that day, I have been very angry with you all the time. On top of that I hurt myself while removing my bag from the carousel at the airport and you bandaged my wound by your handkerchief. So I was angry because of that too. In the rage of my anger I forgot to give back your handkerchief to you.”

“I wouldn’t have accepted it then because it was meant for your hurt leg.”

“Yet I wanted to be rid of everything that was associated with you. But your handkerchief remained with me. And then I don’t know what occurred to me, I could not throw it away. Not only that, over the recent months I started carrying it with me in my purse all the time. Subconsciously I always felt that your handkerchief would always protect me. I am so stupid and superstitious. But see in the end your handkerchief did save me today. It has literally given me the second life. I am so much indebted to you Shaan.”

She further added, “I was waving the handkerchief at each and every rescue team that passed my building where I had taken the shelter but everyone ignored me. I don’t know the reason. Then I remembered that even in the last rescue operations that took place in the Indian Ocean, the rescue operators had practiced discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion and nationality. So I gave up all the hope. Death stared straight in my face every single minute. But I kept on unfurling your handkerchief to attract the attention of the rescuers. And finally your handkerchief proved so lucky for me.”

“Yes it was the handkerchief that gave me the clue that the girl holding it must be Medhavi. I had never before left any of my handkerchiefs with anyone. When I saw it through the binoculars, I saw my name woven in it. My mom did that to all of my handkerchiefs. Then I saw your face once again to confirm if you really were Medhavi.”

“Shaan, even if you ask me that handkerchief back now, I will never ever return it to you. That’s my decision.”

Kelly was secretly listening to this conversation.

Kelly thought, “Is this girl still in love with Shaan? And what about Shaan?”

Kelly moved from there before Shaan could reach the place where they resided.

Then Shaan and Kelly resumed their rescue operations for the day. Shaan had no clue that Kelly had heard his conversation with Medhavi that morning.

But Shaan sensed some change in Kelly. Kelly acted every bit professional but quite detached from him at the personal level. Shaan wondered at her such behavior. Why such sudden change in her?

But they were too busy rescuing the people throughout the whole day and had no time to exchange any personal conversation.

………………….

Samskara was in constant touch with Medhavi’s parents. They arrived from India the early morning and met Samskara in his hotel room.

Samskara told them that he had met Shaan and through him he saw Medhavi in the camp. Since she was taking rest and already asleep he could not speak with her.

Medhavi’s parents felt quite puzzled. Medhavi’s father asked, “What way Shaan comes into picture?”

“Perhaps you may be knowing Shaan because Medhavi and Shaan were classmates while studying in India. Shaan now works for a humanitarian organization of America called ‘Humanity Forum’. He along with his associate Kelly saved Medhavi’s life.”

“Did he really save Medhavi?” Surprise as well as doubt loomed large on Medhavi’s father’s face.

“Yes, it’s only because of Shaan that Medhavi is alive today.”

Hearing this Medhavi’s father looked at his wife with some meaningful gestures but Samskara did not notice it.

Samskara said, “Let us go to the rescue camp.”

Presently they were in Medhavi’s company in the camp.

Medhavi addressed to Samskara, “How do you know Shaan? You mentioned that you met him yesterday.”

“I do not know him personally but got to know his whereabouts through your diary.”

Medhavi was taken aback at this revelation. After reaching Japan she had realized that she had left her diary at home in San Diego. She was quite apprehensive about it because she wrote so many things in the diary, which she did not want Samskara to know at this stage. But she thought now that the damage was already done.

Yet she did not continue with the subject of diary in presence of her parents. But she decided that she would soon discuss with Samskara everything that was disturbing her because Samskara already knew everything after reading her diary.

Samskara was also keen on discussing Medhavi’s concerns that she wrote in her diary but not in presence of Medhavi’s parents.

(Get your copy of the novel "Good People" as an eBook from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009BHH37G only for $ 0.99. You may also like to get its Printed Book from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Good-People-Dream-Boundary-World/dp/1479333085/ref=sr_1_8_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380916602&sr=1-8&keywords=shyam+bhatawdekar%27s+books)

Novels and Stories

Novel "Good People" http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/
Funny (and Not So Funny) Short Stories http://management-anecdotes.blogspot.com/
Stories Children Will Love http://stories-children.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Good People: Chapter 4: A Unique Story

All the Chapters

Chapter 1: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-path-breaking-novel-and.html

Chapter 2: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-classic-novel-and-classic.html

Chapter 3: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romance-with-difference.html

Chapter 4: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-unique-story.html

Chapter 5: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary-romance.html

Chapter 6: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-story-of-subtleties-of-life.html

Chapter 7: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-interestig-reading.html

Chapter 8: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-global-perspective.html

Chapter 9: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary.html

Chapter 10: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romantic-scenarios.html

Chapter 11: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-professionally-right.html

Chapter 12: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-expanding-thinking-horizons.html

Chapter 13: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-modern-romance.html

Chapter 14: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-serious-reflections.html

Chapter 15: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-story-of-human-paradigms.html

Chapter 16: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-dilemma-and-solutions.html

Chapter 17: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-romance-and-tough-decisions.html

Chapter 18: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-tale-of-disaster-and-anxiety.html

Chapter 19: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-prejudices-and-conflicts.html

Chapter 20: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-anxiety-and-love-story.html

Chapter 21: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-love-triangle-jealousy-and.html

Chapter 22: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-interesting-climax.html

Chapter23: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-love-story.html

Chapter 24: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-finally-love-knows-no-bounds.html

Chapter 4

Shaan was guiding Medhavi in her studies and was falling in love with her.

Medhavi was learning fast how to study better and score better grades. But she was not falling in love with Shaan. She pretended to be falling in love with Shaan though.

She knew that falling in love with Shaan was futile. They could never marry each other. She was a devout Hindu. Her parents were far more devout Hindus. And she had researched Shaan inside out. She knew that a Christian-Muslim couple had adopted Shaan. She did not know his religion though. This situation would never be acceptable to her and more so to her parents. So why fall into the love-trap?

She had a theory about falling in love. She was far intelligent to know that one does not fall in love but one decides to fall in love with the right candidate. And under the circumstances, she decided not to fall in love with Shaan howsoever attractive he was. But in some corner of her heart, she wasn’t too happy with her decision. Yet!

The association of Shaan with Medhavi started showing its impact on her grades. She mischievously started contemplating her ultimate success as the topper in the university. She had spent all these years dreaming about that position but Shaan always proved to be the obstacle she couldn’t ever cross. Now Shaan himself was her mentor and the sacrificial goat.

She needed to motivate him more to spend more time with her and seek the continued guidance she ever needed. One day while they were studying together she suddenly held him by her arms and planted a kiss on Shaan’s lips.

It was unexpected but Shaan always wanted it to happen. He was falling in love. Though a bit taken aback by her sudden attack, he managed to give a grand response. Whatever he did, he always did brilliantly.

“How very silly of me? I shouldn’t have done it. Now I feel shy of what I did and a bit ashamed too. But Shaan, you were brilliant. How many girls did you kiss earlier? How do you achieve such perfection in everything you do?”

“I am glad you liked. Don’t worry. It was my first kiss. But I have mastered the theory and I was just looking out for its implementation. Thanks for giving me a chance.”

“By the way, how do you master your theory?”

“No jokes. I read a lot and observe a lot.”

“Whatever. But one thing is sure, you are a man enough.”

Shaan managed to blush.

And their study sessions continued a little longer every day after this day.

Medhavi was winning and Shaan was losing a bit every day. He was getting much less time to do his own studies. It was just his strong will power that made him to cut down on his sleeping hours so that he could put in more time towards his studies in his hostel room.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Good People: Chapter 3: Romance with a Difference

All the Chapters

Chapter 1: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-path-breaking-novel-and.html

Chapter 2: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-classic-novel-and-classic.html

Chapter 3: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romance-with-difference.html

Chapter 4: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-unique-story.html

Chapter 5: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary-romance.html

Chapter 6: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-story-of-subtleties-of-life.html

Chapter 7: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-interestig-reading.html

Chapter 8: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-global-perspective.html

Chapter 9: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary.html

Chapter 10: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romantic-scenarios.html

Chapter 11: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-professionally-right.html

Chapter 12: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-expanding-thinking-horizons.html

Chapter 13: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-modern-romance.html

Chapter 14: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-serious-reflections.html

Chapter 15: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-story-of-human-paradigms.html

Chapter 16: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-dilemma-and-solutions.html

Chapter 17: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-romance-and-tough-decisions.html

Chapter 18: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-tale-of-disaster-and-anxiety.html

Chapter 19: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-prejudices-and-conflicts.html

Chapter 20: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-anxiety-and-love-story.html

Chapter 21: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-love-triangle-jealousy-and.html

Chapter 22: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-interesting-climax.html

Chapter23: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-love-story.html

Chapter 24: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-finally-love-knows-no-bounds.html

Chapter 3

Medhavi was a distant number two topper in the class. Though she competed ferociously to bridge the yawning gap of marks between her and Shaan, she failed every time. So her only aim now was not just to match Shaan but also to beat him.

She was hell of an ambitious woman. Only being beautiful was not enough for her. She wanted to prove to every student and every professor in the university that she was the brainiest woman too. Most of all she wanted to prove it to Shaan who she thought was her fieriest competitor in studies as well as in looks.

She could do any thing to do it. She even wept endlessly the day the examination results were declared, year after year. Shaan- her archrival always overtook her. She did not relish being overtaken all the time. She was angry with Shaan and she washed her anger towards Shaan by the tears gushing out of her eyes.

On the other hand Shaan used to admire her secretly. He all the time thought of befriending her but felt shy.

Then when she was in the final year of the college she finally decided to befriend Shaan. When you cannot beat the enemy, join him and she did.

One day she saw Shaan walking in the corridor of the college alone little lost into his own thoughts. She posed as if she did not notice him and collided with him. She pretended that to be an accident.

She acted startled and sheepishly said, “Hey Shaan. I am so stupid. Couldn’t see you coming. I am sorry. Hope I did not hurt you. Did I?”

Shaan said, “I should be asking that question to you. I was a bit engrossed in something and did not notice you. How silly of me?”

“No. I am perfectly alright.”

“Same with me. Let me collect your belongings lying all over the floor.”

And Medhavi deliberately touched her fingers with those of Shaan. Shaan felt a pleasant shock; Medhavi could always do that to any of the male species. She was so beautiful! She was brainy too!! A heady mixture of beauty and brain no male could ever resist.

Shaan was handsome too in his own ways and Medhavi could not escape the sweet sensations though she wished to only pretend to begin with. But it was really happening now and she could not resist. No female could resist Shaan. Shaan was all brains! He was handsomely smart too!! A heady mixture of brain and smartness no female could ever resist.

“I always wanted to meet you privately,” Medhavi said. “But we will meet this way, I could not have imagined. I am mighty thankful to this collision.”

Shaan agreed. He said, “I am glad too to meet you this way, just me and you. In our various classroom sessions meeting you occasionally was not the same.”

Shaan took initiative, “Can we go have coffee?”

Medhavi nodded in affirmation. “Yep, why not?”

Then they went to the college café together.

College café was the only place in the college that was visited most by the students. Students preferred to spend their time here more than in their classes or in the library. Here they had the advantage of studying the opposite sex in a more congenial environment. These studies were far more interesting than the drab lectures on the drab subjects by the drab professors in the drab classrooms. Many gossipy love stories developed and bloomed here. Many ended in tragedies. In short the café was a hot joint. It used to be crowded throughout the day. Getting a solitary table in this kind of crowded venue was a very difficult job.

But for Medhavi it was easier than it was for the other students. She was the most beautiful girl around and her charms worked with everyone. The café manager would always oblige Medhavi by somehow arranging a corner table. Today also she could easily manage one.

Shaan and Medhavi settled on a corner table. Shaan called the waiter and ordered for coffee for two and some snacks to go with coffee. He would need to pay more for using the waiter service. Normally all the students used the self-help. It was the special occasion for Shaan and he was wiling to spend.

While sipping the hot coffee Medhavi put up her proposal to Shaan, “Can you help me in bridging the yawning gap between your grades and mine? Though I am number two in the class after you, it feels as if I am at number ten because of the huge gap between your marks and mine. Don’t worry. I am not eyeing for number one position, that’s always yours. All I want is to achieve a decent number two. I need your guidance. Is that OK with you?”

Coming from Medhavi, he had no hesitation to accept this proposal. He thought to himself, “Wasn’t I looking forward to become your friend already? You are so beautiful and intelligent.”

Expressly he said, “Medhavi, it’s done thing. OK with me.”

Medhavi asked, “When do we start? But not in your hostel room. I will not like to go to boys’ hostel and I hear that the meeting hours are restricted. Good thing that I am still a day scholar. Can you come to my place? My parents live nearby. Just one or two hours every day? Hope I am not asking the moon. I am sure you can do at least this much for me.”

Shaan had no objection to this kind of arrangement. He nodded, “Yes. Sure.”

“Shall we start tomorrow?”

“Yep”.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Good People: Chapter 1: Path Breaking Novel and Love Story with a Difference

All the Chapters

Chapter 1: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-path-breaking-novel-and.html

Chapter 2: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-classic-novel-and-classic.html

Chapter 3: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romance-with-difference.html

Chapter 4: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-unique-story.html

Chapter 5: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary-romance.html

Chapter 6: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-story-of-subtleties-of-life.html

Chapter 7: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-interestig-reading.html

Chapter 8: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-global-perspective.html

Chapter 9: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary.html

Chapter 10: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romantic-scenarios.html

Chapter 11: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-professionally-right.html

Chapter 12: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-expanding-thinking-horizons.html

Chapter 13: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-modern-romance.html

Chapter 14: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-serious-reflections.html

Chapter 15: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-story-of-human-paradigms.html

Chapter 16: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-dilemma-and-solutions.html

Chapter 17: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-romance-and-tough-decisions.html

Chapter 18: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-tale-of-disaster-and-anxiety.html

Chapter 19: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-prejudices-and-conflicts.html

Chapter 20: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-anxiety-and-love-story.html

Chapter 21: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-love-triangle-jealousy-and.html

Chapter 22: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-interesting-climax.html

Chapter23: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-love-story.html

Chapter 24: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-finally-love-knows-no-bounds.html

Chapter 1

The placement building of Indian School of Science, Engineering and Technology (ISSET) was buzzing with activities and excitement. It was the day of nerds among the student community of the college. The top-notch companies would pick up some of the most precious and genius of them at astronomical salaries. It was rumored that the last heard highest salary offered to one graduate engineering student was close to equivalent of $100,000 per annum. That was thought to be a great salary for a fresher in India by any imagination.

ISSET was famous for attracting the best students, the best professors and the best recruiters. And ISSET really did it.

Over 500,000 students took the entrance test every year for admissions to ISSET. It was one of the toughest entrance test administered by any institute in India. The cream of the cream of the country competed. But finally ISSET admitted only 600 odd students for its 5 engineering branches. Thus the ratio of the number of students applied for admission to ISSET to those who got finally selected was 833:1. In short entry into ISSET was a tough proposition.

Professors of ISSET constituted the top academicians. In their heydays several business organizations attempted to lure them by offering unheard of salaries and perquisites but their love for teaching and research was so enormous they preferred to hang on to ISSET.

The recruiters who visited ISSET were the most sought after companies who headhunted the best talent at the lowest cost of recruitment. Campus recruitment at ISSET met this objective of such companies in the best way. While every other institute used to beg such companies to visit their campuses and select the students, ISSET dictated the terms over these companies. The recruiting companies had to meet certain minimum criteria to qualify to make it to the ISSET campus. And the criteria to qualify as the zero-day recruiter (i.e. companies who were called on the first day of the recruitment session in the campus) was the toughest.

Good companies always tried their best to be the zero-day recruiters at ISSET campus. Their stock went up.

‘Advanced Tech Systems’ qualified as the zero-day recruiter. They called very selected students for the interview, the cut-off GPA being 3.5. Very few students of the college could meet this criterion.

Shaan with 3.8 GPA, the highest GPA secured by any student in the current year, was presently in the interview room.

‘Advanced Tech Systems’ was one of the most reputed companies of India. Matching its reputation was Shaan, the brightest student. He was seated in front of its selection team. The interview team of the company consisted of its two technical managers and its human resource manager.

The interview progressed. When it was more than half way through and the interview team was beginning to get highly impressed by Shaan’s replies, the human resource manager saw something peculiar in Shaan’s application form. He pointed it out to his two colleagues. Then they got into a private conference. It appeared as if they decided to pause the technical part of the interview because human resource manager took over.

He returned the application form to Shaan. He commented, “You haven’t filled up the form fully. ‘Your Religion’ column has been left blank by you.”

Shaan replied, “I do not know my religion. My early childhood was nurtured in an orphanage that was run by a Hindu. Later a couple adopted me. My mother is a Christian and my father is a Muslim (Moslem). I do not know the religions of the persons who actually gave birth to me. The in-charge of the orphanage guesses that my parents might have been Hindus. I don’t know what is his basis to say so. But on the certificate he gave to my legal parents he wrote my religion as Hindu. All you know my biological parents could have been Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist or Sikh or some others. Now, you tell me my religion.”

The HR manager got interested in this unique situation of Shaan. “How have you done so far without any religion? Didn’t your parents choose one of their religions for you? I am sure they must have decided one of their religions for you for all the official purposes. That is needed everywhere.”

“It has been quite a tough job for them. So sometimes I was a Christian and other times I was a Muslim. Despite their many efforts to sort out their own conflicts on the matter they could not decide for me. And the certificate from the orphanage indicated me as a Hindu and they wouldn’t accept it either. But I did quite well despite all of this confusion. I ate as good as a Hindu or Muslim or a Sikh or a Christian or a Buddhist or any other. I slept quite like anyone of them. I read and sing as good as anyone of them do.”

HR manager gave a smile and asked, “Whom did you worship?”

“I used to worship numerous Hindu Gods while at the orphanage because everyone in the orphanage did. Then after my adoption, I prayed Allah in the company of my father and Jesus Christ in the company of my mother. So all the gods of the world must be either pleased with me or possibly they may be having conflicts among themselves on my account. And they must be as confused as I had been till late.”

“You mean to say that some clarity emerged lately? Then which religion you have embraced finally?”

“None. I realized that I could do as well without any religion tagged to me. I feel liberated. I experience freedom all the time. I need not have to perform any or many of the unnecessary and unwanted rituals prescribed by various religions. I can eat all kinds of things that are human food and which I like without any restrictions or guilt. I can wear all sorts of clothes that please me and do not offend others. I can use all kinds of salutations to greet the people. I can walk into all the religious places on the earth and admire the beauty of those places equally well without any partiality. And I do not miss them either or do not feel guilty of not visiting them for days, months and years together. Yet, I can still speak truth. I can still be kind towards all the people. I respect everyone including myself. I still do not steal and I am not corrupt. I do not possess any intention of grabbing other’s property or wife. I still do not think of waging a war or killing anyone. I do not think or do badly for anyone in any way. So don’t you think I am fine without any religion?”

HR manager looked puzzled. After thinking for a while he said, “Well, I don’t know. I can’t think of any person without a religion. And I am afraid we cannot accept your application form without filling up this mandatory column of religion. Our computer just wouldn’t process it. I am extremely sorry. Please write either your father’s religion or that of your mother’s. Or you can as well write your religion as Hindu since you have that kind of certificate from the orphanage. Then it will be OK.”

Shaan spoke, “After enjoying the liberation that I have been experiencing lately without getting into the maze of all kinds of religions, I do not wish to get stuck with one just for sake of a job in a company. I appreciate your compulsions that you are bound by your company policies. It’s all right with me.”

“Please do not misunderstand us. We are not compelling you in any way. It’s just that we wanted our records to be complete. For now you can go. The interview is over. We will inform you our decision after interviewing other candidates. Thanks for showing your interest in our company.”

Shaan thanked them, shook hands with the three interviewers and came out. He wore a broad smile on his face particularly while re-reading the “Advanced” part of the name of the company from the interview letter in his file.

Later that day he came to know that ‘Advanced Tech Systems’ bypassed him to select other students with lower GPA but with other considerations.

This was not the only time Shaan had to go through this kind of experience. Even later on, in every job interview in the campus or at employer company’s office, he faced the same. But he did not get annoyed. He understood the predicament of the people of this world well. They could not fathom anyone without an affiliation to some organized religion. They also could not easily accept the background of Shaan- first an orphan and later adopted by a Muslim father and a Christian mother. Quite a checkered stuff. And so if they found a candidate who was more regular type and they invariably found one, they would prefer him to Shaan.

Any way, Shaan had already decided to breathe the air of freedom and decided to remain a pure human being without being further classified and sub-classified by religion, caste, sub-caste and sub-sub-caste. Yusuf and Alice- Shaan’s legal parents- had recently conferred with him on this delicate matter and they had allowed him to choose the religion of his choice. That’s when he decided.

One evening after the dinner, Shaan’s mother Alice and father Yusuf called him to their bedroom.

Alice said, “Shaan, while it’s quite late already, we do not wish to make it worse. We need to give you a religion. Your dad and I were very scared to discuss this issue between us for fear of getting into a serious conflict and losing each other and in turn you. In bringing you up, we could not decide on many issues. While marrying each other and in adopting you we had no problems but later we had serious differences of opinions regarding some rituals. Should you be ‘circumcised’ like a Muslim or ‘baptized’ like a Christian or like a Hindu should you be administered through ‘yagyopavit’ or ‘upnayan’? Then there was the question of what you should eat or not eat- each religion has some restrictions and some permission. Which ways you should pray and should you pray Allah or Jesus Christ? We argued a lot and finally gave up keeping the matter pending for decision at a later date. We went on postponing decisions on such matters and also your affiliation to any religion.”

She further added, “So we pretended that everything was going on fine. But now you are on the threshold of launching your adult life and many things would depend on this decision. So we took certain decision for you. I will request your dad to tell you our decision.”

Then Alice turned to Yusuf and requested, “Yusuf, I want you to tell our decision to Shaan.”

Shaan’s father spoke, “Shaan, when we brought you home from the orphanage, we got a certificate saying that you are a Hindu. Orphanage in-charge by way of his previous experiences deduced this. Many times the mother or the father or both or any other guardian who left their children in that orphanage incognito later claimed their child and at that time the orphanage in-charge used to come to know that they were all Hindus. As if people knew that that orphanage was meant for Hindus. Now it is somewhat difficult to accept such a reasoning or argument, yet what the orphanage in-charge told made some sense to your mother and me. Therefore we want you to adopt Hindu religion for your future life.”

Shaan went near his parents and held their palms in his own. He was quite overwhelmed. He gathered courage to speak out, “Mom and dad, you are very good people. You are extraordinary. I am very lucky to have you as my parents. You brought me up so well that I never missed anything in my life. Least of all a religion. Religion thing is so insignificant for me because of your upbringing. Did it ever bother you that I was a Hindu? Or did it bother you that mom is a Christian? And did it bother mom that you are a Muslim? You showed me all along that we all can live together in harmony if we live together just like good human beings. That counts the most.”

Shaan’s father spoke again, “But Shaan, you will need a religion. People are going to be curious about it in your future life more and more. Your would-be wife will like to know. Your employers may be interested in it. If you happen to contest for any public post in future, the public will like to vote for a person of their faith. It is just about pragmatic to ally with a religion. Therefore your mother and I urge you to embrace Hinduism.”

Shaan replied, “Dad, you and mom are excellent people. You are so very broadminded; I haven’t yet come across people like you. I am sure that you will be willing to give me the freedom to decide in the matter.”

“Yes. You have total freedom in the matter,” Shaan’s mother confirmed.

“I have thought a lot about this thing myself. I have read a lot of related literature and also observed the people around me. I am abreast of what the people of the world are doing with the religious divide. While no religion prescribes it but in reality religions are becoming the excuses for the human beings to fall apart from each other rather than they uniting them. It even results in the extreme behaviors of hatred, bloodshed and wars.”

Shaan paused and then continued, “Also If I stick to just one religion, despite my being liberal with many aspects of life I am likely to subconsciously or consciously imbibe its inherent inadvertent narrowness conflicting with the broader essence of humanity. Or there is a threat of other people of my accepted religion expecting the practice of that narrowness from me. Under the circumstance I do not wish to get branded with any one religion though I have no contempt for the people who follow any particular religion, as it is their human right. I just wish to be a good human being. Please give me your blessings.”

Shaan’s parents’ eyes welled up with tears- the tears of pride for their son. They squeezed Shaan’s palms and nodded in agreement. They took him in their embrace for a long time.

Thus Shaan decided not to attach himself to any organized religion. Soon he defined a guiding principle for his life.

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