Good People: Most Popular Novel

Medhavi was doing very well with her MS studies in University of California. She was happy convincing herself that she did better with her academic progress when compared to Shaan who stopped his studies just after graduation.

Once she mentioned to her roommate Anjali, “Anji, don’t you think that I am in a better position than Shaan? He is just a graduate from India and I will be a post-graduate that too from a reputed university of America. I am sure to get a great job in USA and he is struggling with his start-up in India.”

Anjali did not comment. Just said, “OK.”

Medhavi remained cross with Anjali for many days after this.

Medhavi started spending less time with Anjali and more with Samskara. Samskara was her classmate.

Samskara also came from India to US to do his MS. He lived in an apartment that was quite close to Medhavi’s. Since Samskara and Medhavi were teamed together to carry out a project they needed to consult each other often. In the process they started frequenting each other’s apartment.

One day when they were at Samskara’s apartment they got talking generally.

Samskara informed, “Our family originally comes from South India, more particularly from Tamil Nadu. I am a chaste Hindu Brahmin.”

“What a coincidence. Our family also hails from Tamil Nadu. And we too are chaste Hindu Brahmins.”

“Do you know why my parents named me ‘Samskara’?

“Tell me.”

“They are very proud of Hindu samskaras (rites of passage, cultural heritage and upbringing). As per them Hindu samskaras have no match in other religions. They wanted to imbibe all those samskaras in me.”

Medhavi added, “And so they named you Samskara. Right?”

Samskara could feel a sense of approval of his credentials.

“Yes. I am proud to say that I lead my life by those samskaras.”

And they exchanged many things describing their personal and academic resumes. They described to each other what their parents did back home. Fathers of both of them held high positions in government jobs. People in India always held high opinion and were in the awe of the persons who grabbed top positions in government departments. To top it all both sets of parents were equally religious.

They were happy to know that their religious, personal and family backgrounds were quite identical. Soon their professional and academic association turned into a personal friendship. And gradually they decided to personally like each other and to ultimately fall in love with each other.

They were convinced that they were a great match.

Before all these developments between the two took place, they were in constant consultations with their respective parents.

Medhavi’s parents sought a lot of information about Samskara’s family background and she scooped it from Samskara at times directly and other times indirectly.

Samskara’s parents also sought a lot of information about Medhavi’s family background and he scooped it from Medhavi at times directly and other times indirectly.

In doing this research work many days and months passed.

And finally when everyone was satisfied that everything was in order, Medhavi fell in love with Samskara and also Samskara fell in love with Medhavi.

As their final examination leading to completion of their MS approached and one day when they were at Samskara’s apartment studying together and took a break to cook the dinner together, Samskara found it a perfect time to broach the subject of his falling in love with Medhavi, “Medhavi, now that we will complete our studies, I think that it’s time for me to declare my love to you. I feel that we should marry soon after I get a job. Of course your consent is necessary.”

“I was about to say the same thing to you,” Medhavi said. “I have also fallen in love with you. I don’t mind if we marry soon after you get a job. By then I will also be having a job. So, that suits me. Then should we inform our parents?”

The deal was done.

“Yes, we should inform our parents. They will need to carry out lots of preparations since our marriage will have to take place following strict religious rituals. They will also have to find out an appropriate shubh muhurtham (auspicious date) in consultation with our guruji (the priest). All this takes time.”

“I too believe in all the necessary religious rituals of the marriage and a shubh muhurtham. Without them, the marriage does not feel like a marriage.”

“You said it. My opinion is ditto.”

Their meeting ended with a perfunctory embrace with some tinge of emotions.

Then both of them got busy with their studies.

They also got busy communicating with their respective parents with reference to their impending marriage.

After consulting the respective priests Samskara and Medhavi and their parents took decision that the marriage would take place in Chennai, India within next six months since that period presented the most auspicious time for solemnizing their marriage. Auspicious time was decided by the positions of the planets with reference to earth.

Medhavi and Samskara started looking forward to the D-day. They started making the necessary preparations to travel to India.

(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)

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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.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Good People: Chapter 2: Classic Novel and Classic Romance

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 2

Shaan was different from others from the very beginning- from his childhood. And lately as a responsible adult he decided that he did not believe in sticking to any one religion.

He soon defined his own religion, which was nameless. Yet he described it as a one-liner. That one line was: “Feel, think and do good to self and others.” It was that simple. His religion was done. But he did not term it as ‘religion’. He called it his ‘guiding principle’ of life.

He could not convince himself if he would enjoy any further value addition to himself by being part of any organized religion. Rather he thought that many things prescribed in the organized religions were a drag. He was not the one to accept a drag.

And over the years he did not believe in many other established things of the human society that he thought were retrograde.

As a child he refused to address the elders as an “uncle” or “aunt” or “sir” or “madam” which was the custom of the place. He was told time and again by many people around him that younger ones should not call the elders by their first names or surnames. That was the established etiquette in Indian community and everyone followed. Everyone followed except Shaan. He insisted on addressing them as Mr so & so or Mrs so & so or Ms so & so as appropriate.

He even addressed his teachers in the high school and later in college by their surnames prefixed by a respectable Mr or Mrs or Ms. He did not address them by the conventional ‘sir’.

Shaan’s argument for doing so was, “Most people are so much accustomed to this master-slave relationship that a person at the lower rungs of official or social hierarchy is always treated as a dumb donkey. And this feeling is further aggravated by this three-letter word ‘sir’. This word when spoken creates, immediately, a sense of false inferiority in the subject who speaks this word and a false superiority in the addressee. As soon as this phenomenon takes place, the actual work, the intended results from the work and the real objective of the discussions between the two persons get surrounded by the ego satisfaction of the boss and the selfish motives of the subordinates. In majority of cases, it is not out of respect that a man wants to call other person with a dignified address. It is out of selfishness, fear, doubt and the bad custom. This word ‘sir’ arouses the base feelings of the human beings. If ‘sir’ is used as a mark of reverence, it has different connotation- no motives are attached. But it is rarely so.”

Most people agreed but dared not follow it in practice.

And teachers obviously did not like it much and he missed the grades occasionally despite being the most brilliant student of the class. But he couldn’t compromise.

An important elderly guy was to visit his parents once. His father insisted, “When he comes to our house you must call him ‘sir’. He is elder to you. You must respect him by addressing him appropriately.”

“But, father, he does not invoke any respect in me. I see him telling lies all the time. And he has a bad habit of using abuses every now and then. He swears all the time. Age has not done any good to him. I just cannot call him ‘sir’- that’s my decision.”

His mother coaxed too. But Shaan could not be convinced. Yet, to honor his father and mother and not to create any scene he excused himself and went out to play while this guest was around the house.

Shaan developed a kind of maturity at an early age. He read a lot. He read all sorts of great literature. He was a keen observer too. He learned a lot soon enough. It made him highly flexible to accept all the good and shun all the bad howsoever established and traditional it looked or sounded.

There were occasions when as a child he used to accompany her mother to the church. It was quite close to their house. As he grew older, he noticed that his father did not accompany his mother while going to the church. He asked her, “Why doesn’t father accompany you to the church for offering his prayers to the god?”

“He believes in another faith and for his prayers he has to go to a mosque,” his mom answered.

“But you had been telling me all along that god is one. Then how can he be different for you and daddy? The god should be present in the church as well as in the mosque. Dad could as well pray him in the church along with you and me? And also mom, when daddy takes me to the mosque, you can as well accompany us and pray there.”

“We cannot do such things. We are bound by some established practices. We cannot flout them easily. Some people around us keep on scrutinizing us on such issues.”

“Well mom, then do it your way. But I don’t understand you and daddy at all. And you also tell me that god is everywhere, even in our hearts. He or she is omnipresent, everyone says. Then what is the need of going to a church or a mosque or for that matter a temple? I can pray anywhere, after all god resides even in my heart.”

Then his mother just laughed and dismissed the discussion midway. By that time they had reached the church and they needed to remain quiet inside. Despite his curiosity on the subject he remained silent in the church. Later he decided to let it go. He was smart enough to decide when to pursue a topic and when to drop it.

When he started going to the higher classes in the school and later to the college he stopped accompanying his mother to the church and father to the mosque. If he needed to pray for some reason, he would just keep sitting or standing or lying down or walking and pray for a few seconds in his own way. He made his own text for praying at times and at times he just remained silent while praying. He stopped following the rituals of prayers followed by his parents. He invented his own processes.

Over a period of time he also broke the earlier practice of strictly addressing his father as ‘abba’ and mother as ‘mommy’. He took liberty in additionally addressing his father as ‘daddy’ or ‘papa’ or ‘baba’ and mother as ‘ammi’ or ‘mummy’ or ‘ma’. He loved teasing them. By then he had started understanding the various ways in which various religions influenced human beings. And all of that amused him.

Once he went to a temple with one of his schoolmates who was a Hindu. His friend placed some money as offerings to the god. Shaan asked his friend, “Why are you bribing the god? I am told that god has very large heart, he is always so generous. And the least he needs is money. Money may be important for mortals like us but not to the god, I suppose.”

His friend looked at Shaan quizzically and went ahead with his offerings. He thought, “Shaan is crazy. Giving offerings to god is a done thing. No one asks such stupid and objectionable questions on such a pious action.” His friend prayed a little longer than usual that day in order to wash the sin Shaan had committed by asking that question.

On another occasion he had gone to stay with one of his friends during his college holidays. His friend followed Christianity. He wanted to take Shaan to the church. There was one very close to his friend’s house but he took him to a church, which was some eight kilometers away.

When they reached this church Shaan asked, “Why didn’t you go the church that is next to your house?”

“No. That is not our church. The highbrow people visit that. For poor people like us, this is the church.”

“Different gods in the two churches?”

“No, god is the same in both.”

Shaan always felt puzzled at such goings-on.

Pleasing the teachers was an accepted practice with most of the students in his school and later in college. The internal marks were allotted by most of the teachers based on how pleased they were with a student. Shaan never disrespected any teacher yet sycophancy was not in his blood.

A piece of conversation between him and his fellow student once created hell of a problem for Shaan.

His classmate was telling about one of the most influential teachers of the school to Shaan, “Mr Forbes is the most brilliant teacher. Don’t you think he teaches the best?”

The classmate spoke all of this when this teacher was walking past them. The idea was that Mr Forbes should hear this praise and notice this student.

Shaan did not notice the teacher and replied, “I don’t think so. He does not teach anything original. He pours out everything from the cheap guides that are freely available in the market.”

Shaan was straightforward but polite.

Mr Forbes overheard this criticism and after this incident Shaan could never score the highest marks in the subject that he was used to.

Despite a few setbacks like this one, Shaan always topped the list year after year, in the school and later in the college finally becoming the university topper and the gold medalist in engineering and technology. No professor or co-student could stop him.