The Ice cream

 

I was looking to the watch, hanged on railway platform's roof. It was 11: 55 am and the departure of the train was 12:20 noon. Some 25 minutes were remaining. 

My father asked me " Do you want anything, son?"

“Ice cream with strawberry flavored" i replied. He went to have an ice cream for me and I memorized those moments in which

I had enjoyed the life and died too. I remembered that person who given me the key for living.

                It was 31st December, 1999, Daman, big night for the world and Joyce everywhere. The musical environment, party time for youth and pray time for old aged people. I was listening Jennifer Lopez "Waiting for tonight" the new song released before some few days and few lines were available. I was in mood to have nice big bottle of beer and my friends too. We were roaming on road with music by Walky.

                "Harry.....” I have heard a known voice from so far. I turned and found my friend Ashok was calling me.

I stopped and said “hey dude, you're here!".

"Thank God Harry, I've got you, actually I have got a problem" He got some relax.

He seemed some sad and confused. I asked him, What is the matter, why you are so confused?".

"Harry, my dad has called me to office, urgently and it is so far from here, so I will not attand the New Year Party!" He said sadly.

"Hey your dad is in Canada, How can he call you at office? At this time? What happened? if you don't like our company then go to others we don't mind. But don't leave this evening, b'coz it is Millennium night, dear!" I replied.

"Harry you are my brother, I have the other problem and God have sent you to help me for this!" He looked into my eyes with hope.

“I am sorry; tell me what can I do for you?” I gave sympathy.

“Actually, My cousin has come from Canada and she wants to enjoy this night and doesn't want to come back tonight without enjoying this special night!" he described his problem.

"Where is she? If she had no problem with us, then why we will not allow her? Just call her" I gave surety to him.

He lead me to his car and opened the door.

"Molly, Please come out!" he called his cousin.

A beautiful young lady came out from car with some European dressing style.

“Hi Harry, I am Molly, Mallika Desai" She placed her hand forward for handshake.

"Hi, I am Harry, Harshad Surti" i replied and shake hand. We both smiled with heart.

“Come on join us!" I invite her.

"Sure" she replied.

"Brother, I will come to home with Harry" she told Ashok.

                It was the moment when I was really became mute and feeling so shy when looked at her face. She smiled each time  when I looked at her. My friends whispered in my ear "Harry, tonight shall we drink beer or not?"

I lead one of them to some distance and replied "Look I have taken the responsibility of her but all of you are free from it, So enjoy, leave us alone and go to other place. For me, I will not drink beer tonight"

"Hey Harry, you are always doing all for us and we have not done anything yet!" my friend said with strange expression.

                While talking I was looking to her. She was searching something. My Friends gave me one bike and went to enjoy the night. Now, I and Molly were alone with each other.

I was silent but she wanted to tell me something.

I felt the situation and asked her "Do you want something?"

"yepp, ice cream!" she replied.

I amazed and asked "Ice cream, in this cold season?"

"Yepp! I always eat ice cream when anything happened good or bad with me" she replied with smile and looked into my eyes.

"So different she is" I moaned.

"yepp! Harry I am slight different than others" she told while looked at her feet.

I was finding the Ice cream parlor but everywhere crowed has covered the wine bars. I asked to a person going on road for the ice cream parlor and he directed me the place which was far from the current venue.

"huhh! It is so far from here. It will take lot of time. Let's go!" I kicked the bike and she set behind me and gripped my waste slight tightly. But I liked her touch. I started with slight speed and she voiced "wooooh........"

I was jumping from inside. We reached to ice cream parlor and parked the bike. She brought out some money to buy ice cream, but I refused her money because I am always financially strong with family background.

She choose strawberry flavor for her and asked me, I choose also the same as I was not so interested in the ice-cream.

But We ate the ice-cream. I enjoyed the ice-cream more than beer bottle. I ate the ice cream again and again with her there.

She made some little funny comments and made me laugh again and again. She was so energetic and beautiful with nice nature. I could not stop myself to magnetize to her. She was telling and I was listening and laughing. I forgot the special night of the millennium, because those were magical moments of my life, which were streaming. First time I felt pleasure in me.

I asked her slowly, “Anything good or bad has happened with you today?"

She replied, "yepp, I met you".

I was felt like a nice stream of wind has come around me with wonderful fragrance. I could not judge myself I was living or not.

I felt like talking with any fairy. She made me lot of laugh that when we reached at party venue I did not know. She took my hand in her hand and directs me to the beach. The music was playing so loudly so we could not hear each other's words. She wanted to talk a lot with me but the music became china wall between us.  She put her soft palm on my cheek. I felt like to be in heaven.

Suddenly, fireworks lighted which made the night - starry night. The millennium was changed and we entered in new century. Especially I entered in new century with an angel.

After some time the parties and music were over. We also came out from there.

We had to complete a long journey about 40 kms so I asked her for refreshment but she said no. Suddenly she smiled as her cousin and my friend comeback with his car. She went with him and left me lonely with my bike.

                Next day I went to her home but the home was locked. So I concentrate on my work. I was not happy and little teased, but that day was not empty for me. In the evening my childhood friend and business partner Toshi (Tushar Trivedi) arrived from Mumbai. I was enthusiastic to tell him the last night story. But he has visited my other friends before me. He congratulated me and given tight hug. He asked for opening beer bottle but I suggest him to have nice ice-cream cups - strawberry flavored. He always agrees with me if I am right or wrong.

We had a nice business of computer peripheral and assembly. We started our work and at around 8 p.m. we completed it and just going to shutdown the office, but Ashok came with Molly for New Year’s dinner in nice restaurant. Toshi looked at her and called her sister. Me and Ashok amazed about that, how his behavior was changed with girls?

She replied him by only nice smile.  We enjoyed the dinner that night with lot of funny comments made by Molly, the angel of my life.

                Days were going, I, Molly and Toshi became very close friend. Molly had very good command over playing Spanish guitar. She had magic in her hands. As moon has also stains, she has also bad habit of smoking. We both had tried to keep her far from it but we were unable to do so. Even Toshi had started smoking and always gives her company.  

                One Sunday she called me to come to her home. I found that she was crying and Ashok was packing his clothes and other things.

When I asked she replied that he is going to USA forever as he got visa on blood relation as his mother was American mother's daughter.

Now Molly and her aunt were there in the home. I visited regularly to her home. Her aunt never liked me as I was not belonging to their community. She always stopped her to meet me. One day, Molly was playing guitar but her eyes were tearing.

Before me Toshi asked her "What happened?”

She replied “In short time I am going back to my country Canada"

“Oh My God!!" I cried loudly.

But that happened, and the day of farewell had come.

                May, 2, 2000, she was ready to go back to Canada. Toshi brought his car for leaving them to railway station.  On platform we heard the announcement for the train's arrival. The train was entering into the platform. As Valsad was small town, Trains stopage times were so short. I was watching all this like bad dream. My heart has stopped bitting . My eyes could not cry as I was not in me.

Suddenly, she come to me and given very tight hug and looked into my eyes. She promised me to come again while Diwali festival with her parents. This words given me some relax. She kissed very tightly on my mouth. Before I judged myself to cry or smile the final whistle was rang and she gone to the compartment. About 80% people were watching us, doing all this. The train started and taking her far and so far from me. She destroyed me by her farewell.  I felt lonely even my so many friends were with me that evening.

                One day Toshi come with bottle of Whisky. First I ignore it then drink little bit. Then Drinking whisky became our habit.   

                One day we were passing around Ashok's home, We found the home was opened. We ran to there and found his aunt, who was living with Molly, was crying very loudly. My heart was not giving me good signals. When we met her, she hugged me and told me “Harry, your Molly is no more in the world". I was looking to her with big eyes and remind all those days and final moments of her farewell. I could not cry on that moment. The environment became dark with clouds. The wind was stopped, as I couldn't take breath properly.  

                Toshi and me drink that morning on the rocks and top to bottom. This was our daily activity. We lost our business and started part time jobs for the whisky bottle.

                12 Fabruary 2003, Toshi told me that he will pick me from my home after an hour. I was waiting for him after an hour. The whole day has gone but he didn't come. So I went to his home.I have found a big crowed at his home. The sound of loudly crying could listen on road. I scared for any bad event because I had recently faced my life's the worst event before some days. When I reached at his home I found my best friend has gone forever and left me alone in the world. His father came to me and hugged me tightly. He told me “Harry call my son back."  I hated myself for seeing those moments.

                I was so lonely, so daily come out from home but left drinking. I visit those places daily where we have spent our life's beautiful moments. I was lonely and crying daily for hours. The days were going, the drinking habit of two years have made so big damages in my body. It revealed very shortly when my liver's some part has stopped working.

                I was hospitalized for 35 days. On first day after my all tests, doctor asked me about my bad habit of drinking, I replied yes as answer. Doctors are always kind persons. He told my parents that I have got Jaundice and I will be alright very soon. Doctor came to me and described what was happened to me. He advice me to drink juice and eat plenty of fruits. I was recovering little bit faster from illness.

                On last day doctor advised me finally "you have to eat ice creams when you feel acidity or vomiting"

After his gone, laughed and laughed. They discharged me from hospital.

I was very lonely and weak. My mother and sisters always cured for my health. I had decided to leave the town as soon as possible and to be shifted to my native place Surat. I was diploma computer engineer and having degree in commerce.

                Finally my family has decided to shift t with me to our native place, where we have our own

Flat in a good area. We have decided to sell the current home so we can't think for this town again.

                1st June 2003, I was ready to the start the new journey, the new morning was waiting for me, Where I have to become millionaire and have a successful life.

                “What are you thinking my son" my mother asked me while placing our suitcases.

"Nothing" I replied. My father had come with three big cups of ice cream - strawberry flavored.

I opened the cup and watching out from window. The train had got green signal and started slowly.

I looked up to sky and said cheers to God for new journey which began with the ice cream.

                I am always eating ice cream - strawberry flavored, whenever sad or happy in my life. Every moment I am enjoying and never feeling lonely. Whenever I remember Molly or Toshi I eat ice cream............

Yes, .........strawberry flavored,………….  “The Icecream" ~