Last Question Unanswered… Sample copy. Not for distribution. i Publishing-in-support-of, EDUCREATION PUBLISHING RZ 94, Sector - 6, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110075 Shubham Vihar, Mangla, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh - 495001 Website: www.educreation.in __________________________________________________ © Copyright, Author All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of its writer. ISBN: 978-93-85247-30-9 Price: ` 299.00 The opinions/ contents expressed in this book are solely of the author and do not represent the opinions/ standings/ thoughts of Educreation. Printed in India Sample copy. Not for distribution. ii Last Question Unanswered… By Arun Kumar Gautam EDUCREATION PUBLISHING (Since 2011) www.educreation.in Sample copy. Not for distribution. iii Sample copy. Not for distribution. iv About The Author Arun Kumar Gautam is a bilingual poet, an actor, an anchor, a manager and an entrepreneur. His acting talent has been appreciated at IIT Kharagpur by the likes of film actor Makrand Deshpande and has received a Roll Of Honour by Club Mahindra for his managerial skills. He has recited his poems in many Kavi Sammelans along with his team members. This book is his first honest attempt to be an author. But he is known for his Poetry from his School time. He has kept on addressing present issues in his poetry which brings laughter and seriousness together. His few Gazals are very famous among the people and they repeat it time to time. Mana ki teri Jeetti Paari hogi ! Saari Zindgi Nakshe mein Gujari hogi !! Naalon se keh do ki umadna seekh lein, Kyunki is baar samundar ki baari hogi !! Being a youth, He is not behind in addressing the Gazals, which touches the heart of Young People as well. Sharab se rishta hamara ho gaya hai ! Jabse Koi Gair Tumhara ho gaya hai !! Or the Gazal which may make you laugh Dil ki sadak pe na jaane kitne Gacche ho gaye ! Jis Jis ko bhi chaha hamne sabke bacche ho gaye !! Sample copy. Not for distribution. v Love has a different name in his dictionary which can be understood in a better way from following lines Tu Kab mujhse paraya hua hai ! Main jism raha hun to tu meri Chaya hua hai !! Jis jameen pe tu pair roj rakhta hai, Usi jameen pe maine ghar bhi banaya hua hai !! Tu Kab mujhse paraya hua hai ! Whenever it is asked about his inspiration he replies with smile and recites Beemar na hone ki dawayein rakhta hun ! Main apne sath mein maa ki duaayein rakhta hun !! Kahin kamjor na ho jaun main is dharamyudh mein, Teri tasveer ko seene se lagaye rakhta hun !! Many times he has also used the art of poetry on politicians and politics in very sarcastic manner Rajneeti se saare kabootar nikale jayein ! Isse accha hai ki khargosh pale jayein !! Bahut bigade hain haal jisne basti ke, Kaise usse desh ke haalaat sambhale jayein !! Baanta hai hamko bharat Pakistan ke naam par, ab ye dekho hindu muslim kahan le jayein !! Or the other one which may bring some changes in current situation of our country Patangon ka safar tay koi maajha nahin karte ! Mukkaddar khud banate hain,kabhi saajha nahin karte !! Bahut karte ho baatein tum Duniya jahan ki, Wo ishvar kya guru nanak jo khuwaja nahin karte !! Gareebi hai to rehne do tum in bacchon ke haanthon tak, Fikr ham kyun karein jab desh ke raja nahin karte !! Sample copy. Not for distribution. vi To read more about him or for his event bookings, he may be reached by typing his full name on Facebook in reverse direction www.facebook.com/gautamkumararun W Sample copy. Not for distribution. vii Sample copy. Not for distribution. viii About The Book It is a story of the college life of six students and raises important questions regarding education, fake advertisement, student life, and relationships. It has drama, love, suspense, and mistakes which most of the people make in their youth. The story starts when the lead character of the book Dev hands over his personal diary to Sadhana and suddenly disappears. Sadhana starts reading his diary and falls in love with him many times. But sometimes she starts hating him as well. The story reaches to an end when Sadhana closes the diary, but there is one question which still remains Unanswered and specifies the title of the book Last Question Unanswered… W Sample copy. Not for distribution. ix Sample copy. Not for distribution. x Acknowledgment Thank You very much for taking an interest in the Book, “Last Question Unanswered”. I am thankful to everyone who has helped me in publishing this Book, which was a big dream of my life. Gulshan, Neeraj, Praveen, Anshuman, and Ayush have been a great support to achieve this dream. I want to thank those who have helped me in solving the practical difficulties such as editing, website creating, social image and others specially Gulshan, Praveen, Mani, Aniruddha, Sujit, Ankur, Shiv, Educreation and its team members for their continuous and valuable support. My family– My mother, Father, Gulshan, Manorama, Lalaram, Soni, Sandeep, Brothers, Sisters and relatives friends who have helped me a lot at every stage of my life and never turned back Pushpendra Yadav, Anshuman Kuthiyala, Ayush Anand, Sashi, Neeraj Kumar, Satyendra Pal Singh, Azhar Mian, Kuldeep, Ashutosh, Nishant, Neeru, Akash, Santosh, Ved and many other college and School friends. My friends on Facebook, twitter and google Plus. The entire team of Educreation publishing. I want to acknowledge that this would have never been possible without everyone‟s support and love. I still remember the day when I used to write few Gazals and poems from my childhood and everyone used to tease me except you. Please be with me always Sample copy. Not for distribution. xi with same love and support. I want to keep that corner always reserved in your heart for me. W Sample copy. Not for distribution. xii Prologue Oh No Man, Not again. It is 3:00 am Now, My friend shouted from inside the room. This is the last time I am disturbing you this night, Please open the door and listen to it; I requested my friend from the lobby and looked here and there. There was not a single student in the hostel‟s lobby. One dog was sleeping nearby and it too was getting disturbed due to the ghost of poetry which I had in me those days. My friend opened the door which got choked on its way towards the wall; he took out his neck from his room and said to me, come on, I am tired of you. Tomorrow I have a placement, dude and you are still working on your Book? Let me sleep. It is enough. At least for a week, I am done with you. I didn‟t say anything to him and looked at him silently with a sad face. My friend took a pause and said to me after few seconds, „Ok, come inside‟ and he tried to open the door once again. „You know, if you will work so hard for your placement, you will get a good job with a good package. People don‟t have time to read books man‟, my friend said again with an irritated voice I didn‟t say anything, just looked at his room which was not cleaned same like a rotten dustbin from last four years. I tried to find a place where I could settle down and kept my notebook on his table which was overbooked with his personal belongings instead of books. The table was overloaded same like a metro train Sample copy. Not for distribution. xiii in Delhi with so many people. You don‟t have space even though you keep on adjusting as much as you can. “What is this Rubbish, at least you can keep your brush and soap out of this study table?” I said to my friend. “Don‟t give me a lecture like my father dude and tell me what you have written”, my friend asked me. I opened my notebook which had a lecture written on it from beginning, turned it behind and started reading it. Tere intjaar mein darkht(tree) bana raha ! Tu Bebafa rahi to main behaya raha !! Is Pyar mein faasle kuch is kadar badhe, Tu jamee rahi to main aashma raha !! Apni Mohbbat ka rista kada raha ! Tu dard ban gaya to main uski dava raha !! Is kadar tere pyar ki chahat mili mujhe, Tu meri aarju rahi main teri baddua raha !! Patange or sama ka rista Ghana raha ! Tu mujhse juda rahi,main tujhse juda raha !! Mohbbat ki nadi mein ham saahil bane rahe, Tu is taraf rahi to main us taraf raha !! Meri zindagi ka sooraj dhala raha ! Raat to juda rahi din bhi juda raha !! Amabas bhari wo raat mujhe is kadar lagi, Na tu Chandni rahi na tera chandrma raha !! After reading it, I looked at my friend. He has squeezed pillow in his arms. His legs were on the Ground and eyes were closed. I thought that he was trying to understand my Gazal in very deep manner. But when my friend didn‟t respond even after more than five minutes, I shook his body and came to know that by this time, he Sample copy. Not for distribution. xiv slept. Instead of appreciation, I could only hear his snoring. I thought for some time and understood that at least my poem can be helpful to those people who cannot sleep at night properly. I laughed on myself, closed my notebook and lifted it from the table. I saw that his two pages resume was touching the toothbrush which he had used one hour before, I guess. Resume got wet from a corner. I kept it aside, switched off the light and came out from his room. When I opened the room, the dog which was sleeping outside the room got disturbed once again. It looked at me with a single eye and closed it without barking because it knew that I was a daily visitor to my friend‟s room at night after 2:00 am for almost last four years. “Dev ? Where are you heading towards so early? It is 3:30 am dude”, I asked dev when I saw he was locking his room with two briefcases. “I will miss you man, it was a nice time with you. Especially, Your poems, they touched my heart. Keep on posting them on Facebook,” Dev said to me with tears in his eyes. What do you mean? Are you finally leaving the college? I asked him. Dev nodded his head, handed over his room‟s key to me and said I have settled everything. Nothing is left in this college now. Please, hand over this key to hostel warden. I had requested him for the last night stay since I have a train this morning. “Oh, But you didn‟t tell me in advance. We would have gone for the last party,” I asked Dev. Sample copy. Not for distribution. xv “Actually yesterday, I had a very important work to do. Due to that, I couldn‟t plan for the last party”, Dev replied with smile. “Was it somewhere related to Sadhana?” I asked him. “No, No it was not related to her. I just wanted to roam around in this college. It has given me so much. I was roaming alone in this college till 2:00 am. I just wanted to leave everything here so that I could go out from this college with peace;” Dev replied with fake smile on his face. Teri Soorat nigahon mein bharta chalun ! Or yaadein alag khud se karta chalun !! Banke aaye the kya or kya ban gaye, Shukriya main tera kaise karta chalun !! Kitni Godi mein ham tere khele yahan ! Kitne Boaring se lecture bhi Jhele yahan !! Ye teri wo meri, Ye tera wo mera, Ladke or Ladkiyon ke jhamele yahan !! Aaj daulat hai, Sohrat hai time nahin, Aakhiri or kuch saanse leta chalun !! Teri Soorat… Aaj PMC pe main muskuraya Bahut Jis ladki ne hamko rulaya Bhaut Baith ke usne mere sang canteen mein, Maa kasam mere paison se khaya Bahut Sabko Bhoola hun Bhulunga kaise nahin, Par mere college ka mujpe Bakaya Bahut Kaise is karj ko main chukata Chalun !! Teri Soorat… Aaj Poora safar tera mera hua ! Sample copy. Not for distribution. xvi Dooar in baadiyon se basera hua !! Teri khusbu nahin in fajaaon mein hai Phir bhala kaise tujh bin sabera hua !! Bus yehi geet phir gungunata chalun !! Teri Soorat… You don‟t know how to lie Dev, I said to him with a smile. The sound of the Auto was breaking the silence of the Night. Dev hugged me and started heading towards the Auto Rickshaw. I gave a company and reached till auto so that I could finally say “Bye” to him. Dev hugged me once again and Said, “You are right, I really don‟t know how to lie. You know I am leaving one of the valuable thing in this college”. I couldn‟t reply anything since he was in a hurry. I kept his briefcases in the Auto. He settled in Auto rickshaw and I could see the uncountable tears which were falling down from his eyes. Dev wiped his tears and finally said with a smile, “Ok dude, I am leaving now. And yes, best of luck for your book.Next time, don‟t forget to write a novel on my story as well”. “Sure Dev, I hope you will read soon”, I smiled and said bye to him. I kept on looking at his Auto until it didn‟t disappear. After that I came back to my room, closed the door and prayed to Maa Saraswati for a single placement in any kind of company so that I could earn something and could publish the book which had no name those days… W Sample copy. Not for distribution. xvii Sample copy. Not for distribution. xviii Dedicated to My Mother Maa Saraswati for Hindi English type People Sample copy. Not for distribution. xix Sample copy. Not for distribution. xx Last Question Unanswered… Two words If you ask me whether I have enjoyed my school days or college days, it would be quite difficult for me to explain which one was better. But yes, one thing I can say, in school you just look at girls and try to understand this strange species. But in college, if you are lucky enough you get one. Unfortunately, I was not one of them. But today I am going to tell you a story based on real facts. This story has as much authenticity as when your mother goes to a vegetable shop and asks for a free Cilantro. This story has as much absoluteness as when you get reservations in a train and pray to God that you would get a seat near a beautiful girl. It includes as much of reality as when you get ready for a party and ask your friend "how do I look?", And you change your clothes if he says, „The apparel doesn‟t suit you,' even though they would have been your best clothes ever. It is likely when you go to withdraw money from a bank and get frustrated looking at the long line. It is true so far that you get crabbed with the behavior of that of an eccentric man who deals with all the queries at the cash deposit window and behaves same like an RAW agent. It includes as much of reality as when your Professor says to teach ten minutes extra after your class is over, but he doesn‟t leave the class even after more than 20 minutes. It contains as much truth as when you want to wake up early in the morning at 4 AM. You try it daily but never succeed. It includes as much of certainty as when you proceed to a sports complex with the thought of taking ten rounds round the track, subsequently not able to complete even two. It holds as much realness as 1 Arun Kumar Gautam you send a friend request to a girl on Facebook so that she could be your girlfriend. Unluckily you find her in a relationship with someone else. And you keep on sending friend requests to get one. If you are lucky enough, May GOD bless you to keep your status as "IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH" Finally, It is truthful as when you call your mother, and she asks you, "Beta Khana Kha liya." Whether it is late at night or early morning and you reply, "Come on, Maa. This is not the right time to have Food. "I think I should start the story before you feel drowsy, or you may get your girlfriend's or boyfriend's call on your cell phone to have friendly chat only for five hours. W Sample copy. Not for distribution. 2 Last Question Unanswered… "I have something for you, can you please come out from your hostel to meet me for Five minutes?" Dev called up to Sadhna and requested her to meet him on PMC (Piya Milan Chowk). "You didn‟t talk to me since months Dev. How come you called me today?” asked Sadhna “Just Listen to me, I don't want to talk about that incident now. Please come out from your hostel only for five minutes. I have something which belongs to you.” Dev said and disconnected the phone. After hanging up the Phone, he said to himself. “I don‟t think I am going to meet you ever after this” and started walking towards PMC (Piya Milan Chowk). PMC is a cross road where couples meet and singles maltreat. Dev waited for Sadhna on PMC for more than 30 minutes. But she didn't turn up. Dev got disappointed and proceeded towards his hostel. Suddenly, someone called Dev in a loud voice from fifty feet away from him. "Dev, what‟s the matter? Why did you call me?" After approaching Dev, Sadhna asked with anger. "Look Sadhna, I don't want to talk much, just take this packet and go," Dev replied fiercely. "But what is inside this packet? Can you tell me? Otherwise, I don't want it." Sadhna asked Dev in a loud voice. "If you want it, you take it to your hostel. Otherwise, leave it here on the ground.” Dev left the packet on the field and went away from there. Dev went away, but Sadhna was still staring at 3 Arun Kumar Gautam that package lying on the ground. She picked it up after ten minutes and went to her hostel. Reaching her hostel, she couldn't wait to open it. After opening it with curiosity, she found that there was a diary inside the packet with Dev‟s name inscribed on it. "It is his diary but why did he give this to me? Why does he want me to read his Personal diary?" Sadhna asked herself and started reading it… W 28 July 2008, Monday I woke up early in the morning and greeted the day. I was full of enthusiasm and energy because it was the first day of my college. It was 6:00 AM. Two hours were left for I had to go to attend the classes. As the reporting time was 8 AM. I felt like Mr. Lonely there, in an enormous campus of the college. This song used to be my favorite song during the school days. I had nothing to do to pass two hours, so I went back to bed and closed my eyes. That moment turned up in my mind when my parents left me at the railway station. I was heading towards my college for the very first time in my life. Earlier also I had left my home but this was going to be for minimum six months. I still remember the moment when the train left the platform, and my parents said “bye” to me with tears rolling out of their eyes... "Okay, son! I love you. Do the best in your life and go ahead. Now you are alone in this college, and no one is going to look after what you are going to do in these upcoming years. It is up to you what you want to achieve in your life. These four years will decide that…blah blah blah." Dad gave me a long lecture as he used to, during my childhood and I don't remember anything as always. Sample copy. Not for distribution. 4 Last Question Unanswered… “Train no. 1818 Jharkhand Express, Delhi to Ranchi will depart from Platform no. 1. Passengers are requested to take their respective seats.” After hearing the announcement, my dad ordered me to get inside the train compartment. As always, my mother was crying. Her small tears were rolling lurching down her cheeks. I was feeling awful and looked at her. She was not in the condition to say anything except sobbing. She grabbed my hand and the other one kept on my face. She looked at me irresistibly as if someone was taking away her life. Some tears came to my eyes as well, but I had to hide all of them because I didn‟t want to make her cry more. "Mom, you don't need to worry about me. One day I will fulfill all your dreams. When I complete this degree, I will go with you to a candlelight dinner, and that candlelight dinner will be from my first salary. We will go to watch movies, and you know, we will also eat Golgappa on the street.” My mother noted it and hugged me while crying. “Please don't cry Maa, I will be back to home soon." I looked into her eyes and perceived a soft corner that she had for me in her heart. Not just a corner but I should write that whole heart was for me. Har Subah ghar ko Duaaon se gher deti hai! Ye meri maa hai jo Khusiyan Bikher deti hai!! Maa ke pair Chookar ke jab bhi nikalta hun, Apne Haathon ko Wo Sir pe mere Pher deti hai!! 5 Arun Kumar Gautam Bhagwan ki Pooja, or Geeta Paath padhkar ke, Mere haathon mein Prashad Aurr Ber deti hai!! Shni, Shukr laga dein na najar ghar ko kahin, Wo poore ghar mein Gangajal ko Pher deti hai!! Main dushman ke aage na kamjor pad jaun, Mere haanthon mein khelne ko sher deti hai!! Kaise Jevan Ke Ye Exam Pass Karta hun Main? Maa Pooja mein jo dhyan kitna der deti hai!! If anybody asks me, if I have ever seen GOD, then I will reply yes, GOD cannot be more beautiful than her because she is my mother. I am blessed that she is always there for me. I felt atrocious because I knew that I was not coming back home again. I won‟t be able to forget those days spent with my crazy friends in the city. The cricket match in which I scored the highest without any knowledge and practice of it. That Volleyball, Video Games like Mario, Tekken 3, Aladdin, movies, parties and bike riding with the highest speed, especially when the girls were around me. Spending time near Girl's college and coaching. The Professor of our class, the cruel principal of my school, the ice cream vendor, samosa hawker, that class which used to be very long. Yaad Mujhe wo din ab bhi, Jab main Ek Chota Bachha Tha! Pehli Class mein Padhta tha, Sample copy. Not for distribution. 6 Last Question Unanswered… Mun Ka Kitna Saccha Tha!! Chota Sa Basta Hota tha Aur Kuch Do Chaar Conpi Hoti Thin, Par Mere School ki Kuch Teacher Kuch Papi Papi Hoti Thin!! Har Baat Pe kitna Rota Tha, Har Baat mein Kitna Kachha Tha, Kuch Aisa Mera Bachpan Tha, Wo Bachpan Kitna Accha Tha!! The school bus conductor who used to scold me every day. My friend's drawing in which he made an elephant instead of a cow. Those throbbings of my teacher which were awarded as a gift many a times on my soft cheeks, and finally that beautiful girl who never said a yes to my repeated proposal. Kuch Is tarah wo meri baat pe roye! Main Jaise Jake phir laut aaya hun!! Tere pyar mein kahin na fail ho jaun, Ishq ke exam mein main late aaya hun!! Teri Mushkurahat meri jaan na le le, Thodi Aas lekar ke tere Gate aaya hun!! Karti thin aawazein ghar ki Diwaarein, Teri Yaadon ko ghar se samet aaya hun!! I touched my parent's feet and said "Goodbye!” My brother came with me to say Ta-ta till the train's compartment gate and started chatting with me. "Yes, don't forget to call me in your marriage, Bro. Who knows, you will get married without informing anyone because I am the only person who will help you in the 7 Arun Kumar Gautam end." Everyone who was at the compartment gate started staring at me. But I reacted like no one heard my brother. This sentence displayed the faith of my brother that he had on me. My parents were also aware of my girlfriends who generally, used to call me on the blackish land phone. Ineptly, which used to be in my parent's bedroom but, I used to reply very smartly that “My friend was on the line.” But dad used to answer me, “I know who was that.” But my Dad's response used to compel me to scratch my head because I used to think that my dad too had many girlfriends in his springtime, I guess. "Oh, Bro, please don't say this. Don't you still remember my first girlfriend's name? She is the one who is still first and last to me." "Yes, I do remember, my younger brother, when we were in Kanpur. It still thrills me the way you gave me that surprise. How can I forget that day?" After saying this, we both started reminiscing the day. W 14th February 7:00 Pm 2007 Near Sai Baba Mandir, Ganda Nala, Kanpur "Why did you call me, Dev?" Baby asked. "Oh my dear baby, don't you remember today is a special day? I mean 14th February” I replied with excitement. "Yes, I remember Rahul told me, he had wished me a Happy Valentine's Day before you, but you are late as always," Baby replied with anger. "Look, I still have a little confusion here whether I am Sample copy. Not for distribution. 8 Last Question Unanswered… your boyfriend, or Rahul is? These Rahul type disputing people are always intervening in everyone's life and ruining everyone's love story. I don't know why GOD creates such creatures. "Well, leave I don't want to talk about this. I have brought something for you." I said to her. After keeping quiet for five seconds, she broke her silence. "And what it is Dev?" She asked me" Just close your eyes and it will be a new experience of your life," I replied to her. "Oh, indeed, but I have experienced this many times," Baby said with a naughty smile on her face. She closed her eyes, brought her hand forward. She was shocked to see her gift because it was not the flower of Rose which I offered her on Valentine‟s Day. But it was a CAULIFLOWER. She started laughing madly. Suddenly, she looked at my brother for a moment, who was just ten feet away from us, and what? Unexpectedly, she started kissing me; my brother stood aghast, and so did I. But still he asked me a question through his expression “SHE KISSED YOU DUDE, DAMN. How could she do that in front of me?” And I replied him with my expressions too “she is my girlfriend, not yours. Apparently she will kiss me, not you.” She left after that memorable kiss. It was like the first piece of a chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream. Something that happened for the first time in this universe. Now I was also going back with a huge kiss story that I could tell my friend like he used to say me that he had Butterscotch. Suddenly, my heart knocked my mind, "Oh shit, 9 Arun Kumar Gautam what is this crap what I have started thinking? If someone knows about it what will they think of me?” My brother was still smiling at me after recollecting that incident. My parents were waiting for the train to depart, but it had halted again due to some signal problem. My Brother growled and said, "You are not loyal to anyone. I know it Dev. You even didn't leave my girlfriend. You said, "I love you" to her as well? That was a bullshit man? You proposed Your BHABHI, dude.” "Bhabhi Maa ke Samaan hoti hai Bhai." "Well, I didn‟t propose her Bro, I just tried to check whether she was loyal to you or not and later what happened? You know it; she left you alone. She has four kids now. But you are still finding one to get married. She was a talented girl brother” I replied my brother with a vexed smile. Dil ki Sadak pe na jaane kitne gacche ho gaye.! Jis-2 ko bhi chaha hamne sabke bacche ho gaye.!! Muh Chupakar ab talak jo baat bhi karte na The, Par Achanak kya hua ki ham bhi acche ho gaye.!! Kya batayein ham tumhe is pyar ki bhi guftgoo, Jabse ham unke bachhon ke Chachhe ho gaye.!! Kyun mujhe Sample copy. Not for distribution. 10 Last Question Unanswered… Get Complete Book At Educreation Store www.educreation.in 11