My first visit to the UK has been quite fascinating.
It is the first time that I am travelling all alone.
The first thing that greets you in London is the laid back buildings and houses
straight out of a fairytale and reminds you of stories like hansel and gretl.
England has an amzing railway infrastructure.
Commuting from one place is failry simple.
I took a train from Heathrow to Earls Court which was an exciting experience.
The subway is jam packed in the morning and you find yourself surrounded by people
in suits , running for work , Brits,Indians , Africans orientals , there are all kinds of faces .
I travelled the first day to swindon which is an hours train journey from Paddington station.
Reminds of the book by agatha christie .
The overland journey to swindon was very pleasant.
I got to see the beautiful english country side.
Most of the construction is of red bricks and all the houses look similar.
The most striking thing about some of the smaller stations is their construction.
It reminds you of any other indian railway station!
My hotel room turned out to be quite small , the way i had expected.
It has a bunk bed , the one in which you have to climb up!
London is a very alive place , you can be alone , but still not feel bored.
In many ways it reminds me of NY also.
i am here for a few more days lets see what else is in store
Friday, January 30, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The Wrong Number : a short story
The Wrong Number
Ring Ring.......
it's 5 AM and god knows who is calling me so early in the morning.
I imagine the phone is ringing in my dreams till I come out of my semi- coma
state and see the blue light of my phone lighting up the stark dark room.
" Hello "....I said.
" Hello , Who is this?" said the voice on the phone.
" Its 5 AM man!! , you got to know whom you are calling"....I shouted back ,irritated.
"Is this 9999050057 ?" said the voice on the phone.
" Yes it , is . Who are you " I was getting impatient by now.
" Hello Mr. Bhalla , this is Wadhwa, sorry to bother you so early in the morning,sir”said the voice.
“Huh…..There is a mistake , there is no Mr. Bhalla here , this is a wrong number”
I said and disconnected the phone.
I always have a hard time sleeping back after an interruption.
So I was just making up my mind whether to hit the sack for a few more hours…..
….and the phone was ringing again…
“ Darn it”..I shouted
“Hello, who is this?” I yelled.
“ Mr. Bhalla , is that you?” Said the voice.
“Dude, this is the WRONG NUMBER!!, please check your number!!” I said in a stern voice and disconnected the call.
With this the morning was ruined.
I was sure I couldn’t sleep anymore.
I realized it was Sunday finally , and I had to meet Riya for a movie at 10.
So I decided to get out of bed and head for a Jog, it was almost 6 and the sun was barely out.
So I put on my shoes, plugged in my ipod and was on my way.
During the next ten minutes I got a few more calls from the same number
But I never picked it.
I had had enough by then.
It was a beautiful morning and the morning air was refreshing.
As I started the run across with Moby playing a great tune in the ipod I quickly forgot about the mornings events , there were several things running through my mind.
It was my second date with Riya.
We had met at a common friends wedding and things took off really quickly.
So with thinking about what should I wear and what flowers I must buy for Riya I left the park.
Ring Ring!!!
One again there was a call coming in , but this time from another number.
I decided not to pick it again.
And let the phone ring, perhaps the caller will realize that he has the wrong number.
Ring Ring!
The phone was ringing again.
It looked like the entire networks calls were routed on my number today.
Riya Calling.
“Hi Honey”, I Said.
“Hi Sid” what time are you picking me up?” Riya Said.
“I should be at your place by 11, be ready” I Said
“ Come a little early , don’t you wanna come up??” she said teasingly
“ OK , this offer is too hard to resist” I said chuckingly.
“ I will be there by 10 then!” I said with a smile.
“ Hey what happened to your phone in the morning? I tried calling several times” She Said
“ I know, There have been some crank calls since morning” I said
“Hey I hope you don’t have anything to do with this” I asked qizzingly.
“ What are you talking , I have been sleeping, just got up a few minutes back” Riya Said.
“ Then it must be some one else” I said in a puzzled tone.
“ All right I will get ready now, See you in one hour” I said as I disconnected the call.
I was home by now.
As I opened the apartment door and entered the phone was ringing again.
Ring Ring !
My god what was happening today.
I saw another landline number calling.
In two minds whether to pick the call or not, I finally answered.
“Hello” I said
“Hello, who is this?” this time it was different voice.
“Listen , you have the wrong number , I have told you several times , this is Siddharth Kapoor,there is no Mr. Bhalla here.”, I said. And disconnected the call.
The phone rang several times again whilst I got ready but I didn’t pick it.
It seemed that I had to complain to the Customer care about this now.
This was getting too much now!
I left for Riya’s.
I reached Riya’s place and with a whistle on my lips and a beautiful fragrance of GUCCI which I had bought recently I rang the bell.
Riya opened the door.
“ You look gorgeous” I said.
“And you are late!!! Let’s go” she began to leave.
“I thought we will have some coffee first” I said
“Ha-ha.That was a ploy to get you here on time!” she smiled
“Ya Ya , you laugh , first I get these crank calls all morning which ruined my sleep” I said
“What calls? …ok listen I can hear your story in the car , lets go” she said as we headed towards the elevator.
Ring ring! .
“Oh damn it’s the same number again” I said.
“At least pick it up” Riya said.
“Hello” I said
“This is Sion police station……..I am ……..” and the call got disconnected
“What happened” asked Riya, as we got out of the elevator.
“The voice was breaking, but I couldn’t hear properly, but the person said that he calling from the
Sion police station…that’s all that I could hear” I said.
“This has got to be a prank call, these days these radio shows also call you a lot of times”
“Riya if you have any hand in this I will see you!” I said.
“No baba, I don’t know anything.” She said
“ok lets go , forget all this , we must reach the mall on time “ she said and we left.
We reached the mall in 20 minutes .
There are no more calls for a while.
“Come quickly , there is a lot of rush” said Riya as we saw a huge crowd in the mall.
It was Sunday afternoon , all of Mumbai is free and wants to see a movie!
Ring Ring!!
“it’s the same number again” I said as I saw the same number flashing on the cell display.
“ Sid the movie is about to start!!, please switch off your cell and come “ shrieked Riya.
“ok let me pick it one last time, if its another crank call I will switch off the phone” I said.
“hello” I said
“hello , this is sub inspector kamble from sion police station, who is this?” said the voice
The voice sounded crisp and genuine, it definitely was not a fake.
“ This is sid…err sidharth kapoor, how can I help you inspector?” I said in a puzzled manner.
“ Do you anyone by the name Anil Wadhwa?” the inspector said.
“ Anil Wadhwa !, no inspector ,I am sorry “ I said
“ I don’t know any one by this name” I said even more confused.
I had heard this name for the first time.
“ Are you Sure? The reason we are asking is that there has been an accident here “ said the inspector.
“ A person who was travelling in the local train slipped from the train and was crushed under the wheels of an oncoming train”
“ His face was crushed beyond recognition , all we found with him was a wallet with his driving license and his cell phone which surprisingly was not destroyed.”
“The last call that he made was to your number at about 5 AM today in the morning”
Suddenly everything became crystal.
“ ok ok …..Inspector I think I know what you are talking about, there was a wrong number on my cell by a guy named Wadhwa, I think it is the same person who you are talking about.He was looking for some one else and dialled my number by mistake” I said in a shock as the truth dawned on me.
“Since the last call on his cell were to you we decided to call you”
“ We have been trying to contact you since morning but every time before I could say anything you disconnected the phone” said the inspector.
“ I am sorry about that inspector , I thought it was the same person calling “ I said finding it hard to realise, that ….that person was dead!
“Thanks for your support, in case there is no one found from his family we have instructions to go ahead with the cremation in 48 hours” said the inspector
“We would also need you to come to the police station and record your statement, after all you were the last person to speak to him when he was alive” said the inspector.
“Thanks a lot inspector, I will be there” I said …
And the phone was disconnected.
I was in a state of shock. I finally found the reason for the wrong number.
I felt strange, although I didn’t know the person.
Had never met him, but just heard his voice.
I was sad and numb.
Suddenly I realized Riya was not there.
Riya had gone inside the theatre and was waiting .
“What happened? What took you so long? Whose call was it? I have been waiting since so long” She shouted
I smiled and said” It was a wrong number”
Ring Ring.......
it's 5 AM and god knows who is calling me so early in the morning.
I imagine the phone is ringing in my dreams till I come out of my semi- coma
state and see the blue light of my phone lighting up the stark dark room.
" Hello "....I said.
" Hello , Who is this?" said the voice on the phone.
" Its 5 AM man!! , you got to know whom you are calling"....I shouted back ,irritated.
"Is this 9999050057 ?" said the voice on the phone.
" Yes it , is . Who are you " I was getting impatient by now.
" Hello Mr. Bhalla , this is Wadhwa, sorry to bother you so early in the morning,sir”said the voice.
“Huh…..There is a mistake , there is no Mr. Bhalla here , this is a wrong number”
I said and disconnected the phone.
I always have a hard time sleeping back after an interruption.
So I was just making up my mind whether to hit the sack for a few more hours…..
….and the phone was ringing again…
“ Darn it”..I shouted
“Hello, who is this?” I yelled.
“ Mr. Bhalla , is that you?” Said the voice.
“Dude, this is the WRONG NUMBER!!, please check your number!!” I said in a stern voice and disconnected the call.
With this the morning was ruined.
I was sure I couldn’t sleep anymore.
I realized it was Sunday finally , and I had to meet Riya for a movie at 10.
So I decided to get out of bed and head for a Jog, it was almost 6 and the sun was barely out.
So I put on my shoes, plugged in my ipod and was on my way.
During the next ten minutes I got a few more calls from the same number
But I never picked it.
I had had enough by then.
It was a beautiful morning and the morning air was refreshing.
As I started the run across with Moby playing a great tune in the ipod I quickly forgot about the mornings events , there were several things running through my mind.
It was my second date with Riya.
We had met at a common friends wedding and things took off really quickly.
So with thinking about what should I wear and what flowers I must buy for Riya I left the park.
Ring Ring!!!
One again there was a call coming in , but this time from another number.
I decided not to pick it again.
And let the phone ring, perhaps the caller will realize that he has the wrong number.
Ring Ring!
The phone was ringing again.
It looked like the entire networks calls were routed on my number today.
Riya Calling.
“Hi Honey”, I Said.
“Hi Sid” what time are you picking me up?” Riya Said.
“I should be at your place by 11, be ready” I Said
“ Come a little early , don’t you wanna come up??” she said teasingly
“ OK , this offer is too hard to resist” I said chuckingly.
“ I will be there by 10 then!” I said with a smile.
“ Hey what happened to your phone in the morning? I tried calling several times” She Said
“ I know, There have been some crank calls since morning” I said
“Hey I hope you don’t have anything to do with this” I asked qizzingly.
“ What are you talking , I have been sleeping, just got up a few minutes back” Riya Said.
“ Then it must be some one else” I said in a puzzled tone.
“ All right I will get ready now, See you in one hour” I said as I disconnected the call.
I was home by now.
As I opened the apartment door and entered the phone was ringing again.
Ring Ring !
My god what was happening today.
I saw another landline number calling.
In two minds whether to pick the call or not, I finally answered.
“Hello” I said
“Hello, who is this?” this time it was different voice.
“Listen , you have the wrong number , I have told you several times , this is Siddharth Kapoor,there is no Mr. Bhalla here.”, I said. And disconnected the call.
The phone rang several times again whilst I got ready but I didn’t pick it.
It seemed that I had to complain to the Customer care about this now.
This was getting too much now!
I left for Riya’s.
I reached Riya’s place and with a whistle on my lips and a beautiful fragrance of GUCCI which I had bought recently I rang the bell.
Riya opened the door.
“ You look gorgeous” I said.
“And you are late!!! Let’s go” she began to leave.
“I thought we will have some coffee first” I said
“Ha-ha.That was a ploy to get you here on time!” she smiled
“Ya Ya , you laugh , first I get these crank calls all morning which ruined my sleep” I said
“What calls? …ok listen I can hear your story in the car , lets go” she said as we headed towards the elevator.
Ring ring! .
“Oh damn it’s the same number again” I said.
“At least pick it up” Riya said.
“Hello” I said
“This is Sion police station……..I am ……..” and the call got disconnected
“What happened” asked Riya, as we got out of the elevator.
“The voice was breaking, but I couldn’t hear properly, but the person said that he calling from the
Sion police station…that’s all that I could hear” I said.
“This has got to be a prank call, these days these radio shows also call you a lot of times”
“Riya if you have any hand in this I will see you!” I said.
“No baba, I don’t know anything.” She said
“ok lets go , forget all this , we must reach the mall on time “ she said and we left.
We reached the mall in 20 minutes .
There are no more calls for a while.
“Come quickly , there is a lot of rush” said Riya as we saw a huge crowd in the mall.
It was Sunday afternoon , all of Mumbai is free and wants to see a movie!
Ring Ring!!
“it’s the same number again” I said as I saw the same number flashing on the cell display.
“ Sid the movie is about to start!!, please switch off your cell and come “ shrieked Riya.
“ok let me pick it one last time, if its another crank call I will switch off the phone” I said.
“hello” I said
“hello , this is sub inspector kamble from sion police station, who is this?” said the voice
The voice sounded crisp and genuine, it definitely was not a fake.
“ This is sid…err sidharth kapoor, how can I help you inspector?” I said in a puzzled manner.
“ Do you anyone by the name Anil Wadhwa?” the inspector said.
“ Anil Wadhwa !, no inspector ,I am sorry “ I said
“ I don’t know any one by this name” I said even more confused.
I had heard this name for the first time.
“ Are you Sure? The reason we are asking is that there has been an accident here “ said the inspector.
“ A person who was travelling in the local train slipped from the train and was crushed under the wheels of an oncoming train”
“ His face was crushed beyond recognition , all we found with him was a wallet with his driving license and his cell phone which surprisingly was not destroyed.”
“The last call that he made was to your number at about 5 AM today in the morning”
Suddenly everything became crystal.
“ ok ok …..Inspector I think I know what you are talking about, there was a wrong number on my cell by a guy named Wadhwa, I think it is the same person who you are talking about.He was looking for some one else and dialled my number by mistake” I said in a shock as the truth dawned on me.
“Since the last call on his cell were to you we decided to call you”
“ We have been trying to contact you since morning but every time before I could say anything you disconnected the phone” said the inspector.
“ I am sorry about that inspector , I thought it was the same person calling “ I said finding it hard to realise, that ….that person was dead!
“Thanks for your support, in case there is no one found from his family we have instructions to go ahead with the cremation in 48 hours” said the inspector
“We would also need you to come to the police station and record your statement, after all you were the last person to speak to him when he was alive” said the inspector.
“Thanks a lot inspector, I will be there” I said …
And the phone was disconnected.
I was in a state of shock. I finally found the reason for the wrong number.
I felt strange, although I didn’t know the person.
Had never met him, but just heard his voice.
I was sad and numb.
Suddenly I realized Riya was not there.
Riya had gone inside the theatre and was waiting .
“What happened? What took you so long? Whose call was it? I have been waiting since so long” She shouted
I smiled and said” It was a wrong number”
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