Defending A NATION

Chapter 1 _JOB CRISIS

2012
DELHI
ROHIT ROY

People say that every story has a beginning and an end,but mine was quite different.It started in the middle of nowhere and maybe will end somewhere.

Sitting here in this tea stall,thinking about my life is not what I usually do.But today was different.It was a no job day or how can I phrase it,I lost my job.

Being fired really sucks,but when it's the only thing that keeps your whole family upright.You can't imagine the pain.It was really tough here in Delhi to get a job and with my kind if qualifications,it's almost impossible.

I was not always like this.Once I was this happy,carefree and a great guy who make irrational dicisions.But the death of my father, changed my course.

Last year was bad,he was the only one who was financially supporting us and I was this studying , actually doing nothing.But after that, not only I have to support my mother and my sister,I have to support myself.Something I have never done my entire life.This job was really important and i lost it.

The world can't be any more cruel, right.Well it does somehow.I was not be able to complete my degree as I was thrown out,din't ask me why.So after graduation I took this job at this firm to give my loser of a life some meaning.It payed me 20000 bucks a month,not much but for a boy like me, it was more than enough.

You know what is strange about life it's good news,but when you start to actually feel it,it turns pretty quickly into bad one.

"They are cutting jobs",one of my co-worker told me earlier."some financial crisis"

"well not strong as mine"I joked.And just like that,I was jobless.Cute right.

"Still thinking about her",I heard my friend say from behind.The guy really just have one topic.

"No",I replied.

"I believe you",He said smiling."We have bigger problems".Pointing at my job crisis he sat down on the chair beside me.

I like how friends convert one's problem into their problem as well.Friendship is really precious thing.Tanay is my best friend.Always there for me no matter what and I tried to do the same for him too.Probably the only thing I am not a loser in.Tanay's life was actually great,rich father and loving family.

"So lets talk about your job",He said.I was silent as I know what he will offer now.I waited for him to ask so that I can reject.

"Bhaiya,chai loge",A little boy asked him."No son",He said polietly"But take this".He pulled out his purse and gave the boy a 100rs note."Enjoy"He mouthed to him.The boy become instant happy.

"You know what, you should have completed your degree",He turned to me and said."You still can".

"No,can't take more money from you,please",I said.

"Bro,it's not about money.It's about helping you till you get another job"

"I want something permanent",I murmered more to myself then him.

"Yeah,like government job or something",He supported,"But with your qualificantions,it's very difficult"Thank god he didn't say impossible.

"So what do you say",He asked with hope in his eyes.

"No",I finally replied.It was true I need help,but this time,I have to handle it myself.

We were silent for sometime."You help me too,you know",He said quietly.

"what",I asked.

"Remember when I was in that fight,you helped me,or in your language,you kicked the hell out of them".

The smile formed in my face.Nobody messes with my friend,I thought."That's what brothers do for each other",I said"We help each other,we fight each others battles".

"Exactly my point.Brothers help each other".And just like that,I lost the argument too.

I lost many things.My father,my job and her too.Yeah now I am thinking about her.

People often say beautiful things about people they love.Like she was girl of their dreams,but for me she was the dream.A dream that fades a little everyday.

"Now you are thinking about her",He chuckled."Yes",I joined him.

As soon as she opened the door,I know I was a goner.Tanay was standing beside me,looking at me and hoping that I will say something productive.Boys told me that new tenent has moved in Gupta ji's house and she is a girl,but I never payed attention.It was sunday,the only day in week that I was free since my job swallow the rest of the days with it.On sunday me and tanay usually play football at my terrece in the morning.Yeah,I know what you are thinking,football on terrece,well lots of people in India do that so no big of a deal."who are you",She asked me."rohit",I said kind of very fast."What do you need,rohit",She asked again.Why is she asking questions so fast.Geez girl my mind don't think so fast."You there"She asked again."Yeah,umm my football, we we...re playing umm, me and tanay and you know sometimes I really kick very fast and...""Don't want the story boy,I asked what do you want".She said slowly completly annoyed."We need our ball its in your terrece",Finally tanay said.I completly forget he was still standing beside me.She looked at us for a while and closed the door."I think we lost our football,man",tanay said sadly."Now we can't play anymore today"I sighed" complete waste of sunday".As we started to go,we heard a loud thud on road and saw our football bouncing.Tanay ran to catch it.I looked at the girl's terrece.She was standing there smiling."THANK YOU",I yelled."Just don't want it to come next time",she said while leaving.I was smiling and I don't knowe why.

We were in tanay's car on our way home.I live on the outskirts of the city.We own the place,thanks to our father.You were probably wondering what I was doing so far from my area in a small tea stall.Well the auto driver was my friend,so money ain't a factor.And I hate the tea my sister make.I never told that to divya and tanay too.The guy was obsessed with her tea making skills.

"Finally I can drink some quality beverage",He said while driving.Sometimes I wonder that he can actually read minds."You know,I told my mother about divya's tea and told her to learn some skills from her.My mother denied me food that day telling me to never critisize her kitchen skills and yaa she yelled a lot".

I laughed."Never do that again",I said.

We were passing through Delhi's army area.The big walls and all the soldiers inside doing different kind of works.Its better then some firm.

"I can join army",I said out of nowhere.Car made a screeching noise as tanay pulled the car to break.

"Really dude",He asked.

"I can do that",I said finally making my mind.

As somebody once told me,you can join army,they need men like you.