EPISODE 20 - THE PANTING HEART

The needle on the fuel gauge hovered above empty, adding to John’s already mounting troubles. The old Moped needed fuel, and with prices the way they were, it would be expensive. Fingers nervously tapping the handle bar, John did some math. He'd never been very good at numbers, but could do the arithmetic. With all the unpaid bills stacking up at home, he knew he was nearing the empty mark, himself.

John prayed he would have enough fuel to reach his destination. He only had five dollars left in his wallet, and desperately needed a good business deal;atleast a good parttime job as his business was on loss coz of Kenneth . A firm believer in Providence,John had poured over the “help wanted section” of the newspaper that morning, praying for guidance. An ad for a salesman at the local computer dealership had caught his attention. It touted "no experience necessary" -- three very important words to John. Even better, John knew the owner of the dealership, and believed God had pointed him to this job.

Parking his vehicle outside the showroom, John removed his Stetson to whisper a prayer. The moped stand screeched open as he climbed down. The Weather felt good at this time of year -- not too hot and not too cold. John enjoyed the fresh air, letting the breeze swirl around him as he strode inside.

Light jazz played faintly in the background, as John scanned the showroom for a familiar face. A bald man took notice of John, and waved a friendly greeting from across the room. John returned his wave. He hoped the man would remember him from his computers spares purchase.

Dressed in dark slacks and a white business shirt, Jerry Westhaven put down the clipboard he had been holding, and came to John with an outstretched hand and a broad smile. "John Wilson, I never expected to see you here! Don't tell me you're finally shifting that old computer business!"

"No, sir, I'm here about the job," John said, feeling a little self-conscious about the black T-shirt and worn jeans he had put on that morning. With a sinking heart, John noticed the other salesman dressed as sharply as Jerry.

"Job?" Jerry looked puzzled, and then a flash of understanding crossed his face. "John, I'm sorry, but that job was filled only an hour ago!"

His spirits fell, and John hoped he didn't appear as disappointed as he felt. "Oh, sorry for bothering you." As he awkwardly turned to leave, he saw Jerry open his wallet and take out two twenty dollar bills.

"Here," Jerry said, offering the money a little clumsily, "I'd like you have this."

Longingly staring at the bills, John realized what Jerry offered -- a handout -- charity to someone less fortunate than himself. "I'm not here to beg for anything," John said, feeling the heat of shame creep up his neck.

"I know you're not," Jerry said, thrusting the money into John's hip pocket. "I just have a feeling you might need this more than I do at the moment."

John knew he had no right to turn down the money, especially when he needed it so badly. Even so, it stung to accept charity, though it came from someone as friendly as Jerry Westhaven.

"Come to think of it," Jerry said thoughtfully, "I heard the garden nursery owner across the street might be looking for help in regard to his home computer service. You could check there for work."

"Across the street?" John tried to be hopeful, but knew a job there wouldn't be very likely as he was in a huge loss . Nodding, John gratefully shook Jerry's hand. "Thanks, I'll look into it."

Before Jerry had a chance to ask how things were going at home, John made a polite excuse and left the dealership. In his present condition, as much as Matt knew people meant well, he knew they could also bring trouble.

And Matt had already had enough trouble, to last him a lifetime.John met the concerned person and had the job done.

His college days were smooth as ever. John had a customer named Sebastian who was John’s class mate in his 11 and 12th grade, infact he was one among the close friends of Kenneth. It was almost 6 months ago that customer was given under Kenneth’s control. Sebastian is basically a dumb guy, who doesn’t know the true value of anything which includes people, friends, money, hard work .What all he knows is going to pub, bar’s, beach resorts to have sheer pleasure in the weekends. His father is an attorney and a former member of parliament. So Sebastian had all sorts of amenities which no one questions. Kenneth used this opportunity and started looting money in the name of regular system inspection and services. These things were happening without the knowledge of John as he got no information about it and more over John believed that Sebastian & Kenneth were good friends so Kenneth will not show his tricks to Sebastian.

It was February 28th 2006 John, Sean, Rachel, Susan and Martha was invited by Ellen to take part in her Nephew’s 5th birthday .For John it was the first time to attend a party at a friend’s place that too a female friend so he went up to Sean’s place so that they can start off together for the party,it was that time Sean introduced Mr. Xavier who is a friend ,Neighbor and well wisher of Sean ,soon John and Sean got ready and set off to the party at 5pm .In Ellen’s place John was left alone by the gang as Sean was busy convincing Rachel to accept his love, Martha as usual over the phone and Susan never turned up to grace the occasion. Last but not the least Ellen was busy serving the gusts at the party. He had a chance to meet Mr. Eugene, Ellen’s brother in law who was working in a MNC as a software engineer. Eugene a man of perfection, always had a strict vigil over Ellen but ultimately this nature of him turned him arrogant. He never trusted anyone, He started doubting each and every person he meets in his life, and in that moment only he met John who was introduced to him by Ellen as her best friend. Ellen in her Joy started stating all the qualities of John, that he is an Entrepreneur, he owns a business, besides which he is a good artist and she kept the list added. This created a slight suspicion in the minds of Eugene. But John had learned it from his eyes even though Eugene never revealed his suspicion. John never interfered in anyone’s personal affair so he didn’t feel guilty of any suspicion. The party went on well it was almost 9pm John Received a call from his dad. As soon as John Cut the call his face was horrified with something that Sean, Ellen and other friend of John couldn’t understand the situation John was facing. Not willing to spoil the party mood John left Ellen’s Place without letting his situation to anyone.

EPISODE 19-THROWAWAY

Time may heal all wounds, but the scars can last a lifetime. Whether physical or mental, we all carry the baggage of the past with us into the present.

However, there are people who do not have the burden of baggage. Two days after John’s 19th birthday, his parents decided to apply for divorce in the local court. Like a burglarized house being stripped of its valuables, the memories that John had accumulated over the years of his lifetime were slowly being cleared away. There was no clue what’s happening around him except a constant quarrel between his mom and dad every dawn and dusk. With only the faint hope of some unforeseeable breakthrough in their mind set that would halt their descent into madness, John prepared himself for the unthinkable.

Charles Dickens once wrote, that "time and tide waited for no man." The same could be said of John's family. Life ran its course, even though the world seemed to be an alien one. God always does things for a reason. Nothing ever happens without one. In this pressure John started concentrating more in his business that one day he found that Kenneth had visited the customers place a couple of days ago. John was very much to know that Kenneth doing his duties properly. But like a Mist that vanishes when sun’s ray fall on them, John’s Happiness soon vanished and was shocked to see something serious. John Inspected the system and found some duplicate spares in the system; But he didn’t reveal this to the customer, but told him the system need a depot service and he is taking it along with him. John thought he could inspect the system and replace all the duplicates he also knew about Kenneth, and he might have been cornered to buy duplicates by the suppliers, so he wouldn’t have done purposefully. Meanwhile it was the new-year season so John had to Make regular inspection to all his clients, But more bad news followed John, he was shocked to see almost half of the clients who bought computers form John had some or the other problem with their desktops.It was then John approached Kenneth, But Kenneth was no serious about the situation he simply said to John “I was in need of money so I replaced all the spares, what the f*** bothers you?? They are no more your customers dude and so you have got no rights to question me Mr. John, remember even if something goes wrong I know each and every bloody technique to tackle them and you no need to visit any of my customers “it was like An Axe To Grind. But John was like Between A Rock And A Hard Place: He struggled hard to make him understand but Kenneth mind was full of Martha. For Kenneth; John is like a Dark horse. Meanwhile John’s parents case came for the first hearing, John was simple a clay mould he just kept watching what all happening coz John was sure that his parents case is like Flash In The Pan : Something that shows potential or looks promising in the beginning but fails to deliver anything in the end. John consulted his customer who is an attorney. He gave few suggestions which had real good effects in breaking their parent’s case. But the face is Even though John’s parents applied for a divorce their mind didn’t not agree with what they were doing. Ellen became one of the best friends for John and Sean. Sean approached Ellen for a help in his Love affair. Sean was in serious love with Rachel, but Rachel never accorded his view. So Sean plans out something to bring out Rachel’s Love. Rachel is a timid character; she has a peculiar character of a squirrel. When it likes something it’ll not grab it but will wait keeping an eye on it and check whether anyone else trying to picking it up or not. When it finds someone is there to snatch it it’ll run forth to grab it. Hope u get what I m trying to say. And Sean’s character is straight opposite to that when he decides something it remains the same till the end. He’ll not desire for others holding but at the same time he’ll not loose or leave to others that he considers his holding. His negative character is He is a short-tempered person and he doesn’t give respect to others or others feelings. Next is Ellen she is a kind hearted arrogant girl, who is good at fashion designing and bad at maintaining long term relationships. She was born in a middle class background but bought up in a rich lifestyle. So she knew both the side of life. Susan is a girl with every smiling face, and a good tendency to help others. She was from a middle class back ground, she too suffered all most all the difficulties that a girl would face while passing the teen age, she was forced to get married but then her parents agreed to go for university education. All of the 5 made a very good group. Except Sean and Rachel all of the others shred a very good friendship. It was more than that. Sean was younger to all so Ellen and Susan called him Younger brother. While John considered Susan as a sister, both John and Susan shared a special bond to celebrate, haha both of them was Borne in the same day, date and even hours was same, they were just minutes apart. Even though they didn’t call brother or sister, it was all in their heart. They were envied by the entire class.

Soon this sweet little gang had a big bang.

EPISODE 18- A SEQUEL TO JOHN'S JOURNEY!

John had a tough college life especially those with the first year subjects but later he started enjoying those beautiful moments. Since john was not good with maths, again in college he had few practical difficulties with the subject. As in his old school here also john was considered a genius by his college and by few of his professors but his real color languished when his first term results came in and john miserably failed in all the subjects even in practical’s which none of them imagined. John belong to a different major when he changed his course of studies from commerce to computers he found the subject to be difficult. But these things were common in the life of a student. On the other hand Kenneth never fazed off by anything. It was then all began in john’s life. Yes it’s the start of everything…the beginning of end. Kenneth had a younger brother who was doing his 7^th grade ,his mother a home maker and his father a classical singer, who was actually striving hard to get a job was simply sitting at home commanding his wife to bring money from her home and ill-treating her. These things brought in a mental change in Kenneth’s mind which ultimately ruined not only his life but also the one’s surrounding him. Kenneth was attracted by a girl named Martha. Martha was from the country side and was located in a women’s hostel which was located in john’s neighborhood. Slowly john understood that Kenneth was in serious love with Martha, john kept quiet and waited for a moment where he can make Kenneth understand that it’s neither his age nor it was the situation to fall prey for all these things but it was all too late for john to let him understand.

Kenneth and Martha started moving close, that the whole class knew that both do love each other. But john was in a dilemma whether or not to leave Kenneth as such, it’s so because Kenneth’s entire family depend on him ,not only that but John had a slight doubt about Martha’s, to add his problem Kenneth never concentrated in studies. He was not regular for college also; whenever he was absent Martha too won’t be present. Remember something john had allocated few customers for Kenneth to take over? Even they were left without care. John was very busy with his first semester exams, that he didn’t carry out his regular inspections in his customers place; Kenneth knew this very well and utilized this opportunity. After the exams john carried out his regular business works as usual The first ever big shock came to john when the real fact came to light. So John was more worried about his business, slowly Kenneth father and mother started inquiring john about the girl who kept ringing Kenneth. As soon as he reaches home Kenneth makes himself isolated and was over the phone all night with that girl. His number of visits to john’s place slowly decreased. Things were going smooth except with Kenneth. Slowly new friends started moving around John’s life few of them are Miguel and Steven. Miguel a soft timid guy who is from a very traditional background, and Steven a guy of hard work, these two fellows joined the college very late as they had arrear in 12^th grade so they joined the college only after 2 months from the date of college reopened. Well… well… welllll here is the important person in the class trouble maker, the baleful beauty of the class Kurt. He consider himself as the mobster but the fact is he is a lovable and harmless Wight ,but when you say this to him he’ll not accept it,in face he is the class comedian, with a fierce tone ,ehhee ,rest of his gang fellas are Sean ,Garry, Nelson. Sean was in love with Rachel who again belongs to a different character,which you ll come to know in the later part of the story . Apart from this john had few good friends among girls who are Susan ,Ellen ,Sharon ,Ashley, Donna. Sharon and Garry belongs to different group but since their total was less(10)they were combined with john’s group for the first one year. Almost the first one year went on just like that no odd feelings no differences, no enmity; mainly no Ego. All of them took life as it came. But it was a good beginning for all, except few sad things. No one can ever forget a life like that, if experienced it once. “Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don't try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human.”This is all John learnt in the First year of graduation! But there is something more….