When Harry Met Joanne - 2

Recap: Click on 'Recap' to Read When Harry Met Joanne Part-1.


"Listen. Consider me your friend. I know that you are going through a really tough phase. But it is important that you do not lose hope.” Harry was exhausting all of his convincing abilities.

“Harry. What? Yeah, Potter! How on earth do you think you know so much about me? You just mentioned my surname? Did not you?” Joanne said in a semi-shocked voice.

“How I know, is not important at the moment. You will know that yourself, before anyone else! But, I have come here to talk to you. So please, for heaven’s sake, lets try and add some value to this, otherwise worthless journey.” Harry was pleading, almost.

Joanne looked at Harry Potter. There was an urgency, gratitude and truthfulness in his green eyes. Suddenly, Joanne felt more assured, as if she could rely on him. After all, she was, indeed, not in the best frame of mind. She wanted to talk to somebody. How dearly has she missed her mother, all this while.

The train was now hissing through picturesque English countryside. Joanne noticed that the sun was battling hard against the clouds and the snow. The white world outside, now, had a pinch of warmth to it.

“Joanne, I know it’s a terrible feeling when you don’t have your mother by your side. I have no memory of my mother spending time with me, taking care of me, holding my hands when I needed support, comforting me when I was in pain. All I remember is that she loved me a lot. And she sacrificed herself for my sake. I am nothing but personification of her undying love.” Harry had mist in his eyes.

Joanne’s face turned paler with every word from Harry’s mouth. How did he know about her mother’s sad demise? How could he, so strongly, feel her agony? But this emotion of surprise was accompanied with further sense of assurance. She, now, wanted to talk.

“I have not talked to anyone about this before. But, yes, I miss my mother a lot. She was a very brave woman. 10 years, she fought with that awful disease. It was a pity to see her in so much of pain. And, all I could do was nothing. I blame myself for not being able to save her.” Joanne, finally, was talking.

“Why blame yourself? Your mother fought like a true warrior and you supported her throughout. You can not change destiny. Death is God’s prerogative. He takes away most of the good things from our lives, so that we can evolve better.”

"But, this is not entirely true! I could have saved my mother, had I had some money with me! A bankrupt, nearly non-existent daughter is all that my mother got. What’s the point of living such a life?"

"And, so you thought, why not end this life. Joanne,  you contemplated suicide, did not you?"

Joanne Rowling resembled a human body, freshly struck by lightning. As a spontaneous reaction, she adjusted her clothes, fearing Harry could see through them.

TO BE CONTINUED

P.S. : This post is inspired by some 'real life events'. Fictional situations have been created as per literary convenience. 

When Harry Met Joanne -1

She was pretty, if one ignored dark circles below the bluish eyes and the graying hair, which was neatly tied just below her shoulder. Her personality was totally unassuming, she was one of those several average looking women, whom you may not bother to give a second look. She occupied a window seat of the 4-hours delayed Manchester-London Mail.

Joanne was lost and irritated. Irritated because of the delayed journey and lost because she has always been like that. The freezing weather outside, made her mood worse. She looked at the window pane and white world outside. For a moment, she felt as if happiness and hope were sucked out of her soul.

“Hey, Can I sit here?”

A young man in his late teen, with twinkling green eyes, untidy black hair and a lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead was standing in front of Joanne. She just nodded and the 'man with the scar' enthusiastically took the seat in front of her.

 ‘Hi, I am Harry. Harry Potter.” He stretched out his hand.

“I am Joanne.” She did not shake hands.

The frozen countryside flashed through train’s window. Mercury seemed to dip a notch further. Harry Potter took off his jacket and casually put it aside. A stick peeped out of one of its pockets.

“You look tensed. May I know why?”

“No, I am absolutely fine. And I am afraid; I don’t see any reason why shall I tell you, even if I am tensed.” Joanne shot back.

“Because, I can do Magic” Harry Winked.

Joanne passed a wry smile. She wondered why this young man was showing interest in her. She was not used to attention from opposite sex, she was never ‘hit’ upon, either in college or at workplace. Her slate was absolutely clean. And uninteresting.

After looking at her strange co-passenger for good ten seconds, she looked away. “See, I know what bothers you. But, this is not the way, you should deal with it.” Harry said with a bit of concern in his voice.

“Really! I don’t know who you are or what interests you in me. But I am seriously not interested in your magical stuff. I have lot many things in my life to deal with. And, this journey is surely not doing any good to me or my mood. So would please try and not bother me!” Joanne said with remarkable restrain in her voice.

"What a pity. The creator is not interested in the creation. Interesting." Harry murmured while looking away.

“I beg your pardon!”

"Ummm. Nothing. Joanne. I know its difficult for you to connect with me right now. But I am here to help you. To help a person, to whom I owe my existence and this entire bloody stardom."

"I am not getting a word of what you are saying. Either you are playing some prank or this obnoxious journey has damaged your grey cells!" Joanne was on verge of losing her cool.

"Look, I am ahead of your time. You will know ‘this’ me, may be, 20-22 years later.  But for the moment, I want to talk to you. I want to fix that one bit of ‘patchy’ past you had. I owe it you. I mean, I have been into memories of several people. But this time, I am inside your memory, Joanne Rowling, I want to see you happy."

"Are you Insane?"

TO BE CONTINUED

A (Drunk) Man's Best Friend

Alcohol is my way of getting closer to the almighty. I experience orgasmic illusions, divine hallucinations and several other visual/non-visual sensations of this order, every time I am drunk. You may find me weird but try and get into my psyche. You will understand what I mean. That feeling of being ‘free’ and ‘on top of the world’ can only be achieved when a certain amount of alcohol embraces your blood.

*********************

My friend CB is an asshole, a teetotaler to be precise. I never wish CB long life on birthday. What’s the point of living a long life when it’s not sprinkled with colorful, volatile and semi-soluble liquids. You may think that I am very rude, how can I say such things about a person whom I call as a friend. But I don’t mind that you think this way, I am sure CB would not take it otherwise. CB is a sweetheart, like a tiny little bird residing in a cozy nest.

*********************

I have always tried to locate a best friend in my life. You know it's very necessary that you have a best friend in your life. Not only he/she is supposed to help you swim across troubled waters, double your joy when you are happy and provide unconditional support, but also make it to the ‘featured friends’ section of Facebook. A best friend should be like a movie poster, glitzy and glamorous, worth attaching your name with.

Let’s rule out women from contention straightaway. All men suffer from some serious diseases related to adrenalin and libido. How so ever, asexual they might pretend to be, there would be a moment in time, when they will think for her ‘that way’. And needless to say, women as best friends would bring in some unwanted baggage like commitment, truthfulness, decency, secretiveness, loyalty and several other such humongous concepts. And most importantly, she would never ever let a sexy, smoldering-hot girlfriend enter your life. If given a chance, she would hook you up with a cow or a duck for that matter.

Those who say that things like books, music and teddy are their best friends are great losers. They just try and hide the fact that they do not have a best friend in their life. You must have a living thing by your side, when you require. What’s the point in crying while submerging your face inside the teddy, when all it can do is quickly soak the salty liquid.

I also rule out Girlfriend and family members from the list. I will not explain, why I have left them out. I am drunk, you are supposed to be in senses. And if you are in senses, you would know that being a 'man' you would never share all your secrets with your Girlfriend (Until you happen to be a pet dog) or with any of your family members (Until you are straight out of some daily soap).

That leaves me only with the option of men. A man can be a man's best friend. Yes of course, they can share dirty jokes, collaborate in women scanning, sit over for a drink, smoke, the list is endless. But, is that all in a man's life? Perhaps, I am coming back to my senses, so whatever I say now onwards is supposed to be taken seriously.

Why men bond only over women, drinks, cricket and things like that? Why do they talk less and hope to be understood more? What makes them so egoistic, stubborn when it comes to reacting to situations and persons ? No answers. No one has answers.

"For us friendship is like a engine that never runs out of gas. We kick around but leave imprints rather than cracks." I continued with my sermon.

"Please shut up. I have been hearing this all night long" CB finally spoke up.

"Look, I am not drunk. But, I feel like telling it to you. You are my best friend. You are exceptional" I shook vigorously while speaking. CB smiled at me. 

"You also consider me as your best friend. Say, yes." I was expectant.

"Yes, we are good friends." CB said

"Why just good friends, why not best friends, just because I am drunk. No one wants to be Drunk Man's Best Friend. Sad!" I was disappointed.

"Look into my eyes, can you see something" 

Next moment, I was kissing CB (Chetna Bakshi) passionately. She became A Drunk Man's Best Friend, at least for next few minutes..err..Hours. 

P.S. : There must have been some very good logic while designating the role of 'A Man's Best Friend" to Dogs.