Artist

“I have to explore this building”, that’s what I thought after seeing an abandoned building on the other side of the Lawrence highway. The building architecture is unique when compared to the surrounding buildings. I'm an artist; so I could easily identify the artistic sense in any building construction. My name is Aryan and working as a senior designer in an advertising company. My job is to design the company's brand logos. Most Fortune 500 companies are our clients; I received an “Innovative design” award last year for my logo design to a software company. It was not the first time, earlier I got several similar awards for my work. However, that's all past. Now I'm running out of ideas. Somehow I'm not getting “innovative” thoughts to design the company's brand logos. As per my boss's advice, I took a long break from work. But still, even after I return from vacation, there is no use. I felt something has happened to me. Probably that's because of my marriage, which came to end, and I got a divorce. I got disturbed a lot by that divorce. I felt empty, and my mind was not as sharp like before.

I visited many places for inspiration. I studied my previous work and other people's work, but still, those things have not ignited the spark in my mind. I knew if I notice something unique and brilliant then I get inspired, and I’ll be back to normal. But never happened so far since my divorce. 

I'm working on a project. The company that gave that project decided to renew their company logo as one of their key partner left that company. An earlier logo was used to resemble the culture of both companies, but now they need a new symbol. It's almost 3 months; I couldn’t come up with any satisfactory designs.

After noticing that abandoned building, I felt it might have some paintings or something, which might inspire me. 

In one weekend, I decided to explore it...

It was a beautiful and truly innovative construction. Until a few years back, the caretaker was taking care of that building, heard from one of my colleagues. After him, no one was there to take care of it. Govt was thinking to renew it and make it some kind of tourist place, but those things never happened. People say they heard weird sounds coming from that building during the night and some even say they have seen shadows. I didn’t believe those things.

It's quite far from the highway and located on top of the hill. There is a path to reach that house, but that path has totally deteriorated. Somehow I managed to reach it in my car until the gate. I entered inside and opened the building door. Luckily there is no lock. And it's a huge hall and many paintings on the wall. I'm slowly walking and looking at all the paintings. There is so much creativity in those paintings. I sat on a chair and opened the laptop. There are few designs on my laptop, which I didn’t like at all. I looked at the paintings on the wall to see if any of the paintings would inspire me. In parallel, I'm studying about the company again. The more you know about the company then the more you can come up with simple, yet perfectly suitable logos for them. A company logo should reveal its culture, work, passion, principles, and commitments. I knew the value of the brand names and logos. I spent around 4 hours, but none of the designed logos are satisfactory. Those paintings on the wall were not actually helping me to come up with any new ideas. People might think the company logos are straightforward, and it shouldn’t take much time to design. But in reality, that’s not correct. One has to spend a lot of time and even months to come up with different designs.

I was frustrated. I felt dead tired as my mind was constantly thinking about it. I slipped into sleep. Once I woke up, I realized that I had slept around 2 hours. I closed the laptop and left the building. That day night I emailed a file with that list of drawings to my manager and asked him to submit it to the client for approval. I knew that they wouldn’t like those, but I didn’t have any option as I had already crossed the deadline long back, so I couldn’t prolong further.

The next day morning I got a call from the manager. He said they were extremely pleased with a few designs, and they have chosen one for their company logo. He said I did an excellent job after many months and disconnected the call. I was surprised as I didn’t expect that response.

I opened outlook and saw an email from a client appreciating my work. They have sent the selected designs as an attachment to it. When I opened that attachment, I was shocked as those were not my designs. Those were truly excellent, but those were not mine. I looked at the sent folder and checked the attached file. Those designs are indeed part of that single file attachment. I didn’t know how come those designs came there. The file was in my laptop until yesterday so no one could have updated it. Even if someone had modified it, I don't think anyone here has that much talent to come up with those designs. It was a total puzzle to me how could that have happened.

A few days later I got another project. The situation was alike. I struggled to come up with proper designs. I decided to visit that building and work there. I went again and sat in the same place. It was no use as I couldn’t come up with any new designs. After a while, I slept while my back was resting on the wall. When I woke up, I observed my laptop was not closed. I looked at my design file. It was supposed to be 5 pages, but it got now has 15 pages, which means, 10 new designs were added to that file.

Who has added those designs? A big question mark in my mind. I looked around. I didn’t observe anyone. I recalled the stories about that building and paranormal activity. I usually don’t believe those stories. But, the question had arisen in my mind again, who did those drawings on my laptop?

While thinking, I went further inside and noticed a room, which was not locked. It was a library room. No books were in the racks. I reckon those were stolen or sold. 

There was a large picture on the wall, which I understood could be the owner of that building. 

Sir Arthur, I read the name. 

While I was staring at that painting, all of sudden it fell down. 

I stumbled for that. I grabbed the painting from the floor and tried to put it back on the wall, and then observed a shelf on the wall, which was kept hidden earlier from that painting. 

I put the painting on the floor and opened that shelf. There was a dairy inside. Sir Arthur's name was written on it. It's a pretty old diary looks like. I opened it. The first few pages were empty then onwards it has drawings. 

I recognized some of the drawings as they resemble the logo designs that I found new on my laptop. That means … Did Arthur sketch those designs? 

My hands became wet with sweat. I closed that book and ran back to the place where I kept my laptop. I took it and came out of that building as fast as I can.

After reaching home, I can't believe what I saw. I double-checked those designs in that book. I discussed it with one of my psychology friends. He told me it was coincident that those drawings were matched. He also told that I might have drawn the designs unconsciously as it happened to many people. In any case, I was not sure exactly what was the truth? I didn’t visit that building again, later found out, it is demolished for a house project. 

But I kept Arthur’s diary with me as that's my inspiration for all my future designs.

This story is published at yourstoryclub.com

Trivedi

It was truly refreshing having coffee by looking at the sunrise. I was doing the same thing, standing outside of my 27th-floor apartment and enjoying the sunrise. The outside view was magnificent. My name is Trivedi, working as a Software Architect in one of the top US companies. We develop security solutions. US defense department is one of our clients. I was an expert in designing and architecting intelligent software in weapons. There is a total of 7 patents in my name. Most people don’t know that modern weapons have microchips, and the firmware inside the chip does most of the work.  They believe that Weapon manufacturing is just mechanical work, and no software is required. But certainly, they are wrong.

Six-figure salary and 5% company stock, everything achieved at age of 25. I love to enjoy a luxurious life, so bought the costliest apartment and a sports car. Even My boss didn’t have that kind of car. I was a bachelor but was dating Michele. Michele was a co-worker.

That day was going to be the biggest day in my life as I had to give a presentation of new weapon technology to US defense authorities, which I had been working for 2 years. US defense department was eagerly waiting for that technology. If they accept it then it would be a big breakthrough in my life.

I finished my coffee, went inside, and sat on a sofa. I got a call, it was Michele. I answered the call,

“Hey… Mich”, I call her Mich, short name of Michele.

“Honey… did I wake you up.”

“No … Mich... I woke up already.”

“Oh… ok… do you miss me yesterday night?” Her tone was teasing. Almost every day I used to spend nighttime in her apartment, but yesterday I didn’t go.

“Ya… kind of… you know right. I was immersed in preparing the presentation.”

“Oh … great. I know you forget the entire world when you are working... I’m angry that you keep all your designs with you. You don’t even share with me”, she sounded really angry.  That was, maybe the 100th time, she was complaining that I didn’t share my designs with her. I really don't like to share my designs with anybody, because those are military designs. If those designs land in the wrong hands, then I couldn’t imagine what kind of damage that might bring.

I just laughed and remained silent.

“Alright… anyway, come soon to the office. See you there… love you… bye”, she disconnected the call.

I took 45 mins to get ready and came out of my apartment. I was carrying a personal laptop. Today’s presentation and some other confidential documents were on that laptop.
I was in the basement, walking towards the car. Then it happened. Somebody hit me with something at the backside of my head. I fell to the floor. Then two hands were holding me down, and I could feel, something was getting injecting into my neck.

I was losing conciseness but still, I could see somebody grabbed a laptop from me. I wasn’t able to resist, lost complete conciseness ...

When I opened my eyes, I was inside a small room. I realized that was a lodge. It was undoubtedly a very low-cost one. I got up from bed. I remembered everything that someone hit me from back and stole my laptop.

“God damn it. They wanted my new designs that’s why they hit me and stole the laptop. Who was it? I’ve to inform my boss”. I came out of the room; it was on the first floor. I came over then I saw a short guy at the front desk. He didn’t look like an American. I asked him where was that place and who bought me here. He said some guy bought me here yesterday night. He had told him that I was his brother. I asked him again, which town it was?  He said I was in Poovar, a small town in Kerela, India.

“Oh my god, it is unbelievable. Am I in India???  Who stole my laptop, brought me to India from the US? This is ridiculous. I’ve to call my boss.”

I asked that guy, whether it was possible to make an international call. It was fortunate that the guy was able to talk in English. I heard somewhere that most of the population in Kerala speaks English and I was witnessing that fact in that small Kerala town. He showed me the phone and told me what numbers I should dial first to make an international call.

I dialed my boss's office number directly, no one answered the call. Then I understood it was night in the US, so I dialed my boss's cell phone number. After a moment he answered.

“Sir, this is Trivedi. Please listen carefully. I was attacked by somebody, and my laptop was stolen. And right now I’m in a small town, India. I don't know how, but they brought me here. You have to call the FBI and report it”, I told him everything.

There was a silence for a few seconds from the other side, then he said, “See Mr, this is not a time for practical jokes, I just met Trivedi this evening at my office. So don’t tell me that you are Trivedi. You better call someone to make a fool”.

I was shocked after listening to what he had said. “What are you saying? You met Trivedi today evening, that’s impossible, I’m Trivedi, and somebody stole my laptop and designs. Sir, you didn’t recognize my voice. I have been working in your company for more than 10 years!!!”

“I told you Mr, stop talking nonsense. You are not Trivedi”, he disconnected the call.

I was stalled. “What is going on?  When I’m here, how come he was telling me that he met Trivedi. Whom did he meet actually?” my head was spinning with those questions.

“Who stole my designs? Why they bought me to live here, instead of killing. I have to call Michele. Yes, she will remember me.”

I called Michele’s cell number. After a while, she answered.

“Michele, this is Trivedi, see… something terrible is gonna happen. I don’t understand what is that exactly. Can you believe that I'm in India, someone brought me here, you have to help me”.

She was laughing on phone. “Are you Trivedi? Then who is in my bed? A ghost … haha.”

“What? Trivedi is with you??” it was a double shock to me.

“Yes, he is with me in my bedroom. You want to talk to him” and I heard that she gave the phone to some other person.

“Hello, this is Trivedi speaking, who is it?” the voice is not my voice. I was thinking, “if he is Trivedi then who am I??”

THESE STORIES ARE PUBLISHED AT yourstoryclub.com

Dad

Ravi’s flight landed in Bangalore international airport. He is so tired and feeling annoyed. This flight is supposed to land two days ago, but due to some technical problem, it got delayed to today. His work at Paris didn't go through well. He spoke with his manager and told about the situation at client place. His manager was not happy about the outcome. Actually he did his best. But his team was not able to deliver quality product as expected by the client. So, they decided to give significant part of the work in the current project to some other company. He tried to convince the client. However they committed to the earlier decision and gave work to other company. His manager is blaming him for loosing that work. 

Before traveling to India, he decided not to talk to anyone for few days so he switched off his phone. His flight was emergency landed on some other airport because of the technical problem. He stayed two days in a hotel, which is provided by airlines people. During those two days, he was not in contact with anybody.

He took a taxi in Bangalore airport, and told the taxi driver, where to go. While he is on his way to the room, he switched on his phone. The swim card in the phone is enabled to use across the globe. His company provided it. After 10 Mins, he got a call. He saw who is calling. His friend. 

Ravi’s mood is still not good. He thought for some time, whether to attend the call or not. He did not pick it for first time. Immediately his friend called again, this time he answered the call.

“Hello”.

“Hey, Ravi, Where were you man? We all were trying to contact you from past 3 days. We came to know that your flight is delayed, and it was landed in some other airport, but not able to trace you.”

Ravi is listening quietly.

“Sorry yaar, one bad news to you. Your father passed away 3 days back. He got a heart attack. Your relatives tried to contact you to inform this information, but not happened. They waited for you till today, but you did not come, so they took the responsibility and buried your father body. You missed his last moments”.

Ravi is listening with half mind, he did not understand first who died.

“What? Who ?”

“Your father, I know it is hard to believe. But, very sorry yaar. I will come to your room. We can discuss in it”.

Call got disconnected.

He did not believe that his father is dead. He called his relative. His relative confirmed that his father is no more.

Ravi became silent. He could not able to hear any sounds from outside. Outside world appeared so quiet to him. Taxi driver was asking him something. His is seeing his lips moving, but no word from his mouth.

The day before he was traveling to India, his father called him. He did not speak with him properly. That was not first time, that he behaved like that. After joining in this job, he is not speaking much with his father. Whenever he calls him, he talks with him while doing some work on his laptop. Sometimes, he does not understand entirely, what his father told him over the phone.

Few years before Ravi was not like today. He likes his father so much. He has had extremely close relationship with his father. He used to stay with his father in their house.

What caused Ravi to change his life style?

Few years ago…

**********

 May 21st.

Ravi’s father birthday, like in all birthdays, Ravi and his father went to Ravi’s father village. His father grown up in that village. He has so many childhood memories in that place. He will not feel that much happy, if he had been in any place other than that village. Therefore Ravi brings him to that village on his birthday. The coincidence is, Ravi’s birthday is on May 22nd. They will spend those two days in that village. They speak with all villagers. They roam whole village. They play sometimes in old school, where Ravi father studied up to 5th grade. No cake cutting, no party nothing. They do not want to celebrate the party in that way. Instead, they bring some food from the town, and they used to give to poor people in that village.

When Ravi was 5 years old, his mother died. His father took his full responsibility. Though there was a chance for him to marry some other women, but he was afraid that how new women would accept Ravi, so he refused it. Because of Ravi studies, he left his most admired village and settled in the town. From that time onwards, he had become Ravi’s father and mother. Ravi is aware that his father had so much closeness with his village. So, He decided to take him to his village on his birthday and spend two days in that place.

Ravi did PG in MA. He got a teacher job in one of the school in his town. He was a Telugu lecturer. He likes his job very much. While he is teaching, all students listen quietly. He involves entirely, when he is teaching lessons. No student likes to drop his lessons. Other teachers ask him, how did that possible. He used to say, if you do the job which you like most, then you can do wonders in that job. I like this job very much, so I am able to demonstrate lessons heart fully. Students liked it.

The days are going smoothly...

Ravi is going to school, and after school spending rest of the day with his father. One day he met his child-hood friend. He is a software engineer in Bangalore. After seeing him, Ravi got surprised. He was blunt in his studies. Everyone thought; he would ruin his carrier. But, now things are different. He said; he got a car and individual home. His marriage got settled, so he came here to invite all of his friends. He said how much he is earning in his work. Ravi surprised; he is getting 5 times more income than him. He laughed later get to know that how much income Ravi was getting in teacher post. He gave advice to Ravi like, he would get a better job than his current job, and asked him to come to Bangalore, so that he will explore job for him.

After seeing him, Ravi started thinking that his current job is extremely low compare to software job. He slowly started showing his frustration on students while telling lessons. He totally lost his interest on teacher post.

Ravi father worried about him. He was observing that; there is a change in Ravi's character. He is not satisfied as like before. He thought if he gets married then he may change. He started looking for a bride for him. He got a girl for Ravi. She studied degree, and she is a daughter of his friend. Her father is happy to give her in his family.

One day when Ravi was in school. That girl came to school and said, she wants to talk to him for some time. Ravi said ‘Ok’. She said; she does not want to marry a teacher, and settle her life in that town. She wants to marry a software engineer, so that her life will be courteous, and she can enjoy her life in a city. She does not have the courage to go against to her parents. She requested Ravi to cancel that marriage.

Ravi did not speak anything. He immediately went to girl’s father house, and said he did not want to marry her, requested not to ask any more questions, said sorry and left the house.

After this incident, his frustration got doubled on current job. The desire to get a software engineer job increased. He decided to quit the teacher job. He told this decision to his father. His father begged him to re-consider his decision, and asked not to leave this town. But, he refused. He quit the job. Whatever money he saved so far, and some of the money his father gave, he took and went to Bangalore.

He spent six months in Bangalore and learnt few courses. It took another three months for him to get a job. He called his father, and told that he got a job. His father was pleased. He asked him to come to his place, as he wants to see him. He went to town and met his father. After nine months, Ravi meeting his father. His father was happier after seeing him, than when he heard about the news that he got a job. Ravi spent the whole day with his father.

Ravi returned back to Bangalore and reported at his office. First few months, he realized what a software engineer life is. He never experienced that much stress, when he was doing a teacher job. There are no specific timings in the work. One has to work until midnight, if he has unfinished work. Just for name sake there are two days holidays in a week. Most of the time, he has to work on Saturday, and sometimes even on Sunday. His food timings also changed. He is used to eat his food at fast food centers. His physic also changed. Only solace is the income. Slowly, he is adjusted to that environment. He reduced the calls to his father. Initially, he used to call daily, but gradually it became twice in a week, and then once in a week. Whenever his father calls, he speaks with him while doing some work on his laptop. That conversion is also one side. He says “aha, Ok, I’m fine”, then that’s it and says “Bye”.

That day May 21st. He forgot his father birthday. His father called him. As usual, he lifts the phone while working on his laptop. His father asked.

“How are you”.

“Aha! Ok”.

“How is your health?”

“Ok, good”.

“Do you want to say anything to me?”

“No! Nothing, I got to go; I have some work, bye, take care”.

He disconnected the call.

That day night, When he was sleeping, he suddenly woke up. He remembered, that day was his father birthday. He called him immediately. His father attended the phone instantly, as if he is waiting for his call without sleeping. He said “Happy birthday, sorry I forgot. It will not happen again”. He spoke for some time. He understood how his father felt when he said “Happy birthday”. That day, some kind of guiltiness started developing in him. He recognized that; he is ignoring his father.

Next day, His father called him to wish his birthday. He went to office and became absorbed in his work. His colleagues celebrated his birthday.

Days are going so fast. Ravi got a promotion. He became a team lead in his project. His manager decided to send him to Paris. The current project client was not happy with the team performance. Manager recruited all fake engineers in that project. Though Ravi refused at first, because of manager pressure agreed them. They did not have any experience on that work, so client identified that performance of the team is going down month by month. Ravi senior management came to know that; client decided to give most of that work to some other company. Manager asked Ravi to travel to client place to convince him.

His travel confirmed. He started traveling that day. He called his father and briefly told him that he was traveling to Paris.

Despite of his several attempts, the client was not convinced. Ravi was upset. He called his manager, told the situation. The manager was blamed Ravi for loosing that project. He scolded Ravi. Ravi does not have any words, what to say. He deeply upsets with manager words. That time his father called him.

“Ravi, How are you?”

Ravi was not in a good mood to talk. He replied saying “Ya! I’m still alive”.

“Ravi, what happened? What are you saying?”

“Dad, do not irritate me calling so many times. I’m started feeling like; I would live happily if 
none were there in my life”.

“Ravi! Do not say like that. I will not disturb you again. Bye”.

He disconnected the call. Ravi does not know; that day was May 21st. His father birthday.

 
**********

Taxi stopped with sudden break at Ravi’s room. Ravi came back to normal from his memories. Taxi driver told that he reached his room. Ravi asked him to take him to some hotel. He said OK and took him to some hotel. Ravi checked-in in that hotel.

After going inside, he busted with tears. He cried a lot. He shouted like “Dad, I killed you; I killed you. I am responsible for your death. How evil I became. I could not able to see you in the last minutes”.

He fell on the floor. He does not know, how much time he cried. He stood up and went into the kitchen. He decided what to do.

 
**********

Police officer Vikram enters in to that room. A dead body is there inside. He examined the body. He put his hand on body back pocket and removed the wallet. Inside there is a visiting card. He read it. It is written as, “Ravi, Team lead”. He looked around. He found a note on the table. In that note, it is written like.

“I’m committing suicide. No one is responsible for my death. I want my death to be a lesson to all people, who ignores their parents. I request all people who forget their parents due to their busy schedule. Please, you speak at least 5 Mins to your parents daily. Never ever show your frustration on them. When you are talking, you remember that, you are talking with your parents, but not with a stranger. You speak from the bottom of your heart. It makes a lot of difference in their life.”