Story in an hour

Story in an hour

This is something that I last did when I was working for Cognizant. I don’t remember the exact year but it has been some time since I last did this. The task is to write a story within an hour, a story with a beginning, a plot, and an end.  Alright then, let’s see if I can do this.

**********

THE INSTITUTION

“I read it somewhere” Munx said as he stood up to search something on his computer table.

“What?” Jay asked.

“It helps to concentrate when you listen to music without words in it” Munx replied as he started lifting everything on his computer table one by one.

“Yeah, right” Jay said and went back to staring at his book.

“Here, see? Here it is, right here” Munx said as he sat down next to Jay.

Listening to music without any words in it may help you concentrate more, especially while reading a book. Jay started reading aloud and then his voice became thinner as he became engrossed in the article. After a while they both were silent. Munx started reading a book with his earphones on while Jay was still engrossed in the magazine article. Munx slowly started to drift into his dreams.

Munx’s room is a typical college going kid’s room with posters of rock bands, computer, papers lying around, clothes everywhere, a bean bag and lots of other stuff lying around. Munx rarely cleans his room. He likes it that way as he puts it, just like those kids in the movies. Jay, his close friend makes it a point to meet Munx every day after college. They both grew up in the neighborhood and they both attend same college. A typical scenario in every city in the world, I believe. Jay is a nerd, dreaming of making it big in the IT industry someday while Munx is a complete mess. He has no dreams, no goals, and nothing worthwhile to mention. He is the one who does what he is told to do, read, passes the exams and then lives in his own world.

Jay wants to make it big; he has got dreams of becoming an IT entrepreneur someday. Jay’s mother is a teacher and father is an engineer with the PWD in the state government. Munx’s father is a politician and mother is a social worker. His father and mother rarely have time for Munx. He pretty much grew up with his grandparents.

“Alright, this sounds like a bollywood movie plot where one of these two will make it big while the other will languish somewhere with nothing to do. The hero coming back from the city to save the day for the villagers. Why can’t people write simple stories? Eh? Stories which is not related to any other story in the world. A different story, you know. Why does it have to be struggling, sad, rags to riches, poor against rich, politics, relationships, why can’t we have some story where there is something else? I know this is a copy of a story that you read somewhere in some language and you are trying to present in the language that you and I are talking at the moment. Why is it that each one of you is so influenced? Why is it that you can’t produce anything on your own? I have been with you for over a year now and every time I read your stories, it is either a different rendition of a bollywood story or a Hollywood story. Sometimes, some of you are so smart that you mix both and present in your own way. Why is it that you cannot write anything on your own?” Mr. Sharma went ballistic while hearing a story from one of his students.

Get out!! all of you, and write a new story and come back tomorrow. He shouted and sat down on his chair and started to look out the window. Mr. Sharma looked like he was wondering about his future in the college and the quality of the students that he had in his class.

This is not going anywhere, I have to bring in the plot and take the story to its logical end. Logical or illogical, it does not matter; it has to be a good ending.

Like we going on a honeymoon? Sunita laughed while she woke up Munx from his sleep.

“Get up” she said as she tapped Munx’s shoulders. Hey Jay, wake up, why are you both sleeping at this time of the day, it’s almost 5 in the evening man, break time is almost over, guys get up” Sunita said as she sat down on the bean bag.

“Oh Man, I was dreaming about Mr Sharma and the class” Munx said as he stood up and took out his earphones.

“What? That dude is still troubling you with the Can’t-you-write-anything-on-your-own stuff? Sunita laughed.

“Yeah Man, that sucks big time. I don’t know what he wants from us” Munx quipped

“Excellence, dude, excellence” Sunita said it aloud with both her hands in the air.

“Yeah, excellence, my ass” Jay said.

So? What are you here for? Munx asked Sunita

Oh, I came to invite you guys to my cousin’s wedding. She said

What? Who? Come on, you have a cousin? How come we don’t know about? Munx said.

Did she pop up from somewhere? Jay added

Nooooo, Duhhh, she is my distant cousin from my mother’s side. Sunita replied

Oh, Ok. When is the wedding? Munx asked

Today!! She replied

What? How can it be today? Today is Monday; we can go out only on Sundays. Munx replied.

So what if its Monday today, the wedding is today and it is going to happen in the chapel next to the temple. Sunita replied.

How can you get married at a chapel, you are a Hindu! Jay said.

Why not? She is getting married to a Christian. Sunita retorted.

No No, she can’t get married on Monday. Munx started to argue.

Why not, why not, Sunita replied.

No No, She can’t get married on Monday. Munx started to repeat.

Why not, why not, Sunita also started to repeat.

The argument started to heat up.

All of a sudden, Munx punched Sunita. She started to cry.

Why are you crying Sunita? Jay asked.

Because Munx punched me

Why did you punch her? Jay asked. To that Munx punched Jay and said I can punch anybody I want.

I can punch anyone I want. See? I can punch you, I can punch you and I can punch…….

“Not me buddy, not me” The guard held Munx’s hand and cuffed him.

Allan! yo, cuff the girl and the boy too. These kids won’t stop the argument. They are getting more violent day by day.

Allan quickly cuffs both Jay and Sunita and takes them to their respective rooms.

Alright boys and girls break time over, back to your rooms now, back to your rooms. The guard shouted to everyone.

“Mr. Sharma, the boys and girls are getting wilder, what can be done?” The guard asked as Mr Sharma slowly turned towards the guard showing his face.

Now,  ain't that quite a story Mr Edwards? Mr Sharma quipped as he stood up.

My Institution, where new stories will be written every day. Nice