Monday 23 July 2018

Story behind a tick mark!

Yesterday was ONE of the best days of my young life.. I'd cherish it for my entire life.
So I was very fond of poetry and stories since I was young. Unfortunately, I was good in studies too. Anyway, I used to listen to a lot of Ted talks. While watching one on my phone, Youtube has this awesome feature where you swipe up the screen and it shows some similar videos. There I found a spoken word poetry recited by Aranya Johar.
I listened to it and it instantly turned me on. I heard many more of her, and even found other beautiful writers there. I really loved them all.
This continued for a few days. I used to listen to atleast 10 performances in a day (I was in 10th class that time).
Then on a bright morning, I came across this poet called Yahya Bootwala. The name sounded 'ajeeb', even the surname. So Idk, I just ignored and went ahead with some others. Then 'Shayad vo pyaar nahi' came. Like my Youtube Home Page was always filled with these writers and their stories. And that day, every time I opened Youtube, that was the first video on my Timeline.

I was frustrated, so I opened it. And shit! I fell. I fell for him. I heard that thrice continuously. I was gone mad. That was one of the best pieces I ever heard.
And fir kya hona tha? Stalking me toh Indians ko kisi degree ki zarurat hi nahi hai..
I searched him everywhere, heard all of his pieces and aah, kya banda hai boss!
Now I always believed in living those little dreams and fantasies everyday rather than focusing on one large dream. And my little dream from then on was to meet him once. With meeting, I didn't say an autograph or a photograph. I just wanted to make an eye contact and smile at him.
But, he is the SRK of the writing industry. It is obvious, my dream was not going to be fulfilled so easily. But, with hopes, no regrets.
I found many more amazing writers like him, like Amandeep, Darshan, Gaurav, Jidnya and many many more.
But I have an habit of writing my everyday dreams in a checkbook like fashion and working everyday to tick them. Now one of them was meeting Yahya.
So after a year or so, I heard him coming to Ahmedabad. I was overjoyed. But wait, God wanted me to gain more patience. The day he was going to be here, I had an exam out of station. Yes, this really happened. I fought with my Dad for not giving the exam, but 'Vo toh normal insaan hai, tu toh doctor banne ja rahi hai'.
Okay, with lots of tears, I accepted I was not meeting him. I didn't had the guts to message him and tell him about my dream. But anyways, with hope, no regrets!
Few months passed. Many things changed in my life. Many difficulties came, many sorrows and all of a sudden, I once again heard him coming to the city.
Fuck, I was definately going this time. I just saw the date, it was 22nd of July. I immediately told my sister to book the tickets. She only asked me what day it was. I told it was a Sunday.

Oh fuck, it was a Sunday. I have exams every Sunday (Medical 😑). I am not missing this chance but. And guess what, the timing didn't clash. I had classes till 8 to 1. Then exam from 1 to 2:30. And his event was at 3. Like, God just set the right time for me this time. I immediately booked the tickets, though I had an exam the next day, who cares?
So it was 1 more week. My brain couldn't handle the Adrenaline supply for the entire week. Fortunately, I didn't die.
So I gathered a lot of guts and messaged him. And look what happened.


So my little dream is going to be fulfilled, I thought. I prepared a sketch for him, a really bakwas one. So I didn't take it with me (Wait, God has some other plans waiting for me).

So finally I was at the event. I swear, I hadn't eaten anything that day. Not even a single bread. I was so excited. So I sat in the middle seat, hoping for a clear view.

I was never in love before. Not even now, lol. But I could feel him around. Maybe, because I was gone so mad. Not maybe, obviously xD But aah, I loved every second of it.
So he was the second-last to perform. Everyone was like, Yahya kab aayega.. And all the other performers before him just gave up that awesome vibe to us. We really loved everyone.
And Yahya came. Fuck, is that you Yahya?
He was the same, the same from his videos. The same type of clothes, the same smile, the same tiny eyes, the same shy face, and aah ❤
He performed really well. After about 15 minutes, out of my shock, he came down from the stage.. Like aah, is this real?

He was climbing the theatre stairs, and I swear to God, it was 'dhak dhak dhak dhak'. He gave hand shakes to some people, mad I was mad at him.
After a while, he recited 'Shayad vo Pyaar nahi'. This was better than a heaven experience.
So after his performance, most of the people were leaving and we still had a band performance left. The guy came on stage, and just said one thing 'Jo abhi ja rahe hai, baadme regret karenge'.
And guess what, that was 100% true. He sang so well, we all got goosebumps. And they really missed it.
After that, a gift ceremony type was happening. All of us were down near the stage waiting for a Yahya and Amandeep.

So, I got a handshake from Amandeep, and a wide smile. I really admire him too!
But Yahya, he was too busy with other girls. 😑
But I saw him zoomed, fuck, he was amazing! The same guy who once used to recite in a cafe in front of 30 people, did a Tedx a few months back and standing in front of me. That was enough for me.
But no, dreams are dreams, no compromises. Illegally, I went near the green room waiting for him to come out. But ugh his body guards, like they would be trained among the lions, they were so tough. But while leaving, I came so near to him. Like there was nobody between us, but unfortunately, his back facing at me. I literally hit him on his back for this. Like, aisa kon karta hai? Ek baar mudke nahi dekh sakte kya?
And he left. I saw his cute little smile in his car, but no, dreams are dreams.
Once again, I couldn't put a tick mark. But no, with hopes, no regrets!
With 1% battery in my phone and no internet, I took hotspot from one of my friends and instantly messaged him to meet.

At one corner of my heart, I was like obviously reply to nahi hi karega. Bhai, celebrity hai vo.
At the other corner, nahi bhai, haar mat maan. Pehle reply kiya hua hai na.. Thode hopes rakh.
And I told you, God had better plans for me. Yuhi mai unko sabhi cheezo ke liye blame karti rehti hu (sorry God ❤).
HE REPLIED.

I was like. Fuck, chal Riddhi (my sister), leave everything and come. We were having dinner, and I left. I took that sketch with me, wrote my name and number (in case 😉) and took some pastries with me. I was at cloud 9, uh 7, uh who cares?
I reached there in 20 mins(for a path of atleast 45 mins), breaking all the healthy traffic rules. I never imagined this could ever happen.
Kuch bhi kaho, hai toh celebrity, itne body guards lekar ghumta hai. So I asked the receptionist to call him and tell him I am waiting. He called, and Yahya asked who is it. He said Ms.Vidhi.
Yahya: Who?
He: Ms. Vidhi (for the 3rd time :P)
Yahya: I am busy with a recording, tell her to wait for 15 mins.

I waited for 2 long years Yahya.
It was already 10:30, and we aren't allowed to stay out after 10. Just then, my sister said, gharpe phone kar and tell them ki meri friend ki mummy maan hi nahi rahi aurr ice cream khake jane ka hi bol rahi hai. So aurr 30 mins lagegi. And guess what, it worked.
Like, jo hona hai usko koi nahi rok sakta. Bhagwan ne kitni mehnat se sab plan kiya hai. Aap kon hote ho badalne vale.
I waited for exactly 32 minutes, he didn't came. Riddhi was like, tune gharpe 30 minutes ka bola hai.
Me: Shaanti rakh na, aayega.
She: Receptionist ko bol usko yaad dilaye. Bhul gaya hoga.
Me: Okay.
I was just going there, told him to call once again. He agreed. He was redialling, and fuck!
Yahya was here. Like oh shit.
My left hand on my mouth, right in his hand, I was struck.
Me: Aap real ho?
Yahya: Ji hai, mai hi hun.
Me: 😶
We sat together, on the same sofa, he was 15 CM away from me.

Like meeting him personally. Speechless. He calmed me up. We talked about many things. His life, my life, his girlfriend (which I forced him to say no), future plans, past, his day, the city, philosophy of life, and so much more. And I realized, he was just another person with a passion turned miracle. He was truly very humble, and genuine. I gave him the sketch, he said bahut pyaara hai ❤, but I promised to make a better one until he came next time.
I always looked at him as a very big personality, now I look him as a real friend (brother type but not brother xD). He is a TRUE SOUL. I'd cherish this moment for a lifetime.
In the end, I said 'I love you'. And his smile, oh god, I'll work hard to get that smile again, whatever it costs.
Look carefully, he is holding me..
Sorry girls 😁


Jab bhi mai sochti hu ab Medical pe focus karu, kuch na kuch beech me aake mera rasta mod hi deta hai. Iss baar toh Yahya ne aake rasta palat hi diya

So a few things I learned yesterday,
1. Trust the journey. Keep moving on, God has plans better than you have ever thought.
2. You have to make yourself lucky. Luck doesn't come to find you.
3. Me: Apke liye apni khushiya zyada important hai ki apno ki khushiye?
Yahya: Mai bahut swarthi insaan hu, aurr mera swarth apno me hi hai. ❤
4. There is nothing called opportunity. Make your own chances. If your intention is right, you'll get everything right.
5. With hopes, there are no regrets!

Bad pictures, but best day!

He is such a humble man.. Like have you heard any celebrity asking you to drop you home? I have.. He did. He did ask me to drop home.. Nothing to say more.

Lastly, if anyone is asking me this question 'Zindagi me kya kiya?', my answer would be, 'Yahya se mila. Usko apna autograph diya' ❤
So this is how, one of my little dreams was fulfilled yesterday. And little dreams like these would come true everyday and make me the happiest person around.

Keep making all of us smile Yahya. We all truly love you.

Aurr isi tarah, vo ek tick mark ne apne aap me hi itni badi kahani likh di, ki uss kahani ko fir se jeene me ek aurr tick mark ki zarurat pad jayegi!

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