Knock knock on heavens door

"Bum!", screamed Jai as the chillum lit.

"Bum!", yelled Yela on top of her voice. 

I heard multiple 'bums' one after the other. Jai took a long drag from the chillum and passed it to Akhil who was on his right. 

A chillum always goes to the right, universal law. 

The moonlit night became silent once again as the 'bums' subsided. The only other sounds were the sounds of wind and water running in the stream. 

The firewood in front of me creaked as it burned it's way down creating 'fireworks'. Sebastian didn't move an inch, though a few sparks fell on him, he was busy with the chillum. He passed the chillum to his right, to me, as he was exhaling all the smoke which had filled his lungs. By just seeing his expression one would have the urge to smoke a chillum. All the warmth and comfort from the drag was widely present in his eyes. I got hold of the chillum and adjusted the safi. 

"Bum bole nath!", I shouted and adjusted the chillum to my mouth getting ready for the drag. 

I took a long drag from the chillum and I could sense the heat filling my mouth and as it slowly moved down my windpipe; I could taste the cream on my tongue and on the walls of my mouth. The minty smoke glided down and filled my lungs. That was a big relief in that icy cold weather. I felt not only warmer but much happier and relaxed. I passed the chillum to my right and I thought for a minute. If it wasn't for Alfred I wouldn't have been sitting there at that moment....

1.Planning-Easier Said than done

"Don't back out now man, even the train tickets are booked. We might not get a chance like this anytime in the future. Once everybody goes in different directions, it won't happen and you know it"

"That's true, but then again it's not that I don't want to come, I'm not in a position to do trips at the moment. You know how much things are fucked up right? No job, no degree, parents are already furious and they want me to do something about it. I've to figure out something to do with my life", I said in a single breath.

"Come on man, we'll be back in two weeks time. What are you going to do in this two weeks?", Alfred sounded desperate in trying to make this trip work.

"Hmmm. Okay let me reach home first, I haven't talked to my parents about this. When's the train by the way?"

"On 2nd evening at 8:30 from north station. I've got confirmed seats for all four of us. You come to Cochin on 31st. Justin and Akhil are leaving on 1st evening. We'll leave on the next day, we will take a taxi to the station"

"Okay, I'll give you a call after seeing what the situation is at home. I'll reach home in like 15 minutes"

"Okay, bye", Alfred hung up.

The bus had reached the stop. I took my bag and got down. My eyes were panning in all directions for an auto. I checked my watch, it was almost 9. Very few autos in my area this late in the evening. Luckily there was one auto in the corner of the junction. The auto guy sees me waving my hand and comes to me. I get inside the auto and tell him the address. He pulls the lever and brings the two-stroke engine to life. As the auto starts moving, I get lost in thoughts again.

"Oh you have come?", asked mother rhetorically as she saw me after opening the door.

"Why have you come now?", asked mother sarcastically."Has all your friends gone or what?" 

I was used to these sarcastic comments. Therefore I grinned at her without shame and went inside and closed the door behind me. All I was thinking was, today is Saturday and tomorrow, Sunday, I have to head back to Cochin as the train ticket is for Monday night. Now how would I break this news to my parents? They would literally scold and be angry at the plans. 

Luckily my father hadn't come home yet or the spilling out the plan would have been more difficult for me. It had always been like that, I had some sort of inhibition when my father was around. I couldn't tell whatever came to my mind. I had to put some sort of filter in between and think before I told him things. But with mother, things were a lot less complicated. But my uncle and aunt had come over for visit. It was best to disclose the plans with my mother alone. More the number of people there are, more questions I will have to face, more difficult it will be to convince and explain things. 

After taking a bath and changing clothes, I headed to kitchen to see whats for dinner. Also, to see if I get an opportunity to spill the beans about the trip. I could hear sounds from kitchen as my mother was preparing dinner. There she was making chapati on the stove. 

"How long will you be home this time?", asked amma.

"I will go back tomorrow afternoon", I replied.

"Whatever it is, you have to finish your degree. It is .."

"I know amma, you don't have to keep saying this all the time!", I cut her sentence off midway. "I am fed up of listening to it"

I walked towards my room as the conversation was not heading in the direction I had anticipated.

"Eat chapati and go", amma shouted behind me as I went to my room.