Yaadein - "Happy and Sad"

I was meeting him after many years. He came to the bus-stand and parked his bike in front of me. He was just like old times. A tough looking guy with a sensitive heart. We shook hands and I realized immediately that everything was not the same. With time, our closeness had also changed. We were more like strangers to each-other rather than two close friends meeting after a long time. I felt bad about it. After all he was my best mate during college. Maybe people would think that I was in love with him but I was not. I was in love with his friend. lol

We went to his house. His mom made a lovely tea for us. He took me out to dinner. We were happy to be with each-other but there was a silence. That silence was killing me. I felt suffocated. I wanted to tell him everything which I wanted to tell him for so many years. He said, 'You can tell me everything' but I was silent. I didn't even ask about his life. After few minutes, he told me everything. He was in love with a colleague. He always looked at her. He talked to her but never told three simple words - 'I love you'. Finally, he got an invitation from her - her wedding invitation card.

He told me that now he understands this world and it's tricks. He was seeing a friend in me but it was not the same for me. I wanted to be a kid who can hold his hand to cross a busy road. He leaned toward me and said to cross the road alone. He reminded me that I am not a kid any more. That time, I realized how can one feel happy and sad at the same time. Strange - Happy & Sad...

I asked him, 'Why didn't you tell her about your feeling'. Today I am asking same question to myself, 'why didn't I tell him that whatever happens, he will always be my Big B?'. 

Yaadein - "Ek Love-Story"

"Oh My God!!! he is so tall", that's what I thought when I saw him for the first time in front of the cafe. We went to Akshardham Temple in the evening. It was beautiful, it was grand, the musical fountain took me to another world. I felt like I was doing meditation. While coming back, I promised to myself that I would come here again with my HEARTSWEET (as John says it). We had an adventurous trip back to his house.

At night he told me his story, one of the best real romantic story I have ever heard. It was like watching a Hollywood gay movie where LOVE starts between two teenage neighbours after a fight. One guy bullies another, later feels guilty about it and then comes back to say sorry. Sorry with a Kiss. They both kiss each-other. That first kiss was the starting of their endless secret meetings and countless kisses. They never said 'I love you' to each other but they were always there for each-other until one day one guy moved to another city. That was the end of SIX years of relationship.

When he was telling me this story, there was no pain in his eyes. There was no bitterness for another guy. I said to myself, 'That's what is called real love'. One has to let go of love sometimes to keep it alive. He did the same and he was happy with the happy memories.

I spent 2 crazy days with him. We laughed like mad. We kept gossiping till late at night. When I was with him, I felt alive. I enjoyed each and every minute of those 2 days.

He was strange but that's what I liked about him...

I salute you Mr Cleanliness freak!!!

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus (a virus belonging to the viral family Retroviridae) that can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which the virus attacks immune cells (cells that fight against foreign pathogens/antigens) and hence a person’s ability to fight against infections & diseases slowly diminishes and person ultimately dies of a disease which could be as simple as TB.

An HIV positive test result does not mean that a person has AIDS. HIV transmission is ONLY an INFECTION whereas AIDS is a disease developed by a person living with HIV. AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection and it can take as long as 10 YEARS.

The four major routes of HIV transmission are unprotected sexual intercourse, contaminated needles, breast milk, and transmission from an infected mother to her baby at birth.

HIV (virus) can transmit from one body to another ONLY by Blood or Semen.

It can not transmit even through Saliva. If HIV-infected patient coughs or smooches and another person is exposed to that, the virus still can not transmit because concentration of virus particles in sputum is almost nil & exposure to air anyway kills virus in fraction of seconds.

Exposure of less than 1 second in air kills the HIV.

If an HIV-infected person gets an injury and he is bleeding, the virus can transmit to another person only if another person has a cut/wound in his body & that too when blood from both person comes in contact with each other.

Many people continue to live healthy, happy lives more than 10 years after testing positive for HIV. The bottom line is that testing positive for HIV is not a death sentence. Treating body well, following doctor's instructions and maintaining good mental health are simple steps one can take to manage his health.