To begin with, the Man, is a character inspired from one of the characters from one of the gems of cinema,(I’ll tell the title at the end). My sincere advise is, please read the entire story first and then look into the movie I’ll mention. This is because, if you by any chance look into it before, you will certainly not be able to visualize Prabhas as the protagonist. I myself took a huge load of time to do that. And for those who have already seen that film, it is up to you to visualize the cast as per your choice.
But for now, it IS  a pranushka story.
(edited)
Okay now... Tag your friends. I need them to read. Please!
*************
It was heavy air all around, very surprisingly, bringing a strange peace in her heart. It was when she was a little child, when she had heard about Udupi, the place where her mother was born and brought up. As the same little child, she had heard stories about Lord Krishna, who had turned himself around to bless his ardent devotee Kanakadasa, who was tied behind the temple, for he was a shepherd.

And after three years of degree education, she finally dug out time for herself to visit the place. Her only soul friend had her entire family living there. So stay and food was already taken care of.

“Do you speak the typical Manglore kannada?” Sneha asked Jessie.

“Nah! But my family speaks, they are familiar with Tulu as well.” Jessie replied, bringing down her bag pack.

The two of them climbed down the bus and covered their heads with their stoles to protect themselves from the heat.

“ We have to walk 2 kilometers further from here to reach my house.
My good-for-nothing brother hasn’t turned up…as expected..” Jessie huffed.

Sneha smiled and followed, carrying her two huge bags.
******************
“Amma! I hope you have prepared something vegetarian for Sneha!” Jessie shouted from upstairs, wiping her face with a towel.

“that’s okay J… I’ll find a hotel for myself…you guys enjoy” Sneha said, unpacking her luggage.

“Darling! The beach is just a kilometer away from my house. So basically, all the hotels and restaurants you find mainly serve fish. I’ve told mother to cook vegetarian as long as you are here. Don’t worry!”

***************
“ Jessie! I’m going to the beach…can you please send me the location of your house…in case I get lost …”

“ Are you sure you want to go alone? Wait for one day no… I’ll come with you as well!”

“ I know you are hell tired. Sleep and take rest. Ill be back before evening! And… send me the location”

“ Fine! But be careful okay…don’t get too chatty with the boatmen…they seem sweet…but aren’t that safe.”
*******************
It took about 10 minutes to reach the beach. Sneha, being a keen observer was fascinated by the nature surrounding, it was a new experience by itself.

Taking out the camera from her bag, she began capturing the beauty.

It was a weekday, hence the beach seemed quite empty. If there were people, then they were those who’s living was dependent on the waterbody, the fishermen, boatmen, and a few toy sellers who were waiting for the children to turn up.

All the boats arranged so neatly on the shore urged her to come and a take a ride. She remembered what Jessie had said, about the “unsafe” boatmen, but that would be if she turned chatty, if she stayed quite, they would certainly be safe, she thought and proceeded.

While trying to choose the boat she wanted to ride on, she saw a man at a distance. He was on the boat, well, sleeping on the deck, wearing a local dhothi and a really ugly colored shirt, buttoned halfway, upto his chest. He had a cigarette between his lips, which he meddled time and again when he spoke.

Involuntarily, she stepped towards him. There were two more people on the same boat, serving alcohol for themselves, and probably for him too.

“Excuse me!” she called out. The man turned towards her. He wore huge black goggles, which he eventually removed, waking up.

“What?” he gestured, nodding his head.

“I want to ride… I mean.. go on a boat ride” she said.

“Ohh! Good for you. Go” he said, as his alleys laughed.

“ I want to ride this boat” she said.

“ This is my boat. Not meant for customers. You can ride on the other boats parked there” he replied, throwing his consumed cigarette.

“ uhh…the other boats are carrying baskets of fish. I can’t bear the smell…” she said

“ We carry baskets of alcohol, and probably a few dead bodies…it is more disgusting. So you better travel with the fish”

“That’s okay. I can bear with it.” She said as she took bold steps and sat inside the boat. The man looked shocked. From the way he spoke, she judged that he wasn’t someone who paid heeds to anyone. It was obvious that her stubborn behavior might have shocked him.

But to her surprise, he lit another cigarette, tied a thick brown belt on his waist and walked away from the boat. His friends followed him.

But would she give up? She started walking behind them. A few seconds later, he turned towards her. Uttering some curse, he scratched his head. “why the hell are you following us darling?” he asked.

“I want to explore this place…who else other than a localite can show it better?”

“what the…there are men who are employed for this job, madam. Why are you behind me?”

“I don’t even know whom to approach. What’s your problem? I wont trouble you. You go on with your work.”

He cursed again and walked ahead.
She let out a small chuckle and followed him.

It was a long walk. He turned to check if she was following, but to his relief, she wasn’t.

“what the hell was that! All the screws from her head might have fallen off! Dinesha! Give me a cigarette…”

He walked and suddenly stopped. “where did she go though?”

“There was a ‘prasanga’ going on. She stopped to click pictures.” His friend answered.

The man gave a sly smile and walked ahead.

*prasanga- for a simple understanding, a yakshagana recital,a dance drama which takes place overnight

***************
“I warned you not to wander away with people. Now where the hell should I find you? And this network has to die in that place only! Dammit!” jessie said, from the other end of the phone.

“Chill dude…I’m fine. Once this concert gets over I’ll come over till the beach. I might receive data there.”

“Prasanga happens all night lady! Now please come back. Its already super dark!”

“Fine. Gimme 15 minutes.”
******************
“So…show me the pictures.” Jessie said, opening her laptop.

Sneha connected her camera.
The first few pictures were of the beach and the horizon. And then what came, shocked Jessie to the core.

It was ‘him’. There was his pictures, smoking, wearing his goggles, spitting the beetle leaves, and giving wicked smiles.

“Dude…who the hell is this?”

Sneha smiled. “he didn’t tell his name. I must have irritated him…”

“So you mean you irritated a random, goon like man, clicked his pictures and came back? Are you dumb?”

“Naah…I kinda liked him… as in, the way he spoke… he walked… it was funny!”

“What the absolute f*ck? What do you mea…what is…damnnn… girl! Are you okay?”

“Much better! Thanks!”

“You fell in love with a guy you literally have no freaking idea about?”

“Dude…I said I liked him. What is all this love…bullshit”

“Liked him…like “like” means what else…”

“Like means like. And you don’t need to thank me for clearing your mis understanding.” She said with a wink.

“Ohh! Shit! I’ve lost one of my anklets! “ Sneha realized

“Must be on the beach. As a child, I’ve lost many of my jewels there. We’ll find it out the next time we visit.

“We can’t! It is a pearl anklet….we wont even be able to differentiate between the sand and the pearl!” Sneha cried out.

“Then forget about it! Get a new pair once you return.” Jessie replied.
“Damnnn…!”
****************
It was 6 in the morning. Jessie, as usual sat with her mother, having her special tea.

“Mom, do you know that guy who wears shades all the time, smokes, wears a lungi with belt?”

“Ahh..yes, he is Richie. The “official rowdy” of this place. He’s a big bully! He holds a gun all the time, but I’ve never seen him actually shoot.”

“WHAT! He is a rowdy!? Damnnn…this Sneha is a mental case!”

“What happened to her? Did she get into any kind of trouble?”

“I guess…yesterday she came back with his pictures. And said she irritated him”

“Irritated? Well, like what? Did she get into a fight or anything?”

“No idea…”

“He’s kind of dangerous. You better keep her away from him…”

“Me? Dammit!”

*********.
“So…where are we going today?” Jessie asked, wearing a pony.

“To the beach!” Sneha never sounded this excited before.

“NO! NEVER! I know you want to meet that goon. I’ll never allow that to happen! Mom just asked me to keep you away from him!”

“Come on! Is it necessary to listen to her all the time? And by the way, I need to search for my anklet. Mom just let me know yesterday that it was real pearls. So I go home without it, I’ll be a dead meat.”

“What!? Your mom chose the right time to tell you that. And listen! You will land in some deep shit if you meet him again…please understand!”

“Fine! I,ll not meet him. But we’ll go to the beach and have some fun…and search for my anklet!”

“As much as I hate to believe you….ughhh…okay…”

**************
“Black makes men look hotter…what do you say?” Sneha said, spreading her legs on the sand.

“Which ‘man’ are you talking about?”

“Casually…”

Jessie smelt something weird and looked around. And her guess was right. It was Richie. He stood there, in a black shirt and really old fashioned pants, wearing his shades. He was whispering something to his friend, and a moment later, they laughed.

“If you want to fall in love, there are thousands of boys who are better looking and better ‘behaving’. Why this guy?”

“Arrey! Started with your love lessons again? I’m not ready to commit so soon babe! And for your information, I will marry a person whom my parents think is the best for me. All these lovey stuff doesn’t hold good to me…”

“Then why the hell are you so interested in him? Have an explanation?”

“No, but interest and liking doesn’t only lead to a relationship. It just makes you feel happy.”

“So…seeing him makes you happy?"

“I guess so…”

“Marry him then..you’ll be happy all your life!”

“You are such a pig!”

“Pig? What does that mean? Heyy! Where are you off to?”

“I’ll ask his name and come back!” Sneha replied, giggling.

***************
“Hello!” Sneha chirped.

Richie had had enough. “why the hell are you after me lady!?”

“Umm..I have your photos…” she handed over a pendrive.

“Where are the photos?”

“In the drive….?”

He held it and examined in all angles. A moment later, threw it in the waters.

“What the hell did you just do?” Sneha rushed to pick it up, before it could get washed away.

“You said you have my photos and give a this useless piece?”

“You need to connect this to a laptop or PC.”

“Ask your father to buy me one.”

“I’ll get the hard copy for you next time.”

**************
“That guy is a monster! Yesterday he has beaten up one of the boys for asking him to move his vehicle.” Jessie yelled.

“Arrey wah! When did Jessie start stalking him?”

“I have to! I can’t let you fall in love with that monster.”

“I’ll break your nose if you say that again!”

“Jesus! You’ve started speaking like him already!”

“Heyy! Its him!”

“Where?”

They peeped out of their window to have a clear view. It was the time of festival and ‘Pili vesha’ (a custom in coastal Karnataka where men dress like tigers and dance in front of houses) was on its way.

Richie danced in between them, and it was indeed a sight to cherish.

A moment later, his eyes fell on her. She swore she saw him give her a smile, and that was the very first time she saw him do it!
******************

It was another day, she surfed through social media, sitting by the oceans. This man had some charm in him. He was a monster, that was agreeable. He was a character everyone would hate. But for some reason, she felt she wanted to see more of him.

Jessie had made herself useful by giving her all information about his attitude issues and the number of people he had injured, with the only hope that her friend would give up crushing on him.

As Sneha continued watching her screen, a face popped in front.

“What the…what are you doing here?” she asked Richie, who was chewing beetle leaves.

“Heard that Your Highness captured my photos yesterday. Kindly give it to me with the others!”.

“I’m surprised! You have come to me by yourself today!” she giggled.

“There are really few…ughhh… I mean no one who has dared to capture me in that lens. Have to appreciate your boldness darling!” saying so, he walked away. She followed.

“Any token of appreciation?”

He stared at her. He looked around. “not this time baby, probably next time”

“Do you address every girl like this? ‘Darling’….’baby’…?”

“You are cute. I like to call you that.”

She was shocked by this sudden confession. He, “he” found someone cute? Whoa!

“See you soon” She walked away this time.

********************
“So…. How was our town?” Jessie asked, helping Sneha to pack her bags.

“Amazing! I had a really good time! Miss you baby…”
The girls hugged.

“You miss ‘him’ too….right?” jessie asked, still in the hug.

“More than I miss You…he was a gem..”

“You still have time. Go tell him that you love him. Anyway you are leaving today. Leave with satisfaction.”

“I don’t love him. I liked him….very very much…as much as you hate him…” Sneha gave a sad chuckle.

“That I do. That rouge…anyways…say bye to him and come.”

*****************
“Here are your photos. Sorry for the delay…”

“Thanks.” Riche took them, and resumed smoking.

“Ummm…I’m leaving today..”

He removed his shades and looked into her eyes. Blinking twice, he said, “thanks for the information.” , and put back his goggles.

Her smile grew wider. “Bye…”

He gestured the same.

****************
Sneha slid through the photos she had taken. All of his. It was so bizarre, no one liked him for the way he was. He never cared as well. He simply lived his life the way he wanted to. And probably that interested her. She was indeed attracted by his personality. Not something resembling love…but a strange, un-named attraction.

She smiled again, as she remembered, the lost anklet of hers was tied to his belt. Two of its pearls hung out from it. Probably he had failed to notice.

Okayy!! So how was it? I’m really okay if you guys don’t like it…because it doesn’t follow a regular story line.
Please do comment your views. Even if you dont like it. I'm writing after a long time and dont prove that i dont even exist here... Please!

Richie. Richard Anthony. He is a character written by Rakshit Shetty, a kannada actor cum film maker. It is from the movie Ulidavaru Kandanthe, an absolute master piece of films. Some of you might know it as the tamil version, Richie, played by Nivin Pauly. (Trust me, Rakshit and only Rakshit can be Richie…no one can match up to him)

So now that you have finished the tale, go and watch this movie, or the trailer, or the songs. You’ll get an idea of Richie.

Please do tell me whether you liked the film or not. I’m interested to know….

So… okay then! Bu-bye!!!