Just Another Phonecall

Prologue

This was the moment I have been waiting for. However, a rather unusually cold Friday evening in the month of August, is making me nervous. It makes me feel as if even God is not willing to support me in my brave endeavour with this sudden unpleasantness in the weather. With South-west monsoons being delayed beyond eternity, it has been a warm August by any meteorological standards. And today, suddenly, after 2PM in the afternoon, as I was getting ready for the most defining moment of my life, the weather had taken a complete U-turn. I was wondering, should I do it or should I not? Should I wait for a few more days? Thousands of thoughts were criss crossing my mind every second.

Its been almost a month. And since then, I have been preparing for this very moment. I was in fact very confident in the morning after having rehearsed at least a 100 times over the past one week in real life like situation. But, just when I realized that now it is only one hour before I strike, I have been very jittery. Moreover, in the last one hour my confidence level have hit its nadir. And as the D-time approaches, my anxiety levels are heading only one way and that is up north.

Chetan always says," If you want to do it, there is never a right or wrong time. You should just go ahead and do it. "

I wanted to do it most certainly and I have always listened to what Chetan tells me. But the problem is, every time, I also end up listening to Praveen and Nitin.

Praveen exercises a lot of caution," If you want to do it, be doubly sure on when and how you want to do it, else you will ruin it all forever."

Nitin always lives in the past and keeps reminding me of the same," I hope you remember what had happened last time. You cannot let that happen again."

Confusion was surmounting. I looked at the red coloured beetle handset phone. Red was too aggressive a colour, may be, I thought. It could have had a more soothing colour. With trembling hands, I picked up the handset and dialled the number.

" Hello"!

Not the usual Morning - Part 3

“Hello! Meeta, it’s me, Adi. Meeta, can you hear me.”
“I am sorry but this is Rosy. I am Meeta’s housemate. Meeta has gone to office and has unfortunately left her mobile at home. “
That was the only thing left. God, will you now please help me.
“Ohk, Rosy, and Can you please tell me where her office is and how to reach there. And also her office number if possible. And Rosy, can you please do me a favour.”
“Yeah sure”
“If I am not able to contact her, can you please tell me Meeta to meet me tonight at 7 PM at the beach. Tell her, its Adi from India, I will be waiting for her. Now please tell her office address.”

What she told me next was extremely confusing for an outsider to remember everything and also recollect at every point. Never the less, I refused to give up. It took me four hours, two train changes, three bus changes and finally a taxi ride to reach her office. It’s been three years since I last saw her. I have been more or less the same guy. Hopefully she will recognize me.

As I reached the third floor, the heart was beating like never before, I have never been so anxious ever before in my life. Took the left turn to her cabin, I saw her, she was smiling. All that I ever cared for in my life was a sweet simple smile on her face. And it was there. Holding hands in hands, she was sipping coffee, one sip after another. Enjoying every moment as it was passing, whispering in his ears and playing around.

I tried but I could not. Something stopped me. I went around her cabin almost unnoticed. As quietly I had gone inside her office, I came out as well. Not knowing what to do I headed straight to the beach. There was hope, she would come.

The sun was setting, the clock was ticking 7. And she came.

“Hi Adi, I cannot believe that I am seeing you, how are you, and where have you been all these years.”
“Hi Meeta, I came to see you, to tell you something which I had always wanted to. All I want Meeta is for you listen me. I have come all the way from India for this very moment. If not today, then I will never be able to do it ever in my life.”

“As long as I remember about the four years that we spent together, you have been my closest friend, my best friend. There has been none in my life for whom I have cared so much. All that matters to me Meeta is a smile on your face. And trust me; I can do everything under the sun to ensure that you smile and that you are always happy. If I close my eyes and think of my past, I see you. And if I close my eyes and think of my future, I think of you and only you. As I was coming here, I had no clue how will you react to all this and what will you say. But I always wanted to tell you this. What I will do now is say my last words and then close my eyes. I will keep them closed for the next five minutes. If you feel for anything that I just said, I expect to see you after the five minutes when I open my eyes.

“I love you” and I closed my eyes. I stood there for the next five minutes and counted every second as those last few moments were passing by. Right in front of me, I could hear the waves crashing against the shore. Somewhere in the near distance, cars and bikes were roaring across the road and I could hear murmurs of some people walking and some jogging behind me. I could hear my heart beats, each one loud, clear and distinct. My heart was beating fast, even faster than a jet zipping into the sky.

Yet it was so calm for me, as if the world had come to a standstill, as if the clock had stopped ticking. I was waiting anxiously for a movement towards me but there was none. Hundred of things and thousand of emotions were going on in my mind. I was apprehensive, nervous but happy still. I knew I would open my eyes to a different world.

My mobile broke the silence as it started beeping. The alarm that I had set indicated to me that it was five minutes over. This was the moment that I was waiting for and when it finally came, I did not want to open my eyes. Something was stopping me from taking the next step. I did not know what stood in front of me. However, I could prolong it no longer, and slowly I let it happen.

I opened my eyes.

She was not there………………………………………..

I turned towards the beach.
The sun was just about setting into the sea.

Not the usual Morning - Part 2

Today…..

“Dad, I am going to US.”
“What? Adi, have you gone crazy or what. Why this sudden thought on US?”
“There is one task that is left unfinished. I need to finish it dad. I will do whatever you tell me to do. Just let me go to US once. I promise you I will tell you everything. Just give me a patient hearing”

Thankfully, as mom and dad listened to me over next one hour, they were all very supportive at the end of it all.

As it always happens with me. So much to do and so less time.

I rushed to the US embassy, applied for the VISA. They asked me thousands of questions. The interview or rather intense scrutiny went on for almost two hours. At the end of it, I was able to convince them that it is a matter of my life and death and if they do not permit me now, it is them who would be responsible for whatever happens to me from here on. Some acting and they got all so emotional to grant me the VISA.

Got the tickets done in a jiffy. Dad helped me with rest of the formalities and finally after two weeks that I had decided to leave for America, I was on a flight straight to Chicago. From there I had to catch a connecting flight to San Jose. Few minutes into the flight, I realized that I haven’t told her that I am coming. Neither have I booked for any place to live there nor do I have any friend or relative in that part of America. All I had was her number, two years old. I was not too sure if that would still be operating. God help me now.

The flight landed at the Chicago airport on time and the next flight to San Jose was scheduled on time as well. I was getting closer to her. With every km of distance reducing between me and her, my heart beat was getting even faster. With excitement, I boarded the flight to San Jose and so began the last leg of the journey.

Almost an hour had passed with me standing near the belt but there were no signs of my luggage. After another half hour of waiting I went to the airline office. Upon enquiry, I was informed that my luggage has been left behind in Chicago itself and will be handed over to me after 3 days. All the gifts that I had brought were in that. They were so chosen from all the memories I had of her when we were together for four years. Also, most of the money that I had was also in the bag. I only had enough to survive for may be one day. The airline staff advised me to stay at the airport itself. But I had to meet her; I had to tell her all that I had held onto since three years.

I gathered all the resources that I was left with. Moving out of the airport, I looked out for the nearest telephone booth. With shivering hands, I dialled the number.

Not the usual Morning - Part 1

Today was not the usual morning. I woke up being fully aware that this day can actually change my life forever. Mr and Mrs. Sharma, dad’s long time friends were coming today along with their daughter with a possibility of a probable marriage alliance between their daughter and me. But somewhere, I knew I was not happy. I was not feeling any excitement or any apprehension which typically a guy would feel before such an event. My heart was not here. It was racing back in time and I was wondering if I have done enough to make a difference to my life.

3 years ago……..

“Adi, tomorrow I am leaving for USA for further studies”
“So, when do you come back to India?”
“Well, Adi, I don’t think I will come back. After my post graduation, I will probably look for a job and get settled there only.”

Oh! I was wondering if this would be our last meeting. She is leaving tomorrow, there is so much that I needed to say and there is so little time. Thousands of thoughts were crisscrossing my mind. I didn’t know what all to say, how to say it and what not to say. How will she react? She is leaving tomorrow, should I let her go with just my friendship. But this might very well be the last time that I am seeing her, or I am talking to her, I might never ever get a second chance.

“Ok Adi, it’s time for me to leave. Need to do a lot of packing and then gear up for the flight tomorrow night”
“Well, all the very best. I am sure you will do well. Try and keep in touch. Bye”

She stood there for a while, as if expecting me to say something. But I didn’t. As she turned around to leave, I wanted to stop her. I stretched my hands but could not hold on to her. Over the next two minutes, as I stood there waiting for her to turn, to run towards me and hug me, she just went on and on until she took the turn by the building and disappeared in the crowd. I could no longer see her, tears trickled down my eyes.

A new story

Am halting the previous story and posting a new one.

Just Another Arranged Marriage: And then we meet

It was a warm Saturday afternoon in a typically cold December and I was enjoying myself being alone after a long time. And to celebrate the wonderful time, I had come to the Annual Book Fair at Pragati Maidan. It’s always great to visit such a fair, alone or with ten other people, it hardly matters as so many books together at one place attract you so much so as to transform the world around you. And even though you may not buy any books, just like me, browsing through the books and the crowd for a brief time is a good getaway.

As I was browsing through my favourite section, “the travel books”, I turned and I guess, I saw a somewhat familiar looking face. The face was strikingly sweet, long thick hairs, red T-shirt, blue denim jeans and a black jacket. The worst thing, it was moving towards me but with a smile. My i-pod switched on,

“Kuch kam roshan hai roshni, kuch kam gili hai baarishein,
kuch kam lehraati hai hawa, kuch kam hai dil mein khwahishein,
tham sa gaya hai ye waqt aise, tere liye hi thehra ho jaise”

I shut it off immediately.

“Hi Karan, did you recognize me”

“Of course, even if I want, I cannot forget you, Ms. Shonali”

“So, did you get any book for yourself?”

“Well, I browsed through a lot, but have not got any yet, I read books but not much and that too only a select few genres.”

“Oh! I just love books, I mean I cannot even live without them, you know my day does not ends until I read up a few lines. And I read everything, be it fiction, biographies, thrillers, love stories, geography, history, the genres unlike you are endless”. As, she finished, she held up one huge bag full of nothing but books.

For the first time, I thanked God. I mean keeping one or maximum of two books in your room or visiting a book fair once a year is one thing and having an entire library in your home is totally another. Phew!

“Great for you Shonali, I guess then, I will not disturb you much in your journey to heaven, Bye”, I said and I left.

As I moved ahead into the crowd, I do not know why but I turned back. She was not there.

Just Another Arrange Marriage: Meet Her

Like it happens conventionally, our parents left us in each other’s company to talk and therefore begin the process of getting to know each other. Her name was slightly atypical to be of someone from our community and otherwise also, the name was not something very common. And so I said, “Hi Sonali”

“Ah! Well, it’s not Sonali, its Shonali, Shonali Mathur”

“Oh! (I was a little taken aback by the sudden threat in her voice and I quickly mentioned) I am so sorry (just in case she might become a lot more threatening)”

As we sat at the corner table in anticipation of how would the discussion unfold, I was totally clueless on what to say and what to ask her. Even though I had a two day extensive training session with Chetan wherein we discussed all the possible questions that she can ask me, prepared a long list of questions that I need to ask her and also rehearsed a dozen times, still I was completely blank. The discussion with her has anyways started on an extremely wrong note and to add on to that I also cannot seem to remember any part of the session with Chetan. I guess I will now try to follow what one of my teachers had taught me a long time back, “You should always go with the flow”. And just as I was gearing myself up again, Shonali said something which completely threw me back,

“Karan, I don’t think I can marry you”

“What, why? (Trying best to hide my emotions) I mean, do you have a boy friend”

“Excuse me; having a boy friend is not the only reason in this world for not marrying. I don’t want to marry because I just do not want to marry.”

“WOW! That’s fantastic, even I do not want to marry” (I was just trying to give it her back. Not even a single girl has rejected me till today, though that’s another matter that no one has accepted me as well, but here she was dumping me when nothing has even started)

But, then a little sense prevailed in me, I thought to myself that this is it, an opportunity I was looking for, a golden chance to further prolong this whole process of marriage and enjoy a few more days of bachelorhood. And therefore I stood by my words and am glad that I said them.

“That is so much relief Karan, so then its final. I will go ahead and reject you, can you tell me some of wrong, bad things about you”

“Rather, you tell me everything negative about you, I will reject you”

“Here comes your male ego, lets strike a deal then, you tell me one negative and I will tell you one”

I said, “Sure, ladies firstJ”

That is how our meeting ended, as abruptly as it had started. We ended up discussing all our negatives, wrong, bad habits, all the wrong things that we have done all through our lives. By the way, Shonali had once run away from her hostel, imagine what would happen if suddenly one day she runs away from your home.

As we reached home, my parents and my sister were all waiting eagerly for me to speak. I knew that no one would let me sleep in peace until I have blurted everything about my meeting with Shonali. So, just as we entered home and switched on the lights, everyone surrounded me with eyes full of extreme eagerness and so, I started speaking…..

Just another Arranged Marriage - The First Look

It’s the D-Day today. I, Karan Verma, am going to see a girl. And if you are wondering the purpose, it is obviously to get married. But I have not spoken to the girl before; in fact I have not even seen her photograph. I however do know a little about her through the bio-data which my mother showed me two days ago. She is the first girl am going to see after I gave in to my parents that I am now old enough to get married. For the records, I am just 26.

Anyways, my parents feel that she is the best girl they could have found for me, someone who is well educated, is working in a good company and most importantly has a very good family background. Her mother is a home maker and her father is a scientist at Indian Institute of Agricultural Research, based at New Delhi. My parents like her and since I have been terribly unsuccessful in finding a girl for me myself over a period of extremely long 8-10 years since I passed out from school, I now feel that my parents can find that special someone much better than I ever can.

Its 1PM on a warm Sunday afternoon and I along with my parents, my sister Ria and my best friend Chetan have already arrived at the venue and are waiting at the hotel lobby for the girl and her parents to join us. But like always, we have arrived much ahead of the scheduled time, which incidentally was 1:30 PM. I understand punctuality and trust me, I am strong follower of it as well, but then so much over excitement and that also to get married and more so at such a young age of 26 is a bit too much to think off.

Suddenly, everyone stands up and is looking beyond me with greeting smiles. My dad steps forward and shakes hand with an elderly looking man and my mother greets a lady with open arms. Chetan quickly gets hold of me and makes me stand up, “you fool, they are here, at least stand up and greet them”. I stand and turn back. This is the first time, I look at her.
If my i-pod would have been here with me, it would certainly have played,
“ aankhon mein teri, ajab si ajab si adayein hain
Dil ko bana de jo patang, saansein teri wo hawayein hain”