“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.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
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.
“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……..
“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.
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