A Sweet Love Story - Concluding Part

I spent a sleepless night thinking about all the events that had happened between me and her wishing that my mom had not taken up this topic.The time to visit her place came sooner than expected and we drove to her place at around 6 in the evening. Her father greeted us at the doorway and I must say that I liked him at once. He seemed really cool..not bad for a first impression!!! We were ushered inside and my parents were happily chatting with their prospective samdhis. I started getting fidgetty noticing which the girls mother called her out...Anu...pls bring something to drink for them.I could hear her footsteps as she walked into the room and my heart skipped a beat hearing each of her steps. I just couldnt bear the suspense anymore and I put the head down prompting some friendly badinage from the people around...the girls mother had a ball teasing me saying..."Tum to dulhan se bhi zyaada sharmaa rahe ho bete!!!"She came close to me and said..."Chai lejiye!!!"

I knew it. The same voice....which had haunted me all these years...I looked up only to see her right in front of me. I looked up slowly to see her staring at the floor. The same girl whom I really loved and the one who rejected me was right in front of me...as my prospective wife!!!What a situation to be in.Not even once did she look at me. I had a doubt whether she knew it was me all along. There were lots of questions in my mind and lots of thoughts which were floating inside and on top of it, the elders yakking around was not helping my cause.Fortunately, the girls father noticed it and said..."Beta...akele mein baat karna chahte ho??To sharmaate kyun ho??Waise hum oldies ke beech mein tum log to bore ho jaaoge :-)...VenkateshJi, you were telling me that you have an interest in gardening right!!I have a small terrace garden and at this time, the breeze is also good. Why dont we go there...and let these youngsters talk what they want...(winking at me)!!!!

They immediately left us alone to do all the talking...and now was my chance again. WE sat opposite each other without saying a word until I said "How are you Ananya?"

Ananya:"FIne Vivek...its been a long time."

Me:"Yeah...did you expect me to be your prospective groom once you heard what your parents said?You didnt seem to recognize me at all"

Ananya:"Dont be silly!!!Of course I knew all along that it was you. And what do you expect me to say in front of everyone...Hi Vivek how are you...abhi tak tum mujhe bhoole nahi or what??"

Me:"Sorry for putting you in such an uncomfortable situation. IF I had known it was you, I would not have come."

Ananya:"Why do you say so?"

Me:"IF you had really wanted to marry me, you wouldnt have rejected me then."

Ananya:"Vivek, why dont you understand??Things were really different then. I didnt want to get committed at all. I wanted to achieve something in my life. I wanted to be independent and prove something to the world..I never said that I didnt like you...do you know how much I missed talking to you when you were avoiding me?Do you know how much I wanted to tell you that I really loved you...??"

Tears were streaming down her cheeks. In a flash I forgot everything and I was by her side once again.ME:"You know Anu...seeing you after such a long time, I feel really nice. But I need to think about this now...I am really confused and right now, all this is too much for me...I will get back to you soon".

Ananya:"I totally understand..I will wait for your answer."

We left her place after having dinner. I spent the whole night thinking about her and the events which took place at her house."Lots of negative thoughts also flew by.."How can someone who rejected you without thinking now suddenly come up and say that she loves you...??She broke my heart...and now...wants to make amends...does she love me??But who cares yaar...the problem is that I still love her."The final thought settled it all and I slept in peace having made my decision.

The next day, I called her up and asked her to come to cafe coffee day in the evening. And when she came, I made sure that she saw the most beautiful sight ever in her life. I had decorated every corner of coffee day with red roses with each one having her name on it. And just like college days, I went down on one knee, pulled out a rose from my pocket and repeated the same words. Her emotions took over and she hugged me as if she was never going to see me again.

We conveyed our approval to our respective parents and immediately got engaged. Wedding preparations were going on when Ananya's parents invited us over for dinner. I sat opposite to her enjoying my view and my dinner when her father popped up a shocker...!!"So Vivek...how did you propose to my daughter in college?"

We were speechless. I immediately looked at her and she seemed equally puzzled. I looked at my parents and they were smiling too...Suddenly everything dawned on us. This wasnt a co-incidence at all. Both the parents knew this beforehand and therefore arranged our marriage!!!!

FInally, her dad admitted that he had found my photo under her pillow...which she hadnt told me at all...and also that he had found out the details about the entire incident from her best friend to whom she had confided earlier...and conveniently forgot to tell me about it.

Immediately they met up with my parents, got our horoscopes matched and then you know the rest!!!!!

"Anu darling...!!!"'Hmm..."she said!!! We were sitting in the same garden in Kodaikanal where we had come for our honeymoon. Do you remember this place??""I remember this place and also how stupid you looked while you tried to propose...but cant help it...you looked too cute :-)""Shall we go to Coco's walk tomorrow?"Coco's walk.."she exclaimed with childish excitement...not quite for a 24+ woman....I smiled and brought her face towards mine...eagerly hoping that the years to cme will be as sweet as this moment.

A Sweet Love Story Part 1

It was the end of a usual tiring day. I had returned from office ennervated and tired after undergoing an arduous routine throughout the day. Today, my house had a different air around it. My parents were behaving in a different manner and that didnt go unnoticed by me. I knew that eventually something would come up at dinner so I didnt bother to ask.

Dinnner time finally arrived and I sat along with my parents waiting for them to break the suspense. As the silence lingered, my parents talking in hushed tones obviously how they are going to talk to me, I started feeling uneasy. I was hoping...Oh God...anything but that please.....finally the thought I dreaded came from my wonderful mothers mouth..."Vikku, we have seen a girl for you. Your horoscopes have matched and we are going to meet her family tomorrow so come early from office."

As soon as I heard that, I groaned with agony. I was a fiercely independent person who loved his independence. I was really unsure how I would be able to adjust in this new relation. The idea of losing it was a bit painful, a view all bachelors would share. I tried to wrigle out of it but no avail. Finally I gave in and asked my mother what is the girls name. And the reply was the girls name is "Ananya".

This name sounded really familiar to me...in fact...more than familiar. I retired for the day and was lying in my bed thinking about my past, something I had locked somewhere away in my life. I closed my eyes searching for the face which haunted me throughout these years, the face...on which even a smile would light up my entire day and for which I was even willing to die a thousand deaths.......yes that face was Ananya's...my Ananya's.

Ananya always had a larger than life personality. A very sweet girl with a never say die attitude and always lightens the atmosphere around her. Though we share the same friends circle, I never had the courage to talk to her. She was always yakking around with everyone she knew and was always there for her friends. Our talks were always limited to studies, notes and other boring stuff. But she made me realise that my life is incomplete without her.

There were numerous occassions when I tried to tell her what I felt but ended up fumbling with words. Finally the moment came...we had planned a trip to Kodaikanal...just a group and Ananya was also coming(well...that was the only reason why I decided to camp along)...all of us had a great time sightseeing. After sometime Ananya just wanted to sit down and she told us to continue. We were not for the idea of leaving her alone and here, I grabbed the chance with both my hands and told the guys that I will stay here and you people continue.

Ananya was as usual at her radiant best and one look at her beautiful face is enough for a guy to lose his mind completly. I gathered enough courage to start the topic. I said "Anu, If you dont mind, can I talk to you about something??'Ananya: "Sure Vivek, why are you hesitating...?Are you going to propose to me or what??" There was a childish chuckle on her face when she said that. GOD!!!I hate these girls for this...they very well know whats going on in your mind but they plead ignorance...

I: "Ya you are absolutely right...thats what I was going to say"Ananya: "Go on what do you want to say...chuckles again"....God this was too much for me to take.

I immediately took out a red rose from my pocket, the one I wanted to give her when I profess my love, went down on one knee and said ..."Anu, I may not be the smartest or the most romantic guy around but believe me...I really love you and would do absolutely anything for you. Every time you smile at me, I feel as if I have been reborn. You have given my life a new meaning and have absolutely no idea of what difference you have made to it. All I know is my life without you would be hell. Please....will you be mine??"

She was surprised...rather I would say shocked!!!!"How can you say this Vivek?? I mean how can you even think about this??" "Why what is wrong" I asked. "There is absolutely nothing wrong...but I never felt the same way for you. I respect you as a person and as a friend but nothing beyond that. My parents trust me a lot and I would not want to let them down. We will be good friends forever."

I felt that my entire world came crashing down that day. Soon after, the others returned and this incident never came up. I made it a point to avoid Ananya and no one suspected a thing as I never spoke to her much. Eventually, we finished college and moved to our respective careers. I never made any efforts to find out what she was doing or whether she was married and moved out of the country. I never thought about her.......................... until today.

Part 2 coming up!!!!

Aaj Dil Ne Socha.....

Today on the 30th of august, I sat all alone in my room rueing the fact that no one had wished me on my birthday. My gaze fell on an old photograph which had me and my close buddies Neha,DK and Jazz(Jai kaishen but he likes it this way). Immediately I started feeling nostalgic and my mind raced 15 years back when we celebrated Neha's birthday by freaking her out.

The date was Nov 2nd 1991 and it was 11.55 in the night.Dk,Jazz and I had decided to sneak into Neha's room to give her a surprise. DK and I slithered down the compound wall without a sound but Jazz landed with a thud loud enough to wake the entire neighborhood(one thing - he can never be a thief!!!!). This woke Neha's parents and her dad being a police inspector immediately came out with his stick but not before waking up the neighbours. It didnt take them long enough to find us and we were literally mauled by all of them.

It was this sound which brought Neha running out find what happened and man.........the inexplicable expression on her face when she saw us there was hilarious. The clock then struck 12 and we sheepishly pulled out the surprise gift we had bought for her. We then celebrated her birthday in the middle of the night with the entire neighborhood but not before a small diatribe from her dad...all in good humour though.

After that, all of us chose our own paths in destiny. Neha got married to a gem of a guy and settled down in New Zealand. Jazz went to the states to pusue his P.Hd and DK joined a software company in Noida leaving me all alone in Chennai.

I was bought back into the present with the sound of the bell ringing. I opened the door only to find the three of them there...and as usual like an idiot sttod there in shock unable to comprehend what was happening around me. I still remember what jazz said...abe khade khade kya kar raha hai...gale nahi lagega kya.....MAN!!!!We hugged each other tight,caught up with old times and finally cut the cake to start the celebrations.

That day all of us realised how empty our lives were without each other. We made up for all the lost time that day but eventually we had to return to our respective lives. We parted with the promise that no matter whee we all are, we'll be very much a part of each other's lives and will always be together. Afterall, this is what friends are for.

Koi Kare Kisi Aur Se Pyar or Kaadhalae Jayam....A VRV Production!!!!

Well...this might sound like a Karan Johar/Balachander movie and its too long too .....but I assure you guys its not one. This is my return to blogging after a loooong gap...reasons unknown to me too. Well..its been over a year since this has happened but the memories are still fresh in my mind...wow what amazing fun we had...

I vividly remember the date...it was August 19th 2005. It was my first day in Cognizant and my first job too. I walked into the sprawling office in Thoraipakkam with a flurry of thoughts. A mix of excitement and uncertainty could be felt as it was my transition from college life to a professional in the big bad corporate world. I went through the usual formalities which included the medical check up where I had an amusing experience...well this blog is not about that so I will stick to the topic. Nothing special happened that day and we were asked to report in Tidel Park for our induction on the 22nd.

After the weekend flew by, I was geared up for the grand induction into my company. It was my first entry into Tidel Park the much hyped IT palace in Chennai and that added to my excitement. I saw lot of people moving here and there and felt proud to be a part of this wonderful industry. The induction was a big bore except for the final part where our training batches were announced and we created our first salary accounts etc.

The training started on Aug 30th which happened to be my birthday and I was given a sweet surprise by my batchmates who happened to be from the same college. Well, now the interesting part starts. We were known as dot net 13 and since we all knew each other beforehand, there was no excitement. We decided to snoop into the adjoining batch to know about them....now I am an ordinary guy..you people must have guessed why I was so interested in the next batch...specially the GIRLS in the next batch :-)

There is a wise saying...99% of the girls are beautiful...the rest are in my college and most of the guys do agree...well with me there wasnt an exception and there were some girls whom I found good to look at but not in my batch!!!!. There was this particular female in the other batch who caught my eye.....let me call her Miss X. Our first meeting was a typical filmi meeting where she was late for class and while running for the classroom, bumped into me by accident. Well...I am still confused ..should I consider myself lucky or regret it...for her eyes said it all...I just stood there like an idiot gaping at her openly not even bothering to apologise while she entered her class giving me a frown all the time :-)...

I returned home still thinking about her and wow.....when I looked into her eyes for the first time, I could hear voilins playing in the background...and the song Tumse Milke Dil Ka Hai Kya Haal plays in the scene...

The next day, I reached early and started loitering near the stairs hoping to be lucky again. But to my disappointment, she came with a friend of hers and was quite early this time. I thought of apologizing but didn’t have the guts...her friend was no less pretty but I thought something was missing in her face. I thought I should befriend this FRIEND so that I can talk to my gal :)


After days of anticipation, I finally got a chance to talk to both of them...they were lost in the city and I got the chance to be their knight in shining armour. I was quite successful in diluting the tension between us much to my relief. We moved more freely with each other,exchanged numbers..messaged each other till early mornings, talked for long hours over the phone in the night and even went out for movies together...of course with that friend tagging along..I used to feel irritated so I started bringing another friend so that he could keep the other girl busy.

This happened quite discreetly as we would have been ridiculed by our respective batch mates who wouldn’t have spared any effort in deriding us. I was also irritated with the fact that I couldn’t get her out alone because of her friend (Miss Y)!!!!!

One fine day, she called me saying that she wanted to meet me alone. My heart jumped and I prepared myself for the occasion I was waiting for all these days. I showered twice, brushed my teeth and used mouthwash over it, used the best deodorant to avoid risk. I reached the place one hour before time as I was not able to wait.She was 15 minutes late but the fact she came was enough for me. I took her near the waters and waited for her to say something.

After some moments of deliberation, she finally spoke...after she did, I wished this day had never happened...but retrospectively thinking, this was one of the funniest days in my life.She opened up by saying that"You know something, in such a short time you have become a very important person in my life and I dont know what I would have done without you." I was holding my breath eagerly catching every word. She continued..."I hope you will not take me wrongly". I said Nope....she said "I like you very much"...that was what I was eagerly waiting for but before I could express my joy she followed it up saying this..."But my friend is really mad after you and I also thought you two would be perfect for each other thats why got her along wherever we went!!!!"

I was shellshocked!!!!She was playing matchmaker all the while and I was blissfully ignorant about it...I thought this was the end but what followed was even more shocking!!!!She continued saying this..."Now that I have told you this...there is something else I would like to tell you...I like your friend more"!!!!!!!!!!!!

It turned out that my friend was mad after Miss Y who was mad after me...but I was after Miss X who inturn was after my friend!!!!!Life is funny friends...in tamil we say...vidhi valkai la valayadithu!!!This is the game of fate....and ya the ending was we guys laughed over it with a bottle of beer and both the girls got married to stinking rich NRI's.....luckily we werent serious about them.....When I think about it today, I do laugh a lot over it...wanted to share this with you all, thats why I put it here.

Nature's Fury

It was a lovely start to my day. The sun had just risen from the horizon and its evanescent rays were touching the clouds...I started my usual routine by going out for my morning jog by the lovely waves in the beach. Strangely, one day the sea did not wake up. The waters had receded and the sea was ususually quiet. I felt uneasy and left before completing my jog. Minutes later, I was shocked to see the waves engulf the entire coast and swallow whatever was in the way. Had this happened a few minutes earlier, I would not be writing this today.

The waves receded again..this time leaving a trail of destruction. Many had lost their loved ones and a lot more had lost everything they had. This catastrophe had indeed scarred many for life. Seeing what had happened, I shuddered. Had I not felt uneasy and left early,had I not listened to my inner voice, God knows what would have happened. I made it a point to help the people who suffered the most here. I attended many social service camps, reached out to the people, heard their harrowing experiences,wept with them and in the night camped out with the other people. No matter how much we try to console them, they were just inconsolable. Some were fortunate enough to survive this miraculously while most of them were not.

Going through all this, several questions appear in my mind. How long will mother nature continue to bear the brunt of man's insalubrious activities?How long will she be patient?If we dont get a grip of ourelves and stop interfering with natue's laws, the reaction is going to be even bigger.....the world might just be seeing its last days...it is just a question WHEN!!!!!