Begetter

Moulya woke up, without opening her eyes fully, her hand reached the mobile and enabled the data connection. This was the daily routine, switching of mobile data before going to bed and enabling it well before she got up from bed. She knew it was Sunday, she had the luxury of sleep extra hour but events of yesterday night came back to her, she closed her eyes and tried to sleep again, but sleep evaded her.

She unlocked her mobile, she had unread whatsapp messages from Bhavith.

Bhavith: "Good morning dear! What happened yesterday?"
Moulya replied: "Hey morning"
Bhavith replied instantly: "Couldn't sleep yesterday night! Tell me what happened! Did you talk to them?"
Moulya: "Yes, after the India match we spoke! Most unexpected thing happened! I don't know what is going to happen next!"
Bhavith: "Tell me what happened?! I'm already sweating here!:'( :'( "
Moulya: "Mom wasn't a problem! It was totally dad!! Never expected it from him!"
Bhavith: "What!!!!! You told me he wouldn't be a problem!"
Moulya: "Yesterday after match, we all were happy that India won, especially dad! I asked if I could talk to both of them for a while. We sat down to talk while brother was sent to sleep. I told them about us, first dad was just laughing, told mom that I was pulling their leg! But later when I told them I was serious, it was only mom talking to me, asking about details of you and your family, dad didn't speak a word. Mom didn't oppose but she didn't support either, I think she was also little shocked, many times she addressed dad but he was just looking at me!"
Bhavith: "Oh god! I don't know what to say... what happened then?"
Moulya: "Mom was asking all details from when and how.. But dad never spoke a word! Never seen him like that... I love him so much.. I don't know!"
Bhavith: "Don't worry dear, he will talk to you today for sure! What happened then?"
Moulya: "I hope so! After a while mom asked me to goto sleep! I looked at dad and he said 'I hope you can get over this non-sense!' and he went to his room!"
Bhavith: "Oh my god... I seriously didn't expect this from your dad... Did he talk to you today?"
Moulya: "No... I just got up, didn't face him yet.. I don't know what to say when I see him...!"

Yesterday night after Moulya was sent to her room. Hrudhvi, Moulya's mom turned to her husband: "Svanik, what happened to you? are you ok?"
Svanik: "I don't know, let's goto sleep!" saying that he went to their bedroom
Hrudhvi followed him : "Svanik, we need to talk regarding this! This is our girl's life!"
Svanik: "I don't want to listen, I don't want her to marry some goof!"
Hrudhvi: "You don't even know that guy, he could be her match! First listen to her!"
Svanik: "Why should I? She has decided already hasn't she? How dare she come and tell us that she wants to marry some idiot!"
Hrudhvi: "Svanik, Did you even listen to her?! she was asking our permission! she wasn't demanding!"
Svanik: "I don't care! We brought her up from childhood, took care of her, when the time comes I'm not going to give her to some stranger. I'll choose the right person!"
Hrudhvi had a sarcastic smile on her face. Svanik: "What are you smiling about? and why aren't you supporting me!"
Hrudhvi, poured him a glass of water and spoke softly: "My dear husband! You are the most wonderful and the most worst person in the world. You gave her freedom, you have her choice in everything and yet when she is choosing something you are saying no?!"
Svanik spoke calmly: "She is still young to me... The world is not like she things, at her age all she thinks is love, life has to be dealt more practically than what you think when you're in love, Hrudhvi, of all people you know this better!"
Hrudhvi: "I know! But you brought her up like that, teaching her to look at life practically! When all of her friends decided to pursue engineering, it was only you on the whole family who supported her to purse law! You told her to take decisions in life and stick to it! Now when she is deciding something very important in her life, of all the person in the world, she expects your support!"
Svanik slowly : "How are you taking this?"
Hrudhvi: "Dear, we grew up in a century where love marriage was a 'bad thing', when some one was in love in school or college, people literally looked upon him as a 'bad person'. But things have changed, generation evolved, I wouldn't be surprised if our boy brings a "girl friend" home tomorrow and another one the day after. The world today is going in express speed, in fact they expect the same thing in love!"
Svanik: "Exactly my concern, what if she doesn't know what is love and this guy is not the right guy for her, marriage is not something to be taken easy!"
Hrudhvi: "Correct! but keeping quiet and saying "nonsense" is not the way we should react, Moulya respects you a lot, your approval is important for her! Talk to her, make her understand. Understand what she has understood about the guy and their family!"
Svanik: "So you are saying "YES" to this? What would people think?!"
Hrudhvi: "The 'People' will always talk, if its love or arranged marriage, be it anything, they will talk. Remember svanik, we should respect the 'people' to an extent they respect us back but the life should not become depending on them or act based on what they think about us! All our life we have done things only with one goal, to keep our children happy, and this is also a point where we should consider their happiness. And I have a feeling that our girl will not choose wrong"
Svanik: "I don't know... May be I'll talk to her in the morning!"

Svanik slept late that night, he least expected his girl to put him in such situation. He loved her very much and would hate himself if she was hurt because of him.
Moulya, came out of her and saw her dad reading newspaper in his usual chair, he looked up at her but didn't smile
Svanik: "Kido... we need to talk... freshen up and come!"
Moulya became very nervous, she was happy that her father spoke to her but the tone he spoke wasn't comforting. She freshened up quickly.
Svanik: "Shall we go for a morning walk up to the park?"
Moulya just nodded her head, she was nervous and afraid to talk.
They started walking, both were silent, svanik decided to break the ice.
Svanik: "Kido... I'm sorry how I reacted yesterday, It was shocking actually, I didn't expect it!"
Moulya, looked at her father, her eyes were brimming with tears.
Svanik: "I was so shocked that I didn't listen to you yesterday, Why don't you tell me about this guy till we reach the park? what's his name?"
Moulya: "His name is Bhavith. We both know each other from school, he is pursing CA! You have met him!"
Svanik was surprised: "Have I? when?"
Moulya: "During our school day function, I introduced him to you..."
Svanik thinking hard: "Hmm... Was it the guy who fell down from cycle in that cycle race?"
Moulya: "Yes, he is good at studies and a very nice guy... He is waiting for his CA finals results...! He will surely pass... he cleared CA Intermediate in first attempt!"
Svanik: "That's impressive.. So when did you both...?"
Moulya: "We were good friends for long time... It was last year when he proposed me...!"
Svanik said sarcastically: "Oh I see...! My girl has become big, accepting proposals!"
Moulya remained silent. Svanik spoke: "Kido.. I have always taught you to be practical in life... see the reality than fall for fantasy!"
Moulya: "But this is not fantasy, we both love each, our love is.....!"
Svanik cut her off: "I know the end of that line... That line has come across many generation and I'm sure it will keep going for many generations to come! No one can preach you love Moulya, what you see in movies is not love!"
Moulya: "But what you have with mom is love, correct?!"
Svanik: "Yes.. But you're too young to understand that! Listen kido.. life is not always smooth and easy... you don't and will not understand at this young age!"

Svanik and Moulya, reached the park, they both started walking around the park in silence again. After two rounds in the park, they started walking towards home, Svanik spoke again.
Svanik: "Kido... I know I told you to take decision in life and stick to it no matter what if you feel that it is right! But this is marriage, you have to weigh your decision!"
Moulya: "I know dad, I know what you have taught me in life... I'm not asking to get married right away, Bhavith will get a job soon, I'll also start practicing law for a year.. I told you both now, so that you are aware what I like to have in my life! Bhavith's dad is working in Bank, his mom is a home maker and his brother is doing engineering first year. They are also upper middle class like us."
Svanik: "So I'm supposed to just say OK?"
Moulya: "No, I want you to meet their parents and talk to them regarding this!"
Svanik was happy that her girl was little intelligent to know the details and was not blindly falling in love and respected him and Hrudhvi to ask their permission.

Svanik: "Before I say anything, I would like you to listen to me... will you?"
Moulya: "Yes.. sure!"
Svanik: "Understand that being in love is completely different from marriage... In love, everything is perfect! What he says, what he does, everything...! It is because you spend only a quality time with him, few hours a week. So that few hours you want make effective use. So you don't see the flaws. It is these small flaws which causes huge problems. How one respects elders... how one talks and mingles with other... Take your mom for example she doesn't like it when you talk with your mouth full or if you leave wet towel on floor? You know that right?"
Moulya: "Yes.."
Svanik: "In love marriage, they see each other as Ms/Mr. Perfect, they don't see or know these flaws so after marriage when they see or realize this, it will be annoying, its because they both don't know how they are at home or how their personal space is! I know people will adjust ultimately but suddenly they will get a feeling why is he/she acting like this, the "Ms/Mr. Perfect" feeling slowly starts diminishing. Understand, that is when you need to hold on to your love the most. Love is a beautiful thing, but don't throw it away for silly reasons...! You do know that there are many love marriage which ended badly, the reasons may not be major but it is crucial you value your love more than anything. It is very easy to fall in love and be happy, but in marriage you need your love to be strong to withstand testing times. Because in love it doesn't matter when you both like different things and choose different things, but in marriage you have to put your minds together to make life's decision, if things go wry, you can't just walk off, you need to put your heart in it to fix it!
Moulya eyes couldn't hold back her tears.

Svanik: "I still remember the day you were born, it is the most happiest moment in my life. I wanted to give you the best in the world, but I understood that being a dad is one of the most loveliest & difficult thing in the world. I love you but it is my responsibility to show you the correct way even though it hurts me. Dad is someone who will want to catch you before you fall but instead picks you up, brushes you off, and lets you try again. Dad is someone who wants to keep you from making mistakes but instead lets you find your own way even though it hurts him very badly. Dad is the person who makes sure you do what your mother says, even though he knows the kid will be scared when he raises his voice. I will always have faith in what ever you do and even if you fail. I have told you things which i'm not sure if you will understand or not, but as a father I want to make sure that my child doesn't lose her way in life. That's all!"

They both entered home, Hrudhvi saw moulya crying, she was worried. She looked at Svanik and saw his eyes moist! Now she was really confused what had happened. Moulya was about to go to her room when Svanik called her : "Kido... Call Bhavith home, we will talk.. then later we meet his parents!".
Hearing this moulya came and hugged her dad, he laughed on patted her and looked at Hrudhvi and said "It's going to be OK!"

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Besotted

Lochan was driving his bike fast through the traffic, humming his favorite tune with a smile on his face, he was going to met his friend Pulak. He had made up his mind after so many long discussions and thoughts, his feelings for Tarana has to be told. But before that Lochan decided to meet Pulak, three of them knew each other right from their school days. They are now studying in same engineering college but Tarana was in different department, Pulak and Lochan had managed to get into same department and luck was with them as they were in the same section too.

Lochan still remembered his first encounter with Tarana, it was during their seventh standard. The new class teacher being a radical lady came up with an idea of mixing up bright and average students. Hence Lochan, the class bottom most was made to sit with the class topper, Tarana. Lochan despised Tarana from the first moment, he never liked studious people, Tarana being topper made it to the top of Lochan's hate list. The first mid term mark sheets were given, Lochan and Pulak spectacularly managed to score single digits in all of the subjects, they both beamed at each other when found teachers could actually give mark for what they wrote. On the other hand, as expected, Tarana came first on all subjects. Lochan never uttered a word, in fact he didn't turn to her side.

Their next term exam was getting closer, the bell was about to ring for lunch, just then:
Tarana: "Hello...!"
Lochan didn't even realize that she could speak to him, so he didn't even turn his head, went back to sincerely finishing the doodle he started during the class.
Tarana: "Hello Lochan...!"
Lochan was shocked, "She can speak...! she knows my name!!! how!! May be I should get back to my doodle! she has nothing to do with me!"
Tarana saw his reaction, it was as though somebody stole his money, his mouth half open in surprise, she started thinking if she had said his name right. "Er... Lochan.. right?"
Lochan, only nodded his head... "She was talking to him... Oh god...why? why can't she see I am busy with my work!!"
Tarana: "Are you planning on passing this time at least?"
Lochan's reaction changed instantly, no body can question him, only his parents can scold him about his marks, he was least bothered about what others thought about his mark. what's wrong with this girl? "Hey Listen.. If I want,  I can beat you in all subjects.. ok? go and play with your girl pals..! I don't have time to talk with you!"
Tarana's reaction didn't change one bit, she kept looking at him, Lochan found it strange, he knew he had touched her nerve, but her face didn't show anything... "oh god... is she going to complaint to the class teacher or worst the head master?"
Tarana: "Don't worry small boy! I'm not going to complain to class teacher or head master!" saying this she left for her lunch.
Lochan mouth fell open, literally, he was astonished how she mouthed the exact same words, he made a mental note to be be careful with this girl.

Rest of the day went with out much eye contact, when the final bell rang, Lochan hurriedly picked up his bag and was about to leave, just then again he heard her voice, it sent shivers up his spine.
Tarana: "why do you fail?"
Lochan: why does she have to talk? why can't see just mind her own job!.. "cause i don't like studying"
Tarana: " You don't like studying anything or you  don't understand English" saying this she giggled.
Lochan was furious, he may be weak in studies but he proud-ed himself in his English, he picked up his English watching so many English movies in TV. He didn't want to reply to her, he had nothing to prove to her, he picked up his bag and was moving out.
Tarana: "So English is your problem!"
Lochan was so angry that he could throw a punch, he bit his teeth hard, it was not manners to hit a girl, but he knew he can threaten her: "Listen smarty pants, I don't have to reply to you, if you ever speak to me again then make sure to wear a helmet, next time my hand will be talking, I can't stand your stupid voice!" , he stormed out saying that.
Pulak: "Throw ink on her dress if she speaks to you again!"
Lochan smiled, happy that his friend shared the same feeling, "Haa Haa good idea... but she will start crying like a baby.. haa haa... I threatened her enough, she won't talk again."

Next day, the math teacher conducted a surprise test, both Lochan and Pulak submitted  blank papers, the teacher instantly found took out their sheets and was furious.
Teacher: "Both of you are good for nothing, even the animals can understand math, I feel sorry for your parents, wasting their money on you, instead they could have got a cattle. You both won't even help your parents with his kind of attitude, after growing up you will only end up as burden to your parents...." the scolding went on and on.. the whole period was dedicated to them, when the assault ended the whole class was laughing at both of them. when the teach walked out of period, she let a lethal blow: " Both of you sit and have your lunch... at least for that you won't be needing your parents help, but for everything else in your life you both will be needing your parents."
Pulak walked out of class almost in tears, Lochan sat on his seat, his eyes closed tight, he didn't want tear to roll out, the class was empty, when he heard the voice:
Tarana: "Why don't you study?"
Lochan: "Listen Tarana, now is not good time, i don't need any provocation to punch you.. please leave me alone!" he thought to himself, I don't need this stupid girl's sympathy.
Tarana: " I am not showing you any sympathy, Lochan. I am only trying to help you pass... if only you could pass, then you don't have to be embarrassed like this...! Fine, I am leaving...!"
Lochan, again, half shocked and astonished on how she could read his mind...  "I don't like to study a lot, I can hardly study for an hour, I can't by heart or remember all the big essays" .. he wasn't sure if it was her mind reading ability or his embarrassed situation which made him talk to her.
Surprised Tarana turned to him, so he is not that dumb after all : "If you problem is studying for long hours or long answers why not study short ones?"
Lochan: "What do you mean?"
Tarana: "Have you ever fully studied the question paper?"
Lochan glared at her, Tarana continued: "We have 15 two mark questions and two 10 mark questions, why don't you study 2 marks, that is more than enough to get you past the half way mark!"
Lochan kept looking at her, is she really that smart or is she making this up? "So for the coming term exam, i'll pass if i just study all two marks alone?"
Tarana, nodded : "Yes, we will have exam on two chapters, if you can study say 20 two mark questions, you should be easily able to pass."
Lochan eyes narrowed: "Why doesn't everyone pass easily then? why are you trying to help me? are you trying to make me a fool?"
Tarana rolled her eyes "Hello Mister, I don't care if you pass or fail, everyone tries to study the essay the first and lose half their time, two chapters will easily have ten essay questions, which doesn't fetch full marks either."
Lochan: "Then how do you score first mark?"
Tarana eyes narrowed: "Why are you bothered how i get my marks? this is about you alone.. try to pass" saying this she left.

Lochan, stuck to this simple plan, he wrote almost all the two marks in exams, when results came, to everyone's surprise, Lochan and Pulak had just passed in all the papers, first time this has happened.
Tarana with a sarcastic smile on her face: "So you ain't that dumb!"
Lochan, was not angry, but he didn't smile either, in a very feeble voice he said "Thank you!"
Tarana: "You studied you passed, why thank me for it?! good thing you made Pulak study, else he is hopeless!"
Lochan smiled, she wasn't bad after all, Tarana: "Oh! you can smile too ah?"
Lochan lips widened into a grin. From then on, both the boys took Tarana's help, she would mark them all the two marks, they would study that sincerely and pass the exam. It was surprising that in higher class, Lochan and Pulak answered many simple questions asked by teacher when most of the class failed, many concepts and formula's needed in higher classes were from two marks of lower classes, this helped the boys to study better.

Today, Lochan knew his way around exam, he was a decent scorer now. But his feelings for Tarana grew immensely from school days. Lochan reached Pulak's home and both went upstairs.
Pulak: "I saw your SMS, are you really going to?"
Lochan only smiled and nodded.
Pulak slapped on his shoulders: "Super! so when are you going to tell her?"
Lochan: "when she comes back from her tuition...! Do you remember the empty lane next to market, where we used to play during school days, she crosses that road to get to her home, i'll corner her there and tell her."
Pulak: "Shaaabhaash!! when will she be coming back?"
Lochan looked at his watch : "Her class gets over in ten minutes, it will take another twenty minutes for her to get there...! dude, I am very nervous!"
Pulak: "Stop it! She likes you from day one, I have been telling you this all along, just go and tell her, she will accept surely!! After all it was she who spoke to you first in class remember?"
Lochan lips spread out wide, "OK, I am leaving, i'll call you after the meet, pick up the call!" saying this he ran out of his house.

Lochan reached the place in fifteen min, he still had solid fifteen minutes before Tarana reached the place, he was nervous even though he knew her for long, he wanted to make sure he chose the right words to express his feelings. The deserted lane were full of empty wooden cartons from the near by market, Lochan sat on carton and started thinking what he should say to her exactly when he heard a deep crisp slow voice of a stranger.

Stranger: "Keep the box inside the scooter seat and make sure to lock the scooter!"
Lochan's held his breath and started listening closely.
Stranger: "After you park the scooter go to the discussed location as quickly as possible and wait, I'll call you again and give you the number to dial, make sure you don't waste any time and dial the number i share immediately from your mobile, it will set off the BOMB!"
Lochan's start skipped a beat, were they planting a bomb? what should he do now? run way? or try catching this fellow?
Stranger continued to speak: "Remember, don't stay very close to the blast radius, we want you to get hurt but not die, if you are dead then no use to us or your family, if you are hurt then even the police will not suspect you and you can be happy with your family! Alright? I'll call you in ten min, now go quickly!"
Lochan heard the sound of call being disconnected, a pile of tall cartons were in between Lochan and the stranger, neither could see each other. Lochan heart beat grew louder, he started to think, if he starts running there is a good chance that he might be caught , no point in screaming as this was empty lane, if only he could attack the stranger and take away his mobile phone, he could stop the bomb attack. Lochan heard footsteps coming towards him, he held a wooden carton tightly in his hand, his plan was to launch a surprise attack on head of the stranger which would make him fall then he can grab the mobile and make a run for it. Lochan waited patiently with a wooden carton. When the foot steps got closer, Lochan swung the wooden carton towards the stranger and hell broke loose. The stranger was well built and above six foot tall, the wooden carton hit him on the chest area which made him stumble back but not fall, Lochan putting his entire weight in the swing, fell to the ground because of the impact with the stranger.

The confused and surprised stranger neatly pulled out a gun from his pocket, Lochan who was on the ground recovered quickly as he noticed what happened and took another swing, this time aimed at the gun. The nails in the wooden carton pierced through the strangers hand, at the same time the stranger pulled the trigger. Both of them fell down this time, Lochan was scared but he knew he will die if he failed to get up quickly, he collected his strength and swung the wooden carton again aiming stranger's head who was still on ground. The carton crashed against stranger's forehead, nails in the carton had cut through vein's in his temple, the stranger went unconscious. Lochan breathed heavily, he wanted to run, he turned around but couldn't run, he saw blood on his hands, he was bleeding, the shot fired by the stranger had hit him on lower right side rib.
The amount of blood loss made him realize he needed medical attention soon else he won't survive. He was scared, his mind kept showing him his parents faces, tears rolled down his cheeks, he couldn't scream cause that will cause even more blood to ooze out. He remembered Tarana, he beautiful face, he knew how deeply he loved and respected her, he didn't want to die, not this day, he wanted to say how much he loved her, he wanted to live with her, he tried to calm down his mind but he was becoming weak. Lochan fell down, he used his free hand to get his mobile, he remember he had kept speed dial number 5 for Pulak and 6 for Tarana, he tried calling Tarana knowing she must be in vicinity. His trembling fingers pressed number 5, he phone at other end rang, his friend Pulak picked up his phone.
Pulak: "Hello...!?! Lochan..? Can you hear me? what happened? did you tell her??"
There was no reply to his questions, irritated Pulak disconnected the call!
Pulak picked up his phone and dialed Lochan's number, he phone was ringing but it was not answered.
Pulak tried again, still no answer, the worried friend kept dialing Lochan's number without a gap.
Lochan's phone kept ringing in the silent lane, bodies of two people on the road with few meters apart. Tarana was on her way back home, she crossed the lane exactly when Lochan's phone was ringing, Lochan's phone had an irritating ring tone, it was surprising for Tarana to hear the same ring tone here, she stopped to look, see saw two men's body on road and a mobile was ringing. She knew something was wrong and alerted the people near the market.

An ambulance carried Lochan to the nearby hospital, Tarana was right next to Lochan, the first aid in ambulance had helped him little, he opened his eyes to see Tarana crying, she held his hand tight. Lochan had imagined many lines and practiced the right set of words to express his love, he looked deeply into Tarana's eyes with all his love, he could only move his finger, he was trying to spell out his feelings, but Tarana's hand moved to his lips and she shook her hand signalling him not to speak. Tears poured profusely in their eyes, Tarana came close to Lochan and slowly spoke in his ears: "I LOVE YOU TOO...!" Lochan smiled feebly, he thought to himself, of course she can read his mind, he knew everything was going to be fine now.

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Date Night

Aashay was very nervous, he had dreamt about this day his entire life and he wanted to make sure that it went flawless. This day three months back his marriage was fixed with Vritti! After three months of official tour only now he was able to take her on a date. Plan was simple, pick her from home go to a movie then have dinner, drop her back home. Aashay tried taking deep breathes to calm down his mind but in vain. Vritti was simple and charming girl, they both have been in touch very frequently since their marriage was fixed thanks to the skype and whatsapp! Aashay was waiting on his bike, when he saw Vritti walking towards him, she had a simple orange color salwar, her long hair neatly pulled back. The bindi on her forehead ever so small and a warm smile, but what whacked him out of his mind was her sparkling eyes! Aashay got down from the bike and greeted her.

Aashay : “Hey!!”
Vritti : “Hiii!!”
Tingling sensation spread through his body hearing the girlish cute ‘Hiii’. Aashay was constantly reminding himself to be in control!!
Aashay : “Shall we move, I have booked “Ek tha Tiger” in sathyam cinemas!”
Vritti: “Sure! heard the movie is good! Are you Katrina fan?”
Aashay, to himself, don’t blurt out you like all heroines be cool! : “She is fine, doesn't know acting though!”
Vritti: “Oh!! I like her so much, she has cute smile!”
Aashay, to himself, What the helllll!! okay, don’t change the statement! “Yeah she has many hit films, one of top actress in industry now! I like Salman too! Heard he is good guy off screen!”
Vritti: “Yeah I like him too!!”
Aashay, to himself, YEAH!! That’s the way dude!! Score ONE!!

It was a thirty minute ride to the theater, Aashay nervousness seemed to have calmed down a bit!! In his younger days he used to dream of taking a girl on date, this was dream coming true for him!!! Chennai traffic was on full swing, Aashay had to apply brake hard at times, in one such occasion, Vritti kept her hand on Aashay’s shoulders for balance. He was all smiles, the tingling sensation was back again! He started to hum in low voice a song, a specific song, in fact a specific scene from song, it was not for the tune but for the reaction, he looked up and thanked god still smiling.

They reached the theater, Aashay showed his online booking SMS, there was a small glitch in the system which was sorted out and he got his two tickets.
Aashay: “Would you like to have something before the movie starts?”
Vritti: “Yeah I would like to have pop corn!”

Aashay got himself a extra large coke and a big tub of pop corn for Vritti, they settled down on their big comfortable ELITE seats. The movie started and theater became noisy as the Salman Khan made a dramatic entry in the screen as RAW agent, Aashay started sharing few things which he knew about RAW with Vritti, when a beam from torchlight fit his face. He saw a theater employee asking for his tickets, he checked Aashay tickets with another pair of tickets in his hand, both seems to have identical seat numbers!! The employee cross checked again and said to Aashay : “Sir! you have got yesterday’s ticket!”

The words was like a tight slap on his face, Aashay looked at the ticket himself, yes it was indeed yesterday’s ticket, he checked his SMS confirmation, he had wrongly booked for yesterday’s show! He managed a wry smile and asked Vritti to follow him. He looked up and said “God! why ?” , With a extra large coke and a big tub of pop corn still unfinished they made their way out of the screen! There were so many thoughts running on Aashay’s mind, he didn't know what to say.

Aashay: “I am sor…!”
Before Aashay could finish his sentence, Vritti was laughing so hard, that she had tears in her eyes. All Aashay could do now was to smile, he didn’t know what is to be said!
Vritti still laughing: “That was very embarrassing….! Never happened in my life!!”
Aashay smiling sheepishly: “Yeah!! Never happened before! Sorry!”
Vritti regaining her composure: “Hey it happens, its okay! so what’s the plan?”

Aashay looked like a spectacular fool on his first date, he didn't know what is to be done next : “Shall we go to beach? its around fifteen minutes from here, may be we could watch the sunset!”
Vritti agreed, both of them reached the beach, the crowd as less, it was getting dark, they both made their way past the sands to the edge of water. Aashay took Vritti’s arm and said : “Sorry about the movie! I was excited about the date I made mess of the dates!”
Vritti smiled : “That’s okay! Everything happens for good! This is much better than the movie!”
Aashay smiled : “That’s sweet! we will spend time here for a while and then start for the dinner!”

They both sat down on the sand and started talking, after a while Aashay said: “I think we missed the sunset! Shall we start to our dinner? I have booked at a romantic place, it’s a surprise!”
As he finished saying that a big droplet of water hit his forehead! Aashay looked up and saw dark clouds, it looked like it was going to rain cats and dogs!! They both ran for cover, before they could even reach half way to their vehicle it has started to rain so hard that it was not possible to see things, driving would be impossible in this condition. They both took shelter under a “corn” shop, Aashay looked up and said : “God! Why me?”. The rain had no plans to stop, with every minute passing it rained harder! The dinner plan was spoiled! Aashay stomach started grumbling, he was hungry and so was Vritti. They got two fried corn, in the rain condition, the corn tasted heavenly!

(Photo courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seeveeaar/4382648132/)

Vritti: “This is the tastiest corn I have ever had!”
Aashay: “I agree!!”
They ate two more corns each and then ate two full plates of various bhaji’s available in the shop. They chatted away while eating, the rain had finally stopped.

Aashay drove Vritti back to her place.
Aashay: “I am sorry, I wanted it to be perfect, but it was messed up!”
Vritti: “It was perfect in so many ways! I enjoyed the time spent with you!”
Aashay: “the movie was totally spoiled, we both got drenched and missed our dinner!”
Vritti: “Aashay! Many people will remember that movie for the box office collection, but in our little world we will remember it for more precious moment! There is an old saying , it not the place which makes it special, it is the person who you are with! this was special to me! It is simple things which gives you more happiness than the extravagant stuff! The plan which you made was for a good date, but what we had was the best date! thank you! go safe and text me!” , she said with a wink.

All Aashay could do was simply shake his head in agreement, he started his bike still smiling, he looked up and said “thanks god!” and started humming the tune for the scene!!

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Life after Marriage

March 8th 2008, a day which Anay won’t forget… or it won’t let Anay forget what his life has become. It was on this day Anay married Kavana.
Almost a week after the marriage, only today Anay was alone with Kavana at his home. Anay’s parents had left for yet another one day temple visit for which the newly wed couple didn’t go. Anay wanted to discuss so many things about life with Kavana.
Voice inside Anay’s mind (Voice 1): “This is my night alone with her… a good chance to talk about life and get to know her more…! Day after parents will be back and I won’t get a chance to talk freely like this.”
Anay tries to start conversation with but some how he couldn’t find the right topic to start the conversation.
Voice inside Anay’s mind (Voice 1): “Why am I feeling nervous about…! I am married for almost a week now and now I am feeling nervous to be around her! I even went out with her after our engagement!”
Another voice inside Anay(Voice 2): “Mr. Anay, if you must know this is the first time you are ALONE with a girl at NIGHT at your home, so being a little nervous is not a bad sign you see!”
Voice 1: “Relax dude… she is your wife, you are her husband, you can talk anything with her!!”
Voice 2: “Yeah right… you can talk anything and bore her to death… remember this is not a DATE where the girl goes to her place after dinner, this girl is here to stay with you… FOREVER! so don’t talk like
brainless!!”
Voice 1: “may be you should talk to her about how you both can to do the financial planning… you know buying house or gold or doing savings for future together… since you already have this in your agenda on things to discuss with her…”
Voice 2: “Haa haa… are you even serious?? has it even slightly crossed your mind that on the first night alone, she will be expecting something more romantic rather than this finance talks…! Dude seriously talk romantic stuff!”
Voice 1: “If you act more matured and responsible now, she will feel secured with you and ultimately will share her thoughts to you… that is the way to go, you did all your romance while you were engaged.. went to movies… to dinner… to beach.. all the while I told you to talk these responsible stuff… but you kept acting like you were one of these cool DUDES flirting with her! Now you are married and this time she can’t reject also, talk the responsibility stuff…!”
Voice 2: “Alright…! What will she think about you if you suddenly talk about responsibilities !! she will think the Anay before marriage was a fake!”
Before Anay could make up his mind, kavana spoke to him: “Anay… I am feeling sleepy, shall we go to bed?”
Anay: “Yeah! I’ll join you in ten minutes.”
When Kavana left to bed, anay started gathering his thoughts on what topics to talk to her.
Anay to himself: “Okay I have spent the engagement time very romantically indeed.. dinners.. beach .. movies.. acted ‘cool’.. flirted enough…  if  I hadn’t done it, then my bachelorhood would never have been complete! so that’s settled… We did get to know each other when we were engaged… but as friends… we understood each other likings and dislikes, settled on many silly pet names… but in the end she went to her place and I came back to mine that was a big difference, both of us never understood how we should react to the new environment we were going face… my parents… her parents… these people are integral part of our lives too!”
“May be I should just casually start with my office joining date and talk to her about her office joining date… then move on to office timings… first start with weekends… tell her that we will have great fun weekends… she already knows parents will be going back to hometown in two weeks time and after that she will have to take up more responsibility on handling home stuffs and say ‘of course I’ll help you in everything!’ and she will have to prepare his lunch and dinner  everyday…”
Voice 2: “How do you feel when you are back from office?”
Voice 1: “I work for more than 9 hrs a day… obviously I’ll be tired!”
Voice 2: “You are planning to make her work at home as well as in office… won’t she be tired ??”
Voice 1: “Ohh…..! Okay weekdays I’ll manage in the canteen… she can cook in weekends!”
Voice 2: “Never in your life have you woken up before 10 AM, then why should she wake up, she works the same time as you do!”
Voice 1: “Oh come on she can do it…!”
Voice 2: “you want to maintain your independency even after marriage, then why should she give up hers?”
Voice 1: “How will you know this before you even talk to her…! She loves you a lot she might do this for you!! go and talk this now… at least start the topic…!”
With so much prepared in his mind Anay entered to bed room only to find Kavana deep in sleep and he took only five minutes to get to bed after she went! Anay lied down next to her…
Voice 1: “People should sue the movie directors who show wife bringing coffee to husband in the morning just after bath, neatly dressed and with wet hair… they are imprinting false ideas into people’s mind!!!”
Voice 2: “Don’t get so worked up… being married is not actually like you think… it doesn’t make you ‘complete’… it doesn’t end your need to connect or belong or never be lonely… just a week after marriage your everyday problem has clouded your romantic feeling for her… understand that no couple complete each other they only complement each other… every marriage goes through peaks and valleys, your relationship will be tested then, this is when decision making to love is important… last but not the least even after marriage you need to have the ‘lonely’ time… It is an opportunity to listen to yourself and discover your likes and dislikes. Quiet time alone will help you appreciate any harsh criticisms that arises from within you, remember self-acceptance is an important component of self-confidence!”
Anay didn’t know when he fell asleep but he woke up earlier than usual, the clock showed 7:00 AM. Kavana was still sleeping, her pointed finger nails still had mehandi in them, her light brown eyes were still closed, her plump lips had a strange curl to them, her soft deep breathing making the world seem to stand still. Anay realized how much he loved her, he got up without waking her up.  On a Saturday morning he went into kitchen and prepared two cups of coffee.
He woke her up and handed her a cup of coffee: “Good morning!”
Kavana: “Up so early? and coffee too?? that’s so sweeeeeeeeeet!”
Anay: “Get up… I have big plans for the day!”
Anay took her out for lunch and movie, he did flirt but he also put across his ‘views’ to her. They had a good evening and were on bed to sleep.
Anay to himself: “I did try and do things in a better way than imagined… lets see what happens from here on…!”
Voice 1: “If she understood you, she will be awake before you and give you a cup of coffee when you are awake meaning she is ready to take up responsibility… or else your life is going to be a total screw up!”
Voice 2: “oh come on… we talked so much on this… give her time to adjust and understand!!!”
Anay tried to sleep putting the voices behind, he wanted to catch up on the sleep he missed today morning. Next day, he woke up at 10 AM and he noticed that his parents had returned from the trip. He sat on the sofa half asleep, a cup of coffee was handed over to him……. by his mother!
Voice 1: “Ah… at least your life isn’t going to be totally screwed thanks to your mother!!”
Anay knew he should give Kavana more time to adjust, but his mind was trying to fight off this idea, he had an abdominal lull and even his mom’s coffee was tasting bad…!
All this might have reflected in his face, he heard his mom say, “Coffee was prepared by Kavana, not by me!”
Anay didn’t reply back to his mother instead he took another sip of coffee and it tasted much better!


March 3rd, 2012,
Four years after his marriage, Anay is father to a beautiful girl. It was a Saturday morning, he woke up and went to kitchen to prepare two cups of coffee.
Voice 1: “You should have never prepared the coffee fours years back… you are still making the coffee!!”
Anay ignored the voice and woke up Kavana and gave her a cup of coffee.
Anay: “Good morning!”
Kavana: “Good morning!”
They both were seated next to each other on the couch with their feet up.
Kavana: “You know I never thought you will make me a coffee a week after our marriage and I really love your Saturday morning coffee’s!”
Anay smiled at her said : “You do it every other day which makes it even more special!”
Anay took another sip of coffee and it still tasted good…!

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What happens in GOA!

Vadish was packing his things for a short unexpected trip to… Goa. He received a call from his friend Mahanth if he could come to Goa for the weekend. Although Vadish was excited about the trip, there was a little nagging thought in his mind about the third person who is joining them… Sadvita, she was a good friend to both of them. But Mahanth and Sadvita had huge crush on each other and Vadish didn’t want to be the loner in the group! At last, vadish made up his mind ‘it was Goa’ and he wasn’t going to miss out on this!   Vadish started his journey to Goa, it was Vadish’s second time. Right from college days Vadish dreamed of visiting Goa, every time friends talk about tour, Goa would be on top of the list. And every time it failed miserably! But at last he did make it to Goa two years back with his colleagues and it was dream come true. About 2 million people visit Goa every year! Vadish felt, Goa was somehow was a different tourist spot from others. In Goa one feels disconnected from his routine world, he couldn’t put a finger on the reason… may be it is the location.. or might be the girls… or might be the booze… but all these you get in other tourist spots too.. Single or married, Goa trip is always special!
Vadish started reasoning to himself about Goa: First the clothes, what ever season it might be in Goa, clothes are always less! Vadish did make a self note on his previous Goa trip “the girl you see in Goa is not the same girl you see outside Goa!”, at times it holds good for men too! Next, People don’t accusingly stare at a person with a booze in their hand, how many places in India does this happen? maybe the mind set of people totally changes once they enter Goa! In short Goa becomes synonym for ‘party hard’! Vadish drifter into sleep with these thoughts.
Next morning, Mahanth, who was a localite of Goa, picked him up and drove to his home. They met after a long time and had many things to catch up on their ride home.
Vadish: “Listen dude! I have been to Goa before, I came here again having only one thing in mind, I wanna party hard! Its better if we rent a room, it would be awkward to return to your home late night!”
Mahanth: “Mannn!! My parents are cool, you don’t need to worry about a thing! They won’t mind these stuffs!”
Vadish: “oh!!”
Mahanth: “I know you don’t believe me but see it your self when you get there!”
Vadish": “Has Sadvita reached?”
Mahanth: “Yeah! she is at my home!”
Vadish had a impish smile! Mahanth: “I know what you are thinking!! she is not my girl friend! Just a good friend!”
Vadish: “Hey I didn’t say anything!! She is my friend too… I am happy that she has already met her mother-in-law!! haa haa!!”
Mahanth: “Oh!! Please!!”
Sadvita greeted them both when they reached home. Vadish said to sadvita: “so how are your in-laws?!” and he was replied with a kick on his leg!
Vadish met Mahath’s parents, they were totally cool people! Mahath’s dad offered his car to them. It was sadvita’s first time to Goa so obviously she wanted to visit all the places!
Vadish: “Mahanth I don’t mind visiting places but end of the day you know where I wanna end up!”
Mahanth: “I know… wasted!”
Sadvita: “Let me tell you what vadish, I’ll have a bet with you tonight! I’ll have what ever you have!”
They started the trip with visit to “Chapora Fort” aka “Dil chahta hai fort” then to Anjuna beach and then to Sinquerim beach! Goa was all about beaches and the break taking views.
Fort Aguada is in Sinquerim beach, on the edge of the fort and one can watch waves splash into the fort walls!

Vadish went up to the edge of the wall and stood there, it was a romantic location, he looked around and noticed he alone didn’t have a pair. Mahanth and Sadvita were walking together to the edge, not hand in hand but together! Vadish couldn’t stop smiling but Mahanth and Sadvita took their positions on either side of him! They waves kept splashing into the walls drenching them with water. Vadish noticed Mahanth looking at Sadvita, purposely vadish moved to block mahanth’s view, smiled and raised his eyebrow as if questioning Mahanth. Mahanth looked back to the sea as if nothing happened. Three of them were totally drenched, they dried themselves on the sun. Sadvita was seated on the opposite side whereas Vadish and Mahanth where on one side but seated at a distance. This time around vadish caught Sadvita looking at Mahanth,the look was different, it was a gaze into his relaxed eyes and both of them reflecting the most contented smile. Vadish smiled to himself and said “Lets go people!” and started walking back, mahanth went ahead to get the car.
Vadish: “Ahh.. It is such a romantic spot…! May be I should come with a girl next time!! And I said the same when I was here the last time!”
Sadvita with a sarcastic look: “You are with a girl. remember?”
Vadish replied with a sarcastic smile: “I meant with a girl who loves me and not the one who secretly wants me to ‘get lost’ in a romantic spot!”
Sadvita slapped him on the arm and said : “Shut up! I didn’t want you to ‘get lost’!”
Vadish winked at her and said: “Hey! I didn’t mean you!!”, sadvita cheeks turned pink for few seconds.
The three stopped for lunch in a hotel, it is a strange thing in Goa they don’t serve water in hotel, they won’t even keep glass for courtesy sake. One has to buy mineral water or get the other water! Every shop in Goa sold the ‘other water’ and for the price of mineral water one can easily get the ‘other water’ in Goa!! After lunch they visited more beaches and by evening they went for the ferry ride. Again intentionally Vadish left the two to sit next to each other on the ride, though the idea was silly vadish enjoyed making fun of them! After the ferry ride they went to the BAGA beach for dinner, the beach is so narrow that on high tide the water covers up the entire sand! They had their dinner in one of the beach side restaurant, there were many couples dancing crazily in discotheque! Another striking feature of Goa is the amount of TATTOO shops! Every one gets tattooed as if it is a custom!
Sadvita: “So what you gonna drink?!”
Vadish: “Are you serious?”
Sadvita: “I said I’ll drink what ever you drink!!”
What followed was an eventful night, except Mahanth both of them got wasted and they reached home late night! Mahanth’s parents had already slept, three of them shared a bed in Mahanth’s room. The bed was big enough for three of them. Mahanth noticed Vadish had a smile on his face, “I know why you are smiling, you are sleeping in the middle and we both will sleep either side of you!”
Sadvita was already half asleep: “Vadish, enough of your stupid jokes! I am really really sleepy now!” and crashed into one side of the bed!
Mahanth: “Dude! I didn’t get wasted today cause I had to drive the car, so you have to give company now!!”
Vadish: “what now?!!”
Mahanth brought in half bottle of ‘other water’ and the night re-started itself, they started talking about all the things in the world.
Mahanth: “Man…! How do you know when you are in love?!”
Vadish looked at his glass and then back to Mahanth and thought to himself, why me? why? why? and love?
Vadish: “Out of my vast experience in the field of love, I’ll tell you one thing, when people say, when you are in love: a bulb will glow, girls will dance, you will hear birds singing! that’s total crap! I don’t believe in those things, when you are in love you don’t know it, you only feel it! do you understand?”
Mahanth: “I am not sure man… what is difference between know and feel?”
Vadish again looked at his glass and back to Mahanth, “So he is not planning to give up! Help me GOD!!”
Vadish smiled and said: “That my friend you will know when you are in LOVE!”
Mahanth: “Nooooo!! you tell… you tell the difference now!”
Vadish looked at the almost empty bottle and thought, may be if I push for few more minutes the bottle will be finished and I can sleep.
Vadish: “See you know I am sitting here but do you feel I am sitting here?!”
Mahanth: “huh? what?”
Vadish: “Wait… I’ll give you another example… You know how a cloud in the sky looks, but do you know how it feels to be in middle of the clouds?”
Mahanth: “Ohhhh… I understand what you mean…!”
Vadish looked at his glass again it was empty but Mahanth’s glass was only half empty! “Dude…! I feels great to be in the middle of clouds but imagine what happens when you fall from a cloud… that my friend is painful side of love… finish your glass I’ll tell you more about love!”
Vadish empting the bottle into their glasses: “You like sadvita, don’t you?”
Mahanth just nodded his head… Vadish: “I think she likes you too… but think practically if this will work out or not, both your parents must agree and relatives must agree…! but if you truly love her then go for it man!”
Mahanth: “dude… I don’t know… I am not sure yet…!”
Vadish: “That’s ok! lets finish this and go to sleep!”
Next morning, Vadish was the last to wake up, Mahanth was already in the shower and Sadvita brought Vadish tea.
Sadvita: “Good morning!!”
Vadish: “Morning! you are up early!!”
Sadvita: “Yeah! couldn’t sleep much…! Can I ask you something?”
Vadish sipped his tea and nodded, Sadvita: “What were you guys talking yesterday night?”
Vadish almost choked: “What? we were just talking things…! why? what happened?”
Sadvita: “Oh nothing… I just heard bits and pieces of it…!”
Vadish avoided looking at her and kept sipping his tea. Soon, they started their day with Calangute beach then to Panjim and Mapusa. By late evening they went to Tito’s, this was one of the famous spots in Goa. This time Sadvita opted to drive back home, so Vadish and Mahanth had a great time! The place was so full of people Vadish and Mahanth kept turning their heads in every angle so that they don’t miss even a single girl in there! At last they reached home, Vadish had to catch flight in the morning, he crept into one side of the bed and dozed off.
Vadish woke up in the morning and packed up things in a hurry, said Good bye to everyone, Mahanth drove him to the airport.
Vadish: “I noticed something today morning, when I woke up I wasn’t on the middle of the bed!” and started smiling.
Mahanth: “We still have time to reach the airport so no worries!”
Vadish: “Answer me dude!!”
Mahanth stopped the car: “That’s cause you slept on one side of the bed yesterday night! Remember?”
Vadish: “oh did I???”
Vadish smiling impishly: “So…?”
Mahanth: “I have to talk to you before you leave… and I think Sadvita will also call you later!”
Vadish smiled faded: “What happened?”
Mahanth: “ After you slept we both were talking for a while and then I proposed her… It was stupid I know… may be it was the booze… but it was… She didn’t say anything at first… it seems she heard bits and pieces of talks we had the night before… especially the part about family situation and how relatives would react and stuff…!”
Vadish : “Dude… I am really sorry I didn’t really mean those things… I was wasted and you were not finishing your rounds soon enough! I’ll talk to Sadvita that it was my mistake! I’ll call her right now!”
Mahanth: “No! Don’t! She heard only bits and pieces of our talk… but…”
Vadish: “Dude.. I am really sorry I screwed this… Goa trip was supposed to be full of great memories… I didn’t expect this really!”
Mahanth: “And I told her what you told me…!”
Vadish: “I am stupid man! I shouldn’t given you advice when I was wasted!”
Mahanth: “I told her .. ‘In my life I have know only how the cloud looks like but when I am with her I feel like I am in the middle of clouds…You are very special to me’ !”
Vadish look shell shocked, he couldn’t find the exact words to describe how he royally messed up his friends love life with his advice!
Mahanth: “She kept looking at me for a while… as if I spoke something which was off limits… and then she kissed me!”
Vadish: “She what?!”
Mahanth was beaming and blushing, his face was red: “she kissed me and said… she was sorry, she felt the same way and she shouldn’t have listened to your words, family will always understand, she had seen my parents and was confident that her parents will approve our love!”
Vadish looked confused, Mahanth: “what? what’s with the confused look?”
Vadish: “So I was just sleeping on the same bed where all this happened?!”
Mahanth laughed out loud: “Yes… you were sleeping on the same bed where all this happened!”
Vadish: “Dude first of all congrats…! I am really really happy for you both but this is the most happiest and awkward news I have heard in my life at the same time! God!! I shouldn’t have slept!”
Mahanth: “Hey! if you hadn’t slept then I would never be this happy.. and… don’t mention to sadvita that cloud dialogue was yours!” , vadish smiled and nodded, they started to airport.
Vadish had given love advices to many, but a statement half consciously said turned the love life of a person. The flight was gaining altitude, Vadish saw the beautiful view of Goa and thought, or maybe it was just the magic of Goa that made people fall in love with each other.

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Cup of Love

Vidula was slogging her way to the cubicle, she knew what was ahead of her for the day... another boring day in office. She unlocked her workstation and opened her email, the first thing she did in office everyday. She drank water when the emails where being refreshed, the folder named “IMPORTANT” didn't have any unread emails, three years as an IT employee she knew her manager's emails were indeed “IMPORTANT” and required special attention. She was automatically logged into the office chat and status changed to “Available”, her task bar was already flashing with an instant message from Varesh Balachandren.

Varesh: “Hey Good Morning! What doing?”
Vidula: “hi.. GM! Just checking emails.. what news?”
Varesh: “Actually... one important matter...”
Vidula: “Hmmm... tell tell”
Varesh: “One girl...!”
Vidula: “Only one??? ”
Varesh: “hey mokka.. I m serious!”
Vidula: “O.K...tell!”
Varesh: “Saw a girl in cafeteria...”
Vidula: “when?”
Varesh: “Actually one week back... daily going to cafeteria to see her”
Vidula: “ whats her name?”
Varesh: “Don't know!”
Vidula: “Which project? ”
Varesh: “Don't know!”
Vidula: “Waste fellow... One week and you didn't find it out yet?? you call yourself a GUY! ”
Varesh: “Hey... actually only after you asked I realized it... till now I didn't feel like knowing all these details about her!”
Vidula: “hmmm hmmm ”

Vidula knew varesh from school days, they wen to same college and now working in same company. From what vidula knew about varesh, it never mattered to him if he had a girlfriend or not, he wasn't the desperate types, he looked but never went overboard for a girl, but now she felt may be this one was an exception.

Varesh: “First look made it all, I was not bothered on who might be around talking to her. All which mattered was the sight of her. Those expressive cute smile, hands of hers playing in air while she was busy expressing herself and with the breeze making her hair lift up from her shoulders. With a bag hanging from her left shoulders and a brown or maroon chudidhare she was wearing. I must be insanely stuck on the sight I even forgot to move from where I was standing upon. It was a ordinary evening, until this scene before me unfolded. I had no idea why I had gone to canteen that particular evening, which was not part of the general routine of mine. Colleague beside had to pat me, while I was awestruck, to help me come back to reality!! Actually, what I was seeing was a reality too, it was just a scene of a girl who didn't do anything out of ordinary, she was just having a simple conversation may be with her friend. Why is it that it felt like something special I was looking at? Not many guys in that place were looking at her either, which means she was not that great chick!”
Varesh: “r u ter?”
Vidula: “you have typed so much, let me finish reading it!!!!”
Varesh: “ok ok”
Vidula: “VARESH!!! r u in LOVE?? ”
Varesh: “I don't know... but listen... This clear scene made me go to canteen often, I had no other thought or I dint know anything about her. I have no idea what made me do it. But I did know with my meager skills of reading a mind that

• Here is a girl who speaks her mind out.
• She was not afraid of speaking what was on her mind to that person.
• Completely transparent mind which is one thing I thought of myself too.
• It then stuck me when a person is this very comfortable talking to other , she must be friendly enough.”

Vidula: “You don't know her NAME yet!! and who was she talking to??!!”
Varesh considered himself to be a smart guy, but the questions vidula was framing made him look stupid, he wondered, why isn't vidula interested in things I know about her!
Varesh: “I wasn’t feeling bad on not knowing anything about her. May be, things like this I have never seen or experienced before. All I knew was that I enjoyed watching that girl that I thought. This was more than enough to make me feel happy. I did not want to be blank like this again, today evening come to cafeteria I'll show her may be you can help me out!”
Vidula: “You know this is called LOVE at first sight! ”
Varesh: “May yes or may be no... I don't know... just come ok.. 4.30 cafeteria!”
Vidula: “yes yes sure!! but your treat! ”
Varesh: “we will decide it there... bye!”
Vidula: “Bye bye Lover boy!! ”

When she closed the chat window, she noticed an unread email in “IMPORTANT” folder. Work consumed vidula's entire noon, it was almost 2.30 when she finished her work and replied to that email. She was hungry and eating alone was even more boring, she scanned around for a company. She noticed Ananwika sitting two cubicles away lost in her work.

Ananwika was one year junior and Vidula had to force ananwika to join her for lunch. The girls occupied a table in the far corner of the canteen.
Vidula: “Hey don't work too much ok?”
Ananwika: “Nothing like that...!”
Vidula: “You okay? You don't look so good...”
Ananwika was about to reply but she paused and took a long breathe, her eyes became moist.
Vidula: “Ananwika... what's wrong?”
Ananwika tried to smile but she couldn't stop the tears rolling out of her eyes. “Why is it happening to me?”
Vidula didn't respond but was patiently waiting for Ananwika to continue.
Ananwika: “I fell in love with a guy in college, he was smart and intelligent, we loved each other a lot, he was everything to me..but..” her eyes were red, she burst into uncontrollable tears, Vidula could see intense pain in her eyes, she knew what was coming, all vidula could do was to hold Ananwika's hand. “we broke up after college, he went to do MS, we did stay in touch but not for long... after few months he said he didn't feel committed to me anymore...! My world came to a stand still...! But I couldn't let my world fall apart, I joined this company, started working hard... things were coming back to normal. But Fate wasn't done with me... Love hit me again in a unusual way again with a guy who I didn't even look upon once even though we worked on same project. Everything in my life was dull and gloomy, I was vulnerable, every decision I made I was not sure, that is when he came breezing in, he provided me the support, he was always there making sure I did it right. I had suffered once, I didn't let myself fall for his charm and smile, I knew what would happen if I failed, I didn't have the strength for it.

Ananwika's lips curled into a smile but her eyes told a different story: “But he proposed me, I was not in a position to agree his proposal but he persisted. I thought may be this is how I heal myself, all his action completed me, I felt happy... I didn't have to dream cause the reality was much sweeter and better than dreams... My cup of love was full again...! but fate had its own way of teaching you that dreams are better way to live... It plucked him away from me in the form of his parents... I was lost again, somewhere there is no life, no color, no hope, no path, no love... may be my soul is dead... I don't know... I went back into my shell , I didn't know who to trust... I immersed my self in work.. My parents are planning to get me married... I don't know if I can stand another failure...!”
Vidula was in loss of words, she didn't have slightest idea of what she should say to her...
Vidula: “Don't worry you will find love again!”
Ananwika smiled back at her, Vidula knew that smile had so much of pain and she understood what it meant, “Smile, even if it's a sad smile, because sadder than a sad smile is the sadness of not knowing how to smile.”

Vidula was back to her seat lost in work until Varesh pinged her.
Varesh: “Its almost time... meet you in cafeteria!”
Vidula: “ya ok!”
Varesh was waiting for Vidula in the cafeteria, he had chosen a table from where he could scan the entire crowd. He passed vidula a cup of coffee.
Varesh: “You ok? You look disturbed!”
Vidula: “Nothing... just stupid work! Leave that... are you planning to ask her out?”
Varesh: “You mean date?”
Vidula: “Ask her for a coffee first! ”
Varesh: “May be yes I'll... but you never know when I'll get lucky! ;)”
Vidula: “A guy on a date keeps wondering if he will get lucky or not but a girl always knows!”
Varesh: “haa haa ok Madam!!”

Varesh stopped drinking his coffee and nudged Vidula, he was pointing at a girl drinking juice. Vidula found it difficult to swallow the coffee, this is was the worst thing that could have happened... Varesh was pointing to Ananwika. Being his childhood friend, she had to tell him everything, may be she could save him from being hurt... Vidula told him why saw was disturbed before, she told varesh about Ananwika’s past.
Vidula: “She may not understand your love...! her scars won't heal varesh! she is devastated”
Vidula looked at Varesh, his face went blank, she couldn't read any expression or get any reaction from him.
Vidula: “Are you ok?”

Varesh heard vidula's question but he didn't know how he felt... his mind was not expecting this but now it was not responding to it either, varesh noticed vidula's fingers tap him on the arm, his senses were working yet brain didn't respond. Vidula didn't force him, she knew he must be in shock, so waited for him to respond, at last varesh did respond.
Varesh: “I am feeling totally powerless!”
Vidula didn't understand what he meant but didn't interrupt him “I am in a position where I can't blame anyone, couldn't react or respond.”
Vidula: “Varesh please... you don't even know her!” but he had left the table by then.
Vidula returned to her workstation, thinking about the day, which was supposed to be boring... now she would have preferred a boring day. She started working when she received an email from varesh.

Hey,
All I have to thank this girl who had me taught few feelings which I have not experienced before.

• Awestruck on seeing her all these days
• Making me appreciate something which is otherwise ordinary.
• Making me take a notice of a girl
• Filling almost all my thoughts about a girl all these days
• Making me enjoy the time when I was alone, when I would be thinking of her
• Making me comb my hair neatly often and keeping me neat most times
• Feeling of being elated
• After I came to know about the girl, I did realize I was hollow
• I did realize am sensible enough not to curse her or you
• I am good guy indeed
• I did experience the feeling of Total powerlessness
• I did realize there are few things which make me go crazy still it will not be mine
• I did realize its not her whom I should let go, but its my thoughts about her which I should really let go
• I did realize, I was happy by just seeing her from distance, why should I be down then?

She has been a great teacher, she taught me lot of things without talking or seen me or without even knowing such a soul existed.I experience love when my cup was empty,not when it was full. All I hope is she being happy throughout the life, no matter what. I am sure I will find my way out. Also I want to tell her that after this incident no one ever will influenced me this much or in such a way.Good luck to her.
Vidula finished reading the email, her heart felt heavy... She has read a lot about love but what she couldn't say, what was love… when cup was full or when the cup was empty...!

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Relationships

Nadira, final year M.Sc., Psychology student, was looking at her evening coffee with great concentration and was trying to figure out a conclusion of her project. Three months of rigorous study and follow-up and yet she couldn’t decide on the conclusion. She was one of the bright students of the batch and thus the topic given to her by her guide was “Who is the crucial decision maker in a relationship(Love)?”. She took a full day to analyze the topic, because of the depth in it, relationship itself was intertwined subject and she has to decide on who is the crucial decision maker on that. She decided to study three different relationship cases and try to analyze the role of male and female in it. It was difficult to talk to people about their relationship considering if they haven’t succeed in it, but she did get few of them to talk. Of all the three cases, third one was the easiest because she had taken the case of her parents, a love marriage. And tomorrow she had to submit her project, she decided to walk through all the three cases once again.
Case 1:
This case is was in beginning stage of a relationship and most common, the guy loved the girl sincerely but the girl was not ready for the relationship even though she “liked” the guy and wants to be as friends. she didn’t want to go against her family and society. she had clearly put this across the guy but even then he is madly in love and wants a life with her.
Nadira, thought, of course it is the girl’s decision what she wants in life, no one can blame her for this. But being friends is not going to help the guy though! May be he is getting deeply involved cause she wants to be “friends”. And the guy is insane, the girl has said what is priority for her and he must have figured out a way to get over but not fall more deeply in it, I guess this why they call love is blind!
Case 2:
The guy and the girl were in relationship for few years, but they decided to part ways. The reason is that the chemistry between them fell apart, the spark they had in the beginning of their relationship didn’t continue. the girl said: “I loved the way he loved me, but I realized that I was wrong, I should be in a relationship with a person who I love unconditionally not for what the way he loves me.” the boy said: “one day she was talking about marriage, I felt I was not ready for it yet, I love her with all my heart but I am not ready for marriage,I have to achieve so many things in my career and she cannot wait that long I guess.”
Sipping her coffee, Nadira thought, this was a difficult case, an aspiring guy and a love seeking girl, neither to be blamed on what they have decided cause reasons are valid. The guy could have put on more thought about his career growth, after marriage or delayed the marriage few more years, after all it is not always you love someone so deeply. The girl’s statement was interesting one, she loved him for the way he loved her but when she realized that it was not what is ultimately needed in life she decided to not to proceed things, the decision and the reason is much better than the guy and very mature.
Case 3:
The guy sees the girl in college library for three weeks continuously and proposes her, the fourth week girl accepts his love. Guy promises to marry her, finishes college goes out of town to find job, he gets a job comes back to town and convinces his parents for marriage. The girl meanwhile talks to her parents, convinces her parents and relatives for the marriage. They are married and live happily with a girl child.
Nadira smiled to herself and thought, this was the script for so many films and yet it repeats itself. When she spoke to the guy,her father, “what made you propose her the third week? you don’t even properly know her!” her father smiled: “I had a feeling, I chose her to be my partner in life. When I made the decision I know it could go either way but I loved her without expectation. you know those three weeks it was like three years to be each day I saw her made me realize a new thing, I admired her, studied her, and was inspired from her. as paulo coelho said ’In loving someone, we become inspired to better ourselves in every way. We learn the truth worthlessness of material things. We celebrate being human. Loving is good for the soul.’ I spoke to the girl as well, her mother, “when he proposed me I took my time, I did notice him in the library and I did like him. but being in a relationship was different I had to think about so many hurdles I had to face, family, society and relatives. what made me agree is the fact that we both loved each other for what we are, remember anyone can be loved if one changes one’s looks, personality and values and it is very very important to choose the right person.”
Nadira coffee was almost empty, she saw a kid playing with a puppy, the puppy kept running away when the kid tried to hug it, but the kid kept laughing chased the puppy again. She smiled at it, the kid seems to love the puppy even if the puppy doesn’t. She had a sudden realization took out her laptop and started typing in the conclusion of her topic.
In modern world if you mention the word “love” it always implies something between two people but in the real sense it is when you love a person without any expectation, there is no half measure, either you do it or you don’t, you don’t feel bad because you are not loved back. But the modern world is anti-love, people don’t fall love in love naturally but they think and make a decision and then fall in love!
Understanding a guy in relationship seems to fairly simple, A guy in relationship sees things as simple as dressing, all he needs is a shirt and pant, he doesn’t care if they match, if they are washed, if they are properly ironed, if they are fitting him properly. All he sees is he is dressed for going out. But a girl is the opposite of a guy in relationship, for her every minute details matter. On analyzing the cases, girls are much mature in a relationship than guys. To steer a ship you need to make sure that you don’t have a hole in ship just because you have the sail’s up  you cannot set it into the water. The girl may comply to all the decisions made by the guy in her life as well as his and make him feel the that he is in control. But if the decision is about their relationship, it is girls who makes the decision, it is fair to say 80% of the relationship decisions are made by the girls. If you are in relationship it is because the girl feels ship is safe to sail and if not then the girl has decided the ship is not safe!

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The Decision

Iksha, pale skin with jet black hair, dark chocolaty eyes, thin nose and pointed chin, was walking aimlessly wondering how much her life had changed. Her thoughts consumed her, thoughts about the decision she had to make in life. A Decision which would break hearts, hearts of people she loved and cared. She had always tried to avoid this one decision, but it had become inevitable. Her mind was throwing flashbacks at her, life was so simple before.

She was so nervous about her new school, her father a big industrialist had sent her to a top rated school; she couldn’t sell “will miss her friends” as a reason to her father because he knew she didn’t have any in her old school. Teacher introduced her to the class and pointed her to a seat; she took her seat and fixed her eyes on the board. She waited for the lunch bell to ring, it felt like she waited years together for it to ring; she decided to eat at her table itself, that is when she met him first, tall and russet skin, black hair and dark eyes. He had a beaming red smile like a shooting star on the night sky: “Hi, I am Jyran… would you like to join?” there was no uneasiness or nervousness in Iksha when Jyran asked her, for the first time on the entire day she felt she felt better and she joined him.

Iksha: “hi I am Iksha! I am new to this school”

Jyran: “Nice to meet you, where are you from?”

“I live here but I was in residential school but dad wanted me to be in the ‘top’ school!” Iksha said rolling her eyes. Jyran laughed: “I know! My dad did the same to be 4 years back!”

Iksha smiled: “what is your dad?” the question seemed to have made Jyran uneasy. His wide happy smile disappeared hearing that. “He is in Politics, leader of the opposition party” in a very low voice, his dark eyes fixed on Iksha as if waiting for a reply. Iksha couldn’t understand why the answer made him so uneasy; she kept looking at him hoping for an answer. At last Jyran spoke: “listen it is alright if you don’t want to have lunch with me, I understand.” He gave her a weak smile. Iksha: “what? What do you mean?” Jyran: “generally girls don’t hang out with me because my dad is a politician, they think I am ‘evil’ and might create ‘trouble’!” his voice sounded as if he was controlling his anger. Iksha: “that’s lame! I don’t mind who your dad is! Can I have lunch with you?” his pink lips spread like the sun on the horizon, her gaze went straight to his lips and it melted her as bright emotions came right of his face. The beginning of a friendship, Iksha found a true and strong friend in Jyran; They started spending lots of time together in school as well as at home. She missed him badly when she was alone. It was same with Jyran, he missed her too. Jyran was first person Iksha would think of if something bad happens or if something great happens or if she just wanted to talk. A beautiful friendship had blossomed between them.

Time flew by, it was time for them to join college, and both of them had applied for same colleges, hoping they would get in to same college, they were waiting anxiously now. But life had different plans for them, Iksha received acceptance in a college 70 miles away home while Jyran received acceptance from a college close by. They were shattered, they decided against going to college but their parents intervened and convinced them to go to college as they can meet at weekends. Reluctantly they agreed, life started becoming very busy for Iksha, while Jyran was patient for weekends. They would meet at weekends and chatter away all the stories of the week happily.

Only two weeks into college life Iksha was finding it difficult, again she had no friend, but Jyran had few of his friends with him in the same college. She would eagerly wait for the weekend to come. Iksha was trying to concentrate what the professor saw showing them in lab but somehow she couldn’t keep her eyelids open. Her pen slipped out of her hand; She was about to collect it when a boy standing next to her collected it for her. He was 6’2”, had perfect and angular—high cheekbones, strong jaw line, a straight nose, and full lips. His hair was messy; he had slender but muscular body. Iksha couldn’t look away from his eyes; the eyes that you can look into and feel like you are getting lost, eyes you can relate to that are truly windows to the soul. The boy cleared his throat; she thanked him with a sheepish smile and took the pen. After the lab, he came up to her and held out his hand: “Inesh” His voice was so warm and comforting even the ice berg in Antarctica would melt. Again Inesh cleared his throat, Iksha’s cheeks turned bright pink, and she shook his hand and said “Iksha”. Inesh spoke in musical warm voice: “I believe we are in same class, in fact your number is right after mine”. Iksha was so mesmerized in his voice she forgot that she had to respond. Inesh cleared his throat again; Iksha snapped out of the serenity and blurted out “that’s great!” as soon as the word left her lips, she felt stupid that she couldn’t come up with a better reply. Inesh smiled, the corner of his lips hooked into her heart “would you join me for lunch?” she could only nod in agreement.

Inesh: “where are you from?”

Iksha: “70 miles north from college”

Inesh couldn’t stop the smile: “I am from the same place; I studied in the residential school”

Iksha mouth dropped open out of disbelief that was her old school, her father moved her into new school. If she had not been moved they could have met before. It sounded silly to her, why was she so excited about him, this was the first time they are meeting and she was acting like mindless!

Iksha: “I studied in same school until my father moved me to another school!”

Inesh with a surprise tone: “Is it? That’s nice, what is your father?”

Iksha with little frustration in her voice: “He is an industrialist; he wanted me to study in a top school so he moved me out of that school”

Inesh chuckled: “You didn’t like it, did you?”

Iksha: “Not at the beginning but I was fine later” she wanted to tell him about Jyran but she resisted herself. “What is your father?”

The question made his eyes melancholy, it was like she knew this situation before, the change in reaction but she waited for an answer. Inesh: “He is in Politics, leader of the ruling party”

She felt like she had walked into a wall. Inesh noticed the change in Iksha’s face, he took a deep breath “I get this reaction a lot, I understand if you are not…!” before Inesh could finish the sentence Iksha replied with a smile: “I don’t mind who your father is!”

Iksha knew something was special about the relationship with Inesh, it was like the taste of water, you cannot describe it yet it is the elixir of life. Life in college improved a lot; Iksha was falling in love with Inesh. In college Iksha spent most of the time with Inesh and in weekend she would spend time with Jyran. She told Inesh about her good friend Jyran and Jyran about her love Inesh, they were happy for her. On a beautiful valentine day, Inesh proposed to Iksha with a smile like bright summer, Iksha was breathless, speechless, heart pounding and shaky hands, she wanted to say yes but she couldn’t find her voice, her eyes filled up, all she could do was say an yes with her eyelashes. Iksha felt she was the luckiest person in the world to have Inesh. She considered she was tremendously lucky with a friend like Jyran. Inesh and Iksha’s parents agreed and announced the engagement, she loved her life. She had the life every girl dreamed about.

In final year of the college, things changed dramatically. The elections were around the corner; this seems to have great impact on Iksha’s life. Jyran’s father and Inesh’s father were competing for the same position. Iksha was with Inesh, his eyes were very dull today, he didn’t have the same charm: “Iksha, I have a request…” the sound of his voice made her shiver, she nodded, “elections are coming up, you might be knowing who dad is competing against, the problem is… dad… dad doesn’t like his future daughter in law to be friends with opposition party, especially Jyran”

Iksha felt the ground beneath her shake, it was an intolerable request: “But how is going to affect his election?”

Inesh: “They might try to get information from you or try to make you get information, emotional black mail! You will be in danger”

Iksha trying to control her anger: “but I don’t know anything and no one is going to kidnap me for information, please!”

Inesh: “Iksha you don’t understand…”

Iksha shouted “I don’t want to!” and stormed out. After reaching home she called Jyran and wanted to meet with him. She met him, Jyran was calm and composed, and he had the “happy” smile on his face when he met her.  Iksha narrated her incident with Inesh to Jyran, to her surprise Jyran was calm as always, she was expecting him to explode with anger. She tried to read his expression but his eyes were lost, she was waiting for an answer from him, but he remained silent.

Jyran: “Iksha… Inesh is right, you have to choose…! I am sorry!”

Iksha whimpered “No… Please”

Jyran angry and frustrated “You don’t understand, you could be in danger, these guys would do anything to win. I don’t want you to be in danger; please it would hurt me even more if I knew I put you in that situation!” 

Iksha didn’t speak, she couldn’t control the sobs, she mumbled “I’ll go away for few months and come back after elections!”

Jyran clenching his teeth’s: “No… results can go either way, even after the results if you meet me or meet him, they would consider it as treachery or cook up stories! Understand Iksha…!”

Neither of them spoke for a long while. At last Jyran in soothing and calm voice spoke: “Iksha I can understand if you choose him, you are engaged to him. I am happy for you, I am sure you will be happy!” again there was a long silence between them, Jyran tired to make it less painful as possible “Good bye Iksha…!” he turned and started walking away from her. She was there alone, not sure of what she had to do or where she had to go. Slowly, Iksha started walking to her home, but she had lost the track of her path and surroundings. She kept walking aimlessly and consumed by her thoughts. She loved them both, Jyran was her very close friend, only one she had, she spent infinite amount of time with him. To faze him out of life was impossible. Inesh was her love; she knew life would be impossible without him. Why couldn’t they co-exist? Why is life playing tricks with her?

It was a crippling feeling, that a huge hole had been punched through her chest; it bleeds despite the passage of time and the pain never stopped. She knew her lungs must still be intact, yet she gasped for air. She stopped abruptly, the road before her diverged into two, she cannot walk in the middle and she had to choose a road. The decision was her to make, which road would she choose…?

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