Love Actually

The morning sun shone as bright as it ever did in the city of Chennai, especially considering it was the month of May. The rays pierced through the window like bright needles from the blue. It was not just another day, definitely not. This day, 22 memorable years ago, she entered into marital bliss with a person she had not spoken a word to and had looked at for an embarrassing 3 seconds. Strange was the way how certain life-changing decisions took shape - paying little importance and consideration to the opinion of the person concerned. But trust and hope was all that was needed then.

Twenty two years had now passed. She lay on the bed beside the man of her life and asked herself, “Has anything that you have done made your life better?” She looked at the person beside her and simply smiled - the answer was right here. In fact, she corrected herself, “He is the best thing that has ever happened in my life.” She recollected some of their best and worst times together. She realized how ultimately, they had managed to pass the test of a true relationship – to disagree but to hold hands, always.

Feeling wonderful and special, she finally pulled herself out of bed, careful enough not to disturb him from his deep slumber. She enjoyed her warm shower to its very last drop. Draped in a light green sari, her wet hair tied up inside a towel, she began her usual chores of the day. She lit the lamp in the puja room and placed the kumkum in the middle of her forehead. Among the many things that she could do perfectly, this was one. Every time and anytime of the day, she could keep kumkum in the middle of her forehead in a prefect circle - and most importantly, without looking at the mirror.

She walked into the kitchen, chanting slokas and began making coffee. Within a few minutes, she heard sounds from her bedroom and knew that her man was up. The irony remained that in all these years, he most often awoke to the intoxicating smell of filter coffee, rather than the annoying whistle of the cooker! She grinned to herself and began cutting vegetables for the day’s lunch. As she was on with her work, she realized how beautifully and interestingly their lives had intertwined into one another. This reminded her of a quote, “An archeologist is the best husband any woman can have; the older she gets, the more interested he is in her.” She badly wished the author of this quote would walk down to their home so that she could prove his words wrong.

Continuing with her work, she acted as though she hadn’t noticed her husband behind her back He came up from behind and whispered something that she had least expected him to say that morning. He breathed into her ears, “En coffee enga di?” (Where is my coffee?) Fighting her emotions for having to face such a dramatic beginning to the eventful day, she pointed to the dining table. Just then, something managed to catch her eye and she looked back towards the dining table. Standing there was their daughter. In her hand was a bouquet of red roses and a bunch of balloons. Handing over these to her mother, the girl wished them a Happy Wedding Anniversary.

The beautiful woman looked up at her husband and blushed. Spontaneously, he embraced her into a warm hug and winked at his daughter from behind. His daughter smiled back at him and gestured a thumbs up. She left them to themselves in the kitchen and walked back into her room. For the first time in her life, she realized ‘What an amazing feeling it is to discover that you know another person as good as you know yourself… and sometimes even better.’ Her parents proved the best example.

P.S.1: My parents celebrate their Wedding Anniversary on 22^nd May. Just thought of dedicating this post for them.

P.S.2: It was quite ironic that everyone (except me!) seemed to celebrate the fact of me turning a year older! My heartiest thanks to all those who dedicated posts for my birthday and wished me. Special thanks to those awesome gifts that surprised me. Thanks a ton guys! It means a lot to me. Huuugggzzz!!!

Of Chocolates and Cocktails

Siddharth finally got through security, called up his parents from the free phone and bid them a final goodbye, assuring them that he would give them a ring once he landed in his destination. As he cut the call, he felt a heavy lump build up in his throat. However hard he tried, he couldn't erase the image of the tear beaded eyes of his mother. But now, there was no turning back. It was the first time in his life that he felt sick about doing what he had so badly hoped and wished for.

At last, the boarding call was announced. He took a deep breath as if this were his last chance to breathe the air of his homeland. Nervously, settling in his aisle seat, he fastened his seat belt. He finally realized what it felt like to have butterflies in one's stomach. He remembered mocking at his class girls when they told him about how they felt butterflies in their tummy before an exam. Well, till now he had believed that for all the junk food that he ate; his stomach was only home to a family of diverse microbes. But now, he was happy to find out that there was also a mini garden deep within him that attracted butterflies! Gosh! He felt funny that his mind was capable of coming up with such strange ideas even during the most nervous of situations!

A few minutes before the flight was ready for take off, an airhostess came to him with a tray of chocolates and with her usual i-love-an-overdose-of-lipstick-smile asked, "Toffees for you sir?". He smiled at her, picked up one toffee and said thanks. While he was unwrapping the chocolate, his mind flashed scenes of his first flying experience. It was one of the most adventurous incidents in his life. He was traveling all alone with his younger brother. Siddharth had always been proud to give the "big-brother" image and this first aeroplane travel opportunity, all alone with his younger brother, seemed to rest upon him lots more responsibility and pride.

Naughty boys as they were when young, Siddharth's parents made sure that their mischief be kept within the four walls of their home, which most often went in vain. When outside home, their parents would adopt sign language to warn or instruct the guys. One particularly interesting sign language was how their mom would look at them and speak with her eyes whenever they went to a friend's house. If the aunty in that house offered them anything to eat, the first thing that the guys would do would be to look at their mom and wait for her signal to take the offerings. That apart, their hands would already be digging into the plate of snacks. It made no big difference actually.

When that day they were all by themselves on their first flight, the airhostess came up to them with a tray full of chocolates. Having gotten too used to looking for their mother's approval before accepting any offer of food, the younger one looked puzzled and stared at Siddharth. It was not the first time that Siddharth felt a burden of responsibility to guide his brother, but it was definitely the first time he realized the depth of regard that the young one had for him. That innocent sparkle in his brother's eyes was the most beautiful thing he had seen for years. Smiling at the young one, Siddharth gave his consent and they each took one. The airhostess gave out a short laugh and said, "Is that all boys? You can take as much as you want!" All excited about the new found liberty, the two guys grabbed as many toffees as their two little palms could hold.

Spinning back to the present, Siddharth realized that the plane had already taken off and they were now flying at a decent altitude. The airhostess walked to his seat with her drinks cart and asked him to choose his drink. He simply said, “Bloody Mary” and smiled at himself.

P.S.: Sorry for posting at really bad intervals. Have been held up with exams and my intern. And yeah, been wanting to tell u guys one great news! My blog won the "Best Blog of the Day Award" on 29th of April. A BIG thanks to all of you who have been patiently reading my random ramblings! Huuugggzzzz!

A Walk to Remember

Ram sat staring at the specimen under the microscope and the values projected in his computer. The results were slightly different from his previous attempts. They were infact strikingly interesting. However, he realized that these new set of numbers and microscopic figures only raised more difficulties rather than what they managed to solve. It had the unbelievable ability to make him doubt himself. But that's the way it had to be. Research was challenging and that's exactly why he was upto it. His only motive in life was to spend it for something that could possibly outlast life itself.

It was Ram's 24^th birthday when his father took him to an old age home for the first time. Unlike guys of his age, Ram did not get to spend much time with his grandparents. When he was in primary school, he would envy his friends who used to be accompanied home by their grandfather, while he would be picked up by their house maid. That birthday made a huge impact in his life. He realized how pathetic certain people's life turned out to be. The totally antagonistic attitude of these people was quite surprising to this young man. While some of them looked hopeless, others were hoping against hope that they would have a better life, as if they had just begun their! Ironic!

There was one particularly interesting old man who impressed him the most. He had the strange feeling that their lives had touched with a purpose. It was his meeting with this person that gave him the motivation to pursue his research. All that was required of him was patience and hard work. While on his research, he made it a point to visit this old man every week. Every time Ram went to meet him; he would take with him a gift that the old man had asked Ram in his previous visit. But the old man would wonder why Ram came to him with gifts. Gradually, work took over Ram's weekends too and he was unable to visit the old age home as frequently as he did. But that made no difference with the old man. He was as puzzled to see Ram then, as he had been when they met for the first time. Ram could however completely understand why the old man felt that way.

It was Ram's 25^th birthday and he made sure that amidst all the birthday plans and treats that his friends had been nagging him for, he had the time to visit the old man. It was now nearly a month since he had last been to the old age home and exactly a year since he had first been to this place. Early that morning, Ram washed his car and drove to the old age home. He entered the brightly lit room by the corner of the corridor. The old man was seated in his study desk by the window. He didn't notice Ram walk into the room. Ram's eyes caught a yellow sheet of paper that was peeping out of a book lying on the bed. The ends of the paper were torn and Ram could bet that they were at least 2 years old. He could only read the first few lines on the paper and they said – Things to do before I die. 1) Make a cup of coffee for Ranjini. 2) Get Akash the toy car he asked for on his 5^th birthday. Ram immediately recognized that Ranjini was the old man's wife who passed away 6 months ago and Akash, his 15 year old grandson in America. Ram wondered if that list made any sense to the old man now. He encountered a sinking feeling in his heart.

For a moment, the microscopic figures and the numbers that he had encountered in his lab the previous night flashed in his mind. The worst thing that Ram ever wanted to feel was to wake up one morning, thinking that if he had known everything, he might have done something different. Bringing himself back to the present, Ram gently rested a hand on the old man's stooped shoulders and stood there with a warm smile. The old man however continued to read the book in his hand. Ram had seen him read this book every time he paid a visit and more so, he never seemed to finish the book. On certain days, Ram even found him on page 14, while the previous week he would have been on page 48. But again, Ram knew that he hadn't completed the book even once and he could understand why.

After a short while, the old man closed the book and placed it on the table. Ram managed to catch a glimpse of the title of the book. It said – 'The Five People You Meet in Heaven' By Milch Albom. The old man looked up at Ram and gave him the same perplexed look. Ram introduced himself as he always did and offered the box of sweets in his hand. After a short conversation, Ram felt a new renewed vigour. Ram realised that his research on Alzheimer's had to be given a boost. He wasn't going to wait for success, he had to move ahead without it. Just before leaving, Ram took the old man's trembling hands into his and they walked into the nearby garden. Far across a rainbow appeared and it looked more beautiful than ever before.

p.s. 1: Am halfway through that book. Very impressive. Try to read it if you get a chance.

p.s 2: My blog's 1^st year completion. I was wondering if its in the same state as Ram's research! :)

A Million Little Things

She sat by the corner of her window, wrapping up the last lines in her letter –

"….and remember? Not once have u tried to console me when I was low. I loved the way you teased me, laughed at my ponytail, trying to cheer me up at those times. I guess this is all as much true today as it was that day. Those seemed like fleeting moments of eternal happiness. They came like a shooting star and vanished as quickly. How I wish time froze then. I miss you tons! Take care. Good luck for your exams and keep in touch!

p.s. You better not reply in 2 lines like last time. Or else, when we meet during semester vacation, you won't go back to college in the same shape. Like you always say, 'Dangerous girl!'"

She read through her letter once more and then sealed it with glue. She walked to the nearby post office and posted the letter. While on her way back home, she lost herself in memory of the days they spent together in school, 10 years back. The first time they met was in class 5 and their class teacher made this naughty boy sit next to her. It was the worst day of her life, or atleast she thought. They spoke little. Not even a part of their text book or a speck of eraser dust would be allowed to fall on the other's desk. And then, one day it happened. He came to class with a sling supporting his hand. She was instructed by the teacher to help him take down notes and so, she reluctantly obliged.

That day, over lunch, she softly asked him, "How did u manage to get that fracture?"

He smirked at her and said, "I thought this would be a cool excuse to make you take down notes for me!"

The next moment, he found himself holding his tooth in his palm and said, "Thath thooth haz bin shakin for a wik now. Dhanks for gettin itt off!" While one half of her insisted that he deserved it, the other half was shocked and guilty with the turnover of events. While she apologized to him, he winked at her and said, "Dangerous girl!" It was the first time they looked into each other's eyes and smiled.

They slowly grew into the thickest of friends. While she would teach him how to factorize polynomials, he would teach her his '20-best-excuses' for walking in late to class. She would draw diagrams for him in his biology record, while he would play book cricket. She was surprised how he managed to remember every member of the cricket team in the order of their batting line up, while she struggled to memorize the first row of the periodic table of elements.

That aside, the best part of their day was the lunch break. She loved the curd rice that his mom packed for him, while he loved the rotis that her mom sent. He would help her finish off her box of slimy ladies finger curry, and in turn, she had to drink up his bottle of chilled milk. But life's norms dictate that one better not get engrossed in the rosy side for too long. In their 9^th class, his father decided to shift him to another school closer to their home. That day she sat in one corner of the class, her face buried beneath her skinny arms.

He came up to her that day and said, "OMG! Look at your cheeks!! So damn red! Were you preparing to act as a clown in the circus?" She glared back at him and he continued, "Now come on. Stop this. Else I am going to start on how your pony is beginning to curl behind your back. See I can even hang my school bang in it!!" He pulled her pony and well anticipating her reaction, prepared for a dash. Her cheeks turned red with anger. She sprinted behind him along the corridors and down the staircase, until they finally reached the football ground and she could run no further. He stood jogging at a safe distance from her, laughing.

She sat in the middle of the ground, panting for breath and hot with anger. Finally, trying to control his laughter, he came up to her and offered his hand. She held his hand and lifted herself up. Once she was up, she gave him a tight fist on his tummy and he burst out laughing again. They walked across the ground to the canteen, and he got her an icecream. So easy it was to cool her down. Before they parted ways that day, he kissed her on her forehead and cycled towards his home.

She stood there watching him go. It was then that she realized how his entry represented a whole new world to her, a world possibly not born until he arrived.