My Platinum Day of Love - Forever

Source: Internet

I look at him wolfing down scoops after scoops of his favorite ice-cream while talking animatedly about his new found career.

He’s been chosen as one of the 10 engineers to be trained in Cochin for a year in the field of marine engineering, post which he will sail the world as an engineer.

I smile at him without listening to a thing.

The ice-cream treat is a token of appreciation for clearing his interview and achieving his dream job. But he doesn't know that this is also a parting away celebration – because in my mind I've already decided to end this.

I know this is bizarre – talking about ending relationship when this post is supposed to be about building relationship, growing & nurturing them, all while discovering your Platinum Day of Love

Why did I decide to end this relationship? For that we need to begin from the beginning, precisely one and a half month before the ice-cream party.

It’s a typical Gujarati pre-wedding Garba night in Navsari, a small town in Gujarat. Attending the wedding of a fellow colleague is a group of Mumbaikars, among them are the main protagonists of this story.

To discover love at somebody’s wedding is melodramatically Bollywood. But being a Shudh Desi Indian our romances are no less than a Bollywood screenplay and this is how the story begins.

The boy watching the girl dance, the girl scolding the boy for drinking too much, and so on and so forth. One thing led to another and by the end of the night the boy realized that he is irrevocably in love with the girl. He admits the same to the girl who brushes it aside assuming he is drunk, however not before planting the idea in her mind too.

They both retire to their respective rooms and begin the journey of realizing their hidden emotions. The late office hours, meeting up at the office pantry for steaming cup of coffees during breaks, debating and arguing over petty issues [both work related as well as general].

Was there always an underlying current or is it something that they learnt only now?

Amidst confusion yet with a clear mind, love blossomed between the hero and his lady. Was this their Platinum Day of Love? Not yet.

Merely a week into their relationship the boy revealed that he is applying at a marine engineering company which will give him the opportunity to be trained on the job in Cochin for a year after which he will be a professional sailor, meaning his job will require him to be away from home for 6 months at a stretch.

The girl simply nodded and went back to her coffee, thinking this is just a piece of news. Time flew and the day of the interview arrived. Knowing how much this job meant to the boy she helped him prepare for the interview all the while praying silently that he should not get the job.

This mixed emotion ascended from the fact that an occupation as a sailor would mean a long distance relationship and the girl was not prepared for the same.

The boy triumphed his interview and was elated above all else. When the girl got the news she was happy for the boy but sad for herself. She decided it was time to end, lest it gave heartbreak later on in their relationship it was better to end in the beginning.

Fast forwarding to the ice-cream parlor, I smiled teary eyed with a walk down the memory lane.

By now we are out of the parlor and are strolling down a lane. While he kept blabbering about his antics at the interview and other things, my mind kept repeating the lines I had to tell him.

                                              

“Let’s end this!” I whispered.

He looked at me with confused eyes.

I repeated myself, “Let’s end our relationship. I don’t think I’m ready for a long distance relationship. I don’t think this will work. Let’s end it!”

                                                                                                                  

Silence

Followed by some more silence         

Then, with a long breath and a deep sigh he turned towards me.

He took my hand in his, lifted up my chin, made me look into his shiny black eyes and slowly whispered in my ears – “I know this will work. I know we will make it work. I know I will make it work. You are the best thing that happened to me. You came into my life and I got my dream job. You are my lady luck. Even if you want to leave, I will never leave you. Not because you are lucky for me but because I feel lucky to be with you. When I got this job the first person that came to my mind was you. The thought of sharing this news with you doubled my happiness. Please be with me. Let me be selfish this one time and grant me your love. I promise I’ll let you be selfish throughout our relationship.”

Saying this he plucked a twig from a nearby tree and fashioned a ring out of it. Sliding it gently into my fingers he crooned a soft ‘I love you’.

With tears in my eyes and confidence in my relationship I hugged him dearly. This day and every day of my life hereafter is my ‘Platinum Day of Love’.

5 years into this relationship and we are still going strong. As for the ring he made from the twig, it is safely nestled amongst the many souvenirs of our love.

                                                                                    

This post is published for the Platinum Day of Love contest on Indiblogger.

The person I’d miss the most!

Source: Internet

I barely remember the time when you occupied the place of a mentor, inspiration and motivation. All I know is that you were something I looked up to even though I never admitted it.

Without your presence I wouldn’t have known what it feels to have a head in the family. You were there to guide us through tribulations and to bring that extra zest to any occasion.

Was it not yesterday that you told me how much you love me – your first grandchild – and that I bring a certain joy and pride to you? Why is it then that I do not find you anymore to share the joy?

How can I forget the numerous trips that you took me to various temples in the south, giving me a sense of our culture and heritage? The fables and legends about various temples, Gods and Goddess’, history and myth that you would tell me on these journeys still resonate in my ears.

Your generosity and love, independency and dignity, ethics and morals are something which is sculpted within me and will always remain there.

The struggle that you endured all your life is a lesson for the weak and downtrodden. It’s an inspiration to me in my times of difficulties.

Your valor and perseverance taught me that we take charge of our own lives and not the other way around.

Yet you chose to leave this beautiful life and took a place up above the sky, twinkling amongst one of the stars.

Would you still remember me? Would you still know that I love you and miss you above all other things?

How I wish you were there when I bore my children to teach them about love and life and be a part of their childhood as you were a part of mine!

How I wish things went back to those days when life was with you!

You would truly be missed but remembered in every walk of our lives. You were a benefactor on earth, now you are an angel in heaven. Hope to continue my life with the sweet memories I shared with you.

Love you Nani!

His eyes said it all…

Picture Credit: Internet

The room was in total silence as Deepa carried a tray of specially brewed filter coffee for the guests who were waiting eagerly to devour the hot beverage as well as Deepa herself.

With trembling hands she delivered the coffee to every guest seated on their freshly prepared sofa (keeping the event in mind).

Clad in a crisp peacock green Kanjeevaram saree with braided hair and jasmine flowers to adorn them, Deepa marched into the room like a goddess. Only that she didn’t feel like a goddess and was nervous to the hilt.

After providing the performance of the day she was made to sit next to the woman who seemed to be the family matriarch.

Deepa was strictly instructed by the elders in the family to be seated with heads bowed down and not to look up or in the eyes of anybody who might ask her questions.

Until now she was nervously installed in her bedroom as the guests chattered about the ‘boy’, about how well-mannered and well cultured he is, his education, his job, his income and on and on.

Deepa hanged on with baited breath for the house to call upon her and the moment arrived too quickly with Deepa handling the tray of coffee and her aunt carrying the evening snacks.

Now sandwiched between the mother and the sister of the prospective bridegroom she awaited the impending storm.

Amma was waiting in the room nearby, with her ears completely focused on the happenings in the living room. She was advised by the same ‘elders’ to stay put at the adjoining room and to not come out of the room. What else do you expect a widow to be doing on such an auspicious occasion!

Deepa’s uncles and grandparents, who had taken charge of her future on account of her Appa’s absence, occupied a minuscule area of the room, with most space occupied by the boys’ side, who had come out on a rally.

Deepa was yet to look at the boy who was sitting opposite her and who she felt was equally nervous, what with the sound of his feet thumping the marble floor continuously.

There were other activities happening in the room. The women were discussing the saree design and color and the amount of gold the girl had on her, the men were ogling at her perfect figure and beautiful structure, the elders were trying to munch on the snack with difficulty without their dentures and the kids were running around the room.

Everybody seemed to be lost in their own musings, when suddenly an elderly voice awoke them abruptly and brought them back to the room.

“… So child, you completed your graduation and currently working with an accounts firm?”

Deepa nodded to approve their knowledge, with her head still bowed down.

“What will be your height beti?” chirped in another voice who was awaiting a chance to talk.

“Hmm, 5.2”, no I think 5.3”” said Deepa meekly.

“Oh, you don’t know your height” chuckled the voice finding a reason to laugh and be heard of.

“Why don’t you stand, so we can have a better look at you?” volunteered an uncle, anticipating a better view of her sculpted body.

Deepa went red in the face, but that was not to be seen, since she was bowed down and in any case they didn’t care about it.

She stood up tensely, clutching the hem of her saree. All eyes were fixed on her and roved nonchalantly, as if examining an item on sale.

“Just walk around the room in your beautiful saree like a model, won’t you beti?” pat came a voice urging the girl to walk around the room so they are confirmed of her ‘way of walking’ and to scrutinize if there was any problem with her gait.

Deepa did as she was ordered. She came back and stood next to her allotted place in the room, between the mother and sister. She waited to be told to sit down. But the moving eyes had not yet stopped.

Seeing the situation, one of her uncle came to rescue and asked her to sit down in a polite way, not wanting to affect their sentiments.

As soon as she was seated, a string of questions followed soon, some answered by Deepa, some by her relatives. The guests tried to access information about the quantity of gold to be given, wedding preparation expense, property details in name of Deepa, and many other materialistic topics.

In all these chaos, nobody gave a thought to Deepa and her opinion, whether she wants to marry Sudhir, whether she is happy with the alliance etc.

And as if as an answer to all these questions, Sudhir cleared his throat loud enough for people in the room to shut-up and listen. He stood up, walked across the room, came in front of Deepa, went on his knees, took her shivering hands in his own, lifted her chin up, made her look at him and whispered softly – “I’d like to marry you. Do you want to marry me?”

The room had gone dead silent.

Sudhir’s mother opened her mouth to protest, but he simply silenced her with a wave of his hand, without taking off his eyes from Deepa.

Deepa forgot her anxiety and worry when she looked into Sudhir’s eyes. Is this what they call as ‘love at first sight’?

After 15 rejections in the last 2 years, here is someone who not only approved her but also wanted to be approved by her. Nobody in her family ever cared to ask her if she liked a particular boy. It was always the boy’s preference which was considered.

But these were not the only reasons for her decision. The warmth of his touch, the serenity that engulfed her in his presence and the love that she saw in his eyes played a major part in this saga.

Deepa lowered her eyes, this time blushing and not as her elders had commanded, and moaned a soft ‘yes’ to Sudhir, who savored the moment before breaking into a blissful smile.

Love Happens! And his eyes said it all!

And yes, They Lived Happily Ever After!

Picture Credit: Internet

It’s Valentine’s Day! So what?

(*This is purely for fun. It does not resemble any entity--living or dead.

All statements and incidents are purely coincidental and not aimed to hurt anybody)

“So, what you doing today?” begins the trademark question on every special occasion. Be it a birthday, anniversary or a festival. And today is no different. 

Today is Valentine’s Day! And here is the evident question:

“So, what you doing today?”

Mr. single-desperately-wanting-to-mingle-but-never-got-a-chance looks on angrily.

Adjusting his spectacles on his rather crooked nose he rattles on – If you are in a relationship, people don’t agree when you say you are doing nothing on this day, and if you are single they don’t believe if you say you are doing something.

So my question is, why ask a question, when you are about to refute whatever I’m going to say!

To me Valentine Day is nothing but an overly commercialized event. Valentine Day is featured with roses, chocolates, teddies, gifts and nonsense.

And even before the D-day arrives, the week preceding it is celebrated as ‘Rose Day’, ‘Propose Day’, ‘Chocolate Day’, ‘Hug Day’, ‘Kiss Day’ and so on.

Can we ever have a ‘Regular Day’?

And what’s with the name fetish that couples refer to each other on this day? ‘Sweetheart, darling, chickoo, jaanu, bachchoo, shona, mona and on and on…’ I’m pretty sure you don’t even know the real name of the person you are with.

I’d rather die, than fall in love and do such crazy stuff!

One year later….

“So, what you doing today?”

Mr. last-year-single-now-newly-in-love blushes and grins.

Going gooey and utterly mushy flashes a set of freshly brushed teeth and opines – I have loads of surprises planned for my sweetheart, my darling, the love of my life.

Firstly, I’ll wish my babboo valentine’s day with a beautiful red rose.

 A box of chocolates and teddies will follow soon after.

I have already celebrated ‘Rose Day’, ‘Hug Day’, ‘Kiss Day’ and all other days with her and the finale will also be a grand affair.

My darling girlfriend will be adorned with gifts and wishes. Valentine’s Day is the most sacred day for lovers and it should be treated with reverence and respect. It’s a day to make your girl feel special.

I’d rather die, than live without love!

Two years later….

“So, what you doing today?”

Mr. last-year- newly-in-love-now-frustrated-in-love looks on frustrated yet tired – It’s the middle of the month and I’m completely broke. I have no money to spend on my food, yet had to borrow money to buy the good-for-nothing (his girlfriend) a gift.

I couldn’t take leave from office last week when I was ill because I had to take holidays this week for all the crazy days that she expects me to celebrate. What’s with the ‘Rose Day’, ‘Chocolate Day’, ‘Hug Day’ craze? Can’t I have a Holiday for self?

It’s just another wasted day in my life. I would have preferred to sleep the whole day and enjoy a late night beer party with my room-mates, than go out mall hopping with this manic shopaholic. I really wonder what enjoyment you get by looking at hundreds of items and choose nothing at all in the end.

Such days should be completely banned and I support political parties who wish to do the same.

I will definitely die if I continue to be in love!

“So, what are you doing this Valentine?”