tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74969118869590493722024-03-13T22:05:59.911+05:30When the mind is back at work...When thoughts are many and words in plenty... When the lips can't breathe a word... When the mind is set...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-88221679480552777562020-07-29T00:26:00.002+05:302020-07-29T01:59:10.092+05:30Yours, truly - Part 8<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><b style="text-align: left;">Recap: <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a></b><b style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-3.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-4.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/recap-part-1-part-2-part-3-part-4-she.html" target="_blank">Part 5</a> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-6.html" target="_blank">Part 6</a> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-7.html" target="_blank">Part 7</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"Do you mind going for a walk by the waters?
I wanted to, from the time we checked in here, but didn't quite have the
company." She didn't expect it'll be that easy to ask him for a pleasant
favor. She thought words would choke out of her mouth when she decided to
stop him from moving away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"Are you sure? I thought you didn't want to
entertain my presence anymore." He didn't mean to be sarcastic; he didn’t
want to lose the opportunity to walk by her, and if things lead to asking to
walk by her forever, this could be his only chance at that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"I thought you wanted to be friends!"
She brushed by him walking down the stairs, knowing he won't be far behind. He
wasn't. He shook his head with surprise and smiled wide as he followed her.
While he knew his destiny was shaping up, he wanted to give himself a little
more time to sweep her off her feet literally, not knowing she already thinks
he has emotionally!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It was a dark and clear sky with few stars and
somewhere between a half and crescent moon. The water was quiet and still
except for those tiny waves that brushed by the shore. The shore itself was
calm thanks to the hour of the night, but the resort had probably anticipated
for the walks and had subtle lights installed to make sure the serenity isn't
compromised. While he was still a few feet behind, he couldn't stop smiling at
her struggling with her strapped shoes and trying to untie it to take it out to
walk on the sands. He doubled up his steps and held out a hand for her to hold,
while didn't expect her to take it. "Thanks, not sure why I didn't get off
the shoes after the reception!" she explained, he didn't need one. He
wished he could hold those hands for rest of the walk, he wished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">They ended up walking a mile, with her holding
the shoes and him glaring at the stars above. "Star gazer?" she
probably had questions too that she never knew she wanted to ask. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"No, was wondering which of the stars up
there aligned to make this all happen."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"Yeah, Shreya told me how shocked you were
to find out I was the Anjali you didn't expect to meet here." Her wall
seemed to have broken and the door opened! He just realized he could blush. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">He slowed down and when she did too, she realized
he did on purpose to catch her by the eye. With his gaze that strong he took
her hands, the one not holding the shoes. He covered hers with his and smiled.
She didn't seem perplexed. "I met this girl who was simple and elegant. I
wanted to know more about her, like I had told my mom I would about any girl
she finds for me. But I didn't know these two were the same. I wanted to be
friends with you, yes. I believed that I had to be your friend to make you
smile, make you talk, make you more you. I think I did it. You're everything
that I'm not and you complete me. What will you do if I refuse to let go of
this hand for rest of our times?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Not quite with the full smile but moved an inch
closer. She still had some part of her fighting to accept how elated she was.
He has made her come a long way in allowing herself to fall for someone,
someone she had just met, but this time around she wanted to get her instincts
and emotions rule over her life. She moved an inch closer to him, enough to
feel that familiar breath, dropped the shoes and covered his hands that were
holding hers and asked "So, we're thanking the stars right?" The
smile was evidently out. And he grabbed her closer towards him and held her
tight, "You know I still have a gazillion questions to ask you!" She
smiled got herself out of his grip to continue walking. She was dragging him
along, hand in hand, and he was still the few steps behind not believing how it
all unfolded!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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It was the morning after, not having slept all
night and having to catch an early flight out, Anjali was feeling the rush to
grab some coffee from the restaurant before she could run into Shreya's whole
family for goodbye hugs. Shreya and Gautham had just stepped out of their
honeymoon suite to see her off. The trio huddled up in a table, with her bags
beside her. Few sips in and a toast to-go, she got up hurriedly, eyes searching
around for more. She didn’t want to steal Shreya's thunder and said no more,
but hugged her friend who stood up tight, wished her joy and to Gautham best of
luck to deal with her friend's idiosyncrasies. "I'm glad you listened to
your heart this time" Shreya whispered as Anjali started picking her bags
smilingly.</div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Right when she was about to lift, he grabbed the
bags off her hands and shouldered them up. "I'm dropping mom off at the
airport and am sure you both will have a lot to talk about!" Raghav smiled
with arms around his mom. The aunty person smiled wide at Anjali with arms
stretched out for a big welcome hug.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-80608659736947268872020-07-28T02:21:00.001+05:302020-07-28T02:21:13.377+05:30Yours, truly - Part 7<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Recap: <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a></b><b> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-3.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-4.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/recap-part-1-part-2-part-3-part-4-she.html" target="_blank">Part 5</a> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-6.html" target="_blank">Part 6</a></b><br />
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">For the first time in the day, her eyes were
fixed on him without a blink. He sensed she must be furious with a feeling of
being manipulated, but he knew he would never do that to anyone, her in
particular. By now he'd figured out there will not be those magical bells,
showers from sky or anything else that will tell him he needs to stop making
this about her but make it about them. He would rather he bring it under
control. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Giving his mom a hard smile and trying to look
only at Anjali, "Anjali, this is my mom. Gautham's mom and she are
childhood friends. Mom, this is Anjali. And no, we just met, haven't had a
chance to speak to her yet. Why don't you go find aunty, she was missing you
all day? I'll talk to you after dinner" and nudged her away from the podium
still with his eyes pleading guilty to Anjali. She looked blank, not cold, not
perplexed, but just blank as a wall indeed. When his mom was out of an arm's
distance, he quickly grabbed Anjali’s and before he could say anything, she
hurried "I had a good time today, but thank god for getting this done in a
day! I have to take the first flight out in the morning, so thanks for the
company. Nice meeting you. Now if you may..", smiled bright and got
herself out of his space and excused herself from others. Shreya didn't want to
stop her but just managed to get dinner delivered to her room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">She couldn't get herself to sleep, mainly because
she didn’t want to miss the shuttle to the airport, and maybe because this time
she had hoped to not hide from the reality when it happens. She wanted to go
back upstairs to catch a glimpse of the ocean at night, but what if he was
expecting her to be there. Or what if he didn't and she went anyways and it was
all in her head, but there would at least be a view to clear the mind. She
fought hard for an hour but finally managed to sneak upstairs for the view,
with or without him. She was leaving in the morning and didn't plan on coming
back again just for its serenity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">He heard someone stepping up the stairs and
almost instantly knew it was her. He didn’t want to assume she was looking for
him and wanted her to enjoy the calmness of the ocean alone, like he did for
the last two hours. With nowhere to hide, he turned around and started walking
to give her space.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b></b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-1506878163267955992020-07-24T22:04:00.002+05:302020-07-24T22:04:41.355+05:30Yours, truly - Part 6<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Recap: <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a></b><b> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-3.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-4.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/recap-part-1-part-2-part-3-part-4-she.html" target="_blank">Part 5</a></b><br />
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">She was not different. In her head she was the
most average girl. She did have a cheerful side with those in her inner circle,
those who've fought their way in and stayed. She never believed in the concept
of falling in love with someone, not because she knew why, mainly because she
didn't get a chance to explore. She had her own boundaries of how much she let
someone close enough see through her, know her and make her know them in
return. With just a handful that she would trust, even they weren't sure if she
was uptight, or just a beautiful self of being different that she wouldn't
accept. But deep down, she was a romantic and knew someday she'll be forced to
let someone crack that and that'll be her cue. So no, she wasn't on the lookout
to make a new friend. She was unknowingly wanting to be swept off her feet and
when that happens run away from its reality and shut herself more. As she stood
next to Shreya for a fancy photoshoot during the reception, she kept curbing
the inner urge to take a glance to her right, not afraid he'd notice, but
afraid if he was that designated someone and that she wasn't ready to accept.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">He was a believer, in people, in ultimate supreme
and in the belief that he'd someday fall in love. But he needed strong
indication from supernatural sources to convince him to go all in and win
someone over. He could, but he needed to know if he should. And in that search
and scrutiny he has had a lot of experience knowing, listening and understanding
men and women alike. He's never stepped away from someone voluntarily. He's
never stopped being impulsive. He still is but for the first time since
morning, he consciously struggled hard to keep his eyes off her, to not
pressurize Anjali over a simple request to enter her circle. He did, but how
could she know! And did he want only that, nothing more, he wasn’t sure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The reception was almost getting over and just
few of these important members were posing for hopefully the last batch of
photoshoot. The photographer had asked Anjali and Raghav to stand by the side
for a few minutes. Just about then a well over dressed, energetic lady walks up
ignoring the photoshoot. With a joyous chorus from Gautham and Shreya "Hi
Aunty!" who quickly went back to smiling for the photographer
instantaneously, and a quick turn of head from Raghav, Anjali was intrigued.
The aunty person gave a huge tight hug to Raghav and got straight to the topic
in the loudest cheeky voice, "So did you get to meet Anjali and get your ‘wanting
to know more about her’ plan taken care of?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-65942070200337828572020-07-23T23:56:00.000+05:302020-07-23T23:56:29.276+05:30Yours, truly - Part 5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Recap: <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a></b><b> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-3.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-4.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a></b><br />
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">She was up there before him, trying to catch a
glimpse of the waves hitting the shore alone. She's been like that and
preferred that. This wedding, the crowd and the intricacies were just for the
sake of Shreya. She will find her way out first thing in the morning, when the
newly wed wouldn’t care for her bridesmaid anymore. Atleast not until she needs
to complain and whine about man problems! She could feel that breath and
familiar proximity again and it went away the next second. It was safe to turn,
and she did. He had probably backed off quick she thought. He really did. He
stood smiling with all his dreaminess and said "Anjali right. Shreya just
stepped out searching for you and is happy with the reception décor." She
sighed with relief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"She also tells me that she's never seen you
smile or blush or enjoy these natural human emotions. Not my words, but she
called you a wall. Which brings us to the first question, I know you can smile,
I've seen that creep in several times today. Why don't you realize that you can
smile?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">She did not tell him she was indeed going to keep
her end of the bargain. She was not planning to get involved in any kind of
relationship - romantic or platonic, and definitely not platonic if it involves
this guy - he's seemed like a lot to be just a friend. Hidden in these
thoughts, she didn't realize that she let the smile slip through her lips, not
until she heard him cheer "There it goes, thank you! Now next question. In
the crowd that we are, I know you are not the odd one out, but instantly stand
out from the rest. Do you know that not many people have an eye for elegance,
especially in a wedding like this?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">While he hadn't taken his eyes off her while he
was talking, she was trying to evade that stare. But right that instant she
looked back at him and he went again, "You do!" with a smirk more
gorgeous on him than on her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"I thought you wanted to get to know me, to
get to be friends. I knew you couldn't and since it's almost time, let's get
back and be happy we tried." She had to get back to Shreya before she
turns all bridezilla on her, or maybe she won't if Raghav had her buy-in. They
were probably ganged up already.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">He did want to ask her all the those - her
favorite movie, her favorite restaurant, sporting team, music band and all the getting
to know 101 questions. But he didn't think she cared for those, he didn’t
either. They seem to share a liking towards not liking and he was going to
leave it at that. He moved and gave way for her to walk back down, walking a
few steps behind wondering if this wasn't it, when ideally would the bells
chime!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-6574318167039388532020-07-22T23:03:00.000+05:302020-07-22T23:03:00.205+05:30Yours, truly - Part 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Recap: <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a></b><b> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-3.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
"Shreya
always had a thing for beaches and this resort owner is her dad's friend or
something like that, so it all worked out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Looks like that's working out for you now!" Gautham tried probing
his best man.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
He didn't want
anything to work for him with her, not here and not yet actually. He truly,
really wanted to ask her few simple questions, know her better for the person
she seemed to be and be good friends with such a different intriguing person.
If the wife of his friend doesn't put wrong ideas into her head, maybe she'll
have some common sense prevailing to try reason out with him. "Can you ask
Shreya to not influence her?" It wasn't a request as much as a friendly
order.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
With two hours
left for the reception and T-1 hours for the newly wed man to get suited up for
it, Raghav had time to spare and decided to take a stroll around the venue. He
knew he couldn’t escape into the waters out there for a break, not until
daybreak tomorrow at the least. But he could talk to other people, he could
checkout the reception decorators in action, he could just kill time without a
friend, he thought. Just as he got out of the groom quarters, he saw her
rushing out of Shreya's. She'd changed her outfit to an even simpler one.
Elegance by choice is indeed catchy, head turner, turn on, no - he's not
calling it that. Still no bells, no angels, no flutters. Just inquisitiveness
bundled with search for a new friend. And to his surprise, she was waving at
him!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
He shook his
head with disbelief, and she waved again and yelled out his name, "Raghav!
Raghav right? Come over, you could be of great help now".<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
He didn’t want
to go from macho to mushy at a mere name calling moment. He pulled himself
together, poker face on and walked straight to her with earnest of looks trying
to help as he did all day long. She was in a hurry trying to fill him in
"Listen, the decorator messed up. The florist and the assembling guys are
all struck at the other end of the city. Shreya can't know this is possibly
happening. Can you pick up all the flowers that were taken down from this
morning and trashed backyard, and put it back up on this side of the wall? You
have an hour max and I'll take whatever you can deliver. Get started with
planning what you want to do, I'll send few guys to pick up the flowers and
help you put them up"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
He wasn't sure
what exactly made her think he could pull that off, but he knew he could, and
he would. Not because she asked her, because he just would. But he didn’t want
to lose out on his mission. "Consider done. What's the deal?", he
went straight to the ask. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
She was about to
do her eye shortening, frustrated face look and ask him if he was really serious
but refrained in a second not because he found that cute, but because she
didn't want to give away her end of the bargain idea herself. "What do you
want?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
"You gave
me an hour right; I'll get these done in half the time. For the other half,
let's meet back up at the same place upstairs. I'll just ask few questions, you
answer them. No other commitment and oh, I will leave my flirty self behind
with that girl dressed up more than the bride there". And this time, he
couldn’t miss noticing the smirk that she was fighting to suppress. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-26313889818919195452020-07-22T00:09:00.002+05:302020-07-22T00:10:11.479+05:30Yours, truly - Part 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Recap: <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a> <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"I can't believe I got tricked by some
cheesy ear whispering and curious to find out who would do that these days. I
can't believe I'm actually walking up there. Shreya needs me downstairs and
there isn't much time left. Why would he want to meet alone?" She mumbled
to herself walking up the stairs to the said corridor he wanted to meet. She
had just gotten off the last step and saw him standing there facing away and
looking down at the beach by the resort side. Yes, it was a destination wedding
by a beach side resort, if that would make it more enriching than one thought
it already was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"Wow! That's quite a view", she
exclaimed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"You're not the first one commenting on my
back and shoulder view!" he beamed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Her eyes narrowed to a line and frustration
gushed all over her face breathing out just a "Huh! Seriously?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"Do that again! You look very cute with that
look of yours!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"So you did want to flirt, as if you didn’t
get your share with all the other girls below already!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"As a matter of fact, it's exactly the
opposite. I didn’t want to flirt for once. And when I said you looked cute now,
I meant it, not just said it and no it’s just a statement, or a reflection of
what I saw and definitely not intended at hinting at you or flirting with you
or whatever else you think I might be thinking of. Now what's with our view
here?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Unable to believe what he says and how he looks,
at her and in general his looks and talk, she wanted to walk away but clarified
"the beach, the beach ofcourse!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"Ofcourse!" He grabbed her by her hand
to his side so he could look her in the eyes and continued "And that's
exactly why I wanted to meet here. By the way, I'm Raghav, I lead regional
sales at P&K's. I have no siblings, lot of friends - all guys, I swear.
Books, movies and parties in that order. Parties to socialize and complete
teetotaler otherwise. Love my friends but still on the lookout for new friends.
Hence I travel, a lot, with my friends, books and catchup on movies and
parties, again in that order. You see where I'm going with this?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dropping his warm gripped hands off, breaking the
eye lock and suppressing a smirk, with what she wouldn’t consider as a blushing
or shyness since she's too uptight and considers herself old enough, "No,
I don't!" And she walked off curbing an urge to look back at it him every
step she took. She'd watched him from morning. She could sense his eyesight on
her from any corner, feel his breath when he was helping her and more
importantly she was not a run of the mill girl to not look at the guy every
giggling glittering outfit girl was giggling about. She couldn't hold it back
any longer and the smirk grew into a sly smile after she got out of his sight
but missed concealing it before she entered the bride's room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"I knew he could break your self-drawn
barriers! " Shreya shrieked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"He has no ulterior motives, wants to be
friends and for some reason I think that's not his style and neither is it
mine! Tell me again, why you chose this resort with a view for this fancy
wedding of yours?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-44202372624271563242020-07-16T23:21:00.000+05:302020-07-20T21:06:39.450+05:30Yours, truly - Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Recap: <a href="https://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2020/07/yours-truly-part-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Never
has he taken more than a minute, from seeing a girl who can impress him to his
first "Hi" with a wide smile. It has almost taken an entire elaborate
wedding, with all its detailed rituals to get over and still not an eye
contact, not a word. He couldn’t be nervous; he didn’t have it in him to be so.
He brushed it off as being distracted, as being the best best man there ever
was. That he was. The groom looked perfect, smiling, handsome and relaxed
thanks to his friend making him laugh for pictures, tease for candid moments and
remind him of his do's and do not's.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">He
was also there everywhere she was, staring and sneaking glances from a
distance. Awfully quiet and unlikely of him, but he wanted to know more before
he could get closer. Odd that he would think no one else knew of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>his secret venture, but given his nature, the
whole venue got an idea. They all figured out he was silent than his usual
self, glaring away from them when they are talking to him, looking lost and
escaping with his gorgeous smile. Some of the giggling glittering outfit girls
even tried moving with him to trace his path and eyesight and amidst all their
jealousy for each other, worked together to find their new person to be envious
of. He thought he was discreet, but his aura gave it away that he was staring
at every chance, his glares left a trail and the bride knew her best friend was
indeed in for a spin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">He
started with making himself comfortable around her, or maybe the other way around.
Through the day he had been by her side several times. He had helped her tie
the lead couple's outfit ends together for a ritual, he had helped her transfer
a large tray from mom to mom, moved out a train of flowers that might have made
her trip that she hardly even looked up to thank, laughed and smiled together
for pictures with the lead couple and of course walked behind like a shadow he
thought she wouldn't notice. She didn't but he hoped she would and make it
easier for him. No, still no bells, still no falling for her and still no
angelic revelations. Still just intrigued by her and he had to find out why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It
was past lunch and most of the guests have either left by now or retired to
their suites and resting spots. They all had a good four hours to rest, relax
and get ready with a complete ensemble change before the next event of the
evening. He was walking back to the groom quarters with the groom himself. And
she was carrying all of the bride's heavy accessories and helping the bride walk
down to hers. He did not excuse himself from his friend but took those quick
steps to catch up with the girls. He was barely few steps behind them. The bride
sensed and smiled and gave away. "Don't look back as yet, wait" said
the bride to her friend. They stopped walking at once, and from behind her, so
close as if his lips would have touched her ears if they had stopped more
quickly than they did, he whispered to her "Meet you at the west end of
corridor upstairs in five?". She wanted to turn around that instant but
the proximity of where the voice was coming from shook her. With a poke from
her friend she did turn back within the next few seconds only to have missed
the man behind the voice. She knew she was going to meet him, but when her
friend asked she just shook her head, not giving away an answer!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-54949871538652653962020-07-15T23:51:00.000+05:302020-07-17T01:11:09.946+05:30Yours, truly - Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
It couldn't get any
more gala, this wedding in all its richness and grandeur. Not an influential
family, but an average Indian household which sure has redefined the word
average. What could have been as simple flower décor was turned into an orchard
to get lost in, thanks to the event management company. The entrance had a
complex mélange of orchids and edelweiss from nowhere and no connection. Guests
would stop to take pictures of themselves and not let others storm in to the
actual photo ops intentionally set up. Still indeed talking about the wedding,
the photo ops ranged from larger than life size cut outs of the lead couple to
take pictures with, just in case the attendees don't make it to the front of
the reception line, to a garland overdosed bicycle which has the iconic front
seat to sit down your girl and pose with. How romantic, if only there weren't
the hundred odd onlookers waiting for their turn to take a pic with their
better halves! </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
And these onlookers
and the others around other photo ops, including those serving as the aides for
the lead couple, for some odd reason seem to have failed getting a part in the
same TV show! All would say they were dressed up for the occasion, they rehearsed
for the rituals, they are here to enjoy. But not everyone was, neither can
everyone be. With a good mix of jealous that she got him and he got her to a
handful of this could have been done better, the mix was mind-blowingly human!
Yet, the smiles were on, the moves on the floor for impeccable and the glam
undeniable.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Somewhere between
all the hustle and rustle there was this guy who made it through the ornamental
entrance, having one of his own! He had to be the tall and handsome one giving
an entry and he was. Tall, yes. Handsome, maybe an understatement and might needs
some redefinition. With a smile that pretty much made the giggling glittering
outfit girls turn around, he waved to kin and kith, who instantly borrowed his
smile in exchange of hugs. There were some sighs when those broad shoulders
hugged the loved ones - from little kids to grandmas alike. He was fast, he was
all over and he stole the show, talking his way to glory. It took the others
some getting used to him being all around and all sound.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
He was still trying
to waddle his way to the groom, a best man eventually had to! Almost near the
podium and when he stumbled on a step he noticed her. He couldn’t stop staring
not because the bells rang, not because she was the most beautiful and not because
she was the only one normally dressed or under dressed in this context - if a
plain solid outfit with just earrings for accessorizing made it to a wedding!
But because he was simply intrigued, maybe by her being simple, maybe by her
not looking around, maybe by her just helping the bride without a smile, maybe
just by her being herself. He changed his path towards her, the flirt he was,
but was interrupted by the most distant cousin he had ever met and the groom
who needed him up there that instant and by the grandma he missed getting
blessings from and by pretty much everyone else around him.</div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-52107572288673642262015-05-18T10:43:00.002+05:302015-05-26T21:51:32.503+05:30Returned, with Thanks!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">It was a typical
Saturday evening: TV, phone and browsing were the only three things on my
agenda, until I got a call from my best friend. I could call him that given how
close we were from school days. Partially because he had helped me during my
troubled times at school, he was a friend in need. Dhruv and I weren’t friends
before that day, but the way he stood up for me and took responsibility for a
crime I was falsely accused with, I was humbled. I had another reason to
befriend him as well. I was new to the school, new to the city and had no
friend of my own. I needed company. As childish as it may sound, the bond that
formed for no concrete reason lasts till date.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">Dhruv is not the
perfect son one could ask for, as made his mother run for her life, cursing
herself for bringing up a brat like him. His dad had given up hopes on him
settling down in life, responsibly. He on the other hand chose the path to
living life the fun way. His dad’s money and lavish lifestyle caught up on him
early on and he was deep down under it to come out of it to reality. He cared
for no job of his own and hadn’t thought of sharing his life with a partner
beyond one night stands. I was a simple man with an ordinary lifestyle. Topper
from school and college, joined the most coveted IT organization and now a
project manager, earning well to live a simple life, saving for future, for me
and future family. I believed in love. I hadn’t met the one yet, but haven’t be
searching either. Dhruv and I were different, but respected each other and
mutually trusted the friendship between us. Outside his phantom world, I was
the only person he sincerely admired and wished to live like, but voluntarily
chose not to. I would not approve of anyone like him, let alone befriend one,
but he was my person, he was the company I longed for and got when no one else
was around. I liked him for that sincerity and did not question him on his
behavior.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">Dhruv’s parents
decided to get him hitched at the earliest and pass on the responsibility of
fixing him right to the so called lucky girl. Arranged marriage was something
off the cards for him, but he budged only to reduce the badgering at home. He
had his escape routes planned. He knew he had me for support, rain or shine.
The call was precisely for that. He wanted me to come along to see her with his
family, if possible see if I would like her more and save him from the troubles
of marriage. He has never given me an option. I have almost always obliged,
this time being no different. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">The whole event
was a good time off from a routine Saturday afternoon of more TV, phone and
browsing routine. We were greeted by her parents, offered coffee and sweets and
when we were bored of random talk, she was asked to come out of her room for us
to have a look, however weird that may sound, blame the process. Maya, came in
with no hustle. I looked at her for a second and gently turned away not wanting
to have an opinion or influence on my best friend’s probably future wife. More
importantly, I did not want to end up liking the girl myself. But I did. Not
like, but fell in love the one second I had looked at her. I did not know she
had too. Maya, a simple and elegant girl for her age, too simple for an event
such as this, but too elegant to catch the attention of any honest man. She was
drop dead gorgeous and needed have to show it off with extravagance. She looked
at me the very same second and smiled, probably not knowing I wasn’t the one. To
be honest, the smile made me nervous and look away. Dhruv’s family was happily
chatting with her. To me she sounded melodious. Dhruv was supposed to talk to
her alone. They were planning to go to the coffee shop nearby for a quick chat
and he dragged me in at the last minute, asking me if I could join. She did not
complain and I as always obliged. He was going to say a “No” and try asking if
she would consider me instead. Before he could say anything, she blurted she
was not ready yet and that she had done a quick background check on Dhruv and
wouldn’t care to consider him given that he wasn’t financially independent. She
proved to be the strong person she looked. She thanked us for the company and
stormed out. I hadn’t spoken a word nor looked at her eye to eye the whole
fifteen minutes we were there. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">Dhruv was both
relieved and frustrated. Relieved that he didn’t have to fall into the marriage
trap yet, frustrated that he was turned down and not the other way round that
he could take a pride on. He wasn’t in love with her at any level, but he did
think she was beautiful and wished he had met her outside the arranged marriage
setup. The true friend he was, he checked with me if I was interested in her. I
conveniently lied to him and hid my feelings. It would crush him to know I was
madly in love with the girl who had hurt is male ego. I felt bad for myself
that I wouldn’t pursue her for the same reason. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">A week passed
and I had kept myself occupied enough to not give my mind a free second to
think about Maya. Thanks to a heavily loaded work week and close family wedding
to attend to. Family weddings always take a toll on your emotional stability
from a relationship standpoint. The numerous questions on one’s relationship
status, willingness to get married and suggestions on potential brides to be. I
had always wanted to shy away from such a crowd, but my parents believed in
family ties and I believed in them. This one wedding was different. I met my
cousin Parth after ten years. I also met Maya, after seven long days. They were
talking to each other, as if they had known each other for a long time. Parth
waved at me and I was hesitant to reciprocate the welcome, but courtesy
demanded I did and I did. I had always had my issues with him being the
preferred grandchild to my grandparents. He was smarter in looks and education
and nonetheless, he was their NRI grandson and I was just hanging around,
around them. I was equally qualified but their typical South Indian
contemporary outlook shunned them from accepting so. I had stopped expecting
them to change their mindset. I had started getting used to proving my
excellence primarily to my parents and occasionally to everyone else. I was
happy for myself, beyond Parth can ever be. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">Parth and Maya
were laughing about something when I reached their table. They had recently met
at Maya’s place, thanks to both their fathers entering into a business partnership.
They seemed to have hit it off and liking each other’s company. I did not want
to interfere, I did not want anything more from this rendezvous myself. I
stayed quite. Maya’s soft “Hi” and a generic enquiry on my life made me smile
within, but Parth, the charmer had my answers for her and took my words away. I
did not have the moment I deserved. It
was time and we bid goodbyes and exchanged phone numbers to stay in touch. I never
did, involuntarily with Parth and intentionally with Maya. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">A month went by
and I got a call from Maya one Saturday evening, when I was busy with random
browsing. She asked me out for dinner and I couldn’t say know to her. I offered
to meet her at the restaurant directly and when we did meet, I knew I wasn’t
going to walk out before asking her hand in marriage. “It was my mistake to not
have kept in touch after Dhruv episode. You were there, you were quiet and I
was curious and had questions”, she hurriedly blurted out her agenda soon after
we placed our orders to the waiter. I smiled and asked if her marriage with
Parth has been fixed. She was shocked, I could say from her expression. I was
shocked too, I had no clue I was going to ask her that right away. “How do you
know? We hardly know each other”. She had it all written on her hasty way of
speaking. She wanted to know from me about me and why she wanted to talk to me.
She wanted to know from me, if she can say no to everything else happening
around her. “I had liked you the very instant I saw you at our place. For a
second I thought it was you who had come to see me and thanked my stars for me being
fine with the whole ordeal. I had missed you right from the time I went out of
the café saying no to Dhruv”. I wanted to ask her what made her wait, but she
was unstoppable, she continued talking. “Parth was a good friend. Got to know
him just about the same time. I liked him and didn’t have a reason to say no
when our parents asked. He was nice all along and perfect marriage material at
that. I said yes and the wedding is fixed for next month”. I wanted to ask why
bother to meet me now and talk about all this. She never gave me a chance to
ask. “I thought I liked you as much. I would have said yes if you were alone
the first time. But I never had the chance to know you better. I never gave you
a chance. I never gave myself a chance to cherish that first feeling of love I
had. I thought both of us deserved at least that”. I fell in love with her, all
over again, for her attitude. But I wanted to ask what she was expecting me to
do. She was ahead of me. “Do you think all this makes you wonder why I am even
talking to you at this instance and I am better off with Parth?” She finally
asked the question she had come all the way to ask. I had never been this
serious before when I responded to her, “So what do you want to do, call Parth
or your dad to call off the wedding?” and she had that thankful smile for the
decision I had made for us. </span></div>
</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-29525030554951622872012-05-08T06:37:00.000+05:302012-05-08T06:37:12.975+05:30Aaah... games from my past!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Just when I looked at a 10-in-1 board game set that we recently brought, (oh, I so wanted to type "I" and fell into the "we" culture! Am growing old, ain't I?) I was reminded of how the games from my past have moulded me! Let's leave the all famous Chess, Carrom, Snake and Ladder, Trade (yes, totally Indian!) and other indoor games passed on generations after generations.. let's leave all outdoor games those were a different "ball game" altogether! Am just nostalgic about a whole different set of "lunch time games" that made me learn!<br />
<br />
School days and break times have been the most useful, fruitful and entertainingly educative hours of my life! I learnt from people, from games, from chattering and from everything inside the campus that I hold on to till date...
<br />
<br />
When I talk about these that were played with paper and pencil (or the rough note book that used to be an additional baggage in the school bag!), I now find them online, on phone apps, as board games and all around! Still fun, but misses the "group" component that made them more fun!<br />
<br />
Recent finds online include:<br />
1) <b>"Name, Place, Animal, Things!"</b> - Man, I still remember not knowing any other animal but for "Donkey" and the extinct "Dodo" for the letter "D"!!! (There are different cumbersive and boring online versions that stand no match to friends approving and disapproving of fictious names, places, animals and things!)<br />
<br />
2) <b>"BINGO!"</b> - No, not "Housie", not "Tambola"! They come with cards someone else designed! Of all the designing skills that went into drafting one's own 5x5 matrix and the sheer joy of screaming "BINGO", no other version beats the fun in this. Me as a kid would not leave a single parchment (yes, even the tiniest piece I used to find in hotel rooms) free of drawing the Bingo matrix, even in the remotest of places we would have travelled to!<br />
<br />
3) For those who call this game by this name alone - <b>"Chi, Koo, (Li), Baa!"</b> - Again, not Stone, Paper, Scissors! It used to be Chi, Koo, Baa mania at school, at home, at every place we go! We played at every possible break/ between class periods at school, had a tournament among cousins, taught my Dad to play it with his social circle (and he eventually did play!). It was madness! Wonder how people sit in front of a computer screen and play the online version!!!<br />
<br />
4)<b> "Memory"</b> - or that's what we used to call, or guess nobody really bothered about what it was called and it was just played! The typical "I went to the market and bought apples", "I went to the market and bought apples and oranges", "I went to the market and bought apples, oranges and bananas", ........ - This can never be justified in any other form!<br />
<br />
5)<b> "Hangman" </b>- I still play it on my mobile, but it was much more fun to draw a hangman step by step rather than watch the app draw one when u suck!!!<br />
<br />
These were probably the top five that struck my mind. There were few others that were fillers and few others that just din't mean so much to me to remember after years :) But these above meant a childhood!!!<br />
<br />
Hail paper! Hail Pencil! Hail "Rough Notebook"! and Hail "Lunch Breaks!" that I now miss...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-63474107500384765342011-11-08T02:49:00.001+05:302011-11-08T03:31:34.120+05:30மேகம் பொய்த்தது!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Note: It's been ages since I wrote in Tamil or updated my <a href="http://ramyanjali.wordpress.com/">Tamil Blog</a>.. (that's my way of saying please ignore spelling mistakes!) Thought it makes more sense to stick on to one place for all the ramblings, jottings and outbreaks! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">------------------------------</span><wbr style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></wbr><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">------------------------------</span><wbr style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></wbr><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">------------------------------</span><wbr style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></wbr><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">------------------------------</span><wbr style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></wbr><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">---------</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">அவள்: இனிக்கு weather ஒரு மாதிரி இருக்கு-ல?</span><br />
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அவன்: ஏன்? எழுந்துக்கவே மனசு வரல-னு சொல்றியா?</div>
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அவள்: இல்ல, நான் மட்டும் தான் வீட்டுல தனிய இருக்கேன்-னு சீக்கிரமே எழுந்துட்டேன், வெளில வந்து பார்த்தா ஒரே இருட்டிண்டு, மேகமூட்டமா இருக்கு! ரெண்டு நாளாவே மழை வரும்-னு பார்த்து வெளில போகாம வீட்டுலையே இருந்துட்டேன் வேற... இனக்கு அம்மா ஏதோ meeting-க்காக Bangalore போயிருக்கா... night-க்குள்ள வந்துட்டா நல்லா இருக்கும்!</div>
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அவன்: ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்.... பயம் போல!</div>
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அவள்: நெஜம்மா பா.. பயம்-னு இல்ல.. ஒரு மாதிரி இருக்கு... that's all :)</div>
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அவன்: இந்த மாதிரி climate-க்கு-னு ஒரு அழகு இருக்கு... மரம்-லாம் என்னிக்கும் இல்லாத பச்சையா தெரியும், எதிர் வீடு இனிக்கு தான் கட்டினா மாதிரி பள்ளிச்சுனு இருக்கும், வானத்துல கருப்பு colour ஒரு welcome change-ஆ இருக்கும்...</div>
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அவள்: நீ பாட்டு சொல்லிண்டே போ...ஆனா, இங்க நான் யோசிக்கற விதமே வேற... பார்க்க எவ்ளோ அழகா இருக்கோ, அதே அளவுக்கு silent-ஆ இருக்கு! ரசிக்கனம்-னு ஆசை தான், ஆனா....</div>
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அவன்: hello!</div>
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அவள்: hello! நான் தான்...</div>
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அவன்: என்ன திடீர்-னு chat-லேர்ந்து log-off பண்ணிட்டே!</div>
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அவள்: current போச்சு, இதுலே பேசலாம், பிரச்சனை இல்ல..</div>
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அவன்: current போச்சா? ரொம்ப நல்லா இருக்குமே இப்போ! சரி அத விடு, வேற எதாவது பேசலாம்! இப்படி பேசற chance அடிகடி கிடைக்காது!</div>
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அவள்: என்னமோ சொல்லு.. hey.. எனக்கு உன்ன இப்போ பார்க்கனம் போல இருக்கு... வீட்டுக்கு வரட்டுமா? Aunty கிட்டயும் phone-ல தான் பேசிருக்கேன், பார்த்தா அவங்களும் சந்தோஷப்படுவாங்க-ல?</div>
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அவன்: இனிக்கு வேணாம், நீ இப்போ பேசு, evening வெளில போலாம், plan பண்ணிட்டு சொல்றேன். </div>
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அவள்: ம்ம்ம்... </div>
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அவன்: நெஜம்மா, சரி... அத விடு, என்ன சாப்ட்டே? என்ன பண்ணே?</div>
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அவள்: பெரிசா ஒன்னும் பண்ணல, அம்மா இட்லி வெச்சுட்டு போயிருந்தா, அத சாப்ட்டேன்...</div>
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அவர்: யாரு மா நீ?</div>
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அவள்: Gautham இருக்காரா?</div>
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அவர்: இங்க யாரும் அப்படி இல்லையே!</div>
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அவள்: இந்த address தானே கொடுத்தார்! நான் கூட அவரோட வந்திருக்கேனே..</div>
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அவர்: ஏதோ தப்பான address-க்கு வந்திருக்கே மா... மழை வரா மாதிரி இருக்கு... சீக்கிரம் வீடு போய் சேறு!</div>
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அவள்: இப்போ தான் அவரோட பேசிண்டு இருந்தேன், phone battery போச்சு, மனசு சரி இல்ல, பார்த்தே ஆகணம்-னு வந்தேன்... உங்க போன் தாங்களேன், ஒரு call பண்ணி check பண்ணிடறேன்...</div>
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அவர்: இந்தா மா, சீக்கிரம் பேசிட்டு வெய்... என் time-அ waste பண்ணாதே!</div>
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அவள்: thank you sir. just 2 minutes.</div>
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அவர்: என்ன மா? ring போகுதா?</div>
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அவள்: number does not exist-னு வருது!?!?!?</div>
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அவர்: ?!?!?!</div>
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அம்மா: Gayathri, தூங்கினது போதும், 10 மணி ஆச்சு, எழுந்திரு, சுட சுட இட்லி பண்ணி வெச்சிருக்கேன், சாப்ட்டுக்கோ, நான் evening first flight-ல வர try பண்றேன்! </div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-10968073592421591132011-08-19T21:20:00.002+05:302011-11-08T02:51:15.807+05:30When marriages are made in Bhoologam... - "It's a Groom's thing!"Let's not leave the groom alone! After all he's responsible for half the wedding and half the marriage itself! <div>
<br /></div><div>The worst nightmare for the groom (next to saying "Yes" to the girl) is shopping for the wedding! Ever thought of what all goes into his head? Here goes a partial list....</div><div>
<br /></div><div><ol><li>I hate shopping! </li><li>I get to wear only a white colour boring dhoti for 80% of the wedding, while she gets a saree of each colour, and two for each occasion!</li><li>I hate shopping! It's such a boring activity!</li><li>Thanks to the concept of Reception, I get to wear something other than a Dhoti!</li><li>The total count of clothes stands at 5:9 (groom:bride)! (Is anybody fighting for Mens' equality?)</li><li>I hate shopping! How do girls do it all the time?</li><li>I am least bothered about the dhotis... the mothers would get them right! (Yea, how much can I think for a white dhoti with a red and green border?)</li><li>I hate shopping! I do believe it hard!</li><li>What? I cant's get my wedding clothes before she gets her sarees? Damn!</li><li>I hate shopping! I don't get bored of saying it! I get bored shopping!</li><li>I thought I only had 4 colours (white, half white, blue, grey) to choose from, now that she's got a saree of her dreams, I get to choose the only colour that complements and supplements her saree! (Ofcourse, white!)</li><li>I hate shopping! There's not much I can do about it!</li><li>She shops for me! (Ok, this is a blessing in disguise, and am not complaining)</li><li>I hate shopping! I don't get to shop for either of us!</li><li>I don't have the time to shop! She had 4 months and I get 4 hours? (She is so going to say I am to be blamed!)</li><li>I hate shopping! Let's get done with it...</li><li>I want to look like a prince! But I don't want those expensive clothes!</li><li>I hate shopping! Too much to think!</li><li>Ok, I need to get two sets of expensive garments, she will select them, I need to try them out and approve of her selection and wear them as prescribed by her... That'll make me look perfect and more importantly relieved! (She happy, me relieved!)</li><li>I hate shopping! But now I know what's the best thing about getting married!</li><li>......</li><li>......</li><li>......</li></ol><div>................................</div></div><div>................................</div><div>................................</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-33608932058983150452011-08-17T20:01:00.006+05:302011-11-08T02:51:15.813+05:30When marriages are made in Bhoologam... - "You are invited!"Trust me when I say inviting people are the best part of a wedding (yes,
<br />way better than shopping, saree shopping in particular, no matter how crazy about sarees you can get!) And nothing matches the joy you get on inviting people in person :)<div>
<br /></div><div>We (roughly around now, the bride and groom start using the two letters more than the single letter previously religiously used!) bang our heads to come out with the most unique invite ever! (yes, every wedding invite is unique and very precious to that particular bride and groom!) And as for parents, every invite is a template, there's a red, there's a yellow, the wordings have been pre-decided centuries back by ancestors, and the only unique aspect it the actual names alone! (I totally adore the traditional yellow invite, and learnt a lot from that parchment myself!)</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Coming down to the era of web invites (e-vites as my brother would force me into calling it!), from websites, to micro sites to scanned invites, the thought process never stops... More importantly, people brush up their English Literature from school and college promptly to get all the wedding vows, wedding verses, love messages and love poems, sonnets, couplets and</div><div> doughnuts in place! Imagination goes out on the air and what comes out it what one loves to see as their own wedding invite for ages to come and nothing shall minuscule the joy of inviting near and dear ones with the best of their works!</div>
<br /><div>Deviating a little and making this post a little specific to my wedding, I hereby share the making of my wedding invite.... snippets from behind the scenes!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>1) All of us know it's a perfectly arranged marriage, still we explored the option of eloping!!! (I had this dialogue rehearsed right from the time the first version was out!)</div><div>
<br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LB8VmnDVvwImyd1fxGaED78TlK3Y1ZrnTj56v_JwjmJaCcGohHclau39emkW8iykYGl-fqEpKvKxnEgps9seCgEYSTiVQrJKobqIeXpGGmas4T84M-P3nfNcwNf74rVJyB5_aFtxrGI/s320/Ramya+caricature+final.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641836704226745538" /></div><div>
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<br /></div><div>2) We even tried getting converted into the other half of Tam-Brahms, so that we don't have to change the invite further! </div><div>
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<br /></div><div>3) But finally, we knew we can't change and ended up being the real ourselves!!! </div><div>
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<br /></div><div>4) Not to forget what we believe in, when we say it the TamBrahmRage ishtyle....</div><div>
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<br /></div><div>This being brought out in public, wondering what would have gone behind the scenes of the hundreds of wedding invites I've seen over years... am sure there is a story behind each one of them!!!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>And once again, we, Ram and I, can't wait to see you all at the wedding :)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-23479730830985621572011-08-12T14:15:00.002+05:302012-07-08T07:54:04.557+05:30When marriages are made in Bhoologam... - "Sarees all the way!"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Remember Rukmini's kalyanam? I might (not) be over exaggerating when I say "Saree(s) are more important in the wedding than the groom" (Disclaimer #1: Definitely not the case in my wedding, that's around the corner! Disclaimer #2: Hubby-to-be rocks! Disclaimer #3: End of Disclaimers...).</div>
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It's not just the groom who gets intimidated by a six yard silk saree (an additional 3 yards incase of a Tam-Brahm, of which we can talk in length a lil later!), it is also the entire family and friends circle! Literally every member gets to decide (with totally guided assistance from the bride herself) on what to wear (rather what not to wear) based on what the bride wears! It's not just the groom's attire, but also the wedding hall decorations, floral arrangements, garlands and a whole bunch of wedding planning that totally and entirely depends on the bride's saree(s)! (Gosh, I am so lucky to be on the luckier side :P) Come on, it's nice to have the right contrast on the wedding photograph you are going to look at for ages to come!!! </div>
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This being said, none should have a doubt as to why "Wedding Saree(s) Shopping" is the mother of all shopping and kick-starts the wedding prep! The purchasing of the saree(s) involves more religious sentiments than the wedding itself! There needs to be the right day (early enough to get the blouses stitched on time), right time (all the 7 planets as per astrology and the 2 shadow planets need to get in perfect sync and help the cause), right shopping party (essentially every female member in both the families, including kids and pets and one male member to accompany them, handle the cash and carry the bags), consensus on the right shop (between the families), consensus on the colours (inside the bride's ever-confused head), bride's patience to get every saree draped around (and MMS/ e-mail the trial pic to the rest of the deciding party who couldn't make it to the shop!) and more importantly consensus on the final saree (or set of sarees)! Phew! </div>
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Did I mention a nine-yard saree somewhere above? That has a few more checks before it can become the bride's... All the right things above have to be doubly right and all the consensus should be doubly strong!</div>
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Finally when all the sarees are in place and the bride, hence the groom and also both the families are happy, that's when we all say in chorus "Let rest of the wedding prep begin!"</div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-60073242841702612482011-07-22T23:19:00.005+05:302011-08-12T13:14:11.998+05:30When marriages are made in Bhoologam... - "The Rendezvous"<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; "><span class="hw" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 12pt; ">ren·dez·vous</span> <div class="pseg"><i>n.</i> <i>pl.</i> <b>ren·dez·vous - </b>A meeting at a prearranged time and place.</div></span></div><div>-------------------------------------------------------------</div><div>
<br /></div>Did I change the order of events? Did I get the process wrong? Aren't the event leads and key players (yes the families, extended families and ofcourse the girl and guy under scrutiny) supposed to meet? Aren't conventional meeting places (girl's house) shunned out of practice and replaced with so-called neutral or non-committal hangouts (temples! restaurants! friends' place! friend's friend's friend's place and so on!)? <div>
<br /></div><div><b>Rendezvous #1:</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Location: </b>Temple in the heart of the city</div><div><b>Participants:</b> Girl's party (a team with more than 3 members is fondly referred to as 'party' and strictly no connection with any political views!), guy's party, girl and guy</div><div>Duration of scene: Half an hour for members of each party to get introduced to each other and 5 mins for the girl and guy to talk before they hopefully say 'Yes' </div><div><b>Gist of the 5 min seal-the-deal talk:</b></div><div>Minute #1 - girl says 'Hi', guy says 'Hi', girl says her name (not that it wasn't known before), guy says name, followed by silence</div><div>Minute #2 - both of them say they aren't sure what to talk, followed by longer silence </div><div>Minute $3 - typical "Tell me about yourself" interview question posed to girl, she's well prepared and completes her entire education and professional life history in 48 seconds, followed by shorter silence</div><div>Minute #4 - boy is posed the same question, he is definitely less prepared but still manages to finish it in 56 seconds, followed by just a pause!</div><div>Minute #5 - They decide to get back to respective parties and convey their decision!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Five minutes later, both parties scream with joy, "Ah! They said 'Yes'!"</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Rendezvous #2:</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Location:</b> Girl's house</div><div><b>Participants:</b> Same as Rendezvous #1 </div><div><b>Duration: </b>Similar to Rendezvous #1</div><div><b>Gist of the seal-the-deal talk:</b> Girl and guy don't stop talking and get back to the respective parties within the stipulated time (1 hour as per the unwritten norm!), respective parties rush to the talk floor and assume the result, girl and guy blush and end of scene!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Five minutes later, both parties scream with joy, "Ah! They said 'Yes'!"</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Rendezvous #3:</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div><div><b>Location:</b> Skype! (For the technically strong hearted souls)</div><div><b>Participants:</b> Girl and Guy (blame the absence of wide angle webcams!)</div><div><b>Duration:</b> It depends (Let the jargons fly around!)</div><div><b>Gist of the seal-the-deal talk: </b></div><div>Minute #1 - #30 - Girl and guy set up Skype account</div><div>Minute #31 - #45 - Girl and guy add each other as Skype contact</div><div>Minute #46 - #55 - They stare at each other (ofcourse, they are no saints)</div><div>Minute #55 - #60 - Same conversation as in Rendezvous #1!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Five minutes later, both parties scream with joy, (at their respective houses) "Ah! They said 'Yes'!"</div></div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Rendezvous #4:</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Both parties scream with joy, (at their respective houses) "Ah! They said 'Yes'!" and the girl and guy meet a month later! (Rendezvous of families, hours of seal-the-deal talk between girl and guy over phone do not get covered as per definition of "Rendezvous" above!)</div><div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-71754707713780696892011-07-21T12:19:00.004+05:302011-08-12T13:13:57.324+05:30When marriages are made in Bhoologam... - "Ah! They said 'Yes'!"<div>Marriages? - That's only a reminder to myself that am getting married, and have loads of work to do and need to complete the post soon enough and get it up on the blog and not sit and stare at the monitor waiting for a comment to pop in!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Bhoologam (earth) is where we are, and marriages and more importantly weddings, are designed, made and executed very much here and not in any Devalogam (heaven)!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Coming to today's topic, "Ah! They said 'Yes'!" - Probably the line that goes around across both families for the next couple of days, admist parents, uncles, aunts, grandpas, grandmas, kids, pets and to-be-borns too in both the families! But even before they could say 'Yes', a lot goes into the screenplay!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Arranged marriages are super complicated than my most dreaded chapter in Medevial Indian History! You have every permutation to be liked, approved and accepted! Boy's family likes girl's family, girl's family likes boy's family, boy's family likes girl, girl's family like boy, girl likes boy's family, boy likes girl's family and finally after one big loop, boy likes girl and girl likes boy! No wonder the whole world celebrates when the three letters Y, E, S are heard at once! At that very instant, all prayers are answered and more prayers are offered. The search action ends but a whole deal of actions begin!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>As any event coordinator would say, the bride is the one who confidently says "Let the planning begin!" and so did I!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-5802101263469351942011-07-21T01:46:00.003+05:302011-07-21T02:07:21.114+05:30Somethings and some Nothings!!! – Part X<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Recap </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span">- </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); "><b><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-i.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Part I</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-ii.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Part II</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-iii.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Part III</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-iv.html"><span class="Apple-style-span">Part IV</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-v.html">Part V</a></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"> <a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/10/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-vi.html">Part VI</a> <a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2011/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-vii.html">Part VII</a> <a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2011/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-viii.html">Part VIII</a> <a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2011/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-ix.html">Part IX</a></span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; display: inline !important; "><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span">------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b></b></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; display: inline !important; "><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Manjari was out of the hall. I am not sure if the others had noticed any of this. Half the crowd was dancing and half the crowd was already on the ninth cloud. The last words Manjari had said kept me still. “Am doing this for both of us. It’s for the best that we don’t marry for an obligation. I deserve a response from someone else and I am going to wait for it, no matter how long it takes. Apology is too small a word that I want to suffocate you with. I am leaving you with no choice. But am glad am going to give myself a chance again. Take care.” She said she was going to wait for a response! I owe one big time to someone else. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">I rushed again, this time to the other end of the hall where “she” had parked her car and stepped down and stood wondering why she was here. She has not moved on. She’s been waiting for a response and I had not known she was waiting all along! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">She was there, mingling in the crowd. Smiling, but totally fake. I know her smile. I know her laugh. I know her. I know now, that I know her! Like old times I patted her on the back from behind and she did turn...<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">“Ask me the question again!” She broke down at that!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">“Ask me the question again!” She was completely in tears, and never had I seen this bold lady cry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">“If am right, the last time you asked, if you were part of my plan. You were my plan. I just was insane and out of my minds to have not realised that” She would still not stop.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">“All my life, I would say a hundred “Yes” from morning till night, day in and day out. Would that make up a little?” A small smile came across from beneath those tears.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">“So, you have an answer now!” is all that she said and held me tight. I knew she had and I definitely had forgotten the six years we had lost. We were back. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Just when I realised we owed the crowd an explanation, she asked “Can we change the party board to read Shreya & Gautham, I am only asking for half of it to change right? And this time, before even she could finish the question I was out with my response “Absolutely!”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12pt; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></span><p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-38539746096674377852011-07-21T01:42:00.003+05:302011-07-21T02:07:03.491+05:30Somethings and some Nothings!!! – Part IX<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Recap </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span">- </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); "><b><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-i.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Part I</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-ii.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Part II</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-iii.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Part III</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-iv.html"><span class="Apple-style-span">Part IV</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-v.html">Part V</a></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"> <a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/10/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-vi.html">Part VI</a> <a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2011/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-vii.html">Part VII</a> <a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2011/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-viii.html">Part VIII</a></span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; display: inline !important; "><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span">------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b></b></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><br /></b></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">I rushed into the house to check my Inbox. The “Hiiiiiii” is all that I wanted to check now. Earlier this day, I would have wanted to reply with an affirmative immediately. I did not mind being a fool to think that marrying a stranger would eventually mean I have moved on. But now, I did not want to hurry into anything. I let it stay while I thought of the day again. It was an intuition then and now, and I stood by it.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">“He hasn’t moved on!” I just shrieked? I did. He so hasn’t and is going to make life difficult for Manjari as well? Do I step in? Do I try and help him sort out things? Do I help? Do I need to? I had no clue, till my hands ran over the text messages in my mobile and saw a text from him; “Got five minutes today? I owe you a response...” He should not be responding now. He should not be saying what I wanted to hear. He should not be saying what I did not want to hear as well. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">I settled down on the sofa and thought of what I had told him last. I had told him I would be there for him, even if from a distance. He needs to know I am doing fine before he starts his new life. He needs to know or atleast believe that I have moved on. Have I? That’s for me to think. But I need to be there for him at the best party of his life. I cannot gather myself up to make it to the wedding, but a party, with a larger known crowd, I should really be able to manage.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">I made sure I looked my best. I cannot believe I dressed up big time for an occasion I would otherwise not have considered changing from office clothes. I wanted to show that I am a different person now. I wanted to reassure him and myself that I am doing fine. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">I knew the party hall upside down. I knew he would be inside the main hall thirty minutes into the party. It’s always safe to go late and sneak out early. The plan was clear. I just had to mark my presence and sport a smile and be back soon to get myself to my favourite sleep state wherein I don’t have to think.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">I did drive late, I drove through the side entrance only shocked to see him wait there and still surprised to see him pace away when I got down. He sure hasn’t moved on and he definitely has the right answer this time. Question is, do I ask again?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></span><p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-16962431665625981712011-07-21T01:40:00.004+05:302011-07-21T12:18:19.786+05:30Somethings and some Nothings!!! – Part VIII<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Recap </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span">- </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); "><b><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-i.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Part I</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-ii.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Part II</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-iii.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Part III</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-iv.html"><span class="Apple-style-span">Part IV</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-v.html">Part V</a></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"> <a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/10/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-vi.html">Part VI</a> <a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2011/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-vii.html">Part VII</a></span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; display: inline !important; "><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span">------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b></b></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 18px; ">I knew she wouldn’t want to make it to the wedding. I wish she would, just that she wouldn’t. I have invited her to the party to see her smile, to see her wish me whole heartedly. I wanted to make sure she was fine. Probably she has moved on and wouldn’t make it. Probably it was high time I got over my guilt. I had my turn, I did not realise, I did not respond and now I have another turn, at another life, which I cannot afford to miss and add on to my guilt baggage.</span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">She said she would eventually make it? She did and she would. She really would.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">This party is not totally a bad idea. I get a chance to accept things and move on. As I hold on to Manjari’s hands and introduce her to my colleagues, I know what am accepting and what I am moving into. I just do not know, what I am moving away from. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">It was only fifteen minutes since Manjari and I had stepped in and I had already checked the guest list ten times to see if “she" has checked in. I was at the gate at the thirtieth minute, when she stepped out of her car. That minute I knew I had not really moved on and this whole wedding was a hasty decision and a bad imposition on a simple girl. It was my mistake that I had not responded in years. It was my mistake I had not corrected the mistake. Worse still, it was my mistake that I added on to the list of mistakes by brining Manjari into the loop. I thought of this, turned back and walked into the hall, only to notice that Manjari was fully aware of my conflicting thoughts and that it was not for no reason that I was pacing up and down the party hall.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">She is too timid, too soft and too sensitive, Manjari. I could not see her face after the revelation I had just got. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I wished I could run away from all this, like I always do. For once, I knew it was time I faced the reality up, real and bold. I rushed to Manjari to confront her and let her free of my complications. She deserves much better and more concerned a person. I wasn’t ready to face Manjari alone and that was without any plan in mind. I just knew I was sorry and this time, I just knew I had to say it then and there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">As I faced her, I saw a tear trickle down her face. Manjari and I have never been the closest of couples you could see during their courtship, but we had been very good friends if one could consider eating out, going out for movies and shopping as what good friends do. We are still not there yet, to read each other’s minds or each other’s problems. Thankfully we were not into each other that much as yet. She was in tears and I just stood.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">“Am sorry you had to know at this last minute!” and she burst out!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">I stood there confused. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">“The only reason I said ‘Yes’ was to move on from a not-worth-mentioning past of mine. But now when we are almost there close to the date, I know I do not have the heart to loop you into this. I did not know you would realise and stand away from me during the party. That was not how I wanted you to know. I thought we could work things out. It was just my fault and I would really want to save your time. You deserve much better.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">As always, I said nothing.</span><b style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></b></span></p></span><p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-84816695968161987442011-07-21T01:34:00.006+05:302011-07-21T02:06:22.841+05:30Somethings and some Nothings!!! – Part VII<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">Recap </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">- </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); "><b><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-i.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">Part I</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "> </span><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-ii.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">Part II</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "> </span><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-iii.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">Part III</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "> </span><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-iv.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">Part IV</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-v.html">Part V</a></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "> <a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/10/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-vi.html">Part VI</a></span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; display: inline !important; "><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">-------------------------------------------------------------</span></b></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%; ">I got used to the distance I asked for. I knew we were going to have a brighter future, just that we would not be sharing it. I knew we were going to see each other every day and it would be hard to ignore or stay indifferent. It was difficult to not look at the one person who had made every single day in the past memorable. It was difficult to not talk to the one person who had listened to the smallest of words I had ever uttered. It was difficult to stop caring for the one person I had cared about the most and start caring about me. It was difficult, but never impossible, and here I am, the result of unconditioned self care!</span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 115%; ">As weird that might sound, weird it was. I had given up on few traits of mine. I took off from my circle, the few things that no longer meant anything. I let go of those who did not fight hard enough to be by my side. I stayed back for myself. I grew stronger, less fond of him, more serious about life, especially mine. <o:p></o:p></span></p> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; ">I am still not sure if I had made my point and made it difficult for him by staying in the same work place. I am not sure if things could have been different, but I believe things aren’t and hence would not have been!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; ">When I looked back to see, I had the perfect life, without a perfect someone to share with, I had stopped looking back. When I looked around, I saw the people with their perfect someone and a life that looked what I thought was perfect in their own way. I was too happy and too sad to be the exception, but atleast I had my own way of living my life.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; ">I had moved on, for I cared too much about me. I hadn’t moved on enough to see someone else. I feared responses and the absence of them! I feared dependence; over dependence and inability regain independence. I feared lack of commitment from either side. In short, I feared! I hadn’t moved on enough until I knew he had moved on. I was happy he had moved on without even realising what he had to move on from. It made it easier for all the moving to happen!</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; ">I am done, done for the day! I had the sudden urge to pack off and rush out. I am getting an overdose of memories at one shot unlike the past years, something I haven’t trained myself to handle and wouldn’t want to either. I know I have a life to get back to at home. I have left something unanswered and I know I no longer want to! Right now, all I want to think for the rest of the day is that familiar “Hiiiiiiiiiiii” I had left unanswered in my inbox.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; ">“Hey, done for the day?” He’s still hanging around!</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; ">“Was just leaving...”</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; ">“Would be glad if you can make it!”</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; ">“I know, I eventually would!”</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; ">“Great! Am in a hurry now, meet you at the party then!”</span><p></p><p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-17516498237273030482010-10-03T16:43:00.004+05:302010-10-03T16:48:26.957+05:30Somethings and some Nothings!!! – Part VI<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><b></b></span></span></p><b><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Recap </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">- </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); "><b><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-i.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Part I</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-ii.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Part II</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-iii.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Part III</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-iv.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Part IV</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-v.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Part V</span></a></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">--------------------------------------------------</span></b></p></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I was done, for the day. I had wrapped them all up, all the files and all the work. I had bid all goodbyes and extended warm invites to every single person in every single cabin I could see in that floor. I had tried to push all these to the last minute, as I did not want the wedding to be the only thing to look forward too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She is perfect, the one am going to marry. She is probably too perfect for someone this normal as me. Almost everyone I have met has been so. I had no clue of what I had missed or why I had moved away, till I had to say “Yes” to this girl. Maybe it was our families that had my answer out from me, maybe it was her, maybe I would have answered to anyone then or maybe I just wanted that to come out for once. It was only then realised I should have answered to someone else, sometime back.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It’s been six months that am engaged. It was just a week since I was asked to meet this girl and I already had to say “Yes” to someone I had hardly known. My fiancée, assuming it’s righteous to call her so, was way too timid, to even ask. She just stood and I just thought of a similar evening a year before that.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A year of staying away from the dearest of people, a year of remote conversations that made me miss human touch. I had just landed back. My closest friend she was, and she was there in the airport to receive me. The smile was there, a little too fake. The “Hi” was low and the usual handshake was weak and there was no warm hug. I thought she was busy, tired and bored. I never knew she was alone. I did not ask and she did not tell what was bothering her. We were in constant touch. We spoke more than ever when I was gone. Then, in the airport, made me wonder if I had ever known her, if I had, I would have known.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My assignment was over. I was back for good. I had plans here. I wanted to settle down big. She knew my plans. She was there planning it with me, for me. She knew I had missed her out in the plan and never said a word. I knew I was going right till that evening, she said she had to move out of my life. She literally said that, on one of the most important day of life. “Am proud of you, am happy for you, and am happy you get to do what you always wanted to – work, friends and now this new home for yourself. Am sure you will go places. For a while I want to be happy for myself. I can’t see you have a plan and not be a part of it. I had a plan. I no longer have one. I need one and need to be strong for myself. I had asked a question. I would have loved to hear an answer, either ways. Am not sure if I will ever get to hear that. I don’t want to wait to see it not happen. I don’t want to part as friends. I don’t want us to part at all. I just want to move away, and move on. I need some space now, for myself. As always, I will always be there for you, just that now, it will be from a distance. Bye for now...” and she had left with a smile on her face. Thanks to that smile, I knew she would be fine. Thanks to that smile, I was never fine again.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yes, I said “Yes” to this girl even after I thought of the other evening. I thought it would help me move on. I thought I would be fine again. I thought she was strong, happy and safe. I am still not sure if either of us are - she, me or my fiancée.</span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-50451248568756063182010-07-19T08:51:00.000+05:302010-07-19T21:12:13.905+05:30Somethings and some Nothings!!! – Part V<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;font-size:13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "></span></b></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#333333;"><b><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b>Recap </b>- <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); "><b><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-i.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); ">Part I</a> <a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-ii.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); ">Part II</a> <a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-iii.html" style="color: rgb(34, 51, 68); ">Part III</a> <a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-iv.html">Part IV</a></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b>--------------------------------------------------</b></p></b></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">When you get used to distances, even proximity seems too far! I felt like I was in an island of friends, with my own piece of land for myself and none to share. It was sort of a blessing that I could enjoy all this. I have had my share of distances and spaces and it was time I redefined certain boundaries.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">I would say it was a dream, come true, when I found that there were people to care for, when I stepped into the outside world alone. If there are only seven in the whole world, who would say beginning of corporate life was the best part of their lives, I would be their leader shouting that out to rest of the world. It was a bigger dream come true or even a miracle, when someone cared for me in return. I had always believed that there was a margin bordering the difference between ego, attitude and arrogance. He was that margin personified and walking around as a six foot man with a mission to keep people around him happy, dreaming, in glee and totally in awe. I had always had his shoulder to lean on, when in despair, when low on hope and whenever I wanted to feel safe. He had always lent a ear to all that rambling I went on with, that would never stop no matter what time of the day it was. We had been connected even when I was away and I cursed myself for misjudging the beautiful friendship, the first time I did.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">A slightly heavier lunch and an overload of reasons to think, seem to make me travel back to my memories of good old days a little more than always. In spite of the crystal like memory I boast of, it’s been years since I thought back at all these. I thought I wasn’t strong to handle it, but now I know nobody else could have handled it any better. Thank God, I know am doing great. This feeling makes me special to myself every single day. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">As I checked the mails that have filled my inbox, over the lunch time I was out, on a lunch date with myself and my favourite katti rolls, I ran through all the replies to his wedding invite, he had sent to the team. I had wished him with a one liner, “Hearty congrats to the happy couple!” and I have seen him look disturbed from then on. He knows he has not yet lived up to all the four keywords in my reply. He was hurrying into a marriage he thinks would help him forget his past, he knew he was wrong, still he knew that was his only way out as a favour to himself.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">He was not one of a kind. I knew of another who could not have been any nicer. I have always been lucky to meet the best of the people. I have always been blessed with their love and affection. When there’s and extra element of care added to the equation I have felt like a princess. I had asked him, not so clearly, not so obviously, nevertheless asked him, if we were just friends. He had not replied. I had assumed I had got it all wrong and blamed myself for questioning the purest of friendship that ever blossomed on mother earth. I thought as much, till I was once asked the same by another person. I then knew how tough it was to answer when asked. I also knew I had an obligation to answer and clarify at once. I answered with a “No”, I meant “We are just friends” and then we were clear and great friends now. This was when I was away for a year, just before I had to come back.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">I had come back right when he had planned to take up an onsite offer. I had felt heavy about his plans getting postponed. I knew he had no choice. I had still wanted a status check and tried to be a little more explicit when I asked him this time. “I need to know if am going to be on the top of your priorities right now. I need to know if I can be happy to wait.” He didn’t reply. I knew he had meant he had other priorities on his head and he couldn’t think of me and his life together then. He didn’t realise we were getting older. I understood his stand and felt bad for understanding a little too much. I was relieved I had asked, else would have always assumed without any reason that his response would have been what I wanted to hear. He was not one of a kind. If I had met him, and another, I know there would be others. Just that I also knew I wouldn’t anyways bother myself to care.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-84643859714219003672010-07-11T21:14:00.000+05:302010-07-19T21:10:58.989+05:30Somethings and some Nothings!!! – Part IV<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b>Recap </b>- <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><b><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-i.html">Part I</a> <a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-ii.html">Part II</a> <a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/07/somethings-and-some-nothings-part-iii.html">Part III</a></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b>--------------------------------------------------</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b></b></p><b><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Four years and she has not asked me a simple “Why”. Maybe she had wanted to ask thousand such whys for all that happened, maybe she had asked and I had no clue she did, maybe she was tired of asking, maybe she knew the answers or maybe she didn’t have the question in the first place!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">She smiled more than ever and said I could have the three weeks leave I had requested for. She should have asked more about it. She should have had more to say. She chose not to. Surprised, but happy she’s pulled through all this. I walked out of the cabin in less than two minutes. She’s not let me stand near her or for any longer. I have not let her think of a way to get rid of me every time. I have moved away myself. Like always, I just left. Surprised, but happy I have started to think like her, for her.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I had to wind up things at work and meet people in the office. Am leaving tomorrow and have a whole baggage to pack off. People were hanging around near my desk and plans being made for a party that evening. They wanted to make it the best party I could have ever been to. I smiled to myself and wondered when and how my memory grew sharper! I could now clearly remember the one party that shall always be my best, the one she had thrown the day before she left. That was when she had hinted and I had not realised she had. That was when I should have said a “Yes” or a “No”, for that would have made a difference and I would have still had her by me. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">The seven of us were there and she was leaving the next day for her Masters. She had made me study along with her. She had even helped me out at work so that I could study. I did give her company in studying, but that was for her sake. As for me, I had other plans. I had my career chalked out. I knew what I wanted and what I was going to do. She had asked me a hundred times what my plan was, from the day our results had come. She was in and I wasn’t and she sure did know I had a plan. Our idea of career was different and we respected that when she had to leave. We wished for each other’s good and more importantly we knew we would still be the best of friends no matter where we go. That’s all that had mattered, atleast to me. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">She asked me for the hundredth time that night when I dropped her off at her place. She asked me what I would do for the next two years. I had wanted to work for two years and then do my Masters. I told her that. She said “I wish you would come with me now, we would graduate together and that would make things much easier!” and smiled, suppressing a tear that could have made things clear for me then itself. That was the first time I saw her eyes yearn for something, but back then didn’t know they were asking me if she and I had a future. I hadn’t replied to her then. That was first of the many opportunities she gave me to respond. I failed to read that. I failed to read much more than that. Clearly, there was no line anymore, no thin line that demarked the boundaries. She had realised that and I should have too. We were meant to cross it together.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">She went on to have an amazing twelve months and right through we were there for each other, distance has never made us far from each other and time just flew before we could realise it did. It was time I executed my plan and I had not hurried into it yet. Even before I could enter the next step, she was back. Only to ask me again what my plan was. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">As I thought how much change has changed her, I noticed my mobile ring louder than ever. The plan for tonight’s party was confirmed and I had to be there by seven with my fiancée. I looked at my monitor and the tiny clock there showed it was time for lunch and I had another half a day to push through.</span></p></b><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-81029353265236968682010-07-05T05:40:00.000+05:302010-07-06T22:53:39.491+05:30Somethings and some Nothings!!! – Part III<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b>Recap </b>- <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><b><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-i.html">Part I</a> <a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-ii.html">Part II</a></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b>--------------------------------------------------</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b></b></p><b><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">In a world where self pride becomes the key to existence, ego is the safest weapon one can use. To prove "I am, what I am and I am all that I have", I probably am using it as a weapon of destruction, that kills a potentially dying friendship, if I can call it so!</span></p></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b> </b></p><b><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">He reports to me, in a totally different sense we report to each other every day and it doesn’t get any better. But within the four walls of the cabin or within the frame of professional work, I don’t think. I don’t question myself anything and even better, I don’t question him. I didn’t think till he walked out with his leave request approved. I didn’t want to confirm my worst fear of being the only one to have moved on. Moved on might be a superlative of something lighter I feel. It’s just that am not even in search of words. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I could have easily asked “Why?”. I had all the time, all these years, yet I hadn’t. And now, I cannot. It’s fair and simple. It would have been hardly two minutes since he walked out of my cabin without asking if I would be there, and I had already thought of all the responses I would have given if I were asked. I have always wondered if things would have been easier if I thought about it any lesser.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I stared at the invitation I had not opened. I knew the content inside too well. I knew this was coming and had prepared myself for it. I knew the day, time and people mentioned in bold and gold, inside the beautiful laced invitation cover and I wish I hadn’t known it this deep. This was not what he wanted, and I knew that as well.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">It was like any other day, except that I had those extra two minutes of discussion with him. It was time that I got back to work and smiled at all the mails on my office laptop. Work makes me smile, for I can easily get lost in it without blaming myself too much about it. I had known the way to work around in this place and this level of comfort made life more convenient for me. I could choose to choose and opt to ignore anything and anyone at any time and however brutal that sounds, that was the best part of what I do here.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">It wasn’t even eleven in the morning, and the day can never be longer! I knew I had to rush for a cup of coffee. Alone, but hot black coffee and the view from the balcony on our 7</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> floor cafeteria are the best company I could ask for. I needed that time off alone, and when I closed my eyes I could hear the music in my head. Doing all these alone, I had never imagined I would get addicted to! Am glad I did...</span></p></b><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496911886959049372.post-26787341842109493022010-06-26T16:28:00.000+05:302010-06-26T20:55:42.034+05:30Somethings and Nothings - Part II<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>Recap </b>- <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><b><a href="http://from-mind-to-words.blogspot.com/2010/06/somethings-and-nothings-part-i.html">Part I</a></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>--------------------------------------------------</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“I wish I had said yes”, I said. As I said this once again, I really wished I would get another chance. It’s been four long years of regret, hope and despair. But it’s been a longer period of love, care and friendship. I just thought of a moment six years back, but had to rush for this daily call for which I run in this early every morning and end up giving a wrong impression to the one person I wanted to be perfectly right.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Six years back when I had entered the same meeting hall I stand in, little did I know I wasn’t alone, little did I know that I would stand here today recollecting the past, something I had never dreamt of happening to me of all people. I had a past? A relationship which I call a past? I might or might not have! That’s me; I am not too sure... At least I have started thinking about it and I wish I had started earlier.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">The meeting was a routine status call and I had all the time to be with myself, to think what went wrong or what went right! That’s actually all the time I have got for myself! I had made a choice and now I live with it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">She was there, when I thought I was pushed into a new island. She just smiled and said a simple “Hello” and instantly connected. I might have hesitated at least for a second or two before I breathed out a weaker “helloooo”, but in no time, we were out there laughing with rest of the lot at the lunch table. There were seven of us, who became a notorious gang, but the rest five were different from her. She was the person I had right from daily route bus to my cubicle, from morning till evening, for every single thought I needed to share and for every single time I needed someone to just talk to or even shout at; she was there! She did not stop with a smile alone; she spoke about everything more than anyone one can ever imagine. She could just not stop and that’s what made us complement each other even more.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">She was always with people, so much that the whole world knew her and wanted to be friends with her. I thought myself to have been lucky that way. We were best of friends and the best part was that there were no strings attached. We had our spaces, we had our separate lives, people, career and more than that we had our own priorities! Just that I misread what was mine, and more so what she thought was hers! </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Any questions?” was all that I heard in today’s call and thankfully it was over with that. Memories come in handy in such situations, if I have to look at the brighter side of a hanging past or a boring meeting. As I walk out of the conference room, I crossed her cabin and she hurriedly looked up from her desk. “Got a minute?” and I immediately stepped in.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10