BUOY THE HEART- Part 2

BUOY THE HEART

Part- 2

I grinned at him, forgetting the fact that he had been half-an hour late, and called him excitedly, “Aarav!”

“Hey dude,” Rakesh waved at him.

“Hi,” Aarav greeted formally, slipped next to me and asked, “Did you order anything?”

“Nope, I was waiting for you.” And then I remembered. “You are late again, by the way.” I scowled at him.

“Well, you did seem busy,” he reasoned.

We three had our dinner together and Rakesh left early. Aarav walked me till the road that led me to my hostel. It was actually a junction where one road led to the girls’ hostel, one to the Nursing department, and the other towards the hospital. Boys were allowed to come up to our hostel till six in the evening and we had time till 9:30 in the night to get into our hostel without getting reprimanded by our hostel warden. I usually turned up at 9 in the night and Aarav would always walk me back till the junction. That night, it was nearly 9:20 and I walked fast, still smiling.

“What are you smiling at?’ he asked me.

“Nothing, Rakesh seems so cool and groomed. You both must be getting along well?”

“Yeah.”

“Anyways, don’t be late next time,” I reminded him.

“You sound strange,” he complained. “I expected you to punch me in the least. But only a remainder?”

“Hmm… let’s see, I am not forgetting your mistake. I am just in a good mood. So better keep that in mind.”

He was still starring at me in puzzlement when I left to my hostel at the junction. Before I could get into the hostel block, I turned back to see him still standing at the junction. I waved my hand, indicating him to leave. He nodded and turned away.

***

Sunday morning, we had a new entry into our hostel block, and precisely in our floor. It was Reena, a rich, beautiful, polished girl from Qatar. She was the heiress to a vast business and had an elder brother who was kind enough to see her off in our college despite his neck-deep busy schedule. By the time she arrived in the afternoon, half the hostel was empty and I was waiting in the lobby for Aarav to arrive. He was late as usual and that made me the first acquaintance of Reena. I helped her get to her room and when Aarav arrived, I left saying I would help her set up her belongings once I get back from lunch.

Making new friends usually sends me to good mood and Aarav was curious to see who the late entrant was. The next day, I accompanied Reena for an Aarav-free breakfast and then we took off to the classes together. Some weren’t much bothered by the new entry but I was sure that by the afternoon, details of Reena would go around to everyone.

I introduced her to Aarav over lunch. He was delighted to learn her affiliation to a certain things which only he likes. Like watching horror movies, playing pool, watching movies till late night and their obsession with the number 7 which turned out to be their lucky number as well. I kept smiling all the time they chatted, silently eating my food and joining the conversation in between. As it turned out, most of the times we had lunch during the working days, we three ate together and there were many occasions when Rakesh joined us. That was a relief for me as I had more to talk to him than either Aarav or Reena could do together.

Three weeks passed without much of any happenings. Aarav and I used to take off to multiplexes and malls like Skywalk, Escatalk, Spencers during the weekends. It became our target to round of the main hangout places in Chennai within a month. Strolling for fun in T-Nagar and Pondy bazaar was my favorite but he hated it because of the traffic. Reena and Rakesh accompanied us once or twice, but mostly, I preferred to keep things wrapped up between Aarav and me. There were enough restaurants near our university to keep us engaged in the weekdays.

Meanwhile, Aarav and I managed to get along with our studies very well indeed. Our college houses an underground air conditioned library, which became my favorite place for writing assignments. The staircase leading down to the library was kind of a hangout place where I and Aarav used to sit with coke tins and text books in front of us. I was glad that we hadn’t so much deviated from our initial ambition.

The Thursday of the fourth week in college, I got the most dreadful news.

I had just returned to hostel after classes and after washing up, at almost 4:30, I called up Aarav to ask about dinner plans. That’s when my dad called me. He wasn’t so cheerful like he usually was and I could make out that he was busy. I kept Aarav in a conference call with my dad (seriously, we never had any secrets and he sometimes heard my conversations with others in conference call, as did I do when he received calls while I was on hold). After the usual greetings, he spoke up, “Adithi, we have a change of plans, me and your mother.”

“What happened dad?” I was curious.

“We have a two year project for extension of our business in New York. I think I and your mom have to head out to there. If things go out as planned, we might start coming Wednesday.”

“Dad, are you serious? You are leaving the country for two years?” I was aghast. I was accustomed to the fact that my parents were always busy and that they did their best to be with me as much as possible. At least, my mom used to stay around me a lot more than dad. I had never stayed away for so long as a couple of month away from them. But two years was too much for me. I couldn’t believe that my parents had decided so suddenly without even giving me a hint.

“Two years is just our estimation dear. It might take a little longer than that.” He was feeling terrible, I was sure.

“But… dad, how can you?” My eyes were already brimming.

He tried to explain about the situation of our business, the necessity and about how hard they had tried to avoid leaving. As he pacified me with promises of frequent visits (which I was sure would be very rare), I did my best to control my tears and sound okay. I really hated making my parents feel uncomfortable because of me.

After ending the call with dad, I didn’t talk to Aarav as well. He asked me if I was okay and all I did was tell him that I was fine and needed to go. I headed out of the hostel block and sat down on the bench in front of the block. My hope was that the cool evening wind would try to soothe my temper and melancholy.

After an hour of staring gloomily into space, I couldn’t help noticing that Aarav hadn’t called me or turned up like he usually does when I am unhappy.

It was past 5:30 in the evening when I called him.

He picked up the call on the first ring and said loudly, “Hey Buttercup, are you okay?”

I could guess that he was driving.

“Yeah,” I answered, my mood getting even worse. “I’m fine.”

“Where are you?” he asked.

“Sitting in front of the hostel,” I replied mechanically. “Where are you?”

“I am at Porur center, struck in traffic,” he said. And then he started chattering.

“Actually I am past the center. I am near the lake. Wait, I just passed it. And just crossed Hot Breads. Actually, I am trying to take over a bus but the driver isn’t giving me way.”

I heard him yanking the horn several times.

He continued again, “Finally, overtook it. I am near the bus stop in front of our college. Traffic isn’t so heavy. Wait, I just got into our college… I am near the fountain now. Nah, I just crossed it. See, they didn’t turn it on today. I am near the hospital block. Wait, there’s a speed breaker… crossed it. I am on the road to the junction. Actually, I am near the junction.”

I realized what was happening.

I turned towards the junction, still listening to him and saw his car driving in at a high speed.

He stopped the car right in front of me and said with a sigh, “And I’m right front of you.”

He stepped out of the car, came towards me and pulled me into a tight, consoling hug.

I simply stayed that way, not knowing how to react. When he let go of me, he looked at me worriedly and remarked, “You look so pale. Did you eat anything at all?”

I still kept staring at him. I agree, he always arrived late. But whenever he did, every time, he tried his best to distract me. Today, it was different. He didn’t make it seem as if he was late. In fact, he had never given such a dramatic entrance.  

As he gazed questioningly at me, I shook my head in denial.

“Well, then, I have got something for.” He grinned and brought out a package from the car. Sitting on the bench, he passed it to me saying, “I went to New Andhra Mess in Valsarvakkam to get you this. Your favorite- butter naan with butter chicken.”

He nailed it again. If anyone perfectly knew how to take my mind off worries, it was Aarav. Butter chicken is my all time favorite and I would be so absorbed while eating that Aarav often commented anyone would think I hail from a draught village.

As I looked at him with my smile coming back to me, he said, “You know, you are just missing out on all the good things about your parents leaving.”

“Aarav, there’s nothing so good about it. I know there are people who stay away for years without seeing each other. But I have never done that and I hate staying away from people I love. Call it obsessive nature or possessiveness or whatever but I can’t. and the next time we have holidays, I will be returning to an empty house.”

“Hey, do you remember, whenever your parents weren’t around during the holidays before, you used to stay at my place. You stayed for the whole summer after 10^th standard in my house. It would be the same this time. You will be staying over at my place. Nothing to worry about. And besides, your parents won’t be receiving your attendance reports, nor any notices, which means we can bunk classes and do whatever we want.”

He went on talking about how cool it would be, now that we would be spending the holidays together, how we could have fun in college and so on. He tried to distract me at his best and could finally make me laugh.

We ate the food he brought sitting there and the while, I let him talk. I was content just looking at him.

That was my secret which even he didn’t know. That I loved him more than anyone else. Having no siblings, and having busy parents, I had seen him more than others since our childhood and so did he. Ever since the time I had a proper sense in me, ever since I knew what I was and what I wanted, I had loved him dearly.

But the problem was, we had sworn to be good friends and he never broke it. I had a very strong conscience in me which constantly reminded me that misunderstanding and taking advantage of a good friendship is highly unethical. True, I had seen a lot many scandals in my life even before I was ten. But I wasn’t the girl who would ignore ethics, the value of a strong relationship and the power of true feelings. In reality, I had long ago come to terms with the fact that Aarav and I would remain friends our whole lives and I was totally okay with it. I was happy being with him, no matter what our relationship was. If being friends with him was the way of it, then I would gladly stay that way.

Looking at him now, the way he cared so much for me, I felt my heart ache. It was difficult but I was more than willing to endure it. Still, there was a part of me that desperately wanted to escape the pain. I was nearly over the gloominess which my parents’ plan had caused. Aarav made me walk around with him along half the campus, took me to a restaurant despite my protests that I was full. A chocolate milk shake, an ice cream and a time full of jokes was what he suggested to completely lift my spirits.

That night, as I lied down on my bed thinking about him, I realized that things would go out of hands if I were to be with him for long. I thought of ways to deal with my problem.

I never knew how that idea came up, but suddenly, I analyzed that if Aarav had a girlfriend, I could distance myself from him or at least remain in my limits as his friend. He would be distracted with a girl he loves, I would have a leverage to control my heart and we could have a life lasting friendship unmarred by anything stupid I could think of. All that was needed was Aarav to have a girlfriend who would understand that I am a good friend as well. The trouble was, Aarav never seemed interested in anyone. That was something I had to work on.

Before I could slumber off, I decided on setting him up with someone I could trust his happiness with; a girl who could take care of him better than me and would never misunderstand our friendship. Well, at least, she shouldn’t misunderstand my intentions. Pushing Aarav onto someone else seemed a legitimate solution to all the troubles.

BUOY THE HEART

BUOY THE HEART

Part- 1

I knew he would come to pick me up, no matter how late he turns up. It has been his habit since our childhood. I, being a girl would always be on time whereas he, being the guy, was always late by at least fifteen minutes or more. No matter how many times I reprimanded him, he still would repeat it.

     Every time he arrived late, I used to glare at him, tease him seriously that he should have been a girl to take so much time to get dressed and I would threaten him not to be late the next time. But, he never much took my warnings seriously. His late arrivals continued and I just got more used to them.

     When one of the most important sessions of my life was starting, I was standing in the balcony adjoining my bedroom, overlooking the runway to my elegant parental house. He was supposed to arrive at five in the evening and it was already nearing six. Frustration flared through my mind and I picked up my phone to call him for the sixth time. Just as I was dialing his number, a black Benz arrived at the gate. I turned to see the watchman open the gate and the car ran towards the garage, took a U-turn and parked along the driveway.

He stepped out of the car and looked up directly at me, waving his hand and grinning broadly.

     That’s what he always did when he was late. He would smile at me warmly and greet me so cheerfully, say sorry with an earnest expression and give me a friendly hug. I would lose the leverage of my anger and would simply complain of his tardy arrivals instead of smacking him like how I usually plan while waiting. He would instantly change the subject and drag me away with him.

     I gave him a piercingly angry scowl as I turned round and headed out of my room, down the staircase, into the hall. He came in with a blissful smile on his face and said aloud, “Hey Buttercup!” No sooner did he step close to me, intending to give his usual hug that I stepped back, pushed him away and said, “Don’t try to play this time. You are an hour late!”

     “I know. Sorry,” he said, trying to look straight into my eyes with a pleading face. “You see, dad got me a new car and I was giving him a drive to his office. I had to thank him better too.”

     I did notice that he hadn’t arrived in his usual car. But the anger I had on mind completely neglected the observation. Now that he was being honest, I decided to give him another chance, like always.

     Sensing the change in my thoughts, he took my hand and said, “I was saving the second best drive for you. You know you take up after my parents.”

     He nailed it. I smiled and shook my head, sighing and said, “You sure have words at the tip of your tongue. But still, this is the last time I am going to tolerate this. Next time, I am going to snap your neck.” I punched his arm as hard as I could. Obviously, he didn’t feel that as a serious punch either. God, I hate his muscles.

     Before I could speak anything more, he pulled my hand, dragging me along, chattering avidly, “Come on, we have got a lot to do. And I think we can have our dinner somewhere on the way. I already told dad that I will be late today. So, we can go for a long night drive in my car.”

     “Aarav, relax,” I said, smiling again as I got into his car. “Nice car by the way. What’s the occasion?”

“Well, we got into medical college and dad was happy that I scored better in the entrance than his expectation. Though, that didn’t make much of a difference.”

     That was correct.

     Aarav and I have been close friends since kindergarten and we have been inseparable ever. His parents were rich business persons and so were mine. We had another thing in common. We both didn’t have any siblings, making our bond even stronger. We studied together, played together, partied together and fought as wildly as ever. We both had been dream of becoming of becoming doctors one day and we worked hard for the entrance. Though our marks had been well enough to get admission in a medical college, our princely parents thought we would do better in a renowned university. As a result, we ended up getting admissions in SRMC, Chennai, totally content with paying the high fees. We were due for joining classes in a couple of days and still had lot of shopping left.

     Aarav kept up a chatter as we drove. After a few minutes, he said, “Hey check this out.” He pushed at a button and the top of the car lifted, wound backwards, opening up.  

     “Wow, is this is an open top car?” I asked, enjoying the cool wind blowing at us.

     “Yeah. I loved it a lot.”

     “Keep it open always unless it rains or is too sunny.” I advised.

     “Sure, I would.”

     We shopped for three hours in a row, never feeling tired or bored and then headed to have dinner in a food court in one of the malls. Till twelve in the night, we kept ourselves to the roads, taking a long drive. He drove me back home when I fell asleep, resting my head on his shoulder, as usual.

     My parents weren’t at home by the time we arrived, thanks to a late night business party. I was so asleep and disoriented that Aarav carried me inside, woke me up enough to say, “Good night Buttercup,” and left.

***

     Arriving at college wasn’t so dramatic as I imagined. We both sure travelled by the road as Aarav needed to get his car to college. Driving from Hyderabad to Chennai didn’t seem so tough to him, though we stopped on the way for more than a couple of times to take rest at hotels. Our parents took a flight and arrived very well before us. By the time we completed all the formalities and officially lodged into the university hostels, my dad was ready with a gift for me.

     “There’s your brand new Hyundai Verna,” he beamed at me, pointing to a white Verna parked in the hostel parking lot.

     “Dad!” I was indeed surprised. I had my own i10 car back at home, but I never bothered to get it to college as I was sure Aarav would always be there for help. I had never thought my dad would surprise me without me asking for a car. I gave him a hug, thanking him. Aarav and his parents arrived by then. After a good dinner and not so top notched- sentimental farewell, our parents left.

     Settling down in SRMC was easier than I thought. We had individual rooms in our hostels and we could have an AC on our own account. The classes are ultra-modern and the campus has a cool cafeteria named Annex, a garden restaurant, an NRI tuck shop which has almost everything one would ever want. I had immense fun setting up everything in my room and by the 1^st evening of our stay, Aarav and I were communicating on Skype, showing around how we arranged our rooms. The thing I loved most was the benches we had in front of our hostel, under the shade of trees, right in front of the basketball court. I mentally decided on sitting there every evening so that I could watch Aarav practice basketball (he is an awesome player and used to be our school basketball team captain).

     I loved the hospital and our classes. Aarav and I somehow managed to sit next to each other and we had our roll numbers allotted- consecutive numbers as usual.

     I made friends easily. Neha, Deepika, Jaya, Lekha were a few of the girls who had their rooms next to mine. They were quite friendly and we started going to the mess together. Our class boys were kind of friendly with all of us.

     But it took us a week to understand that people were mistaking my relation with Aarav. Everyone thought us to be involved romantically and we had to clarify to everyone that were best friends. ‘Friends’, not anything more.

     It was Friday evening, six days past our admission. I was waiting at the fast food section in Annex for Aarav, for dinner, and he was late as usual. I was toying with my phone, thinking if I should send a message warning my idiotic friend when someone slipped onto the seat in front of me. I looked up to see one of my fellow classmates watching me with a smile.

     We both had never spoken to each other and it seemed a little awkward. Finally, I said hesitantly,    “Hello.”

     “Hi,” he said. “You are Adithi right?”

     “Yeah. I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.” I was sheepish.

     “It’s okay. I’m Rakesh.” He extended his hand and I shook it formally, feeling unsure.

     “I guess you must be waiting for Aarav?” he asked me.

     “Yes. He always turns up late,” I tried to sound casual, though my anger was boiling up.

     “Well, boys generally relax when they are with someone understanding. After all, you are such a good friend to him.”

     “How do you know that?”

    “My room is next to his in hostel. We are kind of getting along well.”

     I smiled. Something about his accent seemed different. “I don’t think you are from somewhere in India, right?”

    He grinned. “Correct. I am an NRI student. Landed in from Manhattan. My parents stay there and so does my whole family from two generations.”

   “Oh, that’s cool.” I smiled, feeling comfortable as I talked more. Sure, he was looking handsome and seemed to have really charismatic manners. Within a few minutes, we were happily chatting away and laughing over his witty words.

   “Seems like you are having fun.” I heard him say with disappointment. I turned to see Aarav standing a few feet away, looking at us with rounded eyes.

A difference between brain and heart....
Brain says, "Ignore those who ignore you, treat everyone like they treat you."
Heart says, "Do everything for the ones you like, even if they ignore you..."
Though everyone says, "Follow your heart," it is sometimes better to follow our brains.....

LITTLE WAYS DOWN THE ROAD- THE FINAL PART

       LITTLE WAYS DOWN THE ROAD- THE FINAL PART

    A couple of days passed unnoticed. One morning, as Arjun dressed up, he opened his wardrobe to get his white jacket out. Days were turning cold and he knew the beach would be even cooler. As he took out his jacket, his eyes fell on Miss. D's diary which he had kept there in the rack. He saw it everyday. But somehow, that day, his instinct made him take it out. He sat down on his bed skimming through the pages. He knew everything written there by heart. Still, he wanted to read her words "I am in love with him."

    After starring at them for a moment, he closed the diary, left it on his pillow so as to read it again that night and left for jogging.

    As he jogged all along the beach, he remembered her more than ever. At his usual time, he sat down on the wall, facing the sea.

    He couldn't comprehend why he was so immersed in her remembrance. He squeezed his eyes close and thought, "She is happy somewhere. She is still out there somewhere. Don't think about it. Don't think about all this." He sat down with his eyes closed, hands stiff by his side, resting on the wall.

    "Hello Mr. J," the voice he loved the most washed over him.

    Arjun shook his head chuckling, eyes still closed, at the hallucination he was having. Hearing her voice when she wasn't there was a definite hallucination.

    "Mr. J," he heard the voice again.

    He opened his eyes, chuckling and turned to the direction where Miss. D used to sit before, to see her sitting there then.

    He gave a short laugh and said to her image, "This is ridiculous. I don't know why I am lately getting these hallucinations. This is really good, to remember you. But if I keep talking to the winds like this, or to myself, everyone will think that I am insane."

    "I am not a hallucination Mr. J," the image said.

    Arjun laughed. "Oh my! I am so really, insanely in love with you."

    "I really am not a hallucination Mr.J," the image said earnestly, looking at him fondly and raised her hand up.

    Arjun stared at her image in disbelief. Slowly, he raised his right hand and uncertainly, touched her with index finger, as lightly as possible.

    He felt her.

    He drew away his hand in shock and then again slowly extended it, took her hand into his, feeling her smooth skin.

    "Miss. D?" he asked in a total delusion.

    "Yes," she smiled softly and nodded.

    Arjun didn't speak anything. He just stared at her, sinking in the fact that she was really sitting near him, that he was finally holding her hand.

    "After a few moments, with a ragged breath, he said, "You came back."

    She gave a miserable smile and said slowly, "I had to. I am so sorry Mr. J."

    He didn't speak up.

    "I am really sorry," she continued. "I was really stupid and foolish. I was... a complete idiot."

    "What are you saying?" Arjun asked, a smile coming at last.

    "I tortured you, didn't I?" she asked, eyes moistening.

    Arjun stared her in bewilderment.

    "I thought it was just a fling for you, that everything would slowly change afterwards. I thought that maybe after some days, we will face the toughness of unknown and unkempt relations. I don't know why, but but I felt that things would go the same way as they happened in my past. And it was an insecurity that I wasn't up to your standards which..." she babbled on when Arjun interrupted her with "Sshh... Sshh..."

    She stopped and looked at him fearing his anger. Unlike her imagination, he smiled affectionately, squeezed her hand and said, "I know. I know everything, how much you thought, the big conscience struggles you had, everything. And I can understand that. You don't have to explain anymore."

    She was confused.

    He glanced at her perplexed expression and admitted, "The day you left, you left your diary here right? I read everything in it. I have been reading it every time I am alone, since two years." He looked embarrassed. 

    "Oh! That's better. I can comprehend that you wanted to get the answers to your doubts. Anyways, I am happy that you understood my problems."

    "Yes," he said.

    "I just came to seek your forgiveness," she said.

    "For what?"

    "I don't know exactly for what. Maybe because I made you think more about me. That was bad."

    "What?" Arjun got up from the wall and stood facing her.

    Immediately, she too followed him and stood facing him, feeling unsure and afraid.

    "I mean, I left you right here and thought you would forget everything, that you would forget me after some days. It was like you would get out of that whole issue once I go away. But you didn't. You still think about me and you still..." she halted abruptly and then squeezed her eyes close. She sighed, opened her eyes and said, "Two years... Two years is really long. I didn't expect this to be so..."

    "Still the same?" Mr. J completed the line.

    Miss. D nodded slowly.

    "I told you it would always be the same," Mr. J reminded her.

    "Yeah. I realized it very late," she admitted.

    "What made you come back?" he asked her.

    "I read about you..."

    "In that business magazine?" he asked in between.

    "Yes," she replied.

    Mr. J laughed. Miss. D looked at him uncertainly.

    "Everyone except me had bothered to read it," he said laughing. "I never realized that I had become a complete 'You' till I read that interview. And I didn't even think about it when I was talking to that reporter. When I saw the report myself, I somehow understood that it wasn't me anymore."

    Miss. D smiled and said, "Well, I was already feeling very low for what had happened. And that article made me even more miserable." She bent her head, thinking and said, "I was in U.S for the past one and half year and came back to India a week back. I saw that magazine on my brother's table and your photo on the cover page. I couldn't stop myself from reading it. And after reading everything, I just couldn't stay sitting idly. "

    "Why did you exactly come back?" he asked her fondly.

    "To make sure that all was not lost," she said, raising her head and looking at him expectantly.

    He gave a faint smile and said, "Well, I lost something."

    Miss. D's face became white.

    He grinned and said, "My feeling that I was hallucinating your return. That's what I lost."

    Both of them laughed. But it prolonged to be a laughter of happiness. Arjun took her face into his and said, "It would always be the same."

    She nodded. 

    "You have been so stupid," he said in that laughter.

    "I know. I have always been the crazy girl," she laughed it off.

    "Wait, are you still Miss. D or Mrs. D?" he asked.

    "Miss. D," she assured him and then added, "But I would love to be Mrs. J one day."

    He chuckled and said, "Great! Mrs. J, can I know your name at least now?"

    She laughed briefly and replied, "Atwika."

    "What does that mean" he asked in confusion.

    "Atwika means 'One and Only'. It is Sanskrit," she replied, slipping her hands round his neck.

    "Well, it is totally apt for you. You are the one and only Miss. D, sorry Mrs. J for me," he said, pulling her into his arms.

    Amidst the throng of morning joggers, two truly bonded souls were holding onto each other for a lifetime...

                                            ....THE END....

LITTLE WAYS DOWN THE ROAD- PART 9

               LITTLE WAYS DOWN THE ROAD- PART 9

    That day as he sat thinking about her, someone came and sat down beside him.

    He turned sideways to see a girl on her early teens with an innocent smile, small eyes and a fair complexion, sitting at a distance, looking at him curiously. 

    He gave an awkward smile.

    "Are you the businessman Arjun?" she asked him. Her voice had more childish tint to it. 

    "Yeah. How do you know?" Arjun wasn't so surprised.

    The girl pulled out a folded magazine from the pocket of her coat and unfolded it. It was a business magazine. She opened it and showed him the page which had a picture of him. "I read this just a few minutes ago and recognized it was you," she said.

    Arjun remembered giving a personal interview to the magazine reporters some days back. They had said then that they would publish it in their coming issue. He hadn't bothered to look at the printed one.

    He took the magazine and read what they had printed.

    "So, are you very philosophical?" the girl asked.

    "No. But my friend is," Arjun smiled.

    "Why didn't you tell her name?" she asked.

    "Because I don't know."

    "Why didn't you go for her?"

    "Because there are reasons others can't understand."

    "Are you saying that because I am too young?"

    "No. I am saying that because there are things you have to experience at a much higher stage than now."

    She put out a pout and said, "Anyways, I am Pooja." She gave him her hand and he shook it courteously.

    "Hello Pooja. Pleased to meet you. You came alone?" he asked her with a smile.

    "No. Dad and I come jogging every morning. He is standing there, talking to his friends," she replied, pointing at her father.

    He turned to see her father and realized she looked more like him.

    "He gave me that magazine to hold it," she continued.

    Arjun smiled at the kid and sat silently.

    After a while, the girl's father came to pick her up. She introduced Arjun to him and they spoke casually for a few minutes before she left with her father.

    She grinned jubilantly and said, "Bye. Have fun."

    It struck Arjun somewhere. He sat on the wall, thinking how Miss. D used to say, "Have fun, enjoy it," everyday.

    It gave him a heavy heart. But he consoled himself saying, "Cool Mr. J, cool. Relax. She is out there somewhere. She is always with you."

    He went back home and asked his man-servant to get him the magazine before evening. That night, as he lied on his bed, he opened it and read the article.

                                         PERSONAL INFO-

                                         NAME- Arjun R.

                                         DATE OF BIRTH- 18th August 1985

                                         PLACE OF BIRTH- Mumbai

                                         PRESENTLY STAYING AT- Vishakhapatnam

                                         EDUCATION- MBA

                                         BUSINESS LINE- Chain of hotels, restaurants and shopping malls across the                                  country and overseas transport.

                                         FAMILY- Father who established the business. Mother is home maker. Both are                                                    presently staying in Mumbai.

    After a lot of questions about business policies and practices.....

    Q- What made you get into the business line? Was it because you were interested in it or to maintain the family's hereditary job?

    A- It isn't either of them. There was a time when I wasn't able to figure out what I really wanted. I was sort of aimless. My mentor then told me a few things, "If you go on trying to find something out, then after an year, you will find yourself again in the same spot, unable to decide on one thing. Just do whatever pops into your mind first. Follow your instincts. Take risks, learn from mistakes. Don't ever think too much than needed. Follow your conscience." It was then that I decided it was time for me to step into something new, test my skills, taste new waters. I decided to look into one sector of business for practice. After a few months, I became confident that I can manage everything, that this is what I really wanted. I never had to look back again.

    Q- Right in the personal front, there are never any rumors on your personal life or any baseless link-ups. How do you take care of that?

    A- I have already had my own share of relations in life. Some people don't have the patience to do the same thing again. Some don't have the courage to do that. I don't have the interest. I am totally content with the people I have in my life. So I never go out with anyone or have late-night parties or get involved in any gossip-leading things.

    Q- What is the ideal way of spending life according to you?

    A- Life is never a confusion. We need to have a clear view of everything, distinguish what is what. Just because something happened in a way you didn't think it would, you shouldn't back off. Escaping is never a solution. Walking out into the real world, moving with the common people, having some time to think what you are doing, these are the makers of a normal person. Common people have ideas which we can never dream of. To underestimate anyone is a foolish act.Instead of wasting time pondering over the past, we can live in the present beautifully so that tomorrow, when it becomes past, we don't have to repent anything. One should never think "Why didn't this happen that way?" Because destiny has its own path. Everything that happens has its own reason. We should never question that. If you have no malice in your heart, then it is all good that will happen to you. That's what life is."
    Q- In all of interviews, you always speak about mentor but you never tell the name. Any reason for that?
    A- (Smiling) I don't know her name myself. Some relations don't have definitions. Ours is one such relation. All the same, she is my friend, philosopher and guide.
    Q- You never shy away from sharing your personal issues with media. Is there any possible reason?
    A- The only thing I learnt from my past is, never try to hide the most strong thoughts in your mind. Sometimes, the damage it does causes a lot of pain. Anyways, secrets always give rise to unwanted speculations. That's how rumors start. I don't want others to think the other way about my life incidents or talk about it as a gossip. Whatever should be known will be a known fact, it should be told.
    Q- What is the best philosophy you follow?
    A- Learn from the past, live in the present. Do what you really feel like doing and don't have regrets. Head out freely for your interests. Be unstoppable and unquestionable.

    Arjun closed the magazine and shut his eyes tightly. He hadn't realized it while speaking to the reporter. But he saw that now clearly. That whatever he had said, it was all what he had learnt from Miss. D. They were her words. And he had spoken them without actually realizing it. They had just tumbled out from his mind and voice.
    He switched off the bed lamp, pulled over his blanket and sighed remembering how everyone around him have constantly been saying that he had changed. He had brushed off these comments saying he was the same as he had always been. But he had understood that now. He had changed completely, undoubtedly. There was too much of Miss. D in him.
    He smiled, loving the fact that she was in him and slipped off into a slumber with the smile intact on his face.




TO BE CONTINUED...........!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LITTLE WAYS DOWN THE ROAD- PART 8

             LITTLE WAYS DOWN THE ROAD- PART 8

    Arjun held his breath as he read the diary.

                           "I am confused. What do I do now?

                           Look, A, I know you love him. I have known this for a really long time. But you were just too absorbed and afraid to admit it.

                           I wasn't afraid. I didn't know myself that I love him. I thought that it was affection I had for him, that I cared for him like a friend.

                          Okay, now that you know the fact, what will you do?

                          I can't tell him, I really can't. He is such an achieving person. He doesn't deserve someone like me. He deserves someone better.

                          Wait, what has professional life got to do with a life partner? You are also an educated, independent, professional woman.

                          Maybe. But I don't know if he feels the same about me like how i feel about him. I can't jump to conclusions immediately. What if he doesn't love me like I do? What if he is counting me in as only a friend?

                         But the way he looks at me, the affection in his eyes, it has got more to do than just friendship.

                        Anyways, I can't go on to him and rant about my feelings. I wish I knew what he is thinking.

                        Okay, now decide on the two options you have.

                        If he doesn't love me, then I am gonna shut up my mouth and stay mute. I will never let him learn my secret.

                       What if he does love you as strongly as you do? 

                       Well, I still can't be with him. He is someone unreachable. What if eventually we fall out, if this doesn't work out properly, if he starts hating me like Rohit?

                        Hey, there is no comparison between between Mr. J and that fool. Still, I can't risk. You are correct. I am a disaster with guys. I am never sure that I can keep him bonded to me. If the weariness in the bond starts anytime, then the bond will just shred up. I don't want to lose him. He is precious. 

                       Even if I am precious to him, I can't risk his happiness. He needs someone serious, practical and a stable woman. Not a fun loving freak like me. He should be happy.

                      What if he himself says "I love you"? 

                      Well, that's simple. I need to go away from him. He will realize later that I am just a passing cloud and he will move on. He will get someone worthy.

                      Are you really happy doing this?

                      Of course I am not. But his happiness means a lot to me.

                      But how will you go away from him so easily?

                      Simple. I will hug him tightly, tell him that I am not the correct one for him, make him understand that he needs someone better and walk away with a smile."

    Arjun closed the diary, his heart beating wildly and thoughts racing at the parting away plan she had written. She didn't smile when she left, least not did she give him a hug. But that was secondary. She had felt awfully miserable while going away. Eyes moistened, he read the other entries where she tried to decide if her choices were correct or not. And mostly, she wrote about him.

                     "What will happen to him if I go away? Will he become gloomy like how he was when he last had a break up? Will he again resign to the heart-break and become sad again?

                       No. Never. I have taught him enough about that episode till now. He is a genius and above all, he is my best friend. He will never forget my words and thoughts. He will always remember what he has to do and he will do the right things always. He will try to be happy, calm, composed and highly active, decisive like he has always been. That's what I prize in him. At least he would be that way for me."

    That woke Arjun up. For her... He would do anything for her. And if she wanted him to go on like he always had, then he would do it without any complain. But forgetting her and moving on was highly impossible. Not after learning how she felt about him. She had loved him more than what his imagination suggested. And he loved her. She might have walked away for his own good. But his well-being and happiness rested in her.

    He smiled, thinking about the emotional attachment she had with him, the bond she had shared with him, the love she had wrapped him in. How could she have been crazy to think that walking away was the best option? But then, she had always been crazy. But not so stupid. Maybe she will realize one day that she had been wrong and would come back to him.

    That seemed like an infinite lifetime impossibility to him. They never knew each others' names or any other details except that she knew he was a businessman. But that wouldn't be any help.

    He slid onto his bed, planning his life like how she had wanted him to.

    Since then he always pictured her sitting beside him, holding his hand and guiding him, leading him in the correct way. He adapted her style of writing diary- questioning himself like a different person and then answering those questions with the best possible solutions.

    He continued his jogging schedule. He would sit on the wall and feel her imprints near him, alive and juvenile like they always have been. He would divide his conscience into two parts- one was his voice and the other was her's.

    As months passed, he never saw her anywhere in practical. But personally, she was with him. He progressed professionally, reached the heights which his dad had always dreamed him to reach. Though his dad made him manage the whole business countrywide, he never left the city. Even if he had to travel to other places on business purposes, he would return as soon as possible.

    Two years passed by and he still was the same. His dad, cousins, no one could make him move onto others. He never looked out for another girl, never. And he didn't try to search extensively for her. It was her idea that whatever is truly written in your destiny will come to you without you realizing it. And he was strongly willed to follow whatever she said.



TO BE CONTINUED.........!!!!!!!

LITTLE WAYS DOWN THE ROAD- PART 7

         LITTLE WAYS DOWN THE ROAD- PART 7

    Miss. D wasn't happy with the way things were turning out between her and Rohit. She wanted everything to be good, enjoyable and she never wanted to hurt him or see him dejected. She wanted to do everything to make the relationship to go smooth.

    But Rohit wasn't so obliged in doing everything to make their relationship work. He wanted everything to be done in a way he liked. That wasn't so liked by Miss. D. Still, she wanted to be with him.

    As days passed, things got worse.

                  "You know, once we take a U-turn, we can never look back or realize what we have left behind. Be that a relationship or any road we take," she wrote.

    After a few days, things became better as Rohit realized that he was about to lose her.

                  "Who would lose a gem like me?" she wrote. "Anyone would be an absolute idiot to get away from me. Ha Ha..!!"

    Arjun smiled at the confidence she had on herself.

    But one evening, things went a wrong way...

    Rohit had persistently badgered her till she went out with to the beach at late night. She had to lie to her parents that she would be at her friend's place. And she never lied. Truthfulness was her inbuilt nature. So obviously, she had hated lying to her parents.

    They spent an hour at the beach, talking, speaking about their dreams. All the while, Miss. D felt uncomfortable sitting there. And then, things went wrong.

    Rohit tried to get intimate with her and out of fear, she slapped him and went away from there, straight to her house. Though she didn't get into her house, she jumped over the wall into her courtyard, sat near the porch, hidden in the shadows and wept her heart out, thinking about everything that had happened.

    The next day, they broke up.

    She had lots of complaints about Rohit's behavior and attitude but she never let it out because love meant adjustment and compromise to her. She had set limits to everything except to saving relationships. But if it needed her to cross those limits to keep an already doomed relation alive, she thought it was better to let it drown.

    As days passed, she realized that getting over Rohit was easy than her assessment. It wasn't anything real for her any longer. She felt really stupid to have taken something unreal and emotionless relation as an equal of something strong as love. It wasn't love she had for him. She had been with him because she thought he loved her. 

    She started staying alone for a longer time, trying to decide her mindset. And she realized that it was freedom, fun, trust, friendship, understanding and honesty which she valued most. She wanted to hunt for them. But she subsided her idea by thinking that what is truly her's will reach her somehow. She won't have to go searching herself.

    And then she found what she really wanted. The attitude which Mr. J had.

    The first day she had met him, she wrote,

                    "Hey A, guess who this guy is? Sitting beside me and asking me to try and be safe!!! When was the last time I heard someone other than my parents ask me to be safe? I don't remember anyone else as such. Funny why a stranger should worry about me. Wait, does he know me?"

    Arjun remembered the suspicious glance she had given him. He assumed she wrote the answer after looking at him carefully.

                    "No I suppose. He doesn't look like someone who knows me. Who in his right mind would talk to someone boring like me? Ha ha... He looks more like an NRI. Anyways, why should I care so much?"

    The next morning, she wrote,

                   "A, should you wait to see that guy like this? You are thinking too much about a stranger.

                   But he was the only stranger who ever told me "Be safe."

                   Alright, I agree. But he is just a passing stranger. You already have had your share of disappointments and failures with boys. So, don't ever think of another guy unless mom or dad want you to."

                  Hey, he came again and is siting beside me. Wait, why is he so suddenly coming over to sit here? He was correct yesterday. Days are changing. Should I suspect him of something? Boys are after all a bunch of idiots.

                   Great, he is now asking me why I always stay alone. What would he do with my personals?

                   But he doesn't look like the 'Cheater' type. Sure, Rohit even never seemed as such. Still we failed at being together. I know this stranger doesn't seem like him. I can sense his truthfulness and honesty.

                   Okay, I told him I preferred to be alone and he was surprised. Let me guess, he must have been surprised because I spoke out at last."

    Arjun couldn't help appreciating her assessment. The next few days, she would start her diary entries stating how she had felt the night before and that morning, about her energy levels that day and when he came jogging, she would write,

                  "Hey, he came just now. In time of course. He is so punctual. That's why I think he may not have been brought up here. Someone else would have been bored to sit here in silence, without any progress with an unknown girl. But he is kind of different. I wish I could know more about him."

                  "No. Stop right there. You are not going to think about any guy. You won't tell him your name or ask his name. Please yaar, don't invite troubles again for yourself."

    The day Arjun had asked her her name, she had pulled herself out strongly and did what her right conscience had ordered her to do. And she had enjoyed taking out all her weird thoughts and ideas on him.

                   "It is so fun to talk to him," she had written.

    After many gloomy days of broken relations and feelings, she finally began seeing a strong relation which, she was sure, would last long. She loved the time she spent with Mr. J, the way they talked to each other.

                   "Hey A, sorry, Miss. D... Ha ha, funny how Mr. J and I embarked on our new names. I am Miss. D now..."

    Everyday she would write about what they were talking or discussing, Mr. J's expressions, his confusion, his tenacity, how he observed her, almost everything. She implicitly thought of him the whole day. There were times when she would write in the middle of the night wondering how the next morning would be.

                   "Here I am, writing in the midnight, thinking about him. Should I do this? You know, this morning, I showed him everything I had on my mind about what life is. I don't if what I told him is correct or not but he seemed to comprehend the reality. I had never told any of my dreamy ideas to anyone till now. He is the only one. The way he looked at me, I could see so much emotion, such strong affection. I wish it were something that would never break."

    The passing days strengthened her feelings for him. She wrote,

                    "Hey A, are my thoughts correct? Am I really exaggerating my feelings or are they genuine? I never have been with anyone like I am now with Mr. J. He is so good-willed, kind-hearted, fun-loving guy. Mostly, he is so understanding. I can talk to him like I want, I don't have to be afraid of his reactions, I can trust him and the way he trusts me is unbelievable. I can be so free and natural with him, just like how I am for myself. Best of all, I don't have to change for him or pretend to be someone else...

                   Right now, I am writing about him, sitting near him but he doesn't try to read my diary (though he keeps observing me) and neither do I try to block the contents of my writing from his view. That shows how much we trust each other.

                  He likes me for what I am and makes me feel special and happy. I don't think anyone else can make me feel like that. There has never been a day when I didn't wait for him earnestly in the morning, sitting here. The way my heart races on seeing him, its not at all explainable. 

                  A, A, you are thinking too much now, exaggerating everything.

                  No, I don't think so. After all these days I am able to figure out what is happening with me.

                  But A, you are a disaster with relationships. Just name one relation except your family and best friends which you have been able to keep intact?

                  Well, aren't those relations enough to say that I am good at them? I can keep alive and strengthen the bonds which I have with my loved ones. Just because I broke up with one person who never had anything lie a real affection for me doesn't frame me into a 'Relations disaster' girl. I am strong."

    The next couple of entries reflected a struggle between the two faces of her conscience, whether she could  hold onto herself, whether her feelings were true or not, how exactly she felt in his company and so on. Arjun was more absorbed and surprised to read how she had thought and struggled to get to the right choice.

    And then, he read the entry which blocked his mind totally...

                 "A, that's enough. State what you want to tell exactly.

                  Okay, you shut up and listen first. I like Mr. J. So much that I can't exactly tell you how much deep my love is...

                  Wait wait, love???

                  (Maybe there was a pause)

                  Well, I think that is it. I do love him...

                   I am in love with him... OMG...!!!!"



TO BE CONTINUED.......!!!!!!!!!