That Unexpected Love

It was New Year time! I wasn’t seeing anyone at that time, but I received a big box of chocolate. Those were actually my favourite! I spent many hours trying to figure out  who had sent me those chocolates. My ex from a few years ago? The guy I went on a few dates with but petered out? A secret admirer? And I didn’t want to call up any of these people and ask. Uhh….what a suspense!

After wondering for the whole day, in the evening I received a call from my best pal – Zubeen, who was studying in Delhi.

“Did you like the chocolates, bestie?”…..and now, I got to know who is the person behind my favourite chocolates.

“What is this yaar? You wasted my whole day… I kept thinking who has sent these to me.. kept wondering who could be my secret admirer…..”

“Arre, without admiration how can I be your best friend? This is just a trailer dear,…..wait for few days, a lovely surprise coming with me on the Valentine Day. Can you come to receive me on the Valentine Day at the airport?”

Huh??? What he was saying??? He had been my best friend for many years. It’s been three years now since we are apart, as he had taken admission in Delhi University. 

Zubeen’s dialogue stirred up my mind, excitement and emotion, distracted me from my study, enlivened my soul, and enthused my eagerness to meet him soon. I started doing self-introspection – did I admire him, like him, love him, did he really like me, love me, did he resemble with my dream boy, could I accept him as my boyfriend if he would propose me on the Valentine day…….And, and… what’s the surprise he would bring with him on the Valentine day! I was in a confused state, but, I was getting ‘Yes’ in most of the answers.

Two days left for the Valentine Day….my exhilaration, yet turmoil in my heart and soul was accelerating. I bought one bracelet and his favourite candy with my pocket money. I went to the parlour, did facial and curled my hair as he used to like curly hair. I planned to go to the airport to receive him in the morning. 

14^th Feb.  8:30 AM. I was waiting for him in front of the arrival gate. I didn’t know why I was there. Why I was wearing my most favorite, beautiful pink dress…why I was wearing the matching crystal long earrings that dangled and playfully touching my shoulders. Why I tried to make myself beautiful as much as possible!!!! I saw myself in the mirror at least hundred times before coming out from my home.

Excitement. Excitement. Excitement.

It was 9 AM. Oh…. I could see him from far….. He was approaching towards me with a wide smile….. He was looking bright, fresh…. Yes! I wanted this kinda guy as my boyfriend, my fiancée, my husband. My heart started beating fast and faster….. I could see him in a new avatar.

“Heyyyy…….” I couldn’t realise when he reached me. He hugged me…

“Thanks so much dear…. You have come. I have a surprise for you….”

He turned back, extend his left hand to hold the hand of a beautiful girl  with long curly hair, who was walking behind him….

“Hey… meet my Valentine.  We are going around for one year now…. I wanted to introduce her to you as you are my bestie…”

For a moment, I felt like Sita (Ramayana)…as if I will plead Mother Earth to open the ground and take me in her lap…..

But, Voila!!! I realized next very moment that there were two basement parkings down the airport…..No no no no….

Happy Valentine's Day, anyway!!!!

While dream becomes a love story

“Don’t wear that dull pink dress, wear the red one, which aunty has sent.”  Mridu commanded. 

“No Mridu, I don’t want to wear that red dress. Let him see me the way I am.” Dhaani countered.

“What did you see in that punk anyways, I mean really?” Mridu smirked.

“Shut up Mridu,” “One more word against him and I’ll break your nose. I didn’t even get time to search him also.” 

“Oh come on, you just meet Rahul today…You can search your hero after your engagement with Rahul, also. There’s still time. Dilwale dulhaniya le jayenge may repeat too!!!”

“It’s actually my fault….why I gave liberty to my parents to choose my groom.” Dhaani sighed.

Mridu and Dhaani had attended Landlord’s daughter, Swati’s marriage, the previous week. Their landlord was a wealthy business man. He owned 5 bhk apartments in Noida, which is a girls’ PG, a 25 acres farm house in Greater Noida and a huge mansion in GK phase 3, where his family lived. Swati was his only daughter. She was very sweet and down to earth girl. Mridu and Dhaani had quite cordial relations with her as all three worked in the same company. 

The wedding arrangements were extravagant. The landlord spent around 30 to 40 crores. The wedding was arranged in his farm house. And it was one hell of a wedding, with marvelous flower decoration. The whole banquet was decorated like the sets of a big-budget movie. Thousands of food stalls were hailing every one with their irresistible aroma. North Indian, South Indian, Continental, Chinese, Thai, Italian, Mexican, what not!!! Few Foreign musicians were playing soothing romantic songs. A bald and bearded handsome man was playing a violin, a long haired hippie styled guitarist and a man with mesmerizing voice were attracting all’s attention. 

The Baraat had arrived. Swati took her soft steps towards the stage along with all the brothers, sisters, cousins and friends in full traditional way. The boys on all four corners were holding twines jutting out from a small sheet of flowers and petals that went atop Swati and everyone else, including Mridu and Dhaani, who were escorting her to the stage. The romantic instrumental music was playing in the background. Two/ three drone cameras were hovering right in front of her. All the lights were dimmed except those focus lights which lightened up the path for Swati. The whole path was smothered with rose petals, whose fragrance scented up the entire atmosphere. It was spectacular. 

Suddenly, Dhaani caught one guy staring at her, but she just ignored. It happened again and again. He was quite good looking, almost 6 feet tall, had some intense look in his deep blue eyes. With white kurta, he was actually looking quite dashing. To make her surprise, all of a sudden, he came forward and whispered in her ear, “You are stunningly beautiful…”

Few minutes were weird for Dhaani. Soon, she could feel some sudden changes in her dynamics. Her gaze unconditionally followed the sight of that boy. He too kept looking at her over and over again. Infact, she could feel few focused clicks from his mobile phone too. It seemed inevitable. She also tried her best not to get noticed while looking at him. She knew she shouldn’t be doing this, as her marriage had been almost finalized by her parents. After two days, her to-be-fiancée would be here in Delhi to meet her for the first time. But, this guy was becoming so harder to ignore. She couldn’t figure out why all this was happening. There was something in this boy. Something that was driving her crazy. Was it a love at first sight? Or was just the infatuation? But whatever it was, she knew one thing for sure that he’s never gonna get his face off her head. 

Unfortunately, Mridu and Dhaani had to leave suddenly as their cab arrived at 11 pm. Dhaani was silently wishing to talk to him, exchange phone number, but resisted herself somehow, someway. Since then, Dhaani had been in khoya khoya mood and Mridu was teasing her all the time, singing the song – “Haamari aadhuri kahani….”

Knock! Knock! 

Mridu opened the door of their room. 

“Someone called Rahul has come to meet Dhani didi.” 

Mridu quickly went to the balcony to see in what car, Rahul had come.

“Hey Dhaani!!! There is an Audi Car…I think he is wealthy enough….!!! O’ my! My!” Mridu was quite excited.

Dhaani had no other way, but had to surge towards the living room. 

As soon as she entered, she saw one tall guy wearing white shirt, looking through the window, keeping his back towards her. She could clearly see that he was holding a bunch of red roses.

“Excuse me, is it Rahul?” Dhaani initiated…..

“Yes!!!”, Rahul turned back……

“You?????” Dhaani somehow controlled herself. She was shocked, was it a dream, she could not believe, she pinched herself. 

“Hey Dhaani! Happy Valentine day!! How are you? Shocked huh? I recognized you at Swati’s marriage only…. Can we go out now?”

“Give me few minutes plzzzz……”

Dhaani ran to her room to wear the red dress which her mom had sent.