It was 7 in the morning, and Ronnie rushed to the flower market. He knew that the flowers that arrive in the morning are the fresh ones and they vanish soon if not bought them at earliest. He reached the market runing and stopped at the first vendor stall, and catched a breathe in a huff puff.

It was a big day for him,  and he didn't want to mess even a bit. After two long years he was going home to his parents place.

Ronnie had been living in the city for past 6 years, he could hardly make it to his hometown once in a year or two, given his over embellished state of job.

Now that he had taken a weeks leave from office, he was looking forward to visit his hometown.

He came from a small city, where the jobs were less and talks were more. People had time to actually meet up and even read newspapers. Where the kids had actual playgrounds and not the virtual gimmick. Ronnie loved his hometown and always tried to save money and time to visit, whenever he had the opportunity to.

Now it had been two years that he was away, and he was really excited to revisit his old lanes.

Ronnie used to get fresh lilies for his mom whenever he went to the local market. And today he wanted to do the same. He came running to the market to pick up the fresh ones from the gardens. He knew his mumma is going to love it.

The scent of the lilies reminded him of his mumma's touch. He knew his mother is going to love this surprise. He hadn't told his mother about his visit.

He wrapped the lilies in the most adorable looking bouquet and headed to the station to board his train.

A 7 hour ride to his home felt like 7 years with each second of excitement. All the while in train he could think of how his mother had raised him in childhood.

He was quite the mischievous one in his childhood, and had quite the spanking from his parents. Mumma specially would beat and scold him whenever he behaved too puckish.

He couldn't stop smiling thinking about every moment. Once when he had a serious accident falling off from his bicycle and had to get stitches in the head, his mumma couldn't sleep in the night, and held him close.

He couldn't stop thinking about the days he would get upset on his mumma and skip meals for not buying his favourite toy from the store, and his mumma would save money and get it for him the next week itself. 

He was such a cheeky child, and his mom would still be patient. "God! i was a horrible child, mumma was truly an angel to handle me", he thought to himself.

5:00 PM. He reached his hometown.

He stepped down at the station platform, it was the same he had left. He loved the breeze that carried a nostalgia. He remembered the day his parents had come to the station to see him off when he was leaving for the big city. His mom was crying that day, yet waved him off smiling. "Oh Mom, you were such a baby that day", he said to himself.

Holding the lilies close to his chest, he caught a cab for his destination.

5:30 PM. The Cemetery.

Ronnie arrived at the cemetery where his mom was put to rest. Tears rolled down his chicks, he never had thought that he would come after two years to meet his mom like this.

It had been a six months of total lockdown in the state. And no one was allowed to visit his hometown, as it was a prime hub of cases of a foreign pandemic.

His mom was ailing on the hospital bed for a month with no signs of recuperating. All Ronnie could do was wait for the gates to open for his hometown, so he could go back and meet his mom. Somewhere he had this feeling that seeing him might help his mom recover. He tried all means to reach, but all went in vain. He called everyday and tried connecting to his mom to check on her, all that her caring heart could say was, "I am okay child, I have your father here with me. I am worried about your health, you are alone there, hope you are eating well in the city. I want you to know that I am proud of you son and I would like to have you as my son in every life that god grants me". 

This words were the last that Ronnie heard from her.

As he stood before his moms tomb, he read the plaque that said "a loving Mother". He came down to his knees, kept the fresh lilies on her grave and murmurmed in a desolate voice, "I love you Mom, I'am sorry I couldn't get you these lilies sooner, but I promise I will be on time in the next life when I see you again. I miss you Mom."

P.S. Dedicated to my friend Ranajit Roy and the loving memory of Shipra aunty.

28th May, 1940. Dunkirk, France.

It was 3:00 PM in the afternoon, Manjyot tapped his wrist watch to see if it still was working. His bottle was empty, lips dried in the salty winds and throat hankered for fresh water. 

It had been a month that his infantry was stuck on the Dunkirk beaches. The Allied forces were surrounded by the Germans, the evacuation was in process and Manjyot was just another soldier among the 3 lakhs trapped in the town. Serving the Royal army, Manjyot never had imagined that he would end up one day on some beach in France. 

The days were tough and the nights chilly, loaf of breads he ate that came from the supplies, but survival wasn't the only thing that crossed his mind. His heart yearned for something else.

He along with some of his comerades had taken shelter in a bomb-destructed building. The walls dripped and the slabs fell. Some used to die in their sleep with the roof falling on their head.

Manjyot slept next to his British comerade and friend John. Both became friends here in entrapment and shared a bond in survival times. One was from a colonized nation of India, and the other from the ruling British, but it meant nothing here between the two, for survival levels any form of human descrimination.

John hailed from a small town near Swindon, England. And Manjyot from the city of Bombay, India. Both serving the same objective, first the Royal army, but now survival.

Manjyot and John spoke about their families and most importantly about their lady-loves. John was a married guy with two adorable daughters. Manjyot on the other hand was in love with a girl he hasn't even met yet, but already promised in marriage to her with agreement of both families.

Manjyot and John shared all that was there. From running for food and water supplies to running behind the evacuation boats in the hope of leaving the place for good. 

During night both would think of how life was before. Both would read out their letters to each other that had come from their respective women.

Manjyot had never met his girl, "Shreelata". But he had a small picture of her in his diary. His bag consisted of many letters from her and this one picture. John was always awestruck by the love of Manjyot for Shreelata. For John, love was his wife and his two daughters, but for Manjyot it meant the 2×3 inch picture and some words on a letter.

Shreelata hailed from a small city of Kanpur in India. Her father worked a clerical job in the Kanpur cantonment. She had finished her school some years ago, but wanted to pursue a Law degree and aimed to be a barrister in the Bombay Highcourt. She wrote about it to Manjyot in her letters, to which Manjyot had wholeheartedly agreed to.

One stormy night, Manjyot asked John, "what would you do first when you go back to your town?

"I would make warm love to my wife and kiss my daughters like it's the last day." said John.

"And what would you do?" asked John to Manjyot.

Manjyot smiled and tried to shy away from the question, but John insisted. "I would go and meet Shreelata and touch her hand for first time, she only is in my imagination right now, I want to know how it would feel to see her and feel her in real. I have imagine that day in my head a million times, I just want to live it one day for real soon." said Manjyot.

He pulled out her picture, and his fingers ran across it, as if it caressed her cheeks for real.

Both John and Manjyot laughed and went to sleep.

Next morning the radio was on and every british soldier stuck their ears to it. Churchill addressed the nation and he promised the evacuation soon of his soldiers. 

The afternoon that day, rescue ships had arrived and thousands of soldiers were taken back to England. Manjyot and John were waiting eagerly that they would be next. Their regiment leader told them that tomorrow at sunrise the next boat shall come and their team will be evacuated. They were rejoiced with that announcement and it felt like they were born again.

It was the last night, both Manjyot and John were happy but unsure if this could be their last night together in this wrecked building. They promised each other to write letters and let each other know of their well-being when they reach home.

The night was chilly and stomach was empty, but the heart was filled with amorous joy of meeting their loved ones. John wasn't keeping well, Manjyot had sensed his agony. When it got too chilly, Manjyot offered his blanket to John, saying "I am from a warm country, you take it John." John was hesitant but honoured his friend's offering, given his health condition.

6:45 AM, 6th June 1940, the first sun light had hit the grounds of Dunkirk. The Allied forces woke up to welcome the evacuation ship. Everyone packed with their bags were getting ready to run to the beach for the boat.

John woke up and nudged Manjyot to wake up, Manjyot didn't react. He pushed a little harder, still no response. Shocked in the moment, John started to push and yell at him that the ships had arrived. But Manjyot had already left.

Manjyot died of Hypothermia. John cried and kissed his friend on forehead in goodbye. He pulled out Manjyot's diary from his bag and took his ladylove Shreelata's picture out and kept it on the chest of Manjyot's body. The letters from his bag too he pulled out and kept them close to his heart where his hands were folded. Just when he was about to put blanket on top of his dear friend, he saw a letter in his side pocket. It was a letter from Shreelata. It was the last letter from her that Manjyot had received in the camp in England.

"Dearest Manjyot,

It would be the least to say that I miss you every moment here. I long for you to come and take me with you. Everyone here says you won't comeback, but I know you will. And I will wait for you. Even if you don't, I will wait for a lifetime. I believe we are meant to be together. May be someday, somewhere or in some other life, in a less miserable time we will be together again.

Yours

Shree."

"Riya come, its time for bed now", said Anita calling out her daughter to tuck her into bed.
It has been a tiring day for Anita, taking care of her 5 year old child.
Riya just like any other 5year old has always been curious about the way adults lived their lives. She would copy her Dad's way of walking and copy her Mom's style of talking and wearing a dupatta at home.
Riya, just like her name, was like a little bundle of joy. Her soft curly hair falling on her pink chubby cheeks, made her irresistible not to play with.
A simple smile on her face would make anyone forget his/her own struggles in life, and rather take time to observe this wonderful yet significant smile.
Her father Anil, a lawyer by profession, would take her to the school in the morning and her mom would pick her up in the afternoon.

Anita, who used to work with an IT company, was having a tough time to let her job go and stay home to care for Riya. The notorious nature of Riya had made her to take a break from her job and be a full time mom to Riya until she grows a bit more mature.

Riya on the other hand, lived a carefree life just like a 5year old should. She would wake up with all sorts of nagging and fake stomach & head aches to avoid going to the school.
Her parents were now used to her oscar worthy performance everyday.
Her time in school would start by thinking about what toys to choose to play with and end with trying to take the toys back home.
Everyday her mom came to pick her up. She would take her bag, put her four lined notebook and her square lined maths book in it, and leave for home.
 Everyday walking along with her mom, Riya would always look across the street at the balloon vendor.

"The Red Balloon". There was something special with that red balloon. She would always cry to get that balloon to take home, but her mother dragged her saying it would blow out till the time they reached home.
Riya would always get heart broken when her mom wouldn't buy her the stuff.
Coming back to home, Riya asked Anita on why would she never buy her that red balloon.
Anita seeing her innocently red-faced, would laugh and say that "you yourself are like a red balloon my love, why would you buy another?".
Riya asked Anita, "what is so special about that red balloon Mamma? You never answer me right".
Anita then fed Riya with her favourite Cheese-sauce Pasta and took her to bed, read her a nice story and Riya fell asleep to her afternoon nap.
Anita came back to her room, with tears rolling on her cheeks, she pulled out an old album from the drawers.

In pictures she saw her elder sister who had died in an accident two years ago.
She saw how happy she looked holding her only daughter "Riya" with a Red Balloon in her hand.

The bell rang for the communications class, and Tiwari miss had already applied her lipstick, pinned her clip, and was on her way to the class. Banaras Hindu University (BHU) had huge number of students coming from all the corners of the country. Taking attendance in a class of 100 was a task in itself. Tiwari miss never had the privilege of good presenteeism in her class, considering the nature of her subject and the interest of the students. She pulled out the attendance register and began calling out numbers.

He was never bothered about his number being called out. But paid all the heed to Roll no. 21.

“Present”, she said in her sweet voice. He knew he had fallen for her already. Fiona D’souza, it wasn’t regular name he had heard in Benaras before. Only the firang tourists that came had such name. He was in love with her name, the time he heard it first.

He. Shiv Dwivedi, was just another guy from Benaras. Born and brought up in the locales of Varanasi and Shivpur, he had the soul of the city moulded in him and without a doubt a true Bholenath devotee.

He never had such infatuation for a girl before. The conservative surrounding and his shyness,never got him too much interaction with the opposite sex.

But this girl was different. He had this exhilaration to know about this non-native girl. He followed her after the college. He rode his bicycle safe enough to not get caught by her sight. Everyday he saw her entering the gate of the girls hostel in the campus, and left on his way for home to Shivpur.

It has been a routine for him since a month now. He has just been stalking her from far away. Found her on facebook though, but couldn’t press the “send request” icon. Her profile said she was from Goa.It’s a place he has been always fascinated about. She was the new fashionista in the college. Though she was never bothered people praising her for that. She wore what she was comfortable and looked best. She had this rolly curly hairs and wheatishly fair skin, she looked attractive in her perfect curves and good height, and always caught the eyes of every passerby.

One fine day, Fiona was late for her statistics class. She wanted to attend it as she had many doubts in the chapter. Missing the lecture was costing her mood. She reached the class but couldn’t enter as a delay of 45mins wasn’t just an excuse. She came to the backside garden and saw another guy from the statistics class. He seemed to have no interest as to what he might have been missing today. She went near him, a familiar face, she called “hey!!”, Shiv turned around, he saw his divine crush in front of him and calling him. With a frozen throat he said “hi”.

All he could think in mind was if she had caught him seeing her. He waited for what she will ask now. With curiosity she asked “why aren’t you attending the Statistics class today?”

He took a sigh of relief, to avoid his answer disinterest in the subject, he said “I got late today”.

“Oh, me too” said she.

“I am Fiona by the way” she said extending her hand for shake.

“I..i am Shiv” said he fumbling.

Fiona was never a hesitant one, and she was used to the attention she got all the time. It was never new for her to meet a nervous guy.

She still had an hour left for Shukla sir’s Probability class.She asked him “hey you know the campus well right. Can you tell me where I can get Ramu chacha’s chai in the campus.

Shiv was enthrilled with joy inside. But he calmly replied “yes, it is at the second junction after the medical hostel”.

She said “Thank you and… nice to meet u Shiv” and started to leave.

Shiv knew this was the only time to defeat all the fears and seize the moment or he might regret this for the whole semester. With all the jittery he said “uhmm I am going to have a tea too”.

Fiona turned and smiled. He knew it was a yes. They walked together to grab that rs.15 special tea by Ramu chacha with added chocolate powder above it.

Fiona was delighted at the first sip. “Yummm” she said.Shiva was used to. “You should have the one at Vishnu tea at the ghat, you will forget this one”.

Fiona was thrilled to know about it. She had been here for a month but hadn’t stepped out yet. She wanted to know more about the place but can’t trust a stranger on a tea. “yeah I will go there someday too” she said.

They finished the tea, all Shiv could see was the excitement she had on her face sipping it. It was the closest moment that he could see her hairy curls rolling down to her cheeks and neck. She looked like a mermaid to him.

“Where are you from?”, she asked.

“I live in Shivpur, 10km from here. I ride bicycle or take the bus”. He got to know one thing then, that when your  crush asks you one thing, u end up answering ten.

“and where are you from?” asked he.

“I am from Goa”. She answered to the point. But the look on Shiv’s face made her answer like him.

“I live in a place called Betalbatim there. It’s a small town near Colva”.

Shiv could only imagine places, he was more interested in her expressions when she spoke so subtly.

“Have you ever been to Goa before?” she asked.

“No I haven’t, but would love to” said he.

He pulled out 15bucks for the tea and asked for another 15 from Fiona. “I just got 30, but the other 15 I need for the bus, I haven’t brought my cycle today”, said he.

Fiona was happily pulled out 30 and insisted to pay it full this time. Shiv was persistent and made sure to give his share. Fiona was delighted with the honesty he spoke. Before leaving to her hostel she asked him “hey uhhmm Shiv, would u show me that another place for that amazing tea at the Ghats u said. Or may be the way to reach those places”.

Shiv was surprised and excited at the same time. Within no time he said “Yes, I will take you there”.

Thank you she said and they started to walk away. It was the best 300meters walk Shiv ever had.

He is a fair looking boy, with a charming smile just like his city of sweet has. Fiona took her chances as he was from her class and seemed a good guy.

They met the next day. He took her to the ghats. Had amazing assam and masala tea at the Vishnu tea emporium.

He then took her to Blue Lassi shop at the Kachori chowk. Ordered the pomegranate lassi with chocolate and it was mouth watering for Fiona. She licked her fingers to the last, as it was the tastiest lassi she ever had.

She had an amazing afternoon with him. And asked for one more day to spend.

Shiv was sailing in the clouds. All his friends and bff had no clue how come this idiot had such an amazing girl going out with him.

The weekdays lectures finished and came the weekend. Shiv told her to take her to the Ganga aarti in the evening.

He took his elder brothers motorbike to pick her up this time. Fiona was surprised and impressed with his speed of charm. But was more interested in seeing the beautiful city.

It was 6:30 in the evening and the aarti was about to start at the famous Dasashwamedh Ghat. He took her to one of the rowing boats. The sun was setting down and only the twilights made the visibility. The boat rower took them to the middle of the Ganga river. It looked splendid from there. The ghats, the people, the fire lights, the diyas, all of them. A splendid show of spirituality and hinduism was served before her eyes. The aarti started with priests holding big brass diyas and doing circles. It looked like an eternal flame burning the satans in people. Fiona was thrilled, she didn’t even realise that for that moment how she ended up holding Shiv’s hand. And for Shiv,It was the most lovable moment for him. For him it seemed that the time would have freezed and he could capture it for life.

He dropped her to the hostel and left with butterflies in the stomach.

Fiona couldn’t sleep that night and neither could Shiv.

The next weekend they went for some street food tour. Shiv promised her to make her taste the best street cuisine she ever could. They started with Deena Chaat Bhandar in Rampura Luxa. From Tamatar chaat to Dahi chaat, they had it all. From the spiciest to the sweetest, Fiona melted her tongue for all of them. It was the best street food she was having that time. Then for the desserts, they had the Benaras special “Malaiyyo”.

“Yumm yumm yumm” she said.

“Shiva, it’s the yummiest food I ever had today, u truly are a darling, boy”, she said excitedly and headed for the ghats with him.

It was the first time she sat so close to him. Ganga was cool and calm as she always has been and will be for eternity.

It was so peaceful in the evening at the Assi ghat. She held his palm and said, “I never imagined I will meet someone like you, you really are a sweet friend to me”.

It was the most happiest moment for Shiv. Yet he couldn’t say much due to lack of experience of such moments. He smiled and headed to drop her to the hostel.

As he dropped her she said , “I am leaving for Goa tomorrow, its mumma papa calling, I will be staying there for the vacations. What about you?”.

Shiv was surprised and all his vacations plan got washed off in mind. He said “nothing much, I will maybe go to my ancestral village outside the city”.

“That’s nice, or if you don’t have any plans, do come to Goa, I would love to host you there and show you places just like u showed me yours”.

Shiv smiled and waved her and said “Until we meet again”.

At 14:00 hours.

The pleasent tea helped break the ice between them. 

Savouring the tea Manoujit said "I remember the days when things were simple".

A nostalgia of memories hit them both.

Their minds started to recollect the memories of them together. From the corridoors of City College to sailing on boat at the Prinsep Ghat where they had their first kiss. All memories flashed at once.

Lost in memories she said "Yes, I remember too. If only the time could run backwards Manu".

The sun was shining through the windows and he could see her pellucidly.

He saw the flashing bindi and the poised sindur on her forehead.

She looked elegant, just like the way he always imagined her to look.

"You still look the same like you looked before" he said.

She laughed and said "The weight has changed though."

"But you have changed a lot. And what about the scars? How and where have you been all these years?" she asked raringly.

"I was in Burma. I was with the Royal army fighting the Chinese." said he.

Manoujit had served as an infantry battalion to the British army in the Burma war between 1942 and 1944.

"The british are no more here. Bapu and Netaji kicked them out. So how did you came back here", she asked curiously.

He started to recollect the pictures horrific war he had fought. He answered "In 1944 my unit was captured by the enemy. We were held captives for weeks. Some days we weren't served food and water also. We were tortured by them and thats when they scar-faced me with knives. We were captives untill the Azad Hind Fauj rescued us. They not only rescued us but also gave us a purpose to fight with them and fight against the Royal army. This time I wasn't just fighting for survival, I was fighting for something more. I was fighting for Freedom."

Sumita listened to him with her eyes sparkled with tears of gratitude.

"So when Netaji died you came back here?" She asked.

"After Netaji's death we continued to fight, I was then sent on a mission by the Fauj to Chitagong, which is now part of the East Pakistan. And after that I came here after the partition". He answered.

Sumita who got married to a modern businessman of independent India, was proud of the sacrifice she had done for her relationship with Manoujit.

Yet she was in tears thinking about the fate of her relationship and the cost that they had paid for the independence.

Sobbing she asked him "what do you think Manu. Was it all worth it?".

Manoujit's heart was now filled with pride of his sacrifices alongwith unsullied love for Sumita. 

He answered, "when I was held captive in Burma, all I thought was if I could ever make it back to Calcutta, if I could ever see your face again Sumita. And now that I'am seeing you again, I think all of it was worth it".

Sumita was left speechless, she could neither cry on his shoulder nor hug him like before. She kept looking at him to picture him perfectly one last time, because she knew deep in her heart that she won't be looking this face again sooner or even in this lifetime.

He bid her bye one last time and left from her house thanking for the refreshing tea.

On the free streets of Alipore, Lieutenant Manoujit Chaterjee of Indian army pulled out his filtered cigarette and lighted it with a metal plated lighter. Took a drag of the cigarette and breezed out the smoke, like in a gesture of thanking the almighty for the Freedom to live this life. 

It was a sunny afternoon of April 1948 and he turned his wrist to see the time. The clock struck 13. He pulled out the note from the pocket to read the address.

"15 B, Alipore Road, Calcutta" it read.

Manoujit found it difficult to locate the address. It wasn't easy for him to ramble through the streets of Calcutta after so long time. Yet he was relishing the breeze of the city again in the independent India.

Battling through the narrow streets, horse carts and honking of the trams and cars, he reached his destination.

"15B - Bagchi residence", read the name plate at the gate. Manoujit took a gaze at the house, it was one of the new row houses built in Alipore. With a slanting roof at the top it seemed like the dream house that he always imagined.

He came forward and moved towards the gate to ring the door bell. He ringed it twice.

"Who is it at this time?" asked a soft voice from the other side. It was the same voice that once reverberated like a flute in Manoujit's ears. After many summers he had heard that voice.

"Its me.. Manoujit.. Manu here", he answered. An awkward silence prevailed after that.

There was no further questions asked or answered. The door opened, Manoujit skipped a heartbeat for that moment. It was Sumita, his long lost friend. The girl who was once everything for him. She looked elegant like she had always looked, he couldn't take off his eyes from her. After 6 long years he was seeing her. His hands wanted to accoll her in arms yet he restrained.

Sumita was amazed and aghast both at the same time. She couldn't believe she was seeing him once again. She called him in to have a seat in comfort.

He walked in for his eyes to see the splendid house yet his attention was robbed off from him at the very sight of her opening the door.

Both looked at each other, stared each other for long to see how time had shaped them now. For him she looked the same she was then. With the perfect dusky skin tone and the embroided red and white saree with keys tied at the end of her pallu, she looked the perfect woman he had imagined ever.

She smilled at him and looked at the scars on his face, she wondered what could have happened to her Manu all these time.

With a nervy voice she said "you came back". He didn't speak much, he answered in a smile and said "Yes".

Many questions came to their mind but all stayed caged inside. She asked him to have a seat, he made himself comfortable sitting on a cushioned chair with spine held straight.

She went inside to make tea for him. He stayed seated looking around the house.

She came back with a tray of costly porcelain teapot and cups. Tea was served to Manoujit with two spoons of sugar. He took a sip and was reminded of the tea she used to make at her former house in Barrackpur.

"Nice! Mrs. Bagchi, it still tastes the same" he said. Sumita responded him with a blushing smile.

Continued at: http://bit.ly/2wKB5bh

Love, Amore, Liebe, Prem... different short names for a great emotion.
We all fall into the claws of this term in our life. Some fall into it once and some unlucky ones fall twice, thrice and not so wise.
We may exaggerate of us being emotionally raw and tough, but at the very touch of this amazing emotion called love, we become emotionally as gullible as a child hungry for love.
I too had my first "fall and rise" in love, which they call it as the puppy love.
Here's my story:

Chapter One: The Dawn of Love

It all began in the leap year of 2008 with an extra 29th day of Feb in it. The world was busy counting important events, Obama running for elections, world economy trying to survive the financial crisis and so on. And in a very small way it witnessed a great event for me, I fell in love for the first time.

Oh I was gonna finish my teenage then, 19, the age the guy is filled with dreams of job, money, fame and yes... girls ofcourse. I was in an age where each girl I saw was compared to the other in many different ways. I had many crushs that time, which led to many parameters for a girl to pass to become a infatuation for me ;)
The amazing thing about love you know... it hits you in the most unexpected time in a most unexpected way.
Now lets go back to the time:
So here she comes, 'my girl' (whom I never in my wildest dreams dreamt about becoming my girl) comes to me asking for some notes she had missed in her absence. I was never studious, but that one subject she came to ask the notes for, had my interest. You can say she came asking for my interest.
I had never spoken to her before. She was just another familiar faces in the class. A rumour in the class was there that the front row girls gang had a fallout, and she was one amongst them. She coming asking me notes, I supposed the rumours were true to their words.
Anyways, she is a fair, mid heighted and a fat girl. My brain freezed on her being fat. Lets just give her the notes and move my brain said. Notes were exchanged with smiles and thanx.
Next day, I see her again, with one female friend of hers, both sitting behind my bench. My lil brain said "wtf you guys doing here in my row, this is supposed to be my row, its the band of brothers row, the one meant for guys strictly. As they were the first explorers to land on our shores, we did not make them go. We welcomed their temporary stay. I wasn't much excited with their presence as I never had them in my mind before. My mind was in the class next to ours where this amazingly beautiful girl was there. Almost all guys had a crush on her, and i was no different.
Now coming to these two girls behind, one is fat and the other introvert. The yesterdays girl hands me the notes calling my name from behind. We broke the ice by talking about their alleged fallout from the girly gang. We started talking and things got filled with humour. We talked and mimicked students, lecturers and even the peons. I found this girl to be funny, for a second I thought what the hell was she doing with those nerdy girls. At the end of the class, we exchanged numbers and bid byes for the day.

Now, in the evening, that she has already given her number, it is expected by me to sms her. Days back it was hard to get ones number, and when got, it was never to be ignored. So, i sent her a silly joke and in minutes my phone buzzes to a Sms from her. A silly joke from her too. -Great Start Bro.
Days went by, we started chatting more and more. We shared how we had spent our weekends and weekdays, what we did, where we went, we shared everything we could in those 160 characters of the message. Because back then, the Zuckerbergs Facebook and Whatsapp were not much into picture in India.
Then came the proposal day. With all the nervousness in the world I told her about my feelings for her. She took time and later that evening she typed the message and sent me a Yes. That message still rings in my memory. Oh i was happy. I started dating, I was on cloud seven.

Chapter Two: Dating and its Consequences
(8 months of dating)
After you start dating, all other friends of yours start to behave strangely. A sense of ignorance and giving us space seemed to take place. Its not that you want to be away from them, but who cares when you are the lucky one to have a girl and your friends don't.
My lady love was here. Remember I told you about her being fat, because it had become a thing from the past. After 8months of rigorous dieting, she had cut down her weight insanely. From 65 to 48kg she had become, making me luckier even more. She was all in her new attire with the perfect curves and her perfect smile and skin tone adding cream to the cake. All the guys who never paid a heed to her were staring at her like the dogs running behind cars.
We were dating like carrots and peas. She was lovingly possessive. Her possessiveness made me stop giving even a stare at the crush from neighbouring class. Btw, the crush got herself a boyfriend too.
We dated for 3 long years. We gave everything to the relationship for it to grow stronger with each passing time. Our talks went from present to future. We had started planning life together and forever, like the ones in the disney movies. Our parents came to know about it too, her family believed in disney and they agreed, mine had more bollywood in them, they disagreed.
Not only did I give up on looking at other girls, but also deleted porn from my PC, that kinda serious you see. I was trying hard to become the guy she wanted me to be. I was all into her and she into me. We distanced ourselves from our friends and lived a life of ours own, the one with only the two of us. But it had dogs in it, we both loved dogs. Dogs are awesome, never gonna leave them for anyone.
College ended and we started to hunt for jobs. We found jobs and started working together, also were preparing for post graduation entrance exams. I was able to forecast the best possible future with her. It was 2011, we both got admission into MBA college and decided to quit job for studies. It was going just the way it was supposed to be.
We both were the world for each other and had no thing hidden between us. We had our email passwords too known to each other along with social logins. One night I was checking mails of mine. With no intention I switched to her mail id to see what mails she had in her yahoo. I opened and a inbox of all the bank loans, lotteries, matrimony, jobs, astrology came before my eyes. Between those mails was one read email. The name was strange and not known to me. It was one of her female friend in abroad of whom I never heard or met. With curiosity I opened the mail.
How I wish I never had opened that mail :(


Chapter Three: The Breakup

That email...
How do I describe that devastating mail. The one that shattered my glass of dreams with a rugged stone. It was like waking up from a dream you never thought you would awake from.
It was a mail in which she was communicating to her friend for relationship advice.
The mail described her having feelings for other guy and that she was guilty cheating on me.
I read and I read again to believe what I was reading. A clot of sadness filled in my neck which wanted to burst out. I held on to that, I couldnt believe she was attracted to this other guy in her office and that she was confused as to what she must do. I never thought whom I was thinking to spend my life with was now in a state of incertitude.
With shaking hands in fury and sadness, I made a phone call to her. I called and yelled and yelled on her. I was crying out my anger on her for cheating on me. After that call, I didnt speak to her for days. I was 22 then, and stupid too. I didnt had the maturity to handle such things. I was heartbroken, but I loved her. I decided to meet her, I wanted to confront her mistake and forgive her because I was still not ready to give up on that dream. We met, she cried and cried. I yelled and at the end, I forgave.
We were back in our world, but it wasnt the same. It wasn't like the talks before, our kisses fell short of emotions. Guilt, anger, they all came together and hit our world. It went 2-3 months like this, and one fine day I got a call from her aunt. She said that her niece wanted to breakup with me as she can no more take this relationship forward. I was more disheartened to hear it from her aunt and not from her. I guess girls can take such strong decisions but to convey them isn't that easy for them. I tried calling and messaging her on phone, facebook and everywhere I could, but it all fell on deaf ears.

Its been 6years now and till date, I never heard anything from her after that day. I guess it would be one of my "never to be known" answer.
I hope someday she finds what she always went looking for. She may never be a part of my life again, but will always be a part of my prayers.

Love and always
Me :)

I glanced back and there she was sitting, all alone, all beautiful and precious. My beloved. The most gorgeous girl till date i had ever seen. "Falling in love can be best described in a word - a glance". Those who fell in love at first sight can understand my predicament. You know there is so much more to that moment yet you cant put it persuasively in words. How can i describe her beauty? I know whatever i write cant be enough. I can use all beautiful phrases, lines, unique styles of writing still i cant justify how beautiful she looked? All essence is lost in the translation to the words. You will not get a smallest of idea how graceful, charming she looked. 

How i was enamoured? How was i dazzled to near blindness? I can use all the English to my aid and throw in adjectives like suave, elegant,enchantress and even i can go further and raise her to the rank of goddess, yet not enough. I can give you the account of color, length and texture of her hair, her perfect fleshy gold pierced delicate ears, the transparency and honesty of her divine eyes, i can make you drown in her moist hazel eyes, her apple coloured lips, delicacy of her cheeks, i can take a day to describe all subtle facial features of her face, i can fill books with the description of her perfect lusty physique, still i can't paint her in earnest. I can describe her smile using many pages yet i cant describe everything. I can use all stories in the world, romance sagas, use descriptions of all beautiful women written by great lovers, i can use all the best rhymings, quartets, poems, but it would be of no avail.  I can use oxymorons to describe that glance. Like, i was stunned, as a statue or melted like ice, my heartbeat stopped or it beat faster, moment froze or it slipped. The moment when i held her hand, the cold, sweaty, soft and small palm, that sent electric shock in me, and i remember i said nothing. Thousands of words fell short in front of that beautiful feel.

I can speak for days about how my heartbeat increased every time i saw her or if someone mentioned her name. I can write sagas about my infatuation, how in a glance i fell for her? yet you wouldn't even begin to understand how beautiful she looked. She was, the beauty afforded by nature. The queen, the beauty fed up by the hearts like me. From time and again whenever i am alone, thinking, just before i sleep, i think of you and cant help asking myself, "How come thy look so beautiful, me lady"...... and with moist eyes i try to sleep.

Continued...

In Goa, the day begins after the sun sets. If you want to have a good time alone without stressing much on your pocket, you can head towards Baga beach. The beach glows with its unending lights and the waves dance with the music played in the beach shacks. With a beer in hand, cool breeze from the sea and music from the shacks, you can enjoy the "time stands still" moment of your life. You can enjoy a good dinner in the nearest restaurant and head towards having a good nights sleep.

The next morning you can decide to explore south Goa. South Goa offers lesser crowd and calm atmosphere which you wont find much in north Goa. You can drive all the way to the Capital city Panaji crossing the famous Mandovi river bridge. You can have the best shopping experience in the Panaji market in the afternoon. From local products to international brands, you can get everything at one place. It is a blessed place for all the shopaholics. You can experience the calm beaches of Panaji from Miramar to Dona Paula. You can also go for some ferry rides in the Mandovi river. 

Panaji offers great sea food in famous restaurants here. You can have the most delicious sea food in the most affordable rate. You can visit the famous Casa Bhosle restaurant in Panaji and have the most scrumptious food served on your plate. Do not think twice to order the starters here, you wont stop munching the delicious crab masala here.

You can enjoy the best dinner with great food and soft music here.

Panaji also comes as a entertainment package for the great gamblers. With its king sized extravagant cruise casinos, it is a place for all to try their luck flamboyant style.

Exploring Goa will be more fun if you go with your romance partner. With those bare foot couple's walk holding hands on the beach with a bottle of wine, will add flavours to your romance.

On a personal experience, I myself have been to Goa 5 times and each time I have been here I have always felt the urge to explore this amazing place with all the zeal and excitement and always left with another plan of visiting soon again. The best time you can visit this place is from October to March, when its not too rainy and not too hot. Just make sure that in excitement you don't drink too much and then drive. 

Happy Exploring :)

GOA - your much needed break...

Enthusiasm! The biggest enemy of enthusiasm is boredom. We come across this boredom and humdrum in many stages and moments in our life. It majorly comes from the hectic and busy life schedule that we maintain in our working life. All we need is a little and refreshing BREAK.

This 'break' can be spending time with your loved ones, reading a prolonged book or it can be travelling to a distant place. Reading books can imaginary take you to different place, but why imagine when you can really go to places.

Take a leave from that desk job, call your friends and plan a trip to Goa. Its the place you deserve to go. Those sea shores and amazing beaches filled with lively people will take your mind away from all those stress you wished weren't there.

If you are visiting Goa with your buddy-gang, then there's no stopping to your joyride. But, Goa is for everyone. So, even if you are a lonely traveller, do not worry, Goa has everything for everyone 

Starting from the north Goa, you can visit the famous Baga beach where you can find amazing sea-view shacks with scrumptious sea food menu. Its the best morning you can have with your partner along-with the best drinks and breakfast served on your plate. Do not forget to try the prawns and king fish here. Relax here and enjoy the peaceful morning and then set for your next expedition to visit the Aguada fort hardly 6kms from Baga.

This ancient hilltop fort resembles the architecture of medieval Goa. With amazing top view from Aguada fort you can see the mouth of river Mandovi meeting the Arabian sea.

As the sun goes down, the lights of Goa come to life. With one of the most happening night life of the world, Goa entertains people coming from every part of the world. If you are a couple, do not think twice to visit the famous Cabana club in Arapora area. This club will entertain you with the mix crowd of people from India and outside and serve you a night filled with unlimited drinks and leg-shaking disc music. A couple entry can cost you upto Rs. 2000 per couple and serve you a party night to remember for life.

Now, getting up in the morning with a little hangover you can have some best lime drinks to rejuvenate your enthusiasm and then you can head towards visiting the north Goa beaches starting from Calangute to Vagator. You can have the best beaches lined up with unique views and experience offered by every beach here. The adventure lovers can do the para-gliding as well as para-sailing on the beautiful sea shores.

If you are in a group, make sure to experience the joyous banana ride and be prepared to get a dip into the deep sea in the middle of the ride.

Make sure to have a good lunch after the water sports at the famous beach shacks of St. Anthonys and Brittos at the Baga beach.