This post goes out to all the men who read my blog. I realized that I dont write enough for the men out there... So here!
Short Story:
Present day...
My phone rang at 2 in the night. I dont know why, but tonight, I was sleeping the sweetest sleep I had all month.
She didnt even say hello... Somethings are so important that you skip hellos on phone -
And I say, someone up there had a plan...
Chapter 1
I remember running behind that 10:15 infy bus. It's weird that people can be late for a 10:15 pick-up. And by people I mean myself and the pretty girl who came running after me. Well, running after the bus actually, but behind me. The phrase of importance here being -'behind me'.
So anyway, I stood there waiting for the Taxi. That is the only option you got to reach Infosys campus. I looked at the girl from the corner of my eye. She had a Infosys card hanging around her neck-the strap of which was kinda wet from her sweat. For everyone who says Bangalore doesnt sweat, I say, well.. You run-You sweat.
"Umm... Infosys?" I asked her. Yes, two words is what I could come up with.
"Yes?" she asked. That sounded like a question - Means use more than two words in your sentence.
"I meant, are you going to infosys?" I re-framed my question.
"Yes, I am. You too?"
"Yes. Wanna share a cab?" I said making the 'horizontal thumb- take a lift' sign. I dont know why I did that.
"Yes. Sure!" She said almost overjoyed. Now her joy might be because of reaching the office on time. But trust the male brain to chose the option that soothe's its ego.
I stopped a taxi. We were about to enter when Ajay came running to the bus stop. Whats the point in running if you are like 15 mins late for the 10:15!
"Hey! Stop stop.. please..."he shouted from a distance.
He ran at full speed and jumped into the back seat.
"Haan.. phew.. yes.. let's go now..." he said.
I kept looking at him with disgust and so many other emotions I cant describe. I looked at.. umm.. what was the pretty girl's name? I hadnt asked her for her name!
She looked at me and smiled. I sat next to the driver and she took the back seat next to Ajay.
"Hi... phew.. Hi.. my name is Ajay! What's yours?" Ajay extended his right hand.
This was even before the driver started the car! I mean seriously... Let the car start Ajay!
"Hi.. my name is Pooja," she said.
Ah.. so that was her name. A little too common a name... Bu then, a guy named Raj cant really say that now, can he. Of course, I wasnt named Raj, I have a still commoner name.... :P
"That's a good name... I like it.." said Ajay.
Who asked if he liked her name or not?
"Well, Pooja, I work in the development services section in Infy, what section you work in?" Ajay asked.
I looked at him in the rear view mirror. He was sweating like a pig. When Pooja sweats, she looks so cute... well, Ajay, he just looks he's having an allergic reaction to Paracetamol!
After blabbering for 20 mins, Ajay and Pooja reached the infy campus. I didnt reach coz what's the point.. I am invisible anyway. With my sorry walk I started walking into the office building.
"Hey, excuse me? I dont know your name yet..." Pooja asked me.
Really? She wanted to know my name.
"Ah... thats such a simple name.. really common no?" she said when I told her my name.
Well, it's not THAT common. I know only 5 other guys with the same name...
"Well, I ll add you on the messenger." she said.
"Yeah.. please do..." I said.
Please do? Please do? Where did that come from?
She pinged. We met for lunch. We hit it off.
Chapter 2
"Could you book me on the bus to Mysore?" I asked to the lady at the reception. We had an annual sports meet in the Mysore campus. I just wanted to go to get away from office. Besides, anyone who has been to the sports meet will tell you how awesome it is....
"Sorry sir, we are full..." she said.
"Oh... there must be some way I can go."
"I am sorry sir. There isnt any other way." she said.
My shoulders dropped like Venkatesh Prasad's after being hit for a six. I started walking out of the room, when she said -
"Sir? You could go with the cheering squad if you want...There is one seat left."
Chapter 3
I entered the bus full of giggly cheering-people-squad. Some of them even men. Nothing wrong with that. How can you be cheering squad if you are not a little giggly?
I found a seat - one seat - on a bus with 42 seats. And who is the girl next to whom the seat is empty? You guessed it right.
"I didnt know you were on the cheering squad..." Pooja said.
"Well, I am on the tennis team!" I pointed to my Tennis stuff like it was Exhibit A.
And she laughed.
Chapter 4
Mysore was the best week of my life. And I dont think that was coz I won all my games. It was something else. I didnt know if it's what people call love.
Today, I proposed! I have known her for 28 days and I asked her to spend all her life with me... Yes, just like that...
The plan...
If you are a 20 year old reading this and trying to find out an iota of rationality in what I did, I suggest that you dont...
I was 20 once. And very rational. But then, there are something just dont demand reason. The heart has its own reasons.
Place your hand on your heart and tell me there is no girl you know, doesnt matter if she's an actress, or was your girlfriend when you were 15, or your neighbour's daughter, with whom you would want to spend your life with. If there is, then you would understand. If there isnt, I hope you find a girl who is.
I probably knew I wanted her when she came running behind me. I knew she was the one when I was so scared to talk to her, just coz I didnt want to mess it up.
Do you believe in destiny? That things happen for a reason? That this life is a screenplay written just for you?
I didnt. And I am proud of the fact. There is a time for everything. If you believe in something without actually investigating or experiencing it, then its blind faith, isnt it?
But one day, I hope a girl comes around, whose laugh becomes an ambition, so much, that you wanna be the one who makes her laugh all her life.
Present day
My phone rang at 2 in the night. I dont know why, but tonight, I was sleeping the sweetest sleep I had all month.
She didnt even say hello... Somethings are so important that you skip hellos on phone -
As I said, someone up there had a plan...
- Dedicated to my room-mate and dear friend Rahul and his wife... This is my interpretation of how they met...
Editor in chief Arshat Chaudhary
Current Issues: friends, mdi gurgaon, short story, visit
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Thoorika said...
That's a nice dedication! :)
Anonymous said...
awww... that was lovely.. with every blogpost of urs..u so make me feel that "life's beautiful, even with its twists and turns".. i so positively m waiting for my prince charming to sweep me off my feet :)
Unknown said...
Good one!
Urvashi said...
That was really cute...Ur narration is so simple yet you know it leaves behind something that lasts much longer even after the story is read....It has some very different charm..!!
"But one day, I hope a girl comes around, whose laugh becomes an ambition, so much, that you wanna be the one who makes her laugh all her life." was one of the best lines..
And the way u connected from the present to past and back to present also added a diference to the whole feel...!!
Unknown said...
Hey sweet story! Someone up there surely has plans! :)
I dont read much. But i ll read your blog. Good Stuff!
Unknown said...
Superb, narration and thought behind was even better!!! Thanks so much for the post, it brought all the vivid memories back...
Surely, Someone up there has a plan and more often that not its the best one!!! So probably the best option in life (as if u have one) is to flow with the tide and take things as they come with a smile on your face. And you for one definitely manage to put a smile on your readers face:)
Uniquely the same said...
Good one..Were you in Infy anytime? quite a few references to Infy..
s4n705h said...
Arshat you are my the only blogger for whose post i wait. Loved the book by you and now the story. Great one. BTW when are you coming to bangalore to author sign my copy of "How i won..."
Sumit said...
KJo of cinema might have started to suck owing to crap like Kurbaan and We are family, but the KJo of blogosphere still rocks......
And these days you dont write enough anyways, let alone for men. But good things come in small packages.:)
enchantinganki said...
Awww, how sweet !! Thats a nice read yaar!! Aweosome one!! you top my list :-)
Arshat Chaudhary said...
@Thoorika
:)
@Queen
I have become a believer... things take time.. but they happen :)
@Sanket:
Thanks :)
@Urvashi
Thats my fav line too! :)
Thanks
@Vidya
:)
Keep Reading
@Rahul
This one was for you :)
@Uniquely the same
Rahul, my friend to whom I have dedicated the post, and his wife were in Infy :)
@Santosh
Thanks man... Always feels great to see your post :)
@Sumit
I dont really know if the comparison with KJo is flattering :P
Thanks :)
@enchantinganki
:)
Thanks for the compliment :)
Lakshmi said...
Brilliant !!! I loved it :) It made perfect sense...esp The Plan. U ve got a follower :)
Anonymous said...
Nice read it for the first time..
Shrikant Joshi said...
A nice, well-written, feel-good story. Read one of these after a long time! Thanks...
I have a favor to ask of you. I want to feature this story on a mag that I've recently started for short-fiction aficionados. The downside is that I won't be able to pay - only link back, since it's an entirely non-monetising site. :(
Here's the link to the mag:
http://d.ustb.in/
Do let me know. :)
PS: Good luck with your book. :)