After an eternity, waiting lonely, teeming in the cacophony of Bangalore traffic, I saw the red Volvo staggering on the busy road searching its way towards me, perhaps for the bus stop, I mean. As its door slid open, I hastily clambered into the Volvo and within few seconds with one gust of powerful acceleration, its wheel teetered towards the main road and hit the stride to its normal pace. My journey being long, perhaps for an hour, I searched for the most comfortable seat at the back. Getting bored, I zipped out my incomplete fiction “Sleeping murder” and started construing the mystery of Agatha Christie. I had leafed in only a couple of pages, the bus screeched to halt. My body scooted forward from the seat in a jerk. I peeped outside the window. The Volvo had reached the next stop. A crowd of people elbowed their way into the bus. Aphetically I tucked my head again in the book oblivious of the swarm of people searching for a place. Nevertheless I was again busy reading my fiction. But as I had hardly read a paragraph I sensed an enticing female odor. I was at ones recharged and poised to find out the source of such an invigorating aroma. As I lifted my head, I was left stunned by the beautiful ethereal skin of her back. Her low cut, semi circle contoured black blouse perfectly embellished her white skin. A pendant solitaire was swirling by her ear and hair nicely kempt, some strands covering her arms. I was totally lost and mesmerized by the unseen face. Well, the travel now seemed to be more relaxing and I don’t know why but I started reminiscing cause of my journey this afternoon.
“Why did I agree my mother”, I cursed myself.
All I had to say her that I did not wish to marry now. It’s too early. I wanted to go according to my plans and resolution. Two years of work in an IT industry did not satisfy my ego and my needs. I wanted to do MBA and then work for Goldman Sachet, my dream company. But my mother who is elderly and the only person in my family wanted me to take the nuptial vows as early as possible. This was the reason I had to bow down to my mother regarding her proposal of me getting engaged.
I picked the red glossy envelope and reluctantly glanced at the profile of the girl. Her photo seemed to be appealing. Long hair with a shine in her eyes and well-contoured features on her youthful face gave her an alluring appearance. I didn’t even give a damn of other gory details of her profile. Who cares!!! I mused… I just had to complete the formality, a delusory errand to please my mother and then tell her I did not like the girl. “That’s it.”
Scanning her photo tantalized my male ego for a while, as I had never come across such an attractive looking girl. I just had one affair in my college in second year with an average looking chick but it broke as she left the college in third year. I had simmered down that relation, as she became very boring and insipid day by day and moreover she would now not stay in the college. I just forgot her within few days and I did not care to contact her again.
After a long time, I came across this girl who had something arresting in her. A streak of thought spurred my male emotions and I thought just to have rendezvous with this girl and then jilt up the marriage proposal right away. After all I had to fulfill my dream of completing my MBA and then a job at Goldman Sachet. I thought of meeting this girl just for an experience.
As the Volvo slowed down at MG road, I ogled my beautiful co passenger for the last time, got down and strolled towards CaféCoffeeDay by Splendor Mall. This place is one of the glossiest places in Bangalore owing to its exquisite and serene ambience and that’s the reason I e-mailed her and fixed our meeting here.
As I reached the CaféCoffeeDay I reserved the corner place for two persons and then looked around, scouting for the face that I was waiting for. After few moments I saw girl approaching towards me. Clad in tight jeans and a sleeveless top she showed a generous amount of cleavage. Her eyes had the same gleam as the one I saw in the photo and her hair preened in a similar fashion. I couldn’t believe my mother for making such a fancy choice for her bride. With each swinging stride she approached nearer and nearer. Our eye met and as I stood to greet her, she smiled and passed by me. I was startled by her indiscreet behavior and frowned, tightening my brows in contempt. My mother had made a wrong choice. It was incredible. “O Shit”, I mulled.
All of a sudden I sensed my mobile ringing. Fuming, I thought of throwing tantrums at my mother. How could she make such an atypical choice?
When I saw my cell phone, it was an unknown number. Nevertheless I received the call.
It was Deepika.
I couldn’t fathom what was happening.
She said she is waiting for me outside the CaféCoffeeDay. I was startled again. First I looked back and then forward. That skimpy sleeveless modern babe had disappeared.
I then saw a lady, standing alone outside the CCD, perhaps she was a girl in a black saaree with white purse on her slender arms looking around in eagerness. I came closer and I looked again, this time with a fixed gaze at her blouse. She was the same old co passenger in the Volvo some time back. The same ethereal white skin, the same low cut black blouse and the same pendant solitaire recklessly hanging by her ear. I looked around in anticipation I couldn’t find anyone else.
“Excuse me” , I whispered
She turned around. And for the next few seconds the earth below my feet moved and my heartbeat stopped in astonishment.
“Deepika…”
“Deepika Maheshwari…” , I mumbled as my eyes squinted in surprise.
“Hi…Siddharth”, she smiled and greeted me with gentle handshake.
“What a surprise…but…”
“You have changed….a lot…..You look so beautiful”
“Thanks”, she smiled again pulling her hairs from her eyes.
We then settled ourselves over hot cappuccino and cold frappe Strawberry and a soothing romantic number in background
She was not the same Deepika whom I loved in College. She had changed…and changed heavenly. She looked stunning. Her eyed reflected a different, unusual gleam that could light any soul. She looked more beautiful than I had imagined her from behind, in the Volvo. In those days she was plumper but today she looked slim, impeccably carved and her bosom protruded in flawless shape.
“So how have been since so many days… and you never cared to be in touch ?" , I asked her after a pause.
“Hey, not like that, I was busy with my graduation and the office was just too hectic…”
There was silence again. We both were not able to believe the incredible co-incidence or serendipity, what I mean. Words failed to come out my lips.
“Hey”, I interrupted the silence.
She looked up stirring her Strawberry shake coyly.
“Where did you graduate finally from and where are you working”, this was a couple of questions, which I could think of in eternity of time.
“IIIT Allahabad and am working for Infosys”
“What about you?"
“Am working for IBM”, I answered…
There was silence again…
Not knowing what to speak…. I then decided to buy a little courage from time and spilled…
“Hey, I tell you it was really very tough for me when you left the college…I was left all alone…I was snowed under your absence…and I cried slowly, limitlessly alone in my room but you never came back…Your manner, your voice, your sweetness lingered in my heart…I just ….I just…Any way….”,
I struggled for words…. Her presence had overwhelmed me….
“Life had not been good for me either…I too missed you a lot…I tried to contact you a couple of times but in vain…I thought you will write me sometimes…but nothing happened… I then thought u had forgotten me…”
“Hey...nothing like that…I tried…but…”, I tried to eclipse the truth
“But what Siddharth?”
"I just don’t know Deepu…I just don’t know…Maybe I expected the same from you”, I tried to parry her question and then tried to concentrate on my hot cappuccino.
“Am really very fortunate…I mean …its incredible…and now that we have finally come here at this point…after a long long time…I don’t know how to thank GOD”
I held both of her hand and continued…
“I don’t know how to thank GOD…My life will be full of peals of happiness and …it will be complete…I had lost you once and I don’t wanna lose you again……”
“Deepu…I wanna marry you”
Well I waited in peace…an overwhelming silence ruled over us…I was ready to hear the same from Deepika… Our lost love seemed coming to life ones again… Each and every second hurled the excitement that raced in me blood head over heels…. A happy married life…I kept pondering…
“I am Sorry Siddharth…you are wrong…I mean…I am already engaged”, She whispered looking straight in my eyes
“Engaged or getting engaged … right now…Good sense of humor Deepu…You are still the same ”, I giggled
“No, Siddharth…You are mistaken again… I am engaged to Sanjeev Kashyap, our batch mate if you remember… We got engaged last month, he is completing his MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and he’s made job in Goldman Sachet”…
“What” , I howled in surprise….
“I am not able to decipher this enigma…or are u still joking…”, I almost pounced …
I then try to recall my college days…
“Sanjeev Kashyap …Yes... yes… I remember… that short and introvert guy… that mediocre passed out from IIM Ahmedabad…what a surprise…n working for Goldman Sachet… Man, he has the qualification which I am aspiring for… n that dickhead is engaged to Deepika …”
This news hit my conscience like thunder… My head started reeling with unshakable enviousness.
“What…I mean…ok…what was that bio-data then? And what about the matrimony proposal that you sent me? Was this all a fake ploy that you are playing with me? … With my emotions? Now I know I was right actually… Any ways chuck it …”
“I know, Siddharth the double game that you always played with me…I always loved you with my true heart even though I knew that you were just playing with me… I knew you never loved me when we were in college though I always had a hope…It was just you wanted a girl friend and u found me as an easy prey… and when I quit the college…I knew …and you too ... that you were happy….I don’t need to repeat the same… you remember Deepika Shukla, … you’re next so called Love…”
Her words left me frozen like a zombie…
I tried to recollect… “Deepika… Deepika Shukla…Yes...I remember… Daughter of Kandarp Shukla, my dad’s business partner…We had an affair during my last semester in the college”
“But how did she come to know about her? Perhaps from some of her friends back in college” , I speculated
“Hi Siddharth”, a soft voice summoned me…
I turned around…and I saw something which I never expected…
“Why did I agree my mother”, I cursed myself.
All I had to say her that I did not wish to marry now. It’s too early. I wanted to go according to my plans and resolution. Two years of work in an IT industry did not satisfy my ego and my needs. I wanted to do MBA and then work for Goldman Sachet, my dream company. But my mother who is elderly and the only person in my family wanted me to take the nuptial vows as early as possible. This was the reason I had to bow down to my mother regarding her proposal of me getting engaged.
I picked the red glossy envelope and reluctantly glanced at the profile of the girl. Her photo seemed to be appealing. Long hair with a shine in her eyes and well-contoured features on her youthful face gave her an alluring appearance. I didn’t even give a damn of other gory details of her profile. Who cares!!! I mused… I just had to complete the formality, a delusory errand to please my mother and then tell her I did not like the girl. “That’s it.”
Scanning her photo tantalized my male ego for a while, as I had never come across such an attractive looking girl. I just had one affair in my college in second year with an average looking chick but it broke as she left the college in third year. I had simmered down that relation, as she became very boring and insipid day by day and moreover she would now not stay in the college. I just forgot her within few days and I did not care to contact her again.
After a long time, I came across this girl who had something arresting in her. A streak of thought spurred my male emotions and I thought just to have rendezvous with this girl and then jilt up the marriage proposal right away. After all I had to fulfill my dream of completing my MBA and then a job at Goldman Sachet. I thought of meeting this girl just for an experience.
As the Volvo slowed down at MG road, I ogled my beautiful co passenger for the last time, got down and strolled towards CaféCoffeeDay by Splendor Mall. This place is one of the glossiest places in Bangalore owing to its exquisite and serene ambience and that’s the reason I e-mailed her and fixed our meeting here.
As I reached the CaféCoffeeDay I reserved the corner place for two persons and then looked around, scouting for the face that I was waiting for. After few moments I saw girl approaching towards me. Clad in tight jeans and a sleeveless top she showed a generous amount of cleavage. Her eyes had the same gleam as the one I saw in the photo and her hair preened in a similar fashion. I couldn’t believe my mother for making such a fancy choice for her bride. With each swinging stride she approached nearer and nearer. Our eye met and as I stood to greet her, she smiled and passed by me. I was startled by her indiscreet behavior and frowned, tightening my brows in contempt. My mother had made a wrong choice. It was incredible. “O Shit”, I mulled.
All of a sudden I sensed my mobile ringing. Fuming, I thought of throwing tantrums at my mother. How could she make such an atypical choice?
When I saw my cell phone, it was an unknown number. Nevertheless I received the call.
It was Deepika.
I couldn’t fathom what was happening.
She said she is waiting for me outside the CaféCoffeeDay. I was startled again. First I looked back and then forward. That skimpy sleeveless modern babe had disappeared.
I then saw a lady, standing alone outside the CCD, perhaps she was a girl in a black saaree with white purse on her slender arms looking around in eagerness. I came closer and I looked again, this time with a fixed gaze at her blouse. She was the same old co passenger in the Volvo some time back. The same ethereal white skin, the same low cut black blouse and the same pendant solitaire recklessly hanging by her ear. I looked around in anticipation I couldn’t find anyone else.
“Excuse me” , I whispered
She turned around. And for the next few seconds the earth below my feet moved and my heartbeat stopped in astonishment.
“Deepika…”
“Deepika Maheshwari…” , I mumbled as my eyes squinted in surprise.
“Hi…Siddharth”, she smiled and greeted me with gentle handshake.
“What a surprise…but…”
“You have changed….a lot…..You look so beautiful”
“Thanks”, she smiled again pulling her hairs from her eyes.
We then settled ourselves over hot cappuccino and cold frappe Strawberry and a soothing romantic number in background
She was not the same Deepika whom I loved in College. She had changed…and changed heavenly. She looked stunning. Her eyed reflected a different, unusual gleam that could light any soul. She looked more beautiful than I had imagined her from behind, in the Volvo. In those days she was plumper but today she looked slim, impeccably carved and her bosom protruded in flawless shape.
“So how have been since so many days… and you never cared to be in touch ?" , I asked her after a pause.
“Hey, not like that, I was busy with my graduation and the office was just too hectic…”
There was silence again. We both were not able to believe the incredible co-incidence or serendipity, what I mean. Words failed to come out my lips.
“Hey”, I interrupted the silence.
She looked up stirring her Strawberry shake coyly.
“Where did you graduate finally from and where are you working”, this was a couple of questions, which I could think of in eternity of time.
“IIIT Allahabad and am working for Infosys”
“What about you?"
“Am working for IBM”, I answered…
There was silence again…
Not knowing what to speak…. I then decided to buy a little courage from time and spilled…
“Hey, I tell you it was really very tough for me when you left the college…I was left all alone…I was snowed under your absence…and I cried slowly, limitlessly alone in my room but you never came back…Your manner, your voice, your sweetness lingered in my heart…I just ….I just…Any way….”,
I struggled for words…. Her presence had overwhelmed me….
“Life had not been good for me either…I too missed you a lot…I tried to contact you a couple of times but in vain…I thought you will write me sometimes…but nothing happened… I then thought u had forgotten me…”
“Hey...nothing like that…I tried…but…”, I tried to eclipse the truth
“But what Siddharth?”
"I just don’t know Deepu…I just don’t know…Maybe I expected the same from you”, I tried to parry her question and then tried to concentrate on my hot cappuccino.
“Am really very fortunate…I mean …its incredible…and now that we have finally come here at this point…after a long long time…I don’t know how to thank GOD”
I held both of her hand and continued…
“I don’t know how to thank GOD…My life will be full of peals of happiness and …it will be complete…I had lost you once and I don’t wanna lose you again……”
“Deepu…I wanna marry you”
Well I waited in peace…an overwhelming silence ruled over us…I was ready to hear the same from Deepika… Our lost love seemed coming to life ones again… Each and every second hurled the excitement that raced in me blood head over heels…. A happy married life…I kept pondering…
“I am Sorry Siddharth…you are wrong…I mean…I am already engaged”, She whispered looking straight in my eyes
“Engaged or getting engaged … right now…Good sense of humor Deepu…You are still the same ”, I giggled
“No, Siddharth…You are mistaken again… I am engaged to Sanjeev Kashyap, our batch mate if you remember… We got engaged last month, he is completing his MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and he’s made job in Goldman Sachet”…
“What” , I howled in surprise….
“I am not able to decipher this enigma…or are u still joking…”, I almost pounced …
I then try to recall my college days…
“Sanjeev Kashyap …Yes... yes… I remember… that short and introvert guy… that mediocre passed out from IIM Ahmedabad…what a surprise…n working for Goldman Sachet… Man, he has the qualification which I am aspiring for… n that dickhead is engaged to Deepika …”
This news hit my conscience like thunder… My head started reeling with unshakable enviousness.
“What…I mean…ok…what was that bio-data then? And what about the matrimony proposal that you sent me? Was this all a fake ploy that you are playing with me? … With my emotions? Now I know I was right actually… Any ways chuck it …”
“I know, Siddharth the double game that you always played with me…I always loved you with my true heart even though I knew that you were just playing with me… I knew you never loved me when we were in college though I always had a hope…It was just you wanted a girl friend and u found me as an easy prey… and when I quit the college…I knew …and you too ... that you were happy….I don’t need to repeat the same… you remember Deepika Shukla, … you’re next so called Love…”
Her words left me frozen like a zombie…
I tried to recollect… “Deepika… Deepika Shukla…Yes...I remember… Daughter of Kandarp Shukla, my dad’s business partner…We had an affair during my last semester in the college”
“But how did she come to know about her? Perhaps from some of her friends back in college” , I speculated
“Hi Siddharth”, a soft voice summoned me…
I turned around…and I saw something which I never expected…
It was Deepika Shukla, She was the same old skimpy babe whom I had guessed right initially….But by now, I fathomed the entire well-conspired ploy… Deepika Maheshwari tried to take revenge…I was snared ….I was made such a fool…I did not care to answer her…I left the place immediately.
When I reached home, I saw the matrimony profile lying on my table… I scanned it ones again…
“Shit man…She was Deepika Shukla, Daughter of Kandarp Shukla” , I wish I could have read this before.
“That unwomanly woman, bitch”, I mused and thumped my fist on the wall.
I cursed myself for not looking into the profile. I then slashed it to pieces and disposed the flotsam into the trash for ever…from my life.
Later on I just told my mother, I did not like the girl…
When I reached home, I saw the matrimony profile lying on my table… I scanned it ones again…
“Shit man…She was Deepika Shukla, Daughter of Kandarp Shukla” , I wish I could have read this before.
“That unwomanly woman, bitch”, I mused and thumped my fist on the wall.
I cursed myself for not looking into the profile. I then slashed it to pieces and disposed the flotsam into the trash for ever…from my life.
Later on I just told my mother, I did not like the girl…
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