Behind the bride's veil - VI

Rishi walked ahead with rest of us following him. He'd look back ever so often and smile at me but I could only gasp in response. 
With every step I took, with my heels clattering and my mind in chatter frenzy, I reminisced the days I spent with Aditya.

'I'm a lucky man to have you', He'd tell me.
'You found me', I'd crown my beau.
We were a happy us. Just about the time we understood this was the time we parted.
I smiled to myself and shook my head in denial, but deep within I knew how much I wanted the fairy tale to go on.

I entered the elevator like it was the Valley of Death.

'How do I face him? Does he know I'm here? Should I avoid confronting him? But it's been almost a year since I saw him last'
'Maybe it's sheer coincidence. No, maybe it's celestial conspiracy. Are we fated to meet?' All I could do was helplessly succumb to my thoughts racing to him faster than I could reach. Faster than I wanted them to reach.

'Heyy! Are you okay? You look like a deadpan!', Rishi was now all concerned and a little boisterously concerned. The others in the lift, victims to the ripple effect, turned to me. 'What happened? All okay?'
I looked at Rishi. 'Wow. You always make things better right!'
'You aren't feeling well?'
I chanced upon this question. 'Yeah, I'm a little nervy'
'You'll do fine. Take deep breaths before the presentation, keep calm', another suggested.
Rishi and I looked at each other and smiled. We knew exactly what the other was thinking. 
'I don't know what to expect, I just want to sail through this amicably', I told him. 
I looked up to the floors descending. With every floor, my heart beat and anxiety grew exponentially.
He nudged me. 'Smile now, look your charming best for Him'
'Shut up! Stop being a bipolar comforter', I smacked his shoulder.

'Moment of Love', Rishi muttered into my ears.
One after the other, the suited and booted gentlemen got off the car.
While one half of me, like the others, enjoyed the panache that walked towards us, the other half was too busy scanning faces. 

There were about 20 of them who'd come. The bigwigs came marching right at the front of the file. As they drew closer, something in me gathered courage and checked me from hiding away. I armed myself to face him and deal with whatever came with him. 
'I can explain myself. I can justify my decisions and I know I'm right', I felt my head dipping and rising quickly, like it were expressing complete solidarity to what I was thinking.

'Welcome to India!', Rishi beamed as we shook hands with them and exchanged pleasantries.
Rishi proceeded to the elevator escorting a few and beckoned me to come along.
I looked around but couldn't find him. 
'Stairs?', I whispered to Rishi.
'Elevator. Don't fuss', he was tough.
I waited for the others to enter the elevator while I savoured those precious seconds looking for him. 

Just as I turned around to enter the elevator, I heard him.
'Room for more?', He walked in with two others.
'Absolutely!', Rishi laughed.

And there he was. 
Aditya. 

He smiled and turned around to the door. I was now standing right behind him. 

Instinctively, I got him sized up. He'd disappointed the scale losing a few pounds. He had shorter hair and his eyes looked tired. His cologne hit me like a rogue wave. 'My Armani Code... His 25th...', I smiled to myself when his birthday flashed past me. He didn't have the stubble I'd always loved. Yet, the charm on his face refused to let go.
He was a vision. Yet. Again.

'How's the day been so far gentlemen?', Rishi broke the uncanny silence.
'It's been good.' 'Great!', they spoke up.
'Well the day ahead seems exciting', Aditya smiled.
He turned to me and looked at me in the eye. 
'I can't lose you again. I found you and I'm not leaving without you!'

Somewhere in the middle

'So, how long's it been since you actually normally blogged?' was one question that's the inspiration to this post. Or rant. Thanks Ma.

Yes, amidst the story of Ram, Aditya and the poor bride who's still stuck behind the veil comes this surprisingly normal post devoid of masala, fantasy, love and all things girls love dreaming about. Or is it? 
Only time will tell. 

I don't know if people are thanking Heavens or cussing at the fact that I'm taking a little break writing the story. I'm glad it entertained many, I'm still happy if it annoyed a few. Oh common, you're gonna remember me for it anyway. Innit? :D

It's the week that I'm wrapping up my intern at work and the week our college bids farewell to us. They're definitely happier without us and I don't need an alternate 'Or are they?' disclaimer clause to this. Let's own up, after all the torture skipping classes and frustrating teachers, I'm glad they at least want to say a nice goodbye to us. I know they love us and so do we. #HappyTearDrop. Now, what did I start off writing with?

Yes. The Big Break.

To be honest, I've got these 2 guys and I have no clue what I must do with them now. What started off as a hobby turned out to be passion. Then later, stress. 'What do I do with you now?', I ask myself as I picture Ram and Aditya standing in the corner and smiling at each other, 'We got you. Wickedddd!' The story has transformed me positively and has changed the way I now perceive people and things. But these 2 men only give me stress now. 'Why are you both here?'

There was this interesting post, rather meme, on Facebook that shows Ideas, as little paper men, running away from a man in the morning as he tries reaching out to them. And at night, they're all around the poor fatigued guy nudging him, 'Check me out! Check me out!'
Yes, story of all our lives when the brightest creative thoughts come pouring into you as you force yourself to shut down so that you can catch the 7am cab to work. 
No, why does this happen really? Are creativity and the solar clock opposite poles?

It's interesting how factors external to you influence the way you think and feel, like they've the strings to your emotions and thoughts. Be it a conversation with a friend, be it the weather, a peppy number on the radio or some coffee. The process is something like this. They spin this huge wheel of emotions round and fast and choose one. Then they wire your brain up for the chosen emotion and set things in action. And this happens faster than any of us can imagine, probably every nano second in a girl. That's just one of the justifications to expressing complete solidarity over our 'mood swings' and 'bipolar behaviour'. 

The exit polls predict a whooping over 260 seats to the NDA. Wait, that's just adding some paprika to Abki baar, Modi Sarkar. 

I really have no idea where this post is swerving off to. But I do know that when I shut my eyes to sleep, part six, seven, eight and nine to the tiny tale will come revving all at once. This sounds like someone watching the movie 2 States without having read the book. 'What just happened? Why's it all incoherent?' That is inspiration too, strike two!

Behind the bride's veil - V

'Varun NO...!', I let a faint cry out.
'What do you mean NO! Look at the time!', Dad rattled me and woke me up.
I opened my eyes wide and looked around.
'It's 7!', he was angry. 
'You have no seriousness, how many times do I need to wake you up like a kid. You keep working through the night and wake up late. And today's your meeting right? You should work backwards and manage time. When will you... Nee thirindave maate', he shook his head in dismay.
'Sorry paa, I had a dream and I... '
'I'm tired of listening to this. I don't know, do whatever you want. You reach office on time or you're late, I don't care', he was now very evidently upset.
Anyone will be; for a meet with a client in the morning, 7 generally is breakfast and skim-though-agenda time. But I was setting my bed and sashaying along.

I picked my phone up to smile at 7 messages, a zillion Whatsapp notifications and 5 missed calls from Rishi. All in 1-minute intervals.

I prepped my mind, held my breath and called him up.
It was probably quarter of a ring and he answered it. I gathered my mouth to say 'Morning!' only to hear a very choleric 'WTF are you idiot, I've been calling for the last 5 minutes nonstop! We're all here so I tried your landline. Come fast!'
I skipped the greeting and said, 'Sorry Rishi, give me 5. I'm gonna be flying!' I expected a tiny laugh or smirk. 
'Shut up and leave now, ass!' was what I got.

Rishi Sharma was one of the reasons why I loved to work, and go back to work everyday.
He knew just 2 things. Work. And wine. And he was a winner at both.
I huffed my way up to work to see him at the entrance.
'Hold it, hold it Rishi, I'm soo sorry. I woke up to a bad...'
He beamed. 'I just wanted to see you early today. They'll be here in an hour. How's the nice Monday morning looking?'
If only eyes could burn.

'You know, I'm going to hunt you down. I drove like a fruitcake risking my precious life only to see your face?'

'Oh you'll thank me now. Take this', he thrust some Starbucks Espresso into my hands.
Coffee melts away anything. So did I.
'You'll pay for this Mister', I smiled.

'Rishi when're they going to be here? Isn't it late already?'
The room was getting impatient and the bustle only got louder.
'They'll come wait, probably stuck in traffic from the airport. All lofty sophisticated people mind you. Look', he handed the profiles of those who were coming.
I flipped over the pages and was bored halfway.
'No women in the team Vandhu', he gave me the puppy face.
'I thought I'll see the golden women at Goldman Sachs'
'Haha, awww. It's okay! But looks like a senior team, senior in age and experience', I sighed.
'Yeah, except for a few. There's one Aditya and one more. Rest, yeah senior', he laughed.
'Who?'
'Some Aditya. And... Aah, yeah Siddharth'
'Aditya who?'
'Dunno'
'What do you mean don't know?', I pounced. 'Give me that sheet!'
'Gosh, it must be him', I mumbled to myself.
'What happened?'
I riffed through every page praying I don't find him but equally anxious to see him. I was torn between excitement and apprehension.
'Aditya Kapoor', the name was right in front of me.
'He's coming!', I smiled and sighed at the same time.
'You happy or sad about it? You look confused. You know him?'
'You all know him!'
'Is he... Oh my gosh! Mr.Past? Really? Coool stuff. Dude I. Am. Loving. This!', he exclaimed.
'Are you nuts? What am I going to do?'
His phone rang, it was Smitha. 'Okay cool', he snapped.
'Sweetheart, they're here. Come let's welcome them. And a special welcome hug to your Him.'

Behind the bride's veil - IV

'Isn't this Quiz Up addictive?', whined Tanya, her thumb on an auto-mode clicking away answers to glory and her eyes fixed on my nice big new Nexus 6 screen.
'What's this stupid game about T! People at work too are hung ho about this. Do you actually game those strangers across the world?', I felt like a kindergarten kid.
'Hmm', she replied instantly, jolting slightly for every answer in lightning speed and occasionally cussing at the wrong ones.
'So maybe the six degrees of separation comes in handy! Isn't the Bacon number fascinating? You practically know every mortal in some way!', I exclaimed.
'It is', she said uninterested.
I snapped. 'Can you stop cracking that screen and talk?'
'God wait. You're forever talking. Lemme finish this one game, I'm a step away from becoming Zen-Master ten times in a row.'
'Eh?'

After a minute of intense quietude and focus, she gleamed at the screen.
It read, 'You're now a CEO. Use title?'
'Hell yes I'm using it!', she hit yes.
'CEO? Hahha whattt?', I was very amused by now.
'Look, I just finished my 50th level in Business. Aaand that makes me a CEO!'
'Whatever. Can't be bothered', and I smiled and took back to reading 'The Bankerupt'.

'You should totally try this, it's amazing.'
'Here, type your password', she almost pasted the phone on my face.
I gave her a disgusted straight face. 'And now you have all the time to talk right? Go awayyy'
'Shut up and type!'
'Why should I take all of this nonsense Varun?', I yelled to him. He was busy on his laptop and smiled to himself.

'Let's see, which topic do we choose... do you wanna play Grammar and be a Grammarian?', she flashed her brows.
'Do I look like I care?'
'Game on. Now play'
'Wait, who's this Steve Patrick from United Kingdom?'
'Just. Play'

In no time, I got trapped too into the whirlpool of winning streaks against randomness players. Game after game, the excitement and energy only surged. 10 minutes into the game and I was in level 7. I always loved anything got to do with 7. 'Oh Level 7! This'll be interesting', I smiled to her.
'Waiting for a response... ', and my phone began ringing.

It was an unknown number, but it began with +65.
Truecaller flashed 'Varsha Kapoor, Singapore'.

I literally sprang up from the sofa with the phone in my hands. Hands trembling, heart pounding, eyes unsettling.
'It's Varsha...', I told Tanya aghast.
'What? How did she get your number?', she echoed my thoughts.
The ring faded away in a few moments. I stood still not knowing how to cope with anything.
Varun came over to the hall sensing the uncanny silence between the two claptrap clowns.

'What's up? How're the sources of noise noiseless?', he tried to ease the tension.
But in vain.
'It's Varsha, she's...' and the phone began ringing again.
'Calling...', I tried completing my sentence.
Varun looked at me. 'Pick it up, now!'
'What? Have you lost...'
'Pick it up, damn it!'
I kept staring at him like he had me at gunpoint.
'Okay, you aren't going to end this right. I'll talk to her!', he yanked away the phone.
'Varun NO...'

Behind the bride's veil - III

'You don't fancy coffee outside. Right?' He read me.
I kept to the menu card instead, mindlessly flipping pages back and forth. The Cafe Square was something I'd visit plausibly every weekend. But on that day, I had no clue what they served. I dreaded that place and that moment.

'It's either now or never', I prepped myself.
'Look Ram. I want to get this straight. The reason I'm here is because mum and dad think this will work. And I feel obligated to respect their efforts into making this work. We have the highest regard for your parents and that's exactly why I agreed to meet you. But I've got to tell you something, and the sooner I take it off my head, the better it's going to be for you, me, this apparent relationship and ...', I rattled on like a fretful newsreader taking her very first audition.

'Evening. Welcome to The Square, may I take your order?'
Great. Can't the waiter just wait.
'Nothing for me, thank you', I snapped.
'I'm sorry ma'am?'
Ram smiled affably.
'Give us 5 minutes please?' He nodded at the waiter.
'Sure, have a great time sir. Enjoy your evening', he walked away.

'You were saying something', He smiled.
And I lost my chain of thought. My head dropped in unison with my heart and mind. My eyes clouded up with tears and frustration. I couldn't phrase myself, I was in despair. I didn't know where to begin, how to end. 
'I love Aditya', I let go. Tears came trickling down my eyes, breaking free from bondage.
They knew no etiquette or social grace.
'I love Aditya', I repeated, accented in an attempt to make it explicit to him. Those words comforted me.
There was silence.
I was lost in trying to brake my thoughts and tears. But they were unrestrained. They refused to let go of this new found freedom. Freedom to express. Freedom to weep and regret.
I looked up at Ram.
I was confused, he was composed.
I couldn't get my eyes to face him; he didn't take his eyes of me.
He spoke.
'What?', I asked to make sure I heard him right. And I realized I did.
'Do you still love him?' He asked, again.

I was incensed. I wasn't primed for question like that. And this man suddenly assumed the status of a counselor, trying to rid me of my emotional baggage and memories.
However, I couldn't answer him. The events over the last year definitely didn't favour I-still-love-him.
I would be lying if I said yes.
I could never forgive myself if I said otherwise. 2000 miles from my city, I know someone who understands this answer and the gravity of a no for an answer.
I stood up, 'I'm leaving'.

We were driving back in the car. It would've been too dramatic if I chose to go home alone. With family, Tanya and Varun and the new potential additions to family, I didn't want to hyperbole things.
We were quiet in the car. Something told me Ram was sensible enough to call this off after having heard my story.
I was expectant of the NO. 
I'd given that to someone myself, just a few months back.

'Soo... Ahem huh?' Tanya cleared her throat, smirked and mocked all at once. She was gorging on the sweets that were around. Varun stood by her side being an incapable boyfriend of telling his love to check her count on sweets.
'You both were away for like over 4 hours! We all thought you're gonna come back married', she snickered.
'Shut up T, I think I've made it clear to him', I justified.
'I told him about Aditya and the rest. We spoke. I spoke a lot. He knows everything about us now. I must say he was patient though.'
'You think this douche would've dealt it smartly love?', she asked Varun and swallowed the roshogulla.
Varun smiled. 'Awww', he hugged me.
'Still such a douche', she laughed.
'Eat your sweet you daft head. I'll fix you after they leave'.

We were all seated in our drawing room. It snugly accommodated everything and everyone, the people, noise and the food. Both parents bonded well, they'd known each other from before and this relationship was something they definitely cheered.
I sat next to mum, Ram smiled at me. I smiled back, I felt good and light. But I had a parallel running in mind, mum and dad's disappointment. I was prepared to do whatever it takes to call this off.
Every age group had something to talk about and express opinion. Silk sarees, the weather, inflation, the Malaysian Airlines and ... the impending wedding.
Hey, we have 2 people who just went out. We should be asking them if they like each other, it dawned.
His people all turned to him; my people looked at me, and then turned to him.

'Well, Vandhana and I went out to a coffee shop. We spoke. A. Lot. She loves to talk', he smiled.
'Oh tell us something new about this dolt, Ram', Tanya jammed in. Everyone laughed.
I looked at her agape. 'What?', she demanded.
'We have completely different choices and we're very different as individuals. I can live on machine coffee while she detests anything other than Appa-made-filter-kaapi'.
Everyone cracked up and laughed again. I smiled too, knowing it's on the right course. I also liked the way he eased this for me. Mum and dad smiled but the thread of pressure in them was a little evident.
'Our approach to life, people, situations... they're really offbeat. She's met some very interesting people in the past at INSEAD, she was telling me about it. Looks like they've made a profound statement in her life. It's hard to let go of them. I understand'
By now, dad's face grew straight. The smile vanished and he had found out. He looked at me and sighed. 'I knew you'd do this', I felt him think.

'It's always the people you hold close that are so dear yet so far. Life and its journeys, I tell you', He paused.
He looked at me. 
'I'd love to share my journey with her and be a part of hers. Well from my...', he looked at his family.
'...from our side, we're happy to welcome her home', He proclaimed.
The hall was frenzy. It was like India had won an Olympic Medal, an Oscar, the World Cup and a war then.
Everyone was celebrating while I was trounced, battling the situation.
Varun and Tanya looked at me. She walked over to me and whooped, 'Idiot, you lied to us!'
'WHAT IS HAPPENING?', I cried to her.
'Who cares, happiness is happening', she hugged me.
Dad and mum hugged me, I reciprocated none. It hadn't sunk into me and I vetoed to understand.

I looked at Ram but He wasn't looking.
I left the hall to my room. I was emotionless, just a block of dejection and disorientation.
In a while, T called me to see them off. I was still troubled. I couldn't move, she helped me be up. She didn't talk anything. She was too busy happily chatting away with Varun. 

And there He was, Ram, talking to my cousins cheerfully. They loved him.
Seeing me come, the others around dispersed like obedient kids dispersing from the ground after an assembly. They got busy discussing I don't know what.
His mum and dad and the others proceeded to the door. They were leaving.

I walked up to Ram. He saw me. 
He still had the smile on his face. The smile Aditya had when he saw me first at his place. 
'And what makes you think this will work!', I asked angrily.
'The two of us. We make it work', He said.
'Raaaaam, you don't understand. Have you any idea how difficult it is for me to accept another man in my life. I don't get what you're trying to prove...'
'I love you', He asserted. He smiled, like Aditya, and melted into thin air.

Behind the bride's veil - II

'Welcome class, it's wonderful to have you here. Pat yourselves on the back, you've all made it to INSEAD!' and we roared in celebration. It was an insane class. A class with some of the best business brains the world will see. And it had the 5 of us, the youngest in the batch. Jay and Karan from my land, our friend Lee Min from China, and Varsha. In that crowd, we pretty much were kids.

Varsha Kapoor and I connected almost instantly. She was the delight to my very apprehensive grandparents who were worried if I will find a friend that's 'our breed' in a new country. They gave her a virtual kiss on the forehead when we Skyped for the very first time. My very first Skype chat with family. When my people became virtual reality.

'Yayy. Orchard's done. Chic', I smiled and collapsed on Varsha's sofa as I checked Orchard from the exuberant bucket list we'd made. Orchard scored high on my I-must-see-these-right-away priority spots.
On the other hand, there were varied responses too.
'What? Orchard?! The name's repelling enough. We're off to the Science Centre. We'll catch you in the evening at Marina Bay'.

Sadly, understandably though, the boys skipped shopping with us that morning.
'Have you any money left at all?',Varsha's mum joked as I unpacked the bags and showed her the dresses and watches we'd bought. The hall was a pretty sight with shopping bags, bills and wallets strewn around. Well, at least to me it was.

'... and that's precisely why we asked them to reschedule this... Why can't Richardson just wait the weekend? If we don't strike this Larry, I swear ...', He stormed through the door talking on his phone, untying his impeccable tie. He waved at Varsha and looked at me surprised. He stood for a few seconds.

In the black suit, he was a vision.
But the guy on the phone was too impatient. Just my luck.

'...give me a minute for God's sake, I just came home. I'll send it right away!' and he dashed away into his room.

'That's Aditya', Varsha spoke nonchalantly, admiring the new Zara linen. Her peripherals didn't pay heed to him.
But all I saw was him.

Brother. Friend's brother. Such a vision.

I was in the hall packing my bag and all the dearests we shopped that day. We were leaving.
'Ma, I'm going to Larry's place. Tell dad the presentation's tomorrow.' He came out of his room, much more relieved and happy looking. He was in a black USPA tee and khakhi pants.

'Heyyyy, sorry couldn't talk earlier! I'm Aditya... You're Vandhana?', he looked happily surprised.
I froze. 'Hi, oh yes.'
'Aah, Varsha rattles a lot about you. Looks like good fun at school?'
I smiled, 'Ummm... Yah'
'Alright!', he smiled and vanished.
'Please don't go...?', I stood praying to him within me.

'We'll leave? Karan and the others are already there', Varsha spoke as she fished for her phone in her bag and snapped me out of my daze.
'What? They've reached?', I was startled.
'Hahah, yes they have'
'Gosh I'm so excited!' I gleamed.
'Me too! Jay's bought our passes. He'll give it to us at the entrance, that's where they'll meet us'.

'Aditya, guess what? Mike's there tonight', Varsha shouted from the hall.
'Yeah I know, he'd invited me too. But I'm off to Larry's. I've work', He answered from the dining sipping on his coffee.
Varsha sensed I needed some explanation seeing me at seas.
'Oh, Mike too works at ol'man sucks with Aditya!', she said.

A tiny pillow came flying across the room. It whizzed past me and hit her.
'Say that one more time and I'll punch your face you douche', He quipped.
'Yeah yeah. Goldman Sachs whatever. It's all the same', we chuckled.

'Varsha, so what time're you both back?'
'We might get late, and...', and Varsha looked at me.
'Alright, I'll pick you up, let me know'
'Oh how very responsible you're becoming. When have you ever, ever picked me ...', Varsha realized he wasn't looking at her.
'Ahem', she looked at me. I looked at her. And then him. And then her. The blush grew with each glance.
'I see where it's going. Cool then. You can pick her up, and I'll tag along', she laughed.
'Come let's go. Bye', she left.
'Bye', I turned around as Aditya came near the door.
'Take care. I'll see you', he smiled.

Behind the bride's veil

I shook my head, promising to cheer up as I wiped that tiny tear drop wheeling down my cheek.
'Oh Good God, not again!', Tanya yelled as she entered my room. She saw my flushed eyes and she knew.
'I'm alright, all good', I smiled weakly.
'I'm sure you are! Now get up, they're all here. Look your best!'
I wasn't even listening.
'Aaaaand, He's asked for you twice!', she winked with excitement that she couldn't hold longer.

'Is this right?'
'Stop sulking you fool, what if he is Your He?'
'But how can I let go of my past. Of Aditya?'
'You know it just can't work right, be intelligent for God's sake! Think about mum and dad'
'But...'
'Aditya was a mistake then, he is a mistake now'
'So is that all?'

'Help me T, I can't do this', I looked up at Tanya when I couldn't take in more of the monologue, the internal faculties at war. They didn't let me sleep. Now they clouded me and didn't let me think either.
'Shut up new bride!', she beamed. 'I think it's the butterflies in you that's making you this apprehensive. Shoo them away', she suggested like a kid.
'I wish it were that simple', I soughed.

'The Square?', He asked with eyes that struck.
'Anywhere', I turned away and I watched my cousins and family wave at me. Happy excited anxious faces looking at us. 'Bye! Have fun Vandhuuu', they giggled and tapped the window. 'Tell us what happens!'
Tanya and Varun stood watching us, they looked happy.
'You'll do just fine', their eyes reassured me and I felt my answer.
'Take care', I saw mum and dad and the others disappear from my picture, the supposed happy picture my eyes were painting.

The car cruised out and my heart sank. Reality pounded me. 
'What am I doing? I've got to be preposterous! I have someone waiting for me...'
'Uhh Ram, can we...'
'Yes', He spoke. He looked at me in the eye. 
His eyes twinkled. And mine couldn't face them.

I shut my eyes. I needed to think, and convey. Convincingly, strongly, yet gently.
'I need to tell you something Ram', I gathered up.
'Over some coffee?' He smiled charmingly. He knew. He shifted gear and swept me away.

Daddy. Dearest.

'Appa, stop waking me up every 12 hours. At 5.30 in the morning, you wake me up for work. At 5.30 in the evening, it's again you who wakes me up once I'm back from work. Let me sleep! Go awayyy' I mumbled, dreamily annoyed.

'That is because it's such a task waking you up', Appa said, as his hands caressed my cheek.

'Please', and I flashed my palm, 5 fingers spread apart.

Appa melted, like always. 'Okay, 5 minutes, and I'm waking you up again', he smiled and went away.

'Jijju?'
'Hmm', I turned to the other side.
'Okay, only 2 minutes. Seriya?' he said, as I showed peace.

'Okay, I'll bring your coffee and by then you better be up!'

'Vandhu, you're again going to be late and keep the cab driver waiting', he yelled.

Mornings. The jolts. And the time pangs.

Is Love a mirage?

When your heart finds
That perfect joyful beat.

When your sensory horse goes galloping across
To find Him, the Master.

And when you find Him, your eyes paint Him
Gently, frame by frame.
Only to realize, He's spun out of air.

Oh. Is Love a mirage?