If there's one thing we all want, it's to be loved. We may run around hither and tither all our lives in pursuit of worldly pleasures but nothing other than love and companionship would grant us that perpetual happiness and contentment that one eventually seeks. There comes a time in everyone's life, when he craves for love; feels the need of companionship, longs for someone to have to add meaning to his life, someone to listen to and to share the day's happenings with - no matter how mundane those might be. Everyone wishes to be somebody’s everything.
But you never plan on falling in love with someone, it happens on its own. And fall in love, we all do, at some stage. It's almost an inevitable thing to happen in anyone's life, and when it does, there’s nothing like it. It's a beautiful feeling, the best kind of magic there is or ever will be. When you are in love, a strange, indescribable feeling takes over. You suddenly feel vitally alive and spontaneous and everything around you starts looking colourful and exotic. The entire world looks perfect.
Thus everyone would have got a love story to savour. I too have mine, it's nothing spectacular as such, but it's my favourite love story. Let me share it with you all (my musical love story i.e., which was no less dramatic than a typical Bollywood movie) -- how I fell in love, how I got separated from her mid-way, how I met her again and how I ultimately won her heart! Read on.
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| Happiness is growing old with you... |
Ever since I can remember, love and romance had always been alien topics to me. Neither girls nor love stories ever interested me. For a long time, Romeo and Juliet, Heer and Raanjha and all other star-crossed lovers remained mere characters; reading about them or watching them die for each other in movies could elicit only a perfunctory sigh from me and nothing else. It's not that I was heartless. It's only that I hadn't experienced love until then. My heart hadn't fluttered wildly for any girl before, I hadn't ever got those churning feelings in the stomach, I was yet to meet the love of my life. I hadn't felt the absence of love until then though... I didn't need to, I was quite happy in my life and with my books. But then, does love ever announce its arrival? Doesn't it strike you when you are least expecting it? My lady-love too entered the frame, out of nowhere.
***** (Sequence of the significant events) *****
Our First Encounter:
(Some day of July in the year 2001, outside Hauz Khas bus stop)
I was going to appear in the IIT entrance exam later in December that year, so I had enrolled for a 6 month preparatory course at FIITJEE, Sarvapriya Vihar. As per their admission procedure, after paying the course fees, the students were required to collect their ID cards and the course materials from the administrative block on a later (pre-fixed) date, which is why I was there at Hauz Khas that day. After alighting at the bus-stop, I had barely walked a few metres when I caught the first glimpse of her on the opposite side of the road, while she was trying to cross it. I instantly fell head over heels for her. She was beautiful beyond imagination. "God must have taken ages to sculpt her", I stood there wondering and gaping at her (while the famous R.D Burman tune played on in the background).
Laa laa laa, laalaa... Laa laa laa, laalaa...
While I was still lost in the hypnotic trance, she had already crossed over and was now standing before me, asking, "Excuse me, isn't this the way to Sarvapriya Vihar?". With that buttery smooth voice of hers, as sweet as caramel sauce, she could have reduced anyone to abject slavery. It took me a while to realise that I wasn't seeing a dream, that she was actually asking me. I could only give her a nod with a barely audible "yeah", my voice just wouldn't come out. My breath had, as if, got caught in my throat. I was completely mesmerized by her beauty. True to her name -- Ananya (which I came to know much later), she was truly 'one of a kind'. I had only read about angels in books, had never seen one before, but now that I had seen Ananya, I had gotten sure that even angels couldn't have been more prettier. God had indeed gone overboard while creating her, but nevertheless, I wasn't complaining. But more than her good looks, it was the unmistakable innocence on her face that drew me towards her. She was as delicate as a fragile rose petal and needed to be sheltered from the harsh realities of life. I had, probably, already fallen in love, then and there. No one had strum the chords of my heart like that ever before.
(However ludicrous it may sound but her entry into my life also triggered something that had never happened with me before -- situational love songs from Hindi movies would start playing in my ears every time I saw Ananya.
Yeah, much before Shah Rukh Khan had the musical band play violin for him in 'Main Hoon Naa' every time he saw Sushmita Sen near him.)
Raja Ko Rani Se Pyaar Ho Gayaa...
But before I could even realise, she had disappeared into the crowd while I stood there like a fool, knowing nothing about her. I tried to comfort myself thinking that had it not been my luck, she wouldn't have chosen me over other people present over there, to ask for the direction. So I believed that destiny would probably bring her before me a second time too.
My Second Sight of Her: (A Week Later, FIITJEE Classroom)
Destiny did oblige me. Exactly a week later. Our first class was to commence that day and having reached there pretty early, I was busy chatting and making a few friends in the classroom, when she came in. And I was yet again awed by her beauty.
Tu Hai Ek Haseeno Mein Haseen...
Was it a sheer co-incidence that she too had enrolled for the FIITJEE course? Wasn't it my good luck that she was in fact in the same batch and in the same group as me! God couldn't have blessed me more. They say that love makes you go crazy. I was so lost in her that even though my very first class at FIITJEE had already gone for a toss, even though I had hardly heard anything of what Subramanium Sir (our Chemistry teacher) taught in those 50 minutes or so, I cared little. A strange, indescribable feeling had taken over me, something which I had never experienced before.
Our First Bus-ride Together: (Bus No 344, INA Colony to Hauz Khas)
Days passed, the classes continued, and so did her spell on me. She was always on my mind and in my dreams too. Some semblance of normalcy had returned into my life though, as far as paying attention to studies was concerned. Then one fine day, my luck gifted me with a chance to accompany her on the bus-ride to our institute. As usual, I had boarded Bus No 344 and luckily, had got a seat too. A few stops later, Ananya too had gotten into the same bus (which I wasn't aware of then). But since all seats had been taken up, she had to make do with standing. By the time the bus reached INA colony stop, it had gotten even more crowded, the aisle was jam-packed with commuters standing shoulder to shoulder. She had been pushed to the back and was now just a seat away from me. That is when I saw her in the bus, while she was trying to find herself some space to stand; she was visibly uncomfortable. Immediately I offered her my seat and gestured to her to exchange our places. She probably recognised me, so readily agreed and rewarded me with her cute smile. I couldn't have been more happier; all along the way, I felt gloried that I was guarding my Queen.
Ae Kash Ke Hum Hosh Mein Ab...
Our First Real Conversation: (FIITJEE Classroom)
Since that bus-ride, Ananya had started to requite my smiles whenever our eyes met and we would occasionally exchange pleasantries too. But we were yet to have a real conversation with each other, even though a good two months had passed by then since the commencement of the course. Then it so happened that we had a surprise maths test done in the class and I aced it with the highest marks whereas she hadn't fared that well. So she came up to me after the class, asking me to explain her a few answers. I readily did that but asked her a favour too. That, in return, she too had to help me with the Aldehydes and Ketones part of organic chemistry. I was as bad in organic chemistry as I was good with the integrals.
But however much I tried to, I could hardly concentrate on her words. I just couldn't keep my eyes off her face. Beauty needs little embellishment and she was a real beauty. No fancy embellishments, no paint, no make-up and yet she looked like a Goddess. There was a kind of lustrous effulgence emanating from her face that would have made the brightness of the Sun pale into insignificance. Sometimes I couldn't decide whether it were her satin-smooth skin and flawless complexion or it were her long, jet-black hair and cute little nose that my eyes remained fixated on her face. Most probably it were her sparkling hazel eyes that held me captive. There was a certain kind of tenderness reflected in them that whenever she looked at me, I was left weak-kneed every time.
Jaadu Bhari Ankhonwaali Suno...
Gradually our conversations became more frequent. We would help each other in clearing our doubts, would share our notes and sometimes a few laughs too. We had even started to accompany each other in the same bus while returning back home from the institute. We had become friends by then. But that was that. I had still not disclosed my feelings to her. During this course though, I had got to know her better and had understood that she was the one for me. Every day I had been losing more of myself to her. There were times too when I really felt that she was mine, in some indefinable way, and the feeling would make me happy. Every now and again, I would sneak quick, admiring glances at her and smile to myself. When the breeze across the room made her hair swirl around her face, how I wished I could ease my fingers through her hair and slide those strands aside! Little did I know then that after a few days, I wouldn't get to see her again.
Our Separation:
Even before I could think of declaring my love to her, December had already come. Our classes at FIITJEE had ended and the mock tests had begun. Since our exam centres for each mock test were in different parts of the city, I couldn't meet her. Neither did I know her telephone number nor did I know where exactly she lived, I only knew that she lived somewhere in Jor Bagh. Within a few days, IIT exam too knocked on the doors, so I got busy. I cleared the screening test but couldn't do so in the mains. But I cleared another entrance exam and so moved out of Delhi for my engineering studies. Thus even before I could know, I had already got separated from Ananya. And I hadn't told her yet that I loved her! Worse still, I didn't know where she lived or how to contact her. So I knew not if I would ever see her again.
It was not until 2008 that I returned back to Delhi, when I got placed here. My love for Ananya, though, hadn't diminished even a wee bit. You never forget your first love, Do you? I had missed her so much in all those years that coming back to Delhi actually gave me goosebumps. "Will destiny bring her to me a third time? Will I be lucky again?", I would often think and pray. But four more years passed and still I could know nothing about her whereabouts. I even tried (unsuccessfully though) searching her on Orkut and Facebook many a times. By now, I had almost accepted that we were probably never made for each other. "She is such a nice girl that she must have already been blessed with her love by now," I would think and would only brood over what if I had told her in time that I loved her. Life seemed so easy and sorted out when I hadn't known love but now that I had tasted it, and had lost it too, life felt so miserable. I felt absolutely lifeless without Ananya.
Jiye To Jiye Kaise Bin Aapke...
I took to social networking (Orkut, to be specific) to keep my loneliness away, I had forged new friendships over there and would chat with them during my idle time. That is when I came across Sulakshna. I had always consciously tried to keep myself away from getting emotionally connected with anyone because I didn't want to fall into a new relationship, I didn't want to fall in love again. But then, you can't plan for falling or not falling in love, can you? It just happens on its own, you have no control over it. Sulakshna was a chirpy but a caring girl too, I loved spending time with her, and before I could know, I had started liking her! Love doesn't knock on your doors a second time, or does it? Well, probably sometimes it does. But I was confused about my feelings too, because there were times when I would still miss Ananya terribly. I thought I liked spending time with Sulakshna because I saw glimpses of Ananya in her, she reminded me of Ananya. By the time I realised that I had indeed fallen in love a second time, Sulakshna had got engaged and eventually got married. I was yet again devastated. Starting over after a heartbreak is never easy and I already had two. I decided to let time heal the pain. Life went on, and in those two years, I had somehow managed to gather myself and was somewhat happy in my life too. But I had given up on love. "I am jinxed in love," so I thought.
Ananya's Re-entry into My Life: (Some day of September, 2013, Outside IFFCO Chowk Metro Station)
Heavy rainfall had caused a technical snag due to which the Metro rail services had been disrupted. So even after waiting for more than half an hour, when the metro didn't come, I decided to take a cab home. Just as I was going past the station in my cab, my eyes fell on a familiar face standing by the roadside and my heart started to thump in my chest once again. It was indeed Ananya. I hadn't felt so alive, so whole, so fulfilled in a long time. The world suddenly looked so perfect.
Tumse Jo Dekhte Hi Pyaar Hua...
I got out of my cab immediately, asking my driver to wait, and literally ran across to greet her. Suddenly there was a spring in my steps. She recognised me at once and was in fact taken by surprise, seeing me there.
"Amit? Is that you? Oh, my God, I am seeing you like after some 12 years or so. Where were you? And how are you? You haven't changed a bit, you look just the same!"
"How are you, Ananya? (I wanted to say "I missed you so much all these years" but couldn't.) And what are you doing here? Did you too miss the metro? You seem to be waiting here for a cab. Can I drop you somewhere?", I asked her.
"Arre, no, I will manage. If I don't get a cab or an auto in the next ten minutes, I will ask papa to come and pick me up, it's absolutely okay," she replied.
"Ananya, it's already well past eight now and it may rain again anytime. I can't leave you here, all alone, to wait, you very well know how unsafe this city is. I have got a cab with me, it's waiting over there, on the other side, I can gladly drop you at your place. Please, it's a request. I will also get the chance to talk with you after so many years. Or else, I will wait with you here till your papa turns up."
She finally agreed, "okay, baba, we'll go by your cab."
Although twelve years had passed by but she hadn't changed a bit, she was as vivacious as ever. All along the way, she kept on chattering; she had so much to say. But I was loving every bit of it. I had so missed her chirpiness all these years that I let her do the talking while I was busy reacquainting myself with every square inch of her face. Every now and again, she would also pause to give me a smile and I would suddenly feel like seventeen again. With that winsome smile of hers, she could have easily charmed a turtle out of its shell, she could have lighted up even the darkest of rooms. How could a mere mortal like me not fall in love with her (for the umpteenth time)?
Mera Chand Mujhe Aaya Hai Nazar...
Those few minutes that I got to spend with her in the cab that evening were some of the best moments of my life. That chance meeting had also rekindled our friendship. Before leaving, we had exchanged our numbers and so we would often call each other up and have a hearty chat. It also helped that our work places weren't far apart. So whenever we happened to come across each other at the Metro station while returning back home, we would often stay back to spend a few minutes at a coffee house or some restaurant and reminisce our old days or just talk about anything and everything. Over time, the frequency of our calls to each other also rose and so did our online chats. I also got to know that she didn't have anyone in her life. I never had a doubt that she indeed was the one with whom I had to spend the rest of my life with. She though was still unaware of my feelings for her and probably thought of me as nothing more than a good old friend.
Ananya's family were now looking for prospective grooms for her: (Late January, 2014)
Five months had passed and I still hadn't had the courage to tell her that I loved her. At this point though, she once said during a casual conversation that her family were searching for a suitable match for her and that her elder sister had suggested her brother-in-law, Samarth. Though Ananya hadn't made up her mind about him as yet, something about him bothered her probably but I could gauge from her words that as a person, she thought nicely of him, from the few meetings that they had had. I understood that it was high time that I expressed my feelings to her, now that I had a competitor too. I had almost lost her forever ten years back, so just couldn't afford to be late this time. It involved a risk though, I would have lost a very good friend if she rejected me.
But it was no time to weigh my options, because I didn't have any; I loved her and I needed to tell her that, rest all was her choice. I just had to give myself the best chance. So over the next couple of days when I met Ananya, I tried to know as much as I could about her likes and dislikes -- that black was her favourite colour, Sonu Nigam was her favourite singer and that her idea of a romantic date was having dinner at some open-terrace restaurant, talking about sweet nothings and then going on a long walk together.
I Finally Proposed: (11th of February, 2014, Amour, Hauz Khas)
Hauz Khas it was, where I had fallen in love when I saw her for the first time. So I chose to propose to her at the same place where it had all started. The plan was to take her out for dinner at a roof-top restaurant and then declare my love to her. I had also thought of singing one particular Sonu Nigam number and reading out a poem when proposing to her. Quite a few preparations went in for the D-Day. Not only had I to impress Ananya with her favourite things but I also had to look my best that evening. As planned, I called her up and asked her out for dinner. We had gone out for dinners before as well, so she gladly agreed. She was visibly impressed on seeing me in an all black get-up (her favourite colour), when I turned up at her place to pick her up, -- a black tuxedo to go with a black shirt and a black trouser. The decision to select Amour for the evening seemed to work for me too, not only was the outdoor seating arrangement on the terrace under the starry sky was to her liking but Ananya liked the ambience too. Everything was going as per my plan (...well, almost). After we were done with our dinner, it was time for the final action. First I sang "Soniyo, o Soniyo.." (a Sonu Nigam song) much to her amazement,
Tu Dede Meraa Saath, Thaamle Haath...
and then going down on one knee, I read out my poem too. There couldn't be a more awful poet than me in the entire world and I knew that too but then, Ananya has always been fond of poetry and I had to impress her. So I had to somehow compose a poem for her. I did manage to write one, borrowing lines from bollywood songs and using some totally inane analogies. I fumbled and faltered with the lines, even though I had rehearsed many a times before the mirror, but I proceeded --
You are my cup, and I am your plate,
I fell in love with you the very first time that we met;
I hadn't seen life so beautiful and knew not what love is,
until you came into my life and wrapped me in bliss;
Aaye ho mere zindegi mein, tum bahaar banke,
Mere dil mein yunhi rehna, tum pyaar pyaar banke,
You are my hari mirchi, and I am your dhania,
Kehdo naa, kehdo naa, you are my Sonia;
You are my spicy mint chutney and I am your samosaa,
I promise you I will love you always and won't break your bharosaa...
You are the reason my heart beats,
and you are the one with whom my life completes,
I want to spend the rest of my life with thee;
Tell me Ananya, will you marry me?
For a moment I couldn't know whether it was my horrible poem or it was my proposal that had caught her off-guard, she was obviously not expecting me to propose to her. And when she didn't say anything for about a minute or so, I thought she meant "no". But then, she came up to me and cupping my face in her hands, said ever so softly, "Yes, I will".
It took me a few seconds to realise that the moment was for real, she had indeed accepted me. She continued, "I have always liked you and your company, though only as a good friend and never saw you in any other sense. But you know what, I would rather have my friend as my life-partner, who lets me be myself, than risk spending my life with a stranger. And yeah, I would certainly love to grow old with a crazy guy who, in spite of knowing that he is really terrible in poetry, still was stupid enough to try impress his love with his awful poem! I am sure, my life with you will never be short on fun and entertainment and I will have many more such moments in the future to share with my grand-kids!", she said and started giggling. Tears trickled down my cheeks. I was in raptures actually, I had finally won her heart. I wanted to hug her tight then and there but was too shy to do that.
The Present Day:
Ek Din Aap Yun Humko Miljayenge...
It's been almost a year to that day and honestly, I have never felt this happy in my life! Sometimes I feel flattered to have got such a loving companion like Ananya. I don't know if it was always destined to be or not, but I couldn't have asked for more.
This blog post is an entry for the "Cupid Games 2015" campaign sponsored by Close-Up.