Because I Love You – Chapter 2

If you missed the previous chapters, then you can find them here. Chapter 1.

(Disclaimer: The whole story is a work of fiction and is in no way related to any person dead or alive. The names, characters and situations occurring in the story are imaginary and any resemblance to any person is purely coincidental.)

10am,16th January, 2010, Central Park

I couldn’t sleep last night. Being in love or rather ‘back in love’ is like temporary madness.”Why is Riya crying? Is she in any trouble? Or she just wants to be with me again?” kept boggling me. It’s not that I didn’t want her back in my life, but it was very difficult for me to accept that the ‘breakup’ was my fault and I was guilty. We were going to meet at the same place where we had spent some of our most cherished moments. That very bench in the Central Park reminds me of those intimate talks we had. We had eventually planned our entire future on that bench.

I reached the place at exact 10 am. Riya was always on time and it was I who was always late. Today also she was on time and for a change, I too was. I saw Riya from a distance, she was wearing a white salwar kameez with a red chunni. I remember I once told her that white was my favourite colour and I think this colour combination today was purely out of that. She was looking as pretty as always and no less than a princess straight out of those grandma’s fairy tales. “Why the hell did I bring my ego in between? She doesn’t deserve to go through all this because of a jerk like me. She deserves better”, I said to myself. I walked slowly towards her. The way Riya’s eyes were hooked onto me was making me nervous and feel bad about myself.”Why did I do this to her. Why does she still love me? Or does she?” . Riya had brought a birthday present for me.

“Happy Birthday Sweetheart”, said Riya. I thanked and hugged her. I don’t know why I did this; maybe I also wanted her back in my life. I guess, I did. And I was very sure that I will not be able to say this to her. Riya gave me my birthday present.

“Why are you getting so formal”, I said. Riya didn’t comment. She asked me to open the gift.

I opened the wrapping and it was a wooden box with a rose and a Gucci wallet. I had been eying that very wallet since our internship days and Riya had promised to gift me that when I get a job. What is bought is always cheaper than what is gifted and sometimes the manner of giving the gift is worth more than the gift itself.

”How did she know that I had got a job?” I wondered.” I am still in touch with your friends”, she admitted smilingly. I don’t know how she used to read my mind. She still does. Perhaps she knows me better than I know myself.

That gift reminded me of all those promises we had made to each other, all the amazing time we had spent together, how Riya used to be the center of my universe and how I used to wait for days just to meet her for one hour. A tear or two dropped from my eyes. I wanted to apologize to her. Wanted to say sorry for all the things I did, for not understanding her and for not even trying to give her a chance to explain things to me. My heart sank and sank deep.

Riya saw this. “Let’s have your favourite butterscotch milk shake”, she said smilingly.

She  remembered that I loved Keventer’s Milk shakes. On the way to the shop, Riya reminded me of all the funny moments we had spent together at this place. How we ran out of money and begged the shopkeeper to leave us without paying, how we were caught by a relative of mine here and how we used to bunk our office and spend our entire day in CP.

While we walked to the shop, she said “I am in Delhi for two more days” and before she could complete her sentence, I broke in “Let’s spend the next two days together then…” Riya smiled. I got my answer, not only to the question I asked her, but also to the inner conflict that was going on inside me.

“Do I still love her? Is it over? Does she still love me? “. I wanted to ask her so many things. I wanted to know how she had been. Life had given me a second chance.

It’s true that we don’t know what we’ve got until we lose it, but it’s also true that we don’t know what we’ve been missing until it arrives.

June 2009

We ordered two Espresso coffees. I had always heard that ‘a lot can happen over coffee’, but today, I just wanted something to happen. I just wanted love to happen.

“So Rahul, which college are you in”, Riya questioned.

“Bangalore College of Engineering”, I replied. “Computer Science?”. I nodded. She was in IIT and me in a local Bangalore college. But love was blind, I thought.

“So how come you are interning in Delhi then?” she asked. I explained to her that my parents were based in Delhi and my college was in Bangalore, so I wanted to come to Delhi for my internship so that I could stay with my family.

“That’s nice.. I am based in Dehradun, but there are no good IT companies in Dehradun so i am here “she said smilingly. It was a million dollar smile. As she spoke, her eyes said a thousand words. There are so many girls in this world but so few for whom you can wait for your entire life, and I had realized by now that she was the one.

She was interested in talking with me. She was taking the lead. That is so unlike girls, but I think she understood somewhere that I being a shy guy would not start the conversation and she had to take the initiative. While we were taking the waiter served us our coffee. It smelled like fresh heaven. I am still not sure what was better, having that wonderful coffee or seeing Riya talk. I guess the latter. The way she flipped her hair lock made me like her even more. I was about half in love with her by the time we sat down. That’s the thing about girls. Every time they do something pretty, you fall half in love with them, and then you never know where the hell you are.

While we were sipping our wonderful coffee, few employees started looking at us and passing stares at Riya. It made me uncomfortable. I was not used to this. I mean, I had never thought this would happen in offices and that too in an organization of such repute.

Pointing to them I asked “Don’t these things make you uneasy?”. “Naah.. Not at all. Initially it definitely did, but one learns with time. And obviously, there are some side effects of being pretty”, she said wickedly.  We both shared a laugh at that comment. She had a good sense of humour too. That’s the way I like it. I loved girls who could talk sense and be funny at times. Beauty with brains is a rare combination these days.

We talked about our interests, movies we liked, favourite actors and many more things. The conversation was getting so interesting that we had to order a second round of coffees. By this time Shruti and Sushant would have been busy discussing the life cycles and God knows what not about the project.

“Where are you guys. We are waiting for you. Lets start working Dammit“, Sushant messaged me. Riya also received a similar SMS from Shruti. I think they both planned and messaged us at the same time. Her expressions clearly said this. God save Sushant now !

“Waiting for the lift. Would be there in 5 minutes”, I replied. Being a total Delhite, I know how to make people wait for hours just by asking them to wait for more ‘5 minutes’.

“Your friend asking us to come back??? “she smiled. I nodded. By now she had started reading my mind also. I hate God for this. Why didn’t He give us guys this power to read minds.

“Yes, it was Sushant. I think they are waiting for us to start the work. Let’s go”, I replied.

I took out my wallet to pay the bill. Riya rebutted. She wanted to pay her share of the bill.

“I’ll pay my share of the bill”, she said strongly. ”It’s ok Riya, I’ll pay. Not a problem”, I replied. I thought girls liked guys who could pay their bills !

“No ways, we are going to divide the amount and in case you are that chivalrous, pay the entire bill next time we go to some other place”, she said smilingly . It took me 5 seconds to interpret the inherent meaning of this statement. She had indirectly asked me to take her out to some other place sometime soon. I took the hint and asked her if she was free the next day. But somehow she had a prior engagement.

Sushant and Shruti gave us stern looks as we entered the cabin. “Where were you Rahul, we have been waiting for you for more than an hour” said Sushant angrily. Shruti also nudged.

“We were downstairs and trust me; the CCD here has amazing coffee. I think you guys should go there sometime”, I winked at Sushant. By now i didn’t really care what Shruti would think of me or if she was Riya’s best friend. I wanted to fix Sushant and Shruti up so that they get involved in themselves and don’t disturb me and Riya. I so very much wanted these two characters out of my life.

We started working on the project. I was still not interested in it, but was just doing for the sake of impressing Riya. She was good at these project stuffs plus was an IITian and I didn’t want to portray myself as a jerk who couldn’t understand technology. This was the first time I was so deeply involved in any discussion with Sushant related to our project.

After today’s coffee meet, I think there were some genuine feelings for Riya brewing inside me. You may admire a girl’s curves on the first meeting, but the second meeting shows up new angles. I was so damn waiting for our second meet.

And yes, a lot can surely happen over coffee, at least love.

Because I Love You – Chapter 1

(Disclaimer: The whole story is a work of fiction and is in no way related to any person dead or alive. The names, characters and situations occurring in the story are imaginary and any resemblance to any person is purely coincidental.)

0100 Hrs, 16^th January 2010

It was my birthday today. I was busy taking calls and messages from my friends and family members. It was pitch dark outside. The fog made it darker and silent. Delhi is famous for its chilly and foggy nights and specially on my birthday, it becomes darker and foggier. I was side by side making the final project presentation on my laptop. Suddenly my phone rang. Call at this hour was not new today. Picking up the phone I enquired, “Hi… who is that?”

After a long pause someone said “Happy Birthday Rahul ….”

I could recognize the voice. It was Riya. The first and last love of my life .I missed a heartbeat. This very voice once made me go crazy. A year back I used to call Riya just to hear this sweet and innocent voice. I wasn’t expecting her call at all, not that I had forgotten her, but the way we parted, I never thought she would call me back.

“You remembered”, was my first reaction.

I added “It’s been so long, how are you? “.

In reply Riya said, “How could I forget…I am fine…or maybe not… Not at all… Can we meet? “.

I could clearly make out the heaviness in her voice. “What happened??” I asked.

She started crying and repeated “Can we meet once??”

“Yes, sure…Just tell me the place and time”.

She said “10am Central Park, same bench”. I said ok.

The night became darker and foggier after that phone call.

June 2009

Every engineering student goes though this trauma of finding a summer internship is his third year. Sometimes people find excellent company to intern with or can end up in organizations which give no better work than studying their old projects and manuals. I and Sushant were best buddies in college and somehow got into the same organization for their summer internship. This was not a jugad internship and the company really expected their dear trainees to work and learn something out of it.

1^st June was the day when we joined the company as interns. There were more than 30 other interns with us. The first day was the orientation premier, where the project manager gave some pointers about the entire training process and the details of the project on which all of us would be working on. As usual I was not interested in this stuff, rather in the entire engineering stuff and Sushant, being a techie, was excited about the new technology and the project he would be working on. I was here just to complete the formality and get my due credits allotted to this internship from my college.

Teams were made and each team had four members. I and Sushant were in the same team. We were allotted a computer each and were directed to our cabin. It was a cabin which could accommodate only four people. I was happy that we were given unlimited internet connection and a landline telephone at our disposal. What else a guy like me could ask for!  Whereas Sushant was hoping that he gets some hard working and intelligent project partners (Not like me ).

Suddenly our project manager came in. There were two girls behind him. One wearing black and the other, pink. He introduced us to Riya and Shruti. These two would be our project partners for the next two months. I couldn’t help myself noticing Riya’s earrings, her eyes which spoke a thousand words, her sparkling pink salwar kurta and her beautiful smile.

The project manager told us to study the entire project document, make out the action plan and report to him the next day. As the manager left, Riya and Shruti greeted both of us and took their respective seats. Riya’s voice was sweeter than a kaaju barfi. The very way she greeted me, shook hands with me, gave me a feeling that she is the one.

All three of them started studying the project report. I thought of numerous ways of starting a conversation with Riya, but all ended up in vain. I pretended to read the document, but in fact I just couldn’t get my eyes off Riya. “How can someone be so beautiful? How can someone be so perfect?” I repeatedly asked myself. Sushant was very excited to learn that we would be working on a proprietary technology of this company. I guess Shruti was also in the same frequency as that of Sushant. I wondered how a girl can be interested in these things.

Shruti said “I am so excited that we are going to work on this technology”. Sushant tasted blood, “Yeah… I have read so much about this; it was dream to work on this path breaking technology”. I didn’t want to be seen as a stuffed potato in front of Riya, so I immediately Googled about this technology and found some related information about it.

“What bullshit is this…I can’t even pronounce the names of the people who invented it “. Riya giggled.

Both Sushant and Shruti gave me stern looks as if I had killed someone.

I closed the manual and started surfing the internet. Sushant and Shruti by that time had started some discussions about the project and the way to approach it. Though Riya was involved in the discussion, as I saw it, she was not much interested.

The way she flipped her locks, the sound of her multi colour bangles hooked me onto her. I wanted to know her better. This was the first time a self proclaimed dude was at a loss of words.

“So  … Which college are you guys from?” I asked.

”IIT Delhi”, said Shruti with pride.

I commented, “Ahhaa… I never knew IIT had girls too! “ .

Riya giggled again, “Yes, it does and guess what, IIT Delhi has the best you can find in any engineering college”, She said.

I couldn’t disagree. She was indeed the most beautiful girl I had ever seen in my life. Both Sushant and Shruti missed the humour in my statement and suddenly Shruti asked “What do you mean Mr? “ I was taken aback. I guess she took my statement otherwise. But Riya pitched in, “He was just kidding Shruti… Chill down “. I and Riya exchanged smiles. These five words made my day. I winked at Sushant. Sushant got the message and gave me a sarcastic smile. I think Riya saw this, but who cares. I was riding on the clouds.

After this, all three of them started discussing the models and lifecycle of the project. Riya pitched in with her ideas and they were readily accepted. “Wow… She has brains too “I said to myself. I also wanted to take part in the discussion, but somehow I didn’t. Facebooking and sometimes looking at Riya were the two things I did for the next two hours. Enough was enough; I had to do something to talk to her. After thinking of some ideas (and even Googling some) I decided to ask her for coffee. I gathered courage and asked

“Guys… Anyone for coffee “. I wanted Riya to say yes, I wanted to know her better and spend some time with her. Sushant replied rudely “No, Thanks … Let us work”. Shruti also bought that. How boring these guys were. I was just standing these guys because of Riya. If she were not here, I would have surely changed my internship company.

But to my surprise Riya said YES! “Ok, i’ll bring it for you”, was my instant reply. Damn, where was my ego?? How could I bring a cup of coffee for a girl to her desk? I was no peon. “What would she think of me? … Should I have had asked to come with me? Damn, I am such a fool “were the thoughts streaming into my brain that time.

I think Riya understood this and she added “No No.… Let’s go together; I am getting bored here anyways”.

The look on both Shruti’s and Sushant’s face was worth million dollar. Sushant was, I guess, both angry and jealous of me. He was a nerd and never had coffee with any girl. Riya had gone against her friend to come with me. This was more than enough. We both walked silently towards the in-house CCD on the ground floor.

—-

Chapter 2 coming soon

India’s 9/11

In 2001 when United States was attacked , the world was not same any more . US chanegd its entire foreign policy , shook things up , made a new anti terrorist cell and we all can see the results. There has been not even a single blast in US after that .

It makes no difference what label these terrorists have –  Fidayeens, Deccan or Indian Mujahideens. The fact is that a terrorist outfit, calling itself Deccan Mujahideens, has claimed responsibility for the attack, has called the Indian Army and the ATS weak, and has mocked them.But its high time we ,Indians learn some thing from that. Attack on the Taj and Oberoi Hotel is like 9/11 to India. Terrorists have found a new tool and new platform for their activities . Targeting places like Connaught Place in Delhi , they have moved to places of larger importance like the Gate Way of India , Taj Mehal Hotel and the Oberoi . It took NSG 62 hours to ‘get back’ the Taj and the Nariman House(Jewish cultural center ). Terrorists clearly indicated that they wanted US and British citizens when mean they wanted to give a global message . We have lost some of our bravest soldiers the AST Chief and six NSG commandos and many IPS officers . The Death toll is more than 200 at present which is increasing every minute . Mumbai or Bombay what every you like to call it , has been targeted ever since due to its wealth and it being a financial capital of the country.

What have we learnt out of this?? What did we learn from the Parliament attack , the Delhi attacks , the Akshardham Temple attacks ?? Nothing . The security measure are still the same . The police force is still the same . The anti terror laws are still the same , baring few which have been scraped off . Its not the failure of the intelligence agencies or the ATS , its the failure of the entire system. Its a terrorizing political failure .The truth is that we do not have a clear anti-terrorist policy or strategy. What we do have is a knee-jerk reaction to events as they happen. And all is forgotten till the next incident.

India is not prepared because its politicians are not. They would rather remain involved in their petty electoral politics and rivalries while the country is ripped apart by AK 47,  grenades and RDX. Raj Thackeray should remember that commandos from outside Maharashtra helped to clear Mumbai of terrorists. The leaders of the two largest national parties should recognize that the blame game regarding terrorism must stop.This is the time we be united , leave all caste or religion (region being the new thing !) divide and face this ‘terror’ as a united nation a United India . Taj will still stand up in few days , have a lavish New years eve party but this sentiment would(rather should) never wash off. This calls for  a new system a new India .  This is a war on terror against a faceless and fanatic enemy. This war is not for the faint hearted, and can only be won by ruthless action.The battle of Mumbai may perhaps be over and won. But the war is not over, and victory is nowhere in sight.

There are moments in the history of a country when unity is more than a patriotic duty. India stands precisely at that crossroads. The gateway to India lies through the debris of Mumbai and the corpses that lie there. A not to be remembered ThanksGiving 2008 , but for the right reason !

The Winters

” Pyar mera dilli ke sardi ” -

Its the time of the year that i eagerly wait for. The Winters, my favorite season
There are many reasons for this . Winters has its own very special set of memories and nostalgia attached to it. The main reason being that winters are ‘cool’, both literally and temperature wise.
Onset of winters start the countdown for my Birthday and the set of celebrations attached to it(which make winters ‘cooler‘).Winters means shorter days and longer nights , and that’s a boon for a person like me who loves to sleep late in the night(time just flows when u have a cup full of coffee with TV or music !) and wake up just at time so as to not to miss the College . Even driving my Pulsar gives more fun in winters than in summer where a 5 minute red light can make you drench in sweat.

Every Delhite has some hidden love for winters due to various reasons , be it the hot corn at the Red lights , or the famous tea stall at Connaught Place which gives his famous tea in a ‘kullar‘ or just Khan market’s Badam milk.Fog dominating the mornings and chilly nights. I still remember how i used to get up at 6 in the morning to catch my school bus which was a ‘by default AC bus‘ . Bus speeding at 100 Km/hr at the NH8 Delhi Gurgaon free way , chilly air rushing through the broken window glasses (I told you, it was an AC bus ! ) made the ears freeze. But even then , winters meant fun .
But winters has its own set of problems . First being i am highly sensitive to weather change. Every year i am down with cold and fever for one week due to this. But on the other side this means a full week’s holiday . No Studies , no work , nothing .. Bas main aur mere tanhayee…
Winters means the end of festive season too. The last one for us being the very own Diwali. Diwali means family dinners ,catching up with cousins(and their girlfriends sometimes ! ), friends going out for lunch , and loads of sweets and Cadbury Celebrations packs .
Winters also mean the ‘ New Years’ approaching , which in turn reminds me that i have make some new years resolutions again. (What about the resolutions that i took last year ?) Which in turn means some introspection and self analysis.

Winter is that period of the year which brings back the child in me , helps me self connect and get some break from this fast paced life . For me its an experience rather than just a season.

– 15th October , 2008 ,1.30 am