My love story

Episode -1 Reunion

Not all love stories always end.

Some remain incomplete...

In memory of the girl I fell in love with but could not marry.

Your departure had such an effect on me, while searching for you, I lost myself...

Otherwise, I would not have met the writer hidden within me.

Days pass somehow but nights are full of pain, wounds heal with time

but scars remain

i lay on my comfortable bed

toss and turn and try to sleep

but thoughts are running through my mind

and have accumulated

in the stinging light of days gone by

I'm falling apart

The darkness of my life becomes more exposed in the dark and now I try to give voice to them all.

have been

speaking to heart

Reunion

I remember the date well: March 4, 2006. I was in Kolkata and was about to reach Happy's house. There was a lot of jitters since morning because I was going to meet my friends who were once called the 'Gang of Four' after three years. Manpreet, Amardeep, Happy and I were about to meet for the first time after engineering.

For the first year in the hostel, Happy and I lived in separate rooms on the fourth floor of the A Block building. We used to know each other because of living on the same floor but never wanted to have any kind of conversation with each other. I didn't think of him as a 'good boy' because he was fond of picking fights and getting red color added to his marksheet. But unfortunately, at the beginning of second year, I returned late to the hostel and by then all the rooms had been allotted to other students. I have no choice but to become Happy's roommate. And because life is weird, things changed dramatically and we became best friends. The day our reunion was fixed, he was working in TCS company for two years and was enjoying working on the London project of the company. Happy was blessed with a height of 6.1 feet, full body and beauty of Bala. And Happy was always happy.

Manpreet, whom we called MP, was chubby, fair-skinned and healthy. The reason I use the word 'healthy' is because if I use the correct word for him 'fat' he will kill me, he was the first person among us to bring a computer to the hostel and he has so many computers in that machine There were games. In fact, it was the reason Happy and I wanted to be friends with him. MP was very educated. He had won maths Olympiad during school days and he always used to brag about it. He was from Modinagar, but was working with O'Queen in Bangalore at the time we met again.

Amandeep was named 'Ramji' by MP. I do not know when and why it got this strange name. Maybe because he was very simple in nature. Unlike us in the hostel, he was not a nocturnal at all and the lights in his room used to go off at exactly 11 o'clock. Sometimes MP, Happy and I would stand in front of his room a few seconds before 11 o'clock and start counting, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... and Ramji falls asleep. The only mysterious thing about Amardeep was that he used to go somewhere on a bicycle, every Sunday. He never told us where he used to go. Whenever we tried to follow him, he somehow found out and would change his course to elude us. Even today none of us know about that. The best thing about that man was his simplicity. And, to top it all, he was the topper of the last semester of our engineering batch. He was the pride of our group. He hailed from Bareilly and was working at EvaluateServ when he flew to Kolkata to reunite with MP.

After college, we all got very much stuck in the pattern of life. One day, we got to know that Happy was coming from London for two weeks. Everyone was excited to meet again. Happy's in Kolkata March 4, 2006 at home' we decided.

Finally, on that appointed date, I hurried up the stairs to Happy's house. At 12.30 in the afternoon I knocked on his door. His mother opened the door and invited me inside. Since I had been to his house many times. She knew me very well. There were not many formalities in Happy's house. While I was drinking water, he told me that Happy was not at home and his cell phone was switched off.

'Plenty! And he told me not to be late,' I muttered to myself.

After some time there was a knock on the door again. I got up from my chair to open the door, as Happy's mother was in the kitchen. When I opened the door, there was some noise like, 'Oh... burrah... handsome... ha ha ha... oh ha ha...!' No, it was not Happy. MP and Amardeep had come.

Meeting your friends from college after three years is so exciting and crazy that you don't even realize that you are in some other house where you should show some manners and keep calm. But then again the whole reason for this reunion was to reminisce about the college days and that was off to a great start. When we sat down on the sofa in the drawing room, MP asked about Happy.

'He is not on time even at his house', I said looking at the MP and we started laughing again. For the next half an hour the three of us kept talking, making fun of each other and devouring the lunch prepared by Happy's mother. Yes, we started eating without Happy. It didn't sound good, but we had good reason for it. No one could tell when he would come, so there was no point in waiting. After some time there was a knock on the door again. Happy's mother opened the door.

'Happy Veer!' MP shouted getting up from the dining table.

Amandeep and I looked at each other as tears welled up in his eyes as MP hugged Happy. We remembered how he used to cry when he used to drink while sitting on the watch, when his brain went off and his heart started talking. Amandeep and I used to enjoy his sentimentality while drinking our Coke.

We all stood up, hugged him one by one and then started eating! The food was very tasty that day. Or maybe it was because we were eating together after a long time, which made it special.

After dinner we went to another flat. It was a few floors up in the same building, Happy's family's second flat for relatives and friends like us. On our way in, we laughed at one of MP's jokes and probably laughed even when we were sunk on the big couch in the drawing room. We felt free to look at the ceiling wall with outstretched arms.

No one spoke for a while. And then the conversation resumed with Happy laughing. I think he remembered some incident related to Ramji.

That evening all four of us had a wonderful time in that flat. We kept talking about the next past life. About those unattractive college girls seen on the computer

About p**n movies, about their experiences abroad and many more. 'So do you like Europe or America better?' Happy asked me getting up. 'Europe,' I replied, lying face down at the ceiling.

'Why?" Amardeep asked. He was often interested in knowing the reason behind everything (but he didn't tell us where he used to go every Sunday during the hostel days). 'Europe has its own history. When you change countries, the language changes, the cuisine and the architecture, the best means of travel, the breathtaking scenery, everything is wonderful in Europe,' I tried to explain.

'You didn't see all this in America?'

'There are some things, but the means of transport are not as good as in Europe. In most of the US, you and your vehicle are the only options, with the exception of New York City. You won't hear as many languages there as you do in Europe. My point is that America is very developed but I would prefer Europe to America.

Amardeep nodded which meant that his question was over.

'That's the best thing about the IT sector, Amardeep, we get to visit a lot of places which we never even dreamed of during our college days,' MP told Amardeep. After college, MP, Happy and I chose the IT sector while Amardeep took up KPO.

We were happy to have each other's company. After all, we talked for hours that afternoon after Farewell night in college. We were thinking of going out somewhere in the evening when we realized how tired we were and desperately needed a rest... I don't remember which of us fell asleep first that afternoon.

'Get up donkey. It's 6.30.'

Someone was trying to take us out of the dream world. Amardeep used to wake up first among us in the hostel and of course he used to wake us all up. That's why we knew that he was our morning lamp.

Yet, how can it feel good to have someone knocking on your door and getting you out of bed? We humans have a strange nature too when we are asleep we hate the man who tries to wake us up, later we love the same man because he did the right thing.

As always Amardeep was successful in his mission. It was past seven in the evening.

Amardeep and MP had come to that city for the first time. That's why we decided to clean the streets of Kolkata. Luckily, our host had two motorcycles – his own Pulsar and the other his younger brother's Splendor. We got ready and took out the motorcycles from the garage. MP and I sat on the Splendor, Happy and Amardeep on the Pulsar.

We crossed the Hooghly river by the Vidyasagar bridge, shouting and talking to each other. That evening the speed breakers could not stop our speed. and where were we? It was emotional as well as exciting to be on cloud nine with my best friends after such a long time.

We went to Victoria Memorial and some other places. Sometimes we stopped and drank fruit juices, sometimes relished Kolkata's famous sweets and snacks. Sometimes we stopped because one of us had to urinate - we took turns peeing a lot as we looked at each other. At some place we enjoyed tea in Kulhad. When the MP asked when we would go home, it was already 10.30.

'Not to worry. I have the key to the upstairs flat. We can leave whenever we want. I hope we don't leave before 1 o'clock,' said Happy, taking the last sip of his ice-tea.

'And where are we going to live till then?' Amardeep looked somewhat worried.

I remembered Amardeep and his bedtime at 11 o'clock, but I did not draw others' attention to it.

Happy looked at me and smiled and asked, 'Shall we go to the same place?'

'Oh! That place...?' I thought of clearing the picture before MP's mind thought something dirty. ' Excellencies! We're going to a really cool place and I bet you both like that place too...'

I was about to finish my talk when MP's patience snapped. He cut me off and said, 'Oh yes, I heard that Chandramukhi was from West Bengal only. So are we planning to...?' Her devious smile and mischievous eyes completed his question.

'Scoundrel somewhere', Happy said laughing.

'Don't think too much, MP. Just follow us,' I finished.

Without saying anything to anyone, we got on our bike and headed towards the place. It was not even midnight when we reached the place. The air was a bit cold there. At first glance it looked like we were in a slum, there was an old garage with its shutters down. There were some trucks parked outside it. His drivers were probably sleeping. We parked the bike behind a truck and started walking down a narrow road to the right of the garage. There was not much light and it was very quiet. The sound of our voices and footsteps echoed rapidly. The sound of insects was adding to the horror of the place. MP heard the sound of dogs barking from somewhere. I don't think he really heard any sound. May be, his weak heart has started beating fast.

‘Shssss they will wake up,’ said Happy, bringing his finger to his lips.

'Who?" Amardeep whispered.

'People are lying on the ground in front! Let's go after watching carefully.' Happy said.

'People! Sleeping on the road?' Amardeep started walking slowly. They were fishermen nearby. Some were sleeping and some were intoxicated with country liquor.

Suddenly the road stopped near a wooden walkway. There were something like stairs leading down. And we heard a sound coming from afar, like water hitting the shore. Leaving behind the voices of insects and kites, we started descending that way.

Within seconds we were at our destination.

It was the Hooghly river and we were standing on its bank. Amardeep and MP's fear turns into happiness

Gone .

'This is the river bank and now we are in Howrah. This is where the boat takes the other bank to the city of Kolkata,' Happy announced, pointing to the other side of the river.

Excited, we started jumping on the wooden port-like structure. The river was in full spate on three sides of that port. It was a beautiful night, the moon was above our heads and the stars were shining. And there were four of us under the sky.

We sat down near a huge anchor on the harbor side. The river was rising to meet the Bay of Bengal piercing the cool air. In that silence, the sound of water hitting the port was clearly heard. On the other side of the river was the city of Kolkata. The tall buildings and the string of little yellow lights reminded me of the New York skyline. but it was even better because i was with my friends.

We took deep, long breaths with our arms outstretched. Breathing in the fresh, cool air, we were mesmerized by the beauty of the place. At the same time Happy spoke.

"So?' He asked looking at Amardeep.

"what?' Amardeep asked in response, as he did not understand the meaning of Happy's 'so'. 'So how's this place, Jhakkas?'

'Oh! this place? I can't think of a better place. This is heaven .'

And once again a gust of cold wind surrounded us. We sat down on the port side.

At that point the discussion started. a serious discussion; A conversation that changed my life.

It started with another 'so'.

‘So,’ said Amardeep, this time looking at Happy.

"what?' Happy asked raising his chin.

'What's the next special thing?' amardeep asked

"You mean dinner?" MP interrupted.

'No, I mean the next important thing in life. Schooling is over. Engineering studies are also done. Got a good job too. He also came abroad. Money is getting deposited in the bank. What's the next milestone?"

'Yes! I get what you're talking about,' Happy nodded, turning his already raised chin towards me, 'Ask him,' he said.

Everyone started looking at me.

'I don't know what is happening in your lives, at home, but my parents are going crazy. You cannot imagine how they are after me. Can't I live well alone?' Amardeep said.

'So have you or your family decided anything,' I asked her.

'No, my story is also like yours. But the truth is that one day we will have to settle down with our respective spouses. How long can we avoid the question of our parents? They also have some hopes for us, some dreams."

'I know what you are trying to say Amardeep. But are you really ready to spend the rest of your life with someone? I mean there were many occasions during the 4 years in the hostel when we had to adjust to each other…this will be for life,’ Happy said.

'But sooner or later we'll have to do it, understand?' Amardeep spoke.

'What if we are left like this?" said the MP.

'Just imagine that at the age of 60 you are living alone. Life is not that easy, my friend. It is a journey and it can be completed most easily with a life partner. Amardeep spoke.

That night the four of us discussed this matter very seriously, for the first time, by the river. Perhaps for the first time we felt that we were old enough to talk about it. Many types of questions, but-buts arose and we also answered them. Various aspects were discussed. None of us was against marriage but we wanted to weigh its benefits thoroughly. Amardeep and I were quite ready for marriage. And this discussion forced Happy and MP to think seriously about this issue, although they were not convinced by this discussion. (Which reminds me of a slogan on a T-shirt: If you can't persuade him, just confuse him a little).

Then other things were also discussed. Love marriage or arranged marriage? By choice of parents or by own choice?" Happy said.

Now it is a matter of personal choice. Now that we are on our feet, I don't think our parents will object to our decision,' said Amardeep.

Happy remained silent hearing this.

'But Amardeep, look at our lives. We are all North Indians, working in far off states. That's why there is very little chance of getting a life partner in such a situation. More than that, the kind of job we are in, it does not give us opportunities to mix with different types of people. And the worst part is that none of us wants to marry the girl chosen by our parents, if I am not mistaken,' said the MP.

'I don't know whether your last sentence is correct or not, but the rest is in your own hands,' replied Amardeep.

'But there is merit in MP's talk. As for me, I would like to marry a girl of my choice, but since last one year I am abroad. And don't know maybe I will return to India in the next year or so. Keeping this in mind, it is very difficult for me to plan anything about the wedding. And it is impossible for a man like me to settle down with a girl who is not an Indian. Forget Hindustani, he should be Punjabi first,' I said. 'How did you apply for the job in Infosys?' Amardeep asked changing the topic. I replied, 'Through the website. ,

' And Happy, how did you send money to your parents from London?"

3170/5000