The Day That Was Not To Be

It’s a calm and soothing morning in Mumbai. The monsoon season has just subsided. The city is still bathing in the lush and green ambiance. And a gentle breeze blows in smoothly complementing the blissful aura. Suddenly a voice interrupts the serenity. Contractor: Hey, arrange everything properly. Keep that red light on the left side, and that blue one on to the right; please don"t forget that the green one should be in the centre. The wedding arena should look like a peacock adorning it. It"s the wedding day of Shrikar Prasad and Anjana Kulekshetra. Their friends (from their employer, “Vacciners") are all happy in this atmosphere of serene love. We hear their blabbering: Shrikar and Anjana always looked the perfect match; and now they are tying the knot... Isn"t it great? Yeah, see how wonderful they look together. They complement each other pretty well. Kids are playing around and making merriments. One of them yells: "Look over there; Mr. Shrikar and Ms. Anjana are looking gorgeous in their wedding outfits." In response to it another kid spontaneously and cutely blurts out: "And hot, too". The crowd encouragingly bursts out in to laughter. Precisely then Shrikar and Anjana are ushered on to the wedding arena. They are greeted by their friends and well-wishers while they are directed towards their respective seats according to the Indian marriage rituals. They both are not just looking lovely in their wedding outfits; they are the cynosure of all the eyes in that gathering. They turn out to be the most desirable couple there can be. Doesn’t it make some of them envious? But only Mother Nature can be blamed for this. One friend: Hey, Shrikar, we have a doubt: both of you have put on weight during the last couple of weeks. What is it due to? Dreaming about the fast approaching marital bliss? Whatever may be the reason, both of you appear plump. The responses from the gathering meld in to a giggle. Shrikar (with a mischievous smile): I suppose it"s your eyesight that has put on weight; you dumbo! There is yet another spurt of incessant laughter. Shrikar signals to Anjana to come closer to him. Shrikar (devotedly): I love to see you happy forever... Aren’t you happy now? Anjana (in disbelief): Happy? I am on the top of the world. I love you... Shrikar: I love you, too. Everybody is in a mood of celebration. Crackers are being burst. Food items are in plenty and there are free-flowing drinks. Besides, there is a joker pitted against a magician to entertain the kids, and a singing troupe hired to perform the latest romantic hits. The evening was dazzling in celebrations. Shrikar (with a wry smile): Hey dear, don’t you remember how we met...? Anjana (innocently and a bit amused): You mean the lift, the lobby and how silly I behaved... How can I ever forget that? Their giggles dissolve in to a flashback.