FUEL FOR LIVING Part I

Acknowledgements:
I would like to thank Anandkumar (Anandkumar_S@infosys.com), who shared with me the story line, and was kind enough to review my story every now and then. But for his precious comments, alterations and suggestions, my story wouldn’t be half-as-good. This story is as much his, as it’s mine. Thanks Anand!

Note:
The story is purely fictional influenced by some real life incidents J

PART 1
It was a weekend and Anand was driving to the Afro-Asian shop to buy some ‘ready to eat’ meals. It was almost 4 years since he had come to London and had got settled here for good. His work as an executive in one of the leading pharmaceutical industries in UK gave him enormous job satisfaction and a handsome pay. He missed India and his family but he knew being away was inevitable. He definitely didn’t want to get married and that’s what his parents expected him to do as soon as he got back.

Anand parked his vehicle and made his way to the departmental store. He picked up a few side dishes, parathas, and some eatables; waited in the queue to shell out the amount for his purchase. He sensed a movement beneath his legs and glanced down to find a cute round-faced girl of about 4yrs old making her way to front of the queue.

“Hey young lady! You can’t just pass me and pay the bill. You have to wait behind me in the queue.” He said to her mischievously.

“Oh, well I thought ladies are always served first!” she said shrugging her shoulders.

He stooped a little and whispered in her ears

“The rule applies when passing through a door or even when boarding a bus but not definitely at the queue for billing.” He said.

“Oh, alright! My name is Sindhuja and yours?” she said extending her hand for a shake.

“I am Anand. Pleased to meet you pretty girl.” He said taking her small hands into his.
“I know! Between us, can you get me the play-and-eat toy at the shelf over there?” She said pointing to a shelf above the billing counter. “That was where I was getting to. But it’s too high for me! Please!” She asked with pleading eyes.

“Sure! I’ll do that. But you what do I get in return?” he asked.

“Will kisses and hugs do? Mom says there’s no better way to repay a help.” she asked with hopeful smile.

Anand couldn’t help smiling. He reached for the toy and handed it to Sindhuja. She hugged and kissed him with such warmth that made his heart melt.

“Don’t tell mom that I hugged and kissed you, ok? She says I shouldn’t get close to strangers!”

“But I am not a stranger! We are friends; we know each other’s names!”

“That makes us only half-friends. To become full-friends we should play together, fight with each other, eat together and even dress up my Barbie doll every weekend.” Sindhuja told him.

“Sindhujaaa!” called out a stern voice and as Anand looked up, he saw the one whom he had wished to never see again in his life.

“Oops, I am sorry! I know I should have waited for you but every kid seemed to be going for it and I didn’t want to end up with nothing.” said Sindhuja to her mother who was now staring at Anand.

“Vidya?!!” Anand said holding back his emotions.

“Anand!! Oh my God…Been so many years! How are you?”

“I am fine Vidya! How are you? And how is Venkat?” Anand queried her.

Before Vidya could answer, “Excuse me!” called out the lady at the billing counter and Anand began to line up his items on the desk.

“Hey Anand, come over to my place sometime in the evening and we’ll have a chat. This is my address. This is no place to make such personal enquiries” She said with a smile and handed over a piece of paper over to him after writing down her address on it.

Vidya turned to Sindhuja and said “Baby, you got me really worried! Next time you wander away like this, you will be grounded for a week, ok?”

“Ok mom! I am sorry. I am going to be a good girl from now on! By the way how do you know Anand Uncle?” Sindhuja asked curiously.

“We know each other since our college days dear; we are friends.” Vidya said with a smile and looked at Anand who was paying the bill now.

“Shall I give you a lift home? Or do you have a car?” Anand asked once Vidya had paid her bill.

“No Anand, its ok! We’ll take the bus; it stops right beside our house.” Said Vidya and put the groceries into her bag. “No big deal! See you!” she finished, took Sindhuja’s hand and started to leave.

“Bye Anand Uncle. Take Care” said Sindhuja and waved at Anand as he waved back.

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Anand got back home, dumped the eatables in the fridge and stretched out on the couch. He closed his eyes and rubbed his fingers over them; his heart felt heavy, he was down in the dumps once again. Without a warning, the past came flooding back to his memories. The past that, he hadn’t shared with anyone, but himself. The past that, he knew, his mind would never forget. The past that was deep etched into his heart. The past, in which, they used to sit in the canteen and talk for hours. The past, filled with moments that he held close to his heart. The past, in which, he used to wait for her after the classes. The past that, he realized would always be the best part of his life.

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Not knowing even her name he had fallen in love with her, the moment he saw her. He was in his third year then, while she had just joined the first year. He had become her friend, and being from the same department helped her with the notes, question papers, lab exercises and everything he could think of. He wanted her to be happy and comfortable. He never let any senior rag her; he protected her from anything he thought that would harm her.

Anand knew Vidya thought of him as a good friend. He decided he would propose her when the right time comes. He loved her with all his heart and soul and wanted to spend his every second with her. If this was love, he thought, I never want to stop loving. And he never did.

Somewhere down the line, one of his friends Venkat had proposed Vidya even before Anand could realize what was happening. And Vidya had accepted his proposal. From friends, Venkat and Vidya had become lovers; and Anand’s world was devastated. He saw the love of his life becoming some one else’s love. It took him weeks to compose himself and face Vidya again.

Anand often asked himself, if he had proposed Vidya before Venkat did, would she have accepted? Could he fall in love with any other girl in the future? Could he take anyone but Vidya as his wife? He never got the answers. For all he knew he lived with her memories and his love for her.

As days rolled on, Anand realized he would never be able to stop loving Vidya. He distanced himself from her and gradually lost touch. He heard from his friends that Venkat and Vidya had got happily married and after that chose to live in seclusion, away from his family and friends.

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Seeing Vidya after almost eight years at the store, he felt emotions storming inside him. He knew this wasn’t right. She was a mother now; a happily married woman. He had to get away from her again. He would look for job else where and shift as soon as possible. He decided to suppress his emotions and feelings until then; and play the good friend role.

He sat on the couch and started to prepare himself for the evening that lay ahead of him. He decided to stay only for a few minutes and return home. It would be rude if he didn’t go. After all, both Venkat and Vidya were his friends. And so was Sindhuja, he thought with a smile. She was the second woman he had fallen in love with, even without knowing her name, he thought.

He grabbed a few bites and sat to work on his laptop to finish off some left over tasks. As time ticked by he got more and more nervous. His love for Vidya had suddenly overwhelmed him and his longing for her had multiplied. He hoped; seeing Venkat and Vidya together will put his emotions to rest. He dressed up in casuals; entered the pin code of the address that Vidya had given him in his car navigator and followed its directions. On the way he stopped to buy a bouquet of roses and chocolates. He parked his car in front of her house and walked to the door.