Prince Charles & Sardarji were having dinner.
Prince said, "Pass the wine you divine".
Sardar thinks "how poetic"
Sardar says, "pass the custard you bastard".
************ ********* ********* ********* ********
Sardar at bar in New York .
Man on his right says "Johny Walker single"
Man on his left says "Peter Scotch single"
Sardar says - "Baljith Singh Married"
************ ********* ********* ********* ********
Boss : am giving u job as a driver. STARTING salary Rs.2000/-, is it o.k
Sardar : U R great sir! Starting salary is o.k.......but? ?
how much is DRIVING salary...?
************ ********* ********* ********* ********
Sardar's theory : Moon is more impt than Sun, coz it gives light at
night when light is needed & Sun gives light during the day when light
is not needed!!!
************ ********* ********* ********* ********
2 sardars are driving a Car, one puts on the indicator and asks the
other to check whether its working, he puts his head out and says
YES...NO...YES. ..NO...YES. ..NO...
************ ********* ********* ********* ********
Sardar shouting 2 his girl friend " u said v will do register marriage
and cheated me, I was waiting 4 u yesterday whole day in the post
office....
************ ********* ********* ********* ********
Sardar is in a dissection class of cockroach. He cuts its 1 leg, and
says, "chal", it walks.
He cuts 2nd and 3rd legs and said, "chal" , it walks.
He cuts all the legs and said, "chal...." Finally he wrote the conclusion.. ....
....... "after all the legs of a cockroach are cut - it be comes deaf......"
************ ********* ********* ********* ********
2 sardarjis looking at Egyptian mummy.
Sar 1 : Look so many bandages, pakka lorry accident case.
Sar 2 : Aaho, lorry num be r is also written...BC 1760!!!....
************ ********* ********* ********* ********
A sardar on an interview 4 da post detective.
Interviewer : who killed Gandhi?
Sardar : Thank u sir 4 giving me d job, I will start investigating. .......
************ ********* ********* ********* ********
Interviewar: what s ur qualification?
Sardarji : Sir I am Ph.d.
Interviewar : what do u mean by Ph.d?
Sardarji : (smiling) PASSED HIGHSCHOOL with DIFFICULTY.. ..
************ ********* ********* ********* ********
Amitab : In which state Cauvery flows?
Sardar : liquid state.....
Audience clapped.. Amitab stunned, looks be hind, ALL WERE SARDARS..... ..
Feb 28, 2009
Marketing Skills..
Manager of a Retail store in US asks: "Do you have any sales experience?"
The Indian says: "Sir, I was a salesman back home in India."
Well, the boss liked the Indian chappie so he gave him the job. "You
start tomorrow.. I'll come down after we close and see how you did."
His first day on the job was rough but he got through it.
After the store was locked up, the boss came down.
"How many sales did you make today?"
Indian boy says: "Sir, Just ONE sale."
The boss says: "Just one? No! No! No! You see here our sales people
average 20 or 30 sales a day." If you want to keep this job, you'd
better be doing better than just one sale.
By the way, how much was the sale for?"
Indian boy says: " $101 237. 64"
Boss says: "$101 237. 64? What the hell did you sell?"
Indian boy says: "Sir, First I sell him small fishhook.
Then I sell him medium fishhook.
Then I sell him large fishhook.
Then I sold him new fishing rod and some fishing gear.
Then I ask him where he's going fishing and he said down on the
coast, so
I told him he'll be needing a boat, so we went down to the boating
department and I sell him twin engine Chris Craft.
Then he said he didn't think his Honda Civic would pull it, so I
took him
down to our automotive department and sell him that 4X4 Blazer.
I then ask him where he'll be staying, and since he had no
accommodation,
I took him to camping department and sell him one of those new igloo
6 sleeper camper tents.
Then the guy said, while we're at it, I should throw in about $100
worth of groceries and two cases of beer.
The boss said: "You're not serious? A guy came in here to buy a
fishhook and you sold him a boat, a 4X4 truck and a tent?"
Indian boy says: "No Sirji, actually he came in to buy Anacin for his headache, and I said: Well, fishing is the best way to relax your mind."
The Indian says: "Sir, I was a salesman back home in India."
Well, the boss liked the Indian chappie so he gave him the job. "You
start tomorrow.. I'll come down after we close and see how you did."
His first day on the job was rough but he got through it.
After the store was locked up, the boss came down.
"How many sales did you make today?"
Indian boy says: "Sir, Just ONE sale."
The boss says: "Just one? No! No! No! You see here our sales people
average 20 or 30 sales a day." If you want to keep this job, you'd
better be doing better than just one sale.
By the way, how much was the sale for?"
Indian boy says: " $101 237. 64"
Boss says: "$101 237. 64? What the hell did you sell?"
Indian boy says: "Sir, First I sell him small fishhook.
Then I sell him medium fishhook.
Then I sell him large fishhook.
Then I sold him new fishing rod and some fishing gear.
Then I ask him where he's going fishing and he said down on the
coast, so
I told him he'll be needing a boat, so we went down to the boating
department and I sell him twin engine Chris Craft.
Then he said he didn't think his Honda Civic would pull it, so I
took him
down to our automotive department and sell him that 4X4 Blazer.
I then ask him where he'll be staying, and since he had no
accommodation,
I took him to camping department and sell him one of those new igloo
6 sleeper camper tents.
Then the guy said, while we're at it, I should throw in about $100
worth of groceries and two cases of beer.
The boss said: "You're not serious? A guy came in here to buy a
fishhook and you sold him a boat, a 4X4 truck and a tent?"
Indian boy says: "No Sirji, actually he came in to buy Anacin for his headache, and I said: Well, fishing is the best way to relax your mind."
Marketing Skills....
Manager of a Retail store in US asks: "Do you have any sales experience?"
The Indian says: "Sir, I was a salesman back home in India."
Well, the boss liked the Indian chappie so he gave him the job. "You
start tomorrow.. I'll come down after we close and see how you did."
His first day on the job was rough but he got through it.
After the store was locked up, the boss came down.
"How many sales did you make today?"
Indian boy says: "Sir, Just ONE sale."
The boss says: "Just one? No! No! No! You see here our sales people
average 20 or 30 sales a day." If you want to keep this job, you'd
better be doing better than just one sale.
By the way, how much was the sale for?"
Indian boy says: " $101 237. 64"
Boss says: "$101 237. 64? What the hell did you sell?"
Indian boy says: "Sir, First I sell him small fishhook.
Then I sell him medium fishhook.
Then I sell him large fishhook.
Then I sold him new fishing rod and some fishing gear.
Then I ask him where he's going fishing and he said down on the
coast, so
I told him he'll be needing a boat, so we went down to the boating
department and I sell him twin engine Chris Craft.
Then he said he didn't think his Honda Civic would pull it, so I
took him
down to our automotive department and sell him that 4X4 Blazer.
I then ask him where he'll be staying, and since he had no
accommodation,
I took him to camping department and sell him one of those new igloo
6 sleeper camper tents.
Then the guy said, while we're at it, I should throw in about $100
worth of groceries and two cases of beer.
The boss said: "You're not serious? A guy came in here to buy a
fishhook and you sold him a boat, a 4X4 truck and a tent?"
Indian boy says: "No Sirji, actually he came in to buy Anacin for his headache, and I said: Well, fishing is the best way to relax your mind."
The Indian says: "Sir, I was a salesman back home in India."
Well, the boss liked the Indian chappie so he gave him the job. "You
start tomorrow.. I'll come down after we close and see how you did."
His first day on the job was rough but he got through it.
After the store was locked up, the boss came down.
"How many sales did you make today?"
Indian boy says: "Sir, Just ONE sale."
The boss says: "Just one? No! No! No! You see here our sales people
average 20 or 30 sales a day." If you want to keep this job, you'd
better be doing better than just one sale.
By the way, how much was the sale for?"
Indian boy says: " $101 237. 64"
Boss says: "$101 237. 64? What the hell did you sell?"
Indian boy says: "Sir, First I sell him small fishhook.
Then I sell him medium fishhook.
Then I sell him large fishhook.
Then I sold him new fishing rod and some fishing gear.
Then I ask him where he's going fishing and he said down on the
coast, so
I told him he'll be needing a boat, so we went down to the boating
department and I sell him twin engine Chris Craft.
Then he said he didn't think his Honda Civic would pull it, so I
took him
down to our automotive department and sell him that 4X4 Blazer.
I then ask him where he'll be staying, and since he had no
accommodation,
I took him to camping department and sell him one of those new igloo
6 sleeper camper tents.
Then the guy said, while we're at it, I should throw in about $100
worth of groceries and two cases of beer.
The boss said: "You're not serious? A guy came in here to buy a
fishhook and you sold him a boat, a 4X4 truck and a tent?"
Indian boy says: "No Sirji, actually he came in to buy Anacin for his headache, and I said: Well, fishing is the best way to relax your mind."
Nice Thoughts #17
I do not want to foresee the future.
I am concerned with taking care of the present.
God has given me no control over the moment following.
Mohandas Gandhi
Concept of taxation and economics in a lucid way.....
Here is an interesting essay:
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all
ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes,
it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So that's what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the
arrangement, until one day when the owner threw them a curve. "Since
you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the
cost of your daily beer by $20." Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so
the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free.
But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could
they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his "fair
share?"
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted
that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man
would each end up being paid to drink his beer So, the bar owner
suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly
the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should
pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28% savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four
continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men
began to compare their savings.
"I only got a dollar out of the $20," declared the sixth man. He
pointed to the tenth man, "but he got $10!"
"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a
dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I got."
"That's true!!" Shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back
when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"
"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get
anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine
sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the
bill, they discovered something important... they didn't have enough
money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is
how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get
the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them
for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore.
In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is
somewhat friendlier.
David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics
University of Georgia
For those who understand, no explanation is needed.
For those who are too stupid to understand, no explanation is possible.
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all
ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes,
it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So that's what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the
arrangement, until one day when the owner threw them a curve. "Since
you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the
cost of your daily beer by $20." Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so
the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free.
But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could
they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his "fair
share?"
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted
that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man
would each end up being paid to drink his beer So, the bar owner
suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly
the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should
pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28% savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four
continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men
began to compare their savings.
"I only got a dollar out of the $20," declared the sixth man. He
pointed to the tenth man, "but he got $10!"
"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a
dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I got."
"That's true!!" Shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back
when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"
"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get
anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine
sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the
bill, they discovered something important... they didn't have enough
money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is
how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get
the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them
for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore.
In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is
somewhat friendlier.
David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics
University of Georgia
For those who understand, no explanation is needed.
For those who are too stupid to understand, no explanation is possible.
The Right Mindset..
Testimony to the fact that a person is limited only by the thoughts that he/she chooses.
Here's a story about George Dantzig - the famed mathematician who's contributions to Operations Research and systems engineering have made him immortal.
As a college student, George studied very hard and often late into the night. So late, that he overslept one morning, arriving 20 minutes late for Prof. Neyman's class. He quickly copied the two maths problems on the board, assuming they were the homework assignment. It took him several days to work through the two problems, but finally he had a breakthrough and dropped the homework on Neyman's desk the next day.
Six weeks later, on a Sunday morning, George was awakened at 6 a.m. by his excited professor. Since George was late for class, he hadn't heard the professor announce that the two unsolvable equations on the board were mathematical mind-teasers.
But George Dantzig, working without any thoughts of limitation, had solved not one, but two problems that had stumped mathematicians for thousands of years.
Simply put, George solved the problems because he didn't know he couldn't.
You are not limited to the life you now live. It has been accepted by you as the best you can do at this moment. Any time you're ready to go beyond the limitations currently in your life, you're capable of doing that by choosing different thoughts. All you must do is figure out how you can do it, not whether or not you can. And once you have made your mind up to do It, it's amazing how your mind begins to figure out how.
FUEL FOR LIVING - LAST PART
“Anand, I need to talk to you. Can you please come out for a minute?” said Vidya appearing at the door.
Sindhuja was sitting on Anand’s lap clapping her hands with joy, engrossed in the movie. Anand placed Sindhuja on the mattress and walked out. Vidya’ in laws continued to watch the movie with Sindhuja.
Vidya and Anand walked out to the garden. Vidya stood a step ahead of Anand with her back facing him.
“Anand….I….Well…..” she hesitated.
“Vidya, is something wrong? Does your mother in law have a problem with me moving so close with you and Sindhuja? I can talk to her…and tell her that my intentions are just to make you happy.” said Anand with a worried look on his face.
Vidya looked at him over her shoulder and smiled. “She already has a fair idea about that, Anand. I want to speak you about something else.”
“Oh, then what is it Vidya?” asked Anand raising his eyebrows.
Vidya debated within herself trying to choose the best way to put across her decision to him. At the end, she started with what seemed to be appropriate.
“Anand, I don’t know if this is all right or wrong, but the idea of me being away from you has made me restless and so unhappy. When you are around I am happy, Sindhuja is happy, it’s like….you…you complete our family. We have spent only few days with each other, but I have got so much used to your presence, Anand. Your love, your care, your affection, it has given me a new strength to move on. You have given a new meaning to my life.” She said.
Anand was struggling to figure out where this could be leading to.
“When I heard of Venkat’s death, I wanted to die too. I felt like someone had taken my heart away and that I would never be able to love anyone again. I felt there was no love left in me to shower on any man. I felt I will forever lead an incomplete life. It was only for Sindhuja that I continued to live.” she said in a low voice.
“Vidya…” he interrupted her.
She turned her body towards him, looked into his eyes and continued “Let me finish this Anand. And then you came, showering love on me all over again, awakening the feelings in me that I believed had died long back. Your unconditional love for me left me puzzled and astonished. You made me smile and laugh, you made my daughter happy; you gave us everything that we had lost hope of ever getting.”
“Anand I want you to realize that Venkat will forever be a part of my memories.” Vidya said folding her hands across her chest. Anand gave her a puzzled look and let her continue. “And I know you don’t have a problem with that.”
“And now, I am so addicted to you and your love Anand. I want to live with you forever. I love you Anand, I love you so much. I thought it was wrong, wrong for me to love someone other than Venkat. But now I realize that it would be wrong only if I let my past ruin my future. I want to marry you Anand. I don’t want to live without you.” said Vidya wiping her tears.
Anand stood there in astonishment, not knowing what to say. Hearing these words from Vidya’s mouth had left him speechless. All these days, he loved Vidya, never expecting her to love him in return. And now when she did, it overwhelmed his senses. Vidya looked at him with a shy smile. He reached for her chin, lifted it and planted a kiss on her lips. She blushed.
“I love you Vidya.” He said and hugged her.
Vidya let his strong arms wrap around her and felt his strength seep into her body. She wondered how easily she fit into his arms. Back in the kitchen, she had fought her inner demons, killed the doubts, and had decided to confess her love to Anand. In her heart, she thanked the God above, her in laws and Venkat, as she rested her head against Anand’s chest and sighed deeply in contentment.
-----
“Excuse me, can I join in too?” Sindhuja asked running towards Anand.
“Of course, you can darling.” Anand replied, letting go off Vidya and lifting Sindhuja in his arms.
“Sindhu, Anand has planned to move in with us and be your daddy from now on. He will live with us. How does that sound to you?” Vidya asked her daughter unsure what Sindhu’s reaction would be.
On hearing this, Sindhu’s eyes brightened up and she smiled broadly. “Wow! Really? So can I call you daddy?” asked Sindhuja looking at Anand.
“Yes sweetheart.” Anand replied kissing her.
“So, you will not need to go back to your home everyday?”
“No”
“Will you read bedtime stories to me every night?”
“Yes baby”
“You will come to India with us?”
“Yes!”
“Wow!” Sindhuja clapped her hands with enthusiasm and kissed Anand on his cheek. Anand kissed her back gently.
“Daddy, now can we go back and continue watching the movie? I have put the movie in pause.” said Sindhuja eagerly.
They walked into the home; Anand carrying his daughter in his right arm and Vidya holding Anand’s left arm. As they walked, Vidya slid her hand into Anand’s and intertwined her fingers with his. Anand gave her hand a delicate squeeze and she responded by smiling at him. Vidya realized this is right; Anand being his husband and Sindhuja’s father is right; Anand being a part of their life, their family is right.
Once inside, Vidya ran up to her mother in law. “Mom, thanks for helping me decide.” She turned to her father in law who was now smiling. “Dad, thank you so much.” Vidya said hugging them both.
“Your happiness means a lot to us Vidya. We have lost our son, and its only Sindhuja and you who are our family. Stay happy!” her mother in law said with tearful eyes.
----- The End ------
Sindhuja was sitting on Anand’s lap clapping her hands with joy, engrossed in the movie. Anand placed Sindhuja on the mattress and walked out. Vidya’ in laws continued to watch the movie with Sindhuja.
Vidya and Anand walked out to the garden. Vidya stood a step ahead of Anand with her back facing him.
“Anand….I….Well…..” she hesitated.
“Vidya, is something wrong? Does your mother in law have a problem with me moving so close with you and Sindhuja? I can talk to her…and tell her that my intentions are just to make you happy.” said Anand with a worried look on his face.
Vidya looked at him over her shoulder and smiled. “She already has a fair idea about that, Anand. I want to speak you about something else.”
“Oh, then what is it Vidya?” asked Anand raising his eyebrows.
Vidya debated within herself trying to choose the best way to put across her decision to him. At the end, she started with what seemed to be appropriate.
“Anand, I don’t know if this is all right or wrong, but the idea of me being away from you has made me restless and so unhappy. When you are around I am happy, Sindhuja is happy, it’s like….you…you complete our family. We have spent only few days with each other, but I have got so much used to your presence, Anand. Your love, your care, your affection, it has given me a new strength to move on. You have given a new meaning to my life.” She said.
Anand was struggling to figure out where this could be leading to.
“When I heard of Venkat’s death, I wanted to die too. I felt like someone had taken my heart away and that I would never be able to love anyone again. I felt there was no love left in me to shower on any man. I felt I will forever lead an incomplete life. It was only for Sindhuja that I continued to live.” she said in a low voice.
“Vidya…” he interrupted her.
She turned her body towards him, looked into his eyes and continued “Let me finish this Anand. And then you came, showering love on me all over again, awakening the feelings in me that I believed had died long back. Your unconditional love for me left me puzzled and astonished. You made me smile and laugh, you made my daughter happy; you gave us everything that we had lost hope of ever getting.”
“Anand I want you to realize that Venkat will forever be a part of my memories.” Vidya said folding her hands across her chest. Anand gave her a puzzled look and let her continue. “And I know you don’t have a problem with that.”
“And now, I am so addicted to you and your love Anand. I want to live with you forever. I love you Anand, I love you so much. I thought it was wrong, wrong for me to love someone other than Venkat. But now I realize that it would be wrong only if I let my past ruin my future. I want to marry you Anand. I don’t want to live without you.” said Vidya wiping her tears.
Anand stood there in astonishment, not knowing what to say. Hearing these words from Vidya’s mouth had left him speechless. All these days, he loved Vidya, never expecting her to love him in return. And now when she did, it overwhelmed his senses. Vidya looked at him with a shy smile. He reached for her chin, lifted it and planted a kiss on her lips. She blushed.
“I love you Vidya.” He said and hugged her.
Vidya let his strong arms wrap around her and felt his strength seep into her body. She wondered how easily she fit into his arms. Back in the kitchen, she had fought her inner demons, killed the doubts, and had decided to confess her love to Anand. In her heart, she thanked the God above, her in laws and Venkat, as she rested her head against Anand’s chest and sighed deeply in contentment.
-----
“Excuse me, can I join in too?” Sindhuja asked running towards Anand.
“Of course, you can darling.” Anand replied, letting go off Vidya and lifting Sindhuja in his arms.
“Sindhu, Anand has planned to move in with us and be your daddy from now on. He will live with us. How does that sound to you?” Vidya asked her daughter unsure what Sindhu’s reaction would be.
On hearing this, Sindhu’s eyes brightened up and she smiled broadly. “Wow! Really? So can I call you daddy?” asked Sindhuja looking at Anand.
“Yes sweetheart.” Anand replied kissing her.
“So, you will not need to go back to your home everyday?”
“No”
“Will you read bedtime stories to me every night?”
“Yes baby”
“You will come to India with us?”
“Yes!”
“Wow!” Sindhuja clapped her hands with enthusiasm and kissed Anand on his cheek. Anand kissed her back gently.
“Daddy, now can we go back and continue watching the movie? I have put the movie in pause.” said Sindhuja eagerly.
They walked into the home; Anand carrying his daughter in his right arm and Vidya holding Anand’s left arm. As they walked, Vidya slid her hand into Anand’s and intertwined her fingers with his. Anand gave her hand a delicate squeeze and she responded by smiling at him. Vidya realized this is right; Anand being his husband and Sindhuja’s father is right; Anand being a part of their life, their family is right.
Once inside, Vidya ran up to her mother in law. “Mom, thanks for helping me decide.” She turned to her father in law who was now smiling. “Dad, thank you so much.” Vidya said hugging them both.
“Your happiness means a lot to us Vidya. We have lost our son, and its only Sindhuja and you who are our family. Stay happy!” her mother in law said with tearful eyes.
----- The End ------
FUEL FOR LIVING - PART 9
The next afternoon, as Anand, Vidya and Sindhuja waited at the airport, Anand spoke up “Vidya, after your in laws are here, I don’t think I will be able to visit your home often. I will miss you and Sindhuja a lot.”
Anand cast a look at Sindhuja playing nearby with a trolley and felt a sudden grief grip him.
“Yeah Anand, Sindhuja and I will miss you too. Sindhuja doesn’t probably realize it now, but once she stops seeing more of you, she will truly long for you.” said Vidya. Vidya knew that Anand’s presence in her life would minimise from now on and she felt her heart sinking. She knew this day would have come sometime, but when it did, she couldn’t acknowledge it gladly.
As the clock ticked, Vidya felt something vital slipping away from her hands. She didn’t want to let go of the wonderful days she had spent with Anand. She didn’t want to spend her evenings without him. She didn’t want to wake up everyday without a call from him, or go to sleep without hearing him say ‘Stay Happy’. She felt void from with in, and so badly wanted to cling to Anand and tell him to stay, to be with them, no matter what. She felt fraught and lonely already. Her feelings, her thoughts, and the sudden longing she felt for Anand, puzzled her.
Vidya continued to gaze at Anand. She let her thoughts drift to the past, to the times when she used to look up at Anand just for his one smile that would mean thousand words; his one pat that would encourage her to move mountains; his one word that would make her feel loved. Right from the college days, to this very moment, she realized how special Anand was to her. He understood her better than she could understand herself. She always knew how valuable she was to him, how very precious. She was amazed at how perfectly he fit into her life. She felt complete with him around. And she wanted to feel the same for the rest of her life – complete.
As Vidya looked at Anand lifting up Sindhuja and planting a kiss on her cheek, Vidya realized she was falling in love with him. It came as a shock and surprise to her, and she felt a sudden jolt within. She realized the separation that awaited them made her understand her feelings for him. She didn’t want to lose him too. She so badly wanted to run to him and confess her love for him. She wanted to tell him that he had won, and his undying and unconditional love for her had won; his love, care and affection had now become her fuel for living.
But she did not do it. She just stood there, looking at him, playing with Sindhuja. Vidya’s heart was heavy and tears filled up her eyes. She realized she couldn’t be his, shouldn’t be his. This was wrong; falling in love with some one else in spite of being married. This was a sin, she would be betraying Venkat if she remarried. She had fallen in love, blindly but she could surely prevent herself from committing another sin – of marrying Anand. She said to herself that Anand would surely get over her in time and move on, though she doubted it would ever happen. She believed that Anand deserves a better life, not a life with a widow and a mother of a four year old. She resolved to live with the memories of Anand, just the lovely memories.
The flight from Pune arrived in a few minutes and Vidya’s in laws were more than happy to meet Anand.
“Granny….Grand pa, I missed you both so much!” said Sindhuja and hugged them.
“We missed you too sweetie.” Said her grandpa and kissed her. He took a look at Vidya and smiled broadly and kissed her on her forehead while her mother in law hugged her.
------
As Anand dropped them at their place and started reversing his car to head home, Vidya’s mother in law said “Beta, come home in the evening to have dinner with us. We would like your company very much.”
-----
The dinner went on with an air of uneasiness. Sindhuja kept on talking through out about the past few days that made Vidya and Anand more aware of the lovely moments they had shared.
“You know buddy took us to this zoo, it was so good. And then we went for a movie…..It was fun….He has taught me so many funny games…..And then mom and buddy got drenched in the rain and so she caught a cold….But then he took leave and took good care of her too…He cooks so well, granny!” Sindhuja said stuffing cake into her mouth.
Anand, Sindhuja and her grand pa went on to catch some cartoon movies while Vidya and her mother in law cleared up the dishes.
“Vidya, you mind if I ask you something personal?” asked her mother in law when they were cleaning the dishes.
“Of course not mom!” answered Vidya.
“I think Anand loves you. I could sense it. And you love him too. Don’t you?”
“Mom….I….Emmm…”
“See Vidya, the way you spoke to me on the phone about him; the way you looked at him at the airport when he shook hands with us; the way he looked at you when you hugged us; the way he so easily kept Sindhuja engaged through out; the way you bid a good bye to him, not wanting him to go; the way he turned his eyes away from you and took his car reverse. Everything, every single moment spoke volumes of your feelings toward each other. You have been so quiet and withdrawn since we landed dear. We coming here will reduce his presence in your life, and that makes you feel low, doesn’t it? Tell me frankly, do you love him? ”
“Mom, I…I….” Vidya hesitated.
“Do you love him or not Vidya? If you don’t, then I will never talk of this again and I will apologize for being such a prick.”
“I…..I……I love him…Yes I do. And he loves me too; since college days. He told me so. But he doesn’t know that I love him.” confessed Vidya weeping.
“What is holding you back Vidya?” asked her mother in law coming close to Vidya, and wiped her tears.
“Isn’t it wrong for me to fall in love with Anand? I don’t want to betray Venkat; I don’t want to forget that he was my first love.” Vidya said in a wobbly voice.
Her mother in law lay her hand on Vidya’s shoulder lightly and said “Vidya, you can’t hold on to the past and hide your face from the future. Sindhuja and Anand are you future. Venkat will forever be your first love. But it doesn’t mean you do not have the right to someone else’s love, or you cannot fall in love with someone else. Love is the only thing that is never exhausted. You need to realize that Venkat isn’t a part of your life anymore, just a part of your memories. You can’t keep grieving his loss Vidya; you need to move on.”
Vidya didn’t respond. She didn’t know what to respond. She let the meaning of her mother in law’s words sink in.
“Vidya, I would have never spoken of remarriage to you, but for the fact that you love Anand and he loves you and Sindhuja dearly. His love has brought a new glow to your face, a new meaning to your life. You would betray Venkat only if you let his memories haunt you, make you sad; deprive yourself of a happy life that you deserve. Venkat would never want to see you gloomy and depressed dear. He wouldn’t ever want to be the reason for your misery. If you love Anand and want to spend the rest of your life with him, you should marry him; let him be your better half for the rest of your life. You wouldn’t be replacing Venkat; you wouldn’t be able to do it even if you wanted to. This would just be a new chapter in your life, a new light to brighten up your dim life.”
Vidya’s mother in law waited for Vidya to respond.
After a while, Vidya spoke up “I don’t want people to look at Anand and say ‘Love is blind. He has married a widow who is a mother too!’ If Anand ever regrets marrying me, I’ll never be able to forgive myself.”
Her mother in law let out a deep sigh and said “Vidya, Love is not blind. Love understands. Love accepts, whole heatedly. When, you fall in love with someone who is ugly, it doesn’t mean love is blind. It means love understands that beneath that ugly face there is a heart that is truly priceless. When you fall in love with someone who is a handicap, it doesn’t imply love is blind. It implies love knows and accepts that lack of a leg or hand or an eye can never interfere with leading a happy and peaceful life with your loved one. Love dares us to live a life with our beloved, no matter what the limitations are. It is the love that counts; it is the love that lasts beyond everything.”
Vidya glanced helplessly at her mother in law, who was looking at Vidya attentively expecting some sort of response from her. But Vidya didn’t say a word. Vidya mother in law lifted Vidya’s chin, looked into her eyes and said “If you know in your heart that Anand’s love for you is true, then you will also realize that he will never regret marrying you. There is nothing fuzzy about it!” She left the kitchen without waiting for Vidya’s response.
Vidya sat in the silence for a long time fighting her emotions, trying to figure out what is right and what is wrong. Her mind continued to confuse her with questions, even as her heart already knew the answer.
To be Continued............
Anand cast a look at Sindhuja playing nearby with a trolley and felt a sudden grief grip him.
“Yeah Anand, Sindhuja and I will miss you too. Sindhuja doesn’t probably realize it now, but once she stops seeing more of you, she will truly long for you.” said Vidya. Vidya knew that Anand’s presence in her life would minimise from now on and she felt her heart sinking. She knew this day would have come sometime, but when it did, she couldn’t acknowledge it gladly.
As the clock ticked, Vidya felt something vital slipping away from her hands. She didn’t want to let go of the wonderful days she had spent with Anand. She didn’t want to spend her evenings without him. She didn’t want to wake up everyday without a call from him, or go to sleep without hearing him say ‘Stay Happy’. She felt void from with in, and so badly wanted to cling to Anand and tell him to stay, to be with them, no matter what. She felt fraught and lonely already. Her feelings, her thoughts, and the sudden longing she felt for Anand, puzzled her.
Vidya continued to gaze at Anand. She let her thoughts drift to the past, to the times when she used to look up at Anand just for his one smile that would mean thousand words; his one pat that would encourage her to move mountains; his one word that would make her feel loved. Right from the college days, to this very moment, she realized how special Anand was to her. He understood her better than she could understand herself. She always knew how valuable she was to him, how very precious. She was amazed at how perfectly he fit into her life. She felt complete with him around. And she wanted to feel the same for the rest of her life – complete.
As Vidya looked at Anand lifting up Sindhuja and planting a kiss on her cheek, Vidya realized she was falling in love with him. It came as a shock and surprise to her, and she felt a sudden jolt within. She realized the separation that awaited them made her understand her feelings for him. She didn’t want to lose him too. She so badly wanted to run to him and confess her love for him. She wanted to tell him that he had won, and his undying and unconditional love for her had won; his love, care and affection had now become her fuel for living.
But she did not do it. She just stood there, looking at him, playing with Sindhuja. Vidya’s heart was heavy and tears filled up her eyes. She realized she couldn’t be his, shouldn’t be his. This was wrong; falling in love with some one else in spite of being married. This was a sin, she would be betraying Venkat if she remarried. She had fallen in love, blindly but she could surely prevent herself from committing another sin – of marrying Anand. She said to herself that Anand would surely get over her in time and move on, though she doubted it would ever happen. She believed that Anand deserves a better life, not a life with a widow and a mother of a four year old. She resolved to live with the memories of Anand, just the lovely memories.
The flight from Pune arrived in a few minutes and Vidya’s in laws were more than happy to meet Anand.
“Granny….Grand pa, I missed you both so much!” said Sindhuja and hugged them.
“We missed you too sweetie.” Said her grandpa and kissed her. He took a look at Vidya and smiled broadly and kissed her on her forehead while her mother in law hugged her.
------
As Anand dropped them at their place and started reversing his car to head home, Vidya’s mother in law said “Beta, come home in the evening to have dinner with us. We would like your company very much.”
-----
The dinner went on with an air of uneasiness. Sindhuja kept on talking through out about the past few days that made Vidya and Anand more aware of the lovely moments they had shared.
“You know buddy took us to this zoo, it was so good. And then we went for a movie…..It was fun….He has taught me so many funny games…..And then mom and buddy got drenched in the rain and so she caught a cold….But then he took leave and took good care of her too…He cooks so well, granny!” Sindhuja said stuffing cake into her mouth.
Anand, Sindhuja and her grand pa went on to catch some cartoon movies while Vidya and her mother in law cleared up the dishes.
“Vidya, you mind if I ask you something personal?” asked her mother in law when they were cleaning the dishes.
“Of course not mom!” answered Vidya.
“I think Anand loves you. I could sense it. And you love him too. Don’t you?”
“Mom….I….Emmm…”
“See Vidya, the way you spoke to me on the phone about him; the way you looked at him at the airport when he shook hands with us; the way he looked at you when you hugged us; the way he so easily kept Sindhuja engaged through out; the way you bid a good bye to him, not wanting him to go; the way he turned his eyes away from you and took his car reverse. Everything, every single moment spoke volumes of your feelings toward each other. You have been so quiet and withdrawn since we landed dear. We coming here will reduce his presence in your life, and that makes you feel low, doesn’t it? Tell me frankly, do you love him? ”
“Mom, I…I….” Vidya hesitated.
“Do you love him or not Vidya? If you don’t, then I will never talk of this again and I will apologize for being such a prick.”
“I…..I……I love him…Yes I do. And he loves me too; since college days. He told me so. But he doesn’t know that I love him.” confessed Vidya weeping.
“What is holding you back Vidya?” asked her mother in law coming close to Vidya, and wiped her tears.
“Isn’t it wrong for me to fall in love with Anand? I don’t want to betray Venkat; I don’t want to forget that he was my first love.” Vidya said in a wobbly voice.
Her mother in law lay her hand on Vidya’s shoulder lightly and said “Vidya, you can’t hold on to the past and hide your face from the future. Sindhuja and Anand are you future. Venkat will forever be your first love. But it doesn’t mean you do not have the right to someone else’s love, or you cannot fall in love with someone else. Love is the only thing that is never exhausted. You need to realize that Venkat isn’t a part of your life anymore, just a part of your memories. You can’t keep grieving his loss Vidya; you need to move on.”
Vidya didn’t respond. She didn’t know what to respond. She let the meaning of her mother in law’s words sink in.
“Vidya, I would have never spoken of remarriage to you, but for the fact that you love Anand and he loves you and Sindhuja dearly. His love has brought a new glow to your face, a new meaning to your life. You would betray Venkat only if you let his memories haunt you, make you sad; deprive yourself of a happy life that you deserve. Venkat would never want to see you gloomy and depressed dear. He wouldn’t ever want to be the reason for your misery. If you love Anand and want to spend the rest of your life with him, you should marry him; let him be your better half for the rest of your life. You wouldn’t be replacing Venkat; you wouldn’t be able to do it even if you wanted to. This would just be a new chapter in your life, a new light to brighten up your dim life.”
Vidya’s mother in law waited for Vidya to respond.
After a while, Vidya spoke up “I don’t want people to look at Anand and say ‘Love is blind. He has married a widow who is a mother too!’ If Anand ever regrets marrying me, I’ll never be able to forgive myself.”
Her mother in law let out a deep sigh and said “Vidya, Love is not blind. Love understands. Love accepts, whole heatedly. When, you fall in love with someone who is ugly, it doesn’t mean love is blind. It means love understands that beneath that ugly face there is a heart that is truly priceless. When you fall in love with someone who is a handicap, it doesn’t imply love is blind. It implies love knows and accepts that lack of a leg or hand or an eye can never interfere with leading a happy and peaceful life with your loved one. Love dares us to live a life with our beloved, no matter what the limitations are. It is the love that counts; it is the love that lasts beyond everything.”
Vidya glanced helplessly at her mother in law, who was looking at Vidya attentively expecting some sort of response from her. But Vidya didn’t say a word. Vidya mother in law lifted Vidya’s chin, looked into her eyes and said “If you know in your heart that Anand’s love for you is true, then you will also realize that he will never regret marrying you. There is nothing fuzzy about it!” She left the kitchen without waiting for Vidya’s response.
Vidya sat in the silence for a long time fighting her emotions, trying to figure out what is right and what is wrong. Her mind continued to confuse her with questions, even as her heart already knew the answer.
To be Continued............
FUEL FOR LIVING - PART 8
“HHHHuuuuuTTTtccchhhh” Vidya sneezed. She had been sneezing for the past ten minutes.
Anand handed her a cup of warm water. “Oh! Vidya! You caught a cold so easily! I am so sorry!” said Anand and sat beside her.
They had enjoyed their share of the rain for almost an hour before being forced into the house by Vidya’s sneezes.
“Yeah..I...…HHHHHuuuutttccchhhhh. Not your fault.” Vidya wiped her nose on the tissue paper. Her nose was reddened. “I will have to take leave tomorrow. If I sneeze like this in my office, my colleagues will go crazy! They are so petrified by this cold! ” said Vidya and drank the warm water.
“Oh! Alright! I’ll come and take you to the doctor tomorrow.”
“HHHHHuuuutttccchhhhh….ok”
------
The next morning Anand was at Vidya’s place by 7, preparing breakfast.
“I could have managed Anand, you shouldn’t have troubled yourself.” said Vidya sipping her coffee.
“Come on Vidya! I have taken the day off too, and am glad to be doing something useful.” He said and continued to beat the egg.
Vidya felt touched by his concern. Anand never seemed to think twice before doing anything for her. She couldn’t help but feel elated by the love he was showering on her.
------
After preparing the breakfast, Anand was busy helping Sindhuja get ready for her school.
“Buddy, I think you are getting it all wrong!” said Sindhuja with suspicion as Anand gathered her hair in his hand and combed through it. The comb didn’t come out and Anand tried to pull it out.
“Ooouccchhhh” Sindhuja pulled her hair away from Anand and frowned at him.
“Oops, I am sorry I hurt you. On second thoughts, you go to your mom and get it done. We’ll start for your school in another ten minutes” said Anand.
------
“Bye buddy! Bye mom!” said Sindhuja getting down from the car and running towards the school.
“Bye darling.” Said Anand and drove away from the school towards the hospital.
-----
“Anand, my in laws were really happy when I told them about you!” said Vidya to Anand as she kept the phone back on hook.
They were back at home after visiting the doctor; finished their lunch and Vidya had just spoken to her in laws.
“What did you tell them?” asked Anand cleaning the dishes.
“I told them that I have a wonderful person here to take care of me and Sindhuja. I told them you are a good friend of Venkat too. They asked me to thank you on their behalf. And, they will be here this Friday I believe; coming earlier than planned. They got their visas and tickets too. They don’t want me to struggle alone here.” said Vidya in a low voice.
“That’s very sweet of them! It is certainly good for you!” said Anand, wiping his hands and proceeded to get the tablets for Vidya. “Our trip to Island will have to wait for now then.” He said as an afterthought.
They walked into the hall.
“I hate tablets Anand!” said Vidya making a disgusting face.
“I hate them too, but they will help you feel better! Here, gulp it down!” he said and handed over the tablets and some water to her.
She swallowed them and sat back on the couch.
Anand looked at her. The wrinkles under her eyes were darkening day by day and it annoyed him. She was over working. He knew that. He was glad that her in laws were coming, but at the same time he knew it would lessen the time he could spend with Vidya and Sindhuja and it thwarted him.
Vidya feeling better the next day, resumed office. Anand continued to pick up Sindhuja in the evenings to spend time with her. He would then pick up Vidya from office, have dinner with them at their place and then head home.
------
These seemingly last days with each other, made Anand and Vidya closer; they would sit at nights talking for a long time about the past. They shared more about themselves and were puzzled at how different their thoughts were, yet how similar.
“I hate politics Anand; never can understand what drives people to it.” said Vidya one night.
“Power, Control and Money!” replied Anand.
“Hmm...Politicians are turning our country into a laugh riot! All they do is blame each other and let the common man suffer.”
“Yes and it is us, who let them do it. We are all too busy in our lives, our pleasures, and our anguish that we seldom pay attention to our country. A bomb blast today will hover in our minds for a week or so, and then we carry on with our lives. And then wait for the next bomb blast to protest and it dies out too. It has become a routine.”
“Hmmm….That’s true.”
Such conversations had become habitual. They never wanted the nights to end, couldn’t let go off each other.
Some times, a strange silence would drift in the air, and they both would sit in the garden staring at the sky.
“I have always tried to see if I can see Venkat’s face in the stars.” said Vidya looking at the stars. She folded her knees, drew them close to her chest, and wrapped her hands around them.
“Effect of too much Hindi movies, I believe. Vidya, Venkat is in your heart, your mind. You needn’t look for him any where else. He is within you, loving and guiding you.” said Anand.
“That’s what I tell Sindhuja.” said Vidya resting her chin on her knees.
“And that is what is true. Deep in your heart, the memories that you hold of him will keep you both united. No one will ever be able to steal the lovely moments you have shared with him. His love for you, the affection he had for you, everything will forever be part of your life.” Anand said looking at her. Vidya smiled.
“You have been loved, and that is the most precious of gifts, Vidya.” Anand said with a smile and turned his head to gaze at the stars.
Vidya looked closely at Anand; she admired him for his ability to so easily bring her out of the blues. Anand wasn’t being loved by her, he didn’t belong to her, and she didn’t belong to him. Yet here he was sitting and sharing his life with her; telling her that she is lucky to have been loved once. But for him, she would have sulked through out the night, the way she often did back in India. She would have shut herself in her room and cried her heart out. She would have cursed Venkat for leaving her, the God for taking him away. But now, she was calm, a strange feeling of contentment ruled her, and she felt oddly at peace. The talks continued for some time, and as it was their last night together, they didn’t want it to end.
It was getting quite late and Anand reluctantly started to his home. As Vidya stood at the door waving at Anand, she remembered the first night when he had come home, and how disturbed he was to hear of her loss. She realized their relationship had come a long way from then; this relationship they shared was different from the friendship they shared in college, somewhat different, somehow better. Though she wasn’t sure whether their relationship had any future; or whether they would just part once again as friends.
To be Continued.....
Anand handed her a cup of warm water. “Oh! Vidya! You caught a cold so easily! I am so sorry!” said Anand and sat beside her.
They had enjoyed their share of the rain for almost an hour before being forced into the house by Vidya’s sneezes.
“Yeah..I...…HHHHHuuuutttccchhhhh. Not your fault.” Vidya wiped her nose on the tissue paper. Her nose was reddened. “I will have to take leave tomorrow. If I sneeze like this in my office, my colleagues will go crazy! They are so petrified by this cold! ” said Vidya and drank the warm water.
“Oh! Alright! I’ll come and take you to the doctor tomorrow.”
“HHHHHuuuutttccchhhhh….ok”
------
The next morning Anand was at Vidya’s place by 7, preparing breakfast.
“I could have managed Anand, you shouldn’t have troubled yourself.” said Vidya sipping her coffee.
“Come on Vidya! I have taken the day off too, and am glad to be doing something useful.” He said and continued to beat the egg.
Vidya felt touched by his concern. Anand never seemed to think twice before doing anything for her. She couldn’t help but feel elated by the love he was showering on her.
------
After preparing the breakfast, Anand was busy helping Sindhuja get ready for her school.
“Buddy, I think you are getting it all wrong!” said Sindhuja with suspicion as Anand gathered her hair in his hand and combed through it. The comb didn’t come out and Anand tried to pull it out.
“Ooouccchhhh” Sindhuja pulled her hair away from Anand and frowned at him.
“Oops, I am sorry I hurt you. On second thoughts, you go to your mom and get it done. We’ll start for your school in another ten minutes” said Anand.
------
“Bye buddy! Bye mom!” said Sindhuja getting down from the car and running towards the school.
“Bye darling.” Said Anand and drove away from the school towards the hospital.
-----
“Anand, my in laws were really happy when I told them about you!” said Vidya to Anand as she kept the phone back on hook.
They were back at home after visiting the doctor; finished their lunch and Vidya had just spoken to her in laws.
“What did you tell them?” asked Anand cleaning the dishes.
“I told them that I have a wonderful person here to take care of me and Sindhuja. I told them you are a good friend of Venkat too. They asked me to thank you on their behalf. And, they will be here this Friday I believe; coming earlier than planned. They got their visas and tickets too. They don’t want me to struggle alone here.” said Vidya in a low voice.
“That’s very sweet of them! It is certainly good for you!” said Anand, wiping his hands and proceeded to get the tablets for Vidya. “Our trip to Island will have to wait for now then.” He said as an afterthought.
They walked into the hall.
“I hate tablets Anand!” said Vidya making a disgusting face.
“I hate them too, but they will help you feel better! Here, gulp it down!” he said and handed over the tablets and some water to her.
She swallowed them and sat back on the couch.
Anand looked at her. The wrinkles under her eyes were darkening day by day and it annoyed him. She was over working. He knew that. He was glad that her in laws were coming, but at the same time he knew it would lessen the time he could spend with Vidya and Sindhuja and it thwarted him.
Vidya feeling better the next day, resumed office. Anand continued to pick up Sindhuja in the evenings to spend time with her. He would then pick up Vidya from office, have dinner with them at their place and then head home.
------
These seemingly last days with each other, made Anand and Vidya closer; they would sit at nights talking for a long time about the past. They shared more about themselves and were puzzled at how different their thoughts were, yet how similar.
“I hate politics Anand; never can understand what drives people to it.” said Vidya one night.
“Power, Control and Money!” replied Anand.
“Hmm...Politicians are turning our country into a laugh riot! All they do is blame each other and let the common man suffer.”
“Yes and it is us, who let them do it. We are all too busy in our lives, our pleasures, and our anguish that we seldom pay attention to our country. A bomb blast today will hover in our minds for a week or so, and then we carry on with our lives. And then wait for the next bomb blast to protest and it dies out too. It has become a routine.”
“Hmmm….That’s true.”
Such conversations had become habitual. They never wanted the nights to end, couldn’t let go off each other.
Some times, a strange silence would drift in the air, and they both would sit in the garden staring at the sky.
“I have always tried to see if I can see Venkat’s face in the stars.” said Vidya looking at the stars. She folded her knees, drew them close to her chest, and wrapped her hands around them.
“Effect of too much Hindi movies, I believe. Vidya, Venkat is in your heart, your mind. You needn’t look for him any where else. He is within you, loving and guiding you.” said Anand.
“That’s what I tell Sindhuja.” said Vidya resting her chin on her knees.
“And that is what is true. Deep in your heart, the memories that you hold of him will keep you both united. No one will ever be able to steal the lovely moments you have shared with him. His love for you, the affection he had for you, everything will forever be part of your life.” Anand said looking at her. Vidya smiled.
“You have been loved, and that is the most precious of gifts, Vidya.” Anand said with a smile and turned his head to gaze at the stars.
Vidya looked closely at Anand; she admired him for his ability to so easily bring her out of the blues. Anand wasn’t being loved by her, he didn’t belong to her, and she didn’t belong to him. Yet here he was sitting and sharing his life with her; telling her that she is lucky to have been loved once. But for him, she would have sulked through out the night, the way she often did back in India. She would have shut herself in her room and cried her heart out. She would have cursed Venkat for leaving her, the God for taking him away. But now, she was calm, a strange feeling of contentment ruled her, and she felt oddly at peace. The talks continued for some time, and as it was their last night together, they didn’t want it to end.
It was getting quite late and Anand reluctantly started to his home. As Vidya stood at the door waving at Anand, she remembered the first night when he had come home, and how disturbed he was to hear of her loss. She realized their relationship had come a long way from then; this relationship they shared was different from the friendship they shared in college, somewhat different, somehow better. Though she wasn’t sure whether their relationship had any future; or whether they would just part once again as friends.
To be Continued.....
FUEL FOR LIVING - PART 7
On the following day, they all went for shopping. Vidya picked up a walking stick for her father in law and a woollen pullover for her mother in law. Sindhuja wanted to watch ‘Escape to Madagascar – part two’ that was being screened in the theatres. Vidya wanted to head back home and finish off her house hold chores. At the end, Sindhuja and Anand convinced Vidya for the movie after promising her that he and Sindhuja would help in cleaning the house too.
“Buddy, are you really going to make me dry clothes and iron them?” asked Sindhu with eyes wide open while they waited to buy tickets. Vidya was buying candies for Sindhu and popcorn for herself.
“Of course not, that was just to make your mom agree for the movie!” said Anand and winked at Sindhuja.
They bought the tickets and took the seats with Vidya and Anand on either sides of Sindhuja. Sindhuja was totally engrossed in the movie and Anand was keeping her good company. Vidya could see Sindhuja holding onto Anand’s shirt to ask him questions. Anand would every time smile, make figures in the air and answer Sindhuja which would make her jump in joy. Vidya couldn’t help but wish that Sindhuja’s happiness prolonged for her lifetime.
The movie was funny and entertaining. It was a feel good movie, and as expected best suited for kids. Anand and Vidya had enjoyed the movie too. Sindhuja and Anand came out of the theatre shaking their hips and singing ‘He likes to move it, move it; she likes to move it move it; we like to move it, move it!”. Vidya had to tell them to calm down since people had started looking at them and smiling. Sindhuja wanted an ice cream and Anand fetched it for her.
Anand returned with two cones in his hand.
“I don’t want two!” said Sindhuja.
“This one is for you and this for your mom!” said Anand handing them the ice creams.
“I am not a kid Anand! I don’t eat ice creams!” said Vidya with a soft laugh.
“Just taste it!” said Anand and handed over the ice cream to Vidya.
Vidya licked it, and the taste of it, the creaminess in it melted her senses. She couldn’t help but continue to lick it all the way to her home. It was almost 8 by the time they reached home and got inside. Vidya made some ready made parathas and side dish, which all three of them ate. They decided to take rest before starting the cleaning part. Vidya lay on the couch while Anand stretched out on the floor with Sindhu sitting beside him. The carpet was warm enough.
The three of them chatted about the movie for a while; after which Vidya watched Sindhu get up and sit on Anand’s tummy to play some games. Anand and Sindhuja were totally engrossed in each other, laughing, teasing. In some time, Sindhu stretched out on Anand’s body. Anand cradled his arms around her and ran his hands over her hair. Sindhu was soon fast asleep. Anand turned his head towards Vidya and caught her looking lovingly at her daughter. He cast a questioning look at her to which Vidya replied with a content smile. She closed her eyes and drifted off to a dreamless sleep.
------
An hour later when she woke up she found a blanket wrapped over her and the lights switched off. She went into her room and found Sindhu sleeping peacefully with the blanket over her and her doll placed next to her. Vidya tiptoed into the kitchen and found Anand cleaning the dishes with her apron wrapped around him.
“Anand! You could have woken me up!” Vidya said walking into the kitchen.
Anand replied calmly “No fellow with a heart would do it! You were so tired Vidya!”
“But still, let me do this.” She said reaching for the dishes.
“No madam, you will sit and talk while I wash the dishes, and then we can move on to the vacuum cleaner!” Anand said pushing her hand away.
“Oh, come on…”
“Nope, am not coming anywhere. Take a chair, sit and talk…” said Anand getting back to his work.
Vidya sighed and pulled out a chair and sat on it.
“Anand, it has been so long since I ate an ice cream or felt so child-like. You made me feel good, I felt young after a long time. Since Venkat passed away, I have been too busy trying to be a mother.” said Vidya with a sigh.
Anand just nodded. Looking at him, Vidya felt she was being heartless by letting him get so close to her, in spite of knowing that she might never be able to give him what he needs.
“Vidya, you need not feel guilty about anything that’s happening. If there’s any thing that makes me happy, it’s being around you and Sindhuja, taking care of you both and catering to your needs.” said Anand as if reading Vidya’s mind.
“Hmmm….Sometimes I feel an urge to go searching for Venkat. I just want to leave everyone behind to find my love and be with him. And sometimes I feel the world is such a nice place to live in, with so many people to love me. Why should I be sad at all?”
Vidya continued after a pause “And now your coming into my life has certainly spruced it up even more. When you are around, I don’t feel lonely, when you are around I feel safe. When you are around, I feel happy. But when I think of all the hurt I have given you, and realize what you have for me is true love, I can’t help but feel guilty.” She finished and looked at Anand.
“Vidya, I love you and that is never going to change. My love for you is unconditional and it gives me a strange peace even knowing that you might never return my love. All these years, although I couldn’t be happy with you, I was happy for you. All I have ever wanted was for you to be happy every single moment of your life. As for me, every moment with you and Sindhu is a unique gift that I shall cherish forever, no matter what. Loving you has become my fuel for living. You have no reasons to feel guilty.” said Anand honestly, wiping his hands on the apron.
Vidya still couldn’t bring herself to accept Anand’s presence in her life. “But I feel guilty about letting you get close to me and Sindhuja when knowing that possibly, I might never be able to act in response to your love.”
Anand came near Vidya, took her hands into his and with a warm smile uttered the following words, "While you are worried about what you may never be able to give me, let me tell you about the wonderful gifts you have given me till now. You have made me fall in love Vidya. It has been a fascinating journey from the day I had fallen in love with you. I have learnt a lot about myself and life from my love for you. Over the years, I have realized that, to be in love means not to be afraid of losing your loved one. You can be not afraid only when you don't expect anything from your loved one. When you don't expect anything from your loved one, you don't care what your loved one thinks of you. When you don't care what your loved one thinks of you, you are free to be yourself. And to be ‘yourself’ every single moment is a life in harmony. I have been living my life in harmony Vidya, thanks to you. And the least I ask of you is to allow me to make you happy, for the rest of your life." And with this, Anand hunched and placed a warm kiss on Vidya's forehead.
With tears brimming, Vidya looked at Anand with affection. Slowly, Vidya began to realize that she was becoming increasingly defenceless against this unfathomable love that Anand seemed to have for her.
“Hey it’s raining! Come…..Come…..let’s go and get drenched!” Anand said pulling Vidya out of her chair, and thoughts.
“Anand, are you crazy??!” said Vidya struggling to keep up with him.
He pulled her to the garden with her. They saw an old couple next door holding hands, strolling in their garden, getting drenched.
“Hey pal, enjoying the rain eh?” shouted Anand to them.
“Yes, it is lovely, isn’t it?” replied the man in an enthusiastic voice.
“You bet!” said Anand.
“Aren’t they too old for this?” Vidya whispered in Anand’s ears.
“From what I see, their hearts don’t seem to have wrinkles yet, dear!” replied Anand in a cheerful voice.
Vidya let the rain wash her over, she felt ecstatic. The first rain of the season always brings the purest of water, it is believed. Anand watched Vidya move in circles with her arms wide open, eyes half closed and a smile over her face. She held out her hand asking Anand to join her. He hesitated for a second before getting hold of her hand.
To be Continued............
“Buddy, are you really going to make me dry clothes and iron them?” asked Sindhu with eyes wide open while they waited to buy tickets. Vidya was buying candies for Sindhu and popcorn for herself.
“Of course not, that was just to make your mom agree for the movie!” said Anand and winked at Sindhuja.
They bought the tickets and took the seats with Vidya and Anand on either sides of Sindhuja. Sindhuja was totally engrossed in the movie and Anand was keeping her good company. Vidya could see Sindhuja holding onto Anand’s shirt to ask him questions. Anand would every time smile, make figures in the air and answer Sindhuja which would make her jump in joy. Vidya couldn’t help but wish that Sindhuja’s happiness prolonged for her lifetime.
The movie was funny and entertaining. It was a feel good movie, and as expected best suited for kids. Anand and Vidya had enjoyed the movie too. Sindhuja and Anand came out of the theatre shaking their hips and singing ‘He likes to move it, move it; she likes to move it move it; we like to move it, move it!”. Vidya had to tell them to calm down since people had started looking at them and smiling. Sindhuja wanted an ice cream and Anand fetched it for her.
Anand returned with two cones in his hand.
“I don’t want two!” said Sindhuja.
“This one is for you and this for your mom!” said Anand handing them the ice creams.
“I am not a kid Anand! I don’t eat ice creams!” said Vidya with a soft laugh.
“Just taste it!” said Anand and handed over the ice cream to Vidya.
Vidya licked it, and the taste of it, the creaminess in it melted her senses. She couldn’t help but continue to lick it all the way to her home. It was almost 8 by the time they reached home and got inside. Vidya made some ready made parathas and side dish, which all three of them ate. They decided to take rest before starting the cleaning part. Vidya lay on the couch while Anand stretched out on the floor with Sindhu sitting beside him. The carpet was warm enough.
The three of them chatted about the movie for a while; after which Vidya watched Sindhu get up and sit on Anand’s tummy to play some games. Anand and Sindhuja were totally engrossed in each other, laughing, teasing. In some time, Sindhu stretched out on Anand’s body. Anand cradled his arms around her and ran his hands over her hair. Sindhu was soon fast asleep. Anand turned his head towards Vidya and caught her looking lovingly at her daughter. He cast a questioning look at her to which Vidya replied with a content smile. She closed her eyes and drifted off to a dreamless sleep.
------
An hour later when she woke up she found a blanket wrapped over her and the lights switched off. She went into her room and found Sindhu sleeping peacefully with the blanket over her and her doll placed next to her. Vidya tiptoed into the kitchen and found Anand cleaning the dishes with her apron wrapped around him.
“Anand! You could have woken me up!” Vidya said walking into the kitchen.
Anand replied calmly “No fellow with a heart would do it! You were so tired Vidya!”
“But still, let me do this.” She said reaching for the dishes.
“No madam, you will sit and talk while I wash the dishes, and then we can move on to the vacuum cleaner!” Anand said pushing her hand away.
“Oh, come on…”
“Nope, am not coming anywhere. Take a chair, sit and talk…” said Anand getting back to his work.
Vidya sighed and pulled out a chair and sat on it.
“Anand, it has been so long since I ate an ice cream or felt so child-like. You made me feel good, I felt young after a long time. Since Venkat passed away, I have been too busy trying to be a mother.” said Vidya with a sigh.
Anand just nodded. Looking at him, Vidya felt she was being heartless by letting him get so close to her, in spite of knowing that she might never be able to give him what he needs.
“Vidya, you need not feel guilty about anything that’s happening. If there’s any thing that makes me happy, it’s being around you and Sindhuja, taking care of you both and catering to your needs.” said Anand as if reading Vidya’s mind.
“Hmmm….Sometimes I feel an urge to go searching for Venkat. I just want to leave everyone behind to find my love and be with him. And sometimes I feel the world is such a nice place to live in, with so many people to love me. Why should I be sad at all?”
Vidya continued after a pause “And now your coming into my life has certainly spruced it up even more. When you are around, I don’t feel lonely, when you are around I feel safe. When you are around, I feel happy. But when I think of all the hurt I have given you, and realize what you have for me is true love, I can’t help but feel guilty.” She finished and looked at Anand.
“Vidya, I love you and that is never going to change. My love for you is unconditional and it gives me a strange peace even knowing that you might never return my love. All these years, although I couldn’t be happy with you, I was happy for you. All I have ever wanted was for you to be happy every single moment of your life. As for me, every moment with you and Sindhu is a unique gift that I shall cherish forever, no matter what. Loving you has become my fuel for living. You have no reasons to feel guilty.” said Anand honestly, wiping his hands on the apron.
Vidya still couldn’t bring herself to accept Anand’s presence in her life. “But I feel guilty about letting you get close to me and Sindhuja when knowing that possibly, I might never be able to act in response to your love.”
Anand came near Vidya, took her hands into his and with a warm smile uttered the following words, "While you are worried about what you may never be able to give me, let me tell you about the wonderful gifts you have given me till now. You have made me fall in love Vidya. It has been a fascinating journey from the day I had fallen in love with you. I have learnt a lot about myself and life from my love for you. Over the years, I have realized that, to be in love means not to be afraid of losing your loved one. You can be not afraid only when you don't expect anything from your loved one. When you don't expect anything from your loved one, you don't care what your loved one thinks of you. When you don't care what your loved one thinks of you, you are free to be yourself. And to be ‘yourself’ every single moment is a life in harmony. I have been living my life in harmony Vidya, thanks to you. And the least I ask of you is to allow me to make you happy, for the rest of your life." And with this, Anand hunched and placed a warm kiss on Vidya's forehead.
With tears brimming, Vidya looked at Anand with affection. Slowly, Vidya began to realize that she was becoming increasingly defenceless against this unfathomable love that Anand seemed to have for her.
“Hey it’s raining! Come…..Come…..let’s go and get drenched!” Anand said pulling Vidya out of her chair, and thoughts.
“Anand, are you crazy??!” said Vidya struggling to keep up with him.
He pulled her to the garden with her. They saw an old couple next door holding hands, strolling in their garden, getting drenched.
“Hey pal, enjoying the rain eh?” shouted Anand to them.
“Yes, it is lovely, isn’t it?” replied the man in an enthusiastic voice.
“You bet!” said Anand.
“Aren’t they too old for this?” Vidya whispered in Anand’s ears.
“From what I see, their hearts don’t seem to have wrinkles yet, dear!” replied Anand in a cheerful voice.
Vidya let the rain wash her over, she felt ecstatic. The first rain of the season always brings the purest of water, it is believed. Anand watched Vidya move in circles with her arms wide open, eyes half closed and a smile over her face. She held out her hand asking Anand to join her. He hesitated for a second before getting hold of her hand.
To be Continued............
FUEL FOR LIVING - PART 6
Vidya handed over a cup of coffee to Anand and sat on the couch beside him.
Anand placed the cup on the table and looked at Vidya.
“Vidya, I owe you an explanation about what happened today afternoon. I have a justification for my action and I should say I am not ashamed of what I did. ” said Anand looking Vidya in the eyes.
Vidya continued to sip her coffee.
“Vidya, it was just an act of instinct. The happiness that radiated from your face urged me to look closely at you, to search in your eyes, the answers to the questions I have been asking myself for so long.”
Vidya now looked intently at Anand. She was listening, listening with all her heart and mind, not knowing where this was leading to.
“I have always loved you, loved you since the moment I set my eyes on you. I love you, I still love you Vidya.”
Vidya was shocked on hearing this and if there was any anxiety in her, she hid it well.
“All these years, it’s only your memories that has been with me, made me happy and helped me breathe.”
“Anand…” Vidya spoke up but Anand dismissed her with a wave of his hand and continued.
“Let me finish this Vidya. If there was anything in my life that I had longed for, it is you. But the moment I learned that you loved Venkat, I had to let you go, but I couldn’t let my love for you go. I couldn’t make myself love any other woman or think of anyone else as my wife. I just couldn’t. So, I led my life with only your memories as my partner, hopeful that you were happy with Venkat.”
Anand held back his tears and continued while Vidya bit her lips and kept the coffee aside.
“And now after all these years, you come back into my life, hurt, torn and shattered. I cursed the God above….your fate…..my fate, to have put us through all this. You were meant to be happy, forever. But what destiny has made you today is intolerable. All I want to do is bring back the happiness in to your life; if not by being your husband, at least by being a good friend.”
Anand paused for a moment and looked at Vidya. Her expressions were composed; her face didn’t give her heart away. Anand continued “This confession today is not a proposal Vidya. I know its tough for you to get over Venkat so soon and accept me as a part of your family. I completely understand the uneasiness I am putting you through by telling you all this, but I can’t hide my face any longer with the mask of a friend, knowing that deep in my heart I love you.”
“I will always love you. If you feel you can’t handle it, then I would gladly move away from you. I wouldn’t ever trouble you. I will live the way, I have been living till now. Only difference would be, now Sindhuja will be a part of my memories too.”
Anand rubbed the tear off his cheek and looked at Vidya whose eyes were brimming with tears too. She looked weakly at Anand. She couldn’t decide if she was angry or sad. The open confession had left her completely helpless.
“Anand…I…….I don’t know what to say. I had no idea what you had for me was more than just a friendly affection. If life has been unfair to me, your destiny hasn’t been good to you either. You deserve a happy life Anand, not just a life with memories and the yearning for love that you may never get. ” said Vidya and looked away.
She continued after a pause. “You make me happy, you make Sindhu happy. After all these years, seeing Sindhu genuinely happy has been refreshing. I have never seen her get close with any man, be it her Uncle or any of my other friends. She longed only for her dad, his touch, his talks, but with you, she is so comfortable that left me astonished many times. I like you Anand, I really do. You are such a wonderful friend to me. But I don’t know if I can ever love you. Venkat is deep etched in my heart; it isn’t easy for me to accept someone else as my husband.”
Anand sat there looking at Vidya, wishing that she wouldn’t ask him to go away. He wouldn’t be able to bear the loss one more time. Anand had come here to tell Vidya that he loved her, foolishly unprepared for the inevitable. He had poured his heart out. He was glad he had, but wished he hadn’t. He wanted to stay with Vidya and Sindhuja, and make them happy, see them happy. He nervously sat there waiting for Vidya to continue.
Vidya looked at Anand and she had never seen him look more agonised. Vidya struggled to calm down the turbulence of emotions within her. She wanted to comfort Anand and tell him that all would be fine. But she wasn’t herself sure, if it would be. Her heart hurt to see him crumble like this under the weight of his own emotions.
There were a thousand questions running in her mind. Many a times, during the past few days, she had wondered if it’s acceptable for her to feel happy when Anand was around. She couldn’t understand the new sense of contentment that had evolved into her since Anand had stepped into her life. And now knowing that Anand loves her, she didn’t know if she should continue being his friend or just ask him to go. If she had any feelings towards Anand; she didn’t want to deal with them then. She wasn’t yet ready to forget Venkat and start a new life. She didn’t know if she would ever be ready at all.
She decided to keep away the uneasiness and the questions aside and did what she thought was best, if not for both of them, at least for Sindhu.
“Anand….I…..I….. don’t want you to walk off from our lives. Please stay!”
Nothing else would have delighted Anand than hearing Vidya say those words. Anand wanted to jump in joy and shout Yaaahhhoooo, but decided against it, knowing that would only make him look like a fool and replied “Well I will stay …...But….….On one condition, you and Sindhu take a trip with me to Isle of White during the next weekend.” said Anand with a grin.
“Now what’s that?”
“Oh you will love it! It’s just a small island, not very far from here.”
“Alright!” said Vidya after a thought.
“Ok, so we leave on Saturday morning around eight and should be back by Sunday night. I will make all the arrangements!" Said Anand and got up to leave.
“Anand…” Vidya called out his name.
“Yes Vidya?”
“Thank you.” She said approaching him.
“Stay happy!” said Anand, rubbing his hand over her hair and left.
To be Continued tomorrow...............
Anand placed the cup on the table and looked at Vidya.
“Vidya, I owe you an explanation about what happened today afternoon. I have a justification for my action and I should say I am not ashamed of what I did. ” said Anand looking Vidya in the eyes.
Vidya continued to sip her coffee.
“Vidya, it was just an act of instinct. The happiness that radiated from your face urged me to look closely at you, to search in your eyes, the answers to the questions I have been asking myself for so long.”
Vidya now looked intently at Anand. She was listening, listening with all her heart and mind, not knowing where this was leading to.
“I have always loved you, loved you since the moment I set my eyes on you. I love you, I still love you Vidya.”
Vidya was shocked on hearing this and if there was any anxiety in her, she hid it well.
“All these years, it’s only your memories that has been with me, made me happy and helped me breathe.”
“Anand…” Vidya spoke up but Anand dismissed her with a wave of his hand and continued.
“Let me finish this Vidya. If there was anything in my life that I had longed for, it is you. But the moment I learned that you loved Venkat, I had to let you go, but I couldn’t let my love for you go. I couldn’t make myself love any other woman or think of anyone else as my wife. I just couldn’t. So, I led my life with only your memories as my partner, hopeful that you were happy with Venkat.”
Anand held back his tears and continued while Vidya bit her lips and kept the coffee aside.
“And now after all these years, you come back into my life, hurt, torn and shattered. I cursed the God above….your fate…..my fate, to have put us through all this. You were meant to be happy, forever. But what destiny has made you today is intolerable. All I want to do is bring back the happiness in to your life; if not by being your husband, at least by being a good friend.”
Anand paused for a moment and looked at Vidya. Her expressions were composed; her face didn’t give her heart away. Anand continued “This confession today is not a proposal Vidya. I know its tough for you to get over Venkat so soon and accept me as a part of your family. I completely understand the uneasiness I am putting you through by telling you all this, but I can’t hide my face any longer with the mask of a friend, knowing that deep in my heart I love you.”
“I will always love you. If you feel you can’t handle it, then I would gladly move away from you. I wouldn’t ever trouble you. I will live the way, I have been living till now. Only difference would be, now Sindhuja will be a part of my memories too.”
Anand rubbed the tear off his cheek and looked at Vidya whose eyes were brimming with tears too. She looked weakly at Anand. She couldn’t decide if she was angry or sad. The open confession had left her completely helpless.
“Anand…I…….I don’t know what to say. I had no idea what you had for me was more than just a friendly affection. If life has been unfair to me, your destiny hasn’t been good to you either. You deserve a happy life Anand, not just a life with memories and the yearning for love that you may never get. ” said Vidya and looked away.
She continued after a pause. “You make me happy, you make Sindhu happy. After all these years, seeing Sindhu genuinely happy has been refreshing. I have never seen her get close with any man, be it her Uncle or any of my other friends. She longed only for her dad, his touch, his talks, but with you, she is so comfortable that left me astonished many times. I like you Anand, I really do. You are such a wonderful friend to me. But I don’t know if I can ever love you. Venkat is deep etched in my heart; it isn’t easy for me to accept someone else as my husband.”
Anand sat there looking at Vidya, wishing that she wouldn’t ask him to go away. He wouldn’t be able to bear the loss one more time. Anand had come here to tell Vidya that he loved her, foolishly unprepared for the inevitable. He had poured his heart out. He was glad he had, but wished he hadn’t. He wanted to stay with Vidya and Sindhuja, and make them happy, see them happy. He nervously sat there waiting for Vidya to continue.
Vidya looked at Anand and she had never seen him look more agonised. Vidya struggled to calm down the turbulence of emotions within her. She wanted to comfort Anand and tell him that all would be fine. But she wasn’t herself sure, if it would be. Her heart hurt to see him crumble like this under the weight of his own emotions.
There were a thousand questions running in her mind. Many a times, during the past few days, she had wondered if it’s acceptable for her to feel happy when Anand was around. She couldn’t understand the new sense of contentment that had evolved into her since Anand had stepped into her life. And now knowing that Anand loves her, she didn’t know if she should continue being his friend or just ask him to go. If she had any feelings towards Anand; she didn’t want to deal with them then. She wasn’t yet ready to forget Venkat and start a new life. She didn’t know if she would ever be ready at all.
She decided to keep away the uneasiness and the questions aside and did what she thought was best, if not for both of them, at least for Sindhu.
“Anand….I…..I….. don’t want you to walk off from our lives. Please stay!”
Nothing else would have delighted Anand than hearing Vidya say those words. Anand wanted to jump in joy and shout Yaaahhhoooo, but decided against it, knowing that would only make him look like a fool and replied “Well I will stay …...But….….On one condition, you and Sindhu take a trip with me to Isle of White during the next weekend.” said Anand with a grin.
“Now what’s that?”
“Oh you will love it! It’s just a small island, not very far from here.”
“Alright!” said Vidya after a thought.
“Ok, so we leave on Saturday morning around eight and should be back by Sunday night. I will make all the arrangements!" Said Anand and got up to leave.
“Anand…” Vidya called out his name.
“Yes Vidya?”
“Thank you.” She said approaching him.
“Stay happy!” said Anand, rubbing his hand over her hair and left.
To be Continued tomorrow...............
FUEL FOR LIVING PART 5
PART 5
“Hey, have you been waiting for too long?” asked Vidya as she approached Anand, who was standing in front of his car gazing at the stars.
“It’s never too long waiting for you Vidya!” said Anand with a smile. Vidya shot him an amazed look as she opened the door and saw Sindhuja sleeping on the rear seat.
“She slept off? What did you do to her? Its’ never that easy with her!” exclaimed Vidya. Anand felt his heart fill with so much happiness that for a second he thought it might burst.
“She’s a darling! You don’t know how to make her sleep” said Anand feeling proud within. They got inside the car.
“Oh yeah, now you give some motherly lessons to me!” said Vidya from the back seat with an annoyed expression.
“Oops, that was supposed to be a light hearted comment. So, am I going to get the privilege of spending my evening with Sindhu tomorrow also?” asked Anand as he steered his car to the right.
“I guess so! It might be like this for the whole week.” said Vidya with bitterness in her voice.
“Marvellous! It couldn’t get any better!” said Anand grinning.
“Oh yeah, and for me it’s getting worse. My appraisal was pathetic and with CRR on the way, I wouldn’t be surprised if I get a CRR4. This issue I am working on might get escalated any minute!” said Vidya exasperated.
Not wanting to show that Anand didn’t understand much of what Vidya spoke, he just nodded his head and said “Oh its ok Vidya! Things will get better. Don’t worry.”
At the moment, without any warning, a memory from the past played in Vidya’s head. It was third semester at college and she was just about to appear for her ‘Digital systems’ lab exam. She wasn’t thoroughly prepared for the exam and she feared she might fail in the exam. She was nervously chewing on her nails when Anand who was passing through the corridor, noticed her and reassured her that everything will be fine.
Vidya fondly looked at Anand and smiled.
-----
Anand and Sindhuja spent next three evenings with each other. On Friday as Anand was dropping Vidya and Sindhuja at their place, he got a funny idea.
“Its time, you people get to taste the food made by the World’s best cook.” announced Anand.
“And who is it, may I know?” asked Vidya in a mocking voice.
“It’s me, of course! You both are invited to my place for lunch tomorrow. Sindhu baby, do you want anything in particular?”
“Gajar ka halwa” replied Sindhu almost immediately.
“Done! So it’s a deal. I’ll be here to pick you guys by 1.” Said Anand and left.
------
It was 2 by the time Anand reached Vidya’s place.
“You are late!” complained Vidya.
“I know but my lunch is surely worth the wait!” said Anand and drove them to his place.
-----
If there was any house hold chore Anand enjoyed doing, it was cooking, and he was certainly good at it. He rarely cooked, but when he did, he rocked. Vidya and Sindhuja soon were convinced that he is the best cook they have known, even if he may not be the World’s best.
“Mate, this is soooo gooood. Yummmmyyy” said Sindhuja licking her lips after eating a spoon full of gajar ka halwa.
“Anand, you seriously took me by surprise! I never knew you can cook so well.” said Vidya.
“There is heaps about me that you don’t know yet.” Said Anand subtly and lifted Sindhuja up and took her out to the garden to play while Vidya tried to make sense of what Anand had said.
As Vidya sat there watching, she could see herself and Venkat playing with Sindhu when she was younger. She saw Sindhuja holding on to Anand’s shoulders as he lifted her and threw her up in the air. She could see Venkat running behind Sindhuja to catch her. She saw Sindhuja hitting into Anand’s stomach while he acted like getting hurt. She could see Venkat hugging and kissing Sindhu.
Sindhuja’s shout jolted Vidya back into the present. She realized she was swaying between the past and the ‘now’. “Mmmooommm…Mooooommmmmm! Come here, let’s play”
Vidya ran up to Sindhuja and joined them. They played hide and seek, with mostly Anand or Vidya being the catcher. When it was Sindhuja’s turn, she argued it was unfair on the parts of adults to have a small girl do the catching job. Anand and Sindhu even managed to pull a prank on Vidya. When Vidya was blindfolded, breaking the rules Anand and Sindhu left the garden, sneaked into the house and watched Vidya try in vain to get hold of either of them. Poor Vidya realized the prank only after hearing uncontrollable laughter of both Anand and Sindhu. Removing her blindfold, her decision to go crazy on both of them for pulling the prank on her was short-lived when she saw the angel of her life laughing. Since Venkat’s death, none have been able to make Sindhu laugh out so loud. Faking toughness, she still made Sindhu the catcher as punishment for pulling the prank on her.
Anand enjoyed playing with them. He enjoyed watching Vidya trying to get close to Sindhu and then back away soon enough to escape from Sindhuja’s little hands. He enjoyed seeing Sindhu move with an unbalance, her hands desperately stretched out to catch one of them. While Vidya was trying to get close to Sindhuja, Anand caught her elbow, pulled her close and gazed deep into her eyes. Vidya caught completely off guard, stared back at him and felt something stir within her. Anand let go off her in an instant and Sindhuja was soon holding on to Anand’s trousers shouting in joy.
That little incident made Anand not very proud of himself. He had acted on his instinct, on his need to hold Vidya. He shouldn’t have done it. That must have made her uncomfortable, he told himself. He wanted to speak to Vidya and explain himself to her. He called her that night around 9.
“Hello Vidya? Anand here!”
“Hi Anand!”
“I need to talk to you in private. Can I come home now? Or can we meet tomorrow?” asked Anand
“Can’t it be done over the phone?” asked Vidya uneasily
“No, it can’t be. I won’t take much of your time.” said Anand.
“Alright, maybe we should talk right away since Sindhu is fast asleep. Just give me a missed call when you are at the door.” said Vidya.
“Ok, I will be right there.” Said Anand and rushed to his car.
To be Continued..............
“Hey, have you been waiting for too long?” asked Vidya as she approached Anand, who was standing in front of his car gazing at the stars.
“It’s never too long waiting for you Vidya!” said Anand with a smile. Vidya shot him an amazed look as she opened the door and saw Sindhuja sleeping on the rear seat.
“She slept off? What did you do to her? Its’ never that easy with her!” exclaimed Vidya. Anand felt his heart fill with so much happiness that for a second he thought it might burst.
“She’s a darling! You don’t know how to make her sleep” said Anand feeling proud within. They got inside the car.
“Oh yeah, now you give some motherly lessons to me!” said Vidya from the back seat with an annoyed expression.
“Oops, that was supposed to be a light hearted comment. So, am I going to get the privilege of spending my evening with Sindhu tomorrow also?” asked Anand as he steered his car to the right.
“I guess so! It might be like this for the whole week.” said Vidya with bitterness in her voice.
“Marvellous! It couldn’t get any better!” said Anand grinning.
“Oh yeah, and for me it’s getting worse. My appraisal was pathetic and with CRR on the way, I wouldn’t be surprised if I get a CRR4. This issue I am working on might get escalated any minute!” said Vidya exasperated.
Not wanting to show that Anand didn’t understand much of what Vidya spoke, he just nodded his head and said “Oh its ok Vidya! Things will get better. Don’t worry.”
At the moment, without any warning, a memory from the past played in Vidya’s head. It was third semester at college and she was just about to appear for her ‘Digital systems’ lab exam. She wasn’t thoroughly prepared for the exam and she feared she might fail in the exam. She was nervously chewing on her nails when Anand who was passing through the corridor, noticed her and reassured her that everything will be fine.
Vidya fondly looked at Anand and smiled.
-----
Anand and Sindhuja spent next three evenings with each other. On Friday as Anand was dropping Vidya and Sindhuja at their place, he got a funny idea.
“Its time, you people get to taste the food made by the World’s best cook.” announced Anand.
“And who is it, may I know?” asked Vidya in a mocking voice.
“It’s me, of course! You both are invited to my place for lunch tomorrow. Sindhu baby, do you want anything in particular?”
“Gajar ka halwa” replied Sindhu almost immediately.
“Done! So it’s a deal. I’ll be here to pick you guys by 1.” Said Anand and left.
------
It was 2 by the time Anand reached Vidya’s place.
“You are late!” complained Vidya.
“I know but my lunch is surely worth the wait!” said Anand and drove them to his place.
-----
If there was any house hold chore Anand enjoyed doing, it was cooking, and he was certainly good at it. He rarely cooked, but when he did, he rocked. Vidya and Sindhuja soon were convinced that he is the best cook they have known, even if he may not be the World’s best.
“Mate, this is soooo gooood. Yummmmyyy” said Sindhuja licking her lips after eating a spoon full of gajar ka halwa.
“Anand, you seriously took me by surprise! I never knew you can cook so well.” said Vidya.
“There is heaps about me that you don’t know yet.” Said Anand subtly and lifted Sindhuja up and took her out to the garden to play while Vidya tried to make sense of what Anand had said.
As Vidya sat there watching, she could see herself and Venkat playing with Sindhu when she was younger. She saw Sindhuja holding on to Anand’s shoulders as he lifted her and threw her up in the air. She could see Venkat running behind Sindhuja to catch her. She saw Sindhuja hitting into Anand’s stomach while he acted like getting hurt. She could see Venkat hugging and kissing Sindhu.
Sindhuja’s shout jolted Vidya back into the present. She realized she was swaying between the past and the ‘now’. “Mmmooommm…Mooooommmmmm! Come here, let’s play”
Vidya ran up to Sindhuja and joined them. They played hide and seek, with mostly Anand or Vidya being the catcher. When it was Sindhuja’s turn, she argued it was unfair on the parts of adults to have a small girl do the catching job. Anand and Sindhu even managed to pull a prank on Vidya. When Vidya was blindfolded, breaking the rules Anand and Sindhu left the garden, sneaked into the house and watched Vidya try in vain to get hold of either of them. Poor Vidya realized the prank only after hearing uncontrollable laughter of both Anand and Sindhu. Removing her blindfold, her decision to go crazy on both of them for pulling the prank on her was short-lived when she saw the angel of her life laughing. Since Venkat’s death, none have been able to make Sindhu laugh out so loud. Faking toughness, she still made Sindhu the catcher as punishment for pulling the prank on her.
Anand enjoyed playing with them. He enjoyed watching Vidya trying to get close to Sindhu and then back away soon enough to escape from Sindhuja’s little hands. He enjoyed seeing Sindhu move with an unbalance, her hands desperately stretched out to catch one of them. While Vidya was trying to get close to Sindhuja, Anand caught her elbow, pulled her close and gazed deep into her eyes. Vidya caught completely off guard, stared back at him and felt something stir within her. Anand let go off her in an instant and Sindhuja was soon holding on to Anand’s trousers shouting in joy.
That little incident made Anand not very proud of himself. He had acted on his instinct, on his need to hold Vidya. He shouldn’t have done it. That must have made her uncomfortable, he told himself. He wanted to speak to Vidya and explain himself to her. He called her that night around 9.
“Hello Vidya? Anand here!”
“Hi Anand!”
“I need to talk to you in private. Can I come home now? Or can we meet tomorrow?” asked Anand
“Can’t it be done over the phone?” asked Vidya uneasily
“No, it can’t be. I won’t take much of your time.” said Anand.
“Alright, maybe we should talk right away since Sindhu is fast asleep. Just give me a missed call when you are at the door.” said Vidya.
“Ok, I will be right there.” Said Anand and rushed to his car.
To be Continued..............
FUEL FOR LIVING - PART 4
They reached home in some time. Anand had bought some eatables for Sindhuja which she happily nibbled while roaming around the house. After playing hide and seek with her for a while, Anand put on some cartoon videos for Sindhuja and went into his study for a puff.
As he was half way through it, Sindhuja appeared on the door and said in a stern voice “Mate, that thing is supposed to be bad for health!” She walked towards him.
“Do you do it often?” she asked pointing at the cigarette he held between his fingers.
“Hey no Sindhu, I do it just once in a while….to keep my mind calm….and worriless” said Anand putting off the cigarette.
“How can that keep your mind worriless?” She asked puzzled.
“Aheemmm...Well…I don’t think of anything else when am smoking.” replied Anand hesitantly.
“Hah! You are just another man trying to justify a wrong do!” said Sindhuja folding her hands across her chest. When Anand came near and lifted her up into his arms, she continued “I don’t think you should do something that is harmful to your health. It will hurt the people who love you, and I think that I love you. So try not doing it buddy!” said Sindhuja to him with a smile.
Nothing else could have made more sense to Anand and he replied “I…..I love you too baby! I am not going to do it from now on.”
“Thanks mate. Now coming to the cartoon part, I have seen Tin Tin so many times that I am bored of it! Can we watch something else?!” asked Sindhuja.
Carrying her to the hall, Anand replied “Sure, let me think of a nice movie for us to watch. In the mean while, tell me when your birthday is?”
“It’s on May 7th. And yours?” queried Sindhuja.
“I was born on 18th June. I just remembered a movie Game Plan. It will be nice for us to watch” said Anand as he sat on the couch with Sindhuja on his lap and reached for his laptop. The movie was about a 5yrs old daughter showing up at her father’s door who has no idea that he has a daughter. In the course of time, they both develop a very strong bond with each other.
Anand and Sindhuja watched the movie munching popcorn and drinking orange juice.
After the movie was over, “It was a nice movie. I miss daddy after seeing it.” said Sindhuja in a low voice.
It was then that Anand realized his mistake of selecting the wrong movie. “Oh baby, He hasn’t left you. He is always around you to take care of you and to make sure you are happy. He will be hurt if you are sad!” said Anand trying to cheer her up.
“I know. Mom tells the same thing.”
Hoping to divert Sindhu’s attention, Anand said “Now for the fun part we will play a game that I used to play during my school days.” and he made Sindhuja sit on the couch facing him.
“Wow! Ok! I am ready.” said Sindhuja excited.
“Ok, I am going to say two things at a time and you tell me which you like better, ok? And if you are not able to make a choice, you loose!” asked Anand.
“This seems very simple! Start!” said Sindhu and clasped her hands together.
-----
“Superman or Spiderman?”
“Superman!”
“Mickey Mouse or Donald duck?”
“Donald Duck”
“Tweety or Garfield?”
“Mmm…Tweety!”
“Chocolate or Ice cream?”
“Emm….Ice cream!”
“Video games or outdoor games?”
“Both!”
“No no, you got to choose one!”
“Alright then, outdoor games.”
“India or UK?”
“Hah! Where ever mom is”
“That was smart!”
“Hehe I know! Can I now ask you the same sort of questions?”
“Sure!”
----
“Day or Night?”
“Mmmm Day!”
“Office or home?”
“Now, home!”
“Watching movie on laptop or in theatre?”
“Emmm theatre”
“Snow or rain?”
“Rain!”
“Cricket or football?”
“Football!”
“Mom or me?!”
“Hah! Both!”
“Only one, Please!”
“Ah.. Come on! Both of you are my friends!”
“You loose, then!”
“Yes, I do!”
“What do I get now?” asked Sindhuja energized.
“The one who lost, makes the one who won, laugh!” replied Anand.
“Oh yeah? Make me laugh then!”
Anand started tickling Sindhuja; she wriggled on the sofa noisily laughing and fought to catch her breath. Anand kept his hands soft on her and careful enough not to make her laugh too much. Sindhuja got down from the couch and started running away; Anand ran behind her. In just one long stride he caught her and lifted her up in the air which made her shake her head and sway her arms. She reached for his neck and started tickling him. Anand sat on the floor with Sindhu running her tiny hands over his neck and tickling him. Anand lay on the floor with Sindhuja sitting on his tummy and tickling him on his hips. He enjoyed the softness of her hands and her enthusiastic laughter which filled the house. Anand lifted his hands and said “Alright, you win this time too! Truce Truce!”
Sindhu laughed louder and rested her body over his. Anand started running his hands through her silky hair. It was almost an hour after when Anand’s cell phone vibrated under him. He slowly shifted his body trying not to wake up Sindhuja and answered the call.
“Hello Anand! My work will be done in another ten minutes. Are you sure you want to come and pick me up? I can manage!”
“I’ll be waiting at the parking area. See you” whispered Anand and disconnected the call.
He looked at Sindhuja sleeping on his chest. Her hair was clumsy, lips were slightly curved and eyes half closed. Her hands hung by the side of his body touching the floor, while her feet were firmly positioned on his thighs. He could have lain like that for hours together, he thought to himself. He slowly lifted Sindhuja and managed to get up from the floor, and placed her head on his shoulders. It was the most peaceful sleep he had had in years.
He put on his coat and with difficulty managed to make Sindhuja wear her coat, strapped her to the car’s seat and started to Vidya’s office.
To be Continued.................
As he was half way through it, Sindhuja appeared on the door and said in a stern voice “Mate, that thing is supposed to be bad for health!” She walked towards him.
“Do you do it often?” she asked pointing at the cigarette he held between his fingers.
“Hey no Sindhu, I do it just once in a while….to keep my mind calm….and worriless” said Anand putting off the cigarette.
“How can that keep your mind worriless?” She asked puzzled.
“Aheemmm...Well…I don’t think of anything else when am smoking.” replied Anand hesitantly.
“Hah! You are just another man trying to justify a wrong do!” said Sindhuja folding her hands across her chest. When Anand came near and lifted her up into his arms, she continued “I don’t think you should do something that is harmful to your health. It will hurt the people who love you, and I think that I love you. So try not doing it buddy!” said Sindhuja to him with a smile.
Nothing else could have made more sense to Anand and he replied “I…..I love you too baby! I am not going to do it from now on.”
“Thanks mate. Now coming to the cartoon part, I have seen Tin Tin so many times that I am bored of it! Can we watch something else?!” asked Sindhuja.
Carrying her to the hall, Anand replied “Sure, let me think of a nice movie for us to watch. In the mean while, tell me when your birthday is?”
“It’s on May 7th. And yours?” queried Sindhuja.
“I was born on 18th June. I just remembered a movie Game Plan. It will be nice for us to watch” said Anand as he sat on the couch with Sindhuja on his lap and reached for his laptop. The movie was about a 5yrs old daughter showing up at her father’s door who has no idea that he has a daughter. In the course of time, they both develop a very strong bond with each other.
Anand and Sindhuja watched the movie munching popcorn and drinking orange juice.
After the movie was over, “It was a nice movie. I miss daddy after seeing it.” said Sindhuja in a low voice.
It was then that Anand realized his mistake of selecting the wrong movie. “Oh baby, He hasn’t left you. He is always around you to take care of you and to make sure you are happy. He will be hurt if you are sad!” said Anand trying to cheer her up.
“I know. Mom tells the same thing.”
Hoping to divert Sindhu’s attention, Anand said “Now for the fun part we will play a game that I used to play during my school days.” and he made Sindhuja sit on the couch facing him.
“Wow! Ok! I am ready.” said Sindhuja excited.
“Ok, I am going to say two things at a time and you tell me which you like better, ok? And if you are not able to make a choice, you loose!” asked Anand.
“This seems very simple! Start!” said Sindhu and clasped her hands together.
-----
“Superman or Spiderman?”
“Superman!”
“Mickey Mouse or Donald duck?”
“Donald Duck”
“Tweety or Garfield?”
“Mmm…Tweety!”
“Chocolate or Ice cream?”
“Emm….Ice cream!”
“Video games or outdoor games?”
“Both!”
“No no, you got to choose one!”
“Alright then, outdoor games.”
“India or UK?”
“Hah! Where ever mom is”
“That was smart!”
“Hehe I know! Can I now ask you the same sort of questions?”
“Sure!”
----
“Day or Night?”
“Mmmm Day!”
“Office or home?”
“Now, home!”
“Watching movie on laptop or in theatre?”
“Emmm theatre”
“Snow or rain?”
“Rain!”
“Cricket or football?”
“Football!”
“Mom or me?!”
“Hah! Both!”
“Only one, Please!”
“Ah.. Come on! Both of you are my friends!”
“You loose, then!”
“Yes, I do!”
“What do I get now?” asked Sindhuja energized.
“The one who lost, makes the one who won, laugh!” replied Anand.
“Oh yeah? Make me laugh then!”
Anand started tickling Sindhuja; she wriggled on the sofa noisily laughing and fought to catch her breath. Anand kept his hands soft on her and careful enough not to make her laugh too much. Sindhuja got down from the couch and started running away; Anand ran behind her. In just one long stride he caught her and lifted her up in the air which made her shake her head and sway her arms. She reached for his neck and started tickling him. Anand sat on the floor with Sindhu running her tiny hands over his neck and tickling him. Anand lay on the floor with Sindhuja sitting on his tummy and tickling him on his hips. He enjoyed the softness of her hands and her enthusiastic laughter which filled the house. Anand lifted his hands and said “Alright, you win this time too! Truce Truce!”
Sindhu laughed louder and rested her body over his. Anand started running his hands through her silky hair. It was almost an hour after when Anand’s cell phone vibrated under him. He slowly shifted his body trying not to wake up Sindhuja and answered the call.
“Hello Anand! My work will be done in another ten minutes. Are you sure you want to come and pick me up? I can manage!”
“I’ll be waiting at the parking area. See you” whispered Anand and disconnected the call.
He looked at Sindhuja sleeping on his chest. Her hair was clumsy, lips were slightly curved and eyes half closed. Her hands hung by the side of his body touching the floor, while her feet were firmly positioned on his thighs. He could have lain like that for hours together, he thought to himself. He slowly lifted Sindhuja and managed to get up from the floor, and placed her head on his shoulders. It was the most peaceful sleep he had had in years.
He put on his coat and with difficulty managed to make Sindhuja wear her coat, strapped her to the car’s seat and started to Vidya’s office.
To be Continued.................
FUEL FOR LIVING - PART 3
“Buddy! Good Morning! We are ready! Where are you?” Sindhuja asked Anand over the phone.
“Right outside your door, lovely lady!” replied Anand.
“Woaaa! So can we start?” Sindhuja asked as she opened the door and disconnected the call.
They all drove to the zoo in Anand’s car. The day was full of curious questions from Sindhuja and answers from Anand; raised eyebrows and stares from Vidya.
-----
“Buddy how do they feed the lion?”
“They sing a lullaby, the lion sleeps and then they go in and keep the meat for it to eat, before the lion wakes up!” replied Anand.
Vidya couldn’t help smiling.
-----
“Why don’t we have a zoo for humans?”
“Well, Emmmm… because it’s difficult to maintain them!”
-----
“If I want, can I take one of the monkeys home with me?”
“No baby! It needs to stay with its friends in this environment, else it will go crazy!”
-----
Vidya noticed Anand had changed a lot in the years after college. During their college days, Anand used to be paranoid about kids. He believed disaster is inevitable if he tried to socialise with kids. Hence he consciously avoided any opportunity to get along with kids. But the Anand she was looking at now, seemed a natural with kids. He put Sindhuja at ease right from the start, was very patient and comforting, kept her in good spirit all the time and was mindful of the needs of the child. Whenever Sindhu grew a little bored, he amused her with his antics. Whenever a place was crowded for some exhibition, Anand made Sindhu use his shoulders as a chair to sit and watch the show.
“Why are the animals locked up?”
“Animals are special species and at times a bit dangerous. They may harm us if provoked. So to be safe, it’s better to keep them in cages!”
----
“Do animals also go to God after they die?”
“Yes baby!”
“So, do they have zoo up in the heaven too?”
“Oh, I don’t think they will have one there.”
“Why not?”
“In heaven, everything is so beautiful and everyone is so calm and friendly that we don’t need separate place to go and visit any kind of special species. Everyone lives in harmony with each other; humans, animals, plants!”
-----
“What is harmony?”
“Emmm harmony is….”
“Sindhu, it’s time for some chocolates!” Anand was more delighted than Sindhu on hearing this. He looked gratefully at Vidya for saving him and she returned it with a warm light-hearted laugh.
The day ended the way it started – with questions from Sindhuja and she fell asleep as soon as she crashed in her bed owing to the day long trip.
“Thanks for being so patient with Sindhuja. She is never tired of asking questions!” Vidya said as Anand began to leave.
“Oh I enjoy being with her so much. She is a lovable girl!”
“But if she starts troubling you too much just tell me! She can at times drive people crazy!”
“I’ll handle her just fine. Don’t worry!” Anand said reaching for Vidya’s hand.
Vidya put her hand to cover Anand’s, smiled and said “Thanks again! See you!”
“Good night. Take care!” said Anand and left.
Vidya stood at the door staring into the darkness for a long time.
-----
Back home Anand couldn’t get sleep. He wasn’t sure what was bothering him. The fact that he was still in love with Vidya, or the question whether it is morally right to be moving close with her, when she has no idea about his feelings? He didn’t surely want Vidya to think of him as a cheap fellow who is trying to exploit her. He wanted to marry her and give her and Sindhuja the happiness that they deserve. With questions hovering in his mind, he drifted off to sleep.
-----
The next two days went on reasonably normal for Anand. He hadn’t made any calls to Vidya, knowing that she would be busy with her work. It was evening around 4 when he received a call.
“Anand? Its Vidya here!”
“Hi Vidya! How are you?”
“I am fine. I need a favour from you Anand. I know I am troubling you but I just don’t know what to do!” said Vidya.
“Vidya, don’t be so formal! Just tell me what is it?”
“Can you pick up Sindhuja from her Nanny’s place at 8 and keep her for an hour or two? I have some work which is eating up all my time since yesterday. The Nanny has some date today, which she doesn’t want to miss. She was kind enough to keep Sindhuja till 10 yesterday, though the agreement is only till 8.”
“Alright! I’ll do it! Just chill! Give me her address and you give me a call before you start from office, I’ll come and pick you up!”
“No, I’ll come to your place and pick up Sindhuja.”
“Vidya, it’s ok. I have enough money to afford petrol! I’ll come and pick you up.”
“Hey that’s not necessary!” argued Vidya.
“It is absolutely necessary. Either I take care of the whole package, or I don’t! Now out with the Nanny’s address and then get back to work.”
-----
An hour later, Anand parked his car in front of the Nanny’s house and rung the bell.
“Hello. I am Anand. I am here to pick up Sindhuja!”
“Oh yeah.” She called Sindhuja out and she came running.
“Hi buddy!” Sindhuja said to him enthusiastically.
“Hi Sindhu!”
The Nanny asked Sindhuja, “Is this your Anand Uncle?”
“Yes, he is!”
“Alright, go and pack you stuff!” said Nanny to Sindhuja.
“Please come in. It’s necessary to confirm the identity of such guardians. Nowadays child abduction is on a rise!” said the Nanny to Anand leading him to the sitting area.
“Oh, I completely agree! I am happy Sindhuja is in safe hands.” Anand said smiling.
“You are in much early than what Vidya told me!” The Nanny told Anand .
“Yeah I wanted to spend more time with Sindhu.”
Sindhuja came out with her bag and announced that she was all set to go.
“Thanks…...” hesitated Anand.
“Oh, my name is Mridula.”
“Thanks Mridula! Nice meeting you.” said Anand with a smile.
“Nice meeting you too! Bye Sindhuja!” said Mridula.
“So buddy, you are taking me to your home eh?” asked Sindhuja as soon as she had strapped her seat belt.
“Yes baby!” replied Anand as he started the car.
Lets Continue Tomorrow........................
“Right outside your door, lovely lady!” replied Anand.
“Woaaa! So can we start?” Sindhuja asked as she opened the door and disconnected the call.
They all drove to the zoo in Anand’s car. The day was full of curious questions from Sindhuja and answers from Anand; raised eyebrows and stares from Vidya.
-----
“Buddy how do they feed the lion?”
“They sing a lullaby, the lion sleeps and then they go in and keep the meat for it to eat, before the lion wakes up!” replied Anand.
Vidya couldn’t help smiling.
-----
“Why don’t we have a zoo for humans?”
“Well, Emmmm… because it’s difficult to maintain them!”
-----
“If I want, can I take one of the monkeys home with me?”
“No baby! It needs to stay with its friends in this environment, else it will go crazy!”
-----
Vidya noticed Anand had changed a lot in the years after college. During their college days, Anand used to be paranoid about kids. He believed disaster is inevitable if he tried to socialise with kids. Hence he consciously avoided any opportunity to get along with kids. But the Anand she was looking at now, seemed a natural with kids. He put Sindhuja at ease right from the start, was very patient and comforting, kept her in good spirit all the time and was mindful of the needs of the child. Whenever Sindhu grew a little bored, he amused her with his antics. Whenever a place was crowded for some exhibition, Anand made Sindhu use his shoulders as a chair to sit and watch the show.
“Why are the animals locked up?”
“Animals are special species and at times a bit dangerous. They may harm us if provoked. So to be safe, it’s better to keep them in cages!”
----
“Do animals also go to God after they die?”
“Yes baby!”
“So, do they have zoo up in the heaven too?”
“Oh, I don’t think they will have one there.”
“Why not?”
“In heaven, everything is so beautiful and everyone is so calm and friendly that we don’t need separate place to go and visit any kind of special species. Everyone lives in harmony with each other; humans, animals, plants!”
-----
“What is harmony?”
“Emmm harmony is….”
“Sindhu, it’s time for some chocolates!” Anand was more delighted than Sindhu on hearing this. He looked gratefully at Vidya for saving him and she returned it with a warm light-hearted laugh.
The day ended the way it started – with questions from Sindhuja and she fell asleep as soon as she crashed in her bed owing to the day long trip.
“Thanks for being so patient with Sindhuja. She is never tired of asking questions!” Vidya said as Anand began to leave.
“Oh I enjoy being with her so much. She is a lovable girl!”
“But if she starts troubling you too much just tell me! She can at times drive people crazy!”
“I’ll handle her just fine. Don’t worry!” Anand said reaching for Vidya’s hand.
Vidya put her hand to cover Anand’s, smiled and said “Thanks again! See you!”
“Good night. Take care!” said Anand and left.
Vidya stood at the door staring into the darkness for a long time.
-----
Back home Anand couldn’t get sleep. He wasn’t sure what was bothering him. The fact that he was still in love with Vidya, or the question whether it is morally right to be moving close with her, when she has no idea about his feelings? He didn’t surely want Vidya to think of him as a cheap fellow who is trying to exploit her. He wanted to marry her and give her and Sindhuja the happiness that they deserve. With questions hovering in his mind, he drifted off to sleep.
-----
The next two days went on reasonably normal for Anand. He hadn’t made any calls to Vidya, knowing that she would be busy with her work. It was evening around 4 when he received a call.
“Anand? Its Vidya here!”
“Hi Vidya! How are you?”
“I am fine. I need a favour from you Anand. I know I am troubling you but I just don’t know what to do!” said Vidya.
“Vidya, don’t be so formal! Just tell me what is it?”
“Can you pick up Sindhuja from her Nanny’s place at 8 and keep her for an hour or two? I have some work which is eating up all my time since yesterday. The Nanny has some date today, which she doesn’t want to miss. She was kind enough to keep Sindhuja till 10 yesterday, though the agreement is only till 8.”
“Alright! I’ll do it! Just chill! Give me her address and you give me a call before you start from office, I’ll come and pick you up!”
“No, I’ll come to your place and pick up Sindhuja.”
“Vidya, it’s ok. I have enough money to afford petrol! I’ll come and pick you up.”
“Hey that’s not necessary!” argued Vidya.
“It is absolutely necessary. Either I take care of the whole package, or I don’t! Now out with the Nanny’s address and then get back to work.”
-----
An hour later, Anand parked his car in front of the Nanny’s house and rung the bell.
“Hello. I am Anand. I am here to pick up Sindhuja!”
“Oh yeah.” She called Sindhuja out and she came running.
“Hi buddy!” Sindhuja said to him enthusiastically.
“Hi Sindhu!”
The Nanny asked Sindhuja, “Is this your Anand Uncle?”
“Yes, he is!”
“Alright, go and pack you stuff!” said Nanny to Sindhuja.
“Please come in. It’s necessary to confirm the identity of such guardians. Nowadays child abduction is on a rise!” said the Nanny to Anand leading him to the sitting area.
“Oh, I completely agree! I am happy Sindhuja is in safe hands.” Anand said smiling.
“You are in much early than what Vidya told me!” The Nanny told Anand .
“Yeah I wanted to spend more time with Sindhu.”
Sindhuja came out with her bag and announced that she was all set to go.
“Thanks…...” hesitated Anand.
“Oh, my name is Mridula.”
“Thanks Mridula! Nice meeting you.” said Anand with a smile.
“Nice meeting you too! Bye Sindhuja!” said Mridula.
“So buddy, you are taking me to your home eh?” asked Sindhuja as soon as she had strapped her seat belt.
“Yes baby!” replied Anand as he started the car.
Lets Continue Tomorrow........................
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