One Sunday ...............

Flat No: #205, Sai Arcade, Hyderabad,

10.10.2004, Sunday


Sunday late in the afternoon, I’m seen on a couch, planted before my lappy, seriously breaking my head in debugging a piece of code….One thing I hated the most was using my brains to work on Sunday. But then, my work stints always forced me go and do things beyond my likes.

Debugging those 1117 lines of code was pesky and got bugged with the perpetual error pops on my screen. I could sense some Coffee aroma around and doubted if Preethi was preparing some in the kitchen. My guess was right and she turned in with 2 cups of Coffee.

“Girl what’s wrong with u??? I see u glued to ur lappy right from morning…Do u realize that today is Sunday and you’re off from work and office???”…Preethi asked

“Huh !! Forget about my Sunday’s Preethi…Tough time at work Baby… need to work even on off’s at times, else my boss is gonna screw me up for sure on Monday…I said

“Shilpa !!! Tonight we are going for second show movie and did u ask if any of your friends would be interested to join???”…… Preethi asked

Hmm….wait a minute I need to confirm and will let u know in some time…I Told

“Who all are coming Preethi?? You said that 3 of your friends would be joining us??

Yeah !! Sangeetha,Naveen,Karthik and Raghav are sure to come and I doubt about Prathika and Ajay..

It was 8:00 p.m and I still was busy carrying out surveillance operations in Debugging.

Shilpa !!! Are u gonna shutdown ur work and get ready or shud I do that…Preethi shouted at me.

“Give me half an hour Babes..will get ready and can start off”.. I replied

“You know right that the theatre we got our tickets booked will atleast take 45 minutes drive from our place and the show is at 9:30 and now u still don’t realize to get ready for the show”… she sulked

Though those so called s/w bugs were bugging me I had to close down my work, else I knew Preethi would bug me up…

I fastened self to get ready. Night sky was seen cloudy and it was drizzling then by the time we started to drive.

We managed taking a ringa..ringa ..roses drive route just to be away from those regular busy traffic and jams killing time and some how reached the theatre by 9:40p.m

Show had already begun by the time and could see the parking and theatre arenas totally deserted with just the security and Preethi’s friends waiting for us to join.

We rushed into the theatre undergoing those so called checks in the name of security to atleast catch up before the lines “Intermission” screened. I knew that movie being shown is a fiasco one but,only came on Preethi’s invite as her friends got the tickets booked.

For the first 15 minutes I managed watching and then some how got busy texting SMS and realised that texting on my mob entertained me than the movie.I could see that even Preethi got busy talking with her friends, that she hardly managed to watch movie.

I knew none among preethi’s friends and so was I silent in the theatre and didn’t have a word with them…In no time came the intermission and then preethi introduced me to her friend’s Sangeetha,Karthik, Raghav  and Naveen.

I hardly managed to just say Hi!! Hello !! to all the three and got back immersed in texting.

12:00---And now I should thank my friends “Pooja and Siddhartha” for there 2 hours of company texting me and Thanks to Vodafone network for there Special SMS package without which my day would have been ruined with that fiasco and me texting @ rate of 1rupee/SMS for 2 hours would have shooted my mobile bills.

We walked out the theatre and asked Preethi to get the bike fast from the parking so that we could atleast reach home some time soon and I can have some good sleep and don’t look sleep deprived at office by any chance.

I thought atleast I should have a word with Preethi’s friends else that will not reflect minimum sensible characteristic of mine.

I saw four of them stand by there 2 sumptuous cars waiting for Preethi to come from the parking lot.I again looked at each..I don’t know some sort of inhibition was holding me aback from speaking to them.

Not giving any thought went to them and greeted them Hi !! we just had some intro’s exchanged and all I could analyse from our 10 min talk was that Sangeetha was good looking and down-to-earth, Karthik appeared like a kiddo in his looks and talks, Naveen seemed kind, good going and amicable in his nature and  Raghav  looked naïve, flamboyant and laconic in his speech.

I know that 10min analysis I made of them is high but, I am knee about understanding eccentricity of people around and that made me do this.

I urged Preethi to make it fast to head back home..

“Shilpa !! these guys want us to join them for a long drive.. What do u say ??” Preethi asked

“What Preethi ?? Is that now ???” I asked in perplexity

“Yeah!! Just 1 hr drive and we will go back home” She said.

My inner self told me that saying No would certainly be no good on my part coz, Social association and movement is essentially important and will create a general overhaul but besides I was jus worried about the time then.

I Composed and compromised self and said ok just that its for 1 hour. Driving on bike at that time is not a good option with chances of police patrol haunting us. So, we decided to park our vehicle at some safe place and drive in the car.

Though a lil’ worry kept me disturbed but some sort of surety and excitement lifted up my spirits coz, I love long drives and they always excite me.

After some 20mins of drive Naveen asked us “How abt drinks???”

My face then looked Melancholy listening to that word “Drinks”..

Very firmly I raised my voice and said “No Naveen..I Don’t Drink….”

“Hey !! What’s wrong?? u alright??” Preethi asked

“Yeah !! I’m ok but, I dnt booze u know rite…” I said

“well then, How abt a soft drink atleast ??” Naveen asked

“Hmm…..That would be ok” I said smiling with transience in my looks

Raghav was driving then and I still couldn’t makeout why this guy never spoke a single word from the time we started to drive….

We halted at some place in the city outskirts that seemed more like a fringe…Though seemed deserted but looked quiet secured and perfect place to party.

We sat at a vantage point and only then realized that, Apart from movies, For the 1st tym ever in my life I have seen how a drink bottle will be like, varied varieties, and how people manage to drink with style. Till then I never knew or heard that city had this kind of decent places to party with friends at nights.

We spent some 1 hr at the vantage point…Sangeetha, Karthik and Naveen spoke so much that seemed like I knew this people from ages :) But,  Raghav  was the same just spoke to all except me and that was lil’ disappointing :( :( I checked if I looked like some monster but then, I knew I always cared for my dressing and style and was pretty sure I was looking decent that day.

It was 3:00 a.m midnite ….That reminded me now that I have to get to work tomorrow and its been 2hrs past from our scheduled 1hr what we planned for….

I asked preethi If we can drive back home cause I seriously cannot be off from work..

Raghav then for the very 1st time spoke cautioning that” Driving at that point of time is not safe”….

I looked bewildered and asked “Then wen shud we leave??”

“We can stay here till 5:00 in the morning and then can head bac” He said….

I never regretted for staying back an other 2hrs cause, I enjoyed the company of all these people and truly loved talking and spending time.

5:00---We drove bac from the vanatage point and reached the spot where we parked our vehicles…Preethi and me decided to go in her Bike,  Raghav  decided to drop Naveen and head bac home in his car and Karthik told he wud drop Sangeetha and drive home…

I don’t know if again we can have some meet this way or I was not sure about meeting this people again cause, I just had 1 week of time and then will get transferred.

I looked a lil’ down leaving Sangeetha,Karthik,Naveen and  Raghav  . With pounded heart I shook hand with everyone and said “Nice meeting U…Good Luck…Bye”

I knew it was inevitable and got on Preethi’s Bike…. I knew it was just not me but, others too felt the same….I still remember When I shook hand with  Raghav  I could see his eyes lil’wet and he curbing his emotions….At that point of time I seriously couldn’t sense wat made him feel that bad about our parting…

I hardly saw him have a word nor did he atleast smiled to any of Karthik and Naveen’s jokes in the entire 4 hrs of our togetherness…But his feelings at that parting moment reminded as question to me …..

At 9:30 in the morning I just got into my cubicle in office and saw Preethi calling flashed on my mobile screen…picked up the call and was Shocked at hearing to her…

Rushed to Star hospitals in no time and I stood numb, tears rolling down looking at  Raghav lay on bed wrapped in bandages in ICU

Preethi, Karthik, Sangeetha, a few other friends and his family was there….I managed to compose self and asked Karthik what and how it happened??

From what Karthik told I got to know that he met with accident this morning when he was driving home.. I asked what about Naveen ?? He told he is in the ground floor just got some injuries….

I knew both of them just a night before but, with no reasons they meant very much close and more to me that I cudn’t curb my emotions and broke down into tears….

We spoke to the doctor and he told us about the wellness of  Raghav  and got to digest the fact that he got his leg operated and should rest for atlest 6 months. Naveen got discharged that evening

I went into ICU to see  Raghav  .. I saw him look feeble and cudn’t resist from holding bac my tears and asked “ Raghav !How are u feeling now??”

He hardly could speak….” I’m good Shilpa….Why are u worrying so much??….Don’t worry I will be alrite “…he said

Yeah !! U will be alright  Raghav  ….I told him holding his hand

Shilpa !! I have been longing to tell U this from last night “I Love U” …he said holding my hand firmly despite his weakness.

I was mystified at wat  Raghav  said and cudn’t revert back…Couldn’t tell him anything at that point of time.

“U need not reply me Shilpa…I wanted to tell u this last night but I cudn’t cause, I was not sure If u would accept me and personally felt to tell u in our next meet…I have reasons for liking U…This is not a conclusion I made out of our 4 hrs of togetherness. I liked u at my very 1st sight and then could make out and sense ur attitude and nature in talks and acts at the vantage point….u might take this to be silly or progressing at a faster clip but, I Truly Like and Love u and that’s all I wanted to tell u and now its all left to U”…. Raghav  explained me in a weaker tone…

I sat beside him listening to all that he told. I knew that he had even more to tell me why he likes me but, his illness was restraining him….

I saw no point in rejecting his Love…..I could sense how much he loves me from his talks that he cared to tell me besides his illness..

I leaned towards him, kissed his forehead and said “Love U  Raghav ”…

That was a life time commitment we made and promised a life time relation…

I spoke to my manager and managed to keep my transfer on hold for 6 months….

Raghav took medical leave for 6 months which we can take granted for a resignation.

After 20 days  Raghav got discharged from hospital and was adviced to bed rest at home for the next 4 months…

Everyday I visited him after my office and from then for the next 4 months I dedicated my weekends in taking care of him, that gave me a chance to know and watch him from very close quarters. In no time people at his home accepted as one among them and did I the same got well ..…


Flat No: #109, Green Orchid, Hyderabad

14.06.2009, Sunday


Sunday late in the afternoon, I’m seen on a couch, planted before my lappy, seriously breaking my head’s in recollecting and penning a life time memory that happened 5 years back….One thing I hated the most was using my brains to work on Sunday. But then, my Husband, his love and my passion for writing always forced me go and do things beyond my likes.

Writing was far better than debugging those 1000 lines of code that keep bugging u with the perpetual error pops on screen. I could sense some Coffee aroma around and thought who would be doing that in the kitchen…..Surprising !!!  Raghav  turned in with a cup of coffee.

Cheer’s he said as though we were having a glass of wine :):)

I punched back telling him “U emptied everything last night and now there is nothing in home to cheer u up” ;) ;)

Today we are married and happy leading a contented life….

Thanks to That fiasco movie that gave me a life time asset – My Husband, without whom I couldn’t have brought my aims and wish’s to fruition and continue to pursue my passion…

I cuddled him and said “Love U  Raghav  ” He turned towards me and said “But,I Love Prakriya”

“What ?? whose that??” I asked

“Will introduce her and show u on 09.09.2009” ….He said

Only after a moment did I realize that, it was my delivery date and we got it confirmed from the doctor last week that I will be delivering baby girl

“Hoo !! so you even decided Your lil’ Princess name  Raghav ”.. I asked smiling at him

“Yeah !! Prakriya ….Is that not good?? Didn’t u lyk it??..... He asked

“Wonderful ….This is why I keep telling u that u Balance Life quite well ;-)”…. I replied punching back :) :-)