Na Tum Jaano Na Hum !!!

            483rd BLOG -->>

       So, my parents were finally serious about this. They were finally talking about my marriage. An uncle came to my home and he said that there's a girl who is quite eligible for me. He said that she earns very good and it's time that I and her should tie the knot with each other and give a name to the relation. I never saw this girl. I always heard about her because she was known for her beauty and sincerity. I always heard my mother talk about this girl with her friends that she is still following her family culture even when she has visited other countries for more than 5 times. I always thought about love but I never got a girl in my life whom I can give all the love I wanted to give to a so-called- Girlfriend thing or a wife. Now, actually, when everyone started talking about my marriage, I suddenly realized that I got no girl in 27 years of my life and I am already a marriage-material now. I spent all my school days in studies and buttering my teachers for being in their good list for getting superior treatment in class than other students. Yes, I was that idiot guy in school who sits on first bench and answer all the questions asked by the stupid teacher.


           So, I was excited about marriage now. Because, like my friends even I wanted to love someone with dedication and owe my life to. I wanted someone to dedicate my success and say that "There's a woman behind my success". I wanted to have someone's hand in my hand when I walk around in a mall. I wanted someone for whom I could buy chocolates and come home everyday from office. I wanted someone to kiss me while leaving house and hug me while returning. I wanted someone. I just wanted someone. No, the way I was curious is not because I was lusty but because I wanted to have someone "special" in life. Being shy in my childhood, I always hemmed while seeing in any girl's eyes while talking to them and hence I never got that guts to speak my heart out to anyone and say that "Will you like to be my Valentine?" on the Valentine's Day when the whole school proposed each other and got committed. Once, two of our teachers got committed on this day, but I never got. If it would have been today's condition, people would have called me Gay. But in my school days, Gay-ism wasn't promoted in the kind it is promoted today. My Good Luck. 


           So, finally the day came when my parent asked me to come back in lunch from office because we have to visit Singh uncle to meet him and see his most-talked daughter in my house- Akankshi. Akankshi was so much talked in my house that I already started feeling that I know this girl. I knew that my mother talked so much about her so that I may ask her to organize a meet with her but I always controlled myself. I went to office and I told my colleagues about it and they started teasing me. We laughed all morning and at 12 PM, I moved towards home. I came home and I asked parents to sit in the car and let's start the journey because we had to visit them in Santacruz while we lived in Thane. Quite a long journey it was. For the whole journey, I kept checking myself in the mirror whether I looked perfect or not. I was that handsome guy whom girls check out for once but then don't give a damn because the guy doesn't have guts to look straight-forward in her eyes and show that flirty intention. Thank God to the mirror that it said it loved me today because I was looking the best I can. I was wearing a light blue colored formal shirt and black trousers. Yes, Peter England was the brand. :-)


              Finally, we reached their apartment. It was a very big society. I came out of my car and looked the society and asked my father about the name of building and floor. He told me and we moved towards the building. I entered the lift after my parents and clicked 9 to reach on the 9th floor. My mother knocked the door as she was the one who was most excited about what was going to happen. An aunty opened the door and said," Ohh Welcome Welcome!!!" with her joined hands. I joined my hands too and said Namastey. This is why I love my Indian culture and I never thought of leaving my country. We entered this luxurious flat which had every element with matching colors. The whole house was perfectly designed. After sitting on this spongy couch, sipping the pineapple juice provided by my may-be-future-mother-in-law, my eyes stroked the wall on the right side of the couch. It had a big frame which had a photograph of a very beautiful girl in red dress. I was shocked to see it. I immediately asked aunty,"Which actress is this?" And she started laughing. With her laugh, it was obvious that she wasn't an actress and everyone started laughing. I felt embarrassed and I hung my head down and smiled. She yelled,"Akankshi, please come fast. We are waiting for you." My heart started beating fast.


             In few minutes, I saw a very beautiful girl in front of me. She came with the fingers of both her hands locked into each other. The beautiful bangles in her hand made her hand grab-able. :-) She was wearing yellow salwar-suit which made my eyes pop out for a second and get back to its place. Her face was better than all these actresses who are portrayed for the role of a sober Indian girl. I kept looking at her lips; she was pressing her lower lips by her upper lips which made me more curious to talk to her. I wanted to speak at the moment to everyone that I want to marry right here right now but I controlled my curiosity. She sat on the couch which was exactly opposite to mine. Now, she was so near to me that her beauty became more clear and evident to me. She felt awkward and uncouth to look at the person who is looking her without a blink of eye. I didn't understood it then. But I got to know it when my small brother whispered in my ears,"Haraami, mall mein nahi baithey hain. idhar toh kamm se kamm mat ghoor." I came back into my senses and appreciated God for making something beautiful than dreams. 


            The talks between parents started. my mother started asking her questions and she kept answering in her sweet voice. This is the only voice I have heard which was more sweeter than Shreya Ghoshal's voice. After few minutes, our parents left the hall to visit the open garden which was attached to their flat. Both of us were sitting alone now. I only saw it in movies before this that the boy and girl gets a chance to sit alone while the talks of marriage and it was finally happening to me. I exonerated my fear and spoke,"What are your future plans?" As mine were very bright. Stupid me. She replied,"I am currently working with Capgemini and I keep on traveling different countries for installation of our new product. And I am happy with my job as it gives me 2 days off in a week." I said,"Interesting!!!" She nodded. I added,"I liked you and I am ready to look at you for all my life. Are you ready to bear my face for all your life?" I don't know how I said it so straight-forwardly to her but I applaud myself for it till now. She smiled and nodded once again. And I exclaimed like a winner of Indian Idol,"Yeaaaaaaaaahhhhh !!!". Everyone came back and asked,"What happened?" I looked at Akankshi so that she'll speak something but both of us looked at each other and started laughing. In few minutes, we inserted the rings in each other's hand and got engaged in this low-profile engagement. Our marriage was planned on 1st December after she will be back from America in 6 months. 


            We met each other until she was in India. We visited whole Mumbai together. Once, we even went to Pune without informing our parents about it and returned back in the evening. Then, she went to America and we got separated for next 6 months. But we kept talking for hours on phone. We kept seeing each other through Skype. I always told her that she is turning hotter day by day with those firangis. She used to laugh on every stupid thing I said to her. We remembered that exclamation of mine on the day of engagement and she used to tease me a lot for that. Everything was happening for the first time with me and I was living all the moments very heartily. The months passed and the love between us grew very stronger. I never urged to touch her because I was in love and I could feel her everywhere. I was so used to her voice, her face, her body that I always felt that she sat, walked, ate, drank, laughed and cried with me. With this augmenting love, 6 months passed and she was finally back. The airport was at 5 minutes from her home so her father picked her from the airport.


            We planned to meet each other the very next day. On the next day, she reached Colaba's Leopold Cafe two hours before the scheduled time. I didn't knew that Akankshi was so desperate and tempted to meet me. I told her that I am in car and I am stuck in traffic. She said me to park the car at the railway station near to me and come by Local train as it will take much time for me to reach at Colaba and she had no patience to wait for me anymore. Girls always give a proper advise to their boys. :-) But when it comes to them, they take the world's worst decision. I didn't go according to her. I kept driving car as I knew that I'll be just 30 minutes late and not much and my dear Akankshi will wait for me. The more I'll make her wait, the more excitement will muster in her heart to see me, hug me and hold me. :-) It took me more 45 minutes to reach Colaba. Now I headed towards Leopold Cafe after parking my car at a parking space at 500 meters from the Cafe. I didn't called her after reaching Colaba because I wanted to meet her directly without giving her an intimation. I messaged her that I'll be late for more 30 minutes to play the prank but she didn't replied to it. I smiled because I knew that she was angry by now and it will be more entertaining to tease her and ask her for forgiveness.


             I was still 200 meter away from Leopold Cafe when I saw people running in opposite direction. I asked a man,"What happened? Why is everyone running?" He replied with heavy breathe,"Gun fires has been enfiladed at Leopold Cafe and terrorists have entered the Cafe." As soon as I heard this, my heart stopped for a second and without thinking anything, I started running madly towards Leopold Cafe. Some people shouted at me to stop and go back as its danger to move towards the Cafe but I didn't listen to anyone. As soon as I reached Cafe, I saw blood stains on the floor and few people dead. I saw a girl's body and removed the dupatta from her face and it was none other than my dear Akankshi. She was soaked in blood with pale white face. She was no more a girl who was my fiance but see was a dead body now. I started weeping madly and I patted her cheeks many times and asked her to speak something and say that she is safe. But she never spoke anything. I took her body to the hospital and for the whole time I kept talking to her dead body while she kept lying with no reaction and no sympathy towards me. 


            In few hours, doctor claimed that she is dead and she can be taken for funeral and last rituals. I burst out and I cried so loudly that everyone near me had tears in their eyes. With the hand of my immortal Akankshi, I kept on accusing God for doing this with my love. I cursed myself for not listening to her and catching train to meet her on time. At least I would have died with her. I always wanted to die in her arms but today, she was dead in my arms. I kissed her profusely and on the next day, her parents burnt her body into ashes. I didn't went to the funeral because I didn't wanted to see my lovely Akankshi turning into ashes. In few minutes, my life changed. If I would have been 10 minutes earlier, I would have met Akankshi. The day became 26/11 for the world but for me, it is the day which kills me 2611 times every second. Every time I see a newly married couple, I see the face of Akankshi in front of me. Every time I hear about Mumbai Airport, Akankshi's thoughts comes in front of my eyes. Every time this news channels show the documentary on 26/11, I die for 100 times watching it. This day is the blackest day of my life. All the Mumbaikars got back to work but I am sitting at my home with my right side of body being inactive. It stopped working after few days of 26/11 and I am suffering with paralysis till today. It has been 3 years and Akankshi is still in my heart, soul, mind and life. :( :( :( I wish my Akankshi a very Happy Wedding Anniversary on every 1st December. :-) She is somewhere. If not in this world, in another world, but I know that she is waiting for me. :( 


P.S.: It has been 3 years since 26/11 and the people who got affected by it only knows what 26/11 is. For you and me, its just an another day when a bomb-blast and terrorist attack took place. This is a fictional piece but there are many true stories which are more depressing than this. Let's hope that our nation becomes stronger and very soon, we will be able to restrict all these terrorists from hurting our nation and its people. 


          Thanks.


ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU