THE LOVE WE NEVER SOUGHT- A chapter excerpt full of suspense, mystery, fear of the unknown and fantasy which will surely raise your heartbeat.

 

It was shortly after midnight when an SUV with its headlights turned off approached slowly and stopped in the dark alley behind Stellar County Society in Greater Noida West. A shadow in a hoodie emerged from the car and swiftly walked towards the broken portion of the society’s boundary wall. The wall had collapsed because of severe rains some time ago, and the ongoing RWA funds dispute had delayed its repair and restoration.

The hooded and masked entity, whose face was completely covered except the eyes, carefully removed the makeshift barrier in the damaged part of the wall, which kept stray animals and jaywalkers at bay, and entered the premises on all fours. It was late in the night, so there was no one around to notice the unexpected entry. As he entered, he turned around and replaced the fiber sheet back in its place.    

Taking advantage of the dark and unattended area, he tiptoed to the tower where Anirudh and Pankti lived and hid himself in a corner from where he could keep an eye on the lobby guard. He appeared to be familiar with the society’s dimensions and camera locations.  

The guard on duty was fast asleep in his chair. He quickly sneaked past him and took the lift to the 17th floor, where Pankti lived. The iron door was latched from the outside, which meant she had gone to the terrace as usual after dinner.

He then took the stairway and slowly climbed to the top floor, where Anirudh lived. His door was latched from the inside, indicating he was inside.

The hooded entity then walked up towards the terrace and hid behind the door that led to it.

Meanwhile, Pankti was alone on the terrace, taking a walk after dinner and humming a Kishore-Lata popular song that she was listening to on her phone over Bluetooth. Of late, she had developed a special liking for the 60s and 70s Bollywood songs after learning that Anirudh enjoyed listening to them, which is a sure sign of a woman hopelessly in love. A cold, gentle breeze was flowing across, and the atmosphere was serene, making Pankti feel both relaxed and contended.

She walked for a while before stopping by the railing at the far end of the terrace to look at the high rises in front and the lights on the road below. She was humming along to the music in her ear and couldn’t hear that somebody had come up behind her. 

She turned around just in time to see a masked shadow standing extremely close to her. “Tum kon ho?She was startled.

What the shadow did next was unthinkable. It pushed Pankti right over the railing.

Around the same time, Anirudh was lying on his bed in his flat beside Kabir, trying to sleep but couldn’t doze off even for a minute. Sleep has been evading him tonight. His mind was still struggling to decide between him and Pankti. His heart told him to say ‘yes’ to her, but his mind was still full of bizarre thoughts. 

He gently shook Kabir, who was fast asleep. On the second attempt, Kabir eventually murmured, “Papa itna mat socho…Pankti aunty ko haan bol do. Mujhe bhi wo bahut pasand hai.” He turned around and slept with a smile on his face, leaving Anirudh surprised.

Kabir might have sensed the attraction Anirudh and Pankti used to feel for each other whenever they were together. He was young, but not so small as to not get the vibe between them. Over the years, he has seen his father hiding loneliness, depression and sadness from him on several occasions, but since the time Pankti entered their lives, he has noticed positive changes in his father. He has become happier, more lively and extremely energetic.

Kabir’s words brought Anirudh instantly to the decision he had been long looking for. He swiftly picked up his phone from the bedside table and dialled Pankti’s number with a broad smile on his face. 

SHOULD PIRACY BE MADE LEGAL?

 It was like any other day last week when I was driving down to meet a prospective client in South Delhi around 10:30 in the morning. I came to an intersection and had to stop at a red light. While I was waiting patiently for the light to turn green with my mind working on something, a gentle knock on the driver side window broke my thought. I turned my head to my right and saw a young boy with an enormous pile of English novels balanced meticulously on his left hand asking me to buy a book.   

 Me being an ardent book lover, couldn't stop myself from giving a cursory look at the titles on display and did a quick mental tick on the ones I had already read. One of the title which caught my attention was Chetan Bhagat's classic 'Two States'. Just to pass time, I rolled down my glass and asked the boy the price of the book and the next moment the boy swiftly pulled the book out of the pile and thrusted it in my hand and blurted out, "Only 100 Rs sir!" That very moment, The light turned green for me and I quickly gave the book back to the one it belonged to, telling him I have already read it and I am not interested in buying.

During that brief period when the book was in my hand, I could open it and quickly flip through the inside pages. It was as expected, a pirated copy of the bestseller novel, which otherwise would have cost no less than 250-300 Rs in original form. Which led me to think as to what level of financial dent these pirated copies might have been making to the author, the publisher and the literary world. The author loses royalties, Publishing industry garners financial losses, and it overall damages the creative ecosystem. A complete mess, isn't it? It's illegal, unethical and amounts to theft. I clearly understand, being an author, the heat will reach me too at some point in time. But I have a different take on this issue when I look at it from a reader's point of view.( At this point, I want to clarify that in no way I am in agreement with piracy and taking sides with such malpractice. I am only presenting the other side of it.) 

Imagine an avid reader whose day wouldn't end without reading from his favorite author's work. He might be a student from a modest background or may be a low wage worker who does not has the financial means to buy original copies of his favorite author's new releases. At such time, pirated copies come to his rescue, and he can keep on enjoying his reading experience without a break and making a dent on his budget.

Moreover, look at the reach of pirated copies! They have the potential to reach all strata of people who are actually interested in reading but are unable to buy fresh copies due to understandable financial constraints. Look at it this way... a pirated copy takes the bestseller writer to every nook and corner possible and ultimately ends up adding up newer readers for him and followers for life. A feat the original copies can only dream about. Any which way, reading habit amongst people is on the brink of becoming extinct.  

At this point, let me ask you another question. Has anyone seen a lesser known author's books sold as a pirated version at such red lights? I am sure the answer will be a big "NO". People in the business of generating and selling pirated copies only pick up titles and authors that are bestsellers and are widely accepted. After all, it's a business. No one will buy an unknown writer's work even if they are a cheap pirated copy of the original. 

Without sounding absurd, on a lighter note, I truly wish someday pirated copies of my books are also sold at such red lights. I would truly feel arrived that day. It would be a dream come true scenario for an author...free marketing without spending even a rupee and above all, increase in sales and reach of my books.   

Do share your thoughts...

Until next time. See you!  

     

DOES A SOCIAL MEDIA POST QUALIFY AS LITERATURE ?

Sharing an insightful excerpt from one of my recent interviews.... 

Recently during an interview, a young interviewer asked me, what according to me is literature? I replied candidly, “Anything that is creatively produced and presented in an aesthetically enduring way like poem, story or a play is a literature piece.” Things were normal till now.

Her next question was, “Does a social media post qualify as literature?” The question was valid and pertinent. My reply stunned her, and a sense of discomfort was clearly visible on her face, which amused me. I said, “Why not?” If a social media post contains a creative, visually appealing, and artistic piece, even if it’s just two lines, with profound and meaningful words, I would consider it a piece of literature."

A sense of confusion replaced discomfort on the interviewer’s face. She recovered quickly and asked the same question to re-confirm. My answer remained the same. Looking at her confused state, I decided to park the ball in her court. I asked her, “What is your take on the subject?” Should a social media post be considered a piece of literature or not?”

She was not ready for such a return volley but replied nevertheless, ‘’ Sir... according to me, literature is produced as a poetry, fiction, non-fiction piece or a drama on a piece of paper or a book. A social media post is below par to hold a literature piece."

That confirmed my belief that probably, like most other students, she was taught a copybook definition of literature, and being a youngster, she didn’t bother to question the age-old definition of the subject. 

I asked, “Tell me what is essential to produce a literature?” She was clueless. I didn’t wait for her reply, else would have made her more uncomfortable.

“It’s the language... right?” She nodded. I had her full attention now. “Now, if the sole essential for producing a literature piece is language than how does it matter as to on which medium it is presented to the reader? The textbook definition of Literature, you read was written years back when there was no social media. In the past, creative work was presented to the reader exclusively through newspapers, magazines, and books. But now social media has become the most powerful medium to share a creatively designed piece. I, being an Author regularly share creative pieces of my upcoming books on social media as posts, stories, news feed or status and it absolutely qualifies as a piece of literature. “

“Thank you so much, sir! This interview was by far the most insightful of all the interviews I have taken today. Thank you for breaking the mindset and bringing in fresh perspective to my understanding.” With these words she took off with a broad smile on her face. 

I, on the other hand, felt contended. After all, I could break free a young journalist from her cage today.   

THE LOVE WE NEVER SOUGHT- Is this the end of a budding romance?

 

It was shortly after midnight when an SUV with its headlights turned off approached slowly and stopped on the dark alley behind Stellar County Society in Greater Noida West. A shadow in a hoodie emerged from the car and swiftly walked towards the broken portion of the society’s boundary wall. The wall had collapsed owing to severe rains some time ago and was awaiting repair and restoration, which had been delayed due to an ongoing RWA funds dispute.

The hooded and masked entity, whose face was completely covered except the eyes, carefully removed the makeshift barrier created by a fiber sheet in the damaged part of the wall to keep stray animals and jaywalkers at bay and entered the premises on all fours. It was late in the night, so there was no one around to notice the unexpected entry. As he entered, he turned around and replaced the fiber sheet back into its place.   

Taking advantage of the dark and unattended area, He tiptoed to the tower where Anirudh and Pankti lived and hid himself in a corner from where he could keep an eye on the lobby guard. He seemed to be well versed with the society premises dimensions and the camera installed.  

The guard on duty was fast asleep in his chair. He quickly sneaked past him and took the lift to the 17th floor, where Pankti lived. Her iron door was latched from outside, indicating that she had gone to the terrace as usual after dinner.

He then took the stairway and slowly climbed to the top floor where Anirudh lived. His door was latched from the inside, indicating he was inside.

The hooded entity then walked up towards the terrace and hid behind the door that led to it.

Meanwhile, Pankti was alone on the terrace, taking a walk after dinner and humming a Kishore-Lata popular song that she was listening to on her phone over Bluetooth. Of late, she had developed a special liking for the 60s and 70s Bollywood songs after learning that Anirudh enjoyed listening to them, which is a sure sign of a woman hopelessly in love. A cold, gentle breeze was flowing across and the atmosphere was serene, making Pankti feel both relaxed and contended.

She walked for a while before stopping by the railing at the far end of the terrace, to look at the high rises in front and the lights on the road below. She was humming along to the music in her ear and couldn’t hear that somebody had come up behind her. 

She turned around just in time to see a masked shadow standing extremely close to her. “Tum kon ho?” She was startled.

What the shadow did next was unthinkable. It pushed Pankti right over the railing.

THE LOVE WE NEVER SOUGHT- A Chance Encounter...

 

 Anirudh took the metro that evening after a long yet productive day at Shalmali’s house. His team was doing an excellent job, and the client was quite pleased with the progress. Shalmali had a keen eye for minute details and knew exactly what she wanted. As a result, it became easier for Anirudh and his team to work on her clear description.

The metro was extremely crowded that day and Anirudh could barely manage to board the second coupe after the ‘women only’ compartment. After a few stations passed by and the crowd thinned, he was able to secure one of the two side seats and pulled out his phone to call Kabir.

“Haan beta…kya ho raha hai? Doodh piya?” Anirudh inquired asked as the call was connected.

“Haan Papa pi liya…Ab TV dekh raha hun. Aap kab tak ayenge?” Kabir’s innocent voice came from the other side.

“Bus metro mai hun aadhe ghante mai pahunch jaunga beta…tum jyada TV nahi dekhna… homework karne baitho mai aakar check karunga." Anirudh was instructing Kabir when something unusual caught his eye.

“Ok Papa!” Kabir said and disconnected the call.

As the call ended, Anirudh’s attention returned to the adjacent coupe, where behind a sea of female commuters, he saw intermittent glimpses of a woman talking animatedly with her fellow passenger.

‘How is this possible? Is this real, or am I dreaming?’ Anirudh mumbled to himself. Despite the on-and-off view, his eyes never left the woman’s face.

   

***

 

“Is weekend par dinner par mil ke dekh le Gaurav ko ki kaisa feel hota hai.” Vandana was trying hard to convince Pankti who was actively brushing aside all of her reasonings. “Tu bhi kahan ek hi baat le kar baith gayi aaj.”

“Ok chal thik hai …Tu chal mere ghar… aaj weekend hai aur Arun bhi out of town hai. Pyjama party karenge aaj full night aur pi kar out ho jaynege.”

“Aur meri Furry ka kya hoga?”

‘Kutch nahi hoga usko…teri pados wali Renu ko call kar dena wo usko cat food de degi, har baar ki tarah.”  

“Chal thik hai. Teri in bakwaas baton ke baad I definitely need to get drunk shit.” Pankti replied with a smile.

“Thoda khud ko open rakh kar apne aas pass dekhegi to tujhe dikhega mard kitne awe struck ho kar dekhte hain tujhe. Ab usko hi dekh…wo us taraf…bagal wale coupe mai. Kitne shock mai dekh raha hai tujhe jaise koi bhoot dekh liya ho.” Vandana remarked, laughing conspicuously.

“Kya bol rahi hai Vandana? Pagal ho gayi hai kya?” Pankti snubbed her friend, but couldn’t stop herself from looking embarrassingly at the direction Vandana pointed out subtly.

There he was…behind a sea of heads, a decent-looking man sitting just a few feet away in the adjacent coupe. He didn’t appear to be someone who would ever tease a woman, but at the moment he was staring at her without blinking his eyes, with his mouth slightly open. Pankti instantly fell in love with the expression on the face of that stranger.

THE LOVE WE NEVER SOUGHT- Prologue Part 2

 

SAME DAY

 “Pankti uttho mujhe shop ke liye der ho rahi hai, jaldi se mera nashta tyaar kar do! Tum soi padi ho aur Maa wahan kitchen mai lagi hai, accha lagta hai kya? Kab samhjogi tum, ki shaadi ke baad ghar sambhalna bahu ka kaam hota hai naa ki saas ka?” A familiar grating male voice pierced through Pankti’s ears.

“Aur meri blue pant kahan hai? Pure din ghar mai rehti ho, pata nahi kya karti ho! Koi cheez time par nahi milti.” The voice now had a mix of complaint and irritation written all over it.

A restrained “Meow” jolted Pankti from her familiar dream just as she was about to respond. She opened her eyes and found her pet cat Furry on top of her, gently pawing her arm. This was the umpteenth time she had seen the same dream, so much so forth that the male voice in the dream had become a part of her life now.

‘Thank God! It was the same silly dream!’ Pankti murmured as she softly petted her cat and sat on her bed. Her clothes were all soaked up with sweat despite the air conditioner running in her bedroom. ‘Pata nahi kaise aur kuo jhelti hain typical housewives ye sab! Mere bus ki to nahi hai.’ She spoke to herself.

 “Yay! It’s a Sunday…” Pankti exclaimed loudly with a smile, raising her arms in the air with excitement as she entered the kitchen. It was time to relax after a gruelling week at work.

 ‘Meow’ Furry made a sound again as she came running after her in the kitchen.

“Haan haan…de rahi hun dudh tujhe bhi. Zara si der kya ho jaye tu bhi typical husbands ki tarah gussa hone lagti hai.” Pankti said as she opened the refrigerator to retrieve the milk pot out.

After rummaging through the utensils in the fridge, she looked around and found the milk pot on the kitchen slab right beside the burner.            

“Shit! Doodh to bahar hi reh gaya raat mai.” Pankti hit her forehead in frustration. When she opened the lid, she discovered that the milk had turned to curd overnight.

Pankti had planned to spend a relaxing morning with her favourite author Rachit’s latest novel, and a cup of cardamom tea by the window side, but all her plans have been dashed because of this minor lapse of mind. 

In an attempt to get a packet of milk delivered urgently, she called up the Society Kirana Store, but the store owner conveniently told her that he was unable to do so at the time citing rush hour.

10 minutes later, she came down fuming from her 17^th-floor rented flat of Stellar County Society in Greater Noida West. “Kya Sharmaji ek doodh ka packet nahi bhijwa sake aap!” Pankti said sarcastically as she picked up the milk packet and came to the counter to make the payment.

“Panktiji… aapko pata hai na aaj Sunday hai… aur Sunday ki subah sans lene ki fursat nahi hoti hai aur sare ladke deliveries mai engage hote hain. Aap kabhi kabhi aa jaya kariye khud bhi saaman lene. Wo kya hai na isi bahane aapse mulakaat bhi ho jaati hai.” He said with an ear-to-ear smile, showing off his yellow teeth as he returned her the balance change. Pankti couldn’t miss the lecherous look in his eyes which were scanning her ample bosom without a blink.

“Bastard!” Pankti mumbled as she came out of the store with the milk packet in hand.

As soon as she turned towards her tower, she felt a bit dizzy. Before she could comprehend what was happening to her, the ground beneath her feet trembled hard, making her lose her balance, resulting in crashing into a man.

THE LOVE WE NEVER SOUGHT- Prologue Part 1

 

SUNDAY 11 A.M…

“Tyagiji…flat to pasand aya mujhe par rent bahut zyada hai. Aap dekho kutch gunjaish ho.” Anirudh told the broker after taking a good long look at the one BHK society flat in Greater Noida West.

He was desperately seeking a rental apartment because his existing flat owner in Noida had served him two-months notice, as he intended to renovate it before moving in with his family. This was the third flat, Anirudh was visiting this week.

“Anirudhji aisi posh society mai isse kam mai apko flat pure Noida Extension mai nahi milega. Jo bhi best ho sakta tha maine kar diya hai.” Broker said as he lit a cigarette after offering one to Anirudh, who declined.

“To thik hai fir…hum chalte hain…Chalo Kabir!” Anirudh declared as he called up his eleven-years-old son who came running from the balcony. Together, they turned to exit the flat.

“Are rukiye to sahi Anirudhji…aap to ekdum se chal diye.” Broker called from behind.

“To aur kya karun Tyagiji…aap flat dilwane ke mood mai lag nahi rahe. Dedh mahina hone ko aya but aap mere budget mai ek property nahi dikha paye.” Anirudh turned to face the flat’s entrance and complained. He felt more anxious than annoyed but chose to act otherwise.

“Dekhiye Anirudhji ek to aapka budget kam hai us par aap thehre ek single parent. RWA wale aitraaz karte hain. Ab unko samjhana bhi to mera headache hai.” The broker tried to justify.

“Kya bachkani baat kar rahe hain Tyagiji…bachelors ko flat lene mai dikkat hoti hai suna tha par ye single parent ko bhi flat rent par lene mai problem hoti hai pehli baar sun raha hun.”

“Aap samajh nahi rahe Anirudhji…unke liye bachelors aur single parent ek jaise hain.”

“To iska matlab hai jo families yahan reh rahi hain unmai se kal ko kisi ka divorce ho jaye ya unmai se ek partner ki death ho jaye to RWA unko society se nikaal dega?” Anirudh was infuriated. He could never accept nonsensical argument.

The broker was now at a loss of words and was looking here and there.

“Chalo Kabir!” Anirudh took a deep breath, grabbed his son’s hand, walked towards the lift and pressed the down button. Worry lines were making inroads on his face.

“Mai batata hun Anirudhji aapko sham tak…” The broker’s voice trailed as the lift door closed on the 18^th floor.

 “Papa wo uncle hame flat kuo nahi de rahe. Mujhe to bahut pasand aya ye wala flat…kitna mast view tha balcony se! Aisa lag raha tha mano aasmaan mai udd raha hun mai bilkul birds ki tarah.” Kabir asked with all naivety. He had never visited a high rise before.

“Dekhte hain beta…uncle sham tak batayenge.” Anirudh spoke, combing Kabir’s unruly hair with his fingers.

As the lift door opened at the ground floor lobby, Kabir dashed out of the tower, his arms spread like a bird.

 Before Anirudh could warn him to be careful, the earth shook violently below them, causing Kabir to lose his balance. In his rush to save him, Anirudh collided with a woman who had also lost her balance because of the tremor.

THE LOVE WE NEVER SOUGHT- The Blurb reveal

 

                     

Sometimes love need a second chance

because it wasn’t fulfilled the first time around…

 

Anirudh, a devoted single father, is navigating the challenges of parenthood with his spirited young son, Kabir, when fate introduces him to Pankti, an enchanting woman with a whimsical spirit and a mischievous pet cat named Furry.

As their connection deepens and their romance blossoms, a shadow looms over their happiness: a relentless and dangerous killer determined to sabotage the love they never sought.

With passion intertwined with danger, this gripping tale explores the depths of love and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Will Anirudh and Pankti's love story defy all odds, or will the sinister forces working against them prevail? A riveting blend of thrill and romance, "The Love We Never Sought" will keep you on the edge of your seats until the very end.

 

OPPOSITES ATTRACT…

BUT LIKE MINDED LAST.

I WILL ALWAYS BE BY YOUR SIDE- The BLURB

 

“All I wanted was to be by her side in her journey, but she chose to walk the path alone.”

Tarun, a handsome and accomplished individual with commendable human values, finds himself captivated by Megha, an exceedingly ambitious young woman. However, after a span of six years, Tarun comes to the realization that he was unknowingly caught in a relationship that lacked commitment and shared expectations, commonly referred to as a "situationship". This revelation renders him emotionally fragile, ultimately leading him into a state of depression.

 “I was far from realizing my dream and struggled to keep my loved ones happy.”

Pallavi, a captivating and self-assured young woman, envisions the day she will establish her very own yoga studio. Filled with hope, she embarks on an arranged marriage with Girish, driven by his assurance to support her dream of opening the studio. However, after four years of wedded life, Girish went back on his promise, giving rise to a significant conflict between them. One night things went out of hand, and a fuming and disheartened Pallavi abandons her marital home in the dead of night.

Can Tarun overcome his emotional pain and begin anew?

Will Pallavi discover a supportive companion once more and accomplish her lifelong aspiration?

I Will Always Be by Your Side is a poignant tale that delves into the intricate realm of emotions entwined with shattered relationships and the true essence of finding one's soulmate. This fascinating narrative will captivate your heart, as you find yourself cheering for both protagonists in unison, drawn to the mesmerizing manner in which they harmonize with each other.

I WILL ALWAYS BE BY YOUR SIDE- The Prologue

 

PROLOGUE

Connaught Place, New Delhi…

“What a day it was, Nawab Saab!” Arjun said with a loud sigh of relief as we came out of the branch at 9PM and headed towards the parking area.

 The air outside was completely still with relative humidity; as we expected early summer this time. There were a handful of hurrying shoppers around, as most of the showrooms were closed or were bringing their shutters down. The famous corridors of Connaught Place wore a deserted look as even the hawkers who keep the place alive with their sales pitch calls and continuous movement during the daytime have left for the day leaving behind empty spaces for stray dogs and beggars to take their places for the night.

The focus has distinctly shifted towards the various restaurants, bars, and cafes which were lit up with multi-colored glow signs and witnessing the built-up of patrons at their gates waiting eagerly for their turn to enter. There were restless children, eager singles, and bored senior citizens, all waiting for their names to be called.   

Arjun and I worked in Current Account and Investment Banking verticals, respectively, with the country’s leading financial bank based at Connaught Place, New Delhi. It was yet another stressful year end for us bankers, but we closed it with flying colors.

The banks had progressively recovered from the COVID-19 mayhem.

 “Chal yaar… let’s have a chilled beer to unwind before we go home. Any which ways it is too hot and I am sweating already. There is a nice bar in N-block which boasts of superb ambience and scrumptious snacks. Reviews bhi ache hain.” Arjun was understandably in a mood to relax after a stressful, long day.

Reality was…I too needed a drink desperately.

In the next 10 minutes, we were standing outside a majestic building illuminated by a yellow and green glow sign that read ‘Welcome to My Bar Headquarters.’      

There was a decent crowd outside the entrance, comprising youngsters who were out for a nice evening or were there to unwind after a long day at work like us. Inside, the atmosphere was full-on with loud music and colorful neon lights, with people letting their hair down on the dance floor.

“What a place Arjun!” I said, feeling delighted right away, not sure if Arjun heard me or not in the deafening noise.

We went straight to the dance floor and started grooving when all of a sudden the music changed to ever-green Sukhbir’s song ‘Sauda Khara Khara...’ The next moment we were dancing like two mad men who had just been out of the asylum. 

After an hour of energetic dancing, I was comically pulling a reluctant Arjun, who was completely drenched in sweat, off the dance floor. Eventually, after some struggle, I could drag him to a corner table.

“Bus kar bhai…ghar bhi jana hai.” I said amusingly.

“Nawab Saab kuo le aye aap mujhe wahan se? Abhi to mahaul jamna shuru hua tha.” He said eyeing a girl in pink micro shorts and a revealing top who was still grooving on the dance floor and giving him looks.

I called the server who as if on cue quickly came with the menu card. Arjun ordered without even having a look at it. The Server’s face lit up and he went away as swiftly as he came. Evidently, he was happy not having to wait endlessly to take orders as is the usual norm. I didn’t mind Arjun taking the lead as I was happy saving my energy in going through the menu and deciding for both of us which has always been a tedious task for me. 

Food was delivered to our table in no time despite the decent crowd. Arjun had ordered a brewery pitcher, roasted prawns, my bar special roasted peanuts, and chili chicken for starters.

After a few beers went in, Arjun started off with the same question which he must have asked me umpteen times in all these years, “To Nawab Saab batao…kya itni saari ladkiyon mai se aapko koi pasand nahi ayi? Chalo mai to married hun par aap to abhi bhi bachelor hain. You have the license bro! Why are you still single? You are such a good-looking man and I am not ready to buy this argument ki koi pasand nahi aati.”

As always, I dodged Arjun’s questions like an experienced batsman dodges a pace bowler’s bouncer.

We finished our meal with a large Mexicana Pizza on the server’s recommendation.

It was well past midnight when we came out of the bar. “Chalo Nawab Saab…let’s go to my place. Apko Sadhna’s special coffee pilata hun.” Arjun said putting his arm around my shoulder as we reached our cars.

“Nahi yaar…It’s too late…some other time. Itni raat ko Sadhna ko coffee banane ko bolega to hum dono ko ghar se nikal degi.” I said laughingly giving him a hug and bidding good night.

Arjun and Sadhna are a gem of a couple and best friends to me. I never felt homesick in a big city like Delhi in all these years because of them. Whenever I craved homemade food I could pick up the phone and directly call Sadhna to inform her that I will be coming home for dinner. She too considers me her elder brother and is always more than happy to oblige. Sometimes she used to send two lunch tifins with Arjun when there was something special prepared at home.  

I reached my flat in Noida, changed, got freshened up and as I picked up my phone for the first time in a few hours, there were three missed calls from Mom. I immediately re-dialed her number knowing she must be wide awake and waiting for my call. It was a routine since the time I came to Delhi few years ago.

“Kaisa hai beta? Kahan tha? kabse call kar rahi thi. Khana khaya?” Mom bombarded me with her usual questions.

“Maa…Haan Maa! Kha liya. Wo aaj annual closing thi to der ho gayi. Nikalte time phone bag mai rakh ke bhul gaya isliye call nahi utha paya. Abhi ghar pahunch kar check kiya to aapki missed calls dekhi.” I replied as I went and lay on my bed.

“Itna late beta? Ye bank walon ka ghar baar nahi hota kya jo itni raat raat tak kaam karate hain?” Maa was at it again. “Acha sun… agle mahine Sudha aa ri hai Lucknow apni beti ke saath...mai kya bol ri hun tu bhi aaja aur ek baar unki beti se mil…”

Sudha Aunty was Maa’s school time best friend and she was most interested in getting her daughter Priya married to me. Priya was a decent girl. We had met a few times during our growing up phase in Lucknow when I used to take Maa to Sudha Aunty’s home but that was many years ago. After school, Priya moved to Indore with her family and we haven’t been in touch at all since then. Only Maa and Sudha Aunty kept the connection going via phone calls and her frequent visits to Lucknow. She had her ancestral house in Kaisarbagh and used to come to meet her brothers.

 Maa couldn’t complete her sentence when I intervened. “Maa... Maa tum fir shuru ho gayi. Is bare mai hum pehle bhi baat kar chuke hai.” I retorted unsuccessfully.

“Haan haan tujhe to lagta hai teri maa tere peeche padi hai par dekh sharmaji ke bete ki bhi shaadi ho gayi pichle mahine. Tu to itne bade bank mai Manager hai aur kamata bhi acha hai fir tujhe kya pareshani hai shaadi se. Pata nahi meri kundali mai bahu ka sukh hai bhi ki nahi. Kitne saal nikal gaye umeed mai.” She ranted again in filmy style.

Sharma Uncle and his family was our next-door neighbor in Lucknow and his son is a good-for-nothing human being who used to roam around the city aimlessly on his bike the whole day despite having a flourishing hardware business and Maa was giving me his example.

 “Acha ye bata Megha se koi baat hui kya?” Maa touched where it used to hurt immensely. My body went numb and I was speechless for a few seconds before I recovered.

 “Nai hui Maa…hoti to bata deta apko. Wo chapter kabka close ho chuka hai. Acha ab mai sone ja ra hun rakho phone!” I said irritatingly just to escape from the topic.

“Sone do usko…bahut raat ho gayi hai. Tum bhi na kisi bhi samay shuru ho jati ho. Phone kato aur tum bhi so jao.” I could over-hear my father from the other side which brought a smile to my face. He was a savior for me every time Maa tried to corner me.

He always said, “It is your life…you decide when and whom to marry rather than succumbing to your mother’s emotional drama.” Infact, it was he who convinced Maa to let me go to Delhi amid her emotional and teary drama. He always wanted me to become independent and learn life’s difficult lessons on my own living away from the family. 

“Haan…haan thik hai! Mai konsa usko rok rahi hun. Chal ab soja kal baat karungi.” Thankfully she cut the phone and I was saved.

Maa was always worried for me. After all, I was her only child. She has always been a devoted housewife and a loving mother who had taken care of the house single-handedly all her life as my father was mostly on tours for work during my growing up years.

Sleep had already escaped my eyes. Megha’s name brought back intense memories that hit me like strong waves hitting the sides of Gateway of India during high tide. I reached for a locked folder in my phone gallery which was not opened for a long time.

Oh! I forgot to introduce myself… Hello! I am Tarun. A professionally successful, handsome young man all of 37…The ONLY downside is that I was too naïve to realize that I was in a situationship after being in a so-called relationship for six years…and this is my story.

 

Panchkuiyan Road Furniture Market, New Delhi...

SAME DAY

 “Bhaiya itne mai hi dena ho to do nahi to rakho apna saaman aur bhi dukane hain yahan,” I was terrorizing the shopkeeper at the Panchkuiyan Road Furniture Market over the price of a beautiful corner lamp shade which had caught my eyes. I was there shopping with Maddy- my elder sister.

Panchkuiyan Road Furniture Market in Delhi, has attained an iconic status for home furnishings since its inception in the post-independence era. After the metro started functioning, they shifted the market from its earlier location to the nearby Gole Market commercial complex.

Despite such roadblocks, the Panchkuiyan Road Furniture Market continues to shine brightly and is definitely the most popular and affordable furniture market in the city. People from distant places come to shop at this market like we came today all the way from Faridabad.

“Kya madam aap bhi subah subah itni bargaining kar rahi hain! Acha 500/- aur de ke khatam kariye.” The shop owner said to get rid of a troublesome customer hurriedly.

“Are 500/- kuo…” I was about to argue, when Maddy slipped a 500Rs note to the shopkeeper, picked up the lampshade and actually pushed me out of the shop.

“Lo madam sara saaman rakh diya apki gaadi ki dicky mai. Waise thodi choti nahi hai ye gaadi aur purani bhi kaafi lag ri hai? The helper said sheepishly, putting a fancy table and chair, a corner lampshade, and a few showpieces in my beloved EON.

“Tu jyada nahi bolta hai? Ye le pakad aur nikal yahan se,” I said, glaring at him as I pushed a 50 rupee note in his hands. He ran off like a trace of a bullet.

“Tu bhi kahin bhi kisi se bhi bhid jati hai…na jagah dekhti hai na insaan.” Maddy said, rolling her eyes as I came to sit in the driver’s seat of the car. 

“Are uski himmat kaise hui meri gaadi ke liye kutch bhi bolne ki? Tumhe pata hai na Di meri pyari gaadi ke liye mai ek shabd bhi nahi sun sakti.” I said, putting the car in first gear.

I bought my beloved EON five years back from a doctor friend who drove it for a good eight years. Since then, me and my car have been inseparable. I take extra care daily in keeping it spotless and getting it serviced well in time. Age has picked up on her, but I refuse to part ways with it despite immense family pressure.  

“Haan… haan gaadi na ho gayi Rani Padmavati ho gayi jiske liye yudh ho jaye. Thoda narmi se pesh ate hain Pal logon se.” she said in a mocking tone. Pal is my love name copyrighted by Maddy.

“To meri gaadi koi Padmavati se kam khubsurat hai kya? Aur mai aise hi baat karti hun Di apko to pata hai.” I said irritatingly as we came out on the main road and turned towards the GPO roundabout.

It was 2 PM and the weather outside was dry with sun glowing in all its glory. I rolled up the windows and turned on the car AC.

“Mummy bata rahi thi Girish ka phir phone aya tha…tujhe puch raha tha.” Maddy said in a serious tone bowing her head as we passed Shri Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, quickly changing the atmosphere in the car from light to heavy in a flash.

“Aya hoga mujhe nahi pata.” I said blandly.

“Tujhe kaise pata hoga tune uska number to block kar rakha hai aur ghar mai koi tujhse uske baare mai baat nahi karta darr ke maare.”

  “Badi bhuk lag rahi hai Di…kutch khate hain fir ghar chalte hain.” I said wanting to change the topic as my white EON cut the lane and moved ahead with speed towards Connaught Place.

Maddy couldn’t keep a straight face after a while. She looked at me and we both burst out laughing. 

“K****i hai tu… sacchi!” Di said punching my left shoulder jokingly.   

We are two sisters. Madhavi or Maddy or Di as I fondly call her, is five years older than me. She got married fifteen years back into a business family in Meerut and is blessed with a son Avi and a daughter Nitara.

Me and Maddy are just like best friends forever. She plays the role of a friend, elder sister, and mother to me with equal ease. We share all our best-kept secrets with each other. She has been a pillar of strength to me and it is because of her I am standing tall and full of confidence today.   

You must be wondering how arrogant and rude I am with my behavior at the market today. I wasn’t like that from day one but certain events in my life changed me forever. More on that in pages ahead...abhi to kahani shuru hui hai!

Oh! I forgot to introduce myself…Hello! I am Pallavi- the Yoga expert…a beautiful, attractive, and fit girl with a body that can compete with a ramp model any day…I am 35 but look not more than 25. I am MARRIED…umm…SEPARATED …umm…it’s a COMPLICATED status and this is my story.