#244 …when you feel secure with his arms wrapped around you.

I was trembling with fear. The police just took away my aunt charging her for harassing her daughter in law. Everybody knew she did not. It is her daughter in law who is evil and making up the whole story to harass us. A question hounded my mind. What if she next blames me? I quietly went up to my room and sat in one corner of my bed. Still trembling. Just then Sudhanshu entered the room, headed straight to me and wrapped me in his arms. Once secured in his arms, my trembling stopped. I felt safe. I was now ready to face whatever was in store for me.

#243 …when he is the theme of your dream.

“He is the theme of your dream? What is that? What do you mean?” I asked surprised.

 “It means at present I am dreaming of him.”
“So what? I dream of Shahrukh.”

“Exactly. And how do you feel for Shahrukh?”

I did not need to answer. I knew what she meant now.

#242 …when she treasures the gifts that he gave him.

I was on my cleaning drive just before the Diwali, when I relived an entire episode from my past life. It began with the wardrobe when I stumbled upon an Aqua green tee that was too small a size to fit me now. When my maid asked me to give it away, I protested. How could I? It was the only apparel that he ever bought me. I am to keep it with me till eternity. I got up, went to my CD collection and took out a particular disc. One look at it and anybody would know it wouldn’t read anymore with the no. of scratches that it had. But I placed it back, safely. Next was my bookshelf. After 10 mins of searching in that unorganized heap, I got what I was looking for. “Five point someone” I opened it and caressed the first page. It still had the words “Happy reading” handwritten with the date and signature, though the ink had faded a little. I finally went to my side table and picked up the teddy. Couldn’t stop my tears from rolling down my cheek – not now, not then. When he gifted me that as a parting gift 8 years ago!! 

#241 …when he gives you the feeling that the best is still ahead.

After being brought up in an orphanage, there were hardly moments in my past that I would cherish. Life did smile a little when I was capable enough to support myself and had moved to a rented place, but that was it – A little. Ever since Abhimanyu joined our office, I could feel sparks flying everywhere. But I am allergic to happiness. It simply doesn’t suit me – being happy. Not to face another disappointment, I held myself back. Thanks to him, he pulled me out of it quickly. He made me realize that the true meaning of Life is in seeing ahead, not looking behind. Today I stand straight, my head held high. I tell people that my best is yet to come and that I am sure it is on its way. Thanks to Abhimanyu, I have lots to look forward to.    

#240 …when you and she, together, can make magic.

We hardly spent 6 months together before deciding to tie the knot. Sometimes its enough, sometimes even a lifetime isn’t. As soon as we got married, the whole idea of living together changed. We had not thought of so many things. Thanks be to god, neither of us panicked. It was surprising to see that when we both worked at any issue, be it a mundane matter or some emergency, the problem was solved. And quite easily. As if some magic wand had been rotated in the air. With time, the logic behind the magic was understood – our understanding of and love for, each other. 

#239 …when they’re dying and the last thing they want is to hear your voice one last time.

We were still kids then.. 20 years ago.. Unaware of how relations mattered, how feelings develop, how things would change in the times to come and a whole lot of other things. What we were at all interested in was playing, hanging out, watching TV and doing things which people mostly called naughty. I vividly remember the time my grandpa was in hospital after his brain hemorrhage. Every morning and evening someone would go to meet him. It was soon understood that he wouldn’t survive for long. The message didn’t percolate to our generation. Even if it did, I doubt it would have mattered much. Death was still an unknown demon to us. That particular evening mom was asking me to accompany her to the hospital. I was too busy playing with my neighbourhood friends to agree on accompanying her. She kept telling me that grandpa would be delighted to see me, and I kept telling her to leave me alone with my friends. 20 years have passed.. But the regrets haven’t. I so wish to be regranted that chance to visit him – the last it would be, for he didn’t survive another day. He died with the unfulfilled wish of hearing my voice and seeing my face the last time.   

#238 …when a girl wants you to fight for her.

I just remembered an event that happened long back. Rishita, my best friend was going around with this guy in college days. Just like any other young blood, this guy would pick up fighting with every guy that happened to pass lewd comment on her. Considering ours was a co-ed college, I believed it was too mundane to pay any attention to. But Rishita enjoyed the attention and against my advice would rather provoke him into doing it. Thank god he was of a good built or he might have spent more than half of his college life in hospitals. Today when Farooq didn’t stand up for me when the local goon literally assaulted me, I was definitely pissed. We were returning from a late night show at the theatre to celebrate our one year of being together. Though I didn’t ask him to fight for my rights, I wished he would. It would have proved that he wanted this relationship more than I do or atleast as much. Now I was having second thoughts over the whole idea of being with him forever.