#232 …when you let him put onion in his sandwich.

Oh! Here again..

Reading about the soaring prices of onion in the newspaper brought thoughts that had been pushed in some dark corners of my mind way back. Couldn’t help smiling and then smirking – as if I could smell his breath now.

Gaurav’s thoughts came tumbling in my mind. We would so often fight on his eating onion with all meals. I hated that foul smell that entered my nostrils when he neared me after devouring those innocent-looking onions. I would shout, abuse – all in good humor and even bar him from eating it next time. But the very next morning it was I who would put Onion slices in his sandwich. I once again smiled. Tears rolled down my cheeks. No not from the bitterness of the onion in newspaper, but from the memories that had just overtaken my mind. I closed my eyes and prayed to god – I promise not to create fuss even when he eats onion. Just send him back. Soon!

#231 …when you wanna cry on your best friend’s shoulder.

I am glad for being blessed with friends like Dhairya – my best friend. Ever since Smita came into my life I had been ignoring him and others. He never questioned, never complained. Heard when I wanted to vent out, kept out when I wanted privacy, loved me when I needed him. When Smita moved to Jaipur yesterday, I never thought I’ll think of her so much. Only when Dhairya confronted me and I broke down on his shoulders that I realized I had special feelings for her. Imagine a man crying! I don’t remember crying in ages but this was different. I am glad I had something I could cry for. 

#230 …when it wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.

The clock always ticked.. It mattered one time.. I was always in a hurry.. Multitasking, running, planning ahead, competing, and god know what.. But today its different.. I have lost all sense of time.. There’s no fear of the end anymore.. No memories of the past.. I wanna live in Present.. Just as it is.. Forever.. And ever..    

#229... when someone can make you smile.

Boy - Can I confess something ?
Girl - Sure !!
Boy - You've the prettiest smile ...I've ever seen..
Girl - Can I confess something as well ?
Boy - Yeah..
Girl - This smile only exists because of you..

#228 …when you lose appetite.

“I am not hungry.”

“What?” The words came out of her mouth as a shock.

“What’s so shocking about it?” I asked her.

“You haven’t put a morsel of food in your mouth since morning and now you say you aren’t hungry and that too when I have prepared your favourite pastas.”

“I told you bhabi I am really not hungry. I ate when I was out. Can I be left alone for some time now? And please let everybody know I am off to bed early, so not to disturb me. And thanks.”

I quickly bolted my door from inside and lay on the bed. I wasn’t even keen on changing from my outdoor clothes. I kept staring at the ceiling for… I don’t know how long. It was the vibration of my mobile that brought me back from my world of thoughts. I checked the caller’s identity and let it ring. A message followed – “I know you are awake. Please pick up.”

“Should I?” I asked myself. Where has he been the whole day?

It started ringing again. I received. No hello from my side. He didn’t utter those words either. After a moment of silence, he started narrating some funny incident. Invariably I had a smile on my face. Then there was no stopping. We kept chatting for hours. When he finally hung up and I went off to sleep, I think I could see faint signs of sun coming up.

Loud banging on my door broke my sleep. I checked the clock on the wall and got up with a startle.  

“I am so sorry. I really overslept.” I said with a smile.

“No problem. As long as the sleep can bring your smile back you can keep at it.” She said with a hug.

“I’ll get dressed up in a jiffy and be out soon. Please handle mom till then.”

“I will. Till then I’ll lay your breakfast on the table – if you are hungry that is.” She eyed me with a question.

“I am starving,” I said holding my stomach.

We both smiled and as she was leaving my room, I asked, “Bhabi by any chance do you have any pasta left from last night?”

She winked. “I know you too well for that. Ofcourse! Now hurry up.”  

#227 …when u want to go again on rollercoaster ride.

The site of pandals coming up everywhere is more than pleasant. It brings with it not only the thought of Durga arriving in our houses and neighbourhood but also the titsy bitsy attachments – the sumptuous food, the night outs, the roller coasters, new apparels, garbas and dandiyas, the dhak and dhunuchi,.. the list is endless. Every passing year increases the intensity and passion with which people want to celebrate the festivals – Durga puja being the primary one in the city of Joy – Kolkata. This year was no different. The pandals were grander, the idols bigger, the spirit higher, the rides thriller and the entire experience – out of the world. Since childhood I have had a special liking to the rollercoaster rides. I would wait for pujas - for the sheer pleasure of riding the larger than life rides that starts getting assembled in the neighbourhood park much before we can see the goddess arriving with her face covered to be unveiled on the auspicious day of Saptami. As I sat on the rollercoaster, the stomach started churning. Like always I promised this would be my last ride – only if God is kind enough to save me from it. Just then I felt a hand on my arms. I opened my eyes which I had shut tightly in anticipation. He was looking into my eyes with a queer calmness.. I was immediately assured. I didn’t realize when the ride took off and when we were down. For the first time in my life I wanted to ride it again consecutively – but only with him beside me.         

#226 …when she spend hours to get ready for she wants to look her best for HIM.

We were tired of waiting for her. For the last 2 hours she was locked in her room trying to dress for a casual evening. Every time we knocked on the door, she’d call out, “Just another minute”. Soham had invited us all for dinner at his place.

“Ah! Madam is finally here,” Rohit called out.

We were stunned to see her. She was looking …..   Fabulous. But why? What was the occasion? On asking her she shyed. We were all the more confused at her behavior. She then whispered in my ears, “I wanted to look my best for him.”

#225 …when she fasts whole day for your longevity, good health and success.

“I am dying of hunger.” I said holding my stomach.

“A little longer Di. The moon’s about to appear,” she said with a broad smile.

“I had no option for I am married and according to rituals I cannot avoid it under normal circumstances. But why are you keeping this Karwa Chauth fast? You aren’t even married and you are not obligated by any ritual. Let your relationship receive our parent’s approval, and then you can observe.” I tried to put some sense in her.

“Approval or no approval. We share a relationship that I truly believe in. I feel pleasure in observing the fast for his wellbeing rather than considering it a duty to be followed blindfoldedly.  Hey, See, Moon’s out. Hurry before it decides to hide behind the clouds.” She said and we hurried to the balcony. 

#224 …when bcos of him you laugh a little harder, cry a little less, and smile a little more.

The other day early in the morning while I was preparing myself to start my day I suddenly found my cell ringing. Though it’s a little surprising getting a call that early in the morning, it is not totally unexpected. I moved towards it and found an unknown no. flashing.On picking up the phone I said HELLO. The person in front said the same but was suddenly very quiet the very next moment, as if regretting what he just did. I again said HELLO.. when no one replied I hung up. The very next moment I knew who it was.. Even after yrs of complete isolation I was 100% sure it was him.. I found myself mumbling, “I would recognize his voice anywhere in the world.”After all it was he who made me laugh harder, cry softer and smile enduringly. I don’t know why but I was happy the whole day. I very well knew the thing had no consequence. Yet… I found peace in reminiscing my past.

#223 …when rather than blaming her, u offer a solution for her mistake.

A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a loving couple and the boy was the apple of their eyes. When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle open. He was late for work so he asked the wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. The mother, preoccupied in the kitchen, totally forgot ...the matter. The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle and, fascinated with its color, drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for adults in small dosages. When the child collapsed, the mother hurried him to the hospital, where he died. The mother was stunned. She was terrified how to face her husband. When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he looked at his wife and uttered just four words. What do you think were the four words? The husband just said "I Love You Darling". The husband's totally unexpected reaction is proactive behavior. The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life but there is no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he have taken time to keep the bottle away, this will not have happened. No point in attaching blame. She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her.

#222 …when he does romantic things for you.

Sings for you, cooks for you, fights for you..

Wipes your tear, erases your fear, always ready to hear..

Smile at seeing you, lie to be with you, call up to pick you..

Pisses you, Misses you, kisses you…

Gives you - Bear hugs, coffee mugs, velvet rugs..

Writes you – cute notes, sweet letters, charming mails..

Sends you – lilies, jellies and smilies..

Takes you – candle-light dinners, corner-seat movies, long-long drives..

 

#221 …when he doesn’t eat things which she loved to eat, when they were together.

Pooja Bedi answers questions on relationships in Femina. Once she received a query –

“I am a 37 yr old married woman. After 15yrs of a healthy married life, I found that my husband once had a serious affair with a girl before our marriage. Though they were desperate to get married, they couldn’t due to some family issues. I read in his diary that he would never forget her. I also came to know that till date he doesn’t eat few things she loved to eat and never buys red roses. Do you think she still exists in his heart?”