Togetherness- A Series (Part 4)

The earlier parts: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. Happy reading…

Sweaty from the run, I walked in to see Karan already at the breakfast table.

"Morning Karan, had a good night’s sleep?"

"Completely. Dad I want to talk with you and mom for a bit."

Karan went on to say exactly what we had thought for him. My little boy was now a man ready to take his own responsibilities, and I was sure he would manage them well. It was just a day since I had talked with the father of my soon to become daughter-in-law, Ramesh, and we had discussed the same topic at length.

“It’s just a matter of time before they take this decision on their own. They are grown enough to understand their priorities. Let’s give them a little time more Ramesh,” I had said, and today Karan had said this.

“He’s so grown up now, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he is. I’m so happy that he has matured enough to take right decisions for his life. He won’t let Niki get sad at any point of time in life. Ooo I’m so happy for them.”

My wife said this as she hugged me and tears plopped out of her eyes due to the happiness of the moment. Karan had gone to check on his accounts and to complete some work and I decided to ring Ramesh up.

“Hello Ramesh sir. Good morning, how are you doing this morning?”

“Well, Niki’s just gone to our native place for a short holiday. I wanted her away from the stress of the office for some days. Yesterday she was looking too strained.”

“I have some good news for you.”

“What?”

“Karan just talked to us about marrying Niki. We would like to come to your house, the three of us, and maybe we can work out the dates and stuff.”

“You’re not lying?”

The glee was not disguised in his voice, as he asked the question just to hear the answer again.

“No Ramesh, no. Can we come in tomorrow morning for the official meeting?”

“Come right now if you have to. You are always welcome. My day is surely going to go very well. This decision is what was troubling us, and now they have taken it. Let me tell Leela about it, she will be overjoyed.”

“Enjoy your day. I’ll make Karan contact you by the evening in order to fix the meeting tomorrow. Make sure you delay a bit, and also show some hesitation for it, but then give in. We deserve to have some fun as well, don’t we?”

“I know the drill sir. Just make sure you hear it all on speaker. And don’t spoil it by laughing out loud.”

“I’ll try. And sir, are you free for table tennis at 4 today?”

“I remember about our weekly meeting, no need to remind me.”

“I thought I should do it as you are going visibly mad with the good news Samdhiji.”

“See you at 4.”

Laughing, I kept down the phone, and narrated the whole call to my wife.

It would all be about waiting. we would be calling the shots, but we would have to make sure they had the desired effects; the good event about to happen must not be stopped.

Togetherness- A Series (Part 3)

You can read Part 1 and Part 2 to catch up to what has happened in the parts before.

The lone figure waited calmly at the bottom of the tall building, his face void of any expression or emotion. But in his mind raged a war, a conflict of emotions, thoughts and ideas. He knew his love was a bit scared now, and that he had to take some action to change her low mood. As she looked down from the window and waved to him, he waved back and walked into the shadows of the busy lane.

The moon shone brightly and Karan stared at it from the window. Admiring the serene beauty in his mind and at the same time sculpting a new blog post, Karan gazed intently. Dejected and in despair, he walked to the bed, and lay on the soft mattress, but sleep evaded him. He loved Niki too much, and could and would not live without her. But, courage ran away from him, as like the times when he had wished to introduce her to his parents as his girlfriend; like the time when he had proposed to her to be his girlfriend. He had delayed that for almost 6 months. Now that was too much!

These thoughts raced around and occupied his brain, and soon he got lost in them, and darkness consumed him.

The early calls of the birds woke him up, and the sun shone brightly in his eyes. He sat up in bed, earlier than his usual time, and clenched his fist and said, "You are doing this today. You have six more days to manage all the stuff and you are going to do it."

With this pledge of determination, Karan picked up his phone and pinged the office that he would not be in for some days as he was not well. As he was composing a sweet sorry message to explain his absence to Niki, the phone rang. It was her.

"Hey love, good morning," she said her voice a mixture of early cheer but a minute hint of pain.

"I was just about to call you love."

"Why? Couldn't wait till office as well?"

"The thing is that I've taken a week’s absence at office, as I've got some domestic work to complete, and it’s a bit urgent as well."

"Ohh. Well, dad's sending me to our village, for 4 days, I'll be back on the 5th day. Just a trip to enjoy myself alone in the peaceful climate."

"Wow, now that's fun. I'm never going to send you alone like that. I can’t bear being without you."

"Of course. Now I got to go honey, need to pack as well. Whatsapp me ASAP, I'll talk there."

"Lemme get a bath, and then I'll ping you. You take care sweety, love you."

"You're bathing so early? Your work must be really urgent," she teased with a slight laugh. "Message fast sweetheart, missing you a lot."

"Give me 5 sweety, miss you too."

Connecting the phone to the hanging charger, Karan raced to the bathroom, and at the same time, he placed a note on the dining table for the maid to not prepare his office. As he came out of his room, dressed and fresh, and with a new objective in life, his mom came to him.

"Why aren’t you going to office? Are you fine? Any problems?"

"No mom, everything’s fine. Could I talk with you and dad for some time? It’s really important."

"Of course, but first wipe your hair and we'll talk over breakfast."

"My hair's fine. Damn, I can’t do anything about them now!"

Taking her advice, Karan raced through his daily early morning chores, and plunked himself before the rest at the dining table. As he switched on the tab and started going through his mail, dad came walking jovially to the table. Back from his morning jog, and workout, the older version of Karan was more fit, and agile, even with the age gap between them.

"Morning Karan, had a good night’s sleep?"

"Completely. Dad I want to talk with you and mom for a bit."

"Wait, I'll just call your mom in here. Then you hit the play button."

As the couple took their places, Karan began.

"Well, I want to get married."

"Ahh, finally you get a change of heart. We were telling you to start thinking about this from a long time. So who is the girl? Do you have anyone in sight,” enquired the better half of the older couple.

"Uhm yeah mom. I want to marry Niki."

"See, I'd told you but you didn't believe me," exclaimed Karan's mother to her husband.

"Let him complete speaking at least," he said, shying away into the background. "Is she fine with that? Does she want to marry you as well?"

"Yes dad. She has been forcing me to talk to you about this from quite a long time, but I was a bit scared to say it."

"The jitters got to you as well, didn’t they," he chuckled.

"Don’t make fun of me dad. What do you think about this?"

"If your mom is fine, then I'm as well. You know, I can’t really win an argument against her, not even after so many years."

Clapping him on the shoulder, Karan's dad laughed out loud with a stealthy look at his wife, who glared at him; but the happiness of the moment gleamed in her eyes.

"Of course I'm fine with Niki; I don’t have a single problem."

The celebration started and the three of them cherished a group hug as a warm torrent started down Karan's mother's cheeks.

"Now what’s there to cry in this?"

"Let Niki come, and then you ask her the same question son. Mind you, you'll have to sleep on the floor for a week."

Karan smiled and thought, "This was pretty easy. Now let’s hope the other part goes well as well. I'll surprise Niki at the beach on 13th itself. She will be overjoyed. Oh gosh, I love her so much!"

Togetherness- A Series (Part 2)

You can read Part 1 of the Series here.

As the sun slipped into its bed, and sucked the place empty of its magnificent light, Karan hoisted me to my feet. He urged me to smile, but I could not. Dad was repeatedly telling me that the search for a good husband was on, and as soon as a good guy came into his sights, he would get me married. But, the good thing was that he would not force me. That didn’t mean I had a lifetime to get married. But here was Karan who thought the world would wait for him, and so would my dad. Why didn’t he understand?

As we walked down the aisle, the moments I had spent with him on this lovely beach came to me. Those long walks and the coy holding of hands. Ahh, I would never forget the time I had spent here with him. I knew he was the right one for me, the one I wanted to spend my whole life with. Not that he didn’t have the courage, but he was looking for the right time, and the right opportunity. It was just a week before our relationship touched the 5 year mark, and now I wanted to make him forever mine.

As we crossed the lamp post under the bridge, I recollected the day he had told me about his feelings for me, and to his surprise, I had told him the same. I smiled as we went past, and the reel of the event played in my mind, and the day returned back to me.

The day had not been so good in office, but I awaited our weekly visit to the beach. That was the only reason I endured the whole day with files and papers littering my desk. Karan hadn’t come as well, so I could talk it out with him. He was the reason I went daily to office, my hidden love, the one I wanted to cuddle and hold, and love. My head stayed down, and I didn’t move from my cubicle.

"What’s wrong with Karan? I'll have to ask him tomorrow, or maybe I'll give him a call in the lunch break."

But the day went on, and the lunch break passed as well without incident, and the silence continued. Dejected, I joined the group heading to the beach. Never had it happened that Karan had missed a visit to the beach with me, so I trudged alone behind the group. As they all gossiped and laughed and joked, I gazed at the horizon, wishing for my best friend and colleague to be here with me now. I missed him I realized, and I hadn’t felt it in the essence of anyone else.

The sun fell low, and I sat down under the lamppost, relishing the light, and the buzz of the insects which pranced around the light. I had to occasionally swat them, but that was fine. I plugged in my earphones and played with the phones keypad as the songs began. Interfering with the lapping of the waves on the rocks, I closed my eyes to hear the other minute and usually insignificant sounds-the whispers of the wind, the calls of the birds, and the raucous bauble of man. It seemed so natural and lovely.

All of a sudden, a pair of hands grabbed me from behind and prevented me from looking around. My blood turned to ice, and I started screaming in fright.

"Damn you girls. Can’t even comprehend a prank," said a lively voice, which was very familiar to me. I had prayed to hear the voice and if possible, to meet the person who owned the voice as well. Turning around, I made sure it was him and I screamed in delight.

"Karan! What the heck do you think you are doing? You just gave me a minor heart attack. If you don’t wanna talk with me then I'll just go away. There is no point in you trying to kill me."

"I was just having some fun Niki, just chill. And no one’s killing you, dare you say that again."

"Why didn’t you attend office today?"

"Well, it’s a quite long story..."

"Fine, don’t tell me. Keep it to yourself. There is no one to understand care in the world," I said feigning disappointment and anger.

"Fine. Don’t use emotional blackmail, cheater. You know I can’t see you sad, so you use this trick."

"Well everything’s fair...you know."

"That’s in love and war woman! And I guess we haven’t got at least one of them between us."

"Yeah, I don’t know about war, but the love thing is completely absent."

"Oh yeah? So, if I ask you out right now, you are going to deny me the privilege of it?"

"Hell no. I mean yes! I mean what the...! I don’t know what I’d do. And I’m not thinking of it as well, as we both know that the question isn’t coming."

"Hmm...Let's get a gola, or some fast food. I'm starving. I skipped lunch as well, and it was all because of you."

"You didn’t have lunch? Why in the name of God? And why are you blaming me for it? What did I do?"

"You indirectly made me evade lunch. Get up, let’s go."

As I got up, a sudden shock permeated my head, and I saw stars. I grasped the culprit by the neck, and using his support, I steadied myself. Karan stood shocked, and called to the others. He raced for a bottle of water, and brought me back to life.

"These damn light poles. Made in the middle of the damn street. You fine Niki?"

"Yeah, just a bit shaky. Let’s go eat something, I'll be fine. And what were you saying about the date thing?"

"You spoiled the moment, and so did this metal pole. Now my concentration and strength are both gone."

"Just say it!"

Going on his knees, Karan reached out of his pocket and pulled out a small box.

"Well, this box is empty, but a ring will be in there soon. Instead of that, I offer to you my heart which overflows with love for you. I want you to be with me forever, and I want the extreme pleasure of being your boyfriend. Will you allow me that? I love you very much Niki."

I just stood there, motionless. I felt as though I had been hit by a truck, and the shock from the collision was not yet in the past.

"Is that something you must really ask? I'll have to teach you to be more romantic the next time, when you bring that ring, and you make me wear it. And no, I won’t allow you the privilege of being my boyfriend. Well, I’m the more privileged one here," I said, my heart speaking for me.

"Really Niki? I love you so much," he said as he blushed and got to his feet.

As I felt his hands envelop me, I felt my surroundings resemble heaven.

"I love you too Karan. Why didn’t you ask me earlier?"

"Well, I was scared of losing you as a friend."

"I should change my answer and kick you in the butt for that."

"I'm sorry love. We could take it as my first mistake in our relationship."

"Make it your last. Understand?"

"As you say boss," he replied with a chuckle as his grip tightened.

The moments fell back as Karan motioned me towards the waiting taxi. We got in the back, and I lay on his shoulder as the vehicle sped through the city towards my house. Karan’s hand held me close, and he hugged me back. He was deep in his thoughts, just like me, and he stared blankly out of the window at the solitary moon.

As the taxi came to a halt, my only thought was that the box needed a ring now, and I hoped it came soon, real soon.

Bidding me good bye, Karan waited till I waved from the window, and then he walked off home.

PS: This is entirely a work of fiction, and has no connection to reality.