“Arjun, our deadline has come. In 1 week we need to deliver the project to the client. So, what’s the status?” my manager asked me raising his eyebrows.
“Ya it’s almost over. Today I’ll check for defects and let you know by tomorrow Shiva,” I replied.
“That’s cool,” he said smiling at me. That was really a cunning smile!
I was working in HCL as a software engineer.
I was a bit workaholic. I stopped spending time with my friends, no movies, games, nothing I did. All I needed was to earn money. So my friends started calling me as 'CHITTI' (the robot).
My phone started ringing. It was my mom. I picked up my phone.
“Hello, Arjun, glad news for you!” she said.
“Yes what ma?” I replied in a hurry.
“I have seen a girl for you. She is from our area only. She went to abroad and all for higher studies. Her horoscope matches yours perfectly. She is looking good. Me and your dad went to their house and spoke too. We gave your number her. She will call you in sometime,” She told without giving a pause.
“Amma, am already busy, why did you give my number to her!” I shouted.
“You are telling the same thing for years. You have to speak to her, that’s it,” she ordered.
“Ok I will take care, bye”, I replied.
“Speak to her nicely dear, bye”, she told softly and hung the call.
As soon as I hung the call, my phone rang once again. It was from an unknown number.
“Hello”, I said attending the call.
“Is this Arjun?” one girl spoke.
I was pretty sure that it was a well known voice but I couldn’t get it immediately. “Yes, may I know who is on the other side?” I asked politely.
“Hi, it’s Preethi. Your mom and dad came to our house today. I think they told u about this”, she replied.
‘Oh my Gosh, it’s Preethi. What should I do now?’ I thought.
I became blank for a minute.
“Hello, are you there?” She asked.
“Ya… Sorry, I will call you back in sometime,” I said and hung the call immediately.
“Is it a dream or what? It’s Preethi. What should I do now?” I started speaking to myself. My heart beat faster.
I calmed down myself, picked up the phone and dialed her number again. She picked up the call.
“Sorry, I was little busy in office. Did my mom and dad showed my photo to you? You stay in Anna nagar only right?” I asked her to confirm that it was my Preethi.
“Yes we stay there only. I didn’t see your photo yet”, She replied.
“Ok, shall we meet today?” I asked.
“Ya sure”
“Ok, then we will meet in CCD, Anna nagar, sharp at 7.30pm”
“What color dress you wear?” she asked.
“Black shirt and blue jean”, I replied.
“Ok, see you then, bye”, she said and hung the call.
“What the hell is going on?” I screamed. I was very much excited. It was three years, since we met. I felt some butterflies flying in my stomach. The time was 5.30pm. Only two more hours were left to meet her.
3 years back…..
(Past)
I was in hospital. The doctor took my blood half an hour before, for testing it. I was waiting for my blood test result.
First time I gave my blood for test, so I was a bit nervous. I started praying god that nothing bad should happen. Doctor came out with a sheet in hand.
“I am sorry to say….” he paused for a few seconds and removed his specs.
Oh f**k, I have seen this scene in many Tamil movies. Even doctors do the same in reality? If they removed the specs, it means the patient have some serious kind of disease.
“Please, don’t say anything like that”, I prayed.
“You have blood cancer”, doctor said.
“What???” I screamed in shock.
“Please control yourself. Now only you should be very cautious Mr.Hari”, doctor said.
“Hari? I am Arjun, not Hari!” I said loudly.
Doctor got confused. Brainless doctor! He misplaced my report with some other report. He brought my original report.
“I am sorry. Here is your report. You have high cholesterol.
“Thank God!” I said taking a deep breath, because cholesterol is far better comparing to cancer.
“Take these tablets regularly. Don’t take it very light. It’s highly dangerous. So try to avoid junk food items and also you should run 3km a day compulsorily,” he advised.
'I am already lean then how come I got this cholesterol? Shit happens!' I thought.
“Ok doctor I will follow it. Thank you.” I said and left.
That night I kept alarm at 5.30am and slept.
Next day morning 5.30…. The alarm made me deaf. It was that much noisy.
I woke up, wore shoes, took a bottle of water and started running. After sometime I realized that I ran more than 3 km and the worst thing is I had to run 3 more kilo meter back to return home. My water bottle was empty. I needed some water to continue my running. I found one small pump. I went there and started filling water in bottle. A gentle breeze blew on my face. I raised my head. A girl wearing bag passed me jogging. I didn’t see her face properly. I found her bag zip was opened and something was about to fall from it.
“Hello, Excuse me! Your zip is open,” I shouted at her.
She turned back. Wow she was goddamn pretty. To my surprise she scolded me, “Idiot, @%$#&*@#.”
She told something in Hindi. I couldn’t understand anything except the word ‘idiot’. “I was trying to help her but she scolded me,” I looked puzzled. I rewind the thing what I have told her and...
“Shit... I missed the word ‘bag’ and it changed the whole meaning. You need this and as she said you are number one idiot”, I scolded myself and returned home.
Next day again I went for jogging the same time like the previous day. She was coming back of me and I didn’t realize it first.
“Hey hello!” she shouted at me.
I turned and looked around to confirm whether she was calling me or some one else.
“I am calling you only, wait,” she told coming near me.
“Sorry for yesterday’s thing. Actually after reaching home only I realized that you meant my bag zip”, she told politely.
“Yeah that’s ok. It’s my mistake only,” I said.
“Hmmm... So daily you come at this time for jogging?” She questioned me.
“Ya for the past 2 days am doing it,” I said. I tried to look only into her eyes and speak but I couldn’t. She was really cute.
“Ok, I am Preethi and you?” she gave me hands.
Again Preethi uhh…. My inner voice echoed.
I wiped my hands and gave it to her saying,”Arjun”. Her hand was too soft. Don’t have heart to leave her hand.
“My house is nearby only so I am leaving. We’ll meet near that pump tomorrow same time. Done?” she asked me.
“Ya sure, done”, I replied with a smile.
(Present)
The time was 6.30pm. I decided to start from office, so that I can reach CCD on time. I took my bike and started from office.
I was smiling without my knowledge. “Should I buy something for her?” I asked myself.
I decided to buy a small bouquet. I went to shop and bought it. I reached CCD by 7.05. I took one couple seat and started waiting for Preethi.
(Past)
“So, what are you doing?”She asked me.
“I just completed my degree and searching for job. What about you?”I asked her.
“Great! Even I am. Actually I wanted to do my MBA abroad but my dad is not allowing me”, She told worrying.
“Did you ask the reason to them?”I asked.
“Ya, they are worrying about my security there,” she replied.
“Hmmm”, I wanted to ask whether she has boy friend.
“Do you have girl friend?” She asked. Girls are really faster than guys I thought.
“No I don’t have but in my college days I had,” I said.
“What’s her name???”She asked.
“She has your name only. Preethi,” I said.
“Wow great. Then she must be a pretty and smart girl”, She told and winked.
“Yes she is,” I said.
“Ok what happened? You broke up now?” she asked me.
“Ya she is married now”, I replied and hung my head.
“I am sorry,” she paused and asked, “Are you really happy now?”
“She is happy,” I said and smiled. We maintained silent for few seconds.
“Ok do you love anyone?” I asked curiously.
“Ya I love Bharath,” She told immediately.
'Oh shit! I shouldn’t have asked this question to her,' I scolded myself. All my dreams shattered in a second.
“What you are not giving any reaction? You won’t ask who bharath is?” she asked me.
“Ya ok who is he?” I asked her for namesake.
“You don’t know bharath? Actor Bharath, I love him a lot. I’ll see all his movies on first day itself you know”, She replied.
In bracket it’s a joke. It must be the worst joke in my lifetime. Anyway I came to know that she is single. I liked it and I felt happy for it.
After I left to home I switched on my laptop and went to facebook. I searched her profile to know more about preethi.
At last I found her profile. I couldn’t collect much information but still I got her birth date. It’s approaching next month.
Daily morning we met and we became very good friends shortly. I followed her in facebook. She doesn’t know that. I decided to give her a surprise on her birthday.
I wanted her phone number. I felt bad to go and ask her first. So I took my phone and simply kept in my ears and spoke to show that I have a mobile.
“Hey! Nice mobile, how much is this?” she asked me.
“It’s ten thousand”, I said.
She took my mobile and dialed some number and kept in her ear. Her mobile rang.
“This is my number save it”, she said and smiled.
Yes my idea worked out and I jumped in joy after she left me.
(Present)
Time was 7.25.
I took my phone. I have got a missed call from Preethi. I called her back.
“Hello, this is Arjun. I am in CCD. Where are you?” I asked eagerly.
“Sorry a small delay. I ll be there in another 15mins”, she said.
“Ok”, I said and hung the call.
(Past)
Only 2 days left for her birthday. Still I didn’t decide what present I should give. I went to shop and searched for gifts but nothing looked special.
“Yes I have got an idea,” I rushed to laptop and opened facebook.
I have seen many pictures of her in her profile. I took the best one and I drew it in a chart. Then I framed and packed it.
I am not a big artist but still I can manage to draw someone if I have their photo. This time it came out well too.
I hide my gift inside my jerkin and waited for her. She came and said, “Hi good morning.”
“Ya good morning,” I said.
She gave me sweets and said, “Today is my birthday.”
“Is it??? Why don’t you tell me this before”, I asked as if I don’t know anything.
“Should I go and tell everyone that today is my birthday? You have to ask me”, She said.
“Ok cool. Happy Birthday,” I said and shook hands.
After sometime…
“I need to go little early today. Have to go for temple”, she said and turned to leave.
“Preethi,” I called her back.
“What?” she came and asked me.
I took the gift outside and gave it to her.
“This is for you,” I said.
“Thank you. Thank you very much. But how do you know that today it’s my birthday?” She asked in surprise.
“I know it through facebook,” I said and winked.
She opened the gift and she was very much excited.
“I really love this. Thank you, Arjun. You drew it?” she asked suspiciously.
“Ya I only did,” I replied.
“It’s really a special gift for me in this birthday. Hey then one more thing. I won’t come for one week as am going to my relative house. We will speak in phone. Bye. Take care.” she said.
“Bye. Have a great day”, I said.
In that one week I was thinking about her from morning till night. She didn’t call me. I decided to propose her when she comes. I took my phone and called her.
“Hi arjun, sorry I was busy here so couldn’t call you,” she said.
“When you will be coming?” I enquired.
“Tomorrow I will come for sure,” she said.
“Ok I want to tell you something when you come back,” I said.
“Ya even I want to tell you one thing. I have a surprise for you,” she said.
“Ok now you carry on with your work. We will meet tomorrow morning bye.”I said and hung the call.
Now my brain started thinking too much.
She has a surprise? May be she also felt the same feeling what I felt or may be her marriage got fixed.
“No no… Confidence… confidence,” I told myself.
I started looking at the time. Time is 7.00. 11 hours left to see her.
I kept alarm but didn’t get sleep. At last I slept at 12.00 and woke up before alarm wakes me.
I dressed up and waited in the same place where we meet daily. She came with a big smile on face.
“Hi, was sup man?” she asked me.
“You have to tell. You said you want to tell something to me”, I said.
“Ya, you close your eyes," she said.
“Why?” I asked her. “Do it fast; I’ll tell you,” She said.
I closed my eyes. In few seconds she asked me to open my eyes. She was having one paper in her hand.
“What’s that?”I asked.
“I am going to UK tonight. It’s my flight ticket. Last week on my birthday my dad gifted me some form. Guess what? It’s the admission form for me in Oxford University”, she told me with excitement and continued,”All the formalities are done last week itself. I am so much excited to go abroad.”
Till last week we were in same level. Now she is going abroad and I don’t have job too. She doesn’t love me; I understood it from her way. May be she didn’t feel my love. My eyes filled with tears. I controlled myself and said,”All the best.”
“Ok da I need to pack my luggage. After settling there, I’ll give you my number. Bye,” she said and left.
She didn’t even remember the thing that I too wanted to tell her something. May be she would have thought me like a Passing cloud.
“You are a big loser arjun”, I shouted and cried. I roamed like a mad in the road. My love started in 3km and ended in 3km.
I waited for her call for one month but she didn’t. To forget her, I deleted my facebook account too. Each time I go for interview I feel scared that I ll not get that job. Because of that reason only I didn’t get job. But after love failure I got immune power to face failure. I attended the interview and got job. Days passed, I worked really hard. I got promotions too but something was missing in my life. I know it’s her.
(Present)
Now again she came into my life. Is it our destiny or true love? Yes, True love never fails.
Someone tapped my shoulder. I turned my head to see; some girl smiled and asked,” You are Arjun, right?”
“Yeah, sorry I don’t know who you are,” I said.
“Hi, am preethi”, she said.
My heart stopped for a second. I felt lump in my throat because she is not the one I loved. I stared at her for a minute without answering anything.
I almost cried before her. “Sorry am not interested in marriage now”, I said and came out immediately.
I reached my home and switched on the TV to divert myself.
“Preethi ku naan guarantee…..” ad was going on.
“Shit”, I shouted and switched off the TV.
I took my laptop and created a facebook account. I searched for preethi. I found her profile after a half an hour search. Her profile picture is like she was carrying a baby. I saw her relationship status as married and current city as Newyork. I burst into tears.
“It’s all because of this fucking cholesterol”, I blamed it without reason.
After that incident I couldn’t concentrate on work. I needed a break. So, I started learning guitar.
After 4 years……
I quit my job and concentrated in music completely. Now I have a rock band troop on my own. Slowly I came out from my failures.
I agree that true love never fails but conditions apply. My age is 28. Still I am single.
My mobile started ringing……
It’s an unknown number. “Hello, Arjun here. There?”I said.
“Actually I have seen your ad in Hindu paper stating that you need a female singer. So to apply for that I called you”, She said.
“So, what type of singing you know?” I enquired.
“Western, Folk and Classical. I have many certifications on those”, She said.
“Ok come to office directly and meet me by tomorrow”, I said.
“Ok thank you”, she said.
“One second, your name please?”I asked.
“PREETHI”, she said.
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