We were having lunch at a restaurent nearby office, I was
staring the sky through window and was thinking about nothing. Pari was seated
next to me, she initiated the conversation.
'I heard that your brother and her fiancé are waiting
because of a good muhurath(time fixed to perform a ritual)!'
'Yes Pari, My Uncle and Aunt believe in all that stuff and
my family always respects their beliefs. So we are waiting for the best
muhurath(time fixed to perform a ritual).'
'What about you? Do you believe in all that stuff?' She
smiled, and the same smile was reflected on mine.
'My beliefs are different. I believe that, for a
relationship which has to be cherished for lifetime, nothing like good time or
good sign is required.'
'Then.. what is required?'
'I believe that understanding is the foundation of a
relationship.'
Mahita opened her eyes wide and interrupted me. Pari was
looking at me strangely. I was doubtfully looking at them and Mahita cleared my
confusion.
'Did you hear that conversation, we were having in office?'
'No Mahita, I didn't'
'Are you telling the truth?'
'Looks like he is telling the truth!' Kiran assured her.
'We were speaking about relations this morning and Pari
said the same thing as you said. I am really surprised.'
Now the person in surprise was me.
'All this is influence of books you are reading Arjun!'
'You are reading?? You said you don't read much!' I was
caught red handedly, Kiran should not have revealed that.
I started reading books which Pari already read after I
came to know that she likes reading. I just wanted to know how she feels, I don’t
want to be muted when she is speaking about her favorite author and I am just
wondering what she is speaking about. I will not let that happen. Even a little
thing of her's is an important subject to me.
I said 'Just having fun!'
'Just having fun!' She repeated those words with a smile.
Pari smiled again and diverted the topic. We were all
having fun at lunch. I was looking how the bill amount would be higher. I was
asking questions like 'Which is the best at your restaurent' 'Which is the
costliest dessert?' to the attender. Kiran is going to pay how much I eat, it's
his party. Every time ,he used to kick me when I tried to do such things. But,
this time he was just smiling and enjoying. Why wouldn't he.. Now he is the
happiest man on earth..Soon.. I will be too..
Pari started again. She was curious to know about me.
Questions were flowing like ganga(River in North India).
'I see that you are good at teaching but what about
managing?'
'I am not sure.. but will learn..You can help me out..'
'Me? How can you trust me?'
'This way! Your dad is a very good businees man, he thinks
about his staff and his brand value. He wouldn't just handle it all to you
without trusting your skills. He knows more about you than I do and he is the
one whom I have trust in!'
It was a big explaination but left the best impression of
me on her. I was speaking good about her first best man in life – her father.
My future father in law, I started respecting his views even before getting
married. This can be one of the reasons for Pari to accept me.
The questions continued and I continued impressing her.
That was going too much with us both, I started feeling uncomfortable.
'Pari, let's speak later.' I smiled.
'I think this is a good time.I want to know more about
you.. How can I take a lifetime decision without knowing you..' She enquired.
'I am feeling a little uncomfortable.' I whispered to her.
'Do not! Everyone knows everything' she spoke into my ears
with a big smile.
'What?' I shouted out.
'Yes! I and Kiran narrated everything to everyone..Even to
your roommates..'
'What?' I faced them and they were all nodding.
Oh no! My love story is all public now. I would like a
little private love story. Now that it is all open, I have to go with it.
Little disappointed.
'Why are you turning red?' Pari asked me.
'My love story is all public now!' I whispered into her
ears and she laughed out.
'Dont call it one.. Until I wave a green signal Arjun' She
whispered to me.
Now we were all full with food in our bellies. It was
Mounica on call and Kiran's speaker was on.
'Hi all! How are you?'
'We are good! Thank you for the party?' Pari was speaking.
'Is Kiran happy with the bill?'
'No! He is not. His eyes are wide open from the time it
came into his hands' We all laughed out.
'Then you people really ate well.' Mounica smiled.
'Yes we did! And Mounica..' She paused 'You are a lucky one
for having a funny guy in our life.'
'Thank you..He is a funny one!' Mounica answered.
'Pari.. To admitt you are a lucky one too.' Everyone was
staring at me. I made the speaker off immediately and spoke to Mounica
privately. Everyone was laughing at me and I was turning red again. Pari was
laughing at me and I was feeling good about my red face.
-Arjun Krishna
-Arjun Krishna