Life...Love...Life

Got this as a forward ......touched my heart.... felt this had to be shared.....

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Wake up whenever you like. Finish your morning routine and start cribbing about office. Finally after much deliberation we go to office and waste at least 10 good hours of life. Get paid for it too. Then comes the lovely evenings with friends, nemesis, time to open that bottle “Aaj last time bhai, kal se sab band. Health kharab hoti hai” Suddenly the clock stops moving, time flows by though, Its 2 AM before you know it, Now hungry, time for one more amazing night out. One more cherishable memory to be created with buddies. 5 AM it is now, time for sleep. Good morning again. Then comes weekend and I choose not to tell the world what we guys do on weekends. It’s our secret and I don’t want to be boycotted by guys by telling how our men community spend weekends and create histories.

Hour by hour, day by day, week by week……. We all live like this. Life has no inherent meaning; it’s just a ‘Go with the flow’. Look around. At least 70% people do the exact same things. Why waste thinking the trivialities like being happy, do something for society, do good for self. What is being happy by the way? Anyone?

But kid you not, one day, that one day, that one moment all changes. Life takes a paradigm shift. You meet her. You now know what an angel is. You realize that the blob who is supposed to just pump blood actually feels something. It starts truly beating at that precise moment. You fall in LOVE.

Love by far has no definition. Am sure Shakespeare to Obama, babies to old people have all tried to define Love but failed. Every individual has his own definition however skewed though. Maybe Love has itself never destined to be defined. Maybe it does really have no meaning. Maybe it is not an expression; it is a feel, a stimulus to life.

Comes a day you propose to your angel, you prepare for this day. Entire day you plan, prioritize, make words, buy flowers, behave like a total lunatic. Your final exams seemed like a breeze as compared to this day. Time comes, you meet her and Bang. You propose! The world stops. The only thing you hear is the wind. Then she says it too and you know you have won the world. Nothing matters now.

Life actually starts now, it has a meaning now. Your Love means everything to you now. The calls, the endless talk, the chitter chatter, the goofiness’. Weirdness sets in the moment the phone is kept down. Berserk goes the mind when you drop her at home. Her likes, dislikes, her life is all that matters now. How to keep her happy is the only motto now. One drop of tear and your heart actually stops. One frown on her face and you are on your knees. Your brain stops working, logic is out of window, world does not mean anything to you, all that matters is her. All the time there is this impish grin plastered on your face because all you do is think about her. You actually start enjoying the menial things in life and lest I forget Shopping!! Oh shopping!! Never was it so fun. Ten different shops, 100 different items, incessant trying, walking out with bags and forgetting the item which you had to buy in first place. Ice creams, chocolates, juice all the stuff which had no preference in your life suddenly become necessities. Your mom beat you black and blue to eat right, to pray, to be on time, to be responsible but you never listened. They come to you naturally when you are in Love. Each moment count; they etch themselves in your memory. You are happy. You redefined happiness. Non Lovers say thinking about someone 24*7 is an understatement, ask a Lover I say. Only a Lover can sense everything by just a Hello, just a tone, just a response to a message, just by a breath.

A quote from one of my friend. “Habits not changed timely turns into needs”

Till now you are in Love. The hell sent day when you have the first fight. You reach in a relationship now. Each moment of that dreaded time is filled with agony, despair. But it simmers down within minutes because you simply cannot stay mad. You actually start loving more after the first fight. With all the Love, fights actually complete a relationship. They never mean anything, they hurt a lot, they are forgotten in minutes. You realize that ‘I Am Fine’ is the first red flag and means you have to tread carefully. The world now starts noticing your disappearance but you cannot care a less. People ask, you lie through your teeth. This is one happiness that you cannot share with anyone. You won the world, you are in a relationship, you Love someone, and nothing can top that.

One day it all ends, breakups are never easy. Everybody has their own story. There is a rupture inside you. Your Heart which worked overtime, which was the only thing you used lately, cries. Crying has a new meaning. You don’t want to but you do. You don’t show it, hide your tears, smile with the world, stay happy but no matter how much you try you are not able to cheat yourself. You miss those moments. You miss her. You miss her presence, her talks, her smile, her tears…... Friend never had the answer to “What to do when Habits are changed into needs”. You discover songs actually mean something, start sympathizing with the composer because you are in his shoes now. You are in a sea now, waking up in morning again has no meaning; life again has lost its charm. Perpetual state of pain replaces the happiness. Time is the biggest healer and you will come out of it. Forget about her, stop thinking about her are the condolences that you constantly give to your heart. But they don’t work. Neither does call to your ex because all you play is a blame game which actually means nothing. It worsens the situation even more. You realize that your ‘Ifs’, ‘buts’, ‘maybes’ are the question you have to face alone.

But you do, one day you stop. You come back to the real world. You pick up where you left, Heart has a scar now, and it will be there all your life, but you move on. Logic takes over the internal fight with heart and guides you. The track being a rail track. One track being you and other track being dreams, wishes. They never meet but Life cannot move without both.

Never will I forget,
The beautiful time.
Shared the sunset,
and the sunrise.

I sinked in your eyes,
I ‘was warmed by your smile,
and the world was perfect,
but lasted just for a while.

Like The...

And.....i thought of you once again
You made me smile through all the pain
All those moments, the times we spent
How i loved them, how much they meant.

Like the wave from the ocean sweeping the shore
Hitting the rocks, making them sore
Memories of you keep rushing to my head
Can never forget them, even if i am dead.

Like the falling star to wish upon,
You were my luck, from dusk to dawn
In the tunnel of life, so dark and lonely,
You were my light, the one and only.

Like the shadow, which always stuck by the side
Your heart was the place where i wanted to reside.
In the game of life, you were my perfect move
For all happiness, you were the music to groove

Like the moon in the sky alone at night
You were the star which was never out of sight
You were the fire which kept me warm
You were the charm which kept me from harm

Like the sweet memories which can never be forgotten
Even if this life eventually becomes rotten
You were the beat which made my world dance
You were the eyes in which i wanted to glance

Like the pleasant wind which cooled me down
You were the smile on my face, I was the clown
You were the rose among all the flowers
In the summer heat, the first rain showers.

Like the soul made in heaven only for me
You were my life, you were everything to me
One thing is certain which i keep on repeating
You were the ONLY reason which kept my heart beating.

First Kiss...

Memories of you, come knocking on my heart.
Take me all the way, where our love did start.
The moment i saw u, i knew fate had a plan
To see you each day, filled me with elan.

Slowly but surely, in love we would fall
The look in our eyes, usually said it all
Talking for hours, we were getting obsessed
We were meant to be together, even before we confessed.

Then came the moment, we both were waiting for
The dancing and the holding hands, and the singing before.
The smell of your hair, the fragrance of your skin.
The touch of your hand made it all begin.

As we moved our faces, closer together
We knew we were made for each other
That kiss on your forehead, followed by the cheek
Made my heart skip a beat and my knees go weak.



That first gentle touch of the lips felt like heaven
You kissed me back and made it even
World had stopped, the moment had frozen
It was only you... my heart had chosen.

That moment, will always be remembered.
Even if death comes, to have my life murdered.
That instant of time, I shall never forget
Same would apply to you, I sure can bet.

Our Life may go on, Our Life may bend,
My love for you can never ever end.
You will always be someone close to my soul
Someone to live with, someone to die for.

Happy Anniversary !!!

Kris came home from work. Yet another hectic day at office was over. He threw his bag in the corner and just crashed on the bed. He looked at the digital clock hanging on the opposite wall. It displayed 9th Dec 2011 - 7pm. He closed his eyes.
"Its been an year", he thought as a drop of tear escaped through the corner of his eyes.

=======

"Hi Kris, Where have you reached?", an excited Jia asked holding her cellphone close to her ears. "Just 15min more. Will be home soon.", Kris replied.
"Ok baby. I am at grandma's place. Will also reach there in 15min. Come sooooooon. I will be waiting. Bye.", Jia said dropping the call.

It had been more than 3 years since Kris and Jia had been married. They had their intial couple fights, some out of jealousy, some out of thoughts-mismatches etc, but everytime they fought, one of them always made sure that the fight ended within a few hours. Relationships are like a rubberband. When its pulled from each end, its bound to break. One person always has to let go, loosen the hold for the rubberband to stay intact. And this is what Kris and Jia followed.

Kris reached home. Jia had not reached home yet. Today was something special. Today was there marriage anniversary. He carefully removed the box from his bag and placed it on top of the cupboard. The door bell rang. Kris opened the door and saw Jia enter closing the door behind her. Next moment, they were hugging each other tightly with Kris lifting Jia in the air.

"Happy Anniversary baby.", Jia said stealing a gentle peck on the lips.
"Happy Anniversary to you too.", Kris said hugging her even more tightly. After a nice long hug for a couple of minutes and changing into more comfortable clothes,

"Listen...I got to tell u something", Kris said sounding very serious.
"What happened baby? What is it?", Jia replied worried.
"Why dont you sit on the sofa?", Kris said putting his hand on her lowerback and gently moving her towards the sofa.
"Tell me baby, What happened?", Jia said getting even more worried now.
Kris made her comfortable on the sofa and sat on the ground near her legs.
"There is this woman....", he started slowly avoiding eye contact by putting his head down.
Jia's heart had started thumping faster and louder.
"Wat is it Kris? Tell me. You are scaring me now.", Jia said trying to get his attention.
"There is this woman I am falling in love with. She is so wonderful. She makes me feel so happy all the time. She makes me feel so alive. I just could not stop myself from falling for her. She is so charming. Her laughter makes me want to kiss her everytime.", Kris replied in one breath.

Jia was stunned at what she was hearing. It had been three years and not once had she even got a sniff of something about all this. How could her Kris do this to her? How could he cheat on her? Why? So many thoughts running through her head. Mixed emotions. Anger, Sadness, Her heart was shrinking with the pain, Tears were going to burst out anytime from her eyes. Today was their anniversary. Why did Kris had to choose this particular day to tell her? Her head was getting flooded with so many thoughts leaving her speechless. She just kept gazing as Kris spoke.

"Hold on a sec", Kris said walking towards the cupboard. He removed the box. Removed the content and handed it to her.
"Here. This is that woman.", Kris said looking at her.
Jia looked at what she was holding. It was a beautiful mirror held inside a wooden border with the names Kris and Jia carved on each side.
"Isnt she hot ?", Kris said winking. She heaved a sigh of relief, smiled and started hitting Kris who was on the floor laughing away. Jia sat on him as he lay on the ground and kissed him fiercly, then gently biting his lips.
"Aau..Ow..", Kris screamed gently.
"Hehe....I love you", Jia said looking in his eyes.
"I love you more", Kris replied hugging her as she slept on him.
"I got something else for you baby", Kris said breaking their five minutes of sleep.
"What is it? Dont you dare fool me again", Jia replied giving him a fake angry look.
"Haha...no..get off me, sit down and turn around.", Kris said.
He then removed a black satin cloth, and tied it around her eyes from behind.
"What are you doing", Jia replied excited. "SShhhhh.......Just be quiet",Kris whispered in her ears.
He then removed a small box from his pocket and removed a diamond necklace. He sat behind her, slowly moved her hair away to expose her bare neck, put the necklace around it and kissed her hair. He then quickly removed the satin cloth from her eyes. Jia was extremely happy. She took the newly gifted mirror and looked at the necklace.
"WOWWW", she said and turned back to hug Kris.
"I love you soooo much Kris", she said looking at him with extreme love in her eyes.
Kris smiled and said, "Promise me, you will never leave me".
"I am yours baby. Always yours.", Jia replied.

===========

Kris opened his eyes to hear the phone ring. He looked at the time. It was 9pm. He had dozed off for couple of hours.

"Hello", Kris said.
"Hey buddy, what ya doing?". It was Raj, his office colleague on the other line.
"To be honest....i was sleeping!", Kris replied.
"Oh.. Hey...I am throwing this party tonight. Want to join for a drink?", Raj said.
Kris thought for a moment and replied," Uhhh .. Not today Raj, not feeling too good".
"Oh ok...no probs buddy... catchya tomo at work.", said Raj cutting the call.

Kris sat there on the bed just staring at the empty space. He was feeling hungry but somehow had no mood to eat. He got up from his bed and went to wash his face. Drank a glass of water and then switched on the TV.

The TV series LOST was going on.
He heard the exchange of dialgoues.

"just because two people...love each other...dosent mean they are meant to be together."
"Why are you doing this?"
"If i never meet u.......then i will never have to loose u."

Kris changed the channel.
Some romantic movie was going on.

"Don’t you love me?”
“More than yesterday and less than tomorrow".

He switched off the TV and went to have a smoke in the balcony.
He remembered telling to his friend one day who had asked him,"why do u smoke buddy?".
"Well...cigarette...helps me to avoid loneliness ...i think ..someone is burning like me too....", he had replied with a wink.

As he lit the cigarette, he heard a lady scream,
"Jia.....Jia beti come here."
It was some random mother shouting at her baby daughter in the garden below.
He looked up at the sky and smiled smurkishly nodding his head sideways.


Why was life being so cruel to him? The more he tried to get over Jia and her memories, somehow or the other fate or destiny or whatever it is that defines our lives kept reminding him all the more. What had happened just now was not the only instant. He was having such small "encounters" or sightings or some bloody damn thing which kept bringing her memories back again and again for the whole year now.
It was as if someone, so called God had stabbed him, killed him and was stabbing him again and again just for the fun of it.

He lit another cigarette and just stood looking at the night sky. His mind was trying to force him to think about nothing, but his heart always did the opposite.

Jia had left him. Somehow things had not worked out between them as a couple. Then why was he still thinking about her. He knew was that even though he could somehow manage to "exist without her, he could never really "live". He would still like to see her again, to say what he never had said when they were together. To hold her hand and tell her that he loved her very much, more than himself, more than anything or anyone else in this world and he was ready to do anything to make it work. At times, he hoped that one day Jia would just show up at his door and hug him again and never leave him again.

He remembered reading a book - The Zahir, where it was mentioned that each individual in this world has that one person who is made for him/her, that one soul-mate, that Zahir. Kris had understood that no matter what he did to keep himself from not thinking about Jia, no matter how distracted he kept his mind, his Zahir always won, it was always there, making him think, “I wish she was here with me.” His Zahir was Jia.

He knew he had made some mistakes and may make even more, but it was Jia and only Jia he adored. Funny as it may sound, though Jia was so far away from him, she was getting more closer to his heart each passing day. And this was never going to change.
He was going to love her forever.

Kris threw the cigarette bud away.
Went inside his room, lifted the frame holding Jia's pic from his table.
"Happy Anniversary baby!", he said kissing the forehead.

He picked up his cell, called Raj.
"Hey buddy, change of plans. So....Where is your party?", Kris said forcing a smile.

Nadaan Parindey

This song is dedicated to all those people who have experienced True Love in their life. To those who had held their loved ones in their arms one day in one year and perhaps have no one to hold on to on same day next year. To those who rememeber each and every moment spend with loved ones as if it were like yesterday. That touch. That surprises. That romance. That love. That moment.
If they have their love along with them, well and good.
If they dont, then also they should be happy to have had that chance once.

In the movie ROCKSTAR, love is defined in a very strange but so real way.
The movie starts with a dialouge with Ranbir saying in hindi...translated below..
“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I'll meet you there".

These are written by a poet named Rumi. These look like simple lines but they have such a deep meaning which only two people in real love can understand. Love which is transcedental. Love which is heavenly. Love which comes from the soul.

Also would like to quote another line from the same poet as below.
“Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along.”

Such a simple line but with such a deep meaning. No matter what this society will do. No matter what this life, this luck, this destiny will do, two people in "Real" love can never ever be separated. That "Real" Love is above all these things and will remain FOREVER.

Rockstar Movie ....MUST watch. !!

Now coming to my fav song these days....Nadaan Parindey. Parindey means Birds. The song depicts a situation comparing the loved one to a bird and asking it to come back to its home.
The situation in the movie when the song is played and the way it has been picturised is so lovely that it gives me goosebumps each time i see it.
URL : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttIKsnxPrMY

======================

Oh nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja..

Oh nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja..

Oh nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja..

Ghar aaja..
Ghar aaja..
Ghar aaja..

Kyun desh videsh phire maara
Kyun haal behaal thakha haara

Kyun desh videsh phire maara
Tu raat beraat ka banjaara

Oh nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja..

Ghar aaja..
Ghar aaja..
Ghar aaja..

Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja

Sau dard badan pe failey hai
Har karam ke kapde mailey hai

Kateein chahe jitna
Paroon se hawoon ko
Khud se na bach payega tu..
Todh aasmaanon ko
Phook de jawaanon ko
Khud ko chupa na payega tu..

Koi bhi le rastaa
Tu hi hai tu berastaa
Apne hi ghar aayeha tu..

Oh nadaan..
Oh nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja..

Ghar aaja..
Ghar aaja..
Ghar aaja..

Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja

Kaagar kaagar
Morhi itni araj tohse
Chun chun khahiyoo maas

Kaagar kaagar
Morhi itni araj tohse
Chun chun khahiyoo maas
Arajiya re khahiyoo na
Do nain mohe
Khahiyoo na do nain mohe
Piya ke milan ki aas
Khahiyoo na do nain mohe
Khahiyoo na do nain mohe
Piya ke milan ki aas

Oh nadaan..
Oh nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja..

Ghar aaja..
Ghar aaja..
Ghar aaja..

Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja
Nadaan parindey
Ghar aaja….


Here is to all those birds out there.
Come back to your loved ones someday.
Come back to your home someday. :-)

Time Of Our Lives....

Lovely Song. Happened to stumble upon it while watching a TV Series.
The song plays in the background. The lyrics are so touchy.
Separation from friends / loved ones, break ups etc are always painful. Sometimes bitter.
But this song depicts it in a very "practical" manner. And on a happy note to move on...to let go.
Must listen.

URL : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFPhEn6ifV0

===============================

This is where the chapter ends
And new one now begins
Time has come for letting go
The hardest part is when you know

All of these years
When we were here
Are ending
But I'll always remember

We have had the time of our lives
And now the page is turned
The stories we will write
We have had the time of our lives
And I will not forget the faces left behind
It's hard to walk away from the best of days
But if it has to end, I'm glad you have been my friend
In the time of our lives

Where the water meets the land
There is shifting in the sand
Like the tide that ebbs and flows
Memories will come and go

All of these years
When we were here
Are ending
But I'll always remember
We have had the time of our lives
And now the page is turned
The stories we will write
We have had the time of our lives
And I will not forget the faces left behind
It's hard to walk away from the best of days
But if it has to end, I'm glad you have been my friend
In the time of our lives

We say goodbye, we hold on tight
To these memories that never die
We say goodbye, we hold on tight
To these memories that never die

We have had the time of our lives
And now the page is turned
The stories we will write
We have had the time of our lives
And I will not forget the faces left behind
It's hard to walk away from the best of days
But if it has to end, I'm glad you have been my friend
In the time of our lives

I'm glad you have been my friend
In the time of our lives

The Routine...

It was getting late. Rishi was finishing up preparing the last few documents he was supposed to be submit by the end of the day. Working late in office had kind of become a daily ritual these days for him.

"Why do you work so late? ", people used to him almost everyday.
"Oh I love my job", Rishi used to reply with a smile. But deep inside he knew that the real reason was something different. He really had nothing else to do at home. Was alone in the new city he
had shifted to. He thought the new job, new city, new place, new people around would make him forget his past. But sometimes the past just keeps creeping up on you even if you dont want to. In the initial days, those thoughts of the past kept him awake most of the time. But then he had somehow succeeded in finding a way to help get rid of the insomnia he suffered from. And he was going to do just that this night as well.

"SHOUT". the big neon light blinked in the distance. It was the name of the disc, much similar to disc in his hometown.The reason he visited was this was the only disc cum bar which was closest to his house. So no matter how drunk he got, he knew he would reach home safe. He entered, with the gaurd at the gate saluting him. "Salaam Sir", he said. Rishi nodded. Rishi was a regular here and always tipped the guard when he left. Hence the proactive respect came for him each time he visited here. Rishi entered the dark place, lit only by a few lights burning here and there just barely bright enough not to trip over anything. Music was playing loudly. Crowd jeering. There was a reason by the disc was named "SHOUT", People always seemed to be shouting at every single hit the DJ played. Even if they have heard that same song a million times before. The other reason was the music was so loud you literally had to SHOUT or scream at the person next to you. The guys and girls loved it, since it gave them a chance to get close enough to smell each other and probably steal a kiss in the dark.
Rishi headed to the bar section ignoring all the people who were dancing away like crazy.

"The usual?", the bartender asked. "Yes please.", Rishi replied without a smile.
He checked his watch. It was 10:30pm. He scanned around the place. Girls in scantily clad dresses , Guys mostly wearing black. Dancing. Laughing. Jumping. Everyone seemed so happy. He observed the girls properly in his usual manner. Became dissapointed and turned to the drink in front. None of them had that same appeal he longed for. He looked at the glass in front of him. Scotch whiskey on the rocks. This was all he drank every single day here. He never counted the number of glasses. All he did was keep looking at the time. The moment the clock hit 11:30pm, he paid the bartender, got up from his seat and left. This one hour of time was when he would "try" to clear his mind blank. Try and think of nothing and just drink, one glass after another. It was like a game he played with his brain. Trying not to let it think about his past. Sometimes he won. Sometimes he lost. As they say, Sometimes the only way to get rid of an unpleasant feeling is to replace it with another unpleasant feeling. Then he would leave. Tip the gaurd. Get in his car. Drive home and sleep.
This was a daily routine and it really did help him get the good night sleep which everyone wants. As he sipped on this 10th refill, trying to win the game with his mind, he heard a voice.

"Hey", the voice said. he turned to his right to see a girl sitting next to him.

"Hey to you too", he replied back just for formality not sounding interested. The girl smiled and moved a seat closer.

"I came here two weeks back and noticed you sitting here, drinking alone. I come here today and here you are again. Sitting here drinking alone", she smiled.

"Its a small world isnt it?", Rishi replied emotionless.

"Hi, my name is Ruby", she said coming closer to him whispering in his ears. Her hair smelt good. She smelt good. The scent was so familiar. He had smelt it before and he remembered on whom. But Rishi did not respond. Just kept looking at the blank space in front of him and sipped on his glass.

"Well that is a rude way to treat a girl approaching u?", Ruby replied.

Rishi was now getting irritated. Its been more than 3months since he is visiting this bar and no one cared to disturb him in his daily routine "game". And here was this girl sitting next to him. "WHAT do you want?", Rishi replied stressing on the word What.

"Just a conversation", Ruby replied.

"Well... i dont have anything to say. So please. Thank You. Go find someone else to talk to.", Rishi replied in a calm and composed manner.

"Fine", said Ruby walking away. "Is he gay?", she asked the bartender loudly just to get some reaction. Rishi heard it but remained emotionless as always. Once again he continued the game of fighting with his past.But somehow, now he was loosing the fight. Visions started flashing in front of him. Visions of Niharika. The girl he loved.

"Go away. I am not talking to you", Niharika said angrily.

"Haha...sorry baby. I swear I was not looking at her", Rishi replied laughing.

"Shut Up. I saw you staring at her from top to bottom. What haan ? Raping her using your eyes? Go Get lost", Niharika replied.

"Hahaha...No baby. Sorry Sorry. Wont happen again. I love u only baby. Why dont you trust me? Even if i scan other girls, dosent mean I will run away with them? Atleast I am not scanning other boys na ?", Rishi replied with a wink.

"Nooooo. dont say that. Scan girls, its fine. Dont talk about being gay", Niharika replied with both of them laughing and holding hands again.

Rishi and Niharika were together for past 7 years now. They loved each other very much. Small fights like these were common. Rishi being a guy always had his eyes wandering when a nice hot chick passed by. But he knew deep inside none of them would love him like how Niharika did. And hence he was always loyal to her. Niharika too had many guy friends, which made Rishi jealous sometimes. They often fought about it, but always ended up being together within hours because they had become so inseparable. They could not stay without each other. They could not spend a single day without each other.

"You need a refill sir?", the bartender asked breaking Rishi out of his vision. His trance. "Huh....ya..yes.....please...thanks.", Rishi replied. The noisy sound of the disc and people shouting came back to him. Rishi checked his watch. It was 11:30pm. Time to leave. Rishi paid the bartender, tipped him too. Walked about. Today he didnt feel that good. He felt drunk. He was not able to walk properly. This never happend to him before. He walked out. Tipped the gaurd as always. Walked slowly to the parking lot, when a car sped towards him. THUD !!!. The car almost hit him head-on.
"SON OF A B*T#H", Rishi shouted falling on the ground. The car just turned around him and sped off as Rishi lay staring in the air. Everything around him was getting dark as he closed his eyes.

"No. Please dont go", Rishi said crying, holding Niharika's hands. They were standing on the railway platform.

"Promise me, you will come back as mine.", Rishi begged still holding her.

"Dont worry jaan, I will handle this. Everything will be fine.". Niharika replied getting on the train.

"I am sorry Rishi, but I cannot do anything now. Please try to understand the situation. I have to go", Niharika replied. Rishi remained quiet. Niharika looked at him and hugged him tightly. Rishi responded back by hugging even more tightly.

As Rishi was waving her goodbye. He felt a pain in the heart. Would this be the last time he would be ever seeing Niharika? Would this be the last time ever he would ever have hugged her? He thought to himself. "No" he thought. She said she will come back. She will be back.
Niharika had to leave town. Her parents had arranged her meeting with a guy. She had to see him for formality. She had planned to reject him anyway. But that was not meant to be. Once she reached her home, situations were different than she had expected. She was not allowed to call anyone. She was not told that this was not just a meeting but an engagement. Relatives had been invited from all over the state. It was a grand function. And she had no other
option but to go ahead with what her parents had planned. She could not spoil her parents name by doing something stupid. She had to surrender. Rishi was devastated when he came to know the news of Niharika's engagement. His worst fears had come true. He would be loosing her forever. He would be loosing her to the stupid rules and ethics of this society and this country where two people in love are not allowed to be together all on the basis of
caste, religion, region and society.

Rishi opened his eyes. He was lying in a room on the bed. He looked around. But this was not his house. "Oh you are awake", Ruby said handing him a glass of water.

"Youuuuuuuu???" , Rishi said holding his head which was hurting so much.

"Yes. Its me.", Ruby replied.

"Wha....what happened...?", Rishi enquired drinking the glass of water.

"Well, When i left the place with my friends, we saw you lying on the road in the parking lot. We tried waking you up, but you were unconscious. Then my friends helped be bring you to my place, since i told them i knew you. Dont worry. I did not touch you", she said winking.
Rishi checked his watch. It was 7am.
"Thanks. But i need to go.", Rishi replied."Thats it ? Thats all I get for helping you? Mann..You are something. Atleast you should offer me a dinner tonight with you." Ruby said smiling.

Rishi started checking if all his things were there with him. He checked his wallet first for Niharika's pic which he still carried with him and then for the money. Everything was in place.
"Thanks but I never asked for your help. You should have left me there on the road.", he said heading to the door.

"How ungrateful can someone get.?", Ruby said smirking as Rishi opened the door.

"Btw, who is Niharika?", Ruby asked. Rishi stopped and turned back.

"What did you say?" , he asked.

"WHo is Niharika?", Ruby enquired again.

"How do you know Niharika?", Rishi asked getting suspicious.

"Well....you were talking in your sleep yesterday and must have mentioned her name atleast 12times.", Ruby answered. Rishi kept quiet.

Looked at her firmly and said, "No one". and slammed the door when he headed out.
The sun had come up and Rishi started walking towards the disc to get to his car and then home.
"I have no one here baby without you. I am all alone. You were everything to me. I really dont know what to do?" Rishi was crying on the phone.

"Please Rishi. Be practical. Its all over now. You need to move on and let me move on too. Dont worry you will have time to forget me and find some other girl. Think about me. I am here talking to you and within a few days I have to marry someone else.", Niharika replied.

"Please baby. Please dont do this. Please come back", Rishi begged.

"Sorry Rishi, Got to go now. Talk to you later", Niharika said dropping the call.

She had tears in her eyes. She knew what she had done to Rishi was wrong, but she was helpless. Rishi sat there crying still holding on to the phone. He knew Niharika's helplessness. But still he was begging.

Rishi got inside his car and headed home. He had to get ready and head to work. He thought of Ruby. He decided that next time when he meets her, he will buy her a drink or something for helping him. Then he tried to think about him and Ruby being together as a couple. Somehow it did not match. This happened with every other girl. But he knew that one day he had to choose someone, even though he didnt want to. It had been years now and yet Rishi was not able to move on. Each time he looked at another girl, his mind started comparing her with Niharika. The eyes, the hair, the smile, the laughter, the smell. Rishi's mind was so full of everything about Niharika that he was not able to allow anyone else to enter his life even after so many years. Initially he tried his best though, flirting with girls. Now he had all the freedom to scan them, talk to them unlike before, but each time he tried doing that, Niharikas thoughts came to him. Then he decided to stop it completely. He decided to isolate himself from the world and concentrate only on his work. He shifted base to a new city inorder to forget her, but memories are sometimes so tough to let go. He thought about his life. Where it was heading.

Life is a bitch when the only person you can think of belongs to someone else. But then life is such.

"Good Morning Rishi", the receptionist smiled as he entered the office.
Rishi smiled back without replying and got to work.

Yet another day at work.

And yet another night at the "SHOUT" was awaiting him.