Gautham works in a Software Concern and resides in Bangalore with his parents. It was a chill Friday morning. Gautham was alarmed by his ringing phone. Very reluctant to answer the phone he put down and continued his sleep. His sleep was once again disturbed. This time he gained some energy and decided to see who was calling him. It was She. The very she. She is Avantika. Got electric and attended the phone. "Wake up and come to the court" she resounded over the phone. "Positive" he responded and got ready. He was wearing a white jersey and a white tracks. Took his tennis bat from his shelf, stormed through the steps, ignited his pulsar and reached JP Nagar. Avantika reached before him and was staring at him.
Their day starts with a tennis practice.
With a curly hair, fair complexioned, neat and a cute charming girl was Avantika. She was wearing a blue jersey and a white tracks. She was B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.
“Shall we start a new game or continue with yesterday's one” she asked him.
“New day, new game, Morning Glory” he replied confidently. JP Nagar tennis court is one of the beautiful tennis courts in the garden city. The serene atmosphere is a driving energy for the players.
They started with love all. Gautham beamed at Avantika with a strong short. Her reflexes were good, she put it back to Gautham.
They played 4 games, unlike yesterday, Gautham won all the four games. Gautham felt pride about winning the games and smirked at Avantika. “Tomorrow never dies” she replied with a corner smile .She started her two-wheeler left the place after saying a bye to Gautham.
Gautham waved her back and was watching till she was visible to him.
He dreaded the moments that are going to happen from now. He decided to propose her today. But how? This was the question kept haunting him for more than a month. Expressing it through a letter, he thought it’s a good old technique.
He had no guts to tell her seeing her eyes, he had no script to tell her over the phone. But he fell in love with her. He have to tell her. He knows her for the past two years. They work in the same Company. There was a good rapport between them. Even she loves spending time with him. Will this relationship take a giant leap and transform into a beautiful life long relationship or will it sink in the deep dark valley? He experienced uncertainty and he could not trace even a bit about what she was thinking.
With all such gory thoughts, he managed to drive home and had his breakfast. His Mom questioned him about his dull face. He falsely convinced his mother and went to his room. He found a way to tell his love to her.
He switched on his laptop. He logged to his Facebook account. He browsed for her profile. He started to write on her wall.
He Started typing “I have gone through and going through some emotions about you. I think this is high time, I pour out all my emotions that I have for you. A boy will definitely have a girl whose name will enthrall him. The boy is me. The girl is you and the name is AVANTIKA. I feel good while messaging you. I am happy if I am with you. It feels like heaven if you call me. It took 2 years for me to recognize that there is a special word which wraps all these emotions. And the word is LOVE.I love you and will love you for rest of the days. I want to grow old with holding your hands. We will walk through beautiful places with beautiful emotions. They say it takes a minute to tell the love but a life time to prove it. My life will prove my love.”
His Sympathetic nervous system started functioning at highest pace, he experienced an adrenalin rush. He was curious about the reply.
He posted it, logged off and fell back to his bed.
He heard his phone ringing. He guessed it could be Avantika. Bit His guess was wrong. His good old friend Shiva was calling him. His friend shouted at him vibrantly “What have you done man, don’t you think it’s a stupid idea to put in a social network. You could have dropped her a mail or could have told in person but you have messed it up”.
“It’s ok Shiva, I want the world to know that there was a stupid guy called Gautham who was mad about Avantika”, he replied back and hung the phone.
His friends kept calling him. One of the close friends of Avantika also called him. So he was sure that by now she would have been aware of his emotions. After an hour, he once again logged in facebook anticipating Avantika would have replied to his post. His post received 34 comments. 8 people liked the post. But none were Avantika.
With a great disappointment, he once again fell back to his bed. After an hour of disturbed sleep, he woke up, had his shower and started for his office.
He knew he had to face her. Parked his bike and went to his ODC. He greeted his couple of colleagues and went to his Cubicle. Avantika was sitting opposite to him. He knew she noticed him, but did not responded to him. He was sweltering in his place. He could not concentrate on his work.
After a short span of time ,he saw her walking towards him. His heartbeat was rising like a petrol bunk meter. He managed to greet her with a smile.
“I saw your post. I want to talk about that with you. I have already told the Manager that I won’t be available for the day and you?” she questioned at him with raising her left eyebrow.
“Yeah… I will apply for a leave” he stammered.
His manager did not trouble him and granted him a day off.
She was waiting for him at the entrance gate of their office. He started his bike and picked her up, crossed the road and was riding slowly.
“Where are we going” she questioned angrily.
“Don’t know” he replied back.
“Fine, let’s go to Hebbal Lake”. She ordered.
It was a moody day, the day was still chill. Hebbal lake is in the outskirts of Bangalore. It’s a scenic lake surrounded with lush plantations. They were welcomed by the cool breeze. There were a couple of wooden chairs. They sat in the wooden chair. He kept staring at the lake. He imagined as if the lake is going to flood him. She broke the ice and started the conversation.
“So, you love me” .Thus she started.
“Yes, and I am serious about it” he replied confidently.
“Why”, she asked reminding him of a ManiRatnam kind of dialogue.
“I have been with you since 2 years, we have stood together in all hard times in office as well as personally. I could never imagine about the gray day which would take you away from me. I always want you to be my side. I found this as the best possible solution” he finished.
“I see” was her instant reply.
They kept chatting for an hour but Gautham could not draw any conclusion.
“So what’s up for the day” she demanded him for a plan for the rest of the day.
“We will go to Forum Mall, eat and we will do a bit of shopping” he said.
She gave an affirmative answer to him.
In an half an hour ride they reached The Forum Mall. It was half past four. There was a very little crowd in the mall. They had their late lunch in the Transit Restaurant. Neither of them spoke about the Facebook post.
She told she wanted to buy a kurtha and some matching pendants for her Birthday dress.
He accompanied with her. Strangely, he even suggested some pendant designs to her.
She acknowledged his selection by buying a couple of those.
They shopped in Fab India and she selected a couple of kurtha’s. She went to trialroom for a Green color one. She wore it and came outside for his response. She was looking gorgeous in the green. He felt like kneeling down before her and telling his love once again.
For one or more reasons he left the idea. She bought the green one and they vacated the shop.
“Ok fine Gautham am leaving” she said.
It sounded to him as if she is saying once for all.
He looked at his watch. It was quarter to Eight.
“How about a dinner” hastily he asked.
“Not a bad idea though but where” she responded.
“How about Banjara at Jaya nagar” he questioned.
“That’s cool” she responded.
They entered the Restaurant. It was half empty.
“Where can we sit?” he asked.
“How about that corner one?” she replied.
They went to the corner one.
It was a corner table. There was a diffused light spread across the restaurant. A small candle was lit at the center of the table. She was scanning through the things that she purchased today. She applauded him for having a good taste about pendants and the Kurthas. He gently received the praise.
They ordered a Masala Papad and a Gobi-Manchurian for starters and went with usual dishes for the main course.
There was an air of silence between them. She was confident and clear .He was confused and burning.
He broke the ice this time.
“So what have you decided” he whispered to her.
“Regarding what” was her stumbling reply.
“The Post” he replied.
“What do you think my reply would be” she retorted.
“Am poor at guessing” he resounded.
She started to speak.
“Wouldn’t a girl like to sit with her boyfriend in a lush green lake?
Wouldn’t a girl like to shop with her boyfriend?
Wouldn’t a girl like to dine with her boyfriend in a candle light dinner?”
Gautham is not a dum headed idiot who could not get what she is inferring.
He was in his cloud nine. He replied her with a gentle smile and said “Thanks”.
“Don’t be stupid” she blushed.
He reached for hands, caressed her hands and asked her to say those three letters.
“How many times” she responded.
“One time” he replied.
She looked at his eyes and said “I love you”… she took a long pause and once again said “I love you”
He received it with his full heart and said “You told twice”
“I knew it. First one is for what you asked and second one is what I wished to say” was her beautiful reply.
They had their time of their life at the restaurant.
His phone broke the silence of the restaurant. It was ringing aloud.
He took it to see his manager calling him.
He attended the call.
“So how was the day and finally she accepted it right?” Manager asked sarcastically.
“Yes but how do you know?” he squinted.
His manager replied back “When I asked her for the reason for today’s leave she told me about these things and also told that she too loves you”.
“Thanks for granting the wonderful leave “he sniggered and hung the phone.
He kept watching her. She reciprocated him with 50% blushes and 50% smiles.
The beautiful day ENDS. Their beautiful life STARTS .
