Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Into Dreaminess and Back

It was an evening quite like today. The scent of the wet earth still lingered in the air. Yesterday, rain was the devil. It had in it's power to destroy what was going to be the most memorable day in the life of this bride But today, the rain humbly withdrew from the limelight. Today's star was going to be this girl, sitting pretty with her hand in his', still counting her heartbeats. In those heart beats she was counting time till when she would finally becomes his', when she can  would finally drop carelessly into his arms.

That night, was her night. I was lost somewhere in the grand crowd of eager faces, each of whom smiled for her happiness and comfort. I did too. It was an evening like today. The musty breeze seemed to be my only companion. I had come wishing for her happiness, but in that crowd, I had found myself to be terribly lonely. It was only the bride's face which was familiar. Rest were unpleasantly strange. My imaginations were running amok. Someday, in near, yet distant future, I shall also adorn a pedestal much like her's. To a sprawling acreage of lush greens, I shall also be the shimmering queen.

But for that day, I was lonely. In the unending multitude of heartbreakingly unfamiliar faces, I only had the naughty breeze for company, which also devoted attention to tickling the ribs of small bright lanterns suspended from each tree in the magically illuminated garden. That naughty, musty breeze might have remained my only companion had fate not been in a playful and yielding mood.

Tired searching for a soul warming cup of coffee from the mad array of exotic delicacies competing for attention, I could finally locate a near empty table which seemed friendly enough to accommodate me. I did notice a lone male figure occupying the seat across my own, but that his features would be breathtakingly gorgeous, I had not expected. Had I even meekly expected, I would have stayed away. A dreamy romantic and a hapless single are a lethal combination for a girl who suddenly finds herself in such a titillating zone. Boredom also plays its role in necessitating a leap of heart in thinking "now begin the bright times".

Was I crazy when I shared the first smile? I promise, I did not do it knowingly. His beaming, spotless face evoked a smile in my heart, which promptly ran to my lips. He smiled back. Effortlessly. No, eagerly. This, because, as I later realized, he was my male counterpart at feeling lonely in the deluge of people. Like me, he knew no one else. Like me, he had no company. Like me, may be he too needed someone like me. Yes!

The conversation began with pleasantries. It moved onto polite inquiries.  Name. Occupation. Weather. Food. Ambiance. The bride. The groom. The match. Back to occupation. And then, inevitably, life. Why I said inevitably? Because a part of me told me it would. He had small eyes, hidden behind rimless glasses, which became smaller when he smiled. He never stopped smiling. Consequently, my once sombre face too, did not stop smiling. Worries about reaching home early dissipated into the cold air as I concentrated on how dapper his black suit over a black shirt looked. Did I say dapper? Casually graceful would be more like it.

I am not a shy talker. I must've been talking a lot. I might have said something which made him remark- "You know, sometimes, its just fair that we count our blessings. Those lines of worry which crease your face will disappear in a nano second then." I did not know why he said this, but that is when I kind of came back to senses. What seemed titillating till now was seeming genuinely nice and warm. There was something about his happy countenance; he made me want to smile. It sounds mad, but it also made me want to show my sadness, for he seemed like someone who could still make me smile. There was an enormous amount of positivity radiating from him. What most soothed a nervous girl's heart most was that he was not being kind to me. He prized my chance company as much as I did his'. And this I know, because he was not interested to even look up when bride and groom readied themselves to command attention from each pair of eyes as they exchange the garlands of sacred flowers. He would have much rather continued the conversation, but I did not want to miss one of my favorite rituals from a traditional Hindu wedding.

I stood there, watching them lovingly garland each other. I loved the clandestine glances stolen. I loved the delirious applause filling my ears. I loved seeing her turn red as he claimed her hand back into his. I loved all this, and yet, I wanted to get back to that one conversation which I knew would ease me through the dreariness awaiting with open arms at home. Somewhere, in the middle of that celebratory commotion, I was commanded to head to the gate. My car awaited me. It was late. And I am a girl. A nervous tingle on my spine saw me running to the gate after saying a quick and polite bye. Nervous. I did not think of it earlier, but how many people had seen me laugh and joke and talk with this virtually strange guy in this crowded, yet lonesome place?

On my way back home, I felt silly for feeling all that I did. Sweet silly. I felt grossly silly for not knowing why I did not exchange numbers with him. We had clicked decently well, it would not even have been awkward. No regrets, facebook is the great savior of today. All I need to know about anyone to permanently invite him into my life is his name. I knew his'.

At night, a night like today, with chill pricking at my bare arms, as I sat with facebook friend finder open in front of me, I decided against 'finding' him. He was the perfect stranger. Straight out of books and poems I had read and fantasized about. He will only remain the perfect stranger if I abandon my pursuit. Meeting new people, good people, people who survive only as fond memory, is a dreamy concept in retrospect. I like the dreaminess of it  I closed that chapter there. Now I only revisit the pages when the blur in my memory turns inviting.

PS-Few days back, he 'added' me. I cursed facebook for interfering with my dreams from the past. Did I add him too? Well, I still am a nervous romantic and a hapless single. Should I?



25 comments:

  1. facebook killed that sweet strangeness...I was myself disappointed that why he sent you that request...it is sometimes so beautiful if the things just remain untouched...but it was an awesome read...came to your blog after a long time and it was fun to be back...a good break from the kind of things I have to read here.

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    1. Why did no one see the fiction/short story tag at the end? This narration is loosely based upon something which transpired with a friend. She told me a little something, and this narrative was instantly formed in my head. I liked putting myself in her shoes, to make it sound more real. Duh! Tum bhi na...!

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    2. aww!...this was fiction? what man!...but it would have been so nice if you were the girl...just imagine...haha...anyhow it is a beautiful read

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    3. I guess it became a beautiful read only because I kept imagining myself to be the girl. My imaginations were aided by an experience I had had when I was in 10th standard. Had fun writing this. Glad you liked :)

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  2. Don't you feel like Cinderalla, now? ;)

    I like the dreaminess too but he just might be the one ;) you never know :D.

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    1. Damn! I had in my mind to use the concept of Cinderella. Forgot while in the flow. And, err...his strangeness is all I like for the time being :)

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  3. Haha a fairy tale :) a magic fable !
    loved reading it.
    Dee..

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  4. haha :D D is right, you never know ;)
    Mybe he really is the one ;)

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    1. Aah. If only I did meet a stranger. If only this weren't fiction. Sigh.

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  5. Hey just a suggestion, this is a really gud story, u shud elaborate it a little n convert it into a short film...:)

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    1. You are leading me on in the direction of another dream. I wish I could, but filming and all, not my ball game!
      Still, if anyone shows interest, I might try turning this into a script :)

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  6. I LOVE!!!! :D
    And YES add him! :P
    I like the whole 'perfect strangers' concept, but please ADD him !! :D :D
    then there'll be more stories for you to tell and me to listen...and dream that perhaps someday it will happen to me as well! ;) :P

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    1. Tum bhi? Itna real laga sab? Fiction this is. Heard a little something and made it into a story. Now even I am feeling like meeting someone like 'him'. :P

      And stories I can tell you aplenty. I have a good imagination you see.

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  7. Hi I am Rajiv went through your blog .. I like your write ups.. and I don't think that there is any problem with the design its awesome. fast and clear in navigation.. everything is just going good here..

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    1. Very sweet of you. Thank you so much for such appreciation. Hope to see you around often :)

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    2. I will certainly since i have followed you here because I need to keep visiting back and keep spying.. Hey Hey just kidding about spying..

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    3. Oh. So both these are your accounts :P
      I thought two alag alag people had complimented me. My happiness stands halved now. Sigh.

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  8. Replies
    1. Ahaan. What would make you say that? :)

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    2. Really the kind of posts that you have in here.. isn't that enough.. Other than what you write here i don't know much about you..!!

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    3. :) May be this is only as much as I choose to reveal. And thanks ton for the appreciation :)

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    4. One of them is my google profile and the other one is my open id of my blog.. and waise did i ask you to reveal anything.. ?

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    5. Hmm. It is becoming one of those conversations. Do read through the other posts and let me know your opinion on them.

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