The Lies!

"Damn, why does it has to happen with me?” he thought. "If this was to happen, why did I meet her in first place? I will stop watching Shahrukh movies straightaway"

"Hey what happened? Lost is some thought?” she asked smilingly.

"Naah, just thinking about couple of meetings tomorrow, crucial ones", he lied.

"So, Aman! Tell me, you must have had many girl friends. Huh?” she probed.

"Yeah kind of! Have had some serious affairs and few casual ones", he lied again. "Cool! So do you have a girl friend now?” her eyes sparkled.

"Yes, she is in Delhi, Pallavi is her name!", again a lie.

"Cool, so how did you guys meet? On Delhi metro? Hehe...I am kidding. You tell me. I am all ears"

"Ummmm... I met her in September last year. I knew her beforehand through a common friend. She had a bad break-off about three months back. And we became good friends. We used to flirt a lot. We became excellent friends. Then when I started dating this another girl, from Pune, she proposed to me. And we kicked off. December 14th was the date. So roughly seven months now". He was applauding himself for coming up with a credible story so quickly and saying it unperturbed. Somehow he didn't want to let her know he had been a loser since ever. "That's it! What about yours?"




"Cool! Mine is rather a simple one. I went to this friend's birthday party at Kasbah Restaurant in GK1 and there I met with Prakhar, who had landed up as an accompany to his friend. We liked each other and started dating. He is working with Google, Hyderabad. That's it"

"So you guys serious for taking this up next level", seeing a inquisitive smile he continued "I mean wedding and all dear", and they both chuckled.

"Ummm he is a very good guy and I am beginning to think in that direction. Moreover I am not among those girls, who keep on waiting for Mr. Right until their dreams are shattered and then they settle for a compromise.", she said very objectively.

"Damn me! All hopes gone.” he thought and then said "Excellent line of thought."

"Hey he's coming over next month. If you are still here, let's all of us meet then and probably I can have a second opinion about him. You seem very experienced in these matters. You will help me, right? she fluttered her eyebrows and the smile got its maximum possible span.

"Yes! Why not", he said and thought "What an irony"

"Hey don't know how but you have become a great friend in just two meets", she exclaimed

"Three"

"Oops! Correct, I forgot to count our first", and she giggled again.

His phone rang. He picked up.

The voice on the other side said, "Vodafone would like to greet its esteemed customer"

"Yes honey! How are you doing?"

"There have been some value added services which can be activated on your number for discounted price."

"Really, how? Cool, I don't want to miss that love. Book that one for me."

"For more information call our customer care service"

"Yes honey! Okay I will call back at night then."

"Thank you for using Vodafone"

"Bbye Sweetie! Take care” and he hung up. They exchanged formal smiles.

"Okay Aman! Thanks for a wonderful time and coffee", will call you sometime.

"Sure", they left the table after paying the bill.

"Bbye, see you later", she said as they shook hands. "Of course, bbye and take care"

They moved in opposite directions.



Part 9

Part 1

The Evening!

"A black coffee for me and Cappuccino for the lady".

"Sure Sir"

"So, how have you been lately? In fact how come you land up here? I mean, it’s been over a year since that day", he found it hard to control his excitement.

"Hehe! Nothing much, I joined here a week back as a system analyst in Mr. Sareen's team. Before that college's fourth year. What's up with you in last year", she said and giggled.

"Ha-ha! Dual accidents I must say. Well, I completed my MBA. I opted out of placements because wanted to open this consulting firm with my friend and batch-mate and then here I am pitching for clients", after a pause he continued "by bribing them by asking for a cup of coffee with me", and they both had a hearty laugh.

Then there was this abominable lull. Both just searching for second set of ice-breakers. He started again, "I wish I had taken down your orkut id that day. I came home to find that it was almost impossible to find me with the information you had.” Failing to see an expression, he continued "You remember about adding each other on orkut. Don't you?"

"Yeah, I do remember. In fact I searched once but couldn't find you.” she replied

A year ago

"Akshita, this is crazy. We can't divide profiles of over thousand Aman SharmaS amongst to manually check which freaky guy you met on metro.", Indra said.



"Indra, I know but can't help. Please help me sweetie", she pleaded.

"What a jackass he had been? Couldn't he have asked for your phone number?"

"Babes, it would have been too awkward, knowing that we met about 20 minutes ago"

"And isn't this awkward? What the hell?", she roared.

"Look I have checked till 59 pages. Will check till 60. Last page. Okay", she said and clicked next. The phone rang. "Yes mommy", she moved out in balcony as she talked. "Yes Indra is with me. We would reach Lajpat in about two hours"

The screen had just finished loading. The third profile read:

Aman Sharma
Mumbai, Delhi
India
About Me: Enjoying my stint at God's own Kampus

"Ya Mom", she moved closer to the computer. "Okies bbye, I have work to do", she hung up. "That's your 60th page. Go through it and then if you please can we leave?"

"Okay... let me see". *Poof* Power cut. The UPS was of no use. Almost simultaneously there were two voices
"Damn"
"Thank God, now can we leave"
"There you go", she agreed unwillingly. "Maybe we can find someone in IIMK who may be able to help"
"Hey don't be so desperate. If it has to happen maybe you will meet him again someday when you least expect him to", Indra winked
"Oh Please! It's so filmy. Okay let's go", she said as they moved out.

"Sir, Ma'am your coffees!", said the waiter, breaking the third abominable lull of the evening

The phone rang again. She picked up, "Yeah! I will be there by 10. Just out with an old friend. .....hmmm....okay..bbye...love you too. Take care"

He started to ask a question, "So, boyfr..". She replied in between, "No, it was from my PG, my roommate, Nikita", she smiled.

Phew, a close one. He wanted to thump in air once again. But rather resorted to have a calm silent sip of the black coffee.

"My boyfriend lives in Hyderabad, though. His name is Prakhar"



Part 8

Part 1

The Meeting!

"Hi, I am Aman", he said and suddenly had a change of facial expression.

"errr... Hi.. Akshita", she had her share of changed expression too.

Both had familiarity with other's names and faces but rather were short on confidence account whether to ask it first or not. After all it was just 20-25 minutes trip. What if the other simply didn't have an idea who they were. These were the thoughts that were constraining each other from asking it first, "Are you the same person I met on that Delhi Metro blue line on that day in February last year?"

"Mr. Sareen must have briefed you about the project pitch, I guess", he started.

"Yes, he did. Although could you explain it further?"

"Sure! According to plan...", his eyes slipped to the same strands of hair which covered her ears in the same manner that they did last year... "Oops! I lost the track..I mean..we are scheduled to make a pilot project presentation"

"Yes! he mentioned about it...", she said trying to calm her facial expression.
She continued, "About the chronological planning and .........."

They have been some really tough 15 minutes.



"Alright then, we would reply back about your data request", she offered her hand for shake. "Nice speaking with you, Akshita...ummmmm... okay bye". "Hmm Bye", she replied.

She was sitting on her desk, watching him go towards the exit door, wishing he would turn back and say something. His legs were moving forward but the face was desperate to turn back and mouth to ask "Hey do you remember me?"

He pulled the exit door. He turned back. She had made up her mind. Both said simultaneously, "Do you reckon, we have met earlier?"



A sense of respite was clearly to be seen. Smiles exchanged and they knew they need not answer that question. They came nearer and it was very much like "Kuch Kuch Hota hai" scene where SRK and Kajol met for the first time in 8 years.

The phone rang. "Miss Grover! You have to make for the meeting with JNW associate."

She didn't want to leave. He helped, "Hey you go now! Why not we meet sometime...errr..this evening...at Mocha's"

"Okay", she said smilingly. They left the room together. Although moved in opposite directions.

He came outside the building. He wanted to take off his coat, throw it upwards and shout "Yippee", but instead he shouted, "Taxi".

Destiny it seemed had finally caught with him.


To be continued..... Part 7

Part 1

And things continued!

June 2011

He had completed his MBA and had joined in an MNC. He had been thankful to them to get him an opportunity to work in Mumbai, the city of dreams.

Just another Monday morning. Rush hour. Mumbai never waits for you. And amidst that some things don't change.

Trringgggg.....tring. "Oh!", he said yawningly and followed by "Holy Crap! Not again"
It would 5th time in fortnight that he was going to be late. He decided to go for the meeting with the client instead. "Taxi", he shouted, still buttoning a couple of shirt buttons.

Screeeeeeechhhh....A cab halted. "Nariman Point, within 30 minutes". He must had been kidding when he said that. He was late for the meeting too. He called up the client's reception, "Hello this is Aman Sharma from *******, I had a meeting scheduled with Mr. Rahul Sareen".
"Wait a minute sir, let me check", said the pleasant sounding voice on the other side. "Sir he has left for another meeting. He waited for you quite a long".

"(Oh Crap) Hey there, I will be really grateful to you if you could arrange my meet with somebody else in his team"

"Sorry Sir, I can't"

"What if we can meet up this friday at Hard Rock Cafe"

"I doubt that sir"

"I mean, just for nice chit-chat"

"I will be going to Goa with my husband, sir"

"Ohh! I am extremely sorry. I didn't mean it..."

"No issues Aman", the voice chuckled, "I will try to arrange your meet with Miss Grover"

"Thanks, ....err...."

"Saloni, and by the way I am free next weekend. Thanks for calling *********"

He couldn't stop smiling on the last line. It wasn't long when his phone rang.

"Aman Sharma here"

"annn... Hi Mr. Sharma I am calling from ******"

"Oh! You must be Miss Grover. Am glad you called"

"Yes! We came to knew you couldn't make for the meeting with Mr. Sareen. So if you can over now, probably we can discuss few things."

"Sure, you will get me there in 5 minutes. Cheers. Bye"

She hung up the line. Alongside the phone receiver was a placard with "Akshita Grover" written over it....

Part 6

Part 1

Ek chhoti si "X" Story!!- Part 4

[DISCLAIMER: "X" is for relationship that didn't have a name...it’s not adult rated :) ...The term "X" courtesy: Ms. Divya Arya]

After a pause she spoke again “You were looking miserable when you were boarding this train. What happened?” He told her whatever happened. “That was sure one of those off days”, she smiled. Was it anymore, he wondered.

And he also wondered, what it would have been if the events of the day didn't turn up as they did.




2013

Two friends were talking:

"Dude, then what happened?"
"Nothing mann....
We talked a bit here and there. "Next station is Botanical Garden and then she said

"Okies Aman, this is my station it was nice meeting with you"

"Hey, are you on facebook? Maybe we could catch up later. Perhaps would love to know how are the things with you couple of years down the line."

"Sorry but I am not on facebook. I am or orkut though.” she said.

"Okies, what's your user name or id?” I asked

"Actually is a bit complicated... zizunch****"

"Oh! That's really complicated stuff. I would have a tough time remembering it. Lemme write it down somewhere!” I exclaimed

"Hey never mind, give me yours orkut name id"

"Its Aman Sharma. There might be a suffix IIMK. I haven't checked that in ages though"

"Okay I will add you. Bye Aman and have a nice day", she said and moved away. I wished she would stay, but doors closed with a double ping sound."

His friend asked "So, you guys became friends then?"

"Maybe, I had already lost my heart to her. But, I didn't admit that to myself. As I was unsure of my feelings for her, I named them "X", as an unknown mathematical quantity. But all the hopes were shattered when I could access internet only 4 days later to find that my Orkut account had some other name . Even changing it to Aman Sharma IIMK didn't throw my name in search results. And without IIMK, there were more than 1000 of Aman SharmaS. Searching "Me" was impossible on orkut. And I understood I had lost her forever.” he replied

His friend's face expression changed, "Idiot, you should have asked for her phone number"




"Hmmm, what you said is true, but looking back I don't regret. Okay let’s keep this discussion to ourselves and don't share this even with your Namita."

In September of 2013, the guy was getting married and was waiting for his bride to arrive when he shared his Chhoti si "X" story with one of his best friend. The friend was not so happy after listening to the story; rather he was furious over his friend's stupidity. But, he portrayed as usual, "according to scenario joyous face".

Just before the bride would come up to the podium, the guy whispered in his friend's ears, "Oops I forgot to tell. The girl's name was Akshita"

The face changed and glared onto the glowing wallpaper over the entrance which read, "Aman weds Akshita"





May be continued..... :)

Part 5

Part 1

Ek chhoti si "X" Story!!- Part 3

[DISCLAIMER: "X" is for relationship that didn't have a name...it’s not adult rated :) ...The term "X" courtesy: Ms. Divya Arya]

"The next station is Rajouri Garden" said the automated announcer. The train which started with not more than a dozen in every coach was now more than filled with people taking help of hand supports which ran in a line along the middle of every coach with advertisements on all three sides of the hanging supports, which said something about a confidence to hold onto the hanging support without worrying about smell from one's armpit.

On one fine day of Indian summer, a guy had boarded a flight bound to Delhi from Mumbai to find him in a string of bad lucks: woke up late, paid hefty amount for taxi, lost his wallet. Amidst heavy luggage he was travelling in metro where he found a sweet girl, spectacled, long haired and ears plugged to her music cell phone, sitting in front of him reading a book on Computer Graphics.

She was gently swaying her head with the rhythm of the song being played on one of the 20 FM channels that Delhi had seen mushrooming over past five years. He got busy, or at least pretended to be busy under Business Week issue of that month that was filled with articles confirming the economy was on the pathway of revival.



"Jhandewaalan Station". A swarm of people filled in. Amongst them were a few old ladies. The guy saw the board above his neighbor's seat- "For Elderly and Physically Handicapped". But when he didn't see him move a muscle, he left his seat and invited the oldest of the lot to have the seat. The old lady smiled and blessed him. Another pair of lips smiled, behind the book of Computer Graphics, but they couldn't be noticed by him. The guy stood in between of the coach holding on to one of those hanging support (after making sure the deo on his armpit was still effective).

It wasn't long enough before the seat besides the girl got vacant at "Ramakrishna Ashram Marg..Station". A couple of guys pounced towards the vacant seat like electrons jump towards a positively changed nucleus. "Hey! Sit here!", said the sweet voice to the benevolent seat-sacrificer. The seat contestants had their face turn orange with frustration and disappointment. "Thanks", he said.

"Hi I am Aman", he said "Thanks for the gesture, Miss .."
"Akshita"
"I have heard that for the first time, beautiful name"
"Hehe Thanks. Your gesture towards that elderly lady was nice too"
He smiled. And both got back to their books. "Next station is Rajeev Chowk. Doors will open on the left. Please mind the gap”

It was easy for a third person to realize that if respective test would have been taken about what the he was reading for last 5 minutes, he would have failed miserably.



She closed the book and took out some class notes. "Hey, can I see that book?, he asked.

"Sure"

"I had been through this book".

"Accha, when?"

"About 5 years ago, in my college 2nd year".

"Great, we have this in our 3rd year. I am studying at Amity University"

“Cool”.

“So are you a Software Engineer?”

“No, actually I am pursuing my MBA from IIM Kozhikode, 2nd year would start in June. Before that, I worked for two years after my graduation, though nothing related to engineering”

“Great, IIM! I will be taking CAT this year, but those percentiles in 90s are a distant dream for me”

“Hmmm..So you have MBA aspirations because of a personal choice or just following the herd like me?”

She smiled “Maybe the latter”.

He smiled back “Then maybe you need not do an MBA. I did because I didn’t have any focus of what to ahead”.

“You are in IIM K and I should believe that you were out of focus. Common! Give me a break!”

“Arre, I am not kidding.”

“Yaya”. They both chuckled

After a pause she spoke again “You were looking miserable when you were boarding this train. What happened?” He told her whatever happened. “That was sure one of those off days”, she smiled. Was it anymore, he wondered.

to be continued....... Part 4

Part 1

Ek chhoti si "X" Story!!- Part 2

[DISCLAIMER: "X" is for relationship that didn't have a name...its not adult rated :) ...The term "X" courtsey: Ms. Divya Arya]

She delved deep in her book. The anxiety on the face could tell that the exams were near. Then her phone rang-"IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY SO I KNOW..." She picked it up-" Haan! Mumma I am on my way back. Will be there in another hour and a half....No, she's not with me....I don't know.......At savita aunty's place......two dozens....hmmmm...okies..bye love ya mumma!"



She again went in her books. The announcement said "Dwarka Station"

Meanwhile he did manage to get a place for two of the bags. The third bag didn't have place to go under the seat. He looked around for space. Then looked at the girl again. He thought of it as a point to start conversation with. He overcame his inhibitions and managed to blurt out-"Exuse Me! Do you mind if I put the suitcase beneath your seat?"


No Response. He was embarrassed. He began cursing himself for being a loser in life. Adding to that this day hadn't been great either, he thought.



Six hours ago: Mumbai

"Damn it!! It's 10 am! I have to catch the flight at 11! I am screwed", he said to himself so aloud that even his neighbors could hear. Lazy as he had been all these years, he didn't care to pack his luggage a night beforehand.

Hurriedly he put all that he could see in vicinity, thinking that he would come back anyways by the end of the month. "Trousers Check...Shirts check...Toothbrush and shaving kit check... Deodorant...Vanity box (yeah guys do have one)...Files..papers check...done". "Click" that was the sound of final buckle of the bag. He rushed outside looking for taxi.

But, strangely there were none. It was a strike. Seemingly a taxi driver was beaten up by few college guys who were then beaten to blood by his friends. He didn't have time to switch on the TV. He was looking around hopelessly when a car with private number stopped in front of him. "Airpot!! 900 Rupees", the person said. He had no choice. He got in. The driver just made in time for the scheduled flight arrival time and said "Have a nice day!". He smirked, collected the change 100 rupees, and rushed towards the entrance with the luggage.

He boarded the plane. The Air India flight was as usual with overgrown air hostesses. He got the worst possible seat, the middle one in the last row, which couldn't bend backwards. The plane took off. He was damn hungry. He heard the serving trolley moving, starting from the front row. When it reached him, he unfurled his mouth, "Non Veg". The fat lady said "Sorry sir, there is no more of non-vegetarian breakfast. take this veg one instead". He said to himself-"Yeah nice day"

The flight landed on time at IndiraGandhi International Airport, New Delhi. But, luggage took some serious time. His phone rang-"Corrs-The joy of life".
"Hello....ya...yes Sameer, I just landed...what...where from..dwarka?...sameer I am already getting late...can you...okay I will do it"

He took a cab to dwarka. Carried out the "instructions" and then when he was thirsty enough, he put his hand in his pocket to take out his wallet. Gone. Another great event in the great day. Thankfully all that was lost was some cash, credit cards and few unnecessary contact cards. He had some change in his shirt pocket left after paying off the driver at mumbai airport. In 100 Rupees all he could do was to catch a metro to Noida. Thankfully the nearest metro station was "a rikshaw" away.

He rushed towards the stairs with his luggage, panting badly because of the bad chest congestion.

"Hey you can keep your bag beneath my seat if you want", the voice came from front, taking off earphones from her ears, which were hidden by beautiful long hair, that reached her abdomen. That was a timely interruption. He smiled and moved the luggage in. She helped by moving her legs to one side.



He said "Thanks". She replied "Welcome! But you don't have to wait for help from others. Feel free to ask favors"
She again plugged the earphones and turned over a new chapter in the book- '3 D Transformation'

To be continued..... Part 3

Part 1