Thoughts of the Past - XIII

31 years later

"Don't panic Aditi. Everything will be done. We still have a week left."

"Anand!!! There is so much left to do and you are not worried!! Its not a house party!!!" - cried Aditi.

"I know sweetheart!" - smiled Anand and hugged Aditi.

He continued- " It will just be the way you have dreamt of. I assure you. Now go and spend some time with her. She has been complaining of you not giving her time since the last 3 weeks."

Aditi looked up at Anand. She had tears in her eyes.

"Is she actually going to leave us? I can't believe she is getting married. Our little daughter..."

"Aditiii....Technically she left us much earlier when she went for her graduation. And all of us have been brought up this way. So stop being melodramatic now! You should be happy we are going to have an addition in the family". - said Anand and smiled.

"Hmmm. I just want Kavya to be happy and I hope Kabeer is the right guy for her."

"Aditi. We should have faith in our children's choices. Just the way we had in ours. "

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"Mom. It's too hot. Can we please get back inside the car?"

Rya took one more sip from her cup and looked smilingly at her son, who was bothered by the Indian Sun due to her insistence on having tea at a local betel shop. She always loved the tea from the stalls instead of the cafes. They seemed to have the perfect taste.

"Dad. Say something to Mom!!! I am sweating all over. Why can't we have it inside the car? I just don't get it." - cried Kartik.

Rishabh pat Kartik on his back and said "Your Mom loves India and the flavours it has. She got you here for the same reason. Try to experience India, as it is and you might fall in love with it just the way I fell in love with your Mom". He smiled and looked at Rya. She had already deep dived into her thoughts.

"I still don't get it. I am getting inside. Come soon." - said Kartik and ran towards the car.

"What happened Rya? Are you OK?" - asked Rishabh.

"Yeah. Yeah. I am fine. I just got lost. Stupid old memories, you know"- shrugged Rya.

"Where is Kartik? Lets go. Aditi must be waiting" - continued Rya and got up and walked towards the car. She didn't even look back.

Rishabh looked at her and knew it was HIS thoughts which had got Rya once again. He knew there was something Rya never shared with him. Even after this long! He had no complaints against her. She had never given him an opportunity to blame her for anything. She had given her best to the home, the family, to Karthik and to the marriage but not to Rishabh. After that trip back from India, Rya had changed completely. Even though he wanted her to reconsider the marriage, she was vehement on marrying him. Rishabh didn't understand her. He knew he had a happy family and a happy life but he also knew a part of Rya was never happy in it.

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"Rya!!!!!" - cried Aditi on opening the door and hugged her friend tightly.

There was happiness all around. Even though everyone knew each other, it was a different feeling to have met after a gap of 9 years. And for Kartik, he was meeting Aditi, Anand and Kavya for the first time. He had heard a lot about them though. Rya wanted Kartik to marry an Indian girl and so she insisted on Kartik attending the wedding, with the hope that Kartik would love the Indian culture. However, Kartik was least interested in the whole affair and he was counting his days to return back to home.

"Good morning Kartik!!" - greeted Kavya as she entered into Kartik's room next day morning.. Everyone else being busy with either the preparations or meeting after so long, Kavya found Kartik to be the only other person who was getting bored in this entire farce.

"Goood Morning Kavya! What are you doing here? Aren't you the bride?" - said Kartik.

"Aaah yeah...I am...but the wedding is after 6 days. I am getting bored. I am the special person but everyone here doesn't have time for me. Most importantly, my parents!!!" - said Kavya with a sigh.

"I thought I could spend some time with you. I am sure you are getting bored too." - added Kavya.

"Well its your wedding and I am taught not to be impolite. But yeah I am getting bored!! Big time!! I don't know people here and the heat along with the crowd. Its maddening." - said Kartik with a smile.

Kavya smiled. She was impressed with Kartik's candid nature.

"Hmm. Get ready! I will try to make your  India visit worthwhile. I will show you around." - said Kavya.

"Cool. Ummm...Kavya we are going in a AC car, right?" - asked Kartik.

"Nopes. We will get caught. I am not allowed to go outside. But I have something better than the car.Meet me near the rear gate."

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"Wow!This place is beautiful! Do you come here often?"- asked Kartik.

"Not now. But when I was small, I used to come here often. One of my uncles used to get me here. I loved those escapades. I had a lot of fun. We cycled, trekked and did crazy things.  My parents used to accompany me too. But as and when I grew up, I didn't find much time to come here." - said Kavya.

"Hmm. But this isn't very far from your place. How come its not so crowded?"

" People nowadays don't have much time for nature. Strange it is, but we always chase the mundane things of life, leaving behind the true beauties." - said Kavya with a hint of nostalgia.

"Thoughtful!! So tell me about Kabeer. How did you guys meet and all...."

Kavya and Kartik spent the whole day there, talking about their lives. The friendship their mothers shared had somehow trickled down the next generation as well. They wondered how well they got along and in such a short time. Around noon, Kavya got a call from Aditi but she was too smart to trick her mother to believe she was just around the corner and added that Kartik was with him too.

As they got up to leave, Kartik asked "K, where is that Uncle you used to come here with?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen him since I left home for studies. I asked Mom too. But she hasn't heard from him either. I miss him. Back then, I didn't value his time, his care and his love. Today when I want him to be a part of the biggest day of my life, I am unable to find him. I truly wish if he could come back."

"Hmm. No phone number, email id of his?" - asked Kartik.

"Yeah. I have his email id. I mailed him quite many times. But he never replied. I wonder if he ever read any of those. I wonder if he is.."

"What's his name?" - interrupted Kartik.

"Ryan. Ryan Mehra."

(To be Continued...)

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Links to earlier posts:

Thoughts of the Past - I

Thoughts of the Past - II

Thoughts of the Past - III

Thoughts of the Past - IV

Thoughts of the Past - V

Thoughts of the Past - VI

Thoughts of the Past - VII

Thoughts of the Past - VIII

Thoughts of the Past - IX

Thoughts of the Past - X

Thoughts of the Past - XI

Thoughts of the Past - XII

Quote Challenge - Day 2

Continuing with the quote challenge; on Day 2, I would like to mention the above quote from George Orwell's famous novel 1984. I love this quote because despite being so simple, it conveys one of the most powerful messages for mankind.

How many times has an individual, who claims to be free, actually feels free to express his/her beliefs or opinion without feeling scared of the consequences? We are free as long as we can boldly speak of our beliefs. What we believe is what we conceive the truth to be. There has to be absolute freedom, in every form, for a human being, to feel free. Only then a state of true democracy prevails. For an Utopia to be born, the human mind has to be free from fear. Only when we think free, we act free. The rest is just what we want and how we want it to be.

Thank you Salvwi for nominating me for this.

Since I do not know a lot of bloggers, I nominate anybody and everybody from the blogger world to take up this challenge and write about their favourite quotes.

The 3 day Quote Challenge is all about:

1. Post one of your favourite quotes (different quote on each day) on three consecutive days. The quote can be from your favourite book, author or your own.
2. Nominate 3 bloggers with each post to challenge them.
3. Thank the blogger, who nominated you.

Quote Challenge - Day 1

I love quotes, especially the ones which befits the situation we are in at a point of time. It makes me believe somebody has gone through what I am currently going through and listening to his/her experience and wisdom is the finest way of inspiring myself. I feel I am a part of the journey, already traversed by a great soul.

On Day 1, I would like to mention the entire commencement speech by Steve Jobs at Stanford University (2005)as THE QUOTE which inspires me the most. I am sure all of you have come across it. If you haven't, I would sincerely urge you to do the same at the earliest. The lines, mentioned at the beginning of this post, are the ones which appeal the most to me in the entire address. I came across them while reading about Steve Jobs. Its been my favourite since then. In fact, I have a print out pinned to my cubicle wall which I religiously read to myself before I start work every single day.

These lines empower me. It reinforces the fact that we are the best masters of our self. It makes death look more like a milestone rather than a tombstone. Every time I read it, I feel like doing justice to my talent, my wishes, my knowledge, my ambition and my life. It stresses the fact that I am living my life for myself. Not for somebody else. It makes me fearless and resist the norm, if I know what's right and what's wrong. When I look at these lines, I also look at Steve and I feel he is speaking to me and only me and urging me to make that change in my life, which I have been postponing for no reason - logical or good enough. It frees me of the unwanted shackles holding onto me.

These lines, in fact the entire commencement address, has an utmost significance in my life. It has made me confident of the decisions I have taken till now and the ones I will ever take in future. It has made me tread on the career I wanted to and simultaneously leave behind everyone, who was illogical and dogmatic. Its not just a quote but a way of life for me.

Thank you Salvwi for nominating me for this wonderful challenge! I am fond of quotes and this opportunity gives me the perfect platform to write about the special ones. I have known you from quite a long time and reading your blogs just makes it better to know what goes on inside that creative mind of yours. I love your poems especially and the fact that you still pursue your writing passion so deeply inspires me to pursue mine.

Today I nominate Amit, Samparna and Amrita to take up this challenge. It has been a while since I read something on these lines from you guys.

The 3 day Quote Challenge is all about:

1. Post one of your favourite quotes (different quote on each day) on three consecutive days. The quote can be from your favourite book, author or your own.
2. Nominate 3 bloggers with each post to challenge them.
3. Thank the blogger, who nominated you.

My Greatest Fear

I fear not to have travelled the world less
Or be known more for my ignorance
Ignominy or poverty don't scare me either
Let alone loneliness, despair or sickness.

Break my trust, I shall feel low
Leave me and go, I will not follow
Love me less, I will love you more
Make me cry and I shall mature.

As long as I have the hope
Of meeting them someday somewhere
I am not afraid of life's game
Sometimes fair sometimes unfair

Facing my fear, I for sure abhor
It being a part of me, I just can't ignore.
Quite like every one here,
I too have my greatest fear.

Just can't lose the people I love and care for
And survive a life with no trace of before.

When they got to talk...

When my mind and my heart got to talking; the conversation went something like this:

Mind: Is it alright to be a no one amidst this chaos of career, fame, money and its ilk?

Heart :  Absolutely. Everything is unlimited. You can never have the bigger pie. Go for wisdom, love, health, spirituality and peace instead. Live content.

Mind: Should we always dream of the future and analyse the past?

Heart : Stop analysing. Keep dreaming. Whatever keeps you happy. Live in the moment.

Mind: Is it ideal to plan for everything in our life?

Heart: Don't be a coward. Face the uncertainties life offers you. That's the plan life's got for you.

Mind: Is it fine to disappoint people around us?

Heart: Perfectly. You are not you if you don't have a few disappointed relationships around you.

Mind: Should we start searching for our happiness in others happiness? 

Heart: Everybody is searching for their own share of happiness. You search for yours. If both of you meet, greet and walk on.

Mind: Is it stupid to display our emotion? Prove our feeling?

Heart: Where lies trust and genuineness, there is no need to prove. Displaying it or not depends on whether it makes you happy or not.

Mind: Fast is good. Affairs are bad. Silence is weakness. Travel.Save money. What else?

Heart: Do what you want to do. Nothing is good or bad. These are all views and you have yours too. You have no memory of your past life and you got just this one to live.

Mind: Thank you! It helped.

Heart: It was my opinion. You have your own. And that's the reason the person reading our conversation is so doomed.