Sometimes in life, unexpected people and names remind you of old wounds which lay buried deep inside the heart............. It was a saturday evening when Pooja called me. Pooja who is my collegue and good friend since the last year and a half, was bred in Mumbai and much to her dislike had to relocate to Chennai because of her job. She didnt have many friends here (like myself) but we vibed really well.
Me: "Hey Pooch, What’s up buddy?"
Pooja: "Guess what? I’ ve good news"
Me: "Dont tell me that you are getting married!!!!!!!! he he he!!!!!"
Pooja: "YUP, Prachi I am getting married!!!!!!!! Can u believe it?????"
Me: "WHAT!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! Pooch, you kidding me!!!!!!"
Pooja: "No Prachi, this is true and I want you to meet him. He's come down from Bangalore. Can we all meet up tomorrow? He's leaving next week."
Me: "Sure dear, but at least tell me his name and what does he do?. Pooja, you can’t simply expect me to let you off without divulging anything about him. You have to give me all his details so that I can prepare to interrogate him tomorrow, he he he he he.... after all this is my future
jeeju you are talking about."
Pooja: "Okie, will tell you the details. First decide the place coz I’ ve to inform him. How about Espahani Centre?
Me: " Poochhhhh, no not that place, please. You know how much I dislike the place right?. I feel very uncomfortable there"
Pooja: "Ya, I know but he loves the place. He has a lot of memories attached to it. He grew up in Chennai. Please Prachi, don't say no. Its the first time he's told me his preference and I don't want to disappoint him. Prachuuuuuuuuu"
Me: "Ok Ok, Dont sulk now. Fine, lets meet up there but don't blame me if I am not myself. Gosh, just look what love does to people!!!! (Pooja giggles)
You still have not given me the details dumbo."
Pooja: "Ok listen. His name is Raj, a Company Secretary working in Bangalore. He was born and brought up in Chennai.........."
I was not listening to the rest of the things Pooja said. I could’nt listen. I was trembling instead. That was the effect the word "RAJ" still had on me. I did’nt want to go down memory lane. I wish Pooch had not called me, I wish I had not asked her fiance's name. I wish I had left Chennai then, three years back.
Espahani Centre - 3 years back
Raj and I always met up at Espahani Centre. I don't remember how we ended up choosing the place but it was almost as if it was meant to be.
Raj and I had been staying in the same colony since childhood. We had been friends, rather we had a lot of common friends. But it was when his family shifted to another residential area that we realised that our feelings for each other had blossomed into love. We started meeting often. First we met up at movies and later graduated to Espahani Centre. Espahani was witness to all our celebrations be it birthdays, or anniverseries for the whole of four years we were together.
One day we met up at Espahani, only this time the reason was completely different from the rest. Raj was moving to Bangalore because his father had got a transfer and wanted to meet me before he left. Little did I know then that it would be the last time we would meet. We felt very sad to part but Raj promised that once he completed his Company Secretaryship he would speak to our parents about us. But as time passed the telephone conversations reduced to sms's which then reduced to mails and then finally it was just silence....... I was desperate to hear from him but neither did he answer my calls nor did he reply to my mails or sms's. I took his silence in the begining as the aftermath of some mishap in his life but later on was informed by a mutual friend that he was very much in touch with them. After a while I was forced to give up but not before feeling completely used up and emotionally drained. Why did he do this to me? Did he ever love me at all? Was I just a time pass for him? These were questions for which I would never find an answer. Pooch was still talking. I collected myself and promised her that I would make it tomorrow.
It was finally when I got dressed on Sunday morning that it struck me like a bolt of lightning. Did Pooja say her fiance was Raj, a Company Secretery based in Bangalore???????? That's impossible. How can it be? God could’n t be so rude to me. How would I face him? What would I tell him? What would I tell Pooja - Glad to meet your fiance who also happens to be my ex-lover/ditcher? I had to make an excuse to not go but Pooja would be heart broken..........
I reached Espahani at sharp 12. I wanted to register the place well in my mind before I finally confronted Raj with all the questions that had given me sleepless nights for so long. Pooja would be here with Raj at 12.30.
How did Raj react when Pooja told him about Prachi, her best friend? Did he remember the name atleast?
At last after what seemed like a lifetime, I saw Pooja come with a very tall guy. As they came closer, I saw their faces, which were glowing in each others presence. Wait....... the guy with her, that's not Raj!!!!!!!!!!! Not the Raj I wanted to confront, warn Pooja against. For a moment I stood there, thanking God for making "RAJ", such a common name and "Company Secreteryship", a popular profession.
Pooja gave me what was probably the warmest hug I have ever got from her. As we sat talking, I could’nt help thinking......
Sometimes in life, unexpected people and names remind you of old wounds which lay buried deep inside the heart............. :)
