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I still remember the first day we met. I saw her on the streets, selling nimbo-soda for 3 Rs. Clad in a white salwaar-kameez, her hair open and loose which made her look mature, her wheatish skin glowing in that harsh Delhi summer of 1998. A few minutes later, I muster up the courage and go to her.
"Hi. 1 nimbo-soda please."
"That will be 3 Rs."
I quietly placed the 3 Rs and the gift on the table while she made the nimbo-soda.
"Thanks. But why these leaves?" she asked me.
"My dad tells me that whenever we meet anyone, we must gift them flowers. I actually didn't know whether you'll like flowers. So I thought why not the leaves?"
"uhhh.. Thank you. But, i prefer flowers. By the way, you in army?"
"Oh! I'm really sorry. Major Dhruv Sharma."
"Anjali Ahluwalia."
"Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all. You are most welcome."
I joined her and we spent the whole afternoon chatting and getting to know each other. Soon, my life started to revolve around her- her words ringing inside my head as if they were a chant; her laughter ringing in my ears as if it was a song which I loved to listen to time and again; her blackish-brown eyes which would light up seeing gol-gappe or while buying bangles... Even if I had met her at least 5 times a day, I would still feel as if I had not seen her in a long time. I loved to get up early, dress and meet her while she used to greet me with her sunshine smile. In a matter of few months, my best friend became the love of my life.
But calamity struck as the Kargil War was announced and I was to report within a week. I met her cousin Ameesha who told me that preparations for her wedding were going on in her house. I realized it's now or never. So, sharp at 11 pm, I met Ameesha outside Anjali's house and asked her to deliver a letter to Anjali and I quietly left.
I was waiting at the station, half-hoping that Ameesha would come with my Anjali. My train was to arrive shortly and never in my life had I ever gotten so anxious! I could see the light on the top of my train. Murmuring my final prayer to Lord, I looked back again hoping to see Ameesha. But I saw an empty entry gate.
Dejected, I placed my luggage inside and had stepped. I was about to sit on my birth seat when I heard my name. I rushed out to see Ameesha standing near my train.
"Ameesha! Ameesha!"
She turned back and rushed towards me. She told me that Anjali had killed herself. Ameesha handed me a letter which Anjali had written for me. I boarded the train without saying a word.
I had learnt through Ameesha that the family had cremated her instead of burning her as it was her last wish. Although it's been 10 years since that, but I was still fighting with my inner demons. After I retired, I went to her grave. I bent down and caressed the ground. I finally let out all the emotions which had filled my heart in those 10 years and felt relieved and actually felt glad that I remained unmarried till all these years. I finally opened the letter which Ameesha had given me that night.
She always wanted to open a girls' orphanage and run it. Though she is not physically present with me anymore...her love, her thoughts, her beliefs will always stick with me. I know that wherever she is... she is watching me and she would be happy seeing that I am fulfilling her dream.
"Hi. 1 nimbo-soda please."
"That will be 3 Rs."
I quietly placed the 3 Rs and the gift on the table while she made the nimbo-soda.
"Thanks. But why these leaves?" she asked me.
"My dad tells me that whenever we meet anyone, we must gift them flowers. I actually didn't know whether you'll like flowers. So I thought why not the leaves?"
"uhhh.. Thank you. But, i prefer flowers. By the way, you in army?"
"Oh! I'm really sorry. Major Dhruv Sharma."
"Anjali Ahluwalia."
"Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all. You are most welcome."
I joined her and we spent the whole afternoon chatting and getting to know each other. Soon, my life started to revolve around her- her words ringing inside my head as if they were a chant; her laughter ringing in my ears as if it was a song which I loved to listen to time and again; her blackish-brown eyes which would light up seeing gol-gappe or while buying bangles... Even if I had met her at least 5 times a day, I would still feel as if I had not seen her in a long time. I loved to get up early, dress and meet her while she used to greet me with her sunshine smile. In a matter of few months, my best friend became the love of my life.
But calamity struck as the Kargil War was announced and I was to report within a week. I met her cousin Ameesha who told me that preparations for her wedding were going on in her house. I realized it's now or never. So, sharp at 11 pm, I met Ameesha outside Anjali's house and asked her to deliver a letter to Anjali and I quietly left.
I was waiting at the station, half-hoping that Ameesha would come with my Anjali. My train was to arrive shortly and never in my life had I ever gotten so anxious! I could see the light on the top of my train. Murmuring my final prayer to Lord, I looked back again hoping to see Ameesha. But I saw an empty entry gate.
Dejected, I placed my luggage inside and had stepped. I was about to sit on my birth seat when I heard my name. I rushed out to see Ameesha standing near my train.
"Ameesha! Ameesha!"
She turned back and rushed towards me. She told me that Anjali had killed herself. Ameesha handed me a letter which Anjali had written for me. I boarded the train without saying a word.
I had learnt through Ameesha that the family had cremated her instead of burning her as it was her last wish. Although it's been 10 years since that, but I was still fighting with my inner demons. After I retired, I went to her grave. I bent down and caressed the ground. I finally let out all the emotions which had filled my heart in those 10 years and felt relieved and actually felt glad that I remained unmarried till all these years. I finally opened the letter which Ameesha had given me that night.
Dhruv Ji,
aapko ek gal dasu? Aap na smile karte time na ji bade hi handsome lagte ho. aur aapko smile karte dekhkar na, mujhe apni dil ki dhadkan sunayi deti hain. oh hello! aapki woh jhooti-waali smile nahi... woh sachi waali smile, jo aapke unn choti-choti se hare color waali aankhon se dikhti, jissey yeh pata lagta hain ki aap sachi-muchi main khush ho. ek aur gal dasu... aap pe na neela color bahut changa dikhta hain. uss din jab aap park main woh neele color ka kurta pehen ke aaye the na... toh by god ki kasam, meri saans toh wahi attak gayi. issliye toh mein uss din sirf aapko dekhti hi reh gayi. pata hain, aapse baatein karna, aapki awaz sunna, aapke saath waqt bitana... meinu kitna acha lagta hain... yeh shayad mein khud bhi nahi jaanti. aur na aap... aap gussa mat kiya karo. bahut darawne lagte ho. issliye toh woh jab uss din woh ladka jo mujhe ched raha tha, aur jab aapne ussey daantne ke baad mujhe dekh rahe the, toh meine aapke seene se lag gayi thi. kyunki na aapko bhi pata hain ki mujhe yeh sab bilkul bhi pasand nahi, mujhe darr lagta hain in sab cheezo se. aur tabhi ek din jab aapne marne waali baat kahi, toh mein aapse gussa hoke chali gayi aur poore din aapse baat nahi ki. kyunki mein aapko yeh ehsaas dilaana chahati thi, ki jiss insaan se aapn itna pyaar karte ho aur jab woh hi aapko chod ke chala jaaye, tab zindagi kitni adhoori aur berangi lagti hain.
offo! ek sabse zaruri gal toh kehna bhool gayi... mein na... mein na aapse bahut bahut bahut pyaar karti hu! haan, mein aapse pyaar karti hu Dhruv Ji. lekin na ghar vich ek musibat aa gayi hain. Papaji aur mumyji mere vyah ki baat kar rahe hain aur mujhe aapke ilawa aur kisi se vyah nahi karna. meine papaji aur mumyji ko bataya aapke baare main... par woh dono chahate hain ki mein kisi firangi se shaadi karu. mujhe nahi karni koi shaadi. mujhe toh bas aapka banke rehna hain... aapke saath jeena aur aapke saath hi upar bhagwan ji ke paas jaana. lekin mujhe maaloom hain ki aap ek afsar (officer) ho aur jung ke liye aapko kabhi bhi bulawa mil sakta hain aur shatyad se aap jung main hi...
issliye mein bhi wahi karne jaa rahi hu. kaise karungi, yeh toh nahi pata.. lekin upar na bhagwaan ke paas jaakar mein aapka intezaar karungi. aap aaoge na?
aapki Anjali
She always wanted to open a girls' orphanage and run it. Though she is not physically present with me anymore...her love, her thoughts, her beliefs will always stick with me. I know that wherever she is... she is watching me and she would be happy seeing that I am fulfilling her dream.
Anupamaa
Pocket Mein Aasman
Cricket
