ArHi OS: How Old Are You?

How Old Are You?

The morning alarm broke out, breaking the stillness of the dawn. Her hand rose to switch it off. She was awake before the alarm had gone off. Today, her office had officially declared a holiday. But she was working unofficially and that meant she could go there later than usual. Yet, her mind was attuned to her usual 6 o'clock alarm. She got up and straightened her sheets. Her dress for the day was already selected. A black and white formals awaited her attendance. She picked it up and there, it had started. Her day had begun! The next few minutes were spent with her running about and doing her morning chores that required her undivided attention. By 9 o'clock, she was ready and set to go.

Her mother's call came as she settled herself in the share auto. Today, there were no school students, college cool dudes and the usual office goers. Of course who works on Ayutha Pooja? In fact this was the most anticipated holiday. She heard her mother's cheery good morning', which was followed by her numerous questions. The usual "Did you at least light the lamp?" "Prayed to God?" "Made one sweet?" had her only replying in monosyllables. Her main point of concern soon started. She sighed. Hadn't she heard this so many times? "When are you planning to get married, Khushi?" What did her Ma or anyone for that matter, expect her to answer? It is not that she can write her fate or get herself married. "You are 30, already." Her brother snatched the phone from her mother's hands and told her about another prospective groom.

She took a deep breath to calm herself and her mind. "I will think over it. Happy Ayutha Pooja." With that, she kept the phone down. Her cheery mood had very easily been wiped off. Marriage. Love. Companionship. People associated all these with age. Is it her mistake that she had not found either of these? How easily the society blamed a girl for this and how very convenient! But it pains and hurts when your own family thinks so and hold you responsible. Her mother and father were living in the States with her brother's family. She had always preferred her home, Chennai. She had very stubbornly put her foot down and had refused to go out of her city. This had added to her family's list of complaints against her. She closed her eyes and passed a quick prayer, as her auto crossed the very famous Parthasarathy' temple. Few girls got down near the temple. They were dressed in colorful pavadais, which reminded her of her own childhood days. Not a trace of worry. That was life and bliss. She glanced at her watch. In another thirteen minutes, she would reach her workplace, given that the traffic was minimal. She was so attuned, after all, she has been going to the same place for the past 7 years. There was nothing new, nor spicy. She, who loved adventure and mystery, didn't even find a trace of it in her life. Of course her life was no James Bond's life, to have a taste of it every day. Yet, she yearned for that tinge of masala, which would effectively break her daily monologue. She needed someone too. She wasn't lonely, or that is how she convinced her whenever she felt the biting loneliness prick her. She took out her journal and read her beautiful childhood memories. Most of them were meaningless scribbles, but they all spoke a story of their own. Something she enjoyed reading. At least, they all acted as companions to her or created an illusion of being one. The auto waded through the last signal. Just one more turn to reach her office!

Suddenly, she wanted to break it today. She would not surrender herself to the monotonous life she was living in. The driver stopped in front of her office for a passenger to get in. Her feet automatically moved out. But her mind stopped it and there she sat back. Her destination had changed. The Anna Library did look inviting!

*

Arnav Singh Raizada looked at his never ending files and closed his eyes for a good measure. As usual another tiresome day awaited his presence. Wasn't he doing this for so long? The same file, the same contract, the same deal and the same AR. He glanced at the smiling photos of his sister and brother in law that stood decorating his wooden desk. Another framed picture of his parents laughing, made him smile. Couple irrevocably in love. Those are few blessed people, weren't they? They had someone to lean on and live with. It was not that he was alone, yet he found it difficult to share his emotions with them, at the age of 35! Love has never been his cup of tea. His flamboyant looks and flourishing business had garnered a lot of female fans. But that did not give him the love and the marriage he yearned for. He did not find "his" girl, as his mother termed it. Well if he had to remain a bachelor all through his life, then he had to. He saw few birds flying, through the glass cubicle which overlooked the Anna Library. Reading has always been his passionate hobby and the flying birds reminded him of liberation and freedom to do what they wanted to. Amidst, all his clouded thoughts, his cell phone vibrated announcing the arrival of an incoming call from an unknown number.

*

Khushi settled down to read her all-time favorite Coma by Robin Cook. A medical thriller on a Monday morning after ages. The reader in her got excited and enthusiastic. Just then, her mobile vibrated. It was her friend's birthday and the alarm reminded her of it. How dependent we have become on technology, she mused. She decided to call her up and so, moved outside to finish her call. "This number does not exist." She frowned. How come? Maybe she had changed her SIM? So, from one of their mutual friends, she got her friend's number and dialed it.

"Hello Ritu."

*

"Ritu?" Just to make sure he heard it right, Arnav asked the woman at the other end of the line. Another wrong number, he sighed.

"Sorry Miss, you have got the wrong number."

*

Khushi was baffled. Here, she was expecting her friend Ritu's voice and there, she heard a very husky male voice. Was she hallucinating? Just then, the voice on the other end informed her she had indeed dialed the wrong number. Embarrassed at what she had done, she jumped forward to apologize.

"Oh I am extremely sorry Mister. I did not intend to spoil your Monday morning. Have a good day ahead." And as an afterthought, she added, "Happy Ayutha Poojai as well".

*

Strange. Arnav heard the melodious female voice wishing him a good day and happy Pooja as well. How did she know he was a tamilian? His slang did not have any traces of the Tamil he knew. Yet, she had wished him and her wish had spread a warmth through his heart. Something he had never experienced nor undergone. But her stress on the word "Poojai", with those additional ai' proved that.

*

"Um thanks. Same to you Miss. You too have a very happy Ayutha Poojai and no, your call did not spoil my Monday morning."

What made her wish him? She was clueless. She had wanted to and she had. He wished her back. Did this mean he was a Tamilian too? She wanted to ask, yet she felt she was intruding.

"Uh, thanks and bye." There, the call was cut and the line went dead. But the magic seemed alive and it lingered around in the air.

*

He stared at his phone, long after the call had ended. He wanted to speak to her again. He wished to ask whether how she found out he was a Tamilian. But that meant invasion of privacy. Sighing, he kept his phone aside. The mounting work cannot be ignored. His chocolate brown orbs watched people floating in and out of the library. Why was he having this strong urge to go to the library that day? The mobile beeped again. A SMS!

"Are you a Tamilian too?"

*

She did not know what prompted her to send that. She had sent that in an impulse and shut her eyes tightly. She bit her lips in anxiety. What had she done? After all, he could turn out to be a rapist or murderer! She had followed her intuition and did what pleased her heart. Maybe he will reply, maybe he will not. But she was at peace and now she could go back to her book.

"Yes, how did you guess?"

*

Did he suddenly turn very lucky? Or did she happen to hear his wish of knowing how she found out. He still did not understand. But he wanted to. He could reply, or he could simply send it to trash. His heart chose to reply. Now it was up to her, whether she wanted to respond back.

"Intuition."

A single worded response. Monosyllabic. But the word held more meaning than many sentences. Did she also felt that magic? Maybe yes. He had forgotten the "maybe not" part of it.

*

She hoped her reply could be understood. She really hoped he did. His voice sounded matured. For all she might know, he might be a 50 year old or 25 year old. There was no harm in speaking. But the current world could turn an angel to an evil. The fear was there and the need was there too. He might not reply, for her response was limited and restricted.

"Interesting."

Now, she knew this was just the beginning. His response told her so. It was definitely not going to be the last message.

*

Khushi tried calming her erratically beating heart. There was no stopping it. Her heart was excited and rightly so. It yearned to see, after those 6 long months of messaging. She wanted to attach a face to that name, Arnav. Today, they had decided to finally meet at the library. Strange place for a first meet. But their mutual love for books, had urged them to do so. She had spoken so much to him. He had told her so much. Yet, they did not know the other's age. She realised it today. No, scratch that. She learnt it now. He had slowly and steadily seeped into her heart and stayed there since long.

*

Arnav felt the excitement. It was palpable and the atmosphere was charged. The only woman who had landed in the hollowness of his heart. Now where was Khushi? He strained his eyes trying to spot the right woman. There, he found a girl huddled in the corner with a book. The title read "Pride and Prejudice". He did not need any more proof to confirm his doubts. She had to be Khushi. With definite strides, he went towards her.

*

"Aren't you bored of reading this book, Miss?"

She looked up at him, grinning. She shook her head in a no and continued reading. He looked baffled and prodded her further. "Ignoring the wrong number, are we?"

This effectively made her shut the book for a good measure. Arnav studied the delicate woman in front of him. She looked like she was around 30 years. But her twinkling eyes made her look much younger.

His die for profile, proved why he was always drooled over. But those worry lines on his forehead spoke of experience and graceful maturity. He should be over 30.

"So, you are over 30?"

He nodded. So, she had the same doubt. He inwardly chuckled. She always made it her life's mission to speak up what he was afraid to voice out.

From, there on the conversation ebbed and flowed. After speaking as strangers, meeting as friends did mean a lot. A wrong call can sometimes occur at the right moment.

Love can never be associated with age. Spring can happen at 30 or 35! Marriage, a sacred institution does not happen just because you want it to happen. It will happen when it has to.

*

Author's note:

This is a concept I have been wanting to write since long, just to break that norm of our society. On a serious note, I would love to know all your opinions on this preconceived notion that if we decide to marry off a girl at 21, only then will it happen at 24, at least. Is there absolute guarantee it WILL happen? Or it won't, if started later? When a girl stays unmarried at 30, she is yet again branded unfit by the society? Is marriage alone the criteria to judge a girl? That too the same one whom you praised heaps and bounds five years back? I know I am young to speak that, yet as a student, I can't help but put forward this question to all my Di(s) here. I can use some clarity here.

Regarding the title:

This title seemed apt. It does NOT represent the Malayalam Movie : How Old Are You in any way. For those who have not seen it, my sincere request, do see it in the language you know.

Regarding the story:

I have no idea who else celebrate Ayutha Pooja (at least in the same name) other than Tamilians and Kannadigas, maybe Telugulites too. But here just imagine only Tamilians. Fictional Liberty :D

My Rant for the Day ends!

Happy Karwa Chauth to all celebrating it. Hope it brings you all, happiness and joy!

P.S: Thanks cheenu for encouraging me to post it and guiding me.. Living upto your virtual mommy tag! <3 😆

Lastly, Thanks for reading.