RiMa OS- MY ROSE...

***** MY ROSE *****

Delhi summer was as usual very hot and humid that evening when suddenly Rohan came into the room and shouted loud. "I saw the prettiest girl of my life today!!!" "Say something new...", Rishabh replied in same high pitch, irritated voice. "No dear... she is very different!! She is not like others!!" He exclaimed in over excitement. Rishabh gave him just a cold smile. Rohan and Rishabh were friends since their childhood, studied together in school, and after 12th standard they came to Delhi from small town of UP to do engineering coaching. Rohan was dynamic and smart, after classes he usually used to roam around and come back in evening to tell story of some or other girl. On the contrary, Rishabh was a typical studious guy, though more handsome and charming than Rohan, who wanted to join a top ranking engineering college and to give all his time to thick books.

But it was something different. An offshoot of special' feeling grew in Rishabh as Rohan kept talking, for one whole week, about the same girl, "She is so cute yaar.. wow..." which was not his nature, talking about only one girl.

One day, on a serious note he told Rishabh "Do you know Rishu, she is like angel.. no.no... bird - the Dove, no.no... Flower... YES!!! FLOWER... she is ROSE, spreading sweet aroma where ever she goes...!!" "Settle down man..!! Is it?? But all the girls look either beautiful or more beautiful when they are in 16..?" Rishabh smiled back without knowing that Rose has already entered in his heart. "What is her name?" - He asked. "Don't know man! We all just watch her when she come out of Coaching classes !!"

Slowly Rishabh started loving to listen to the stories about her and used to wait every day that in the evening Rohan would say something about her. This listening and narrating went on for a month. That was Sunday evening when they went to Delhi Haat, as he stepped down from auto, he exclaimed loudly, "Rishu!! See ROSE!!" Rishabh quickly got down from auto, but could only able to see the glimpse of her from side; a slim girl with long black hair in white traditional Indian dress just sat in auto. And auto driver ran away like bullet. First time he felt auto can also run so fast. But after that mesmerized glimpse of hers, he was very keen to see her.

Next day he went with Rohan, with great expectation to see her face at least, but she did not come for coaching that day. Rohan teased him. He felt bad but was desperate to see her at least once. Next whole week Rohan did not say any word about that girl and this thing was irritating him to the core. Finally, he asked Rohan, "What happened to your ROSE'? You are no more talking about her?" "Don't know where she went! We are no more seeing her in the coaching. It seems, she has changed or moved somewhere else." He replied. A sudden pinch felt in his heart hearing this. "Didn't you try to find her, where did she go?" Rishabh asked curiously. "Are you crazy Rishu? We have lot of other ROSE to watch in our classes..." He laughed.

Rishabh felt something broken inside him, might be because he realized he wouldn't be able to see her any more. He asked Rohan "Is it possible that you can find her address and we can go and see her once?"

Rohan tried to convince him that it is not of any use now, but knowing Rishabh's nature he finally agreed and told him that he would try his best. He even managed to do friendship with some of her friends but all efforts went in vain. Her father was transferred out of town and no one was in touch with her.

Eight years passed. Life changed a lot for Rishabh. He was a big man now, but still whenever he used to see any pretty and innocent girl he always remembered "ROSE", and remembered all the stories told by Rohan. Rishabh never believed that he could miss someone so much without seeing her once. "Am I destined to meet her ever?" Just thinking of her used to fill lot of excitement in his heart!! He had heard and read in many novels earlier about the strange feelings that arouse when you fall in love with someone. Heart full of strange excitement... love... cupid with love arrow... ringing of musical bells... showering of red rose petals... but he never believed in them but now, he wanted to experience the same and he could not deny to it.

In a traditional Indian manner and being a loyal son, his marriage got fixed... Arranged marriage. There were no feelings in his heart; it was all vacant. No excitement... no love... no cupid with love arrow... no ringing of musical bells... no showering of red rose petals... nothing but just a boring customary life... "It is not a movie but real life. Let's accept as it comes!!!" He just surrendered to his fate.

"Wow... we are getting prettiest sister-in-law!!" His cousins started teasing him. These mere words should have at least startled his mind a bit but nothing happened. He gave them fake smile. His would-be, Madhubala, was indeed the prettiest girl he had ever seen but he could not feel heavenly signal yet, as he used to feel when he remembered nearness with his dream girl ROSE...

On the eve of their marriage, he was sitting on the stage, Madhubala was stepping towards him with small steps surrounded by her sister and cousins, with a garland in her hands, her face was shining like a bright sun and blushing all at the same time and she was looking down. He found her really beautiful and attractive, like an angel.

Suddenly from the behind, Rohan who had visited with his family from abroad for Rishabh's marriage whispered, "Oh my god...!! How did you find ROSE??" Rishabh looked at him, with his eyes wide opened, with surprise and shock.

Suddenly his heart started pounding very fast and loudly!!! He started getting the heavenly signals... cupid with love arrow... ringing of musical bells... showering of red rose petals... And at the same time, he felt contended. He has finally got the ROSE OF HIS LIFE... forever and ever...