In Love With Meghna

Electronics Edition, first print October 2010 Authored by : Jagadeesh Cover Page : Deepika

jagadeesh.jkp@gmail.com

In Love With Meghna

From weekdays story

Characters coming in this story may appear real but the plot is purely fictional

1 : Chennai to Trivandrum I hugged my mom one last time, kissed her and wiped down her tears. This is the first time I am gonna leave her and stay away from her for a long time. I am also worried about that but equally excited about the new place and the new course in my life which is set to come. Dad too is worried that I may miss the train for the train is about to start and we are still in the platform. The Guruvayoor express whistled with its full strength and gave me a final warning to board inside. I got into the coach and the platform started to move back. The train started. To those who don’t know me, Hi! I am Bharathi. Bharathi Srinivas. I know it’s a great name. I was told that Dad gave me this name when he saw me the first time at hospital. I don’t know why I was given this name but I was pretty proud to carry the name of a revolutionary poet. Four years back when I joined Civil Engineering at Anna University I began to found me in many embarrassing situations. Of course the name was mistaken by many as girl’s. During my convocation, the photographer confused my certificate with a girl’s photo having my name. So, here I am Bharath (Do you guys know how to change name in government’s record?) I am not a perfect person but two perfect things happened in my life. One, I was able to score good marks in Hsc examinations hence securing a seat at Anna Univ. Two, I was able to perfectly recite the ‘Tell about yourself’ drafted by my friend with good body language hence securing a job at TCS. Probably you can now guess why I am moving to Trivandrum. TCS call its training as Initial Learning Program or ilp and I am with 20 other friends in this train to attend my ilp. After fourteen hours of hectic journey we reached East fort. I have to stay at Kapil Toursit home, Kumarapuram. It took fifteen minutes and fifteen rupees in an auto to reach Kapil from Thampanoor. I cursed Chennai autos which will definitely ask 50+ for this distance. The place where I am supposed to stay is a simple tourist home; TCS should have leased some rooms. The manager explained the do’s and dont’s and asked a person to show me my room. He took my luggage and led me through a horrible stairs which barely allowed my highly circumferenced body between it. After reaching fifth floor the helper informed that I can even use the lift if I wish. I appreciated his brilliance and got into my room only to find my roomy is Arulnath, the studious guy from Electronics dept of my college. I was bit relieved, no need to have an introduction. He welcomed me with a surprise eyes and smiled. He was speaking in a headset with a lowest possible tone. I can guess that’s his girl friend. As a mark of dignity, I dropped my luggage and went out to study the nearby areas. The next day, Arul woke me up by 5 fully dressed and said that cab will be coming in ten minutes. “Proud to have you as my roomy” I said and slipped into the bathroom and came out in 2 minutes half bathed. I got into my blue shirt which I consider as my lucky attire. We rushed to the gathering point down. I am not an expert in ethnics, but I can figure out guys are from

Kerala, Andhra, Kolkatta and I was cent percent right. Next to me was this guy who struggled to knot his tie and I offered a help. I tied it around his collar took 30 seconds and finished with a fine double knot, He was pretty impressed and gave me his hand. “Hi I am Somyujith, kolkatta”. “Bharath”, I replied. Soon everyone exchanged hands and names. The cab came fifteen minutes late. Peepul park is what they call the training centre of TCS. Nobody knows the exact reason beyond the name but who cares. The cab crossed KIMS and got into Technopark. Technopark can be compared to Chennai OMR except it is a hill, carved here and there to impregnate IT giants. Technopark is fantastic scenery and Peepul Park is in a corner of a Hill. After breakfast at canteen we were asked to sit in the Sage Auditorium. I sat with friends and they started discussing about the salary, evaluation tests and exit tests. I was on the top of my excitement level. Today is going to be an important and special day in my life. The first day in my professional career and I will surely remember this day till the end of my life. Fact is, that day turned out to be more special than I expected. I happened to meet this beautiful girl with whom I fell in love later. Her name is Meghna! 2 : Truth or Dare In orkut there was a community for TCS freshers which said everything about the ILP, the course of training and most other similar things. Everyday discussions will be going in threads regarding accommodation, study materials, faculties and hostels. So we more or less know about the first day formalities. It started with a welcome session by the HRs, corporate videos, the course we will be undergoing in the learning programme which will include technical trainings, computer evaluated tests and final test. On the other side there will be communication sessions and cultural programs which will count on the funnier side, they assured. Later the Icici bank personnel issued applications which had our account number plus an inactivated debit card. They tried their marketing abilities and convinced us to buy their credit cards and deposit in their fd. It turned really boring and I started the count down for lunch time. Lunch was not great but I was happy with the price and variety. The free coffee is the most happening thing in Peepal park canteen. After lunch we proceeded towards the auditorium. Next to the auditorium where we were seated is another auditorium which was closed in the morning. At the time we came after lunch the place seemed unusual. Most of them were dressed in casuals though it is not Friday. Krish informed that a batch which joined a week is performing cultural program. Krish is an expert at collecting such kind of extra curricular information in a short time. “Most of them are from north”, he showcased his skills in a louder voice, but the girl next to us showed no attention. “They are in their stream training, mainframe it seems”, he added. “Good job, Lets go”, I pushed him towards our

auditorium door. As I was about to enter, I saw her coming in a distance. The very first sight made me stand for minute arresting all my physical movement except the eyes which made a 60 degree rotation in a horizontal plane. She was in a hurry or she was tensed. She came in a speed which can be marked between a run and a walk. She was wearing a black sari studded with tiny glasses. I dint count but she had more than ten pairs of black glass bangles in each hand and a small streak of sandal in forehead. She was in this south Indian attire but her face showed the exquisiteness of wheat and chapattis and she was strikingly beautiful. She carried a guitar bag over her shoulder and crossed me to the next auditorium. The blend of classic and modern radiance was more exhilarating and I totally forgot that I am standing in the door entrance starring at her in a very obvious manner. Probably she should have felt that, she stopped before entering her auditorium and turned back. Before I could realize and remove my eyes, I got her sharp eyes which threw a sizzling look. My heart missed a beat! The sessions went on for two more days. We got access cards and allotted to batches. Luckily I was with my college friends which eased my environment. We were sent to another building CLC which is next to peepul park. This was a heavy disappointment, I was hoping to see her again but we are moved. CLC is a rectangular building with open space in center. We had our labs in fourth floor. The classes started but I was thinking about a way to move back to Peepul Park. After the technical session was over we went to CLC canteen for lunch. We bought meals, found a table and settled down. To my great surprise, I found her sitting in the table next to us. This day she was in a white formal shirt and black pant, hairs dyed in a brown radiant and pony-tailed. She was well-groomed and looked completely different except for her sharp brown eyes. While her friends were chatting, she occasionally spoke. After sometime they finished eating and cleared the table. I noticed a fact which I did not noticed the first. She was not wearing any heals but she was unusually tall. she will certainly count to 5.10, I thought. Days became more interesting for me and I began to eagerly wait for the next canteen time. For breakfast she will eat cornflakes or Bread. For lunch she will have chapattis. Even the way she ate her bread was impressive, I saw a clean style in her manner. The way she walks, the way she speaks, the ways she taps her forehead during a conversation, the way she drink tea after lunch everything were damn impressive. In a weeks time I became her greatest fan. During break time she will come out of her class which is in second floor and I will watch her elegant movements from fourth floor. Training was going on other hand and the only thing I liked was the lab sessions. The seating arrangements were system generated but luckily I was seated with my own friends Vijay, Raj and Shiny. Lab sessions were extremely boring and we used to play games. Most of the times we played ‘Truth or Dare’ and in a short time the game became a hit in our entire batch. Everyone started playing the game. This game will choose a player on random basis and will be given two choices truth or dare. On selecting truth

they should answer honestly to any (embarrassing) questions put by other players. On selecting dare, they should complete a task instructed by other players. I usually choose Truth since I did not had any secrets except this girl who is unknown and unnamed to me Soon my friends realized that I am interested in her and offered to help me. But nobody could find her. Krish managed to get data about where she was staying. Shiny was staying in the same hostel as her and so they will leave the campus in same cab. I asked whether she could see her name which will be in ID card. She gave me a grubby look and said “No way Bharath”. I convinced her with chocolates and sent her inside the cab. She came down after few minutes with a smile and said “Meghna Hirani” In the meantime, our Truth or dare had occupied the lunch times also. The next day after lunch we started a game and Raj asked me to choose Truth or Dare. As usual I said truth. Raj winked at me and said in a soft voice “Choose Dare this time”. Raj is my best friend and I always do what he says. “Ok, I am choosing Dare”, I said. Raj replied in an louder voice, “Go to that table and find out the name of the tall girl” pointing to Meghna. I was stunned over this unexpected situation. Well, I was excited and made my move to the next table and paused. Her friends were looking at me with a question and I stood awkwardly. One girl offered me a seat and asked what. “Yeah, we are playing Truth or dare” “So..” “Well I have to ask this person her name” “Then ask her”, she chuckled. I dared to turn my head towards her. She gave no reaction and was busy with her chappatis. She took a small bite and looked at me. I was startled to see her this much close. Unable to resist her look I dropped my eyes down. She gave a sharp look with her brown eyes. “Its Meghna”, she said “and you know that already”. I felt the earth below me moving. 3. An Evening Out: “And you know that already”, she said in a firm voice. That was the most dreadful moment in my life. I felt like a thief caught red handed among a large crowd scoffing. But she gave no different expression and finished her chapatti. By that time Raj neatly made an escape with others leaving me in the den alone. The astonishment made me tongue-tied .Finally I managed to leave the place. The next day at canteen I vowed not to see her but she came in the same black saree again. Too hard to resist I made a stealthy look and only to see her smiling at me. She pointed me an empty chair near her and signaled me to come and sit. She gave her hands and said “Hi, I am Meghna”. The very thought of touching her hand made me mad. I tried not to show my

excitement and softly gave a handshake which was definitely noted by all the eyes at canteen. “Bharath.. Bharathi..” I stammered. “You got two names?” She questioned with a chuckle. It sounded like a xylophone click. Her voice cannot be categorized as sweet. But there was a style in her language, hot and impressive. It took some ten fifteen minutes to feel normal and comfortable. We had our lunch and this time I ate chapatti. “Ok, see ya tomorrow”, she left to her class. Days passed on and a kind of friendship formed between me and Meghna. We exchanged our mobile numbers a week later. I used all my free hundred sms only to Meghna. It took just one night for a mutual introduction. I told her about me, my college and family. She was not impressed about me but certainly I was. She is an M,Sc graduate from Ahmedabad, which means she is nearly two years elder to me. But who cares. She does nt had any ambitions or aims but she always used to say. “I know where I wanna reach and I will certainly”. But always refused to tell what that destination is. She likes to talk about films, music and friends. Sometimes I will ask her about marriage for which she will not give any answer. But one thing was sure, she does nt had any boy friends and slowly I felt a growing attraction towards Meghna which I cant resist. Anyways I was happy with her friendship which grew day by day. Finally the day came when Meghna’s training was nearing its end. After her exit test we went to canteen. “I am trying for GandhiNagar office, I know a HR here”,she said. “Sure.. But I will miss you” “I will miss this place. There are so many places to see, we had no time to visit them all” “Did you went to kovalam, Veli, Anandha temple..?” “Yeah.. Nice places really” “Hm.. What about varkala?” “No.. but I had heard the beach is splendid” “How about tomorrow with me” It requires a lot of guts to ask a girl for a date out. But I did but now I don’t even remember how I dared to ask. She dint answer for a few seconds. I felt bad for creating an embarrassing situation. After a few seconds she said “Sure.. we will start by 10”. She is a girl of surprises always! Varkala beach is some 60 kms away from peepul park. It is a beach and the special thing about Varkala is the mountain stretches end by very near to the beach. The hills and beach combination is a splendid scenery worth watch. We took a bus and she sat in last row near the window and I sat near her. She always used to be simple and today she came in a white salwar simple and sizzling. She talked about the training course and her excitement that she is going back to her place. All the way we talked about general things and reached Varkala after one hour. It was mid noon and we went to a restaurant to have lunch. She ordered chapattis as usual and I compelled her to try Kerala meals. After a short and sweet debate with her she accepted. She dint really enjoyed the food but she liked it.

We trekked up the hill and sat under a tree facing the beach. It was warm and windy. I sat very close to her. For few minutes both of us did not spoke anything and the place was silent except the hush of sea waves. “These are some wonderful moments in my life” I said, “with you by side and so close..” “To the sea”, she finished my line. I don’t know she said it for purpose but I thought of expressing my growing passion for her. She seemed normal and it was the sea and me restless. Some time later we went down to the beach. I happened to witness a five inch baby playing happily with waves. She chased the waves sometime and the waves followed her the other time. I wondered at her running and laughing loud in the beach like a small child. She went too far in the sea and signelled me to come. I went inside and she hold my hands for support. I was really uncomfortable at that point. “I think we should go back” “Why, you don’t like here” “No meghna its 4 now and we have to leave” She chuckled and said “Okay”. We stood in the beach and waited for dresses to be dried. Suddenly the sky turned black and it started raining. We dint expected this and we had to run for shelter. We stood under a coconut tree near the beach and she was so close rubbing shoulders with me. The hill behind, the sea before, the rain above and the most beautiful girl whom I adore beside drove me crazy to the worst end. There was an irresistible smell from her hairs wet in rain and her face was sparkling with the rain drops. I suddenly felt an urge which grew went out of control before I could realize it. I hold her by arms and moved closer to her. I felt her warm face very close to me and before she could tell anything. I kissed her. 4 : Sin or Love It was not intentional. Its not an accident neither. Meghna is one pretty woman and I wished I could kiss her. I always wanted to be with her, spend all my time talking and fighting over silly tiny things. May be I am in love with her. But I was not sure about that and even dint had a thought of kissing her when a chance stroke. It was an irresistible and uncontrollable emotion which forced me to do so. No need to mention Meghna was shocked. She pushed me the very next second and stared at me. I could witness mixture of anger, distress, gloom and many more feelings. Meghna with all her strength slapped me and fell over the ground. She stood there for few more seconds and moved out. I reached Kapil by 10. I cant sleep for what I had done. I was angry at me for making this unpleasant situation. The next day at canteen I could not even dare to see her. She too gave me no notice and the day went like being in hell. I called her by phone and she dint attend. Two days passed by and today is the last for Meghna’s batch. I went to the executive hostel where

she stayed but her friends said that she was out and will return late. I left to kapil. Next day I got a text message from her. “Got transfer. Leaving today. Flight at 12.30”. I saw the watch its 9.23. Hardly two more hours and it will end. I convinced myself to be normal but I knew whats inside me. I started crying suddenly, so hard unable to hold my anger which turned into tears. I cursed myself for loving her. Yes, I love her. I want to tell her. I want to let her know I am mad at her. I want to hold her hands and yell her name. I took a taxi and hurried to Trivandrum airport. I reached the entrance by 10.15 and there stood my girl with all her luggages. I got out of the taxi and went near her. She smiled at me, gave her hand and said, “Hi, I am Meghna”. I felt a bit relieved. “I really got your transfer uh”, I asked. “I guess so. Why you have any problem?” “Yes Meghna, I don’t want you want you to go” She spoke nothing. Instead she went through the checking counter and put her luggages. She gave me something in my hand and went inside a passage. “You hear me Meghna..” I shouted in anger and frustration. I followed her and a secutiy caught my hands and asked for ticket. “I don’t have any”, I replied. “Ningal kaila yenna saarey” he pointed the paper meghna gave me and said, “Visitors path avvidey”. I went inside the visitor’s passage and Meghna was there. “Meghna please listen to me , don’t go” “What are you talking Bharath, I got my transfer and that’s I what I wished for, you know that. Whats wrong now” “Becuase I love you Meghna and that’s wrong now” And that’s it. I felt like a huge a burden pressing me was removed. “Sorry Meghna” “No Bharath, I know that. I mean I guessed that” I spoke nothing and looked at her. She was wearing a simple brown tops and her hair let loose and looked elegant. She looked into my eyes and began to speak.. 5 : In Love forever “What you mean by this Bharath?” “Means, I like you very much. I want to be with you always.. I guess.. I know you have the same feeling for me.. ” I spoke like a robot. “True Bharath I have the sane feeling for you. But not in this sense as yours”, she paused. “Yes, I like you. I like to be with you and I am happy whenever you are around. I know you admire me and it made me happy. But it does nt means that this is love. I love your company Bharath may be we can call it a companionate love” “I cant understand Meghna, I love you and that’s it. I don’t know how and why Meghna. Its love and it simply happened”

“Wait Bharath, listen to me first. Don’t babble stupid movie dialogues. It’s the movies which are spoiling you guys’ mindset. Look, I don’t believe in these kinds of things. Love doesn’t happens Bharath. It’s something which forms.” “Oh yes. It formed between us. Cant you just realize?” “These will lead to complications Bharath. I don’t want to put both of us in trouble” “I am ready to do anything for you Meghna. I don’t bother about any complications” She remained silent. “I love you Meghna”, I moved closer and said in her ears softly. “Bharath please don’t repeat this”, for the first time I saw her eyes turning wet. “Meghna...” “Stop Bharath. I value your friendship. You have no idea how much it hurt a girl when a guy whom she treat as her best friend propose for love” For the first time, I felt ashamed. Am I wrong? “Lot other reasons are there Bharath. Marriage is something which our parents will decide the most part and they will not accept a relation from a family totally different from their culture” “Caste.. That’s your problem right”, I shouted in frustration. “Not mine. It’s the society’s problem. We can convince, fight or we can leave our family but just think Bharath we are happy now. Do you want to make all these complications happen in our life”. Yes, her point is right. Even mom loves me a lot she won’t accept a gujarathi whole-heartedly. She is intelligent, she is stunning she loves me but will mom accept? May be I can convince them, but why should I invite trouble. “It’s not like a Gujarathi should not marry a Tamilian. Its possible, we can tussle back. But seriously Bharath I am not the person with guts and I can’t do this.” I feel like felling down into a deep trench. She had clearly stated things that I can’t refuse. “Not only these Bharath, you are happy go person. I don’t want you to commit yourself with these love and all. You will get deviated from your normal workflow. You will have a pressure on you and you will have an urge to settle quickly in your life. These things will not happen easily Bharath, try to understand. What about your future? What about your MS plan? Don’t you want to go US. Please don’t tell you can sacrifice your desires for me. It’s not a manly thing for a person let go his ambitions for girl” The computer lady voice asked the passengers to board the plane. Meghna gave me a dry smile. “Can you understand Bharath? I do like you and it take less than a minute to tell yes. But I don’t want to disturb your normal life. You are beginning your career and you should be careful and take time, have fun. Move all over the country. Life is beautiful don’t miss it. We will see some next time”

Her friends signaled her to come. I hold her hands and I control a lot to stop the tears. “I don’t want to miss your friendship Meghna” “Sure Bharath, I will mail you. Do your evaluations test well and you will get transfer to the place you wish. Don’t try GandhiNagar. It will embarrass us both.” “You are very special Meghna, totally different from the rest. You are a sure winner in life” “Hm.. Okay Bharath its time”, she released herself from my hold. I let her go. She walked two paces and stopped. She turned and I waved at her “Good bye Meghna” She dint replied, she came towards me and took my hands and kissed me. “I too love you Bharath. But I can’t do this. I won’t forget you in my life forever” She left without expecting any answer from me. Before leaving out of my sight she once again turned back, waved at me with the same killer smile. What Meghna said is right. Why should I pull myself into problems in the name of love? I should move on, there are many more things to see, to sense, to enjoy and to achieve. But can I forget her. No... I can’t. She is my first love. It’s true. Can anyone forget their first love?