PART I
Aruna’s Bio data (as on 1 Nov 2007): - as prepared by her father
NAME Aruna Kashyap
DATE OF BIRTH 24 Dec 1981
PERMANENT ADDRESS:
“Prateeksha”
224, Allenganj
Allahabad, UP
EDUCATION
MBA (Marketing) from IIT- Chennai 2002-2004
B.tech (CS) from IIT- Kanpur 1998-2002
Schooling from St Mary’s Convent, Delhi- 1984-1998
OCCUPATION
As “Brand Manager” with Dell, Gurgaon
PERSONAL DETAILS:
AGE: 26 yrs
HEIGHT: 5’6”
COMPLEXION: Wheatish
CASTE: Kanyakubja Brahmin
MANGLIK: No
GOTRA: Kashyap
NAADI: Madhya
TIME OF BIRTH: 3:09 AM
FAMILY:
We belong to a respectable Brahmin family from Unnao district in Uttar Pradesh. My wife, Maya is a housewife while me, her father, Mohan retired as the HOD (Marine Engineering) from JNU, Delhi in September 2007. Our younger son is a Software Engineer with Sat yam, Hyderabad.
We settled in Allahabad way back in 1980. We have brought our children in a strict orthodox traditional style. They do not consume non vegetarian food, alcohol or drugs. Aruna is God fearing and a very good cook.
OTHER DETAILS:
We would prefer a nuclear family from UP and the boy should be well settled. Boys from IIM/IIT with an MBA/B.Tech would be having an edge.
The marriage would be finalized only after the Kundali is matched and the boy and girl approve of each other.
PART II
Aruna talking to her colleague Shilpa (5 Nov 2007- Morning)
Aruna: My dad’s crazy…yesterday night he was telling me about a good proposal that he has received from some Shivam, who works as the Marketing Manager with Nestle, Mumbai. I mean can’t he see how well I’m doing and don’t need a guy to tie me down.
Shilpa: You have to get married whether you like it or not. The sooner the better. And its not all that bad. Look at me…even I’m working and doing fine.
Aruna: (Smirks) Ya and what about those hectic weekends and weekly fights that you have? I can’t bear a sound after I go home.
Shilpa: You are getting too judgmental, things aren’t all that bad. I don’t see any fun in your staying alone, eating out thrice a week, skipping meals and that dare devil attitude of yours. Girls should be like girls…….
Aruna: (cutting Shilpa short) Leave it Shilpa…You just DON’T UNDERSTAND!!! Let’s get back to work.
PART III
Office Messenger Chat between Aruna and Akhil (her colleague from the next cubicle) (6 Nov 2007- 11:00 A.M.)
Akhil: Hey pretty woman, lkg cool in the pink tee and blue jeans
Aruna: Thanks :( me in a bad mood
Akhil: Y?
Aruna: Marriage on my head. Dad called yday nite & askd me to be home over a wknd for guy viewing.
Akhil: :(
Pause for 5 minutes
Akhil: So u won’t chat also? U will sit with that sad face of urs till the end of the world? Not fair for the guyz out here…
Aruna: Buzz off!!
Akhil: :(
Pause for 10 minutes
Akhil: Look, yaar even I’m going out to meet my fiancée’s in-laws and u know how painful it is. But then I’m living every moment for we have to get married
Aruna: I’m not getting married till I find my knight in shining armour.
Akhil: You and your Prince Charming from Mills & Boons :-)Cheer up. Maybe that guy whom ur parents have searched is the one…you never know…And if things go bad I’m anyways there for an extra- marital (-;
Aruna: Hmmm…
Akhil: Hey, me going for a meeting. See u in a while and wait for me at lunch, don’t go away with that moti Shilpa.
Aruna: Ok I thought she was ur girlfriend :)
Akhil: I would die a virgin before dating a fat married aunty.
PART IV
First phone conversation between Aruna and Shivam (6 Nov 2007- Evening)
Shivam: Hi Aruna, Shivam this side. Your dad gave me your number to talk to you. Is it a good time to talk?
Aruna: Ya, Hi, How are you doing?
Shivam: Good, What about you?
Aruna: Good
(An uncomfortable pause for a minute or so)
Shivam: Aruna, I hope you know that my parents and family went through your profile and really liked you. They said if we say yes then it’s all finalized from their end.
Aruna: (Looking Heavenwards) Ya I know that, so what is that you want to know about me?
Shivam: Nothing. Just your expectations from the future life partner
Aruna: Well I do not come with a baggage of expectations. Just that the person should be loyal, well educated, earning and when he stands by me we look good- not in the physical terms but in terms of chemistry.
Shivam: Hmm…that sounds nice…
Aruna: What about your expectations?
Shivam: One who loves my parents and cares for them as if they were her own. Plus she should be a good cook. By the way I cook great food so you can be relaxed at times. Also as mentioned I don’t drink or eat non veg. What about you?
Aruna: That’s great….What else?
Shivam: Aruna, look I’m not complaining but I feel a woman is basically meant to be the manager of the house. I mean, you can and should work but then the house must never take a back seat in the scheme of things. Plus once we have kids; and you are not very comfortable in juggling the house work and office you can very conveniently leave the job and give all the time to the family.
Aruna: (Making a face) Ya I understand that…it sounds a bit unreasonable to my ears at the moment but then I think things will look brighter over a period of time. Also, I wanted to ask you one more thing…hope you do not mind.
Shivam: Please go ahead
Aruna: You won’t ever raise your hand on me, right? Or force me into something that I don’t want
Shivam: (laughing aloud): What made you think in that manner?
Aruna: I’m not joking but a recent survey in the TOI says that almost 40% of urban educated woman have to bear the wrong side of their woman. I hope you aren’t a fanatic. My parents and family have brought me up like a princess….
Shivam: Hey don’t worry, I can’t even think of that. You would be the daughter of the house and my queen.
Aruna: Hmmm….
Shivam: Ok then, you can give your feedback to your parents and in case there is anything else that you wanna ask, don’t hesitate, just go ahead.
Aruna: Sure. Bye then
Shivam: Bye!
PART V
Conversation between Aruna and her mom (6 Nov 2007- Night)
Aruna: Hey Mom!! What’s up?
Mom: Nothing much, just getting down for dinner
Aruna: Hmmm…I do miss those Aaloo ke paranthe. Why don’t you come down here in Delhi for a couple of days?
Mom: I will come down only once you are married.
Aruna: Mom….here you start again
Mom: Beta, look there is no denying that you HAVE to get married, the sooner the better, the more you delay- no one will want to marry you…
Aruna: Mom…this is not what I look forward at the end of a long tiring day…
Mom: Oho…my kiddo, by the way, how did your conversation go with Shivam?
Aruna: He is ok…nothing earth shattering…or someone I would fall for…I know a lot of guys who are better than him. Mom can’t this wait?
Mom: It’s different knowing a good guy and marrying someone who would take care of you till death. He comes from a good family and after a while I’m sure you would fall in love with him.
Aruna: All this looks so disgusting….
Mom: Talk to him for a couple of times and things would be good. You aren’t the only person who is going through this.
Aruna: (Making a face) Mom, I’m going to sleep now. Good night… (Bangs down the phone)
PART VI
Snatches of SMS/chats/phone conversations exchanged between Aruna and Shivam over the next few days
1. Aruna Calls (15 Nov 2007: 9:00PM)
Aruna: Hi Shivam
Shivam: Hey!! What’s going on?
Aruna: Nothing much, how’s your work load?
Shivam: Not much as of now…We are out for a team dinner outside right now
Aruna: Oh great!! So what is that you are yumming away?
Shivam: Hmmm…Seekh Kebabs and Chicken Biryani with tequila shots and….
Aruna: Hey, I thought you are a pure veggie, if I remember it correctly you yourself told me that in our first conversation…
Shivam: Arre come-on, we are all humans and are here to eat drink and enjoy life…I said so because I really liked your profile, you are intelligent and above that has a nice figure...Couldn’t really resist saying no to a beauty…
Aruna: Shivam, Shivam, I think you aren’t really in your senses. We will talk once you are back home. (Keeps the phone down with a sigh)
2. Chat (16 Nov 2007: 10:00AM)
Shivam: Hi Aruna
Aruna: Hi
Shivam: I’m sorry about yesterday…but I really love you
Aruna: Shivam: It isn’t about loving...you can’t be possibly in love with me in less then 10 days. Why did you lie?
Shivam: Because I really liked you…
Aruna: How can you…Ok leave it…Now tell me what else have you lied about?
Shivam: Hey nothing babes…
Aruna: “Babes”…you can’t possibly talk to me like that when we aren’t even engaged
Shivam: Ok ok I’m sorry…Madam Aruna
Aruna: This isn’t funny…I’m serious….Do you understand that we are supposed to be engaged over the next few days and here I get to know that I don’t even know what you eat…
Shivam: Relax babes… oops...Aruna…I’m not all that bad...Be assured that there isn’t anything about me that you don’t know.
Aruna: Hmmm….
(pause for 10 minutes)
Shivam: U there?
(No response for 2 hours and then Aruna is offline)
3. Chat (18 Nov 2007- 9:00AM)
Aruna: Hi Shivam, Good Morning!! Sorry was busy with some client meeting yday, hence couldn’t respond.
Shivam: Busy people L some client must b admiring u when ur hubby was wondering where have you been…wish I was ur client J
Aruna: Hehe…Be my client and we will have a lot of fun together.
Shivam: Ya I know...all u sexy marketing gals who would do anything to get a deal J
Aruna: Seems u have got ur fundas absolutely wrong. Not all gals are like that. Just a handful of them are that ways.
Shivam: But no one knows when temptation strikes…after all its lucrative. That’s y I say stay at home at tend the family. Woman look good doing womanly things and not as sexy lasses in offices. I mean its ok before marriage but after marriage, I wouldn’t want anyone to look at you.
Aruna: Shivam, Shivam!! What’s wrong with you? You imagine me sitting home all the time after studying so much just becoz some idiot will look at me? I’m capable of handling unwanted attention. Would you sit at home if I was jealous of the fact that women will look at you?
Shivam: Women are meant to be homemakers and men their protectors.
Aruna: That’s no longer the case Shivam. I’m not a bitch that you distrust me so much. I don’t sleep around just to get deals. God gave me a bit of brains and thanks to my parents for the wonderful education. God, you make me feel sick….
Shivam: I’m sorry but then most of the working gals have an affair or two….
Aruna: That’s a matter of personal choice. I always wanted to marry by my parent’s choice hence I never sought out a so called boyfriend. And even if I had, how does it matter, so long I’m faithful to you. We are all humans and sometime or other we come across people whom we like. And before you get wrong ideas liking someone doesn’t mean that I sleep with all the people I like. I hope I make myself pretty clear.
Shivam: Hmmm…I’m sorry if I hurt you.
Aruna: It’s ok…but for heaven’s sake get those weird opinions off from your head.
Shivam: Yeah…
Aruna: I have some urgent work and am signing off. Bye, talk to u later.
(Aruna signs off with a sigh, without waiting for Shivam to reply back)
PART VII
Aruna at disc with office friends for a Friday Night Party (18 Nov 2007- 8:00 PM)
Naina: How is it going Aruna…with ur future hubby?
Aruna: It’s all right…but it seems that none of our conversations end on a happy note. I don’t know why guys are like that…they themselves will look at every available gal and then blame the gals for I-don’t-know-what-all.
Naina: Guys are guys…!@#$ and that includes everyone right from the males in our own families to the idiots over there who are ogling at us.
Aruna’s phone rings…
Aruna: Naina, will join you guys in a moment, it’s my dad calling. Will go out and attend this call else he will ask another 500 questions.
Naina: Go ahead…
Dad: Hi Aruna; where are you? We had called on your home landline and I suppose you aren’t in…
Aruna: Dad, I am working in late. Will be home at around 11.
Dad: Ok beta, but don’t stretch yourself. Aacha, I received a call from Shivam’s father and he says you guys are an absolute hit with one another. What do you say? And yes, Shivam is in Delhi the next week, you guys can meet up face to face.
Aruna: Dad, to be true I don’t think he is the right guy…for me. He is educated and is working in a good firm but then that’s all. His ideas are crazy…
Dad: like what..?
Aruna: Like...well, umm…he thinks girls who go out and work aren’t good gals.
Dad: Is that all?
Aruna: Yes, at least to begin with…
Dad: Aruna, once he meets you in person I’m sure he will realize what a gem of a person you are. His family is very nice and they will see to it that you live like a princess. I will just speak to his father and ask him to finalize a date for the ring ceremony.
Aruna: Don’t you think we should give it some more time?
Dad: You would have all the time of your lives post marriage. We have selected a nice guy for you and he will keep you happy. Bye for now.
Aruna: Dad….
Her father doesn’t listen as he is talking to her mom. Aruna who is in near tears, heads back home without even informing her friends.
PART VIII – 18 Nov 2007- 11:45 PM-Shivam calls up
Shivam: Hi Aruna! How was your party?
Aruna: (making a face) ok….
Shivam: Hmm…are you unwell? U don’t sound too cheerful
Aruna: Well, nothing as such (wiping her tears) I’m fine…How was your day? Why are you calling in so late?
Shivam: Hey you told me that you usually sleep late on weekends. So thought will just check out…if you hadn’t picked the phone in one ring I wouldn’t have rung again…
Aruna: Hmmm….
Shivam: So what were you upto?
Aruna: (wiping another tear) Well, nothing…was just trying to get some sleep…
Shivam: Hmmm…and you couldn’t…right? Thinking about me? (Laughs) Actually it’s the same here…can’t wait for Wednesday…our first meeting
Aruna: Hmmmm…
Shivam: Have you ever kissed or being kissed?
Aruna: What makes you ask such questions when we haven’t been engaged?
Shivam: Hey come-on, even you know it that we are almost engaged. Be candid…I’m sure a pretty woman like you who has stayed out and is working and intelligent as well must had have a fair share of affairs and flings.
Aruna: Shivam…ur starting again on the same thing. I still don’t know you anymore than I know Bill Gates so let’s not discuss personal stuff till we are comfy with each other.
Shivam: I’m quite comfortable…Infact, I have some official work in Delhi on Thursday and Friday. Haven’t told my folks about it because that would have meant more rituals and functions after the Ring Ceremony. Maybe you can cook me some nice food…Wow…!!
Aruna: (getting excited, despite herself) Thts great…but no guys are allowed in my home…not even future husbands.
Shivam: Oh…I will creep in even if you don’t allow…creep behind you in the kitchen and hug you…give you a kiss on the neck….
Aruna: Shivam, please go to sleep…lets talk tomorrow. I don’t enjoy these kinds of conversations
Shivam: My god!! Why are you so shy…I’m your husband. We would be sharing a lot of things
Aruna: (winces) Shivam, not yet…it’s still not final that we are to marry and even if we are supposed to don’t you expect me to get physical from day one. Or say “I love you” for the heck of it. I know you guys can think of nothing beyond sex, but that isn’t the case with me. In case you find me weird tell your parents that you don’t like me.
Shivam: Seems you are upset about something…you can tell me anytime….every time I try to get to know you, you act superior. DO you have a boyfriend? Or is it that your parents are forcing you into this marriage?
Aruna: Shivam…why the hell don’t you understand that I need time, to get to know you better. If I do not respond it in no way means I’m into a relationship. Have you ever thought that you lied to me about your food habits…such a small thing…but makes me think if what you say is true or not...and then don think my parents can force me into anything just like that.
Shivam: Ok…calm down…we will go by what you say…now tell me what is that you exactly want…
Aruna: Nothing…forget me for the next three days and we will talk on this on Wednesday when we meet. Bye. Good night! (Keeps down the phone)
PART IX
19 November, Saturday- 5:00PM
Aruna is sitting in the balcony reading. She sees a truck stop below her apartment. “Looks like the new neighbors are here”, she muses. She peeps down to see a bespectacled crazy looking nerd with long hair get out of the car just behind the truck. The guy looks up and catches her peeping so she draws back. Around 2 hours later someone rings the doorbell. She opens to find the new neighbour.
Aruna: Hello, I guess you are the new neighbour…saw you drive in.
Neighbour: Ya… I’m Aviral…and as I read here on your door plate you are Miss Aruna Kashyap. I thought you didn’t look all that bad despite the fact that you made a sullen face at me from the balcony. I just dropped in to say Hello and check you out.
Aruna (blushing): Hmm…Sorry I didn’t mean to be rude and Hello do come in…for a cup of coffee
Aviral: Thanks…
The two introduce themselves. Aviral is a bachelor like her and is basically from Pune. He is the Creative Manager for Ogilvy and Manther. They do not have much in common except the love for Vodka and social work. But then they still bond over like long lost friends. “How nice it would have been had my parents looked for some one like Aviral”, thought Aruna. They were busy preparing dinner and at the same time Aruna was wondering how she could let in a guy right into her kitchen when for all these years she had kept people out on one pretext or other. He is different, she decided. Her mobile beeps. Message from Shivam. Sighs. “Have called off the engagement till next Sunday on pretext of office work, so that you have time to rethink. Call me when you are comfortable” She decides not to think about Shivam and enjoy what the moment had to offer. After all it won’t be long before her parents or Shivam would start off again. It was just a matter of one week. She types in Thanks to Shivam and gets back to the job at hand.
Post dinner, over Vodka the two share tit bits of their lives. Aruna realizes that Aviral had almost everything she wouldn’t ever want in her guy, pompous, long hair, non-veg, no taste for reading, coffee lover and a lazy bone. Yet she liked him. She refrained from telling him about Shivam for the fear of bringing the nice time to an end. The next day Aruna takes Aviral out for sight seeing and the two had a great time. By Wednesday evening the two were the bestest buddies and were almost living with each other…Well almost…everything except sleeping. Aruna had turned a blind eye to Shivam or to the fact that her parents were arriving in the city on Saturday evening. She was crazily in love with this stranger and didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t even be sure if Aviral liked her. True he treated her with care but then he often called her Kid and “Bachha”. And then after all he was a flirt who accepted the fact that life was to be enjoyed. Marriage didn’t seem in his scheme of things. Aruna was flustered. Finally over dinner on Wednesday evening she decides to tell him about Shivam. Aviral on listening to the whole story calmly without commenting and in the end just asks her to call Shivam and atleast talk to him.
Aruna: But then there is something else I haven’t told you…
Aviral: And that would be?
Aruna: Hmm...Umm…I don’t know how to put it…
Aviral: Aruna, go and talk to Shivam first we can talk about the other issues later
Aruna: Hmm...Ok… (gets up reluctantly, dials Shivam’s number and he doesn’t take the call) He isn’t taking the call. Maybe he is mad at me. He should be after all…
Aviral: Ok…we will try after a while. So what is that you want to tell me?
Aruna: Well, it’s kind of difficult and I just hope we remain as friends till eternity. The past three days have been the most beautiful ones than I could have ever imagined. I don’t know but maybe I feel differently for you
Aviral (smiles): Hey kiddo, girls usually fall flat for people like me. And I would have bedded you for sure hadn’t you told me about the Shivam thing… (Laughs)
Aruna: Aviral stop acting snooty. I have a serious matter at hand. I’m in love with you and my parents are giving me away to some one I don’t know or love. Wish I could do something.
Aviral: There isn’t much you can do. I suppose since I don’t have any plans of being tied forever to you, you better marry Shivam and forget this weirdo. Or both of us can marry Shivam…if he doesn’t have an issue with a three some in a marriage
Aruna: Aviral please…It isn’t all that easy…and you are making it more difficult
Aviral: Wait a moment…you don’t know me…three days is nothing to know someone…You yourself think like that for Shivam and here you say you are desperately in love. Doesn’t that sound contrary to your wise ears?
Aruna: Aviral, you don’t understand…but then neither do I…
Aviral: So what is that I can do for you, now? If you aren’t too comfortable I will shift out to some other place. After all I haven’t unpacked all my stuff still…
Aruna: Oh don’t say like that…I can’t think of this place now without your cheerful presence…
Aviral: Stop talking like a filmy heroine and get back to your senses. You will get nothing from me…except pain. I won’t be there tomorrow. What will you tell your trusting parents? That you fell in love with a guy in 3 days and left someone because he was talking about sex and love from day one? Come on that sounds weird even to my ears…u are beautiful…if Shivam desired you then what was wrong?
Aruna: And what about you? Do you desire me?
Aviral: Whhaaaaaaat?
Aruna: See what you say makes sense. I can’t have you forever. I wont even ask you to change yourself and be a bit more normal, because somewhere down the line I know your charisma and charm comes from the fact that you are so unpredictable, so unlike others. So I just thought I can at least live my life till my engagement.
Aviral: Aruna, will you please be more specific? I can’t make out your questions and weird statements
Aruna: Well, let’s say we make out for all the time we have…after all I’m still single and not legally bound to someone.
Aviral: Aruna, you would hurt yourself…I may desire you as a woman but then over all those last three days I have found a wonderful friend. I wouldn’t want to tarnish it .Do you have an idea what you are talking about?
Aruna: (Coming to the couch where Aviral is seated) Shhh….not another word. If you desire me, make me yours…for that’s my wish also. I’m ready to bear the pain of a life without you if you let me be myself and yours for these two days
Aviral: Aru… (He is cut shot by the passionate kiss on the lips by Aruna).
Sparks fly around and the chemistry is too strong even for Aviral to resist. They go along the flow till they are one in body and spirit
PART X
Post midnight hour (exactly 2 years later) - Aruna in Shivam’s arms
Aruna: Darling, it has been two years today.
Shivam: Yeah…long time, but then I cannot forget that night. You were at your passionate best…living for the moment…
Aruna (blushing): That wasn’t very fair on your part to come in my life as Aviral when I had almost rejected you.
Shivam: I had no other option. I liked you and my parents couldn’t stop talking about you. I realized that you weren’t a freak that you made yourself up on the phone. Since you had almost said “no” I took the last option available, of seducing you. But then for a few moments I was mad at you…here you were refusing talking to me and simply offering yourself to the other guy. I had planned for a revenge by letting your parents know the whole story but then it was too late. I was in love not just with you but your banter and not to forget cooking. But then I realized I was wrong somewhere too. I had gone beyond in my expectations and was actually bugging you.
Aruna: Hmm… (Smiles)…I learnt a lesson that night as well…that love is nothing but reciprocating. We can call it a crush, heartbreak, an infatuation, but then love is love…above all this, something given and received at the same time. This something can be anything, common tastes and passions or as different as enjoying the diverse tastes.
Shivam: So that lesson teacher deserves a kiss….and maybe more….come here...let me make you mine…again…………………….
