I suddenly get up in the middle of night and remember about the sketch. How could I have been so stupid. Its true I didn’t had her photo but how foolish of me to forget that I could actually sketch her picture. I remember exactly how she looked like.
I get up and take a sheet of paper and pencil and start to sketch her picture. I try to sketch her exactly the way she looked like the other day. Short hair covered with scarf, ear phones hanging from ears, pointed nose, oval shaped eyes and small lips. Yes I remember each and every feature of hers. I don’t believe I forgot about my own talent.
After trying out for few times, about two hours later, I was ready with her sketch. I was happy with my work. She looked exactly the same. Now with this sketch of hers, it would get bit easier with her search. I didn’t had her full name but now I had her sketch with me. Whole new search for her tomorrow and this time I was sure I would find her.
“Wow!! I didn’t know I look so beautiful”, she said looking at her sketch I drew for her.
“You like it”?
“Of course I like it. Thank you so much. You have an amazing talent and you were having second thoughts about it”.
“I didn’t know either. I think its been 10 years or more I sketched something”.
“You should always take time to do something you enjoy about. Don’t you love sketching”.
“I do, it gives me immense pleasure. I will make sure I will do it often now”.
“What else you enjoy”?
“Hmm, not sure of anything else”.
“Have you ever tried eating an ice cream getting wet in rain”.
“What!! No, never. What’s so fun about it. You can fall sick like that”.
“Oh you should try that. Why fear of getting sick. You can fall sick without doing anything like that”.
“But still…..”.
“Your ifs and buts never end. Once we get down if its raining, I will show you the enjoyment of eating ice cream while getting wet”.
We soon reached Bangalore. We got down at the highway to collect my car. We had walked for some distance and as she wanted it started to rain.
“Hoo hoo, thank you rain god”, she said.
“Oh no, come fast”.
“What fast, don’t you like getting wet. Its so awesome. Just forget about all the consequences and enjoy this rain dude”.
“Ok, lets have an ice cream as well then”.
“Wow, you are improving Mr. Look over there, there is a shop. Come on”.
We bought an ice cream and then she started to teach me how to enjoy an ice cream in this wet weather.
“Now come on, lets eat before the rain stops”.
“Ok ok, so how do you do that”.
“Just start to eat ice cream when its raining. The fresh water mixes with the ice cream giving it a beautiful essence. Just have a feel and become a kid all over again. You will love it”.
“Ok let me try and see”.
I was doing some crazy things with her but frankly speaking I was enjoying each and every moment with her. I never knew life could be so much fun with these petty things. She taught me life’s best moments lied in these small things.
We then went to collect my car.
“Will you do something if I ask you”? she asked me before we could reach the garage.
“What”?
“Just appreciate the mechanic for his work and also apologize to him for your rude behaviour in the morning”.
“Thanking is ok but morning I was bit upset”.
“But now you are alright. You see it right or not I am not sure. But for me all are equal. We should never degrade people lower than us or working under us. They may be doing some petty jobs but just think if they don’t do these petty jobs how would rich people like you survive. If the chef don’t cook for you, what will you eat. You should always appreciate for others hard work”.
She was teaching me some deep meanings of life. These are the simple things we used to learn as kids in school that all are equal. No one is superior. But honestly speaking how many of us actually inculcate this attitude. Its human tendency to forget. In this race of life, we so easily forget the actual meaning of being a human.
“Good evening Sir, your car is ready. I tried calling you Sir but your phone was not reachable”, the mechanic says as soon as we reach.
“Oh, thank you so much for your help. I am also very sorry for my behaviour in the morning”, I say to him.
“Its ok Sir. We are used to such things. But very few like you apologise. Not to worry about it Sir”, he says and feels very happy that I apologised to him.
That happiness which I saw on his face gave some contentment to me at which point I realised, our happiness always lies when we are the reason behind someone’s happiness.
**
“Yes Sapna, I should have realised it much earlier”, I was talking to Sapna over phone and telling her about my sketch.
“Its good that you have her picture now. It will be a great help”.
“Yes I know. I will first cover up other colleges. If no luck then I will again go back to the ones which I had covered yesterday”.
“That’s a good idea. But do have your regular breakfast and lunches in between. Just don’t skip everything”.
“Of course, I am in fact having my breakfast now. How’s everything there”?
“All good. Dad had called last night. They will be coming at the end of this week”.
“Oh, did he ask about me”?
“Yes he did, but don’t worry I said you are out on some business work and will be back soon”.
“Thanks Sapna, I owe you a lot for all this”.
“When this formality came between us. I know how important she is to you and for me as well. Its because for her I have my caring Sunil today. Love you, bye”.
The car was perfectly back to shape. By the time we collected the car from him it was 5pm.
“Here Mam, we have a car now. What next”? I asked her.
“You apologised to him only because I asked you or you really felt like”, she asked me.
“Well both. You asked after which I realised. You are one amazing person Neha”.
“Hmm, then will you do everything I would ask for this one day, or say for another few hours”?
“What else you want me to do”?
“I want to eat chats but not in any hotel”.
“Then”?????? I knew where this was going.
“Roadside, it tastes better than in hotel”.
“Ya I am sure, same like that coffee right”?
“Please, see we have only few more hours together and I want to make this memorable”.
“Ok ok, lets go”.
We then moved from there in search of some roadside chats for Neha. There was no point in turning her down. What all she meant was indeed true and so I thought of trying this out as well.
“Isn’t it delicious”? she asked me having her panipuri. She was having like she didn’t had anything to eat from past few days.
“Ya it is”, I said having mine.
“Be honest, do you like it or not”?
“Really I am enjoying it. Its very tasty”, I was really enjoying that. It was indeed very delicious but I couldn’t ignore the cleanliness though.
“See I told you, and please don’t bother about cleanliness. I am sure you won’t fall sick”.
“Hopefully. You can have more if you want”.
“Of course, I am going to have more”, and she tells the man to serve her until she says to stop.
Neha had a great appetite I must say. Looking at her I was not sure where she belonged to. In the upper class or middle class. The way she dressed showed her to be some rich dad’s spoilt brat but the way she behaved proved her to be very down to earth person. I was still confused but somewhere I was glad that I met her today and because of her I was seeing and experiencing all this. I had no regret of cancelling my meeting.
“What!! Are you sure but how did this happen”? I was asking Mr Vasu over my phone.
“Yes Sir. I explained them about your situation and they themselves agreed to have a meeting in Bangalore day after tomorrow Sir”.
“Well that’s a great news Mr Vasu, and thanks for handling the situation”.
Mr Vasu had called to inform about the meeting I had cancelled. Mr Vasu had presented them with brief knowledge about our proposal and they were happy about it. So now they wanted to have a personal meeting with me that too here in Bangalore.
I didn’t believe that all this while I was crazily working out hard to have a contract with them, it came just like that when I had lost all hopes about it. Neha was true, the more we long for something, the more we get disappointed. We should only do what we can and if we are destined to get that, then no matter what it will eventually come to us. As she said, focus on work, success will automatically follow you. My hard work had payed off.
“That’s wonderful news, you owe me a treat now”, she said after I shared about the meeting news.
“Of course. Anything you ask for”.
“Wow, I am so happy for you. See I told you if you are destined to get it, then no one can stop it”.
“Yes, you were right. The moment I forgot all about that I get the news from them. Its so amazing. I am feeling at the top of the world now. So tell me how shall we celebrate this”.
“Lets go to lakeside in Sankey tank. It will not be crowded also at this time”.
“Its already 6pm, aren’t you getting late”?
“My deadline is 7pm and even if I am late no issues. I am special you see”.
“But what will you tell your parents. I know they are out of town but what if they call you at home to check”.
“Don’t worry dude. I know to handle all these situations. First lets go instead of wasting time here. And hey lets get some drinks on the way. No celebration is complete without drinks you see”, she winks at me.
***
It was noon time. From morning I had covered about 10 colleges but still there was no luck. I still had many to go but somewhere I was getting disappointed. It seems as if no one knows Neha. Now sitting in this 11th college, I was wondering if at all something clicks here.
“Yes Sir, what did you say the name is”? asks the office clerk.
“Its Neha, final year Commerce department”.
“Hmm, let me check. Neha, neha, neha….” and he goes on with his search.
“There is no Neha in the final year Sir. But we had one Neha last year who suddenly dropped out this year by choice”.
“Dropped out!! Which department was she in”?
“Same, commerce Sir. Its Neha K. She just took TC at the beginning of this year without giving any proper reason”.
“Did she look like this”? I asked him showing him Neha’s picture.
“Hmm, oh yes she is the one. Very bright student though. She had highest scores last year”.
As per Neha’s wish we reached Sankey tank. Since it was a week day and had been raining whole day, there was no much crowd.
“This place will close soon now”, I told her looking at the timings near the entrance.
“We still have one full hour dude. So come on”.
“Its nice here. Lets sit here”.
“No, this is so much close to the entrance. Lets go bit further”.
“Ok…….”.
“Here, its nice and calm here. Come on, lets sit here”.
“I still insist you give a call to your parents to inform them. They would get worried”.
“Chill dude, I will handle them”.
“Are you allowed to drink”?
“I am over 18 years and its legal to drink at this age”.
“But how will you explain your parents”?
“Don’t worry, as I said I am special. So no rules apply for me”.
“But don’t drink too much so that you lose your senses”.
Sankey tank is one of the major lakes in Bangalore. This artificial lake is surrounded by beautiful garden. The most exciting thing about this lake is that during winter the lake is converted into the nesting grounds of migratory birds. Its a perfect place to enjoy a walk as the cool breeze always blows over the place.
The main attractions of this tank are it includes swimming pool and forest department nursery. There is also boat rides in the water of the tank.
We both sat without talking to each other for sometime and were enjoying the scenic place. The last time I had been here was with Sapna on our first date as she insisted to visit this place.
We both were mesmerized in the beauty of this place. With very less crowd and a cool weather it was a perfect time to enjoy this place. I don’t remember when was the last time I was so relaxed and contended in my life.
“What are you thinking”? I asked Neha who was sitting quite for a while now.
“Nothing, just wondering about god’s creation and feeling bad for those who don’t get to see this”.
“Everything and everyone can’t be perfect you see”.
“True, they say all this depends on our karma”.
“Yes it does. But why are you thinking about all this now”.
“Just wondering if I have done enough of good karma”.
“You are one nice hearted person I have ever met. You always think about others. Don’t you think its your good karma”.
“Don’t know, but………. Anyways, sorry. Sometimes I get bit emotional. My friends say it doesn’t suit me”.
“They are right. You look good when you are smiling. Don’t ever let that smile fade away from your face”.
“Ok, then lets start celebrating now. I so badly want those drinks”.
“You better watch out. I am not going to let you get drunk, ok”?
We both started off with our drinks. Neha was a crazy drinker. But I didn’t allow her to have much as she had to return to her place in proper condition.
“Who are you”? I asked her.
“After spending one full day with me you are asking who I am”?
” I mean, you are a total stranger to me. You suddenly jump into my car from nowhere. I then comeback to you to offer a lift. Some funny situations take place. You show me the real life. I am not complaining but just wondering how all this happened”.
“Don’t think too much dude. Just consider me as your long lost friend. After sometime I will be gone and you will also get going with your life”.
“But I would never forget this day. My life will not be the same anymore now”.
“Are you happy with this change”.
“Very much. I have never been so crazy in my entire life. There is a reason for it you see”.
“You can share anything with me dude. Consider me as your secret treasurer”.
**
I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I had finally found her!!! Is this man really talking about same Neha. Why did she drop out. So many questions were arising. I had asked for more details from him for which he said I had to take permission from the principal. They just can’t disclose about someone like that. And for my luck, the principal was on leave and would be returning only after two days. I was not in a position to wait any longer now. She was so close to me yet so far. I decided to ask from her friends.
Lunch time had crossed and classes had already commenced. So the only option for me was to wait till the classes finish. If Neha had discontinued then why didn’t she tell me. Why did she lie to me. I accept I was a total stranger to her but then we had shared some good moments together. I also had shared some secrets with her. Didn’t she believe me. All that I wanted to know now was why did she lie to me?
“Ok, where shall I start from. I have never talked about these things to anyone. Not even to Sapna”, I say to her.
“Sometimes everything can’t be shared with your partner. That’s when friends come you see”.
“Friends, I don’t remember if I have one”.
“You don’t have any friends!! Seriously”?
“Well not someone with whom I can share my feelings. Most of them are with me because of my status”.
“Then you can consider me as your best buddy for today”.
“Only today”?
“I don’t believe in attachments you see. If we are destined to meet again, we will meet”.
“Then how do you find friends. This way each day you will be having a new friend”.
“That’s me. I like making new friends but I don’t believe in bonding with them. Everyday new faces and believe me some days I find old faces as well”.
“And in college, don’t you have friends there or not”?
“Well no one very close though”.
She tells me that she has no close relationship with any of her friends. But she will always be there if they need her. She doesn’t keep any contact with anyone but all are her friends. She doesn’t like sharing all the matters but yes she likes listening to others.
“So what do you do when you feel very lonely or depressed at times”? I ask her.
“That happens very rarely with me but if I feel low, then I just start reading a book or get away somewhere to explore something, or make new friends”.
“Hmm, quite interesting. Is there no one you share your thoughts or talk to”?
“There is , I talk to myself. They say no friend is better than you yourself. I am my best friend. I get immense relief when I talk to myself”.
“How is that possible”?
“It is dude. You have to talk to yourself at times. You will be amazed to meet yourself. You will find out what are you as an individual. And you also should laugh daily. There is a saying, the most wasted day of all is the one when you have not laughed”.
She had some great knowledge. With her I was getting to learn so many things. I had never met anyone like her till date. Her knowledge was par beyond her age.
“You are amazing Neha”, I say to her.
“That I am”, she giggles.
“So what is your biggest dream in your life”?
“I want to travel the whole world but I know its not possible”.
“Why is it not possible. Once you have finished your studies, you can take up some travel related course and achieve your dream”.
“Ya ya, but you know what the problem is, I don’t have enough patience to wait till then you see”.
“You are only 20 Neha, you have an entire life ahead you….”
“Entire life….ya let’s see where this life takes me”.
“You have had enough. No more drinks now”.
“But dude, I want to, please….”.
“I said no”.
“Ok, hey you were to share something with me, now come on tell me”.
I started to tell her about my childhood. After I lost my mom, my childhood was very lonely. My dad always used to be away because of his business. I used to be with maternal grandparents most of the time. I used to miss my dad a lot. I was bought up in a way where more importance was given to money. My dad never used to miss a single business meeting for any occasion. Growing up in this environment I started to believe that nothing is more important than money. I was allowed to play only with the kids of high society but they were never interested in playing. With each passing year I started to keep away from everyone. I didn’t like making friends because I knew at one point they would leave me. Before I could realise my dad passed away in an accident. Whole his business responsibility came on my shoulders. In attempt to flourish his business I forgot that I too have a personal life. I still wonder what has kept Sapna with me till date because I have never really spent quality time with her. For me making money was the only passion.
****
“Yes she is Neha. But she dropped out this year. She was a bright student though”, one of the girl said when I showed her Neha’s sketch.
“Do you know where she lives”? I ask that girl.
“She used to live in college hostel. She said her hometown was Goa”.
“Goa!!! Are you sure”?
“Yes but she rarely went to her home. I mean she used to go only during long vacation at the end of the year”.
“Can you give me more details about her”?
“Sorry, I don’t know much about her. In fact no one knows much about her. She never shared anything with us. The only thing she talked to anyone included only study related matters”.
“Didn’t she have any best friend or…..”?
“As I said she was somewhat different. She used to live in her own world. But yes she had one boyfriend as far as I know”.
“Can you tell me where can I find him now”?
“His name is Vishal. Right now I guess he will be in canteen”.
“Thanks a lot again
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