The Healing Touch.....
A Short story by Karthik
(Narrated by the Lead Character Krish (First Person Point of View)
The Long wait was over. It was a special sunday for me since I was going to meet my fiance for the first time to know about her. Earlier my parents have already met her along with her family. It was an arranged marriage.
I have decided after a long thought to disclose an important secret about my first Love during my college days.The Venue was NIT Trichy... The lush green campus where I started my college life. The verdant activity filled campus where I fell in Love for the very first time. The thought about NIT Trichy brings about ever green, ever lasting memories which when I rewind in my mind brings about never ending happiness & peace .It was a special feeling for me.
I waited at the campus gardens with a photograph of her in my hand. I decided to make a call to her..
(Phone Rings)
Hello Harshita ...Krish here...Have you reached NIT Trichy Campus?.
Krish, Almost reached.. I will be there in a couple of minutes.
Ok I am waiting there at the Campus Gardens of the University.I am wearing sky blue shirt with white stripes and black pant. Also I am having the novel “Two States by Chetan Bhagat” in my hand..
Ok ...Krish...see you there...
( Suddenly I spotted a girl in Green chudi coming towards me....) I verified with the photograph in my hand)
Harshita....Am I correct...
Ya Krish....How are you doing?
Doing great. I must admit that you look more beautiful in person than in photo Harshita.
Is it? Krish. Thanks for your compliment. Tell me about yourself?
Fine, I am a simple person who expects much from life, but in reality, I often struggle to cope up with the expectations.
Ok Krish, what are your expectations about me?
Harshita, I expect you to be a good companion for me in my success & failures, a kind daughter in law to my parents.I can't rule out the possibility of any difference of opinion between us in the near future but you should take the initiative to bridge out the differences through harmonious ways. you should be transparent enough and if you don't like some of my behaviors and actions, you should feel free to talk to me in the beginning itself. At last I expect you to be a good lifetime friend.
Krish...Are you finished? Shall I expect the same from you?
Of course Harshita....I promise that I will be a good companion for you.
Ok Krish Let’s see
Harshita , “Tell me about your college life?” ,Krish asked
Nothing much to tell, I am an adventurous girl with fun loving attitude. I use to move freely with my friends.
Many guys proposed me but, I rejected their offer. I made them realize that their love was a mere crush and infatuation .I was even blackmailed by a guy to love him. Thank God, with the help of my friends & brother, I got away from him unscathed. I cherish some of the moments in my college life. I love to be around my friends, playing little pranks, tricks but I never truly fell in love with a guy in the context of marriage.
That’s all from me .Now Krish, you tell me about your college life?
I have a lot of things to share with you about my college life at NIT Trichy and my first Love. (Krish told)
Really First love!!!!! Sounds interesting..Tell me about it.... (Harshita said)
(Flash back)
I had never anticipated that my first day at college would be that much fascinating. A group of seniors ragged me and I was assigned by them to rag first year girls.
Posing as a second year student along with our seniors, I ragged one of the first year girls named Roshini and ordered her to bring a sweet box to college the next day. The most embarrassing moment came when I met her in our class after an hour of the ragging session. I confronted her and told that actually the seniors ragged me and made me to rag you and I asked sorry for that. She left the place without uttering anything. I felt really sad for the incident.
Then Prof Mr. Ramesh entered the class and introduced himself briefly before commencing the orientation session. He took ourselves to the library and made ourselves to introduce ourselves in a way which we never imagined. We have been divided into groups and made to roam across the different shelves and everyone including guys and girls has to gather information about each other in the group including their name, hobbies, interests and future ambition in life and note it down on their diaries. Later Mr Ramesh will ask every one of us to introduce the other person randomly. In one of my turns, I met Roshini. I got an opportunity to apologize for that ragging incident.
Hii.. myself Krish..your name is Roshini ..I am sorry for that incident. Could you now please speak to me?
It's Ok. I understood your situation. What are your hobbies and interests Krish...
Well, I want to become a successful mechanical engineer for the first five years and then an entrepreneur. (Roshini noted down on the details on her notebook)
What about yours Roshini?
I want to pursue higher education, & pursue doctorate and then to become a Research Scientist.
“Great Plan...All the very best.” Said Krish.
In a matter of few weeks, after a few meetings at college lawns & canteens, we become good friends.
We began to meet together during lunch breaks and free periods at Library. Slowly I began liking her.
My heart felt for her absence when she was not around me. My friends told me that it was Love. Whatever be the case, I just loved to be in her company. I like her way of speaking, smile and her actions. Just I was spellbound by her woman hood. Even she made me to unveil the poet in my selves.
Oh my Love! You are a shining star that the heaven has never seen.
You are a precious pearl that the ocean has never seen.
You are an ever fresh fragrance that no one in the world has ever experienced.
You are a cool color that even the rainbow has never seen.
Your smile is mesmerizing to dissolve my day to day worries in my mind. Oh my Love!
Oh my Love: You are a matchless friend to me & I am blessed to have you on my side. Oh my Love!
I have sent this message via SMS and she super- liked it and complimented me with some touching message about Love. I read her SMS several times and it aroused a special feeling in my heart. Roshini has a mole on her cheek. During an occasion, I just kidded that she got the mole by default to safeguard her from the evil eye & wickedness of people just like a caring mother applying a black mark on the cheek of a new born baby to safeguard from the evil eye of people. On hearing this , Roshini burst into laughter yelling me not to kid her.
Then the semester exams came. We began to meet often during combine studies at Library and class rooms. During one such combine session, I completely lost myself for a couple of minutes by the gentle fragrance emanating from her shampooed hair combined with the scent of fresh jasmine flowers. She interrupted me by asking a doubt. I somehow managed to clear her doubt.
Over the next few months, I got ample opportunities to meet her. Our friendship grew into a special kind of bonding between us. We loved to be in the presence of each other’s company. On many occasions, we exchanged our lunch boxes and often shared our food. I used to ask my Mummy to cook the food she likes. Often my Mummy wondered how I developed sudden fondness to such foods.
Then came the Pre-final semester and everyone was busy with Final year project & campus placements.
Roshini made her intentions of higher studies clear as she decided not to attend many on campus interviews as lucrative offers may change her mind. She attended a few interviews with a free mind with no expectations and came off with flying colors on many occasions; she assisted the activities of the Placement cell and often dispersed the tension of interview goers with her cool attitude. The fact that she had no additional burden & expectations since she had opted for higher studies worked well to her advantage and she influenced many guys and gals with her attitude and made their fear of interview dissolve into the air. I liked her service motto very much and joined her in helping other students. I still remember the days in which we jointly assisted our Juniors with resources and lectures.
During the days of our Final Sem, I can’t forget the Matlab & Labview Software incident. Roshini’s final year’s project demanded expertise in these softwares. I never knew a single bit of coding about these softwares but I pretended as an expert to get an opportunity to teach her and to move closer to her heart.
Just I have asked her three days time since I was busy with my Final Year Project. But the actual fact was that I need time to learn these softwares. I troubled one of my close friends to teach these softwares. After much difficulty, I managed to learn a few steps about how to operate on those softwares.
For the very first time, I invited Roshini to my house in the pretext of teaching her those softwares. She agreed readily. I took her to my house. I introduced her to my mother. She had a brief conversation with my mother and after that she entered my room. My entire room was filled with her fragrance. I taught her how to work on those softwares. Then the most unexpected moment came, her eyes spoke the language of Love. For a moment, her left hand gently caressed my right hand with her fingers. Accidently it happened and she withdrew her hand at once. Then at one occasion, I told her that if she continues to commit the same mistake on the programming, she will get a nice beating from me? Roshini laughed and told that she wanted to experience “how nice beating would be?.” I gently slapped lightly on her cheek once and she responded by a gentle pat on my cheek. We both thoroughly enjoyed those fun moments.
While leaving, she expressed her thanks and gave me a firm handshake. I loved those special moments and went to a dream state and it took several hours for me to recover. I kept on recollecting those special moments and the conversations several times and shared with my close friends. I really cherished those moments.
Then during one of our routine long stays at University library for Final Year project, around 8 PM, her vehicle got repaired and she had no option other than coming with me in my bike during that night. I just can’t believe my eyes.
For the very first time, a girl sat on the back seat of my bike where usually my friends accompany me. I drove very slowly and enjoyed every moments of her company.
Is it a dream or reality? How nice is the feeling when your loved one accompanies you in the bike. I am at loss of words to express that special feeling in my heart.
(Harshita interrupts me)
Harshita asked, So Krish Did you propose your love to Roshini at least once?
Harshita, No.. Not even once, actually all our incidents from college life stood testimony to the fact that we loved each other mutually. There was no need to propose to her but the query to be clarified is that whether Roshini will accept me as life partner or not, considering the intricate circumstances which I will explain shortly. Till Pre Final Sem, we both believed that our Love will end in marriage. Her SMS’es stands proof to this fact. But after Pre final sem, our mutual wish of marrying each other suffered a serious setback since we began to march ahead in our respective career paths. Then the most awaited moment came, I got an offer from General Electric, Baroda, Gujarat. My heart was filled with both happiness and sadness. Happy that I got an offer from a premier multinational firm. Sad that I have to depart from Roshini since she wants to pursue her M.E from NIT Trichy itself. She already had the required scores from GATE Exam to support her cause.
I had a feel of her parent’s wish during one of my SMS conversation with her. I have asked her an interesting question requesting her honest opinion.
The Question is whether she will opt for arranged marriage or Love marriage? Justify your decision.
She replied that as per her present scenario, she may be forced to accept for arranged marriage (her parent’s choice) since her parents want her to get married within the same community and also from the same place:-Trichy. They are very much conservative and possessive about mine being their only daughter. She added that it will be very difficult to convince her parents in case of a Love marriage if the guy was from a different community since their family has a set of beliefs which they don’t want to get away with it. At that stage grave realities of Life struck me. Things were pretty clear that my Love won’t end in marriage. But my heart was not accepting the reality. What to do with my heart?
Even though it is pretty evident that she won’t be in a position to marry me, still my heart won’t accept that decision. I am still looking for a miracle & turn around in our relationship. If she accepts the proposal of marrying me, either I have to drop the prospects of going to baroda for my first job or we have to live separately after marriage since she wants to pursue M.E & Ph.d ( Research Internship) at NIT Trichy. I cursed my fate and it was very difficult for me to embrace the grave realities of life.
I wondered what her state of mind would be. After being in love with me for the past three years, how could she move away from me? How her heart would accept this reality? All this questions hovered over my mind. I sensed an opportunity to get this confusion cleared off the air during my send off to baroda at Trichy Railway Station. I decided to ask her directly, What were the circumstances that forced her to take the decision of arranged marriage and what was the state of her mind after taking that decision? Didn’t she felt the pain of her love with me not ending in marriage?
(Krish & Roshini along with Ravi reaches the Railway station.)
Roshini: So Krish, You are leaving us now? How are you feeling now?
Krish: No words to explain my feeling of loneliness and despair. I am going to miss you people but I take forward those fun filled moments of our college life and will take refuge into those moments during depressed times.
Roshini: College life is abuzz with creativity, fear less attitude, humor filled moments, love stories, crush, youthfulness, freedom to pursue our interests. Those days will never ever come back. College life is a phase in our life and it has to come to an end for the next phase to start with. Like every one, I wish to have a college life that never ends .Now the end seems to have come.
Krish & Ravi, we have to accept & acknowledge the end of our college days and move ahead in life for future commitments with the help of lessons about life learned from our ever green college days.
Ravi: I must admit that the future is not going to be a cakewalk for us. We should equip ourselves to face testing times with perseverance and positive attitude.
Krish: What about our Love relationship? How would you come in terms of our Love not ending in marriage? Roshini
Roshini:Krish,It was a very difficult call. It will take more time for us to assimilate the sadness of our love not ending in marriage. I agreed for my arranged marriage at the cost of my wishes. I don’t have any other option. What can I do about my fate? (Roshini in tears.)
Roshini : I was not happy by the way circumstances had turned out for me. It was very difficult for me to digest that the circumstances doomed my marriage plans with you krish.
I had a special liking for you. Initially I wished to have you as my life partner but circumstances forced me to change my decision. Now, You got a nice opportunity to work with a leading multinational to fine tune your inter-personal & technical skills. The exposure of that multinational firm will equip you for future entrepreneurship ventures. Considering my family background, parent’s wishes & my career ambitions, it’s not possible for me to have you as my life partner in this birth. It will spoil the interest of both the parties. I hope that you will be mature enough to accept the reality, Krish
Roshini added ,” College Life combined with youthful exuberance gives us the freedom to expect many things about our life. It’s not a mistake to expect many things in life. But sometimes, the odds are high enough that expectations doesn’t matches reality.
Of course, we can take efforts to bridge out the differences between reality & expectations, but for that we have to lose more for that like going against parent’s wishes, our career ambitions…etc.
I love my parents so much that I can’t go against their genuine wishes. According to their ability, my parents have chosen a best match for me. They have fulfilled my every wish till date and they are the only reason why I am here at a leading premier institute to pursue my dreams. Now it’s my turn to fulfill their wish. I can’t go against their wishes and even if I did go against their wishes, I am damn sure that my parents won’t accept my choice of yours as my life partner considering your family background, community & the choice of your workplace. They won’t be happy with my decision of marrying you. I can’t be happy if my parents were unhappy.
Also, You want to pursue MBA to become a successful entrepreneur & I want to pursue M.Tech & Ph.d and become a Research Scientist. Even if I have to marry you, either I or you have to sacrifice our career ambitions.
After coming this far, I don’t want both my selves & you to give up in the middle for the sake of marrying me. It won’t be appropriate & wise enough and both our parents will never be happy at the sight of their kid sacrificing their career ambitions for the sake of love marriage.
Also, you need to remain bachelor for at least three or four years to pursue his career ambitions. You are just going to start your career. You need time to settle down before marrying. You know family pressures will be more after marriage. Also I can’t wait that much time considering my family situation & my parents wish.
I don’t want to give suffering to my parents. I hope you will be mature enough to accept the reality. It will be a very difficult choice for both of us. I have taken this decision after giving much consideration to all eventualities.
Roshini said, Krish from my score, I am confident that I will get admission to ME Program at NIT-Trichy itself. I want to pursue my higher education and doctorate from there to become a Research Scientist.
My parents have shortlisted one Groom for me. The Groom works at BHEL –Trichy. Groom’s father & my father were office colleagues. I will be married within six months time.
My parents want me to live in their vicinity and being elder daughter, I have to take care of my parents at their old age and to fulfill their wishes. I agreed for the same.
I have taken this decision for the welfare of both you and me,Krish. I hope we both will remain friends forever. (Roshini & Krish are in tears now.) .May be in the next birth, we shall be blessed enough to have each other as Life partner.
Roshini said, “We should get over these emotions as soon as possible to surge ahead in our respective paths both in personal and professional lives. We have to find happiness in what we get in life. I wish you to find a suitable life partner soon and settle in life. Do inform your life partner about our College Love and if possible, bring her to our college and introduce with me. Do not hide anything with your life partner. I will also do the same, Krish.”
We departed with our hearts filled with sadness and lots of emotions. Ravi consoled both of us from uncontrollable tears.
It was very difficult for me to recover from the glumness of our departure and at the same time I felt depressed a lot frequently.
I have reached the company’s Guest House at Baroda and began to feel lonely, depressed at a new place.
For a change, I visited Sri Ramakrishna Math for inner peace and there I happen to learn a lot about Swami Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda’s words have given me the much needed courage and wisdom to accept the realities of life. There I came to know about a child welfare foundation:-The Math supports. I began visiting the Child welfare foundation whenever I got free time.
During one such visit, one of the volunteers informed the children that I support their initiative for their basic rights and education. I was bowled over by the unconditional Love showered by the children. They treated me like a celebrity and they loved to be in my company. One of the children came from my behind and closed my eyes.
Krish: Whose this?
Child: Krish uncle you identify myself from my voice.
Krish : (Knowing that it was priya, Krish pretends that he doesn’t know her to play a prank on her).. Is it Vaishnavi, aishwarya,Rossy,shweta,nithya…etc….
Child: No, Krish uncle. This is not fair..You won’t recognize me from my voice.
Krish: Priya Don’t get angry. I just playing a prank on you dear..Now you close your eyes. I will give you a gift dear.
Priya: What Gift Krish uncle? ( I just handed her a Diary milk chocolate & Ice cream)
Priya: Ohh…(Smiles)… Thanks Krish uncle.. All of a sudden, she kissed on my cheek to express her love.
I got a special feeling like torrential rains drowning my heart. I got to experience true divine love that comes from sharing our resources with the needy people.
How true the saying is: You experience true love in giving and not in taking. Just like Nature which gives sunshine & rains unconditional to everyone, we should give unconditional support, love, help to these children of God. Whatever you give to them, it comes back to you multiplied. I started giving them unconditional Love & support and experienced the true love & affection of those children. All my depression about my first Love disappeared in the wind.
Days passed by…….. It was a pleasant Sunday, When I was finished with the routines of the day, Roshini called me… (I picked up the call). Krish..Roshini here..How are you? Howz life? Howz job?
I am fine.My job is going on well. How about your studies Roshini? When are you getting married?
Krish… I am fine..My studies are going on fine. My marriage is fixed on the month of Jan. I will send you the invitation. You have to attend it..No more excuses plz.
Definitely Roshini…I will attend it…
I want to thank you specifically for your gracious act of sacrificing our love for the sake of our family well being. I will never ever see a girl like you in my life again.
Thanks Roshini, because of you only, I understood the great philosophy of sacrificing & giving up in Life for mutual benefit. Here I give away my Love for you from my heart to you. (Krish in tears). You keep it and live peacefully my dear friend. I am sure that I will get back the same Love reciprocated from your side. You are a special friend to me.Take care ..Bye…stay in touch…
“Thanks Krish for understanding me. You pray to God for my future endeavors and married life. I need the prayers and wishes of true friends like you Krish. (Roshini in tears). Stay in touch.”, Roshini said.
“Definitely. I will pray for your well being Roshini.’,Krish said
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Everyone needs a healing touch to recover from the depressed phase of one’s career. The sweet moments I shared with Roshini during college days, her friendship, sacrifice and the unconditional Love sans expectations of the underprivileged children provided me the healing touch to recover from the depressed phase of my life. I am indebted to all of them.
Krish: Well . That’s all from me about my college life and first Love. Still I am in touch with her. We support & help each other mutually during testing times of our lives.
Harshita: Kudos to Roshini for her attitude & maturity. I hope she is fine now. She has taken the right decision. I liked the openness of your heart in which you explained the incidents of your college life. Everyone wishes that first Love to end in marriages. But only a few are lucky enough. Rest has to contend with the succeeding Love attempts. Rarely a few will disclose their happenings in their life. I like your initiative and attitude. It will make me to believe you in your future dealings. I am eager to meet Roshini. Will you please call her? , if she is available in the university campus.. Any other girl in your life? Krish…
Krish: Thanks dear. I played cautiously after my first love. I never fall in Love with any other girl although I liked many girls at my workspace. Harshita, I hope that you are my succeeding & final Love attempt.
Harshita: Since ours is an arranged marriage, there won’t be many obstacles but we have to transparent with ourselves about our likes, dislikes, expectations, reality, pros & cons of life. We have to work collectively during our good & bad times to bridge out the difference between expectations & reality. We should be ready to sacrifice our own interests for the mutual benefit.
Krish: I endorse your views. I will play the role of a supportive life partner. Let’s start a new chapter in our lives. Come let’s make a beginning.
Harshita: Sure Krish but Have you chosen me merely because of your parent’s wish. What will happen when you found out that we don’t have many things in common during later stages of life?
Krish: For a relationship to sustain and prosper, you don’t actually need to have many things in common. It’s about understanding the needs and interests of the other person and giving freedom to pursue their own interests with harmony. When we have many things in uncommon, we have more scope to sacrifice , adjust and understand each other and true Love will blossom in such a relationship.
I have chosen you because our family background, interests, horoscopes match pretty well. Also you appear to be a nice person.
Harshita: Really. You too appear to be a flexible person with a good heart. We shall start to love each other now. Whatever be the differences that prop up in the future, we shall meet head to head as and when it comes and will solve mutually. Let’s make a new beginning Krish.
Krish: Sure Harshita. I am privileged to have you as my Life partner. At last, I found a right match in you. We will meet frequently to take our love relationship forward.
(Krish is dialling Roshini’s number. Roshini picks up the phone.)
Roshini: Hi Krish, It’s been long time since you called me. How are you? Howz life? Any special news!
Krish: I am fine. Hope to hear the same from you. I am in university gardens with my life partner Harshita. As per your wish, I have narrated everything about our college life with her. She wishes to meet you.
Roshini: I am also fine, doing great.. Is it? Good news. So, finally you are getting married? Nice. I will join you people within half an hour. ( Roshini reaches there within half an hour).
Harshita: Hi Roshini, Nice to meet you. Krish has told everything about you. Your attitude and way of handling things deserves special mention. It’s so nice to see that you people remains good friends forever. Both of you have set an example for the future generations to follow.
Roshini: Don’t compliment me so much. Our relationship (Krish & Roshini) started in friendship and I am happy to continue it in friendship. Am I correct? Krish.
Krish:Of course, I am blessed to have a friend like you by my side. I am contented with our friendship.
Roshini: I whole heartedly wish both of you a very happy married life. So Krish, what you have told her about our college life?
Harshita: OMG…Again from the beginning!.
Krish: Don’t worry Harshita. I will not narrate it once again. One of my friends is troubling me posing as a writer asking for a script for a love story. I will ask him to pen all these incidents.
Roshini: Nice, Tell your friend to reproduce just like the way it happened. Don’t ask him to add any imaginary things to spice up the story. Else, it will create a problem for all of us.
Krish: I agree with you. I will tell him so and will send the short story ASAP.
We had a nice time chatting about our progress in personal & professional lives and Roshini even invited us to her house for a dinner. We shared many fun filled moments between us. Harshita and Roshini have much in common and became good friends. Roshini whole heartedly wished for our well being and wants both of us to be cheerful & supportive throughout life. Roshini told us that she has no regrets and very contended with her married life. It brought further happiness to me as my friend was happy.
Who told that you can be happy only if your love ends in marriages. I have experienced happiness in my relationship with Roshini as a true friend for all seasons.
**************The Beginning of a new chapter in Krish & Harshita’s Life *************
Epilogue: Author’s Inference:
It is quite natural that often we come across depression in life when expectations don’t meet the reality. Real life situations like family values, traditions, core beliefs, career ambitions are so complex enough to bridge the difference between expectations and reality. It would be nice if we learn to manage both expectations and reality and accept life as it comes. Depression will leave a feeling of shallowness in the heart. Many fail to cope up with the feeling and often commit suicide. Life is a blessing and not just a show to end it in that way. They fail to realize that they are just a thought away from that suicidal state to get back to the normal state. If they wish, they can chose to experience the same Love from arranged marriage, by taking care of their beloved parents, by loving the needy underprivileged children of our country.
It’s high time that media crazy youth doesn’t expect every time that their college Love or office Love to conclude in marriages often. There were many untold love stories, one sided love stories, love stories separated by circumstances ,parents , career ambitions…etc and many present day youths are dejected and under the false illusion that they won’t find the Love again in another girl and are driven towards ending their valuable lives. They should not do so. They should start believing their Love in the succeeding attempts will end in marriage. Life is all about self belief only
They should realize that, “Love is not restricted to loving a girl and making her life partner alone. Love is about making your parents, friends, well wishers, needy under privileged children contend by bringing smiles on their faces and lending them a helping hand to live a respected life in society. If we start to look Love in this broad perspective, even if one Love fails, the other Love prospers and drives you away from depression.”
The present day youth should take a call at appropriate time preferably in the early stages of their love relationship based on real life situations, family situations and their career prospects to the issue of ending their Love in marriage or not for the benefit of both the parties. Even if their love doesn’t end in marriage, the extent of hurt will be less. They should stay within the limits to maintain status quo in a relationship. It’s utterly silly to end Love in marriage just for the sake of being in Love and Roshini did the right thing for the mutual benefit by continuing in friendship.
Krish & Roshini are the inspiration for me to present this short story to you..Kudos to Krish & Roshini.. Long live their friendship.
*************************** Sweet memories forever ************************
A Short Story by Karthik.
Mail your valuable suggestions, feedback to karthikthewriter@yahoo.co.in.
