First love and Last love

I was sitting on the sand and watching the waves hitting the shore.
"It has been 4 long years now" I thought "A lot of things have
happened in life ". The waves were bringing back my old memories.
I still remember how I met a girl named Rekha in this place. I
usually hit the beach on weekends to forget loneliness after my
friends got scattered all over India after college. Since then I could
not find a circle of friends as I had in college. I usually see her
sitting alone on the sands and viewing the waves. There is a saying
"Birds of same feather flock together ".I had never accepted this
saying until I saw her.
Days went on ....Soon my eyes started to search for her every time I
came to the beach. Slowly I felt something change within me.
The following weekend I didn't to go to the beach as all my friends
had planned for a reunion .Even though I was with my friends I could
sense something was not at its place. Does it have to do anything with
her? I questioned myself ... my heart failed to answer my questions!! ..
Next weekend when I went to the beach my eyes didn't search for her. I
was just admiring the beautiful waves... Waving its hands for me...
Until
I heard a voice... "Seems you didn't turn up last weekend "I just turned
and noticed that, it was Rekha saying that ... Those were the first
words she spoke to me.
I never knew I was noticed by her all these days. Words failed to
come out of my mouth. "By The Way I am Rekha "were the next few words
which brought me back to my senses. "Hi I am Raj! Glad to meet you!
"greeted her with a smile. "Mind If I sit here "she asked me
tentatively, action spoke before words did and even before I could say
no my head nodded a no with a capital "N" to her. She sat there beside
me and we spoke. I experienced Einstein's theory of relativity on that
day. Hours flew just like seconds. She said that she was from Kerala
and came to Chennai for studies. She told that she would stay with her
uncle and aunt till she finished her college and that her house was
near the beach...
Time went on and the more we spent time together, friendship grew more
between us. We exchanged numbers. Weekend meetings start to become
weekdays night phone chatting. Slowly my feeling towards her started
to change, I never felt so attracted to a girl before. She was
changing my life which was full of loneliness to a more enjoyable and
fun filled one.
She was doing her final year of her college in a reputed arts college,
so she was free in the evenings most of the time. She started to call
me after her college hours and we spoke for hours and hours.
It was only in the weekends that we met each other and spoke in
person; otherwise it was only over the phone.. One day after speaking
to her .I received a call from my mom. She was waiting for me in front
of my office and she sounded dull. I just rushed to the entrance and
saw my mom in tears.
I asked her "What happened?" her weeping grew more. I again repeated
my question. My mom told that My Dad had a heart attack and was
admitted in hospital in Coimbatore . Working as Bank officer transfers
are not new to my father. I tried to console her ..and then I came to
my manager and informed him about my dad and asked permission to leave
from office...Went in a hurry to airport to reach Coimbatore as soon
as possible. That weekend I could not attend her phone, since I was in
the ICU with my father and so I had to switch off my mobile.
On Sunday my Dad got better and returning back to Chennai I checked
my mobile it had some 50 odd messages from Rekha. The moment I saw it
... I knew she would be very angry on me ..for not turning up this
weekend. I called her a few times; there was no answer from her. I
just messaged her ... what all happened ... and was waiting for her
reply...
That day my eyes failed to see dreams... my heart sensed fear of losing
a friend, my bed which was of roses since the day I started to speak
to Rekha, became thorns to me.
The next weekend fate had different plans for me. I made it to the
sands and was sitting there for about an hour, thinking about whether
she would turn up or not. After waiting for another 30 odd minutes, I
decided to leave ... and started walking towards my bike.
I saw her in front of me, I went to her and said "Hi and Sorry Rekha
I could not turn up last weekend. Had some problems I guess you can
understand"... her silence gave me a signal that she was still angry
with me!
She just went past me and sat on the sand.... I had no other option...
I
followed her foot steps and sat next to her ..
"O.K.! Rekha!!! I know ...you are angry on me!!! I am sorry for not
informing you, I guess you can understand in what situation I was in.
"Her answer was silence. " If she doesn't like to speak to you!! Then
don't disturb her!!!" my mind gave me orders. "O.K. then I guess I
will leave! I don't wanna disturb you!!! "I got up with a heavy
heart....
I took my first step and she broke her silence "Please don't go" she
didn't sound good. I went near her and sat with her and saw the
waves, I saw her tears running down the cheeks, suddenly a guilty
feeling started to creep into my heart. I asked her "Rekha!!! What
happened? Why are crying?? ". "Did I say something wrong?" I
questioned myself.
She wiped her tears and said "No you didn't say anything wrong ". "I
could not be without talking to you!!! Raj!!! "
"You have become so close to me!!! That I feel you are a part of me!!!
".The moment she finished a question arised in my mind "Is she in love
with me?". I saw those eyes of her and could not come to a
conclusion. "Are you in love with me? Rekha" I put forth my question
to her. She gave me a glance and said "I don't know Raj, but I have
never missed any one like I have missed you in my life!!! ". Words
failed to come out from both of us. We returned home questioning
ourselves "Are we in love?".
The night was long and my eyes failed to dream. Suddenly saw my mobile
ringing ..... It was her ..
"Hey Hi!!! Tell me!! ?"
There was silence "hello!!! Rekha!!! Are u there?"
"Sorry to disturb you!!! Thought you would be sleeping!"
"That's fine!! Had some work. I just went to bed! Any problem!?"
"No... not at all... just thought of speaking to you!"
"Oh OK".
"Raj!!!!! Can I ask you a question? "
"Go on"
"What would be your decision if I say I am in love with you?"
I was caught on the thoughts... "Does she really mean it? I know I am
not that attractive but she is!!!"
"Raj!!! You there!!! ?"
"Yeah!! Yeah!! I am here!! "
"Did I ask anything wrong?"
"Nope"
I came to my senses and told her my decision... That I would have her as
my better half. The next moment, I only heard sounds of tears; I felt
her happiness in that cry, I felt her love on that day.
The days that followed were pleasant and the most unforgettable days
in my life ...everything around me looked beautiful... I was
experiencing
the phrase "When love is in your heart, everything around you will
appear beautiful than ever". We shared happiness, sorrows, and had
little fights which made the bonding between us stronger. The life
clock's pendulum doesn't always be in the happier side.
Things started to change when she finished her college, her aunt and
uncle found about our relationship and news automatically reached her
mom.
One day she messaged me that she have received a telegram that her Mom
is ill and that, she would be leaving to Kerala in some 15 minutes by
flight and she will be back by a week. I called her up and spoke to
her for 15 minutes.
Those were the last 15 minutes we spoke. I never knew fate had a
horrible twist in store for me.
The next day I tried to call her up and I could not reach her.
Something was bothering me the whole day, I tried to call her again in
the night, and still I couldn't reach her.
The next day, my mobile glowed with her number, bringing delight in my
face, I picked up the phone and I can only hear her cry ......
"Hello!!! Rekha!!! Is that you? What happened? Anything wrong? Why
are you crying? How is your Mom?" I asked with my heart beating in my
mouth.
She did not answer anything "Come on!! Speak to me Rekha!! What the
hell happened?"
She said" Raj!!! "And then I could hear only her cry ... Her mom got the
phone from her and just said "Don't ever call her again!! She got
married Raj!!!" ...and she cut the call... I felt the world around me
shatter, my heart became heavy. At that moment I wished the ground
beneath me to devour me. There was nothing I could do, all things were
over... Tears were starting to flow from my eyes.
I walked in the sands with the memories of Rekha; I sat and started
to view the waves... for the first time in my life after meeting Rekha
everything around me looked gloomy... I felt the waves were calling me
towards them... My legs started to walk towards the waves...
I heard someone calling "Raj!! Raj!! Come here!! ".My eyes started to
search who was the person? " Come here!!! Don't play with the sand "It
was some kid Raj's Mom. But I thought I saw a bit of my Mom in her. I
took a decision. I prepared myself to face the facts of my life. I
called my Mom and said what had happened. She consoled me. I said
about my decision... At first she never accepted to my decision... I
switched off the phone... and I walked towards my bike...
"Paapa!! See what I have made for you!!! "which brought me back to the
present .....
"Yeah!! Dear!! " ..
"A sand castle for you Pappa!!"
"Oh that's lovely dear" I said with a smile, looking at my child.
"Come here!! Rekha!! Let us stand here..."
She came running towards me ... I lifted her .. and kissed her on the
forehead... Rekha, my adopted child. I have started to live my life for
her for past 3 yrs.
I took her hand, and made the waves touch her feet. She was smiling at
me.
"Come on Dear!!! Let's go home!! Grandma will be waiting for us".
I held her hand and we started to walk over the sands...
I turned back to watch my footsteps... and felt
"My first love was Rekha, My last love will be Rekha too "
I walked towards my bike holding my last love's hand.

Author : Unknown
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------I am speechless after reading this story. I know you will too...
-Sugi-

A poem - I read on net

Loneliness

Oh! Loneliness
How did you find my address?
I tried so much, to escape your touch
But you crept into my life
And even though I strive, you remain.

Yes, there are people
Relatives and friends
But when I look around
I feel alone in the crowd
I find not the Dear
Who will wipe away the tears
Take away my fears.

I ask again the question
That has gathered dust
Whom can I Trust?
‘Cause it is a must
Whom do I show
That special book in the soul’s shelf
A mirror of my true self?
No answer, Just emptiness
With your cold caress.

Loneliness, you do not have one definition
Rather many incarnations.
You are a cake with no eater,
A drum with no beater,
A book with no reader,
A Pain, with No healer.

When I ponder over the years went by,
I find not a constant companion
Except you, my Loneliness
And now I fear, you will be here
Till my end, and thus you have become….
My Best friend!

– Sumiti Yadava (Boloji)

'The English Teacher' by R.K. NARAYAN.

I got some books from my friend Suma. I was hardly finding time to sit and read at one stretch now. After all, things have changed after I delivered my little one who is six months old now ( proud mother :-)). I read little every day. Sat through last evening and completed today.

When I started I felt it was very descriptive. It's about an english lecturer Krishnan and his experiences. He and his lovely wife and their small kid. I liked the personal space the couples had. After he lost his wife how the life changed for him and after he met his daughter's headmaster how he realized the mere existence. The head master enjoys the kid's company and how he indulges in their world. Kids are always so special and they have all wonderful things in their world. They are so powerful. How the very smile of theirs transforms our mood and how we get delighted. It's a divine experience. Finally Krishnan quits his job and joins the kid's school to live the life. He does what he wants to do not for the sake of doing.

I liked this concept. It was a good read.