Friday, 8 July 2016

Mid Life –Part 1, turbulence @ 30000 feet






Susan Dsouza and Pramod Kulkarni fall in love during engineering study days, get married against all odds and live happily ever after until….
Two decades later…

“I could not hold my tears back Susie” Pramod said to Susan and continued speaking to her on his mobile “ Raghav was the toper in all the eight semesters, neither smoked not touched alcohol but strange are the ways of fate that he died so early leaving behind his wife and the kid”.
Susan replied “I know Raghav well as he was my batch mate too”.
Pramod had rushed to Pune to attend the cremation of his friend Raghav who died of a massive heart attack.
They continued for few more minutes and after finishing the call Pramod leaned on the window shade of the plane and looked outside at the runway lost in thoughts.

“Excuse me, I think you are sitting in my place” said a female standing near his seat.
Pramod looked up at her, wiping his eyes got up and said “Is it so, I am sorry”
“its ok” the lady replied” you look quiet disturbed. I shall sit in the aisle seat”.
Within few minutes the plane took off and soon the announcement for loosening the seat belts was made. Pramod did not bother and continued to lean on the window looking at the shining clouds outside.

“You look like you are in pain” she said.
Pramod replied “I am coming back from the cremation of my dear friend”
“I am sorry to hear that. Sometimes dearest people part early” she added.
“True” Pramod replied.
They continued to talk to one another for next few minutes.

“Ipsita, I am Ipsita Chakraborthy” she said extending her right hand.
“My name is Pramod Kulkarni” he replied and shook her hand.
A jolt went through his body. She looked no less than a Bollywood heroin. Draped in a pink saree, long hair tied tightly at the back, few curly strands of hair left hanging deliberately on either side of her face, thin coat of makeup and in totality she looked stupendous.

“Maharastrian?” she questioned.
I am from Karnataka and Hubli is my native place” he replied and continued “You are from Bengal?”
“Not from Bengal” she added “Am from Agartala”.
With a surprised look he said “You do not look like from North east”.

She laughed and said “It is not necessary that people from north east should have mongoloid features”.
Next fifteen minutes they spoke to one another.
“It is nice to see you talking with a smile. At the start of the flight you looked so depressed” she said.
“Thank you for changing my mood” Pramod replied thanking his stars for having come across such a good looking woman. He continued “You look very fit”.
She replied “I do yoga regularly and planning to attend some yoga classes to learn more”.

Soon the plane started descending to Bangalore airport.
Ipsita looked at Pramod, smiled and said “It was nice talking to you”
Pramod took out his business card and gave it to her. Ipsita smiled and opened her bag. She took one business card and with a pen wrote her mobile number and gave it to him.
He looked at it and said “Florist?”
“Yes I run a flower boutique in Bangalore and my husband works in a software company. I came to Pune to attend a floral exhibition” she replied.
“You stay in Bangalore?” was his next question.
“You can say that we are settled in Bangalore for good “she replied.
Pramod was ecstatic and he thanked his stars as he had ample opportunities to meet her in future.
The plane soon touched down and after exchanging pleasantries with Ipsita, Pramod hopped into a cab and went to his house.

“Pramod do some workout at least on a Sunday” Susan shouted from the kitchen. She rushed out to the living room and finding him lying down watching TV, continued “Early forties should be lived carefully. Since the time I heard of Raghav’s death I am worried. You have developed a big tummy and do not bother to exercise”.
Pramod smiled and said “What should I do now?”
Susan replied “Mini was telling me about yoga classes. Why don’t you join?”

The mention of yoga made him remember Ipsita. He ran to his bedroom and started searching for her business card in his bag. Disappointment was followed by frustration as he had lost her card. He cursed his stars and came back slowly to the living room.

“Mention of yoga made you feel depressed?” Susan laughed.
 “I am fed up of people telling me that you look much younger to me” he said.
He continued “I shall join the yoga classes immediately”.

To be continued in part 2…

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