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…
Nice..
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