1. LOVE,
The most beautiful word that gives tickles to most when even just read. If you are a teen, you will start imagining some face that has been enchanting you since some time. If you are in your 40s, you will immediately remember the face of a teen whom you considered your first love.
I was 8 years old when I first saw him. He appeared out of no where, running with a toy gun in his hand. He pushed me away and kept running in the open ground outside our maternal uncle's house. When I say OUR I don't mean we were blood related. His mother and my mother were class mates and so they both obviously considered each other's brothers as their real brothers and hence, OUR uncle. We might have met before but I remember that as our first encounter. He lived in Ahmedabad and I was located in a smaller town. He used to visit our uncle's place during summer holidays or some family functions.
I didn't like him much because he pushed me. That was the imprint for next few years, till I saw him next during a family function. He looked handsome and all I felt like was looking at him all day long. I didn't understand the Why? behind this feeling then. Time passed and we were now in 10th Standard. Again, when I saw him, my heart skipped a beat. He looked all the more handsome. I was a potato couch. He was a player. I was fat. He was perfect. I was ugly nerd without any dressing sense and he was a complete package. The moment I saw him, my heart started beating so fast, I felt anyone around me would hear it. He came to play video games with his cousins at my place and I was absolutely bewildered to see him from so near. I was blank, astonished and amazed at the beauty created by the creator with utmost patience. Yes, Man can be beautiful too. It was May 1998. He was sitting beside me, for the first time. During school days, it was common for boys to sit with girls on the same bench so it was never a surprise to have an opposite gender sit so near as to brush hands while simple movements. BUT, this guy made a difference. I got goose bumps even if the air that touched his body, touched me. I was enjoying something, but I didn't understand what!! That day, after they left, I kept dancing all about in the house. His face kept appearing in front of my eyes all day. From that day onwards, I kept watching him secretly from the window that faced our uncle's house.
He left with his family after a few days. I was sad. I didn't understand the cause of such attachment with him because I never got attached to anything or anybody that much. My father expired when I was just 10 years old, but I immediately put my brother at that place and my brain erased most of the memories with my father. Possibly, my brain is conditioned to erase anything that may cause pain. But, his face, caused the pain of distance, yet was a pleasure to remember. Days started passing and I kept waiting for summers to arrive so that I can see him. Those were not the days when we had personal mobiles or any social media to keep connected. I guess, that was what made the relationships stronger and people more tolerant, because we had to wait for years to get the pleasure we desired for long. Two years passed and there was not a sign of them coming. I kept my attention in studies so that I could forget him for a while but the opposite happened. I wasn't able to study and kept remembering him all the time. I used to cry alone in my room longing to see him. Our board exams got over and I left to my sister's place at Surat.
After a few weeks, my mother came to visit my sister and pick me up. During casual talks she mentioned, "Akki and Rishi have come to Mama's place and are waiting for you." THAT, I tell you, THAT was the most beautiful news I had got since last two years. I quickly packed my luggage and ran down the stairs to catch the bus straight to my home town. I was never so happy. My mother just teased me but what she didn't know was that I had already fallen in love with Akki. April 2000, Next morning, I reached back home. The first thing I wanted to do was see him. But of course, I had become extra conscious about my looks by then. I quietly went to my room, got dressed up and then calm from outside but with heart throbbing rapidly inside, went to his place of stay.
Would he recognize me? Did he ever remembered me in last two years? He might have got a girl friend! He might not even acknowledge my presence on this earth! With all these ideas in my mind swapping like flash back scenes in TV serials, I stood on the door wondering if I should even knock or return back!!!!!!!!