“Getting closer”

It was the beginning of January- almost three months since we know each other. I had talked to her entire family by then, and she had talked to mine.

                                 In fact, shannu had become a good friend of my mom. Mamma always wanted to have a daughter. Gradually, she started sharing her joys and sorrows with her. She used to tell her about my childhood, my nature, my likes and dislikes, the things that made me angry. She also talked about her life in this family. A family in which men outnumbered women by a ratio of 3:1 and where unfortunately, the majority dominated.

There were things about my mother which I had never known earlier. But she would tell me those things. Like any other son, I also loved my mom, but the problem is that we never know when we become part of this male dominate society. Shannu used to explain me the nature of women and her expectations. She used to tell me what I should do for her when I went back home, on weekends. In other words she used to give me tips. At times, she also used to shout at me if I forget them. I had one more reason to be happy then, because she understand the importance of the relationship, she knew the importance of the family and how to care for it.

One more responsibility that I had given her was to neither call me after 10pm nor talk to me if at all I happened to call her after that time, the reason was that the board exams were close and I wanted to devote 5-6 hours a day for preparation

                                   So, we took a vow, albeit resultantly. “Till the board exams get over, we will not talk to each other after 10pm” I said

“And this rule will also be followed on weekends” she added her clause, reasoning that on weekends we have surplus time to prepare and dint need to make our lives tougher by not talking to each other.

            “Ok baba. Now repeat after me,” I said, “in the name of god I,” I paused for her to repeat after me

              “In the name of god my jannu and me” she said, and I felt so good for the “my jannu” in her statement, instead I felt like kissing her one more time for these small but wonderful things she often did for me. Outside, I went ahead with my vow.

“I am not able to sleep, I will call you for 5 minutes,” she added another clause to the vow.

                  “What is this….?” I asked, and laughed. Not being able to hold back my love for her, I kissed her. One after another, those kisses flew all the way to her place. Bypassing so many mobile towers and satellites.

                    She made me enjoy movements of my life, the good the bad, the challenging she made them all simply wonderful

The first week it was quite touch to abide by our vow, some how we managed. The truth was that, because of this vow, the urge to talk to her, especially after 10 at night, increased even more – it is human tendency to desire what is prohibited. And during our morning calls, we realized that night was such a beautiful time to talk to each other.

                       “Talking at night time used to be so romantic Na? She asked in her cute innocent voice one morning.

                         “I miss them so much, this decision makes me feel like I have struck my foot with an axe”, by mistake I said

“no dear, its not like your struck your foot with an axe,” she started politely, then suddenly, “rather your foot wanted to lick that axe and, willingly, you jumped on a sharpened one, and that too bare foot!! Now enjoy your own words.” She was fuming

But nothing could be done. Promise is meant to be kept, and we both knew we had to keep this one. Soon, the weekend night had come and we were desperate to talk to each other, night!! Night is really a beautiful time to talk, for love birds. Parents are asleep by then. Sibling understands why they should not disturb you. And you? Holding your cell phone, you are alone in the bedroom, lying on your cozy bed in your shots and comfortable t-shirt with the person you are talking to.

After a couple of days she called me “hi shona” she said, there was something different in her “hi” that night something passionate, something I’d felt before.

“Hi honey” I responded calmly, and we began talking. She was a bit upset that night because she was going to her granny’s place “so what happened, what is the problem in your granny’s place, you don’t like ah?” I asked, “That’s not the problem” she said, “then what is the problem” again I asked “I cannot carry my cell there and I will not be able to talk to you for a month, it’s a remote area.” She said “that’s ok honey, we can talk lots when you come back, while you come back I would have finished my exams, so don’t worry go and come” I said, “but I am feeling uncomfortable, I cannot leave you” she said. Girls are so delicate and dedicated after getting committed into     relationship they become so serious. After that some how I made her calm and tried making her laugh with some of our funny movements that we had spent before.

A movement ago you were with me and now you are not

Was this destined to be: a preconceived plot? 

How you speak right to my heart

Without saying a word you lit up the dark

I could never explain what I hear when

You don’t say a thing

You say it the best when you say nothing at all……….