this is just what i was supposed to be reminded of. as we have heard
part one of the romance between aparna and rahul. here is "jab we met"
it was a warm december, the december of 2002, and a very lonely one too for me. rahul was one of those who i was friends with, online. we bonded easily, within the 9 days of speaking to each other for the first time. and finally after a lot of insistence i decided i should meet up. after having cancelled one meeting, i decided i can meet him up on th 24th of december. just happened to say over the phone "come hail or storm, rahul, i will meet you" well, the next minute i opened my window to find the perfect clear morning had changed into a hailing and storming morning. blind date, that it was... it was pre-planned what i would wear.. an orange t-shirt. well coz of the storm wore a jacket instead... a huge jacket, made me look like a bear... he on the other hand was wearing a white full sleeve t shirt.... i practically froze up... unshaven, looking slightly tired, i see this thin guy sitting at the bus stop. and i just went upto him saying, "rahul?? can i have 60 bucks?" (modern school barakhamba, i didnt have change and the auto guy was driving me crazy) poor guy, almost died of shock and later incredulity.
the day was well spent, kept talking, didnt let him smoke (who was to know i would fall in love with smoking myself?) had a coke, even though i would catch a bad cold later, it wasnt as if i didnt know him at all. or was it?
i remember every bit of that day... every bit... as if it happened yesterday. people ask me whether im still in love with this guy.... yes im in love with THIS rahul.... the rahul sam that i knew back then, simple and sweet. straight forward. had no qualms about life. was slightly shy, spoke straight. didnt have this incessant need to please everyone around him. as carefree and careful as one can be at the same time. or is it just a dream?? it was...
believe me it was...
some people call him a jerk the way he broke up with him... when he was with me he was the best a woman would want.... but lets put it his way...."things change, people change... how difficult is that to understand?" he changed, i didn't. we couldn't let the love be alive... love didn't keep us alive... i died... trying to love again....live again.