Last weekend was a memorable one. It was one of the times when a
pleasant surprise embraced me with its warmth. It all started with a message.
I unlocked my phone as it beeped constantly and the screen rose to shine
from the dead, “Didi I am in Bangalore. Reached Udita di’s place. Will call you
in a while.”
I didn't move for a while. Really? Is he serious (knowing that my little
bro is a good prankster created a conflict between my mind and heart). I
listened to my heart as it pumped as hard as it could, I picked up my phone to
call Udita and confirm. What if it’s a prank, maybe he is just teasing me. We
love teasing each other and also considering it was late in the night, I did
not make the call. Clock ticked and I kept myself busy. Bluff Bluff. Argh.
Surprises are too much to handle for a girl, specially when you wait in anticipation. I kept itching towards knowing
whether it was really a prank. A side glance of my phone, some bumbled words, and
huge growl in the stomach. It was all happening. When it became enough to
handle, I picked up my phone and called a friend. Smart alert!!
Wait Wait, I told my friend as my phone beeped with
a call waiting from Udita. I still don’t remember what conversation I had with my
friend. Apparently, the anxiety had turned me a deaf year to her. Oh My God.
This is really happening as it was too late to receive Udita’s call.
Blah Blah.. Bye Bye. Disconnect. Dial back Udita. Is that you Sanky (Sankalp)?
I said as a male voice echoed from other side.
“You actually came to Bangalore, goshhhhh. What a surprise!”, my
excitement had no bounds.
“Yes, yes. Just to meet Udita di and you. Going back on Sunday.” he said
smiling in his voice.
“What man, just for a day you have come to Bangalore?”
“Arey di... Udita di wants to talk to you. She is snatching the phone.
First talk to her.”
“Hellosssssss!!!!” from the other side and it did not sound like Udita.
“Oh my God! BUAAAAAAA! Amazing surprise. This is like a double bonanza.”
I shrieked with laughter.
“We made a last minute plan to surprise my both nieces. See I promised
you, I’ll be the first one to visit the both of you”
Like passing the parcel, the phone was tossed from one to another with
excitement evident in the voices. “Aastha, I am on a call”, exclaimed Tarun as
my vocal chords crossed boundaries of grave silence at midnight. He had his
official meeting going on and his team thought if there was a party going on
hearing my loud laughter. Finally, Saturday lunch was decided upon. It was
going to be a big bash. My sis and jiju had moved to Bangalore just few months
back. Everyone was coming to my home the first time after my marriage. Some
emotions are hard to be expressed in words (still I’ll try).
I am a Dehra Dun girl from heart. Big get-togethers, lot of storytelling
of past events, pulling each other’s leg, etc. etc have been an integral part
of my upbringing. The mantra has been ‘all for one and one for all’. Our
favourite family song which we all just adore and sing together is-’Ek dusre
se karte hai pyar hum, ek dusre ke liye bekarar hum’. With time we all
have moved to different places across the globe. The commonplace where everyone
now and then meets is Delhi (it's a hub). Being in Bangalore especially after
my marriage, I have craved those get-together sessions. Now and then I get
updates from my bros about how people were rolling on the floor during one such
session and I laugh imagining the whole scene. In my heart I really miss them a
lot.
So after three years of me being married, first time someone from my
family was coming to my home. Well, the first time from my father’s side of
family. I cannot forget the day when I had broken my ligament and was on bed
rest when my Mausi and Mausaji rushed to Bangalore cancelling all their plans.
Ahh.. those memories are still fresh in my heart but I’ll save that for another
blog. Being a girl it was surely something very special for me.
The excitement made me beat the morning alarm and in no time I found my
head in the refrigerator. Checklist was the first thing I had to do and the joy
of what I should cook grew as the list went on. Couple of hours passed and as I
swung left to right in the kitchen, I heard a huge laughter. Tarun was awake
and it took him no time to coin me a robot. We both giggled and he could guess
by my expressions that lot of love is going in the food today.
Fortunately it was a lovely afternoon weather and as I eagerly awaited
everyone, I kept thinking how life has been busy and such moments are a rare
welcome. Ding Dong!! As I opened the door, we greeted each other with warmth,
smiles and hugs. I met Sankalp after 6 years. How time flies! Still it never
felt that we were meeting after ages. That's the beauty of relationships, when
from childhood the seeds are strong then time or distance can never create a drift.
And it just felt like yesterday.
We all had a great time together. A warm, fun-filled memorable Saturday.
Jaw ached with laughter. Leg pulling, discussing petty details, everyone
pouring their one liners and laughing.
Sankalp came to me and said, “What has happened to my sisters after
marriage? How did you cook this?” :P
We hogged and enjoyed together. Good food tastes better with good
company. Then, like old times just dropped on the bed, lazy and drowsy after
food. But our enthu level was way high and we kept jabbering the whole
afternoon. :)
The trio (me, bua and Udita) had an exclusive girly session as the guys enjoyed match with the drinks. No get together is complete without girls occupying a corner in isolation and chatting. :P
Before they were leaving I realised gosh, we didn't even clicked
photographs. So silly of me. To that my bro replied don’t worry di it’s here
(pointing to his mind). What a thought! It was surely another snapshot added to
all the memories!
A perfect Saturday sealed with love and a pleasant surprise.
My point is there’s always a flip side to
all. We have a dark side as well as the light within us. Both aspects exist
simultaneously. The dark side is more powerful and aggressive, though the light
within is calm, serene and peaceful. Sitting on the fence, life questions you
sometimes and seek answers. Especially when anger rises to its zenith, you
cannot see, cannot hear the words of wisdom, cannot speak well and just cannot
act the way you are meant to. Your true self hides. Split personality takes
over. Your mind keeps echoing in whispers. Darkness becomes way louder than the
light within. Feelings of vengeance, hatred, schemas, etc etc grips you. .jpg)
