I and Amita were speaking for quite sometime now and hence we had the urge of understanding each other as much as possible before we get into the act of getting married or what is called the knot for life. We knew it won't be all that easy because the so called generation gap comes in the way. We are not supposed to meet often before marriage is what our parents would have told us.
We both did not want to lie our parents, hence we decided that we wont tell the truth at all. I know this is something of an oxymoron, but that's how we decided especially to make ourselves comfortable with each other. Amita was a little reluctant about this initially, however her sister Ankita had a big role to play here in convincing her that there is nothing wrong in what we are doing.
So here we were already planning for another chori after a successfully one few months earlier. It was Ganesh chaturthi time when we decided to meet. Being Ganesh Chaturthi in the house it is not easy to even get out of the house and we both would have to answer a lot of questions posed to us at our respective native places. It was here that I understood the truth that while speaking a lie we have got to be far more careful and alert as compared to when we speak the truth. When speaking the truth you say the same thing always, however when you bluff you need to careful not to speak a different version of the same thing each time.
As per our plan we were supposed to meet on the evening of 3rd day of Ganesh Chaturthi, however we did not know that the small puppy (depicting the vodafone network) would have a major part to play in not allowing us to meet. We all were in the festive mood and I was trying to contact Amita whose name I had saved as "Vibhav" to make sure I am safe from my tech savvy cousins. I told home that Vibhav had called me at his place for Ganesh Chaturthi and that I cannot miss it as he was calling me for past quite a few years.
I took up the phone to call up Vibhav (Yes Yes I know you as readers would not tell anybody and there is no reason for me to write "Vibhav" here, however I am of the no risk types) and god help me; I was not able to contact her as the puppy had decided it wont even go close to "Keri" the village where Amita was enjoying the Ganesh Festival. I got a little panicky now as I wanted to meet Vibhav at any cost this Ganesh chaturthi and until vibhav receives my phone I can't do a thing. I was getting a little restless now and trying all the more harder just to see if my persistence compels the puppy to reach "Keri". I was helpless and the restlessness was not helping my cause. I tried contacting Vibhav repeatedly with no luck. I knew Amita also would have been equally panicky as she was in a similar state and was not able to contact me. Now it got late in the evening around 5:00 PM and I told home that my meeting with Vibhav had cancelled and that I might meet her (Oh Shit!!) tomorrow. Luckily nobody realised it or even if somebody realised nobody took it seriously. And then suddenly my phone rang. The name said "Vibhav". Though I had already cancelled the plan, we could for sure meet the next day early morning.
Yes, It was Amita and she was gasping for breath while speaking. I asked whats the matter and she said "I fought with my mother to come here where I get range so that I could speak to you". I could imagine the way she might have had her way out from the joint family of around 40 odd old and Young. She had come with as she was concerned that I might not travel all the way to Ponda per our plan. I thought, was I a little too pragmatic? Would it have been better if I had gone. I brushed the thought aside and answered her. I said "Don't worry.... I am at Panaji and we will meet tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM.". Now, as per our new plan we were to meet the next morning at 10:00 AM.
The next morning I woke up as early as possible or rather can I say sleep was elusive to me? I prayed to Ganapati Bappa and told him my plans. It was only he who could make this possible hassle free. However, As I have written in my previous blogs there are very few things in my life that happen smoothly.
I reached Ponda at around 10:15 AM. I called her from the Bus stand to check her status. She said that she was ready and asked me to come to her home as nobody were present at the house except for her and Ankita, Her sister. However, I still thought to avoid inconvenient situations it would be better that I don't go to her house right away. I stopped close to her house and called her back to ensure that all was safe and sound. She confidently invited me in. I parked the bike at some distance and entered the house in a careful manner.
Until she got ready I thought I will sit on the sofa outside. Girls take time forever to get ready. God must have added this in every girls configuration file that they should keep whoever waiting for at least 1o minutes. I was served some delicious ice cream in the freeze, how romantic!!!! Her sister was in her "Leg pulling" best not giving up a single opportunity to see me on my face in front of Amita. Perhaps all "Sali's" are like this.
When all this romance was in its prime, with me concentrating on the ice cream and pretending that I loved it, we heard a knock on the door. I was startled.... who could it be, I thought my helmet and sandals were outside, what if her father was in. This badly reminded me of Murphy, "The thing you think will never happen always happens". It was her father, I could read on Amita's face, she was all red. I was in an awkward situation trying to save my reputation and impression. What would my father in law think of me? If I was some Mark richardson from USA and if Amita was some Michelle bush, we would have not worried and I myself would have opened the door with me kissing Amita. But at the moment, I was Pranav Paranjape and she was Amita Shikerkar from conservative families!! which prmpted me and the best reaction I could give at that time was ask Ankita, her sister for help. She almost instantaneously read my face and took me by my hand in the room inside which has a back door. For the first time in my life I hated the flat system. What if this was a 1 BHK flat? I would have been flat on the nose under a bed or may be a cupboard. I followed Ankita with desperation on to the back door. While running in desperation on the way I also made a foot print in the wet mud. I said "wow, my legs are mighty Big!!!". It wont surprise me if somebody is scared by it. Me and Ankita patiently waited to listen to the conversation inside that might go on so that we get clues on how to act further.
Amita opened the door nervously to check out whats the matter. Luckily my Father In law did not notice the helmet and the sandal outside. He came in hurriedly as though searching for somebody. Me and Ankita were having an ear on the conversation.
Dad asked, "Amita, why are you behaving a little weird?".
Amita, "No baba, I am fine".
Dad, "Okay, give me a glass of water....And where is Ankita??"
Amita all the more nervous, "Must be having bath....or may be outside, or might be in college...donnnnnnt know"
Dad, "Today is Saturday Amita, what college. Why are you shivering??"
Amita, "No baba, just I was working a little so might be I am a little tired".
Now, dad coming towards the backdoor, "Why is this door open?".
Amita came in hurriedly saying, "Dont you worry baba, I will close it".
Dad, "Okay fine...I am going to Margaon now and will return in the evening, I have told Umma also... You and Ankita go to Keri...We have Ganesh Chaturthi there and what are you two doing here??".
Amita, By now had gotten a little more calm "Yes baba....Jato na....You go cautiously".
The storm went the way it had come, very fast.
At that moment I had a thought, what if baba had seen me? I imagined him to be Shivaji and myself "Shahiste khan", the mughal king.
The moment he sees me he would have said,"Mere kille par tum kya kar rahe ho Shahiste Khan".
Since I am the duplicate Shahiste Khan I would have said in a little sober manner, "Kuch nahi Shivaji, Muzhe tumhara killa nahi chaiye....sirf tumhari ladki se muzhe pyar hain aur main use ghumane lekar jana chahta hoon"
Shivaji, "Is tarah se chori se ghar mein anaa, kya ye aap jaise mughal rajaa ko shobha deta hain.....Chale jao mere nazron ke samne se warna yahaan anarth ho jayega".
Shahiste Khan, thats me, borrowing some bravery, "Nahi toh Kya Shivaji?? Pyar karna koi gunah toh nahi!! Kya Majnu ne koi gunah kiya, kya heer ne....."
Before I could complete, Shivaji with the naked Talwar in his hand "Shahiste Khaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!" and runs on me.
I try to save my hand, however while I was taking a turn while going from the back door, he cuts my fingers, I came back from my dreams.
I was still outside with Ankita and cool as well, enjoying the lovely breeze coming from the midst of a few banana trees with no Bananas on it. Somehow, I was feeling safe outside, could be because of sportsman personality which gives me the confidence that I can run any distance with ease and without anyone noticing me, or it could be because Ankita who was at peace brought about a sense of calm to the environment.
My god! though this was very much fun, at that moment it felt like I was looking down the barrel. I could not ask Ganapati Bappa also for help, he would have said, "Every time you have me drowned and that too dancing all the way until the lake, now it is my turn to take revenge".
All went well later, me and Amita had a nice 2 hours time in Ponda at naturals though Amita was shivering. I was not sure if this was because she was still scared or because we ate an ice cream. All is well that ends well! I had somehow managed to save my reputation and impression.
Moral of the story: Never enter your girls house chori chori even if she insists. Because a girls confidence is a simple indication that she is not confident!!!
We both did not want to lie our parents, hence we decided that we wont tell the truth at all. I know this is something of an oxymoron, but that's how we decided especially to make ourselves comfortable with each other. Amita was a little reluctant about this initially, however her sister Ankita had a big role to play here in convincing her that there is nothing wrong in what we are doing.
So here we were already planning for another chori after a successfully one few months earlier. It was Ganesh chaturthi time when we decided to meet. Being Ganesh Chaturthi in the house it is not easy to even get out of the house and we both would have to answer a lot of questions posed to us at our respective native places. It was here that I understood the truth that while speaking a lie we have got to be far more careful and alert as compared to when we speak the truth. When speaking the truth you say the same thing always, however when you bluff you need to careful not to speak a different version of the same thing each time.
As per our plan we were supposed to meet on the evening of 3rd day of Ganesh Chaturthi, however we did not know that the small puppy (depicting the vodafone network) would have a major part to play in not allowing us to meet. We all were in the festive mood and I was trying to contact Amita whose name I had saved as "Vibhav" to make sure I am safe from my tech savvy cousins. I told home that Vibhav had called me at his place for Ganesh Chaturthi and that I cannot miss it as he was calling me for past quite a few years.
I took up the phone to call up Vibhav (Yes Yes I know you as readers would not tell anybody and there is no reason for me to write "Vibhav" here, however I am of the no risk types) and god help me; I was not able to contact her as the puppy had decided it wont even go close to "Keri" the village where Amita was enjoying the Ganesh Festival. I got a little panicky now as I wanted to meet Vibhav at any cost this Ganesh chaturthi and until vibhav receives my phone I can't do a thing. I was getting a little restless now and trying all the more harder just to see if my persistence compels the puppy to reach "Keri". I was helpless and the restlessness was not helping my cause. I tried contacting Vibhav repeatedly with no luck. I knew Amita also would have been equally panicky as she was in a similar state and was not able to contact me. Now it got late in the evening around 5:00 PM and I told home that my meeting with Vibhav had cancelled and that I might meet her (Oh Shit!!) tomorrow. Luckily nobody realised it or even if somebody realised nobody took it seriously. And then suddenly my phone rang. The name said "Vibhav". Though I had already cancelled the plan, we could for sure meet the next day early morning.
Yes, It was Amita and she was gasping for breath while speaking. I asked whats the matter and she said "I fought with my mother to come here where I get range so that I could speak to you". I could imagine the way she might have had her way out from the joint family of around 40 odd old and Young. She had come with as she was concerned that I might not travel all the way to Ponda per our plan. I thought, was I a little too pragmatic? Would it have been better if I had gone. I brushed the thought aside and answered her. I said "Don't worry.... I am at Panaji and we will meet tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM.". Now, as per our new plan we were to meet the next morning at 10:00 AM.
The next morning I woke up as early as possible or rather can I say sleep was elusive to me? I prayed to Ganapati Bappa and told him my plans. It was only he who could make this possible hassle free. However, As I have written in my previous blogs there are very few things in my life that happen smoothly.
I reached Ponda at around 10:15 AM. I called her from the Bus stand to check her status. She said that she was ready and asked me to come to her home as nobody were present at the house except for her and Ankita, Her sister. However, I still thought to avoid inconvenient situations it would be better that I don't go to her house right away. I stopped close to her house and called her back to ensure that all was safe and sound. She confidently invited me in. I parked the bike at some distance and entered the house in a careful manner.
Until she got ready I thought I will sit on the sofa outside. Girls take time forever to get ready. God must have added this in every girls configuration file that they should keep whoever waiting for at least 1o minutes. I was served some delicious ice cream in the freeze, how romantic!!!! Her sister was in her "Leg pulling" best not giving up a single opportunity to see me on my face in front of Amita. Perhaps all "Sali's" are like this.
When all this romance was in its prime, with me concentrating on the ice cream and pretending that I loved it, we heard a knock on the door. I was startled.... who could it be, I thought my helmet and sandals were outside, what if her father was in. This badly reminded me of Murphy, "The thing you think will never happen always happens". It was her father, I could read on Amita's face, she was all red. I was in an awkward situation trying to save my reputation and impression. What would my father in law think of me? If I was some Mark richardson from USA and if Amita was some Michelle bush, we would have not worried and I myself would have opened the door with me kissing Amita. But at the moment, I was Pranav Paranjape and she was Amita Shikerkar from conservative families!! which prmpted me and the best reaction I could give at that time was ask Ankita, her sister for help. She almost instantaneously read my face and took me by my hand in the room inside which has a back door. For the first time in my life I hated the flat system. What if this was a 1 BHK flat? I would have been flat on the nose under a bed or may be a cupboard. I followed Ankita with desperation on to the back door. While running in desperation on the way I also made a foot print in the wet mud. I said "wow, my legs are mighty Big!!!". It wont surprise me if somebody is scared by it. Me and Ankita patiently waited to listen to the conversation inside that might go on so that we get clues on how to act further.
Amita opened the door nervously to check out whats the matter. Luckily my Father In law did not notice the helmet and the sandal outside. He came in hurriedly as though searching for somebody. Me and Ankita were having an ear on the conversation.
Dad asked, "Amita, why are you behaving a little weird?".
Amita, "No baba, I am fine".
Dad, "Okay, give me a glass of water....And where is Ankita??"
Amita all the more nervous, "Must be having bath....or may be outside, or might be in college...donnnnnnt know"
Dad, "Today is Saturday Amita, what college. Why are you shivering??"
Amita, "No baba, just I was working a little so might be I am a little tired".
Now, dad coming towards the backdoor, "Why is this door open?".
Amita came in hurriedly saying, "Dont you worry baba, I will close it".
Dad, "Okay fine...I am going to Margaon now and will return in the evening, I have told Umma also... You and Ankita go to Keri...We have Ganesh Chaturthi there and what are you two doing here??".
Amita, By now had gotten a little more calm "Yes baba....Jato na....You go cautiously".
The storm went the way it had come, very fast.
At that moment I had a thought, what if baba had seen me? I imagined him to be Shivaji and myself "Shahiste khan", the mughal king.
The moment he sees me he would have said,"Mere kille par tum kya kar rahe ho Shahiste Khan".
Since I am the duplicate Shahiste Khan I would have said in a little sober manner, "Kuch nahi Shivaji, Muzhe tumhara killa nahi chaiye....sirf tumhari ladki se muzhe pyar hain aur main use ghumane lekar jana chahta hoon"
Shivaji, "Is tarah se chori se ghar mein anaa, kya ye aap jaise mughal rajaa ko shobha deta hain.....Chale jao mere nazron ke samne se warna yahaan anarth ho jayega".
Shahiste Khan, thats me, borrowing some bravery, "Nahi toh Kya Shivaji?? Pyar karna koi gunah toh nahi!! Kya Majnu ne koi gunah kiya, kya heer ne....."
Before I could complete, Shivaji with the naked Talwar in his hand "Shahiste Khaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!" and runs on me.
I try to save my hand, however while I was taking a turn while going from the back door, he cuts my fingers, I came back from my dreams.
I was still outside with Ankita and cool as well, enjoying the lovely breeze coming from the midst of a few banana trees with no Bananas on it. Somehow, I was feeling safe outside, could be because of sportsman personality which gives me the confidence that I can run any distance with ease and without anyone noticing me, or it could be because Ankita who was at peace brought about a sense of calm to the environment.
My god! though this was very much fun, at that moment it felt like I was looking down the barrel. I could not ask Ganapati Bappa also for help, he would have said, "Every time you have me drowned and that too dancing all the way until the lake, now it is my turn to take revenge".
All went well later, me and Amita had a nice 2 hours time in Ponda at naturals though Amita was shivering. I was not sure if this was because she was still scared or because we ate an ice cream. All is well that ends well! I had somehow managed to save my reputation and impression.
Moral of the story: Never enter your girls house chori chori even if she insists. Because a girls confidence is a simple indication that she is not confident!!!
