'Even lifeless hearts may leap'-That loosely translated to the tamil movie "Thullaatha manamum thullum" which had set the ball rolling for Sreeni and Laxmi's proximity as they watched it 2 years ago on the occasion of their bodybuilder like friend - Deepak Johnson's treat for getting admit at XLRI.Deepak being Sreeni's schoolmate and Laxmi's Aerobics class batchmate ,was a common friend to both of them. The seating arrangement with Sreeni and Laxmi occupying the corner seats ,the movie selection with a subtle relevance ,the timing of such an event had been meticulously orchestrated by Deepak and his gimmick had paid off successfully then.
...................................................
Tonight it was slightly drizzling as Laxmi and Kaybee got off their auto and dashed to the crowded counter to get 4 tickets for the 10.30p.m show "Kaho naa pyar hi" at Melody theatre.The other 2 to join them-Sreeni and Narmada were as usual late and as the crowd started to move into the theatre,Kaebee started murmuring..
"Laxmi..This Sreeni is always frigging late.Even during our univ exams,he would make us wait till the last minute..Appothaan 2 Marks book..he will even start reading!Useless fellow!"
Laxmi smiled and remarked in a manner which suggested she didn't agree with him.
"Kaybee..He is not at all late..May be hes got held up somewhere..I am sure Narmada is the culprit today!"
As they turned towards the road,they saw Sreeni and Narmada running towards them with Sreeni making his goat like bleeting sound trying to immitate Shah rukh Khan's laughing style and dialogue delivery..He took off his cap and bent his head a little and said in SRK style
"hea hae hae hae hae...hea hae hae hae hae...Sorry yaar..late ho gaya..Bade Bade Deshoan mae aise chotae chotae baathaen hotae hai!" and winked at Laxmi as she started reeling with laughter.
Kaebee got yet another chance to use his choicest set of uncouth expletives in tamil which he murmured close to Sreeni's ears-"Poada #@$$@$ , ##$$%$# ! First song is almost over..U are always like this!"
In the dark, as they manoeuvred through the rows,Narmada innocently ended up sitting near Laxmi and Kaybee cunningly sat near Narmada putting Sreeni 2 seats away from Laxmi.Kaybee saw the confused looks on Sreeni's face and couldn't hide his laughter as Sreeni whispered to him..
"Daii..Shit..whats this da..Pls do something machaan!"
Kaybee turned to Laxmi and quipped..
"Hey..U dont understand Hindi that well right?" and without even waiting for an answer he suggested Narmada to trade places with Sreeni as he could narrate the story to Laxmi.Finally everything was set to go and Sreeni's attempt to get his heroine was on its way.
...................................................
As the final day of Sreeni's departure to Calcattu dawned,there were mixed reactions.Sreeni was tensed as he was bringing Laxmi to his house on the pretext of Navaratri Golu and his tension level increased much more as he thought what would be Laxmi's reaction to his acrostic email that he had sent a few minutes ago from a newly created id Luckoochickoo-at-yahoo.com....
C hickoo's heartfelt musings
A bout the art of Complete coffee making!
P eaberry seeds' unique aroma competing with my princess' unique aura..
P lain glass of milk seeking a colourful life;could the soft class of silk be my wife?
U nlike the artificial sweetener,my beau is a cube of sugar!
C up awaits eagerly to join its saucer...
C ould the lovely lady accept my offer?
I nstant coffee devoid of taste & arranged marraige -kinda waste!
N o is also an option,although your "YES" would be the decoction.
O ne large cup of Luckuccino is my life's elixir!For the sake of complete coffee Making!-Chickoo
....................................................
As the words of the only carnatic music that Laxmi knew -"Shree Gananaatha Sindhu Uravarna..." came to an end,Laxmi drank the glass of lime juice that Sreeni's mom offered amidst applause from Kamali and Vimali.She had come to their house for Golu with Kaybee,posing as his friend but it wasn't hard for Sreeni's folks to figure out that there was something going on between Sreeni and her.They were amazed to see him adjust the A/C level,pull down the window blinders,put on the tubelight and pull out the chair for her as she entered the house.All these were the most UN-sreeni-est actions they had ever seen.
Sreeni's heart was palpitating fiercly as he kept thinking how Laxmi would react later that day when she went to the internet centre to check her mails,one among which was his cryptic proposal.
....................................................
The boggies suddenly jolted as the Howra Expresses engine got attached to them.As Sreeni was chatting with Kaybee on the Chennai Central station platform,Sreeni's IIMC Batchmate - Subadra boarded the train.She was Sreeni's closest friend at Calcutta and was his project/paper presentation mate in over 50 management related papers that they had presented in symposiums all across the country.Kaybee pulled out the mickey mouse keychain that he had bought for Sreeni and the cassette that Laxmi had given him yesterday to hand over to Sreeni .He then suddenly hugged Sreeni as he wiped the tears of his eyes and said..
"Daii..I feel very sad da..I don't know when we will meet again..May be 3 or 4 years later only..But surely I will come to ur marraige with Laxmi!That a promise!Okay?"
Sreeni reciprocated the sadness as he delicately placed the cassette over his bag through the train's window and then whispered that he was worried about Laxmi not even calling him to wish him bye that evening.
........................................................
Meanwhile,Subadra who was inside the train ,got settled with her window seat adjacent to Sreeni's seat and as she put on her walkman and headphones,she noticed the cassette over his bag which said.."En swaasa Kaatrae" on one side and "Breathless" on the other..Subadra couldn't control herself from hearing A.R.Rahman's music and Shankar Mahdevan's breathless as she saw Sreeni on the platform ,busy talking with his friend.She slid the cassette to listen to the songs and was puzzled to hear a voice of a girl followed by hissing noise and wild laughter,which went like this..
"Chickoo,Heres 'En swaasa Kaatrae' for you..shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!hahaahahaha"
As she flipped the cassette to hear 'Breathless',she heard Laxmi's voice again..
"Chickoo,deii..U are my best friend in life...What you heard on Side A was my life with you as my friend..what you hear now,is my life with out U"and then there was silence in the cassette portraying the lifelessness...
To be continued.
-Raapi
Posted by rajesh | 
« Home | Potograph... » //-->
Add a comment: