As the bhajan song "Giridhara Gopaala Sathya Sai.."came to an end,Subadra,in a saffron Salwar and Sreeni,in his usual T-shirt and jeans,decided to leave the SaiBaba temple,after getting the prasadham sweets.Subadra- a staunch SaiBaba devotee often persuaded Sreeni to accompany him to the temple,but Sreeni,who didn't believe even in the Almighty God,was never able to come to terms with considering a human as God.The only reason why he accompanied her was for the free sweets and also to bring his Suba safely back to her hostel after dark.
As they were about to leave,Subadra asked..
"dai..Cheenu,Whats up?U seem to be lost nowadays.."
Sreeni replied softly.."Nuthing da..Just the same old thoughts..I told you right..Anyway leave it...Time is the healer for everything"
Subadra felt sad for her friend as she leaned over him and pulled his arm, putting it over her shoulder and started walking.
She then said.."Cheenu..I understand da..I have to confess that I secretly overheard that cassette that your Luckoo had given you and I was totally moved by it..Anyway,Remember this...'Focus is the substitute for time'...You don't need time to get over your worries.Just be focussed on your future & you will succeed on what you are pursuing!"
Sreeni smiled at Subadra and pinched her cheeks for that piece of thought-provoking saying that she had pulled out of thin air.Little did he realize that Subadra was thinking on the same lines to attain one of her most coveted prizes-Her cheenu.
When Sreeni reminded about something she had said in the train,Subadra said.."
Oh..that thing?hmm..Lets not talk about it in the temple,Lets walk across to the 'Ambedkar Memorial gardens'.
It was the perfect setting that Subadra had dreamed for -The cool breeze at dusk with birds returning back to their trees that swayed in the dimly lit garden grass with the backdrop of the setting Sun.Subadra sat next to Sreeni leaning over him and said.."Cheenu..During my trip to Chennai,Amma put up a matrimonial website profile for me,and some 5 guys responded.Initially,I too didn't seem to be bothered by all the hullaballoo being created over this issue,but the fear started to creep in as I realized that I might be married off to some unknown guy in a span of months."
Sreeni patiently heard and asked.."Paavam daa nee..What did you do?"
Subadra replied.."I thought about it for a few days and told my mom that infact I like a guy very much and although it is not like the tinsel world love stuff,I would prefer to spend the rest of my life with him.Amma was really impressed when I explained about that guy and she said she might talk about it to my dad!"
At this point Sreeni,who was sitting laid back,got up and shouted...
"Hey..You are the worstestestest friend..You never said anything to me about that secret guy?Your schoolmate or undergrad Romeo?Whozzit?Do I know him?"
Subadra looked directly into Sreeni's face judging all his reactions.When she discovered that Sreeni really didn't seem to understand what she was saying,she broke down immediately and her black Kaajal laden tears rolled down to her cheeks.As Sreeni looked at her confusedly she said...
"Dai stupid Buffalo..Did it even occur to you that the person I was talking about was U..U stupid goose!"
Sreeni was confronted with the second shock of his life after the one he had had at the internet centre 2 months ago.There was sudden silence for about 2 minutes and then Sreeni blurted..
"Hey..chamathu..Really sorry da chellam..I know how it hurts when someone doesnt reciprocate the warmth and affection!But pls understand and listen without mistaking me..I have always professed this ideology to my friends- One should get the urge and feeling that the other person is "THE ONE" for them.Only then life would be meaningful to spend as a couple!Although I feel,you have got such a strong feeling for me,I should frankly admit that I have never thought in that manner about you .That doesnt mean you are not my best friend.Added to all this,I have been engrossed in this emotional turmoil,particularly after hearing this latest news of Laxmi's wedding next month with some stupid,proper Iyengar Software Maapillai."
As subadra started to explain how her mom was not concerned about the Iyer-Iyengar stuff..Sreeni quipped.."hey ashadu..Focus is the substitute for time..hehehe.Lets leave this topic now and leave to the hostel"
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The next 3 months that passed was eventful with Laxmi getting married and busy with her Malaysia honeymoon tour and Sreeni & Subadra busy with their career placement group discussions and interviews .Fate had decided that their MBA episode was not over yet when they both got placed at Wipro,Bangalore along with 5 others of their batch!
Sreeni's best friend,self-assumed philosopher and often-wrong guide-Kaybee called him one fine day and as they were talking,Sreeni asked him..
"deii..epdi daa?How can a girl just have no feelings or rather forget all the feelings that she had 3 months ago;get married and go for a happy honeymoon..I dont get it!"
Kaybee retorted.."dei..Sreeni..cmon daa.its not the way U think,Oflate I have been chatting with Naramada a lot..She explained the pathetic situation Laxmi had undergone.Laxmi used to cry to her about her helplessness.She was almost tortured at her house when they came to know about the affair and finally she had to succumb to the emotional outbursts of her aging dad.Narmada told me that the height of sadness was when Laxmi was inconsolable when her brother asked Narmada to talk to you and get back all the trinkets such as the letters/cassettes etc.But she forbade her from doing so!"
When Sreeni broke out saying he wasn't convinced yet,Kaybee pulled out his analogy..
"Dai cheeni...Listen..So many times we burn our lips while sipping coffee or bite our tongue when eating food,but we dont stop eating forever.We just become very cautious the next time and think about the painful event every other day,but proceed with our life..Thats the same Laxmi has done and she really is a wonderful person with lots of friendly feelings for you!"
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The next 13 months passed in a jiffy with Subadra going to belgium for her project and Sreeni going for his to Dusseldorf Germany,200 miles away from Kaybee's place of work.When Sreeni and Kaybee met at one of the omnipresent roadside coffeeshops,Sreeni smiled as he watched an Indian student couple sip their coffee,totally involved in their conversation.He turned to Kaybee and said.."Poor guy!Hope he gets back to his senses soon.What a waste of time,money and one's life!"
When they boarded their train to Berlin,Kaybee asked Sreeni what he had decided about his wedding,to which he answered...
"dai..I have no idea..I am like this train seat da...People just come and go in its life..Nobody cares for the seat!"
Kaybee spurted out his yet another analogy as if he had prepared it specifically for this specific occasion.."Dai..Cheeni,If at all you are the train seat,then you should be proud..Although the one for whom it was reserved decided not to travel in it,it has not lost its importance.There is always some Subadra in 'Reservation against cancellation'(RAC)class ready to get it for any price..Cmon da..The train does not stop..The journey of life should go on!"
'Friendship enbathu RAC,love confirm panna nee yosi'- Kaybee sang the latest movie song putting Sreeni under great embarassment!He then continued.."By the way..Sreeni,one piece of news da..Narmada told me that Laxmi gave birth to a baby boy last month.The kid's name is Sreekumar and everybody addresses him 'Chickoo'!"
The whole journey Kaybee found Sreeni looking out of the window,buried in deep thoughts as he fell asleep.As soon as they reached their friend Parvathi's house at Berlin,Srini hurriedly logged into the matrimonial website and pulled out the profile 'shub01' and clicked the response button as he typed the words:"Focus is definitely the substitute for time!Will you marry me da chellam?"Kaybee who was beside him all along shouted with joy as Sreeni tilted his head and said in his typical SRK Baazigar style..
"Hae hae hae hae hae..Haarke jeetne waale ko Sreeni kehte hai!"
Posted by rajesh | 
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