Success in love is… Part 22

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5  Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11,Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21
As the train disappeared from my sight; I stopped waving, folded my hands, and closed my eyes as the wind blew making me have a small oscillatory movement as an inverted pendulum. I know I was smiling wide and opened my eyes to see if anyone is noticing me. The intern stood there smiling with tears. She came near and hugged me.
“I just wish I would ever feel like you for someone.”
“You sure will. May be more.”
We walked to the car and this time the car moved slower than any old public transport vehicle. Illayaraja was taking me my own horizons and I was seeing her sitting crossed legs with her left hand on the window pane. The breeze would be blowing her hair around, making an art in air. The way she would smile at the small kid who was sitting opposite her. My mobile rang showing her photo exactly at that moment. I reached it fast, and fumbled as I took it. The Intern had a big smile and gave a small pat on my shoulder.
“Hello”
“Hi! You know what? This kid has the same name as you and he has promised to marry me as soon as he gets old.”
“Great! So I am just getting a seven year sentence not a Life imprisonment.”
“Who was talking about leaving you alone? You will have to do all the chores and earnings as I enjoy my life with him.”
“That hurts.”
“Ok. So where are you guys? Hope you are not driving.”
“Why? I am a good driver.”
“I can hear the breeze; the car has not stopped anywhere. So you won’t be driving.” She didn’t stop there for me confirm or affirm. “Tell her that I will call her tomorrow and continue with our plans.”
“What plans?”

“That’s none of your business. All you have to know is the train has started from Salem and I am not sure when cell phone towers will disappear. So I will leave you now. Try to get some sleep now, so that you can drive after sometime and she can sleep.”
“Ha! You are concerned about me or her.”
“You want me to answer that?” she asked with a smile.
I didn’t say anything. I cut the call as her cell became unreachable and leaned to have a small nap as instructed.
Now I didn’t want to imagine her playing with the kid in the coach. I am not going to part her for anyone. I smiled as soon as the thought crossed my mind and turned to see the intern who was humming to Raja’s tunes despite her inability to understand the language.

The next month rolled out making me the best time management guru. I had a lab that demands all my attention and a relationship that has it all. I traveled to Chennai on a weekend and met her sea, sky and friends. She was there to open my cousin’s home when I reached Chennai, make me get ready in a flash and join her in her numerous plans. We had dinner at her favorite restaurant and saw a romantic comedy at Sathyam Cinemas. We reached home at 1AM after a dream come true bike ride when she was almost eating my ears by whispering how much she loved the ride. She went to hug my aunt who opened the door for us and said that she is very tired. My aunt hugged her back and smiled at me. I stood there startled to see her making the aunt whom I haven’t dared to see eye to eye all my life out of respect, into a super cool companion. She turned back to smile and say her love before entering the bedroom. I went straight to kick my cousin who was sleeping on his desktop.
“What bro? I was meditating.”
“Meditating. Reserve those reasons for Mom.”
“Ok. How was the outing? I made these plans for Sis.”
“Hey leave that all. What about Mom? I was worried she will kick me when I entered home at this hour but she was cool.”
“Ha! You were with her.”
“What difference does that make?”
“My mom loves her.”
“What?”
“Yes. She is the new daughter of the house whom my Mom is pleading to stay here instead of the hostel.”
“How?”
“Guess Mom has got her long buried wish for a girl fulfilled and she is perfect match to mom.”
“That’s good.”
I smiled as he turned to his Facebook page which showed a dozen Chat boxes.

The next day was packed meeting her friends and spending time in the beach. We spent close to an hour without speaking a word watching the waves and the people. The visit got its completion when she leaned on my shoulder as the moon rose out of the sea, held my hand and shed a few silent tears on my shirt.

Life rolled on a high and the roller coaster ride came to big fall when my Project headed into a high critical state. Calls became very rare and those that happened were just status calls. Research was taking its toll on our relation as I couldn’t fulfill her righteous call of spending more time with her. The increased pressure also meant that I had to redo a few things due to errors. I started understanding the reason behind the many love marriages that happen inside the campus among fellow researchers. The feeling that life would have been so easy without commitments started occurring again and was subdued by the thought “what’s life without love?”
I started making myself as focused in the research as possible to make sure the projects are not affected by me, but errors occurred time and again. My dreams were starting to change from lawns and hugs to labs and books.

One such dream had taken me to works I had in the lab the following day and I woke up when I felt someone next to me. She was there sitting next me with her hand on my chest. I smiled and slept again. After a while I felt this isn’t dream and woke up again to see her eyes close with her lying on chest. I kept my hand on her hair and confirmed this isn't any dream.
“When did you come?”
“Just now.” She spoke with her eyes closed.
“How? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Surprise. I wanted to feel your heart. You haven’t called me for the past 15days. I know you are busy, so I just wanted to come over and hug you.”
“Thanks. But I can’t leave the lab. The project is going on a critical stage.”
“I know. All I want is to remain like this for some more time.”
“I love you dear. I am sorry for not spending time with you.”
“Don’t worry. I have a few people to meet and I will keep myself busy till I meet you again.”
“Got friends everywhere?”
“Yes! All you friends are mine too. I am going to visit your ex-roommate’s house first. I have got so many gifts for their little one.”
I realized that I haven’t seen the little one for the past 1 month.

She left to meet my friend after some time and I headed to the lab to continue with the work. Works were so packed I couldn’t plan anything for her. She called me by afternoon and informed that she will come by 9PM and have dinner with me at the Cafeteria. I was relieved that she understands my position. But the clock struck 9 much sooner than it should have, according to my schedule. I called her to inform it’s going to take time for me to come and she said she is tired herself with the outings and will take rest in my room.

I had everything in place as fast as I could and headed to my room. The clock in the corridor struck 12 as I opened my room. She was standing there wide smile and hugged me close.
“It’s 4 years since I first met you.” she said as I felt my cheek getting wet.
“What?” I couldn’t imagine what she is referring to.
“We met in the Boomerang ice cream parlor this day 4 years back.”
“Wow! You are so good in remembering those days.”
“I will never forget that day”
I tried hard to remember what happened that day. All I could remember was her smile as she left the café.
“Where is my dinner?” I asked in her ears.
“Come in and find it yourself.”

I went in and saw a tidy room with my reading table made for dinner. The candle light showed her as pretty as she could be and I entered the room darn tired from work. We had dinner as she recited how good she is feeling at that moment to have dinner with me. My mind was revolving round the project that wasn’t going as planned and my inability to spend time with her when she has come all the way to see me. I was in guilt and answered her enthusiasm with cooked up smiles. We finished dinner faster than I thought it took. She cleaned the table and sat next to me on my bed.
“I am very happy now.” She said as she leaned on my shoulder and held my hand. I didn’t speak anything. I couldn’t. My mind was still among the failures in my lab. I took her hand in mine and saw the tiny burn mark in her finger. She stood up came in front took my face in her hand. I saw her unsure what she was up to as she said,“You look very tired. Sleep now. I have to see the intern and continue with our planning.”
She left to the Intern’s room and I laid down still in thoughts about the way my life is going to head.

She had plans to visit a friend the next day. I had to correct a few errors and do a process from scratch in lab. I promised to join her for dinner and leave her at the railway station. My mind was still with guilt as I entered the lab. Things were not going as planned as no research can be possible if you have your heart somewhere else. I stopped halfway prepared a checklist for the day’s activities and started my activities as per plan. Soon I was back to my normal pace and things started working my way. I finished all work by 7PM as my Professor walked in. He saw my checklist and had a smile as he proceeded to his room.

I left the lab and reached the restaurant in time. She was there with the intern, and another guy. She introduced me to him and he gave a firm handshake.
“Hey! He is going to start an Interior Designing firm next month and wants me to be a partner” she was excited.
“Wow! That’s great” I said but I wasn’t sure of what I spoke.
“Most importantly, it’s in Bangalore. But I have to think about it. This is a big leap for me.” she was speaking with her eyes fixed between me and the intern.
“You can easily manage all this. Just come here” the intern spoke my words as I smiled to mask my thoughts about the consequences.
I wasn’t prepared for this.

We left to the railway station in her friend’s car and she gave a big hug and a kiss before she got into her coach. She didn’t fail to whisper “You are everything to me dear. Don’t think of anything else.” I hugged close as she said that and replied, “I love you”
I started walking out as soon as the train started and the intern had a puzzled look as I passed her. I couldn’t understand why I had this thought then, “In life at one stage or the other, you have to prioritize your needs. You don’t always have a choice.”