The Perfect Pair

Chapter Six

They both had planned out accordingly after her mother had happily approved of him.And after a lot of preparations and arrangements made it was finally the D-Day.

She was nervous as well as excited and various mixed emotions filled her mind since morning.She dressed up and stood just at the end of a flower-filled red carpet.

Her heart raced fast and her palms perspiring due to nervousness.She crossed her fingers hoping everything to turn out just as planned.

She could see him standing right at the end of the aisle.And she thought he looked ravishing at one moment with that smile on his face.She was sure,he was the one.The one with whom she would spend her entire life with.

She took a deep breath and walked slowly with the soft rhythm towards him.

She looked spectacular in that gown,he thought.He loved everything about her and that is why it was his idea to write in their own vows.He could promise everything to her,his love,his life and himself.

The priest read out and they both followed suit saying their vows out loud.And the guests listened to the beautiful couple promise their life to each other.

Just when the priest ordered for the rings to be exchanged,she indicated to her aunt saying,”Bring it now”,while she slightly picked up her gown to reveal wearing just one shoe on her left foot.

He looked down,surprised and then turned around to see Aunt bring out something from behind.It was the same ‘purple shoe’ and this time it was in two’s one of each.

He took the right one and put it on her bare foot.And there was an amazing sparkle of happiness in his eyes,”Perfect Pair! How did you???? I mean....” but before he could finish she winked at him and replied,”Long story Darling,will tell you on our honeymoon.”

And then they kissed.

SOMETIMES WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN,WILL HAPPEN…… *winks*

The Perfect Pair

Chapter Five

It was one other day gossiping with her aunt when her mother suddenly asked her to invite Aiden over for dinner the following weekend.

She gladly invited him and as usual he did come,all dressed up perfectly with a white tulips bouquet  for her mother and aunt.

His charming personality and his jokes won the hearts of the three women.He was polite wherever needed and joked when the moment fell silent or serious throughout the evening.

It was Sangeeta,who specially was very happy to make an evening like this happen.She had noticed her mother laugh out loud at times at his jokes and funny gestures.She had missed seeing her mother so happy and as a matter of fact she had never seen her this happy around anyone.

After desserts and a little more chit-chatting,he rose up to leave bidding everyone goodnight and saying thank you for the awesome dinner and time that he had had that evening.

She walked him to the door and when he was about to say ‘goodbye’,he noticed her eyes teary.

“What’s the matter,honey?” he questioned with concern in his voice.

“It’s nothing.I’m glad you came..I love you” she replied in shaky voice.

“I love you too.Goodnight” and he kissed her forehead and left.

That night she lay awake in her bed,thinking about how amazingly God had thrown signs to her.She thanked him and slept.

The Perfect Pair

Chapter Four

Meeting Aiden,at first was completely an official affair.He handled the foreign relations department of the same company that she worked in.It was during one of her presentation day that her boss had introduced them.

After that once or twice they met unofficially at coffee shops but to discuss complete business.A while later they became friends and couple of months later he finally wooed her into a relationship.

He was an easy going guy and joked at almost everything that they talked about,at times it was annoying but at times she adored him for that.He never failed to light up any moment.She could never stay angry with him for more than 10 mins or so he would say something so funny that she would end up laughing her heart out.

It was on valentine’s night after dinner,when she asked to drop by to see his place.He instantly replied,”Why?”

“What do you mean by ‘why’? because I simply want to…why?is there a problem?” She questioned straight barefacedly.

“Ummm…Okay!” and he held her by her hand and they both walked up to his apartment.

As soon as he had unlocked the expression on her face changed,it went from being happy to shocked.

“OMG! Aiden this is complete mess!”

He dropped the keys at nearby table and replied,”Make yourself comfortable.It was you who wanted to gladly come by”

“Now I see,this is why you always avoided whenever I asked about coming down to your place” she said mockingly.

“Look at that,the couch is chocked by all your clothes over it..How do you even walk about in here?” she questioned picking up a sock from the floor.

“I manage” he laughed back at her question.

“This weekend you are giving me the keys,I will clean this mess up and make some room for fresh air..”she ordered.

“Okay! I will be there if you need any help” he obliged.

“No need,I know you well enough.You are simply going to joke and laugh and create nuisance instead of being any help.Stay out with Paul or any other friend of yours.”

“Fine!” he mocked

“Good!” she smiled back.

The following weekend as planned,she switched on ‘CLEAN AIDEN’S APARTMENT’ mode and got down to work.

She washed,dusted,aired and settled neatly the entire apartment each room one by one.How did the time pass,she had no knowledge of it and it was past 6 when she finally had finished almost  cleaning.

She pressed the coffee machine button and relaxed on the couch when she suddenly noticed a briefcase under the cupboard.She picked it up and turned it over.A thick layer of dust settled on it made it seemly to be an old one.

She cleaned it and opened.There were some old files and oddly tucked under it a purple shoe.She looked at it questionably and a little surprised too.It was one of hers.But how did it land up here? She had never worn them except for once.

She picked up the shoe and tucked it in her handbag,then went back to get her cup and relaxed on the couch.

It was past eight,when the doorbell rang.It was a tiring day and without notice she had dozed off.She rose up and opened the door and greeted,”Hii baby!”

“Heyy Love!” he reciprocated hugging her.

“My! My! is this my place”,he joked.

“Ta-Da”,she spoke excitingly.

They both freshened up and ordered home delivery and soon after sat down to eat.

She didn't want to ask straight forward.There is no harm in playing around a little,she thought.

“Baby,you know what…I found a woman’s shoe,today!” she said.

“Sangi,stealing neighbor's shoes! Bad manners..”,he replied.

“Be serious!” she warned,”I found it in one of your old briefcase,that to a single one”.

“Hey! Hey! Don’t look at me,I’m straight baby!” he spoke raising his hands a little.

“Forget it!” she turned away.

“Okay! Okay! I’m sorry…” he apologized,”Oh! That!... It’s a funny as well as weird story.”

“Tell me all about it” she was all ears.

“When I was in NY,posted at home branch,I had a meeting at the city hall,there I found it.”

“Whose does it belong to?” she questioned curving her brow.

“It belongs to Cinderella”,he laughed.

“Cinderella?”

“Yes,or so it seemed.I was walking up the stairs when this woman rushed out in super hurry.Just like Cinderella out of her fairy tale and funnily she wore a white gown even.”

“Did you see her face?” She questioned again.

“Nope! All I saw was how mercilessly she closed the door over her beautiful dress and you wouldn't believe she left one of her shoe at the stairs and that’s when I picked it up”,he paused,”And funnily I did once look at my watch to see if it was just past 12.”

“So,why did you keep the shoe,anyway?”

“I don’t know,it’s weird that I even had it.Maybe,it was so amusing to see someone run out just like that made me keep it” he spoke with slight confession in his voice.

“Maybe, you fell in love with the woman?” she murmured out loud enough to be heard.

“What?” he said,looking surprised.

“Yeah,like first sight! kind”

“Of course, not!”

“It wouldn't be wrong even if you would”

“Aah! Now maybe,who knows? Maybe at that moment I did! But you see,everything that’s suppose to happen sometimes doesn't happen,isn't it?”

“Hmmm…now I’m a little jealous” she laughed.

“Naah!.... so,where is it now?”

“I threw it.What’s the use of keeping it,anyway” she said.

“Yeah,right! Come,let me drop you home” he stood up.

While she glanced at the shoe in her handbag for once and closed the clasp.

The Perfect Pair

Chapter Three

She couldn't face Ron,specially after the stunt she had pulled off,so she settled at leaving just a voice message.After that she resigned and left her apartment and came back home.

Was it right for her to do something like this?She felt pathetic inside about doing such to Ron but she had no other choice.If only,she hadn't been so blind then such situation would have never happened on the first place.

He was no doubt the most charming,loving,caring person she had come across.He had helped and supported at every step in her blooming days but that was not enough.Of late,in their relationship there was so much more of ‘the him’ than to ‘the us’.She never wanted that and she could clearly see it that it had carried on for such a long time that bringing in any kind of changes would be difficult and maybe,impossible.

Walking out of it was the best solution to end it.So she did and she of course, felt bad about it,but it had to be done.And deep down she knew that he would at first resent it but later would agree and come in terms with it all.

It wasn't easy for her.Running away and leaving a voice message didn't end it there,she had to give a long explanation to her aunt who was very annoyed with the news.As for her mother,she hadn't showed much of anything neither saying nor expressing.

After a while,it was time to start anew.A new job,a different phase.She had a lot of contacts in the US,her four years there wasn't a waste after all.Her friends helped her bag a new job which was great one as well.

Working environment in India is way different from that of other countries.Its not bad but can’t be said the best either.She made the adjustments required and she didn't complain.She was happy for she could stay close to her mother.

Her life was moving on the usual 9-8 routine and off on the weekends which meant spending much more time gossiping with aunt.She was her bff. She could share all her feeling with her irrespective of the age difference.

In time,she even saw slight changes in her mother.She saw her loosening up a little,sometimes talking to her about daily usual stuff,sometimes oiling her hair on Saturdays,attending absent minded the gossips that she and her aunt shared.

Whether or not big changes,there were the small ones and she was extremely happy about them as well.It meant at least getting something that she hadn't before.

The Perfect Pair

Chapter Two

She stood there,in the corridor fiddling with her phone flipping it open and closing it again the next.When suddenly her friend Maria speedily came out whispering to her ears,”Sangi,the hall’s full,it’s time!” Maria helped her straighten out her dress and walked slowly towards the grand door in front.

As the door flung open,she saw Ron,all dressed up and waiting for her at the end.

She had meet him four years back as a colleague and from them on they had been friends and soon after dated.Ron,a very charming guy full of humor and loved her.She loved him too and that is why she had agreed when he had proposed her last fall.She had broken the news to her aunt over Skype and they chatted that night for a long time and her mother had even appeared for some time to tell her,that she was happy about it.And soon after they,together planned out everything to this day.

She looked at his smiling face yet there was something missing. Wasn't it the perfect life that she always wanted? He loved her and that’s all that should matter for her, right? But what else is it? What more she wanted and she hadn't got? Everything that she longed for all her life was right there,standing in front of her just some foot steps away.Then why? What is holding her back? How could she not know? But she very well knew if not now then never!

She stopped,turned away and ran out the opposite direction leaving the hall behind filled with people.She didn't dare look back and kept running out the stairs passing people on the way.It didn't matter who stared at her,all she wanted was to get out of this place.She dashed past someone but didn't bother to say sorry,hailed a cab and quickly got into.

Back at the city hall stairs,a young man turned to look at the person who just dashed past him in such hurry.But all he saw was some white lace hanging out the corner when the door was mercilessly closed over them and the taxi sped away.

He turned to walk away when he noticed the purple shoe left behind.He picked it up and smiled to himself and thrust it into his briefcase and thought,”what a hurry the lady was in,as if it was past twelve!”

The Perfect Pair

Chapter One

All she wanted was a little love in return. Sangeeta did every possible thing to get her mother’s attention but every time she failed.She topped in her class and even worked harder at being the best disciplined student at school.She would never even think of doing something that would make her mother scold her.She was the best girl,best student above all the best daughter but nothing simply would bring praises or love to her.But she never gave up trying because all she had was her mother.She was the world around her.She didn't have a single memory of her father for he had passed away when she was one month old.

She had noticed a strange sadness clouded her mother’s face but she didn't know the reason.She contemplated various reasons,whether she was behaving bad,or she dressed bad or looked bad.She worked on each one over and over trying to rectify whatever flaws she could find or assume to find.Her neighbors and even the entire locality adored her praising her every now and then but except for that one person.

She loved and adored her aunt,who was the only other person who was family.She, as a matter of fact got all the motherly love from her.She spent nights chatting with her,listening to fairy tales and about her father and brother.Just after her 9^th birthday she had asked her aunt one night about more details on her brother.And that night passed talking all about him.He was 10 years old when he died of pneumonia.She had absent minded asked “Did mother love him?”and her aunt had replied laughing 

“Of course my dear!"

She had come to a conclusion that her brother was the one whom mother loved and now that he isn't there there wasn't any love left for her.She didn't even for slightest moment envied him for this,in fact she was rather happy that he got so much love.

Though it was a thought out of a child’s mind but it was true,her mother could bear the loss of her husband’s death but losing her beloved son was too much to take.She grew quieter after that incident and to some extent lost a part of herself in the process.A part being a mother to the other child.

When Sangeeta turned 21,she got a dream job offer with a software company in the US.She was reluctant to take it for taking it up would mean to be away for her mother and which she didn't want to be.But after a lot of persuasion from her aunt,she finally took the job and left country.

Printed..

Another New Beginning...

First of all I'm so,so very sorry for writing after such a long time..But to tell you the truth I haven't had what I would call "My Time" for myself,so that I could cozily sit down and drown in different thoughts to later write on it.Lately,I've been very busy..and today I plan to share the reason with my readers too..

I've always been this obedient,always listening to parents and letting them decide for me(in case of education) whats right for me and I did as they expected of me till a while back.But you see everyone has an independent self within and at one point,life's major decisions should solely be based on one's own will.By saying this I don't wish to demean in anyway that taking advice and following them is bad,No! not at all,but you see what I mean is somethings should be of your own.

My father is very persistent by nature towards anything related to fashion world or the glamour world.He has his own reasons which I'm not going to elaborate on..nevertheless,I had the big work of persuading him to agree on something that I want to do of my own will.

When you're always being told what to do next and after that,at one point you tend to grow an irritation against the thought to always being advised,a similar thing happened with me.I had been keeping it within me all long,long enough to that point when one day I couldn't any longer retain it,I had to do something about it.

Human emotions,specially tears of unhappiness is always on active mode,ready to flow out every now and then.I cried out..Yes! a lot lot.

And finally when I gathered up all the courage,I simply went up to my father to tell him what I've decided to do,in life."I want to study jewelry designing,Papa" said it crystal clear and to the point.I knew well what his instant reaction would be and I was all up for it.

The arching of brow always signifies something bad ahead,and that proved when he replied,"No,there is nothing there in all these,you must study relating to commerce and business,Company Secretary or Chartered.I'm never going to permit it"

I knew if not now then never,I burst out crying and that's when I saw a change of expression on him.Truly he adores me,and I know this is bad but I saw no other option but to take advantage of it.I said all emotional stuff and mixed full on tears,with just one goal in mind,'somehow,I gotto make him say yes!'

He was already melting when my mom,like my knight in shinning armor came at my rescue.She has always had the upper hand in everything.Though,she is strict but she is extremely softhearted and  understood my point.She really does good job at explaining and she did for me as well.And Voila! he said "Okay!"

On the very next day I enrolled into a designing school,I couldn't risk for him to change his mind.Who knows,right? 

I know its a lot of risk that I'm taking,not belonging to jewelry background yet dropping off everything to pursue it.But life is full of risks and truly I don't want to live with regrets.Maybe I won't succeed or maybe I will,and if its the former,at least I will not have any regrets,that I could but didn't even try.

So here,now you know,what kept me busy it wasn't as easy writing about it as doing it.I was emotionally stressed out and contemplating the idea over and over again.And now I'm working very hard towards it.I do have faith in myself so I hope I succeed,fingers crossed!