Dt: 29th Feb 2012

“Taxi!!!!! Sri Krishna Temple, NG Road quick please”. I glanced at my watch it was 9:30 AM. Just 45 minutes for the wedding to begin. I was going to take the most important decision of my life with no surety whether I would be able to reach my goal. I could feel my pulse rate rising just like an Indian batsman in an India-Pakistan match who requires 4 runs to win from a single ball. Will he be able to lead the ball towards the boundary line or will he loose? I couldn’t think of anything else at that moment. All I wanted to do was reach the venue as soon as possible. I could feel my heart beat and it sure was not normal at all. The 15 hr journey from London to Mumbai was exhausting and then from Mumbai to Pune was equally tiring but it hardly mattered. “saab bahot traffic hai aaj. Kam se kam ek ghanta lagega(Sir, the traffic is enormous. It would take atleast an hour to reach)” the driver’s words put a break to my train of thought. “Oh God!!!!!!! Please bhaiyya kuch bhi karo par mujhe 10 baje ke pehle wahaan pahuchna hai (Do anything but I have to reach the venue before 10)” I pleaded to the driver and I prayed to Lord Ganesha (The hindu God who officially handles the obstacle removal department up in Heaven) “Please God… please don’t do this to me. I know I have sinned but this my last chance. Please be with me.” Somehow I tried to calm myself. Drank some water, took some deep breaths and closed my eyes. The burning sensation in my eyes made me realize that I needed some sleep. Something that I had not done since long. Yes I had lost my sleep and if I don’t reach in time I would loose it forever but most importantly I would loose the most precious thing I had in my life. Something that was so precious and I didn’t even care to keep it safe. I was a moron throughout but today I didn’t want to be one for my entire life. I glanced at my watch. It was 9:40 AM and I was just 3 kms away from my destination a matter of just 10 mins I would be there but the traffic was enormous. Apparently someone was getting married and the traditional Indian baraat was all over the road leaving other commuters like me stuck in a jam. “Aaj ka din ekdum sahi hai saab. 4 saal mein to aisa din aata hai” (Today is a nice day Sir. After all this date comes once in every 4 yrs). It was then that I realized what today’s date was. Yes it was the 29^th of February 2012. Wow!!!!!! What a day to get married on!!!!! No party expense in the name of anniversary and the most important thing being that u don’t need to remember your anniversary for 3 years and even if you don’t remember it for for the rest of your life no one can blame u for it. I smiled at this thought and I looked outside.

The traffic was clearing and the taxi was moving at snail’s pace. I saw the baraatis all dancing to the latest bollywood numbers and enjoying themselves. I felt happy but deep down I was crying. Regretting every decision I took that landed me today in this situation. I alone was responsible for my plight and no one else was to blame. But I had not lost all hopes. I still this last chance. May be I could make things work the way I should have long back. I eased myself into the seat and again glanced at my watch. Time 9:50 AM. I would be there in by 10 I cajoled myself. The driver put on some music and the song that was being aired on radio somehow had a soothing effect. A song that I had sung for her when she was mad at me. One of her favorites among all the Shahrukh Khan songs. I leaned back and closed my eyes. I could see her face. The face that had long took my breath away. The face I longed to see everyday since I left for London. The face that was so mesmerizing that it took all my worries away. The face I fell in love with from the moment I saw it. It was the face that I thought I could forget but I couldn’t ever.


TO BE CONTINUED...........