U, ME aur HUM

"Karthik i might not come for the party this Saturday", Rupa told over the phone.

"I know you wouldn't, so i have already informed the junta" replied karthik.

"That's my man, you know about me so much...." She sounded excited.

"Hey, i forgot to get the saree for my mom, may be i'll go today and get it" Karthik was irritated with himself.

"I know you'd dumbo, that's why i bought it yesterday itself, come home and pick it up" She replied cheerfully.


This is Karthik & Rupa in a nut shell. They've been the best of mates for many years now. They both went to school, college together. Now both of them work in the IT industry. Though both are in different organizations Karthik knows all Rupa's friends and vice versa. Everyone was jealous about their relationship.

whatever be the things Rupa and Karthik would never forget to discuss it with each other before taking a decision.

Karthik went to her place the next day to get the saree she'd bought for his mother. He was greeted by her mother..

"Come in Karthik, howz all @ home?" she enquired

"All are fine aunty, Rupa there" he was particular to meet Rupa.

"Why you wont talk to us?" His mother made fun 2 him..

"Come on aunty....how can u ask such questions"

"kiddin son...u can't leave without having lunch today" she ordered and went in.

Karthik was a well known person for rupa's family, in fact more like one in the family. He never felt an outsider to their family and same was the case with Rupa @ Karthiks. He walked straight into Rupa's room.

Rupa was sitting on the swing on the balcony with her Robin Cook novel.

"Hey! wassup?" he tried to get her attention...

She turned back and came with a big smile on her lips and came running....

"Karthi, missed u dumbo, we haven't met in 3 days you know?" She sounded desperate.

"What to do Rups, lotsa work and appraisal time you know..."

Karthik always liked being missed by Rupa. He looked at her talking with him but for him all he could see was Rupa. There she was, his angel in front of his eyes sitting and talking to him. He did not hear a single word, instead Phil Collins was singing "Another day in Paradise" on his ears. He kept looking at her without uttering a single word. Rupa was talkin non stop, he could see her excitement in the face. Talking about the face, who else can have such an impeccable face.She was wearing a plain white tops and a long blue skirts. She had her hair tied up in a knot behind. The mere sight of her in front of him created frenzy in his mind.

"Look at her eyes man" he thought. "It looks surreal, how can a eye say so many things at a time, Nose pointed straight, sharp and perfectly chiseled. And, then the lips, oh boy! they must have been made from strawberries". He saw those cute little earrings dangling on her ears dancing to her every movement of head. Karthik could not resist his imaginations.....

"Man, i must be the luckiest person in the whole world that i got Rupa, She is mine...mine and mine only" his heart was screaming as if he was Jack of Titanic.

"Thud..." He was brought back to senses by Rupa, who gave a playful slap on his cheeks.

"Hey dumbo....what are you thinking? I am telling you seriously and you're silent?? I was asking you about me talking to my parents about marriage??"

"Thinking about you.. and me..." he said to himself.

"What about whatever i said now....are you ok with it? Can i proceed and talk to my parents about marriage?"

Karthik was literally flying in air, he could not believe what he heard just now. He was waiting for this moment for a long long time.


"Go ahead Rups, if that what you want. But, careful they might misunderstand. be patient whatever be their reaction on this..." He said to her..


"Sure honey...this is why i asked you...you make me feel so comfortable..i need it all through my life..You're an angel, sweet rascal, Darling" She hugged him...

"Okies, get me the saree, i shall pack it in my luggage otherwise i might forget when i leave tonight" though he didn't want to get out of her arms, he had to....

Karthik was leaving the country for couple of months on an assignment.

"I would try to call you in between, but if iam not able to please dont mind. I would just be thinkin of you" He said to her...

"Me too...would miss you the next 2 months, i wish you were here to help me go through this time when i talk to my parents" she sounded dull...

She opened the draw and gave a gift wrapped package. She said "it's a copper sulphate color mysore silk saree. Don't open it to see...".

"You're the best Rups..." he said thinkin that is mom is lucky to get such a daughter in law.

"That i am...." she said "Karthi, Take care...do try to call me.." She was almost in tears amidst her smile...

"u 2 dear..." he left...

The next two months turned out to be the most tough period in Karthik's life. The work pressure was so much that he lost few kgs of weight and he was so tired mentally and physically. More than that the feeling of staying away from Rupa tormented him. He had successfully completed his assignment and had confirmed the return flight tomorrow. He called rupa to inform her that he is coming back.

Karthik dialled Rupa's number using a calling card..

"you n me...in this beautiful world..." he could hear her ring tone..

His heart was thumping hard to hear her voice after long time and also he was little scared about the decision of her parents. The past 2 months he never stopped thinking about that. But, somehow he was confident that everything would be perfectly fine.

"Hello...." the voice came at the other end..

"Rups....its me Karthik"

"Karthik...this is aunty..Rupa had gone for shopping...she forgot her mobile at home...how are you son?"

"Fine aunty and all of you ??" he enquired back

"All are fine. I was little angry with you and rupa. you people hide this from us. At least you could have told na about the relationship...when are you coming we're all waiting for you"

Karthik felt happiness like he never felt before..so looks like everything is fine, he thought.

"I am coming tomorrow, i called to inform that only..."

"Come home straight, don't have to go to your room." aunty said much to his elation.

"sure aunty, try to send Rupa to the airport na...8:45 arrival" he said..

"Sure...how will she not come..." aunty replied.

"Ok aunty... fine will catch you all tomorrow. My calling card is over and i dont have another one. bye .." he hung up.


Three months went by and now they are in the wedding hall. Karthik was standing next to Rupa and Rupa was adjusting his shirt collar and was introducing him to everyone on the dais.

"This is Karthik..Didn't i tell you all that he would wear this color shirt...you know he knows everything about me and me about him..we both were made for each other. I can even tell what he thinks right now and so does he...We both have such a bonding over the years."

Karthik looked at her and handed over the gift to newly wed couple Rupa and Siddharth wishing them a wonderful married life.

Rupa said "Whats this formality dumbo..." she put her arms around his arms and posed for the photo.

"When you can understand me on everything, how could you not see the feeling i had for you all these days Rups" Karthik's inner voice asked Rupa....

"Smile please..." The photographer was ready to click...

Karthik tried his best in vain. There he was posing for a photograph on his sweetheart's wedding trying to hide the tears getting caught in the photo..

Silver lining...

"Final call for the flight LA345...passengers please proceed to gate number C15" the crew lady announced on the microphone.

"Excuse me...excuse...." Divya waded her way through the people who were busy waiting for their flights and those who were busy walking around the terminal..

Finally she managed to squeeze herself just in the nick of the time before the hostess could close the door of the flight.

"I am sorry!" Divya smiled at the hostess...

"That's ok M'am can i see your boarding pass?" She was polite and looked at the pass Divya showed her.

"This way to your right m'am, fourth row on the left she pointed towards the seat on the economy class.

"Thanks very much!" Divya walked towards her seat.

The flight was not full due to the off season. Divya made herself comfortable in her seat and turned to the guy sitting next to her and said "Hey! am i late ? sorry..."

"That's okay dear, i was little worried that you might not turn up..." the guy said.

The guy sitting next to her was none other than Shekar, smart, athletic and had that special something that every girl would find it hard to resist. No wonder Divya couldn't resist either. Divya and Shekar were in love and they both had planned to get married.

"Are you tensed?" He asked her

"A lot, not sure if i am really ready for this..." Divya said searching for something in her handbag.

it turned out to be a tissue which she used to wipe her forehead and turned back to Shekar and said

"Strange to see the flight empty..."

"Yeah, weekday and not a season time also...but why do you think you're not ready" he came back to the topic.


"I dunno..quite a few things..." she was in a thoughtful mood..

"like..."

"What...." she missed his question....

"I asked like what.." he was not ready to leave either....

"Like....would i get the same love and affection that we shared all these days after marriage....like would i get the same sharing and caring that you gave all these days before marriage..."

"why do you think you'll not get these...." he retorted

"Don't you know Shekar...what's wrong in me getting worried about things not to change" she argued...

'Divvy...nothing would change..everything would remain same.....dont you have to worry..." he comforted her...

"Everything...how can you say that?" She seemed tense...

It took lots of time for Shekar to convince divya for this marriage. She was vehemently against this and was worried that her life would change completely upside down once she gets married. Shekar used to be surprised how Divya can be so against marriage after being in love with him for more than three years. Shekar had to spend so much of time with divya to make her understand marriage is aprt of life and no one can escape that. Also, he had to tell it's such a nice bonding between two people which every person should go through in life. And, finally one day he was able to break the code and make Divya accept. Here they're leaving to India for marriage.

The next couple of hours went in silence with Divya closing her eyes thinking about the marriage to come and Shekar. Shekar didn't want to disturb her and so was watching the silver lining on the clouds through the window.

"Passengers attention please..." the stewardess announced bring back Divya and Shekar to thier senses...

"We're starting the landing procedures, kindly keep your seat belts fastened and bring your seats to a upright position"

Divya was watching the stewardess checking each row by walkin on the aisle.

Shekar turned and looked at Divya, she seemed little clear from her face.

The flight landed with a heavy thud....and was slowing down...

"outside temperature...." the announce ment continued...

People were busy getting up from their seats to pick up their luggage....

Divya looked at Shekar and said "This is it..."

"Yes sweety, this is it....no turning backs now...we'd decided on this together" he held her hands....

"Yes no turning backs..." she hugged him tight....

After a while, when the crowd had cleared a bit, Divya got up and took her luggage and got ready to move...

She turned back and said "I hope you'd be watching every moment from now on....Though you're no more today it was your words that kept me driving in life and now this marriage too...It was you who showed me that i had the strength in me to see life without you...I love you and would do so till i breathe my last..." tears were rolling down her cheeks as she saw the faint image of Shekar vanishing before her eyes...

Divya wiped her tears and kept walking towards her new life thinking about her love life with Shekar, the accident that took the life of Shekar, the days when she thought her life had come to a standstill, the days when she imagined Shekar to be with her and the words Shekar told to convince her for a marriage with Rishi. Everything was like a dream to her. As we walked out of the airport lounge, She saw Rishi waiting with a flower bouquet in his hands waving at her.

She saw the silver lining on the sky......

Sapling !

It had always been Raghav's wish that he adopted a child right from his college days not sure though why. Thankfully for him he got an understanding wife in Vinitha who had supported his idea of adopting even before they had their own kid.

They searched all over the country in various cities and towns to finalize Nethra. She was in an orphanage in Chennai. The baby was fair and cute. The moment Raghav and Vinitha saw the baby's eyes they knew it was their elder daughter.
That eyes said the story of her needing a parents, her loneliness, her desire to live in this world just like any other human being. Vinitha bent down and looked at the baby, she could see her own eyes swelling up with tears in the baby's small eyes.

"Netra...." She called faintly...

Raghav looked at his wife proudly....

"Netra..our princess..." She said looking at him..this time the tear drops managed to get out of her eyes and hit her cheeks.

"Netra is ours...honey..." Raghav held her hands firmly...

This was how it all happened 6 years back.

Now Vinitha was carrying her own baby, and the little
family was abound with joy. More than anyone else Nethra was really excited to have her own little brother or sister with whom she can play and feel that oneness. She was always curious and anxious about every little thing.

"Why is mummy's tummy big?" She would ask

"Because, that's where your li'l brother is sleeping"

"Why doesn't he come out"

"He'd very soon and you can see him too"

"you told i was sleeping in the cot when i came?" she frowned...

Raghav used to tell her the secrets of her birth and adoption by small stories that a kid can understand at its age and he wanted her to know that through him rather than someone else telling.

"yeah baby....you were sleeping in the cot like ...tell me what? he questioned her back..

"Princess..." she replied with a smile

"But, why i didn't sleep in mummy's tummy? She had no space in it?" Nethra continued..

"hmmmm yes dear..mummy had lotsa space for you in her heart and hence she carried you in her heart..." saying this he looked at Vinitha..

Vinitha gave a thankful smile and held Raghav's hands. Netra came running to Vinitha and hugged her.