A Beach Story

She wasn't the princess out of fairy tale, but God she was pretty. She had something about her, like a magnetic pull, and I was being a perfect nut, staring at her like that.

I always loved my morning run at the beach, and today i fell in love head over heels. She had been taking her laps as well, that loose tee did nothing to hide her glam figure. her hair pulled back in a high pony and a band at forehead. NO, she was way better than just pretty.

And then she stopped dead in her tracks, staring intently at something in the sand. A smile crept up to her beautiful lips. Bent down, picked it up- A Conch. She examined it, turned it each ways and then she put it on her ears. Then the magic happened- she smiled that huge electrifying smile of hers and man , I was dead.
'Ajaansh'- somebody called my name. That was someone I used to see every morning here. We had a little chit chat. By the time I turned my attention back to her she was gone, just like that.

I was disappointed. But there was nothing I could have done then, so, I jogged back home.
Throughout the day her smiled kept flashing in my memories and I ended up smiling at myself for no reason, feeling like a fool. Somehow, with a lot of effort the day ended. The night felt longer than usual. I slept fitfully, waking up at every half hour to check my bedside clock. Still two hours to go, and right at its time my clocked chimed.

I got up at an instant and realized how simply the two more minutes of sleep today seemed long and useless. Like a lightning I changed to my tracksuit and ran, YES RAN, not jogged, to the beach. She was already doing her laps there. "Oops I need to get up earlier I guess".

I tried matching my laps to her, so as she is in my vision constantly. After a few run she stopped, staring at a distance where few kids where playing, jumping and splashing water at each other. Again her THAT SMILE, and she walked with deliberate steps to them. She jumped and splashed and played like a kid. And she looked like a kid- sweet, innocent, fragile. Little did I knew then.

'Ajaansh'- I was distracted again. How I have come to hate my name in these two days. And I caught her jogging back, at a distance. She flies, yes, a second and she vanishes. Two days and I know nothing of her, absolutely nothing, apart from the fact that she is amazingly beautiful and that she has a part of my heart and a whole lot of my mind.

I was disappointed YET AGAIN...

Its been so long now..over a month...I have not seen her..is she ill?...or may be she went off to some other place..or may be she was just visiting here...it was driving me insane..i was angry and agitated.

"sa'ab, bade sahab ne bulaya hai".

"hmmm", I get up half  heartedly.

"Ajaansh, there is some miss Ishika batra from Eye India limited. She will be briefing on what kind of advertising and publicity she needs from us. I want you to handle her account."

Now I wasn't really looking to deal with some arrogant cribbing female colleague right at this point of time.
"sure sir", I smiled.Turned back and made a face as i walked out and to the briefing room.

I could make out some pretty lady already briefing in there...She turned and I stopped dead on my track...IT WAS HER...I always fainted...no wait..I was glued at the door and dumbstruck...She stopped and stared at me...her expression amused...she waited for me to react..to join in...but i was just paralyzed.

"Excuse me, are you interested in joining in or you are better off staying at the door", said she.

I gave her a sheepish grin, "sorry, I am Ajaansh. I will be handling your account".

She smiled and I went nuts again.

I felt alive after 48 days to be exact and I was happy....very happy.

In the evening i went to the beach...and there she was...with a cute summer frock and a long straw hat...watching the sun go down.

"Hi"
"Oh hii Ajaansh"

damn she remembers my name

"if you are done with watching sunset may I take you out for a coffee".

I was ready to die if she said no.

"yes, sure", she smiled and saved me.

we walked to the beach cafe..this was a start...of what I wasnt sure...but it felt right...it felt like a start.

"so tell me about you, have you got someone waiting for you?", damn this was the wrong question. "No, i mean....sorry it isn't what it sounds like..I mean this was not what i wanted to ask".


shit i was stammering


her that smile yet again

"Its okay..I have a fiancé, Roy, he works in the Australia."

"You're engaged?" He tried to hide the crushing disappointment in his voice. He looked at her ring for the first time and cursed himself for not seeing it sooner.

"Yeah, but it's been two years and we haven't set a date so I don't know what that means."

"Well if he's got any sense he'll marry you tomorrow."

"Thanks." She blushed.

Damn isn't she gorgeous. 

Few days later

"I have no real reason to know this but I feel I should tell you that the yoghurt you're about to eat is out of date." I said

She looked at the lid. It expired over the weekend.

"I think you just saved my life." She teased with fake wonder.

"Any time lady." He smiled
"You haven't told me about you yet. Being secretive haan", she teased.
"He laughed, nah, I have nothing much apart from work and this one girl I am head over heels in love with", I almost blurted out nervously...with a smile.
"ohh a girl haan" she smiled..conspicuously...like she knew what I meant

Weeks passed...and nothing was helping me..I was in love..all the more..and she was still engaged to some Roy guy.

We kept meeting in the pretext of work... and I kept falling in love.

Three weeks later.

""Hey, how's the new apartment?"

"Great, I love it there. Gets a little lonely at night though. And I am throwing a little housewarming party, why don't you join in."

"How can I say no to you"...and her smile.

At the party

it was a gorgeous party...in a gorgeous house of the gorgeous lady.

And God she looked like the angel she was...It all was going good..but I was feeling a bit out of place among her friends so i looked around.

There were her pictures and her family's and friends... I was astonished...I couldn't figure out Roy...No picture to indicate she has someone in her life.
I wanted to ask her..She was busy...She looked at me and smiled.


"Are you getting bored", she pouted her lips and mouthed...and i felt like kissing her right then.


I shook my head in disagreement...waved my hands to indicate not to worry and carry on.
I wandered into a room..it wasn't arranged yet..there were few albums...I took one and flipped...my breath got stuck....my eyes popped out...how could this be...this cant be...My head swarmed…

"How long have you been stalking me?", I wasn't sure how I was feeling, "and why"

she opened her mouth to say something..but restrained.

"Why?"

"I wasn't stalking you" her voice was calm...and hurt...but she said no more.
I had no idea what to say...I walked out...She sat there..her head down..probably crying...And at that point of time I was more angry than I cared.

Night was hard to spend..I walked..I drank...I smoked...I even considered walking back to her..but i have this thing for my anger and ego.

Next morning I went running...for two reasons...to pass my time and....in a hope to see her...she was there...running...sad...and lost.

Weeks passed..I did not see her

"Ajaansh, you need to brief the whole Eye project to someone who is replacing miss Ishika in the project"

I stared at my boss blankly...replacing Ishika...why?

I briefed the one who have been working alongside me throughout the project...and I ran...for Ishika...for my life.

"sa'ab madam to jaa rahi hain ghar chhod kar. samaan saara pack kar k rakhwa diya hai aur kahin gayi hain. aur aapke liye ye chhod gayi hain", he extracted a neat envelope and handed it to me.


Ajaansh,

            It has always been easy for you to neglect and forget me, but never for me. Those albums, am not sure if you dint recognize or just ignored, had my childhood pictures as well. yes I am the one you always made fun of..from high school  to grad school and I never stopped loving you. Never in my life I expected to see you again, especially not like this. Trust me, this was all as unexpected for me as it was for you. Still forgive me.
Love 'Harriet'

I was dumbstruck...felt like a fool....Harriet as we called her in school for the 'craters' all over her face..It was impossible to make a connection...But I had to run...To stop her..To tell her I love her...for real.
I ran to her office...An hour of hard work and I was rewarded "Ishika flew to some other branch...Where...no one knows..Only the boss and he is tight mouthed when it comes to privacy of Ishika. hard luck buddy".

I walked out..head bowed...sat on the stairs Aghast..I had lost her.

wait no..the story doesn't end here...Who are meant to be together...finds a way together...and there is one thing called destiny.
2 years later I saw her again...on my official trip to south of France...in a coffee shop...lost in her lappie with a coffee...and man she was still as beautiful..may be even more now

"this doesn't come with an expiry date..does it?"..she looked up in a shock and went pale...she stood up still looking shocked...and hurt..I pulled her to a hug...she reluctantly gave in...and cried.

"Is that Roy guy still around...are you still engaged?" I asked her as we sat and called for a coffee.

"I never was" she looked down
"that ring..."
"my mom's.."

"marry me"
she looked shocked...and slowly her lips twitched...and then SHE SMILED...