Mudhan Mudhalaaga...

[crazy]

............long post!

[bingleguy]

:Good goin ...... the way the PM introduces the team members to Gautam .... tht would definitely kindle thoughts in every Software Engineer the usual buildup given by them

Disclaimer poduradhai paatha nijamvaae nijama nadandhadhu maadiri illai irukku

Well Kaadhal hmn ......

[jaycee]

thanks bingle. aana kandippa nijam illa . disclaimer la potta maathiri fictional thaan

[jaycee]

Me and Deva caught another flight to Coimbatore to spend the vacation. My family is happy to see me after a long time. But I could see that my mum was so disturbed. My mum asked whether she can search a girl for me. But I refused and said ‘Not now ma. I am not ready for a marriage’.

I am afraid to goto the project or Chennai again. I cannot face the place or even the cubicle where Pooja sat. Over the past year, a branch had been started in Coimbatore itself. As the onsite project was over and I don’t have any immediate plans in the project, I called my PM and discussed about this. First he was reluctant to release me. But after I convinced him, he informed me that another PM of our ODC is now in Coimbatore and he needs a technical lead. But he said that he can release me only after the approval of account manager. He called me back the next day saying that I can goto Coimbatore after the knowledge transfer of the project details. I already gave the details to my friends. I explained this to my PM and that afternoon, he confirmed me saying that I can directly report in Coimbatore office. My family was pleased with the information. My friends who were most supportive during the last year also said that it will be better for me.

When I reached Coimbatore office after vacation, I started to check mails in my laptop. I was surprised to see a mail from Sandeep and he was now working in our company in Hyderabad. He wrote that he joined last month and he needs a help from me. He asked me to call him after seeing the mail. He has sent it during the day of my return from Frankfurt. When I was about to send him a reply, my PM came to me.

PM : Gautham, unnoda pudhu project innum 1 month la start aagidum. You have to do the role of both module lead and tech lead.

He introduced me to the team. To my relief there were more boys in the team. My friends told that I have become worse than earlier in the past 1 year. Talking to a girl, reminded me the days with pooja. After introduction was over, I was left alone with PM.

PM : Gautham, Hyderabad la oru project, nee offshore la lead panna project kku similar a irukku. They asked if you can come there for a couple of weeks and give them some ideas. It will be easy to clarify, instead of taking it thru mail and over phone. Please be ready for that. You have to travel in the weekend.

Hyderabad!!! Pooja will be in Hyderabad. I didn’t send a mail to her or received none from her in the last year. She may have resigned or may be not. After much thinking, I decided to go. So I confirmed my PM.

I replied to sandeep saying that I will be coming to Hyderabad officially for two weeks. Sandeep replied quickly asking me to come to the apartment instead of staying in the official guest house and repeated that he needed an important help from me. I accepted and asked about the details, but he said that it will be better to discuss personally.

That evening when I informed this to my dad, he said that he and Rajesh are going to Secunderabad in two days and will be there for a week. We agreed to meet there if time permits. I reached Hyderabad that weekend. But Sandeep’s roommate picked me up instead of him as he went to his native which was distant from Hyderabad.

Monday I went to the project and I briefly explained the architecture of the project I did. The day went uneventfully. I was afraid and also anticipated to see Pooja. I couldn’t see her in the campus. May be she has resigned, I thought. Anyway she is married and I should not disturb her. But much to my distress I saw Pooja along with a set of girls on Tuesday. She had not changed much and she was happy from what I saw her. She noticed me and then her face changed immediately and she quickly turned away. I sighed and left the place immediately. I decided that I should go and say a ‘Hi’, the next time I meet her. But Wednesday I couldn’t see her.

Me and Sandeep couldn’t talk much in the week as I was busy and he was too busy in his project till Wednesday. Thursday night we were free and when I asked what the help he needed from me was, the door bell rang. A youngster roughly at our age, with what seemed to be wedding invitations, entered and greeted Sandeep and his room mates. But I noted that Sandeep was frowning a little bit, clearly showing he was angry on him about something.

Sandeep : (In telugu) Santhosh, this is my college mate Gautham. (Turning to me) This is Santhosh, my friend from school.

Me : Hi.

Santhosh : Hello. Does he understand Telugu?

Sandeep : (reluctantly) Yes and he will speak very well.

He gave them his wedding invitation and invited them all. Then all of them continued in Telugu.

Santhosh : Hey , still you have not forgiven me.

Sandeep : It will take more time than you think.

Santhosh : Sorry da , but you know about the situation I was and my family. I had no other go. Please don’t keep this in mind and please attend my marriage.

Sandeep : Don’t worry I will. And you don’t forget mine. (Smiled a little).

Me : Congrats Santhosh. All the best. Sandeep, you didn’t tell me about your marriage.

Sandeep : (Frowned a little) Later.
Santhosh left after 5 mins.

Me : Hey, why didn’t you tell me you are about to be married. Santhosh came to give his wedding invitation; you should have been kind to him.

Sandeep : I am engaged to Sandhya. She is a friend of my school mate. I got introduced to her two years before. We got engaged last month and our marriage is within a month.

Me : Ok, but why are you angry towards him.

Sandeep : If you have the courage to love, then you should have the courage to tell your parents.

Me : (Smiling) Hey, this is not a film to give punch dialogues
But Sandeep’s expression didn’t change.

Sandeep : This guy was about to marry a year before. The girl whom he was supposed to marry is my fiancee’s best friend and their fathers are also close friends. It was an arranged marriage, but he was already in love with the girl he is going to marry now. From childhood he was afraid of his dad. So he didn’t tell his dad that he loved another girl. Nobody knew this, including me and our friends. Guess, when he told his dad?

Me : On the day of his marriage????

Sandeep : No, the day before his marriage. He should have done that earlier. He didn’t think of the girl and their family. His father was angry on him, but cancelled the marriage for good. He is now getting married to the girl he loved. Afterwards from Sandhya I came to know that her friend loved a guy already and she just accepted the marriage just because her parents threatened and compelled her. Even though it was good that marriage got cancelled and the girl now has a chance to marry the guy she loved, I am angry because, just think about the girl if she was really interested in that marriage.

Me : What happened next???

Sandeep : That girl’s brothers were not aware of her love. They were so angry on their father and mother when they heard about her love from Sandhya after the marriage was cancelled. Then their parents realized the mistake. Her family enquired the details of the guy she loved, but she refused to say.

(I thought that the girl was too foolish. Her parents had accepted her love and why was she reluctant in giving the details to them)

Me : Why didn’t she give the details?

Sandeep : Even though the guy was so close to her , the girl haven’t told her love to the guy. She was also afraid of what the guy would say now, as she agreed to marry another just because her parents compelled. The girl’s father hasn’t talked to her after the marriage was cancelled. He is feeling guilty. For the past 1 year Sandhya, the girl’s brothers and family are trying to convince her. But she is reluctant yet to give the details. Sandhya’s family also didn’t accept my love first, but the girl and her father convinced them. Her father convinced saying that he didn’t want his friend to repeat the same mistake he did.

Me : Ok, is the help you asked me anyway related to this.

Sandeep : Yes, I am coming to that . The girl is in our company. She was in Chennai before her marriage. Sandhya knew that she loved her module lead, only before our engagement. We were able to get only that much info from her. Sandhya once got that guy’s photo from the girl before that marriage. But she lost it. The girl never told his name to Sandhya even before that marriage was arranged, because she was afraid that Sandhya may slip out the details of the guy accidentally to her parents. I joined our company only 2 weeks before my engagement. Then the first person that came on my mind was you as you are in Chennai. I mailed you immediately. We have to get the guy’s details first. As the information is sensitive, I want your help. Me and Sandhya are trying to find that guy and if we are lucky we could succeed in uniting them. Here is the client for whom which the girl worked.
I saw that and I was shocked to see my project name in that.

Me : What is the girl’s name???

Sandeep : In the haste of giving you the background details , I forgot to tell her name. The girl’s name is Pooja.

(to be continued...)

All the characters, incidents and situations are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual events, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

[crazy]

[jaycee]

PART VI

(Pooja’s POV)

I saw Gautham after more than a year on Tuesday. My heart stopped for a moment after seeing him. How long is he in Hyderabad? Can’t be much I answered myself. That day I couldn’t concentrate on anything. I didn’t eat. When I agreed for the marriage, before a year and got transferred to Hyderabad, I was feeling the same, but much worse. I was indeed very happy that they guy Santhosh cancelled the marriage for his love.

I don’t know when I started loving him. But I loved him the most. I had always believed that I will never fall in love, dream about the guy all the times, do silly things as in the movies and sing duet with him in dreams. Everything changed after I met Gautham. He didn’t care about girls. But whenever I went near him to ask doubts during the initial days in the project, he clarified very clearly but with short replies.
Then I just enjoyed his presence. I celebrated the day I first sat in his two-wheeler. I knew about his family. Even though they were not an orthodox family, I went in a traditional half-saree to give them a good impression. They liked me very much. When I leaned against his shoulders, I felt he should be the one where I belong. But fate told me otherwise.

Just like any other girls family, my family compelled me for the marriage. I didn’t have another go. Gautham always thought me as a friend, I concluded. If he had loved me, he would have told as I know how he would be with girls. He would have never hesitated. I didn’t have the courage to tell him that I was going to marry another guy. I gave him my wedding invitation through Divya. I told Divya not to tell my love to Gautham. She promised me and said that she never would tell. Gautham didn’t contact me for marriage nor didn’t I get a reply from Divya. She told he was still onsite.

After the marriage was cancelled Divya asked me why not to tell my love to Gautham. But I refused. What he would tell? I was afraid that he would not love the girl who already accepted a marriage. I cannot bear those words from him. I explained divya about this. She told me that he was not that type of guy. But I convinced her not to tell the truth and told her I was not ready to face something dreadful again. I already had suffered a lot. She then moved to another project. I refused to give Gautham’s details to my family or to Sandhya. My parents realized after my brothers protested them knowing my love from Sandhya. My dad felt so guilty and hasn’t talked to me till this day. I tried to convince him, but he almost cried whenever I tried to convince him. I was able to convince my mother, but I found her twice atleast a week crying for about 2 or 3 months.

After seeing me, Gautam didn’t even try to talk to me. He should be angry on me to leave without a bye. He already neglected girls. He would never talk to me. I didn’t even receive a mail from him in the past 1 year. Wednesday, I didn’t go in the regular lunch time. Thursday, I saw him, but I hid from him before he could see me.

Friday was a long day in office. When I returned home from office, I noticed that my family was in a happy mood. I felt it easily. In the past 1 year, only last three or four months were better. They all recovered. My younger brother didn’t come home often as he used to do in previous years. He had started the final year and gave excuses that he had more work. Environment was different in home. Younger brother called me and talked to me for a long time. Something has occurred, I thought.

My mother was too happy about something. The following week I saw Gautham many a times in the campus and saw him often. But I didn’t give him a chance to see me. He was happy. He hasn’t been affected my absence and also hasn’t been delighted to see me after a long time, I thought. He seemed unaffected. In the week, that santhosh guy gave me his wedding invitation. Sandhya and her fiancee Sandeep came with him to our home as he was Sandeep’s friend. I thought my family will not allow him home. But they greeted him and I wished him all the best. He apologized to me and my family. But my father said that it was better that marriage was stopped. The week then passed uneventfully. But I couldn’t see Gautham in the next week that followed.
That Wednesday, after dinner my father talked to me.

Dad : Pooja, come here ma.

I was totally surprised. I ran and hugged my father. He was talking to me after a long time. I looked at him. He was happy but had tears.

Dad : We all are going to a function to Coimbatore this Friday. Can you apply leave for three days in the next week?

Pooja : (I wondered what the function was?) Ok daddy. I will get leave.

Dad : Please prepare yourselves ma. Take enough clothes you need.

Pooja : ( I smiled) Ok daddy.

My mum hugged me and said she was happy that finally my dad had talked to me. I was thoughtful about the turn of events. Gautham was in Hyderabad for 2 weeks. After a week we are going to a function for Coimbatore. Can this be anyway connected to Gautham? No, nobody knew him in the family. Even Sandhya saw only his photo and once, after the fiasco last year she told me she lost the photo and asked me for another copy. But I didn’t give her. So this has nothing to do with Gautham, I consoled myself. But I know I was disappointed.

I got leave from my PM. My family was in a very celebrating mood. But I could not guess any other reason. Can it be anyway connected to Gautham? No it is impossible, I answered myself. If I am lucky, I could meet Gautham’s family for once. On that Friday, my brother even applied leave and said that he should prepare a lot to leave.

We reached Coimbatore in 2 hours in flight. My younger brother came to Airport for pick up. He and My parents left together saying that they are directly going to the function. My brother and sister-in-law came with me and we stayed in a hotel. I was deeply confused. Why did my parents left somewhere else? Is there something going in the background without my knowledge? But my brother and sister-in-law said it was nothing when I asked them and said that we will be leaving early in the morning. The next day we got ready early in the morning. My dad’s friend who was in customs came to pick us. After 10 minutes I got a feeling that the car was in a place that I already have been. I realized that the exact place only when the car slowed down and entered a house. Oh! No.

It is Gautham’s house. How could I forget the house where I wished I could be? It was in a festival mood with decorations. I could easily recognize some of the people standing at the doorsteps of the house even when I am half-asleep. Gautham’s mother, sister-in-law and my mother stood outside. My dad’s friend stopped the car just in front of them. Gautham’s mother and Rekha greeted me with ‘aarathi’. After giving that plate to Rekha, Gautham’s mom hugged me and gave a peck on my forehead. When I went inside, I saw my dad speaking with Gautham’s dad. My elder brother joined the conversation that my younger brother and Rajesh were having with a hello to Rajesh. Everybody was happy.

Gautham’s father welcomed me and escorted me to an old couple who were sitting on the couch. They are Gautham’s grandparents. They blessed me after Gautham’s father introduced me as Pooja. I then noticed a few of my close relatives were also there. Few guys, who might be of Rajesh age, along with their wives were also seated. My heart raced up. Where is Gautham? Is this function between me and Gautham? I thought of turning back and running as fast as I can and as far as I can. But I couldn’t move. I was in a mixture of emotions.

Suddenly, a voice shouted ‘Dei Gautham, un aalu vandhachu da’ and it was followed by an uproar of Ho’s and whistles. Tears flew down when I heard that and I was shivering. I didn’t know what do. I would have fainted before somebody caught my shoulder. My mother, Gautham’s mother, Rekha and my sister-in-law escorted me to a room. I ate without knowing whatever I ate. With a blur of events I found myself dressed in a saree and was being decorated by the four elder women. I gave me a pinch when I thought I was dreaming. But it proved nothing was a dream. Rekha and my sister-in-law told me that it was not a dream in different languages and laughed. Then my mother and Gautham’s mother each hugged me with tears in their eyes. They four escorted me again and I was in front of my father and Gautham’s father. I bowed to his feet. He blessed me and just smiled. I then bowed to my father. He caught me before I completely bowed to his feet and hugged me.

Dad : I am very happy for you ma. Long live dear. (Turned to Gautham’s father and continued in Telugu greeting him with his hands in a worshipping manner) Thanks bhava. Thanks for accepting my daughter.

Gautham’s Dad : (He immediately caught my father’s hand) Please don’t say that. We have to thank you. You are giving your daughter. (Turned to me) Pooja, Gautham told us that he loved you, the day you came here. I was happy that my son fell in love with such a beautiful girl. But when you spent the day with us, you proved that only you should be his wife. I am happy that is going to become true. My wife is the happiest one on the earth today. You have made us happier dear.

I couldn’t express anything. I just stood still. Then Rekha and my sister-in-law escorted me to another room, which when I looked had only a group of guys other than us. They chorused again. If it was any other situation any girl would have laughed or atleast given a smile. But I didn’t know what to do. Then all the guys left laughing and my both the elder girls also left me. I then noticed him. Gautham stood there. I saw him and immediately tears started flooding down my cheeks. Despite the distance between us, he caught me in a very few giant steps and hugged me. Then I couldn’t stop myself. I threw my arms over him, laid my head over his heart and cried. He held me in his arms till I stopped crying.

He caught my face in both his hands and said ‘I love you’ looking straight at my eyes. I both laughed and cried at the same time and leaned against his chest again.

Me : I love you.

Gautham : Pooja, I want to tell you that I was in love with you before I went onsite. But I didn’t have the courage to tell you. I was afraid that you will not accept it. I was devastated when I came back to offshore and heard that you were getting married. Then Divya told me that you too loved me, but long before I started to love you. But I couldn’t do anything at that time.

I raised my head and looked at him. Then again leaned against him.

Gautham : Yes, she told me all that happened in that hostel when she gave me the invitation. I just got that invitation from Divya. But I never looked at it. I don’t know even the guys name. Then I went to onsite for a year with Deva, Raj and Ravi. I couldn’t bear to see even the cubicle, where you sat. So I left. But Divya didn’t tell me that your marriage was cancelled.

Me : How did you know then? How did you talk to my parents? How all these happened? I saw you in the Hyderabad campus. But how did you know that the marriage was cancelled?

Gautham : (Smiled) Any guess?

Me : Sandhya only have seen your photo. Did she meet you?

Gautham : No. It was because you didn’t know certain details from her.

Me : (confused) What details?

Gautham : Sandeep is my class mate in college.

Me : (Shocked) I didn’t know that. She told me about her love only before the marriage. So I didn’t ask about the details.

Gautham : Good. That has helped us. You could have got transferred to some other branch, had you known that Sandeep was my college mate. When I came back from onsite he sent me a mail asking an important help. I came to Hyderabad because there was a similar project and they wanted to help me in that. So I stayed in Sandeep’s apartment. He explained all the details after that Santhosh gave his wedding invitation. It happened on Thursday of the week when we both saw each other in the campus. When he mentioned our project name and your name I nearly had a heart-attack. Then I went to Sandhya’s house with him for dinner. She immediately recognized me. On Friday I came to your house with Sandhya, Sandeep, Rajesh and my father.

Me : Rajesh and your father. How come?

Gautham : They were on a business purpose to Secunderabad. Your parents and your elder brother were very happy that day.

Me : ( In a pure tone of surprise). You have arranged all these in 3 weeks.

Gautham : (Smiled) Yes. Your parents and sister-in-law went shopping that week and informed your close relatives.

Me : Gautham, I love you a lot. But the day you brought me here, I just want to stay with you and family forever. Can you shift to Coimbatore so that we can stay here, with family?

Gautham : That’s not necessary as I got transferred already. You have to get your transfer now.

Me : (Smiled) No Gautham, I don’t want to work.

Gautham : Then just put your papers.

Me : The first thing I will do after going to Hyderabad.

I stayed close to him until Rekha and my sister-in-law came to escort me to our engagement.

The End


All the characters, incidents and situations are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual events, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.