Woman in Red......

The searching eyes glued to the exit doors of the arrival lounge at the airport, scanning every single person coming out. The eyelids would'nt just blink, lest they missed the sight. It is 4.15pm. She was finally coming. It had been a long wait....a very long wait....a very lonely wait. As passengers kept streaming out, one by one, the intensity of the longing kept growing up....where is she...why is it taking so long.....why does it always take so long????? Anxious questions kept bombarding the mind.....one after the other....like a harried teen struggling with his exams. Patience had intelligently decided to be on leave for the day & anxiety had taken over, in red hot form !!!!

A group of girls, must be just out of college, giggling end to end come out with huge luggages tugging along & are immediately swarmed by the touts. One josled up, "Ma'am, good hotel, very good service, very cheap...please come". Another added in, "Come with me Ma'dam. Excellent food, sea facing rooms, very safe"...each one trying to be as impressive. The cabbies too joined in, "Kidher jana hai......mere saath aiye... AC taxi...very good".
The receiving crowd seem to swell, as fresh lot of people started wading past the exit doors, all in anticipation of their loved ones coming..... happy unions....joyful hugging, bouquets exchanged, squeals of laughter, & the rattling of trolleys. Bagful of goodies, heartful of wishes, eyes full of expectations & dreams... the human wave kept flowing....in gay abundance...

But where is she.......why is the flight so delayed.....the sky looks clear, at this time of the day, there should'nt be air traffic congestion.....so where is the delay....questions are just unending....& repetative....the anxiety adding fuel to fire. Feet stroll towards the food stall, "Ek chai dena...how much?..... twenty rupees sir....." the conversation breaks the sequence of questions jarring the mind. The lips twitch eagerly at the touch of the hot liquid, in reflex action, the head nods in acknowledgement for the man at the counter. "Hmmm, achhi chai hai bhai...bahut badhiya bana hai"....."thank you sir", he reciprocates with pride. Probably wants passerbys to hear the conversation & impact his sales positively. The hot brew is really good....the adrenaline is slowing flowing back to normalcy. Its been a long day at work, & excusing out wasn't easy, but hopefully worth it. Lunch had been compromised to complete the work at hand. Another look at the watch, ohhh, its already 4.45pm, & still no sign of her. The din around is maddening.....there seems to be a perpetual hustle bustle. Some looking tensed, some looking happy.....some looking jaded, some looking excited.......some looking busy, some looking bored.....airport is a perpetual bustling zone, with all kinds of noises & beings.
The tea helps relaxing, as the tired limbs look for a place to rest the butt. Ahh, there is an empty chair at one of the tables. The two men at the table are busy gorging wada pau along with tea, discussing some important issues, one chattering excitedly & the other nodding in unison. "Can I sit here please?", my question breaks their conversation, as they stare balefully at my smiling face for a moment & return back to their discussions, as if I did not exist. I take the silence as affirmative & sit down. The seat is a blessing, as the knees & shin groan in relief. Age catching up, or is it the fatigue ???
She had left promising an early return.....& yet she has been away for so long.....feels like years. The mind struggles to find a rationale, as the phone suddenly vibrates into life, for the umpteenth time. Ohh no, have to take it, its the boss, "Where are you.....at the airport Sir, have come to receive someone,....arre yaar how long will it take??, there are deadlines to be met & you are missing from action, I need to send the reports to the client today without fail!!!....Chief, it will be done, trust me, give me an hour & I shall respond...the flight has got delayed & am stuck here.....ok"...the line goes dead.....the curt dismissal of the call at the other end means, boss is not so happy !!!! now what to do ???, why does life have to challenge, especially today, when I have come to receive her..... all I am asking for is an early arrival & a couple of hours of peace, a quiet soulful togetherness over coffee & chips, for an hour maybe !!!!....hehehehe, expectations reduces joy..
The fat dark man in whites at the next table is screaming on his mobile, obviously having an argument. His paan & gutka stained lips are jabbering furiously, as he mops his sweat glistening face almost every minute....ohh God, how long more do I have to wait....when will the flight land? Her mobile is coming as switched off, which means, she is still airborne.
Time seems to be moving at snail's pace, while the hustle around continues. I decide to finish a couple of important calls on the phone. Two more cups of tea, consumed, the watch shows, 5.25pm, as fresh announcements blare details of arrivals. It has been more than two hours at the airport.....waiting eagerly to receive her. The heart skips a beat, eyes lit up, cacophony of thoughts slowly start winding up. The wait finally over.

Intent eyes pick up the first glimpse....there she is.....the woman in red!!!..... bright red shirt over jeans, radiant, beautiful & fresh as ever...smilingly looking around for me!!!!
The evening breeze has picked up a soft note, as if in celebration, she runs into my arms, face breaking into a grin, hair all tossled, eyes sparkling. Love is all around. All the tension fades, the wait is over, the longing is now belonging.....the touch, the caress, the feel.......We are one again.... as she whispers lovingly, " I never left you my Jaan...." The horizon is already crimson in a celebrative display....the sun winking goodbye for the day, as the dry leaves on the trees around, crackle to the cool November breeze.....
Love is indeed beautiful.....Romance seems to be setting in...the Woman in Red smilingly beckons....... :
Hold me now, Touch me now, I don't want to live without you !!
Nothing's gonna change my love for you, You ought to know by now how much I love you, One thing you can be sure of, I'll never ask for more than your love......

"Arre Dada, kahan kho gaye,.....kya soch rahe ho...chalo, lets have a cup of tea!!!", a tap on the shoulder & snap back to regular life....Hehehehehe.....Dreams are good....anytime....

Love Story - 4......an expression of Life !!!

Piali was staying with her ailing grandmother at a place called Golf Green, a posh locality in South Calcutta. Her granny was practically surviving on medical support, & Piali would most always be on tenderhooks in terms of how each & every day went by. Her support system depended on help from neighbors & friends, and of course a 24/7 maid on duty for her granny. Piali was good at work. She was sincere & hard working & had a good Boss in Chirag to support her. Interestingly, she would address Chirag as ‘Boss’, whether it was at work or at home.

Chirag had a mobike, a Hero Honda CD100 to himself. He stayed in DumDum, a place north of Calcutta, near the airport. While the distance between the homes was more than 50 odd kilometers, it did not deter the two Lovebirds from spending time every evening. While the whole day would be in the thick of work, evenings would bring them together, & both would ride through the hustle bustle of the city, lost in their own world of dreams. They would normally drive down to Piali’s home at Golf Green, where after freshening up, they would spend some time with the granny & then again drive out. Since both of them were musically inclined, they would end up singing popular old Hindi & Bengali songs to themselves.....and leave the others around mesmerised........

Some of their favourite numbers were :
"Tere mere sapne ab ek rang hain, hohoho, jahan bhi le jaye rahein hum sang hain….."
"Jeevan ki bagiya mehkegi, chehkegi, lehkegi, khushiyon ki kaliyaan jhoomengi , jhoomengi, jhoomengi…."
"Kali palak teri gori, hmmmm khilne lagi hai thori thori, ek chorni ek chor ke ghar karne chali hai chori…"
"Jaane jaan, dhoondta phir raha, main tujhe raat din, main yahaan se wahaan……."
"Gata rahe mera dil, tuhi meri manjil, kahin beete na yeh raaten kahin beete nay eh din……."

Piali’s place was frequented by friends & they would end up in long sessions of music. Someone would pick up a guitar, & then for the next few hours it would be pure music……this of course was followed by home cooked food……it looked like a perpetual party for all.
This looked exciting for a while, however, over a period of time, the place had become like a social outing joint. Anyone who had nothing better to do would just land up…….unannounced.

Almost every evening, Piali would reach home to see a bunch of people sitting & yapping. It was a small two room apartment, with one room occupied by the granny. So effectively Piali would have no place for herself to rest or unwind or give time to herself. The house would be perpetually crowded & Piali had a tough time managing the inflow of people. Being a shy host, she took all of this with a smile, but kept getting worked up over a period of time. She would prefer to be with Chirag outside, somewhere else, as that would be her only space & time to herself. She was happy in his arms….in his company. Both were together like a house on fire…..the chemistry was just fascinating….anyone who saw them, knew instantaneously that they were in love….deep love. With every passing day their love & dependence for each other grew…….deep & strong. Over the next few months, both were seen painting the town red….blue…yellow…green…..all shades actually……. on the mobike, huddled together……they were just inseparable.

"Tomar kotha bhebe amar raat bhor hoye jaye, tomaye niye shopno dekhe din je chole jaye…." ( my nights end into mornings just thinking about you, my days pass by just dreaming about you….) a poignant Bengali love song written by Piali & music given by Bhombol, her cousin.

According to Piali, “there is something about Chirag, which is infectious. He gives you so much of attention & care & love that you tend to just rest on his shoulders. He actually makes me feel like a woman.” For a girl who had grown up under very insecure circumstances, Piali now had someone, who was beside her to take on the world. As far as Chirag was concerned, “Piali is like a breath of fresh air. Look at her twinkling eyes, look at her smile, look at her warmth, I can die a hundred times for her. She just fills me with Love.”
Both felt life complete in each other’s arms.

"Tum aa gaye ho, noor aa gaya hai, nahi to chiragon se lau jaa rahi thi,
Jeene ki tumse, wajah mil gayi hai, badi bewajah zindagi jaa rahi thi....."

to be continued.......

Love Story - 3 ....... an expression of Life !!!

The time was early ‘90s, in Kolkata. Chirag was then working for a multinational company as the Sales Manager. One evening, he went for a Dance Drama(organized by his friends) at a Cultural show at Dhakuria, a famous place in South Kolkata(Kolkata is known for such programs, especially after the Pujas). During the show, a funny thing happened, that caught his attention. A girl, probably in her early 20’s, while dancing, tripped over her white sari & fell heavily on the stage, causing a squeal of laughter from the crowd. However, the girl, did not lose her composure, & continued with her role, as if nothing had happened. Once the show was over, Chirag went back stage to meet his friends, & there was this girl, fed faced, sheepish at her clumsy act on stage, trying to explain the reason to others. Though hurt from the fall, she was talking excitedly, yet with a concern that, she had messed up the show. Chirag got drifted into the chatter & he pointed out that it was really brave of this girl to continue dancing even after the hard fall. The girl looked up appreciatively, & warmed up to the smiling Chirag. “My name is Piali”, she said, extending her hand, “I have heard so much about you from others here. I hope you liked our performance. Am sorry, I kind of bungled up.” Chirag gave her an encouraging look, “You were just superb….I could not have managed it on stage, the way you did.” Later they all went for dinner together. Over the next few months they kept meeting now & then, developing a healthy respect for each other.

Piali, had lost her parents very early in life & had been brought up by her maternal uncles & aunts. She had been working from a pretty young age living all by herself. She was a bright young girl, with decent looks & wonderful command over language. According to Chirag, Piali had the most endearing smile lit up with two lovely & dreamy eyes. Where ever she would go, she would kind of grab centre of attention. She was good at mimicry & was a natural singer. She seemed immensely talented. She would rattle tough Lata numbers like : Pia to se naina laage re, naina lage re, jaane kyo ho ab aage re, naina laage re...... with fascinating ease.

Chirag was looking for a Lady Sales Exec for his team, & he just could not resist speaking to Piali, who was only too keen to join up with him. Chirag at that point in time was coming out of a broken marriage & was too tight & edgy on relationships. For him it was work, work & more work. However, as destiny had to take command, Chirag & Piali had to spend a lot of time together at work & got more & more close…..professionally…… they were a team & doing extremely well. However, as they grew close professionally, they also got to know each other & the bonding only grew from strength to strength. Both strong headed & with a mind of their own, it was only a matter of time before the Love bug bit them both.

One fine Tuesday evening, when Piali was struggling with a household problem & had only Chirag to fall back on, they realized & admitted for the first time that they were in Love. It was a wonderful union, both needing an emotional support & each looked an ideal foil for the other. There were no love letters exchanged…..no flowers given, no bending down on knees & proposing.
Just a tight warm hug…a tad too long possibly, during which Chirag murmured, “Am sorry….but I think, I am in love with you”. “Me too, I have been feeling the same way”, crooned Piali. Stunned into silence for a good 10-15 mins after that, & staying put in the arms lock with each other, both were trying to grapple with the realization that had dawned. Chirag & Piali were in love. It seemed just the right & obvious thing to happen.

to be continued.............

Love Story - 2.....an expression of Life!!!

Chirag seemed so full of life. He seemed to be a man of with a view of his own. His life had been a roller coaster journey, with regular ups & downs. He seemed to invite trouble at every corner of his life (he would call it action & challenge)…….. a regular trouble shooter. But what stood apart was his ability to smile at everything & take life as it came by….without much of complains. He seemed to thrive in challenges. He came across as a person, who could just never say a NO…..always wanting to be of help to others irrespective of his own situations, & end up getting into many troubles.

Our friendship continued & cemented over the next few months. Coonoor had left a soothing piece in our memory, & we kept in regular touch after that. We kept meeting more & more & sharing more & more about ourselves.

However the reason of my writing about Chirag on my blog is extremely sensitive.
Chirag is in love with a girl, Piali. They have been in a relationship for more than 14 years. The intensity of love between the two is something to be imagined……..at times bordering around unbelievable. Chirag had introduced me to Piali last year, when I was visiting Kolkata, & I was amazed at their chemistry & love…..so pure & simple. Just made for each other. When together, they are like a dream……. Stuff that famous love stories are made of. When in difference, its hard to believe that they were ever together.

Sadly, a couple of months back, Chirag has had a serious tiff with Piali, & she has just left him & gone. He has no clue on where she is & has not been able to connect with her. Even on her birthday, Piali was unreachable. I have never seen Chirag so glum & sad & lost. Reading Chirag’s diary, especially on their relationship has been a revelation of sorts……I just want them back together !!!!!

Over the phone, the other day Chirag was singing,

“Chand mera dil, Chandni ho tum, Chand se hai door, Chandni kahan, Laut ke aana, hai yehin tumko, jaa rahe ho tum, jao meri jaan ……jao meri jaan”

This is an attempt from my side to reach out to Piali & tell her, how much she is being missed & loved. As a series of articles, I shall attempt to piece in together their love story & their journey together this far. I just hope Piali reads my blog & realizes the need to come back…….from where ever she is………

Pls come back Piali….pls......I don’t think You or Chirag can ever live without each other !!!!

to be continued.........

Love Story......an expression of Life !!!

It all started with my meeting Chirag, a couple of years back, on a wintry morning at Coonoor, a small rustic town in the foothills of Nilgiris. I was taking an early morning stroll thru the misty woods, when my ears latched on to the soft tune of a popular old song……….there was this short man, slightly built, standing at the end of a ravine singing blissfully……something about the way he was singing, drew me to him. He seemed all by himself…….oblivious of all surroundings, lost in some thoughts……singing soulfully.
“Ruk jana nahi, tu kahin haar ke, kaaton pe chalke milenge saaye bahaar ke….O raahi, O raahi, O raahi, O raahi……… “

Chirag, seemed disturbed at my presence, but did not voice so….just smiled quietly & started walking away……the song slowly fading away with him. I just could not resist walking up to him & introduce myself. “Hey, Good morning !!, am Biprashish. Did I disturb you??” He was immediately on guard, “No no….. I was just taking a morning walk…..its so beautiful here……quiet, & tranquil”. I asked again, “What’s your name?”…… “Chirag, he replied…… I am Chirag Sanyal”, with a smile. We kept gazing into the far ranging mountains……..the light fresh breeze softly nudging us, the silent woods keeping our company. Guess, out of sheer courtesy, Chirag, stopped singing & started speaking with me….as if not to offend me. He was courteous & polite, but distant…..as if unsure of what to do next. We started a casual chat & with nothing else to disturb or distract, our conversation kept opening up……Somewhere, we started connecting, & opening up further. We strolled up to a tea stall, & the hot brew added to the flavor. Time just flew by, as I got to know Chirag…….here was a man for whom Love has been the essence of life.
I was there in Connoor for the next four days, & we kept meeting & spending more & more time together. It was as if both of us were in need of a close friend, & we fitted into the role perfectly. While I was holidaying & had all the time in the world, Chirag had come there on an official tour……..some kind of an annual meet for his company…..he seemed quite bored with the office work, & his colleagues were not his kind……they were busy discussing business, in & out of sessions, liquor & tobacco flowing……… added with loud jokes….Chirag seemed completely out of place. He would therefore sneak out to meet me & we would go for long walks into the woods, or sit by the cliff edges & sing old melodies. He had a guitar & I had my mouthorgan……. It was either music or getting to know each other.
His favorite was Kishore Kumar, & therefore mostly the songs were from yester years…..

“Yeh dard bhara afsana, sun le anjaan jamaana, jamaana, mai hoon ek pagal premi, mera dard na koi jaana…….. “

“ Koi lauta de mere beete huye din, beete huye din who hai pyaare pal chin…..”

There were many such songs, which drooled in melancholy & pain, suggesting that he was in serious pain……but, strangely, he seemed to smile, as if at himself & then go along to sing songs like :
“Chala jaata hoon, kisi ke dhun mein, dharakte dil ke taraane liye, Milan ki masti bhari aakhon mein, hazaaron sapney, suhaney liye…….”

“Main jahan chala jaaun, bahaar chali aaye, ho mahek gayi rahon ke dhool, main ban phool, ban ka phool…….”

“Main hoon jhoom jhoom jhoom jhoom jhoomroo, banker phakkad main to ghoomroo, main yeh pyaar ka geet sonata chala, manjil pe mari nazar, main duniya se bekhabar, beeti baaton pe dhool udata chala”

to be continued .......................