Our houses were located just 2 kilometers apart. Since childhood, we have mostly attended the same local processions and temples festivals every year, had many common friends and am sure would have even bumped into each other but it would have gone unnoticed. I recollect my close friend often mentioning names of her school friends and this one name was always on the list. Eventually, it turned out that the three of us had enrolled for the same Entrance coaching classes. I still recall being disappointed one of the days when she couldn’t leave with me after the classes since she had plans with her school friends. Just like a picture out of an old album, I remember her waving to him indicating him to wait and had turned to tell me that’s RANJITH!!! :)
Little did I know then, that this name and this person will have to play such a prominent role in my life! That day, I had just walked away smiling at both of them for courtesy’s sake, hiding my disappointment that I had to go home alone. It was after our 12th boards, during our vacations when my close friend called me up. All excited, thinking it’s about the movie confirmation plan; I lifted the phone and was shocked to hear a guy on the other end. There were loads of noises in the background of laughter, screams and amidst all this chaos he introduced himself as "Ranjith". Without even waiting for a response from my end, he began to ask if I would want to join them since they were all going for the same movie. By then, my friend snatched the phone away from him and repeated the same. With a confused look and a little annoyed again, I made an excuse and turned down the invite.
The plan was probably made by someone superior already that I couldn’t turn down things always. As fate would have it, all of us ended up in the same class for graduation and that was 3 years more to go. The first thing I remember wondering was that why is it that I alone had to put in loads of effort to be friends with this guy as compared to others? But by the second year, we were part of the same gang. Thinking back now, I realize that we both were the opposites, if I chose to remain quiet amidst people, he moved the crowd. If I felt making fun of people is not always a great idea, the credit for the pranks totally went to him. We can spend days talking about the pranks he has played on me. Now, I know as to why was I his favorite target. The only thing common was that we considered and claimed that love is just a waste of time. The last thing that crossed our minds was falling for each other.By the end of 3 long years, the person who according to me was unfriendly a year ago had somehow become a good friend. Moving on with life, I concentrated on what next and he moved to Bangalore. It was some time after degree that he did confess about it indirectly, but I turned it down again!! I guess this time that superior someone would have been all the more annoyed that things aren’t working after all his efforts. I did not personally believe in any trial and error method of let us give it a try. To give him a yes, I had to be convinced that I can give it my 100%. Strangely enough, I was glad that we were going are separate ways, since I thought all this craziness will subside with time. Little did we know that soon our paths would meet never to depart again? His indirect proposal had taken it’s much predicted route. It took its toll on our friendship and communication was all time low. It took another year for me to be my normal self with him. I must say that he did not let go of the very next opportunity he got to bring up the same discussion. Finally, after running out of all the reasons as to why it will not work, I gave him a ““You really think so?” and a giggle from my end. And there he was, not even wanting a decent “YES”.This news was well received by our gang of friends and also hinted that things would remain positive. More than a year later, we got a green signal from our parents too. Life has been a total bliss since then, atleast in this aspect. Today, I am proud to have these friends and such a wonderful family who have been supportive of us all this while. I never chose to believe in destiny or fate, probably I never had a reason to. Surprisingly, looking back on life today, I can’t help but acknowledge the fact that something superior (God or positive force) had planned it all even before we met each other. It was all being planned and winded up so smartly around both of us that we who always claimed love as a waste of time fell for each other. It was a day in June that I gave him “strange” yes and it was in the same month “June 12 2011” years later that we got married. Having said all this, I doubt if it was ever our story, it is that someone above or something superior’s story. We were/are just playing our roles, from friends and Partners in pranks to Best friends and Soul-Mates in Life.But, Yeah! One year to the wedding, am sure that we are playing it the best way we know!!! :)Happily Married!HPK!!!
