Day 07 (11 November 2008)

My Second Love

For the past few weeks, I have been telling you the story of my first love. However, the story will not be complete till I tell you about the second love of my life.

Things had come a long way since the trip to Agra. The board exams had come and gone. Both Khushi and I did fairly well. School life had come to an end! Time had put miles between us. While she pursued a B.Com. degree, I had to move away and live with my mausi to study for a B.C.A. degree. I could no longer see that beautiful face everyday.

As time went by, we met less but spent hours talking on the phone. I was closer to Khushi than I had ever been before. I must admit that though we were great friends, I still had not given up the pursuit to get her to love me.

One of those days, I was sitting on the couch, surfing channels on the TV while talking to Khushi on the phone. I stopped abruptly at a news channel. They were showing a bulletin about R15, a new bike that Yamaha was about to launch. As the news anchor went on telling about the bike, I knew I was in love again. After my old Suzuki got stolen (that's a whole other story), there had been a void in my life. I needed to fill that void.

I confessed my fascination of the bike to Khushi. She encouraged me to go ahead and buy it. She thought it would be nice if I would come on my new bike to attend her sister's wedding in November that year. With great enthusiasm (more about impressing Khushi than the bike itself), I promised her that I would get the bike to her sister's wedding.

Weeks and months passed since our conversation about the bike. We had numerous random conversations in this period and I had almost forgotten about the bike and my promise.

A few days later, I was holding her sister's wedding invitation in my hand. The marriage was in a month on 11 November. It served as a wake-up call! I had promised Khushi that I'd get the bike to the wedding. Although Khushi had forgotten all about it by now, I still did not want to break my promise (or give away a chance to impress her).

I immediately approached my father to convince him to buy me the bike. The cost of the bike, the short notice of purchase and the theft of my previous bike did not help my case. My father bluntly refused to buy me a new bike. Specially such an expensive one, that too at a notice of just over 20 days.

But I remained adamant. When I saw that my requests and pleadings falling on deaf ears, I had to resort to more desparate measures. I declared that I would not eat till my demands were fulfilled (taking a cue from our country's politicians). My threat was taken lightly (I think my father knew that though I was not having food at home, I snuck out with my friends to eat whenever I felt like). I still continued my charade, throwing  tantrums and being irrational.

Several scoldings, lectures and consolations later, my father gave in. My persistance paid off. I got a gleaming black R15 on 9 November 2008, 2 days before the wedding. I was ecstatic. I took care of it like a new-born baby. The relationship between a man and his machine is a beautiful one. Those who have been in my position understand what I mean.

I kept it under covers and untouched for 2 days. Khushi had absolutely no clue about the bike or the frenzy I had caused to get it.

On the awaited night, I drove my baby to the wedding. With heads turning and people stepping aside as I drove by, I felt like a celebrity (R15 was a new bike at that time and meant a big deal in the small town in UP at that time).

I parked it outside and rushed in to find Khushi. "My second love is standing outside. And by God, she is gorgeous", I said without even bothering to greet or congratulate her. (I think I saw a hint of jealousy on her face amid the confused expression). She followed me out, curious to see who (what) I was talking about.

When she finally lay eyes on my bike, she understood what I meant and recalled the promise I had made to her. She seemed all the more beautiful with that smile on her face. Though she refused my offer for a ride, she promised me that she'd do it some other day when she was not as busy.

I spent hours that night dancing and celebrating with my first love, with my second love waiting loyally in the parking. There, at that moment, amid the loud music and the dancing mob, as I saw her face gleaming with joy, I was truly content. I was HAPPY!