Letters for you: When I was too happy to sleep!

To someone whose memories keep me awake all night

“Beautifully drawn…appreciated :)”

I read your message and recalled the first meeting of ours.

You were standing near my desk, looking at the painting I had put up there a day before. Indian epic warrior Arjuna stretches his bow string, pointing an arrow against his great grandfather and invincible warrior Bheeshma who lets his bow to slip from his hand. Bheeshma adorns a content smile, while Arjuna’s eyes curtained with tears.

I said hi, in probably the most awkward way possible. You turned to me.

“Is that yours? Where did you get it?” you asked.

“Ah, actually, I painted it.”

Oh, I’m very sorry!” you said biting your tongue, “It’s very beautiful. I’m sorry.”

I took a picture of the painting and sent it to you through Facebook Messenger. I waited all the day for your reply, which didn’t come until two days. You never revealed the reason for a delay of two days.

                                                                        

After the excitement and intimidation consumed me, I replied ‘Thank You.’, that must have been a very simple message for you, but for me it took 12 times of typing and deleting. I know you don’t believe it even now and would raise your brows like you did when I first told you – I kissed you, then.

A week passed with both of us stealing glances at each other, and neither of us gathering courage to come up and speak.

I sent you the next painting of the series: Bheeshma lying on the bed of arrows and Arjuna, stooped to his knees and head hung. His famed bow, Gandiva, beside him, abandoned.

“Again beautifully drawn” you replied.

“Really?”

“Yes, it is. So, are you painting the whole Mahabharata series?”

“No, just the scenes between Arjuna and Bheeshma; theirs' is the most uncelebrated relation.”

“Exactly!” you said and began our conversation which went on until 12:10, when you said you were going to ‘doze off’! I stayed up all night reading our conversation. I was in love!

From someone who’s awake waiting for your text

*Picture Courtesy of HinduHumanRights

Letters for you: Your first message to me!

To someone who messaged me happiness

Your first message to me!

I know I’ve skipped a part here, but I had waited enough for this instance, to describe how I felt the moment I saw your name on my cell phone.

Oh, how can I – how can anyone – describe a moment so intimidating? How can anyone describe the moment when your heart-beats is the only sound you could hear?How can anyone describe an intense gush of feeling so strong that you fear it might destroy your soul?

I just sat looking at the notification, too happy to open the text; actually, too terrified of its contents.

                                                                           

All the same, I couldn’t stop myself for long from reading it.

“Beautifully drawn…appreciated J”

I read it. Re-read it. Re-read it. Re-read it. The more times I read, the more I realized how much I love you and I read it again. I never thought that a message – three words – 27 letters – could give me so much happiness, which could last for so long – forever.

That one moment became such a treasure that I can trade my soul to revisit it.

Thank you for the message that gave me an example to understand the beauty of love, that gave me a reason to believe in love, that gave me hope to seek your love, which I did and which I will do for the rest of my life – in my merry and my dejection, in my joy and my solitude – thanking you for your first message to me.

Thank you for the message!

From someone who thanks you for that one message.

Letters for you: When I wanted to be close to you!

To someone I wanted to be close with,

Thank you, Google Maps!

There was a time when people looked at the moon, to convince themselves that they aren’t very far away from their loved ones; but now pining lovers use Google Maps to feel themselves closer to their special someone. At least I do!

I look at the vague image of your building that Google Maps offers and wondering what time you come up on to the terrace – probably evening I told myself. I imagined you strolling around in your loose white t-shirt, your hairs tied up and feet bare. Looking at the setting sun flaring its last rays for the day – subtle, yet bright and yes, the wind always knows the right time to make its presence felt.

                                                                         

I checked for the distance to your house from my place – 20km or 50 minutes, seven minutes more from my grandmother’s home and 20 minutes from the office. The Chocolate Room we always met at was 10 minutes from your house and its placement was nicely enveloped around by huge apartment buildings. Yes, it was this reason I always insisted on meeting there and not because I love Russian Paninos there.

I know it might come off as if I’m stalking you, but hell with it. I pray guilty as charged!

Love makes you do all the crazy things, which seem ingenious and necessary at that moment. But, the only crazy thing I was doing was dreaming, dreaming of being with you. Being a part of your life!

From someone who was always around