Good Things Do Happen in Love

After reading a few stories, I felt of penning down a few real stories.These stories would be woven around emotional weakness of human nature like love, friendship, etc and changing relationships set in the backdrop of corporate environment. So here goes the first story. (Though a bit long, read it completely to enjoy it)

——————————————-

Mayur entered into the Infosys campus with high hopes of making a great professional career in IT industry, the same dream shared by thousand others while entering one of the best IT training campuses in the world. He was accompanied by his friend Piyush, and both were from the same city. Just after entering the campus Mayur eyes were wide opened to see the huge but well designed campus. The golf cart, lush green cricket field, tennis courts, floating restaurant were instant attention grabbers while on the way to the hostel room which anyway were nothing less than a mini heaven (and more so for a young guy coming from middle class family).

It took him a few days to roam in the campus and get a feel of the campus. He particularly liked gym and swimming pool which goes well with his athletic body. In the meantime, formal training sessions started but they were not compelling enough to make a young, tall, fair looking guy to enjoy the facilities and beauty of training campus. Anyway, this campus provides fertile ground for young souls to fulfill most of their legal ambitions as it is the best extension of college for studies where one is actually paid to study. The days went by, his friend group increased but none of them anyway near to ‘special’ friend he was looking for. His urge for finding that ‘special’ friend grew stronger after seeing many noble souls (including some his friends) were able to roam around with someone who makes surrounding looks more beautiful.

It was about two months already in a four month training and his story was like ‘so far, so good’. He was able to make three very good friends and many other friends to enjoy outings and drinks with. One day after daily training sessions, there were many students (or better word can be corporate professional) discussing which of the two training centers are better (In Infy Mysore, there are two training center – ILI and GEC). Like any other discussion among educated people, there were a few of friends on one side and a few on other. As the debate grew stronger and longer, a few studious type left the discussion and now the debating groups were more suitable to discuss as remaining people were quite strong about their views. In these groups on one side, there was Mayur and on the other side there was Sara, a simple, straight looking girl. Though debate formally ended after marathon discussion of three hours but it continued in small breaks between Sara and Mayur. This was their first encounter, and within 2-3 days their discussion topics completely changed from GEC/ILI to something personal to their lives. These conversations were further aided by extension given in each rooms and a free common phone in each lab. Mayur started calling Sara first from lab phone (b/w 5-8) and then from his room extension. Slowly, Sara formally joined in Mayur’s friends groups and this assimilation was aided by the fact that one of Sara’s friend was from same college that of Piyush’s college. Then this group of 6 can be seen together on various timings like dinner or movie or late night walk in campus or b’day celebrations, etc.

Within next 15 days, there were quite a few long conversations and innumerous small conversations between them. Mayur made sure that other friends in his group are not aware of his conversations with Sara as he was afraid that like any good friends, his friends will tease both of them about what’s cooking in and probably everything would be spoiled even before anything is in place. It seems that feeling of getting someone ‘special’ make someone to take steps which are not indicative of other long relationships and in this case Mayur’s friendship with his good friends in the small group. Mayur was getting attracted towards Sara not because she was attractive or beautiful but because Mayur looked in Sara, family values, traditional culture which he thought are must for anyone to have to fit in his joint family. But what an irony is this – a young guy, aspiring for a great career in one of the technology advanced company looking for partner with typical Indian values or this might just be story everywhere – there are different things to appreciate and different things to nurture or possess. Anyway, continuing with their story, it continued. It just continued. Mayur was waiting for right moment to let Sara know of his feelings. Sara on the other hand thought Mayur as well caring and simple guy. She was more than happy to have him as a friend and just as a friend.

As the time went by, there were many other group outings like visit to Shivsamundra, Chamundi Hills, Srirangaptna, but all were just a day program. Then in the extended holidays of 26th January 2006, Mayur’s group or by now Mayur’s and Sara’s group planned for Ooty trip. It was a two day trip so much preparation was needed for this. During the trip, while going to Ooty and coming back Mayur somehow got the seat next to Sara without even giving hints to his friends of potential love story but this trip gave them sufficient enough opportunities to interact with each other and understand in a better way. Then after a few days, Sara had to go for her sister’s marriage by taking a flight from Bangalore. Mayur went all the way till Bangalore to drop Sara to airport and once again without letting anyone else know. Pefect planning – probably his brains suits profession of detective more than IT engineer.

When Sara came back from sister’s marriage, there were more frequent interactions, of which intentsity were increasing at the lighting’s pace. Some of the contexts were eating marriage sweets, project discussion, etc. Then that day came – day when training was supposed to get over and everyone would be expected to depart for their place of posting. Their group decided to enjoy these last few days to the fullest extent – extent of just sleeping for 2/3 hours per day for last 7 days. During one of those last days, came the turning point. Mayur realizing that end of training period is coming to an end and if he does not proposes to Sara now it would be the lost case for him. But like a typical Indian lover, he was not sure of what would be going in Sara’s mind and was very very afraid and nervous to propose her. As there were not many options left for him – he had to propose her and he choose a careful way. 3 days before postings were declared, they all decide to go for a movie but a quick photoshoot before the movie was suggested by one of the group member. Mayur got the right moment. In one of the pic, he casually but firmly put hand on Sara’s shoulder. It was so causal that no one else was able to sense it but it was firm enough to give Sara indication about Mayur’s feeling. But Sara was quite surprised with this attitude of Mayur. She always thought of him as a good friend, in fact a very good friend. Mayur was tensed after Sara’s first reaction but he has to compensate for the lost chance.

They all reached to cinema hall to watch ‘Rang De Basanti’ and Mayur tried to take seat adjacent to Sara but it did not worked this time. Then came the best part of Mayur’s life – intermission in the movie. He made the best use of it, the use which no one (even director of RDB) would not of thought of. He swapped his seat in such a way that he was next to Sara was the intermission. As the movie started, they both were discussing very quietly, so quietly that only their eyes and emotions were speaking in that darken hall. After some time, Mayur put his palm on Sara’s palm. She did not objected. THAT WAS IT. Sara accepted Mayur’s proposal and when everything was settle that night they announced it formally to the group about their relationship status. The group members were happily surprised, at least some reason to be happy in last few days. Fortunately, Mayur and Sara got the same posting, i.e. Pune so it was all going too well for them.

It just seemed that there was one of the lucky stories with all the stars favoring them. Both were happy with their choice of partners as it matched their perception of what he/she should be. They spent enough time with each other to understand them better and found that their compatibility was quite high. Their pair was a perfect one – Sara complemented Mayur for what he lacked and Mayur complemented Sara for what she lacked. When they were together even their silence was enough to write the thousand stories and all with same happy ending.

But was that all? Do good things happen in Love?
Yes/No/May be, but his part was just the beginning of the end which none of us would have thought of. Here come into play other external factors like corporate environment, family restrictions and more importantly irrational human expectation and feelings which are difficult to handle – difficult to handle for strong characters like Sara and Mayur who have craved their own growth stories from a typical medium class family to one of the best places.
——————————————–
So what is the remaining story….will continue in the next post….probably after a week when my exams are over and till that time, it would by new year . Till that time, any comment, criticisms or feedback, feel free to post.

Advertisement