First Love - Part 1

Disclaimer: The protagonists in the story are my brain child. And any resemblances to real life people is unintended.

Hi Sri... ' This is Sanjay. You have forgotten me totally right? But I have never been able to forget you. What actually had happened, I want to know? Are you ok?  Can't we be friends again?' 

She didn't have to finish reading it . By then her eyes were filled totally in a way that she couldn't see the logout in her mail account. She closed the browser and ran to the terrace before any one could see her crying. The dusky evening was approaching. She wiped her tears on her kurta sleeves. Took a deep breath and looked at the orange sky.  They would have spoken about the evening sky's shades for more than a hundred times. So much has changed over the last two years around Sri. But inside her nothing has even marginally changed. Her friends had said that time would heal everything. She had tried her best to forget it all, and she would ask herself if my friends were able to forget their breakup blows and move on in life, why can't I? But it wasn't that easy for Sri, as hers was not a break up. And there were no bitter things in her past relationship. That evening she decided to revisit her past for one last time.

4yrs back...

Sri was doing her second year in literature. She was a happy-go-lucky girl. Had no particular aims in life. All that she knew was to be madly alive. At the drop of a hat she would make a friend. But the special people in her life were just a fistful. Sri believed in the power of emotions to thoughts. She would often say, some people can't think, but all of us can emote. It was on an eventful night at the Nehru stadium in Chennai where she first met Sanjay. Sanjay was a core member of social work group that had organized events to raise funds for Child Welfare Organisation throughout Tamil Nadu. The social causes that this group addressed were galore. That evening in addition to music and dance by various troupes, there was also a writing competition and the topic was child sexual abuse in India. Pamphlets of the competition was distributed in all arts colleges a week back itself. Sri had participated. Sanjay announced the winner of the competition, He read out on the mike, I would like to read these lines from Sri Priya's entry of the day. 'I ask, what is wrong in chopping those hands that touched a child's private parts without a shiver. I ask, what is wrong in plucking those eyes which can see a child as an object to masturbate. I don't see anything less severe than death for giving someone only bad memories of their chilhood for rest of their lifetime. The biggest of all the sins.' The audience applauded as Sri walked on to the stage to collect her award. After the ceremony Sanjay asked Sri whether she would care to talk with him for some time.

Sanjay: So tell me writer, what will be your first book on?

Sri:        Whoa... I don't think I have it in me to become a writer. I hardly pen.

Sanjay: Come on it is there in you. You just have to keep at it. Ok tell me your favorite writers?

Sri:      I don't read a lot of books. I just write if I think I have a say on the subject. Hey wait. May I know who you are? And why are you so interested in getting me to write. 

Sanjay: I am Sanjay. Based in Mumbai. Did my enginnering and then went on to do my MBA and now studying in TISS. It must be sounding stupid to you, right? Field work ke liye, we have come to TN. And hey it is hell to commute in your place. People know only one language. Please teach your auto waalas atleast words like 'Peeche jaao'. You know in Bangalore when we went last time for field work it was helluva better. Auto waalas knew hindi and atleast some English.And you know wat, people should learn Hindi it's our national language and...

Sri: Hang on please. I just asked who you are? And you are telling me your commuting problems. I didn't ask for that.

Sanjay: Just like your thoughts on chopping a pervert's hands, you too are tough I guess Sri.

Sri: My name is Sri Priya. You can call me by my full name. 

Sanjay: Hey, I gues you are not interested in talking to me. Sorry for those unsolicited questions. Just wanted to tell you, your pennings touched a chord. Sorry again. Bye Sri Priya.

Sri: Thanks.

That night she lay on her bed thinking of why did she have to talk to someone gratingly when she was just being complimented. She was being rude and she was never like that before. She said a sorry to the void before crashing in, not knowing she would meet him before long.

P.S.

This is my first try to write a love story. Though I had written a rough draft in my diary, I would like to write it in parts here. It's not a candy floss story. It's more of a girl thing. For now, thats it. I don't even know when I would post my next draft. Anyways hopefully to be carried on...