FATE

It was just the usual morning I have every day. Get up, go for a jog. Get ready to go to office and make sure you reach by 8. I took my bike from the parking. As soon as I could come out of my apartment, a black cat crossed my way. I am not sure, when I started believing in such disbeliefs, as many call it, but it just created a sense of fear in my heart. I felt, Ah, I don’t want another sad day in my life. I prayed to God and kept driving my way. It was a bright sunny day with a cool breeze. Bangalore as we know, is among the best place to live and work in India. Bangalore, Such pleasant weather and such amazing people.  I would have included the policeman too in my last sentence if I would not have been caught. I was driving at a decent speed on my bike. My decent speed was quite higher than the usual speed limits in Bangalore. I was caught by the Traffic Police. I was cursing the Black cat which crossed my way, as if it was responsible for my speed. Nevertheless, the police was pretty happy charging my 300 bucks generating good revenue for Government of India. I made the day for these policemen. Having a sad face I continued my journey to office.

I reached the final Signal to my office where I had to take a left and drive 500m to get to my destination. I was waiting for the signal to go green and then I drove my bike like crazy. Well as soon as I took the turn, I saw heaven. She was THE perfect girl. Tall, Well Built, long hair, and a beautiful face. Her eyes were shining and she had a beautiful smile on her face. I felt like this was the perfect smile I was waiting for, all the years. She was wearing kurta and a Jean. I could feel the fragrance, even being so away from her. I never knew the flowers on a Kurta can have such a compelling effect, especially when this is not a season to blossom. I was pretty much analyzing her and my mind was creating millions of records of her past, present and Future . Her past without me, her present and her future with me and our, to be. At the same instant she stared at me. It felt like the entire world had just me and her. But, as soon as our eyes met, her face turned pale and her smile was lost. I suddenly realized I was staring at her from a very long time and lost control of the direction where my bike was moving. I was moving very fast towards the divider and I applied brakes. It was too late. My bike hit hard on the divider and I fell from the bike. I got hurt on my elbow, leg and my head. Many people stopped their bikes and came to me, offering help. I sat on the divider and someone got me some water. I was just checking my wounds again cursing the cat. In a moment, i heard a voice, “Are you ok?” I looked around for the person and found that it was the same girl. I said I am better now. My heart was beating fast. She asked other to move as I was feeling better and said that I must not look around while driving and not concentrate on some girl passing by. I felt like apologizing but I smiled. I said, had it been anyone else, the fate would have been same. You are such a beautiful girl. I never dare speak such words to a girl any day. Words just came out and I felt ashamed. I was feeling shy, hiding my face. She smiled again.

“I guess u need some medical attention. There is a clinic nearby. I know the doctor. Do you want to come?” I nodded. The clinic was just across the signal, on the other side. She showed me the direction. I thought I would ask her to come with me on the bike but before I could gather the courage to ask, she left. I took my bike and reached the clinic. She was waiting outside the clinic. It was not a small one. It was a mini hospital. She took me in and asked me to get into the doctor’s chamber. I was surprised. I asked if we need a doctor’s appointment. She said it is early morning and there are hardly any patients this time of the day. She said that the doctor will come in sometime so I should just sit in the chamber itself. Though I was feeling awkward, I entered the chamber and sat down on the chair waiting for the doctor. It was written Neha Sharma MBBS MD. I already pictured the doctor.  The name looks cool. So she should be good looking; like the girl, I met waiting outside. Little less would also do ok.  The other moment i realized that while I am waiting for the doctor, my fantasy might just leave me. I wanted to check if she could spare some more time around. As soon as I got up, I saw the doctor entering the room. Well it was the same girl. I girl who mesmerized me on the Signal was Neha Sharma, a doctor, who was going to treat me now. I was surprised. I asked if she is going to ill treat me because I was staring at her. She got an injection. I was pretty scared. I never had an injection on my body since 5^th grade. My face went pale and she was enjoying every bit of it.

“It is a tenenus.  Don’t worry, I won’t pain a moment”. Then she gently held my hand. Before I could realize, she was done injecting the serum to my body. I was surprised, “Huh, done? Did you actually inject anything” I checked my hand to confirm. She did it. Then she applied bandage on my leg and elbow. She also applied some ointment on my forehead. She also gave me a prescription, to get some medicine to reduce my pain. I was feeling better now. I asked the doctor about the fees. She said as it happened because of her (Yeah she was the culprit for it), I need not pay anything. I thanked her with a smile and was about to leave. I turned back and asked here, “Do you mind a coffee in the evening? Treat on me” I was not expecting it but she smiled and said yes. I took her number from the prescription and stored on my phone. I went to office. My friends asked me if I was fine and what happened. I framed a different story to them. Somehow, the concept of a secret and a secret friend is so exciting.

The day went good for me. I was so enthusiastic to do my work and was waiting for 5 PM. I usually leave office late to complete some of the stuff. After so many days I was leaving early and my friends asked me why I was leaving at this time. I just had to smile to reply. I took my bike and went to her clinic again. I gave her a call and asked her to come out. She said that she would take another 30 minutes to complete all the patients. I was waiting in the patient lobby. I read through all the newspapers kept. She came exactly after 30 minutes. When we saw each other, we had a big exchange of smiles. She came with me on my bike. We reached the nearest coffee day. We sat on a corner. I asked her, how was her day. How were things? How did she ill-treat her patients? We were casually discussing about things in our life. Suddenly I asked, “So you came out with a stranger on a date?” She had an amazing answer “Well I call this Customer management. I am sure u would find many other girls, on many other signals and fall. I see very good business with you”. I had no answer but to laugh.     

Next few weeks went amazing. She was trying to improve her business identifying new girls for me. I never realized when we became good friends. Lots of SMSs, Calls, Outings. I actually liked all the moments I spent with her. Felt relaxed. After all in a city like Bangalore, you need good friends around. Sometimes, I would talk to myself and ask if she is the right person as my life partner. But somehow I would never relate her that way. She was my buddy, my best buddy.  I also met everyone in her family. All of them were doctors. All well qualified doctors. I often used to tell her that she should bear all the medical expenses for my family after all her family was a Family of Doctors. She would smile and bow down “As you say my lord.”

On a winter night, she calls me at 12AM and asks me to immediately come to her place. I was half asleep. I got ready and went to her place. Everyone was awake. All were discussing pretty seriously. I felt like it was a family matter and I should be leaving now. It felt that something personal was going on. Neha called me aside and narrated me the matter. She applied for specialized surgery training in London a few weeks ago and she has got the admission. But her family did not want her to go. She said that she could discuss with her family but needed someone to be with her. She only found me. I did not know how much I would be of help to her but I just stood around while she was discussing. It was a long night but finally her parents agreed. She was really happy and hugged me. I felt really good that I could be of help.

Next few days she got busy with her Visa processing. We met less but we often spoke to each other. And then the day came that she had to leave. I was happy that she was getting what she wanted. I came to the airport to see her off to London with her parents. She was happy. Before she left she came to me, hugged me. She handed me a card. I got her a gift, actually chocolates and a perfume which she loved a lot. She said that the studies there would be difficult and she will not be able to keep in touch for a year. But she will always remember me. She smiled kissed on my cheek and left.  I kept looking at her as she left. When she finally got out of sight, I felt like I would miss her a lot.

I walked down, and opened the card she gave me. It was written inside, “I will always miss you my partner, my friend. Never Forget me. I will get you London Girls” The last 14 months flashed back in my memory of the black cat, meeting her, how we became friends and how we became best friends. I smiled and left the Airport.