Forever Love!

The other day, I happened to meet one of my friends, I hadn't seen for many years. We talked for a while and exchanged our mobile numbers. The following week I called my friend, Vinoth for a get together with our friends. He shared the story of his first love which happened some 6 years back.

Vinoth had just completed his graduation and was waiting for his results. Some of his friends from Bangalore came to Chennai during holidays and Vinoth was very happy to receive them. They said they were going to stay for a week in Chennai at a friend's apartment. The next day they planned to visit the rock temples at Mahabalipuram in the East Coast Road. It was only 3 guys apart from Vinoth and so he thought of booking a Tata Indica call taxi. However his friends wanted to take a Toyota Innova, an 8 seater SUV. Vinoth was wondering why they wanted an 8 seater SUV for just 4 guys. However he got the answer in no time. Within few minutes the vehicle stopped at a nearby place and 3 girls got into the SUV. Vinoth was again wondering what was happening.

The friends then introduced the girls to Vinoth. Two of the girls in the gang were the lady love of two in the guys gang. In the next few seconds the cab started to move to the destination. Everybody started to chat with each other and soon Vinoth mingled with the group. In a couple of hours they reached the tiger cave which is few kms before Mahabalipuram. The two couples ran towards seashore and started playing around. The third girl's name is Catherine, a final year graduate. She felt a bit inconvenient as her friends left her alone. The third guy was also busy with his mobile phone and slowly distanced himself from Vinoth and Catherine.

Vinoth sneak peeked at Catherine a couple of times but she was busy watching the sea. She looked gorgeous in her dark brown cotton saree. She was wearing it single fleet and looked cute in her slim physique. She let her hair loose and held the pallu of the saree in her left hand. The sea breeze flew through her hair and touched his face. Vinoth inhaled the fragrance of rose flower and felt like flying with her. It was a couple of minutes before Vinoth broke the silence. He looked at her, "Your name sounds foreign!" She was smiling, "Yes, I belong to the Anglo-Indian community". She continued, "I have heard about this place but never had a chance to visit, what it so special about this place is?" Vinoth was happy that she was starting to open up.

He explained, "Mahabalipuram is a remarkable work of the Pallavas, it was said that the shore temples where built during the 7th century AD, this is a place full of art and culture." Catherine looked at him and said, "I don't find this place attractive apart from the seashore". Vinoth immediately answered, " I know you don't like this place, I am not blaming you but most if the teenagers don't like either, its a place of our tradition, culture, history, I come here all the time, sad or happy, this is the place which gives me inner peace". He continued, "Don't look it as a rock temple, touch and feel the rocks, these same rocks were carved into fine sculptors thousands of years back, imagine yourself in the past, a thousand years back, touching these rocks". Catherine realized that Vinoth is not an ordinary guy but a great lover of art and culture.

Vinoth realized that he was talking too much and said, “I am really sorry!" Catherine asked, "Why?" Vinoth answered, "You came here to enjoy the day, but I started boring you". Catherine looked at him and said, "No, not at all, you are sweet, I can feel these rocks, I mean it." Vinoth was very happy, "Really, that's great!" She looked at the others but everyone was busy placing in the seashore. Vinoth asked her, "Will you walk with me?" She did not show any feelings but said, "hmm, okay, but promise me that you would explain more about this place". He was very happy and said, "Oh sure, come let's move".

After a couple of hours all the other friends came back to the cab but then noticed Vinoth and Catherine missing. They waited almost an hour before Vinoth and Catherine reached the cab. The other girls were laughing and started to cheer her. To Vinoth's surprise Catherine did not utter a word nor did she show any emotions. Rest of the trip was not much fun as everybody else was tired. While leaving the girls at their apartment, Vinoth looked at Catherine and asked, "Do you have any plans tomorrow?" She said, "Yes, I am going to visit few of my relatives here in Chennai". So with heavy heart he bid adieu to her.

In the following day his thoughts were occupied by Catherine. After a long time thinking, Vinoth made a decision that he would propose Catherine before she was leaving to Bangalore that weekend. He was unclear on how or where to propose. He kept it confidential and did not even reveal the matter to his friends. Vinoth finally decided that he would propose Catherine on Saturday evening at the railway station.

It was Saturday night and Vinoth was rushing to the railway station to see Catherine. He reached the station and searched for his friends. At distance they waved their hands and Vinoth reached them within the next few seconds. After bidding adieu to all his friends, he searched for Catherine, but she was not there. One of his friends, after seeing him restless asked, "Are you okay buddy?” Vinoth looked at him and asked, "Yep, no problem, where is Catherine?" His friend answered, "Oh, she left yesterday, she had some personal work, and she left early." Vinoth was shattered and thought, "She did not even have the courtesy to tell me". After his friends left Chennai, he came back to his apartment and spent a sleepless night.

The next day he felt he needed some break and decided to go to Mahabalipuram. He reached there around 10am in the morning and there was none at the seashore. He sat in the seashore, hands on his knees and looked at the calm sea. The cool sea breeze pacified his soul. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly he felt a fragrance of rose flower in his breath and thought to himself, "Catherine, how can you leave me like this?" He opened his eyes and turned towards his left. Catherine was sitting next to him looking at him. He was shocked and thought, "Am I dreaming, is she real, or is it my thoughts". Catherine enjoyed his silence and finally burst out in laugh.

He was still confused and asked, "I was told that you left a couple of days back, I am confused". Catherine smiled and said, "I will answer that later, I knew that you came to see me at the station, I also knew that you were upset you did not see me". He answered, "Yes, I can't stop thinking about you, when I close my eyes I see you, only you.” After a moment of silence Catherine asked, "Do you know the story of 15th Pallava King?" He thought to himself, "Is she playing with my emotions, I am proposing my love and she is talking about a Pallava king". But he answered, "Nope, to my knowledge there were 14 Pallava kings associated with Mahabalipuram, I really don't know."

Catherine smiled and said, "This 15th Pallava king sat in this same place and proposed his love to his ladylove, and she accepted his proposal". Vinoth was confused as to what this story has to do with his proposal. Catherine lowered her head looking at the sand and said, "The 15th Pallava King's name is Vinoth and her ladylove is Catherine".

Vinoth's heart pounded heavily, he felt like he was projected to unreached heights of the sky, he felt like he was flying. He stood up and looked at the calm sea. He felt the sea was smiling at him. Catherine stood next to him still looking at the sand. Vinoth slid his hands into hers and asked, "Look into my eyes, this is the moment of my life, will you walk with me?” She looked into his eyes and said, "Yes, my King, I will walk with your wherever you go!". They both laughed and started walking by the seashore.

The King and Queen lived happily ever after!