Love is in the air!

You can't fly unless you let yourself fall. Only when you are in love you can feel it in your heart. Murali, one of my close friends had a touching story to share with me which happened few years back.

His ladylove's name was Swathi and she was working as a Staff Nurse in one of the famous hospitals located in the northern part of Chennai. It all started with a hospital visit during the summer season of 2004. Murali went to the hospital to visit a friend who was treated as an inpatient after a bike accident. It was the first time he saw Swathi. She looked perfect in her nursing uniform. She smiled at Murali in a friendly way when his friend introduced him. As Murali was a close friend to our patient friend, he visited the hospital more often than many other friends.

It was a friday evening and Murali was entering the hospital premises and that's when he saw Swathi leaving the hospital. She was wearing a pink saree and looked gorgeous in the evening sun. Her moisture lips, bright face and sparkling eyes made him think if she was an Angel from the heavenly realm. Her long dark hair was waving with the breeze that flew through her hair. At that moment he thought to himself, "Vow, she is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen in this world!". He lost himself till someone called him,

"Hello!...Helloooo!". Murali came back to his senses but his eyes were still fixed on her. She felt a bit uncomfortable after seeing Murali looking at her all this time, dumbstruck. Murali realizing the situation asked her, "Hello! How are you?" She replied, "I am doing good, came to see your friend?". Murali thought he could say, "Nope, my darling, I came to see you, just you!", he laughed and said, "Oh, yes! I came to see him". She said, "Okay, then, see ya later!". Murali left the place but Swathi entered his heart.

Days went on and his feelings to Swathi grew stronger and steadier. Everytime he looked at her she gave a friendly smile and few friendly words and that's it. His friend urged him to propose her at the earliest. He wanted Murali not to delay as he would be discharged from the hospital in a couple of weeks. Murali was a bit scared to express his feelings as he thought it could end up hurting their friendship. During the following days Murali had no time to visit his friend. He has to travel to his native to attend a family function. He came back to Chennai in the following week.

Murali came to visit his friend the following day and saw him in an ecstatic mood. "Machaan, I think Swathi is in love with you, she had inquired about you daily, when you were not there". He continued, "When I said, you would be back only by next week, I can see the upset in her face, I am sure she is in love with you" Murali was flying and felt that he should propose her at the earliest.

The next day Murali was determined that he would propose his love to Swathi. When he reached the hospital in the evening, Swathi was leaving the hospital. She looked gorgeous in her white Churthar and pink shawl. Murali looked at her and asked, "Are you busy? I wanted to talk to you". She replied, "Yes, I am a bit busy, I am going to meet an important person and I am thrilled, I will catch you later". She left the place without waiting for Murali's reply. He was heartbroken and felt that it was all his fault to delay his proposal. After staying for a while with this friend he left the hospital with a heavy heart.

It was Murali's birthday that weekend and he came to visit his friend in the hospital. His friend informed that he was going to get discharged the following week. Murali was unclear on how to proceed with Swathi. It was 5.00 PM in the evening and Swathi came to his friend's room. She was wearing the same pink saree in which she looked gorgeous. Murali was heart broken again to see her. However she called Murali and said, "Can you come with me?" She continued, "I would like you to meet someone who's very special to me". Murali thought to himself, "Okay, let me see how your lover is". He said, "Yes, sure".

She sat in the pillion in Murali's bike and they left the hospital. Soon Murali rode his bike to a calm street in Besant Nagar which was very close to the seashore. The last house in the street read, "Good Sheperd Orphanage". Murali got confused on why Swathi wanted him to visit an orphanage. However he went inside the home with Swathi. As soon as Swathi entered the home, there was a huge cheer and kids came running towards her. Murali for the first time looked at her with respect in his eyes and said, "Do you come here often?" She said, "Yes, and this is the VIP I wanted you to meet". A little disabled kid came slowly towards Murali and asked, "Hello Anna! How are you?". Murali was emotional, "I am doing good dear, what's your name" he asked. The kid replied, "I am Krishna!". Murali spent the next couple of hours with Krishna and all other kids. All the children sang 'happy birthday' to Murali. His love towards Swathi grew stronger than ever before.

After few minutes Swathi asked him, "Shall we move?". Murali was unwilling but it was already 7.00 pm in the evening and they have to travel a long way back to the hospital. Murali said, "Okay, we shall". He then searched for the cute kid, Krishna and asked, "Where is Krishna?" Krishna came slowly with a rose in his hand. He handed the flower to Murali and said, "Will you keep this rose safe for me?". Murali was moved to tears, "Till my last breath, I'll keep it safe". Krishna immediately replied in his toddler voice, "Yes, you should, its not just rose, it’s our Swathi Akka!"

Murali was shocked to hear the sweet news. He looked at her. She looked at him and the whole place got filled with love. Somewhere from distance the song played,

Love is in the air

Everywhere I look around

Love is in the air

Every sight and every sound

And I don't know if I'm being foolish

Don't know if I'm being wise

But it's something that I must believe in

And it's there when I look in your eyes

Love is in the air

In the whisper of the trees

Love is in the air

In the thunder of the sea

And I don't know if I'm just dreaming

Don't know if I feel sane

But it's something that I must believe in

And it's there when you call out my name

It was the most lovely proposal ever!