December 2019

Fateh Sagar Lake

Amidst the chirping of birds and a beautiful sunrise on the horizon, two souls were discussing about how different their life is, unlike others they have a constant race against time. They crave to do a lot of things but only a handful of them are possible, that is just the case in everyone's life for that matter.

After Monami opened up about her, though Karan knew that if they proceed further with this he will be entitled to the back story of a lot more of her sentences. Albeit slowly, but gradually.

Now it was Karan's chance to speak about his life and decisions and no matter how much of an extrovert are you, at this time all your inhibitions surface up.

Monami waited patiently for him to begin, while looking at the calmness in front of her.

"Monami, whatever you've spoke till now; you never once mentioned about your struggles neither even dropped a hint about the same. It only shows that how strong of a soul you are. Trust me when I say this, that my respect for you has grown ten folds." Karan spoke and had Monami's entire attention on him.

Monami just stared in his eyes for a few seconds before giving him a small smile.

"I've been associated to cricket since last 18 years but its only 8 years that I've been a part of Indian Cricket team, men in blue. I've played before as well, as a captain in my under 19 days and then have been a part of the famous franchise in IPL, but you know that feeling when you are a part of team that is on the field for almost for entire game from the beginning until the very end, it was liberating." He breathed a sigh with a spark in his eyes and the fervidity with his spoke was literally on the same scale as that Monami.

Karan looked at the person sitting in front him who was looking at him with such calm countenance that it felt serene. Unlike all the other days, her guard was a bit down, he could feel it.

"Out of 12 months, I'm on the field for almost 7-8 months and I get some scattered time here and there with my family, this I believe is the most challenging part of my work. Of course more time off the field if you are injured or something, but that's not an exception either. Aur aisa bhi nahi hai ki jab off days hote hain toh har baar ghar par he hota hoon, mai bhi ghoomne jaata hoon kayi baar akele toh kahi baar doston ke saath ya phir sabhi ke saath. Bas baat sirf itni hai ki jo time 9-5 job ke baad aap apne gharwalo ke saath bita sakte ho na woh milna mushkil hota hai." He sighed.

(Also it's not even like that whenever I've off days, I am always home; I also travel, sometimes alone and other times with family or friends. The only thing is that the time that people get to spend with their loved ones who are in 9-5 job; it is difficult for us to get that.)

"Bilkul, aur yeh baat mujhse behtar kaun samajh sakta hai."Monami said with a known look on her face.

(Exactly and who better than me can understand this.)

"Lekin aapko pata hai kya? Although we love our fans and supporters very much but at times it becomes a little overbearing. We are open to criticism but not when they outright bash us just because we fail to attain the victory. I mean unko yeh thodi na pata hota hai ki match ke dauran jaisa woh tv pe dekh rahe hain, vaisa he sab kuch ho raha hota hai. Koi bhi player jaan boojh kar thodi na kuch galat karega, unka mindset ya phir kuch bhi. T.V screens does not change result or the game, it's us; the players." In this Karan's face showed a myriad of expressions on his face but it was actually incredulous if you think from his position.

(But do you know what?)(I mean they don't even know that what is going on in the match is not as same as what they see on T.V. No player would knowingly pull a shot that is wrong for the game, neither their mindset is such nor any other thing.)

He then added in the tone that is not unknown to Monami, but unknown, coming from him. "It's us who represent the country on such a mega level why would we do something to hamper its growth. We are not representing the people individually." He scoffed.

Monami thought it was better to be quiet for she didn't know what she'll even say to him. Because he didn't want to hear any comforting words, he only wanted a listener.

"This was one thing; another most challenging part is the paparazzi who think it is absolutely fine to invade someone's privacy. To some extent it's fine because the people who adore us and don't know us personally have only either social media or paparazzi to know more about us." He reasoned but then his face scrunched up and he added, "Lekin tab nahi jab yeh publicise karte hain ki hum konse doctor ke paas jaate hain, samaan khareed te hain, kisi dost se milte hain ya phir sabse best jab headline mei yeh aata hai ki hum kisi ki social media profile of follow ya unfollow karte hain." He derided.

(But not when they publicise that we visited which doctor, what did we purchase, which friend we met and the best is this one which comes in headline that which social media profile we follow or unfollow.)

"Karan I might not understand it because I haven't dealt with any limelight of this sort but what I know is that is absolutely surfeit. Although I know that even after ignoring it with best of your powers, sometimes it is taxing." She said and Karan could not help but sigh with a nod at her.

"Also, there is one more thing which I need to tell you, that just like you have your services impending for two years, even I can be a part of playing eleven to maximum 10-12 years." Karan breathed and when he saw confused yet softened eyes of the lady beside, he explained "Normally cricketers can be in the game till 42 or 43 years or they can take retirement before if they feel."

"I guess we both have chosen a path which is filled with endless difficulties." Monami couldn't help but say this line a little dismal.

They both silenced themselves, for two reasons, first they did not know what to say and second they didn't even wanted to say something that would break the silence that was oddly comfortable. But Karan knew that this was the moment when he felt that it is right to say, whatever he wanted to. He always believed in making the time right and not waiting for the time to be right.

"Monami I know ki agar hum decide karte hain ki hum iss rishte ko aage badhate hain toh hume sabse zyada jisme mushkil hogi woh hogi waqt ki kami. Lekin agar hum chahe toh aisa kuch toh definitely kar sakte hain jiss sey hume yeh mushkil itni badi nahi lage." He looked at her with a look that couldn't be deciphered by her but internally he knew what he wanted and that was, he wanted Monami to agree.

(Monami I know that if we decide to take this relationship a step further, the biggest obstacle for us is lack of time. But if we want then we can definitely find a solution so that this hurdle will not be as big as it seems right now.)

"I know ki hume humare gharwalo ne accha khaasa time diya hai ek doosre ko jaan ne ka lekin I do somewhere feel that you are that someone I can spend my entire life with." Karan said a bit softly but firmly.

(I know that our families have given us enough time to know each other but I do...)

The moment Karan said this, Monami who was already looking at him turned a little wide eyed. She was obviously not expecting this.

"Uh Karan, I don't know what to say. I mean I do feel a little easy with you but still I need some time to answer this." Monami muttered softly.

"Of course, please take all the time you want, because it's hardly 3-4 days that we've come to know each other... There is still a lot unsaid. But as we've talked about our own self, with respect to our career, I feel ki abhi bhi aisa bohot kuch hai jo hume pata hona chahiye." Karan affirmed in the beginning and then said with a tone that they cannot proceed further before knowing this.

(I feel that there are still few things that we must be aware of.)

Monami let out a yes and said, "Karan as I said earlier, mai zyada time nahi de paati toh mujhe kabhi kabhi sirf time he Sunday ko milta hai to call and have a day for myself." Monami had to stop seeing a confused look on Karan's face.

(Karan as I said earlier, I can't devote a lot of time and sometimes I get time only on Sundays to call and have a day for myself.)

"What I mean is that for almost a year I was hardly free because we were enrolled in a special training program and hence the time and training didn't allow us to involve in anything which can distract us. But now the training is over, so there is no such obligation and I can have my phone with me but the talking hours will be after 8 at night only." She explained without indulging into deeper depths of the details.

Karan wondered for a few seconds and with a charming smile said, "That shouldn't be a problem then, because I don't find it difficult to stay up a bit to talk to someone."

Monami was a bit flushed, not missing the innuendo in his tone and removed her eyes from him, making him chuckle. But she turned a bit serious when she realised something and looked back at him to which he raised his eyebrows, "Karan I am sure that like any other human being you must want your partner by your side. Especially when you go and play you must at times want my presence to be there aur mai chah kar bhi woh nahi kar paungi. Aur toh aur tum mere saath kahi par koi photo bhi post nahi kar paoge until the next two years. Kisi ko mere baare mein bata nahi paoge, Mujhe lagta hai ki yeh tumhare saath unfair hai. I mean especially when most of your life is infront of people." She raised her concerns and looked at him.

(Especially when you go and play you must, at times would want my presence to be there and no matter how much I ever want, I won't be able to do it. Moreover you won't even be able to post a picture with me and neither you'll be able to share much about me with anyone. I feel all this is unfair to you.)

Karan was listening to her with a smile curved up on his lips as on one hand she said that she wants time and on the other she herself thought from the position of his better half.

He cleared his throat to have her attention on him and it worked, she looked at him and then followed his eyes that were on his hands as they hovered on hers and met his eyes again and after a couple of seconds she blinked her eyes in confirmation. On receiving what he was asking for, he grinned a bit more and kept his palm on the backside of her palm that was placed beside her thigh on the platform they were sitting on.

As they had their very first bodily contact though it was mere touching of their hands, they both felt the fluttery tingles in their bodies and removed their eyes from the their joined hands to each other and held each other captive in their gaze and Monami's heart skipped a beat when Karan tightened his hold on her hand in a comforting manner, well Karan was no different. They both felt so much more than words could ever explain. It was the cold or their giddiness that they were feeling because of the warmth of each other's proximity, it was upto them to decide.

After they caught hold of their quivery jitters, Karan began, "Monami jo tumne kaha , bilkul sahi hai. Mai bhi chahta hoon ki mere saath meri partner ho. Lekin kisi bhi aur cheez se zyada zaroori hai uska mere saath hona, mere paas ya dur rehne se humare saath pe koi fark thodi na padega at least for time being. Aaj tum aur mai jis age mein hain na itna toh mujhe yakeen hai ki hum iss naav mein saath savari kar saktey hain. Aur aisa kisne kaha ki mai tumhare baare mein kisi ko bata nahi sakta ya phir tum mere match mein nahi aa sakti?" He raised his eyebrows and Monami could literally admit it, that this look of his so much more attractive.

(Monami whatever you've said is absolutely correct. Even I want my partner by my side, but most importantly I would want her support it is not necessary if we are close or apart, because I believe it won't affect us at least for time being. Moreover in the age we that we are, I believe we'll sail through this boat together. And who told that I can't share about you or this that you can't be there with me in my match?)

He breathed in a deep breath and continued, "See, I'll be practical and will tell you clearly that how it will work on the raised concerns by you. Jab bhi and I mean it, Jab bhi tum match ke liye aaogi na mujhse zyada ya phir humse zyada aur koi khush nahi hoga and except for my friends, teammates and our circle, no one will even bother you and I'll make sure of it. Except for the cricket board and the said people no one needs to know about you in an upfront manner. And trust me when I say this that they are my second family because more than my family I am around them. Also no doubt that it'll be kind of a necessity that I inform my fans about your presence in my life as well but how to do it without exposing you in public will be done from my team." Karan huffed out a breath.

(Whenever and I mean whenever you'll come for my match then no one will be as elated with the fact more than me or more than us...)

With a twinkling gleam in his eyes and finished off by saying, "Aur vaise bhi yeh waqt sirf humara hoga, kisi ke liye bhi humari jawabdari nahi hogi. Sirf tum aur main nahi, hum honge. Har mission mein aur har match mein, hum ek saath honge. Humara saath aur bharosa ek saath hoga."

(More than anything else, this time will be ours and we won't be answerable to anyone. It won't be only you or me, but us. In every mission and match, it'll be us, together; our togetherness and belief will be in conjunction.)

Monami was actually moved by Karan's words and gestures. She never thought that she'll be overwhelmed by someone and that too when it's just 7:30 or so in the morning. She gave him a simpered a bit coyly.

"By the way I have a thing in my mind that will help us know in a better way. The celebrations of your friend's wedding will begin from today right?" Karan began and paused with a question to which he received a yes from the lady. He continued, "Uh I forgot, what it is today? I mean the function?" He sheepishly grinned and scratched his nape a bit.

Monami chuckled and said, "Its cocktail today. But what is the plan?" She enquired at last.

"Perfect. So what we'll do is that we will go by the initial of first letter of every function that'll be held on each day and will decide jointly that what we would like to share about it, along with it we'll share a bit about each other's close ones with an incident with them. Incident can be funny or the most cherished one, anything." He beamed and his expressions screamed the pride that he was feeling with himself.

Monami was first looking at him like he had grown two horns and then it was the first time she was seeing him grinning like a Cheshire cat which actually made her chuckle, for he was looking funny. Karan coughed a bit and said, "What?" ignoring her eyes.

Monami said a no and then said, "Okay so the letter for today is C, so what about it?"

Karan was actually happy that she accepted this silly game plan of his, "You're up for it?"

"Now do you want me to say otherwise?" Monami raise an eyebrow.

"No, no of course not. Okay so how about college days sprinkled with some craziness?" Karan suggested.

"Hmm, not bad. We can do this." Monami answered in the same formal tone which she used earlier and it made him amused again, as to how she unknowingly behaved or replied in a certain manner as if she was on field.

But Monami actually felt good that they'll start with something as light as college days and not something that would make them uncomfortable.

Monami looked at the beep that came from her smart watch and looked at him as if to say that they should leave now to which he nodded and as they stood up, they realised that none of them even took an account of how Karan's hand never left hers and this though did not made them uncomfortable but definitely tinted their cheeks in a shade of pink and they avoided each other's eyes and moved towards Karan's bike.

Karan asked in a bit shaky voice, "Shall I drop you?" to which he got no as an answer because Monami had to buy some fruits on her way to home and that will take a bit of time.

Quite a talkative morning it was. Let's see how their day will unfold with Sidharth's cocktail party their incidents about each other's college days on board.

                       |~|~|~|~|

So sorry for the delay, got busy with my sectionals. The updates will be once a week now, until I'm accustomed to the new time table.

Anyway I would love to hear your views about this one. Also, give me suggestions about how should their college days look like?

Thank you for all your love ❤️

Please vote, comment and share.

Much love,
Nehal.