'A second lease'-short story

I met a friend after many months. She is a member of the local humor club.

I told her that I have started to write a blog.

"What?"
After all the giggling,she said,"What all do you write in your blog?"

I said,".I write poetry,stories and much more."

She is my good friend and I knew she was pulling my leg wantedly.

She said immediately,"As I was bathing yesterday, I thought of a story .Will you publish it in your blog?"

Thought of a story while bathing.I was worried of what quality it would be.
I started to think,"Many people sing ,think talk to themselves etc.,   etc.,  when they bathe.Why do people choose the bathroom or sometimes toilet to think?What a place to come up with ideas.

But, fast enough I remembered, Archimedes made his most important discovery when he was bathing too.Okay let me listen to his story."

"Sure.I will publish your story if it is good enough.Why not?"I said.

"What is the name of your blog?"he asked me.

"Why not?"

She looked at me as though I had not understood her question.She repeated,"You told me that already.I want to know the name of your blog."

"The name of my blog is 'why not?'"I said.

She began.The story goes like this:

Once a lady met with a serious accident and she was bleeding profusely.People rang up the nearby hospital service.

On her way to the hospital, in the ambulance,her soul left her physical body and reached the gates of God.

God asked her,"Who are you and how old are you?"

She answered,"I am Parimala. I am 40 years old."

God looked very surprised and worried. Then ,he said,"You are not to die today Parimala. You have to live for another 43 years more before your death."

The lady felt very happy. Her soul came back to her physical body.The doctors had resuscitated her.

Once she was discharged from the hospital, she felt happy for her new lease of life.She thought she should enjoy her life to the maximum.

She began to wear modern clothING and use cosmetics extensively, which she had not done to that date.

She got a few plastic surgeries done to uplift her face, and look younger.

She felt her name was outdated and so, started calling herself 'Pammi'.

After about a couple of years, as she was walking on the road,she was hit badly by an ambulance van and died on the spot.

Her soul went to God again and asked,"God, you said I would live for another 43 years. But, you have taken me back in two years .Why have you done this to me?"


God was astonished,"Are you the same parimala whom I sent back to her body a couple of years back?"

She pleaded "Yes.But, why have you done this to me God?"

God said,"Sorry lady, it was all by mistake.I was not able to recognize you.

You look so different now, that I thought you are the 20 year old Pammi who studies in university college."

Parimala was left speechless.

All for friendship's sake

I have many friends who work in the software industry.
One such friend is Girija.


I went to meet her in her office .We usually meet up.
But, that day was different.


She wanted to share something 'cause she was in a confusion.

Scene 1:
Girija's office:
I went to her office and she was already waiting for me.She was in an exceptionally tensed mood.It is very rare for Girija to be tensed.She was not the 'cool cat' that day ,that she usually was.

I was worried,but I had to wait.
We went to the canteen and as we sat there sipping our piping hot coffees, when she started to talk.

"As you know ,Ravi and me loved each other in college and we got married."she reminded me.

"I know that."I said.

"It is one year since both of us are working."

"Yes."I was conscious not to sound my hurry.

"I am pregnant now"she said.

What a relief.

"Hey,Congratulations!


But,is this how you tell me this?


I don't see any happiness.Why?

Is this any new trick you are playing on me?"

"No yaar!I am very happy that I am pregnant.But, the situation at home scares me."

"Why ,are your in-laws troubling you?"

"No. They are very good to me."

"Then is it Ravi?"(Not possible, my mind said)

"No.This is tricky."she said.

"Why?What is it then?Maybe the kid does not like it.Right?"

"Stop teasing me.Can you never be seroius?

After a while she continued,
"I was always a high performer in college. You know that Ravi started noticing me due to this.
He admires me for my intelligence and capacity even today."
If he comes to know I am pregnant...

She stopped half-way and gave me a worried look.

For what I knew of Ravi,it only brought me to chuckles.

After a bit of consoling and some more time, she continued,"I think he will not like me to take a break in
my career.He always says that women are no way lesser than men.
He encourages and still admires me for my credits in office.

What if he does not want me to stay at home and take care of the child but, to continue going to office after delivery?"

"Hey, stop.Stop.Are you going paranoid?"I asked her.

"No. I have reason for this worry."she answered

"What reason?".

Just a week before, I was appraised for a promotion and he was so happy.At that moment ,it made me very proud of him but, now I am scared."

"Then why don't you talk it with Ravi?"I asked.

"I am scared.If he does not agree.,it will be very difficult for me to take it."

"So, what are you going to do about this?"I enquired.

You are a common friend to ours. Will you talk this to him for my sake?"

"What? Me? About this?
It is so personal,how can I talk this to him?
No chance."

"Please.You are my best friend.
Please do this for me."

"Okay,I will try.But, what do you want me to convey to him ?"

"I want him to know that I have enjoyed my mother being with me whenever I needed her most.

 She always had the time when I needed it.

I want to give the same happiness to my child.

Will you please make him understand this?"

Okay. I will try to talk and find out what he thinks.Beyond that, it is your lookout.Okay?"

"Okay."It was a worried okay.

I knew there should not be no problem.I knew Ravi very well for that.I have admired him for his good and soft nature.But,I had to respect her feelings.

So,I talked to Ravi and asked him for his time.Long time since I had met him too.
It was fixed that we meet the next day evening in his office.

Scene 2:
Ravi's office:
I was in his office exactly at 6pm,as decided.He was very curious.

"Hi, long time no see.How are you?What happened? You called me urgently."he enquired.

"I am fine.Wanted to talk to you .Thats all.
 How is life?"

"What for me? I am very happy. Giri(Girija)is such a darling.My parents like her very much.
I am very lucky."

I hesitated. "I...er... wanted to talk you about something else too ,"I stammered.

"What?"

"Girija is a bit worried."I said.

About what?She did not tell anything even today morning.She was fine.Any problem?"he asked .

"Not a problem.But she has a doubt in her mind."

"What doubt?"

ER...er...How important is Girija's work for you?"

Why this question suddenly?Does she want to resign her job?
It is her wish.My salary is enough for us to run a our family.

But, I thought she was a  career - oriented woman.She is a high performer in office and I thought she would be the one not wanting to resign."

Saying so he looked at my face for my reaction.

"How would you feel if I say that Girija is pregnant?Would you feel bad if she resigns her job?

"What?Giri is pregnant?(He was literally in tears.)
Are you serious?

But,...er...she was a bit worried to tell you... (He was not there to hear me out.)

"Ravi where are you?"

I knew he would have gone straight to meet Girija in her office.

I saw him jumping and laughing, as he passed through the corridor.


I felt very happy for the couple but, tears rolled down my cheeks.He loves Girija so much.
"Will he ever know that I loved him the same way?"

I told myself,"Crazy girl."

Lovely triangle-short story

I am a news reporter.Today I have come to Dhruv's house in the hope of getting a sizzling story .
I happen to get this scoop 'cause Dhruv and me happen to have a common friend.

Scene 1:
Both Ragini and Dhruv were starting to office in a big hurry.

 Once I introduced myself as Hari's friend,they squeezed in a few minutes to answer me in small bouts,before they left.


"Hi, are you Ragini?"

Ragini,
 as she started to office

"I am Ragini.I am Dhruv's wife. Catch you later.I am in a hurry today."
She is gone.

"Hi ,you must be Dhruv. Right?"

"Ya, I am Dhruv.This is my mother Laxmi."

I say a hello.Then I continue,

"I want to talk to you.When can you find time?"

"I am very busy this week.Shall we meet in the weekend?"

"Okay.No problems.I'll meet you at 11a.m on Saturday."

I flash a quick smile to Laxmi and Dhruv and leave the place 'cause he is in a great hurry.

Scene 2:
Dhruv's house on Saturday ,11am.

"How was your day yesterday?You were in a big hurry."

"Ya. Kind of okay."

I was quite used to listening to such not-so-happy official statements now-a-days.So, when I heard it ,I felt an unknown surge of triumph in me.
After a few pleasantries I asked,"Are you ready to talk now?"

"Yes .Sure.
I can see you are a news reporter but, what do you want to talk about?I agreed to talk to you 'cause your friend Hari is a very good friend of mine."

"I heard from Hari about your mother that...err...(I was reluctant to continue).

Dhruv was angry at me initially but, on knowing I did not mean harm,he started to talk.

"My father came from a very poor family and so did my mother.
They loved each other and got married.But, my father died even before I was born.His drinking habit dragged him to the grave.Liver cirrhosis.(Point to be noted.)


My father's and mother's family were poor .So, they found it very difficult to support us.Yet,they helped my mother with whatever they had ,till I was born.


Once I was born ,my mother tried to get a job but, many were interested in her youth than her sincerity of work.

Myself and Dhruv

Poverty and helplessness pushed her into the profession."

"Have you ever been angry with your mother for having chosen this profession even in dire situations?"

"How can I be angry with her.If it were only her, she would have managed to live on meagre.She took this up for my sake.I was an indirect cause for her condition.


But, as I grew up,I felt very sad for her plight and decided that I would grow up to pull her out of this mire."

"How did you meet Ragini?"

Just then Ragini came into the room with two cups of hot, piping coffee.

"Thank you",I said.

"It will be better if she answers this question",Dhruv said coyly.

"What question?"she asked.

"He wants to know how we met?"Dhruv briefed her.

"Our meeting was most unexpected.We met in an orphanage on an independence day.
He was there to distribute sweets to the children.I was there as usual."

"Why do say 'as usual'?Do you go to the orphanage regularly?"I intervened.

"Actually, it is my home. I grew up in that orphanage."
She paused for a few seconds.


"But, the people in the orphanage did their best not to let me feel alone.I have many happy childhood memories to that place.So, I go there whenever possible and do my best for them."

"How did both of you fall in love?"I asked.

"We did not fall in love."

"Then?I thought this was a love story."

"It is a love story.But,I fell in love with his mother(saying this, she gave a big sheepish smile!)


Once,he had brought his mother to the orphanage.We had to stay there the whole day ,literally to organize a function and I noticed that Laxmima was so loving and caring to all the children.They were so easily drawn towards her and so was I.


I always used to think how my life would be if I had had my parents with me."

Dhruv intervened and said,"not only was Ragini drawn towards my mother,it was the other way round too. That day my mother came back from the orphanage and was talking about Ragini till late into the night.


I had always wanted to see my mother happy.I thought, if she liked this girl so much,why don't I marry her?


So, I proposed to Ragini the next time I met her and Ragini agreed without a second thought.


I told her about my mother's past life but, that did not seem to matter much to her."

I was lost for words.

Dhruv's mother just then came walking towards me .She had a request.

"All these happenings, my children told you, because you know Dhruv's best friend.
But, this was only for you as a friend.Kindly,do not put this down on print.

Not that it will affect me.I am beyond all that now.But, they have just now placed their first step as man and wife.

I don't want anything to affect my children in anyway.



Please,this a humble request from me."

"Respecting the mother's request I did not publish it on paper.


But, one sentence haunted me ,


"I don't want anything to affect my children in anyway."

Blessed children.

Youthful days.Thoughtful ways!

Raghu had called his friend Sajan to come and pick him up at the coffee shop.When Sajan came ,he saw Raghu,Kavita and Joseph walk away in different directions.

What had happened between them?

What would have affected such a beautiful friendship?

To get the answer to this question,we have to first look into the lives of the three friends.

Raghu,Kavita and Joseph were co-workers in a factory.

They joined the factory at around the same time.They were young minds who gave all their time and energy into their work.

But, as days rolled into months ,the boys could not resist but, notice that Kavita was very stunning.It was not about her complexion , it was something about her personality.

She was a very pleasant but, a strong girl and she had a mind of her own.The boys admired her very much.
The three of them formed a strong friendship.

But,as cupid would have it,this liking started to grow in them and even before they knew it, their friendship had developed into love.

It was becoming obvious to everyone that the two boys were vying for Kavita .
They kept looking at her whenever the chance permitted.They always waited for her during lunchtime and exit times and volunteered to help her out frequently.

Slowly, the mild competition became a cold war between the boys.
This affected their friendship.

 The boys wanted to put an end to this and proposed openly to Kavita. They wanted to know what she thought about this.

So, now the ball was in Kavitha's court.She had to decide and soon.

Many thoughts of the two boys raced in her mind.

Raghu:

handsome

boy from affluent family

good position in factory

pampered and only kid of his parents

Joseph:
normal looks
average family background
no father
takes care of mother and unmarried sister

At the near-by coffee shop:

The boys and Kavita  met on the planned date.

As the boys waited for Kavita's reply,

Raghu thought:
Kavita will surely marry me.I know she admires my looks.
She is into debts now. So, my sound financial background will come in handy to make her life.


Anyways, Joseph is of a different faith.He is not very well-to-do.
She will never choose him cause it will only continue her life of financial misery.


She is smart girl.


She has no other choice but, me.

Joseph came in thoughtfully:


Kavita always admires my responsible nature.So, taking care of my family should not be a problem for her.
Moreover,she has told me many times that religion should never come between relationships.


She admires my loving and understanding nature.She is a smart girl.


She will only select me, as her husband.

The boys were abruptly pulled down from their thoughts into real-life.Kavitha started to speak.

"I have decided a few things in my mind.I hope you will understand me in the right sense.

As both of you know,I got this job when my father passed away while at work.

So, I have my mother and brother's responsibility on me.
This is enough for me now.I will not be able to shoulder anymore responsibility.I am sorry Joseph.

Joseph was crest-falle.He started to leave.

 Raghu was overjoyed.He knew she had taken the right decision.

But, Kavita continued,
Joseph wait for a second.Listen to me before you leave.

You know that after my father passed away about four years back,I have had to adjust to many situations in my life much against my will.This has left a bad taste in me.

If I marry Raghu, I will always have to adjust to him because he is not used to taking a 'no'.
Raghu has himself told me many times that he is a pampered child and that always he is used to his parents doing his bidding.This will become a very big strain on me.So, I am sorry Raghu.

As for now, we will all be good friends and go on with our jobs as before.
We will see what life has in store for us.

Where will these paths lead?

The boys never expected her to say such a thing.They always thought she would choose one of them.They were taken aback.

But, all said and done, they were her friends.So, they respected her feelings and accepted what she said.

Raghu decided:
I will try to change my adamant nature and win over her heart.

Joseph :
Once my sister and her brother are settled into good jobs,we only need take care of the mothers.Anyways, four salaries can be poured into repaying her debts.


So, he was ready to wait till that fine day dawned.

Kavita was much relieved having talked out her mind to her friends.

So, all the three friends went their own ways.

Better luck next time guys!

Common point-Short story

Katrina and Karan were at the same college,but, different subjects.
But, this did not stop them from falling in love with each other.

The subjects they studied were not the only things that seperated them.They were of different religions.

Over the years at college, their love for each other grew to great depths.
They decided they could not live without each other.

But, to make a life together,their parents objection was the first of the many hurdles they had to cross.

                                                                              Katrina came from a lower middle -class family and her father had divorced her mother years before.

Karan was from an upper middle-class family.But, his father had left them when he was a kid.

Since both their mothers were single-parents, it was easier to convince their mothers in that point.
It gave a soft corner between the mothers.

They did all the necessary things to make the mothers agree to meet.

Finally,the 'D' -day came.

The lovers' mothers were to meet at a restaurant.The lovers waited with bated breath.

Both Katrina's and Karan's mothers exchanged pleasantries .They were very comfortable with each other that after a while they began to talk freely. The lovers were at ease now.They thought they could have a bit of personal time.They went out for a stroll.

Then,all of a sudden,Karan's mother started to cry.


She lamented,"What do I say?After my husband divorced me,it was a big struggle to bring up my son.I have never been able to forgive him.He left me when Karan was just 1 year old.That too for another woman."

Katrina's mother felt sad for her.

She said,"I resonate your thoughts.My husband too gave me 'talaq' for the sake of another woman.

I can never forget Kalif.
I don't know why.

Katrina loved him so much.But, now after seeing all my ordeals day-in and day-out,she has lost all love for her father.
He has lost a loving daughter for ever.
He has never once come back to see us."


Karan's mother understood her pain now.
She said,"I don't know how my husband did not feel any guilt or love when he decided to divorce me.He could have stayed back for his son at least. Karan has lost a father's support throughout his life.


I don't talk about his father with him at all now-a-days.It makes him sad."


She took a deep breath and continued,"But, I can never forget the wonderful days I had with Kalif.
Those were the golden days."


Katrina's mother was surprised and cynical at the same time."What?Did you say Kalif?Look at the co-incidence.

My husband's name was also Kalif."


Karan's mother continued,"I see.
My husband was very proud of his name.'Fakruddin Kalif'.He was a handsome and smart man.He was well read and had a handsome salary working at American Bank."

Katrina's mother almost fainted."Did you say Fakruddin Kalif from American Bank?"

"Yes.Why?"

Katrina's mother could barely hear herself."He is the same person whom I was married to."

"My god!I think Kalif will never stop giving us pain."


She could not talk for a few seconds.Then she said,


"Then it was us.Now it is our children."

"Why do you say that?"asked Katrina's mother innocently.

"If both you and me were wedded to the same man then,Katrina is a half-sister to Karan.How can they get married?"

To this Katrina's mother retorted,"Don't say that madam.They love each other too much to get separated.
I think we should put a fullstop to Kalif's interference in our lives."

"I would love to .But, how?"

Katrina's mother said,"We have managed to live our lives and bring up our children after much of struggles.Our only life ambition now ,is to see them get happily settled.We should not allow anything or anyone spoil that.

"Very true.but, how can we do this?"

Katrina's mother thought for a while.Then ,"Only you and me know the common secret about Kalif.We will allow it to be a secret for the rest of our lives.What do you say?"

"I am scared but, no one has the right to spoil our peace,especially in the name of Kalif.
May god be with us."

Both the mothers agreed for the marriage and Katrina and Karan got their marriage registered the following week.

They lived happily ever after .

As for the secret,
it slept at the depths of the mothers' hearts for ever and for ever.

'External affairs'-short story

Helen loved Rajeev very much.So did Rajeev.

They worked in the same office.
But, they did not want anyone to know about their love.
So, they decided that they will meet outside office-in a resort.

They planned for it well.
Helen told her boss that she was not feeling well so, she needed a couple of days leave.
Rajeev said he had to attend to his mother who was sick.

So, they set out to a resort to have a great time together.

They told their families that they have office meetings and so, they had to leave town.

                                            Most unexpectedly,Rajeev's mother met with an accident.
His sister admitted her mother in hospital and came to office to get his contact address and phone number. Rajeev had switched off his cellphone.

The boss was confused and informed the girl that there was no meeting taking place anywhere else.
But,he decided he had to find out the truth behind all this.

He told the girl that Rajeev had applied for leave to attend to his ailing mother.

Rajeev's sister was confused too.She said that her mother fell down in the bathroom just an hour back.
She had been quite fine till then.

Listening to this,the boss became very angry.

But, he could not do anything in the situation.He had to wait.

                                            The next day,the boss went to the 'ATM' counter near his house and on his way back ,he saw something that took his breath away.He saw Rajeev and Helen at the taxi stand,lost in their own world.

The boss caught them red-handed.

He said to Rajeev,"You must be ashamed of yourself.You said your mother was very sick when actually she was not.Your bad intentions have really affected you now.Your mother slipped in the bathroom and she is in the hospital."

He was angry with Helen too.So, she too got to hear her part of the music.

The boss said that the right punishment for them would be to let their family know what they really are. So, he took Rajeev and Helen to the hospital where Kishen's mother was admitted.

The boss went into the room to see Rajeev's mother.

Both Rajeev and Helen waited for the worst but, nothing happened.
After a while,they went into the room and were astonished to see their boss begging forgiveness from Rajeev's mother.

Rajeev had a galore of questions in his mind.
Who is he?How does he know my mother?Why is he pleading guilty?

After much of prodding,his mother said that 'the boss'was actually his father who had deserted them even before Rajeev was born.

Rajeev was dumb-struck but, it was now Helen's turn to talk.

When the boss came out of the room she thought it was the right opportunity.
She said,"Sir, you have no right to scold or embarrass Rajeev and me, in front of our family.It is our own wish to do what we want.
We have only spent a couple of days together at a resort.It is much better than the behaviour you have shown.

                                       Helen was very happy for having given it back on the same coin to her boss.
With a contented feeling she turned to leave, when she felt someone looking at her from the pharmacy next door.

Who was it?

My God!It was her husband.

Would he have heard all that she told her boss now?

Short story-'Working deliveries'

Rabi and Sanya were a working couple.They were holding good positions in their respective offices.They not only cherished the monetary benefit that it brought them but, also the power and respect it gave them.


Everything seemed fine till sanya got pregnant.It was an unexpected pregnancy and sanya did not want to have the child.


Both rabi and sanya's parents promised to help them in bringing up the child.Though, half-heartedly, Sanya agreed to have the kid , she was concerned about her career .She managed to attend office till the due date.Finally, she delivered the baby.


It was a baby boy and they named him Kalil.


Sanya was back to office once her maternity holidays were over and Kalil was handed over to Sanya's parents.

Kalil grew up with his parents' parents-sometimes Sanya's sometimes Rabi's.Though Kalil was not lonely,he always missed his parents.But, his parents were very busy with their careers and were left with no energy for him in the evenings.


Days rolled by and Kalil grew up .


Rabi and Sanya had always bought him the finest of toys and clothes.He studied in the best school in town.
So, as usual they admitted him into one of the finest colleges.


By the time Kalil finished college, his grandparents had passed away one after the other.


It was time for Rabi's retirment too.He thought,"I can relax now,after all the years of toiling."


But, we cannot decide our fate.


Kalil fell in love with a girl named Banu,in college, and soon they got married.


Both Kalil and Banu were top ranking students so, they were selected into prime companies for employment.Their offices were close to each other,so Kalil dropped her at office everyday.


By this time,Sanya had retired from service.She was at home and so, she took it upon herself to run the house.Rabi also pitched in,now and then, to help her.


One night when Rabi and Sanya were alone,Rabi asked,"What about our world trip plans?We have retired,our son earns well and we have a sound finance now.Why don't we talk about this to Kalil?"


To this Sanya retorted,"How can we go?Both of them go for jobs and we are left to do all the care- taking of the house.Sometimes, I think we should move out and stay alone.Then we can go ahead with all our plans."


Meanwhile,Banu became pregnant and she delivered a beautiful baby girl on the due date .Three months flew away so fast and again it was time for Banu to join office.


Sanya and Rabi were more worried than happy,about their grand-daughter.


 Sanya told Rabi," If Banu joins office, bringing up the child will become our responsibility.We are weak now and taking care of an infant calls for lot of work.I am scared that Kalil will expect us to help them grow the child."Saying so, Sanya began to cry.


Rabi was scared too but, they were defenceless against their son.They had left him with Sanya's parents when he was just an infant.Sanya or Rabi had not shown interest in playing or talking to Kalil.


They were more into driving their careers up the charts and had not bothered about their relationship with their son, which was going down the drain.


With these thoughts Sanya and Rabi went to sleep.


It was the next day and all of them were having their breakfast.
Kalil began to speak."Mom and Dad,we wanted to tell you both about a decision we have taken."


Just as Kalil said this, all the thoughts of the previous night rushed through the minds of Sanya and Rabi.


Kalil continued,"Banu and I think it is more important that she takes care of the child, than earn money, at this juncture. If she joins office now,she will have to sacrifice all her precious time with the child.
I don't want my child to suffer like how I did.I missed dad and you in all the confusing and difficult stages as a child.


                         Secondly,dad and you are old now.You sometimes find it difficult to manage the household.We don't want to burden you additionally by asking you both to attend to our child.
I have seen how many difficulties my grandparents went through to take care of me. I don't want you to suffer in the same way."


Sanya and Rabi felt very guilty for having been very selfish in their life and for having been indifferent to the hardships of their parents and of Kalil.They realized their mistake ,when they are at the same threshold of life as their parents had been, years back.


They were very proud of their son for being sensitive of their plight.But, they cannot give back all the yester years in his life ,which he has lost,missing them.


But, they can surely do something and thats what they did.
They decided to stall all plans for their world trip.


They will stay with Kalil and his family and give them all the time and support that they had missed to give him before.


Medical note:

 According to developmental neurology(a science that studies the growth of a child), a mother should  take care of her child till it is 5 years old or atleast till it is 3 years old.This helps to give a strong physical and mental basis for the child for the rest of its life.It will also give a strong bonding between the mother and child.


The emotional component of a child is as important as its body.So,spending time to help the child grow emotionally is equally important spending time to help him grow physically. It is not very difficult-just listen to the child and believe in him.

Short story-Memories

James and Rani were a beautiful pair.It seemed they were 'made for each other'.

They had loved each other in college and had got married, against many odds.They have lived happily for a year now.

It was their first wedding anniversary and they wanted to celebrate it pompously.

They had called all their friends.Since both of them were working on full-time jobs,they had a huge crowd to welcome.

James and Rani had a great time with their friends ; till James saw Raj.

Raj was a handsome and smart , young bachelor who worked in Rani's office.He is a good friend of her's too.

Rani used to mention about Raj occasionally, to James, whenever he had helped her out with problems in office.

James had not thought much about him till then.

Raj's striking looks and sharp intellect created an inferiority complex in James.

The function was over and all the friends had left.

But, Raj had not left James thoughts.He was here to stay.

James started asking his wife periodcaly about Raj and as to what she felt about him.Rani did not take these questions seriously in the beginning.But, slowly she started to sense changes in James' behavior.

James was falling a prey to suspicion day by day.

This affected his normal life and his relationship with his wife worsened.

At one point, James' fear reached fever pitch and he could not hold it back any longer.

He burst out at his wife with all animosity and allegations.

Rani was totally shattered and did not know how to respond.

She cried her heart out, but to no avail.Then, she thought going out to office would ease her nerves.She started to office.

Even then ,she could not bear to think that her husband could suspect her with someone else.

With all her mind clogged with these thoughts, she forgot to check the signals before crossing the lane.Fortune did not favor Rani that day.

She had a bad accident on her way, close to office and her head was injured.

She was admitted into the intensive care unit of a nearby hospital by her erstwhile friend Raj.

James rushed to see his dear wife, on hearing the news.

Rani took a few weeks to regain consciousness.

Rani's parents and James 'parents had come over to see her.

The doctor took Rani through a series of tests and declared that all her senses were back to normal.

But, that he cannot say anything about her memories.

All her friends and relatives came to see her.There was a big crowd at the hospital.

But, she remembered none.

She did not remember james too.

She only remembered the person who carried her to the hospital ,immediately after the accident -her friend- her friend Raj.

So, Raj, Rani and James live in the same flat now-a-days.James and Raj have decided on this arrangement till Rani remembers James.

All this on James request.

Note:

Today is James' and Rani's second wedding anniversary.But, she knows nothing of it.

James never had the guts to tell Raj what he had thought about him.Staying with Raj for one year made him realize what a fool he had been to think so.