"Change-a-thon. Are you ready to join the league?"

"Mamma, did you see the dirt at the end of our lane. We must do something.", exclaimed Adrian, a class 9th student. 

"What are you going to do son? Are you going to clean it or something?", chuckled his mother. 

"I will do something mom, something.", replied the determined Adrian. 

After a lot of contemplation, that evening Adrian took his bicycle and went around Harrington Road, clicking a few pictures.

  

He wrote an article to the local newspaper, "Avenues Harrington Road"  in Chetpet, Chennai attaching the photos above. This 13 year old did something that was remarkable and truly praiseworthy. The article in the newspaper spread like waves and immediately the garbage was cleared and Adrian became the "Hero" of the locality overnight. 

 

After this success there was no looking back for Adrian, he recently published another article called "The terrible Indian disease". (Thoughts of Cancer and Aids would have crossed your minds). Alas there is another disease that many Indians are infested with. The disease of "Urinating" at any place where they can sit and where no one is watching. Adrian provides a very effective solution to this saying that just like putting "No parking" boards, boards such as "Only dogs urinate here" or "Idiots are welcome to urinate here" can be displayed. Sarcastic yet effective isn't it?

"Be the change you want to see in the world"

This famous quote by the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi pertinently explains the above incident and has truly inspired me to write this blog. We are surrounded by a number of social issues that leave us perplexed. We sulk, fuss and complain about it but never do we realize that somewhere we can make a change. 

Just make a difference, raise your self-confidence, have a positive attitude about yourself and a small seed sown will bloom into a beautiful garden. 
When a 9th class student could awaken to the social problems overnight, why can't we ????????
 We dream of a better India, we want a better future for our kids but all we do is only complain. 
The questions that raise within ourselves are "Why don't others realize?","Why can't the government take steps?". 
Have we ever asked questions like, "When will i realize?", "Why can't I make a change?"  

I firmly believe in a quote by Barack Obama, The American President.

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time, we are the ones we've been waiting for."

 Do you complain about the ever increasing heat everyday?

Wait and look back, we are the cause of it. "Global warming" is taking place because we wanted a luxurious lifestyle. What can we do at our end?

 

• Reduce using plastic and switch to more of natural stuff. You can use the newspaper at home to make paper bags and use them for your daily marketing. The other day i was reading an article which said that in many places in OOTY plastic is not used at all. When people in small hill stations can behave so matured, why do we still behave immature? Will it cost us more to use paper bags? Yes it will. But will it be more costly than the anti-tan creams you use to protect your skin from the sun.
• Drive smart: If you and you colleague drive to the same destination you can take turns in using your vehicles. Less fuel, less pollution and destination reached.
• Plant a tree and keep the heat away.
• Rain water harvesting is another step that you can take to beat the heat and not rely on tankers for that extra litre of water.

 "Why are these roads so dirty?"

 Is this what you sulk about everyday?

 We want our homes clean, we even want the porch to be clean and what do we do? Drop garbage in our neighbor's porch? Ridiculous isn't it?  You don't have to go around cleaning it. Throw your waste in the proper dustbins (who knows seeing you do this you may have a lot of followers too).

 "We organize another big protest: Anna Hazare" 
This headline hit the front page of various prominent newspapers and news channels.

 

 It made me proud to be a citizen of a country where revolutionists like Anna live. Many of us would have wanted to join the campaign against corruption. But do we realize that we too are victims and enhancers of this. Why is it that we always wait for people like Anna Hazare to come ahead and open our eyes, when will we begin to quest for the Hazare in us? Next time think twice before paying bribe to get your passport or visa work done faster.

 "I am scared I may land up having cancer because I am a victim of passive smoking". 
You have a family member who smokes continuously and are irritated about it.  

Worst part, I have often noticed that the men carrying infants often smoke. How irritating it is? We watch a lot of hoardings with pictures of a man with burnt lungs and sometimes make fun of it. Have we ever realized that someday we could be victims too. Even after knowing the reality if you feel that the longing for smoking is higher that the aftermath, then very well go ahead and spoil your life. But you do not have the right to spoil the life of the people you live with. Do you want to see your child or your wife in the ICU battling for life because of your lanky and atrocious addiction?

 India has 4% of the World's water and studies show that India will be a water-stressed nation by 2010. It's time to awaken and face the reality. I wouldn't say "conserve water " but surely using a bucket less of water everyday while bathing would suffice. Using the water that you use to wash vegetables can be used to water the plants in your garden.

As i write this blog as a part of the contest "Time to change" , I acknowledge the advertisement by Stayfree where the youngster helps the old couple and brings about a change in her friend's way of thinking.

 The above issues cover the day to day problems we are meted to. However, there are various other problems today that show the dark reality that our country is infested with. Rape cases, murder in broad daylight, female infanticide, gender bias, differences on caste, poverty, child abuse, domestic violence  against women, alcoholism, population etc are social issues that need to be addressed. 



A mother is a life giver, a sister is a life support, a wife is the best companion and a woman on the whole is an enigma who needs to be understood, nurtured and taken care of.

Can we help in these situations? I say a "yes".  If we come across such problems we can inform the concerned bodies like NGO's to look into the matter or probably write an article in the newspaper like Adrian to make people aware of it.

 Movies and short films are released on various social issues. 

We watch them and enjoy them but do we reciprocate? 

Do we come back home and contemplate on what we saw or cover our faces with blankets and fall asleep? The reality is that the blanket has become a mask that we use to cover ourselves to the pitiful site outside that we are ashamed of and wake up the next day to think on how we can cheat someone or on how we can make more money. Even if someone goes ahead to fight for a cause, we ridicule him and pull him down. If we can't find our calling, the least we can do is support the other and encourage him.

We are lazy and weak hearted to realize that change starts at our home, change starts from us. It is a process of realizing the problem, gathering courage to face it, contemplating on it’s solution and having the strength to fight for it.

Be rigid with yourself, gear up before it’s too late, join the bandwagon in making your world conducive. Now is the time to change.

Are you ready to make a change? Are you willing to take up the banner in creating a beautiful morrow?  Are you ready to create a "RENAISSANCE"?

Do you dream of a better future? Don't wait for another Mahatma?  Find the Mahatma in yourself.

Kindle your spirits and enlighten yourself. The change lies within you, quest your innate abilities and make your mark.

The time to change is now,

Stop, wait and take a vow.

Be the change you wish to see,

Reach your goal and never flee.

Open your eyes to face the truth,
Challenges are many and you will have to fight.

Dream for a better future,

Let this be your juncture.

The moon is not far to reach,
When Niel could, why cant you beseech.

Change you thoughts, let it begin with you
Heal the world and see it anew. 

IT'S THE TIME TO CHANGE!!!
MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE!!!

This post has been written as an entry to the contest "TIME TO CHANGE" ( Be the voice of change and tell us what you would want to change). If you are a part of Indiblogger you can vote for my post here. 

Fantasy, Guitar and Her

"Next please", shouted the teller at the ticket counter in the nungambakkan railway station. I had just entered the long queue to collect my ticket to Tirusulam. I was busy in a conversation with Jai, my close friend, "Hey buddy, did you hear about Dravid's retirement?". "Yeah, it was very melancholic to hear that :( ", exclaimed a disheartened Jai.

I finally peeped to see the beginning of the queue and that was when my eyes caught something very alluring. Giving a second glance, my eyes caught a resplendent beauty. She stood ahead of me in a purple top and a knee length white skirt which had blue colored printed flowers on it. A few strands of her hair were flying in the air due to the mild breeze. She was carrying a guitar in one hand and a handbag in the other. I found her fiddling with her purse for some change to buy the ticket. Turning around, she asked me, "Do you have change for 100 Rs. ?" "Sorry, I don't have change but i can surely buy you a ticket." I responded, overly joyous to help her out. I gave her the ticket and she left the counter with a smile.

Oh and before I move ahead, My name is Karthik, I am a sound Engineer and have a passion for Guita and Music. I work in a music studio at Nungambakkam and music is my zeal. My friend Jai and I work together at the same studio and travel in the evening trains. Moving back to where i stopped, Jai and I walked to the platform and found her standing for the train.

 I wanted to strike a conversation with her but refrained from doing so as I may loose the freedom to look at her. And not to forget her guitar which was also captivating gave me a reason to step closer and talk to her.
"Hi, that's a nice guitar that you are carrying, Ibanez is it?"
"Yes, my boyfriend gifted me for my birthday", she replied with a shy smile.KSHH!! CRACK! SHCHING! CLASH!! My heart broke into multiple pieces. :( How i wish i hadn't heard what she just said."It ok Karthik, there is always a next time :P".I consoled myself and walked away to wait for my train.

 She came across and started talking. Her name was Kiera and she was pursuing her MSW at Loyola. Seeing her interested in my music book, I told her about my passion and profession.
"I wanna learn playing the guitar" 
"Then why dont you join some good classes", I replied.
"I go for classes at college, but the teacher is not that good. Do you know of any other good tutors?" 
I asked her excitedly, "Can I teach you? :D". She readily accepted and I started my guitar and "trying my luck on her :P " classes from the next day. It did not take long for us to become close friends and the saga of texting and chatting started. Every evening she entered the studio and I would be like,"OMG!!! Did God take extra time in sculpting her".We used to walk to the station together and the conversation with Jai had almost reached ground zero.

Days went by and after a galore of time she went missing, her mobile was off and there was no news about her. I was really upset and one fine day i got a call from  Kiera  . She had broken up with her boyfriend and her life was in a devastated condition. She said she din't want to live anymore. I pleaded asking her to stop talking crap. A few days passed and she was back to normal with a lot of support from me. Our meetings and classes resumed and  I tried to give her as much peace as I could. One day i played a romantic number for her and at the end of it, I said " Kiera  , I fell in love with you the minute i saw you flip your hair back that evening when you asked me for change and as i went mad that day i want you to be crazy for you for the rest of my life. Will you marry me? " She was astounded and she got up and left the class.

I din't like what she did, She again went missing for a couple of weeks. I kept getting irritated with everything and everyone around me. With every message and call on my phone I wished it was her's. After around 3 weeks ( which was almost a century for me) I was bewildered when i received a call from her to meet her at CCD. We started talking about wierd things and suddenly she asked me, "Karthik, Do you still love me? That day i was scared to fall in love again but now I  feel if not you then who else?" The earth moved from beneath my feet and I could hear a million angels playing the guitar around me. We had fallen in love and within a year got married and were blessed with twins.

One day  Kiera  became poignant and wanted to revisit the old memories. We went to the station and sat on the same bench waiting for the train. She wanted a cup of coffee and I went to buy her one.
Wait someone is patting me from behind.
"Kiera, take the coffee."

Again i hear someone patting me and calling me.
"Karthik, Karthik, Listen to me"

"Where is Kiera gone, she was just sitting at the bench a while ago. Oh god will you please wait i am searching for my wife", I shouted and turned back >.<.

"Karthik, this is the last train left for the day, do you wanna go home or are you planning to spend the rest of the night here in the station?"

I sulked and shouted back at Jai, "You insane, you spoilt my beautiful dream". And alas that was the end of my fantasy. :(

That was when i started living - Part 2

Anu stood anxious at the gates of Child's Mission hospital as she was always afraid of hospitals and doctors.She had carried the little girl with the help of the driver and bought her to this place. Lost in her own thoughts, she failed to hear the voice of Dr.Verma who had been trying to converse with her for quite sometime now. He questioned, "Mrs, Anu, can you please give me the details of the patient and how are you related to her?"

Anu replied with a worried expression, "I do not know who she is, but i found her in a pool of dirty water and she was unconscious. I bought her here and i am willing to take her responsibility. "
After thorough investigation it was found that she was suffering from acute pneumonia and it would take a day or two to give a complete report on her health.

You were my shining light,
Refining my life bright.

Come back to me forever,
For i promise to lose you never.

I wait and walk thither,
That you would wave and come hither.

It was the longest wait of her life more than the wait Obama would have undergone to become the president. After 2 days of patience Dr. Verma finally relieved her by saying, "Mrs, Anu, she is better now and out of danger too. You can meet her now". Anu's joy knew no bounds. She ran to the Grotto of Mother Mary near the hospital and thanked her. 

It was the most beautiful morning of her life after a long time. Anu had brought Riu home to stay with her. Yes, the little girl was Riu. Anu managed to finally get to know her name after a long intervention with her. 
"Will you come to stay with me at my house?" Anu had asked her earnestly. 
She replied with a light smile curving her lips to an end, "Ok"

The first thing that Anu wanted to know was who she was and where did she come from. Although it dint matter to her but she wanted to gain Riu's confidence in her. Anu soon started getting to know Riu more, her likes and dislikes had become a priority for Anu. Everytime she asked something related to Riu's parents, Riu would become quiet and not talk to her for a long time. 

One morning when she woke up she found Riu sitting in the balcony alone. She was crying. Anu went close to her and sat next to her with curious eyes. Riu saw her and hugged her. "Thank you Anu Maam(That was how Riu addressed her) My parents had sold me to that man on the street. I tried to run from him and that was when i slipped and fell in the subway when you found me"

I thought my life was lost,
Grief and strife was free at cost.

Shattered dreams and  hopes all lost,
You suffered more than I ever thought.

Happiness is when you started sharing,
And that was when I started living.

And since then Riu had become Anu's life. She started coming back home early, started spending time for her, helped her with her studies and guided her in every way she could. Riu counted on her for everything and soon adjusted with her. Every evening the two of them would spend time in the garden. Anu, gained strength every time she saw Riu smile. Her morning's now started differently, She cooked for Riu and drove her to school. She head become her world and her cosmos. Suddenly her life started changing, she started living for someone else and started being happy. 

It was the 15th of February, and like everyday Anu dressed Riu for school and opened the door. To her surprise she saw Arun standing at the door. It had exactly been a year since she had seen him. He looked as though he hadn't eaten properly for days. His eyes were red and his cheeks were covered with tears . Seeing his agony, Anu wanted to hug him, caress him but then she had lately realized that she had actually got over Arun. The pain and the grief that he had given had all been erased by the love and happiness that Riu gave her.

He took her by surprise and said, "Anu, I need you back in my life. I realized my mistake and the pain that i had given you. I feel disgusted that I ever let you out of my life. " Oh these were the words Anu had waited to hear, her heart started beating faster than ever when she saw Arun standing before her, but today she had something else to tell him.

                      "I am sorry Arun, I have another person in my life who means more 
                                          than you and i cant leave that person for you."

From Anu's Diary:

"That day I closed the door on Arun's face and his life. I lost the man I loved the most.  I am a divorcee now but i am proud to be the mother of the most loving daughter. She was the angel who filled my life with so much love and compassion. She was the reason i started living again. Today is her 15th birthday, she has turned into a very sane and beautiful girl. I stand at the Central Mall waiting for her to come. And there she walks elegantly in her denim and pista colored T'shirt. But my eyes still visualize her as the small little girl who asked me the time on that wonderful evening "

That was when I started Living - Part 1

Down is the street light,
Gloomy is the starry night.


Cool is the night breeze,
Rattling the leaves of the trees.


I flip through the papers in my hand,
With work I wish would never end.


Day starts here and nights too,
Life has become nothing but an amalgam of these two.


The clock ticked 11:30 pm in Anu'soffice. This was the usual time she thought of doing her end of the day activities. Shouldering the responsibility of the deputy general manager in one of the most famous pharmaceutical companies in the world required an enormous amount of dedication and hardwork. But logging in at 9 in the morning and leaving office by 12 in the night was something that was unusual.  Anu worked 15 hours a day because she feared being alone at home. It had become a phobia to her for the past 10 months, ever since she shifted to Chennai.

"There is another woman in my life  Anu and I love her a lot. I do not find our relationship compatible any more. I need a divorce so that we need not bear each other anymore." 

The words still rang in her ears. It had come like a cyclone in her life. "Arun", the man who she loved and for whom she had left her parents, had found love in the arms of another woman. Was it infatuation or was it Love? She din't know, she din't want to know because it din't matter anymore. Ever since then she had shifted to another city as the divorce proceedings were going on in court. She woke up every morning by 6, finished her morning chores and left for office. She avoided talking to anyone and was always professional at work. This was her daily routine and never did she bother to change it. Life had moved on until one day she came across a person who changed her life.

One day while waiting for her cab at the bus stop, a small girl came to her and asked "MANI". Hearing this  Anu felt sorry and asked, "Who sent you here?" She pointed out to a man sitting across the street.  Anu sent her away irritatingly. Looking around she found the small girl standing near a soup shop. Her face looked as though she hadn't eaten for days. Feeling sorry for her,  Anu called her and handed over a 10 Rupee note. Seeing this she waved her hands and said "Vendam"(which meant NO in Tamil).  Anu asked her "Isn't this what you asked me a few minutes back?". The child replied "ILLA, Mani ,Mani". It was then that  Anu realized that she asked the time.(Mani means Time in Tamil) and she had got confused between "Mani" and "Money".  Anu touched her on her head and told her the time.

On her way back home, she kept wondering who the girl was. She had brought a smile back on  Anu's face. The truth in the girls eyes was something that  Anu could not forget. Ever since that day , she kept seeing the girl at the stop very frequently and would wave at her. She din't know what was the relationship that she shared with her but it was beautiful. Maybe the truth is what made a difference because she had lived all her life with a man who lied. Her days would start by thinking about the little girl and end by seeing her. On one such occasion, she finally gathered herself and went ahead to talk to her. She called out "Hey!!" The girl came ahead to talk to her but immediately a man came and pulled her away. Since then she stopped going ahead to talk to her but her friendship continued as she waved hands to her everyday.

This seems to be a dream,

Out of my darkness like a gleam

Lies were what i lived with,

She taught me what truth is.

My days begin with thoughts about her,

And alas i thought my life was a blur.

It was the 15th of November, the rains slashed the city and since morning  Anu's thoughts were about the little girl. She was worried if she had a home to stay. As usual, she stood with an umbrella waiting for the cab, but that day she couldn't see the girl. Her cab came and as she got into the cab a sudden thought crossed her mind. She immediately left her belongings, asked the driver to wait and ran to the subway near the stop. The subway was empty, water dropped from the holes that were created due to rains. The lights on the passage were flickering. A dark silence filled the area and after sometime Anu's eyes started becoming blurred. At a distance she saw a small light and kept walking towards it. As she went close she saw something and her hands started to shiver.......

If only I had a second chance - Part 2

                                                        
The memories were still fresh. It was the holiday season, hence Samantha was alone in the college campus. She started walking from the peepal tree towards thew canteen. As the atmosphere was subtle, she could hear his voice, "Samantha, you look so decked up today, anything special?" She was angry. It was her birthday and Raghav hadn't wished her since morning. Infact, She had expected him to wish her at midnight itself. The entire day was filled with mixed emotions. When everyone was calling her up and wishing her, she waited for that one single person to wish her. As usual Raghav dropped Samantha home. When she got down from the bike he striked a conversation and she was happy that maybe he would wish her now. Instead he said, "Samantha, you still dint tell me whats special today?" Her smile vanished and so did her expectations and she said, "I just felt like dressing up, no other reason". At around 7 in the evening she received a call, it was Riya's, her close friend. "Samantha, go up to the terrace and see the moon, it looks so beautiful today" She wasn't interested at all that but on Riya's insistence, she went up. As she opened the terrace door, she was awestruck. The entire terrace was decorated. Her favorite swing was covered with beautiful orchids. There was a small chair, with a pineapple cake that Samantha loved the most. The terrace was filled with colored candles. The entire atmosphere suddenly looked celestial and under the moonlight everything looked so blissful. And finally stood the person who Samantha wanted to see. She went running and hugged Raghav and started crying on his shoulders.

"Why did u wish me so late? I wanted you to be the first to wish me" cried Samantha with tears in her eyes. Holding her face between his hands he replied,"Of course my sweetheart i was the first to wish you. Did you not hear the alarm last night which rang at 12 O'clock singing "Happy Birthday"? I had set it for you. I wanted to be the first and the last person to wish you on this special birthday." Samantha had no words, she was the luckiest girl that day. They cut the cake and sat on the swing talking till midnight. She was lying down on his lap under the moonlight that shone upon them.

She suddenly heard her phone ring. Her thoughts ran back to the present. It was her Dad on the call, "Samantha where are you dear? We are getting late for the flight?" She replied, "I am on my way back dad. I will be home in half an hour" She disconnected the call and remembered the call she had made to Raghav.
Her hands shivered as Raghav answered the call. "Samantha, what is wrong with you? I have been trying to reach you since half an hour. " Filled with a sudden strength in her voice, she spoke "Raghav I need to talk to you, I spoke to my dad regarding our relationship. He wouldn't for the world accept us being together. I don't have the strength to convince him. I can't hurt him as i am all he has. Hope you understand. I am leaving India tomorrow at 12 in the noon" Before he could speak anything she hung the call. Tears rolled down her eyes. She couldn't tell Raghav the truth that her father was sick and he would have to wait for don't know how long for her. She didn't want him to wait with a hopeless hope that she would come back one day for him. She wanted him to move on. And for that she had to lie even if it made her a betrayer in front of him. Her father's treatment would take years as the doctors had predicted and she was not sure if her father would agree to them even after that. But she had one last hope if Raghav would be there at the airport he would get to know the truth.

Raghav was speechless as the line went dead. He was shocked as this was the last thing ever he wanted to hear from her. He didn't want to believe this was true. In anger and by his friends compulsion he did'nt go to see her off at the airport. It took him days to recover from the agonizing pain that the love of life had given him. At times his friends would tell him. "This is how girls are, they just use you and throw you! Do not believe them. They are the most ruthless beasts who cut through your heart and kill it." By now Raghav had started believing his friends. His heart that once beated for her and her alone was void and filled with hatred. There was a deep wound that wouldn't let him live in peace. Many a times he would stroll alone in college and try to fill the emptiness in his life. His hatred had increased so much that now he didn't even want to know the reason why she left him.

At Samantha's end she had moved to Germany with her dad for his treatment. She started serving her dad and seeing him get better day by day she found peace. Emotions had gone dead for her. Sometimes in the loneliness of her heart she would wonder if Raghav had moved on or was he still thinking about her. If she was alone all she thought of was Raghav and Raghav and Raghav. Finally after 4 long years Samantha's dad had recovered and he was completely fine. He often asked her if they could go back to India but Samantha was scared to face Raghav. And then when her dad pressurized she gathered courage to come back.

Just a day before the present day, Raghav had met Riya at a college reunion. No one but Riya knew the reason why Samantha had taken that decision and standing on the promise that Samantha had given her from not saying about this to anyone and specially not to Raghav. On the reunion day Riya could not hold to see that Raghav still hadn't forgotten Samantha. She went forward and told him the entire truth. On hearing this He dropped to his knees. He failed to have understood her. He realized the sacrifice that she had done for her. He failed to understand the reason why she had called him to the airport.

Samantha didn't know that Raghav had come to know the truth and Raghav didn't know that she was in town. He didn't know how to contact her as Riya also was unaware of her whereabouts. After receiving the call from her dad Samantha started to the college gate. She crossed the peepal tree, and felt a deep sense of excitement. She was in a situation that she feared to be in. The reason why she did not want to come back to India was standing in front of her. Her Raghav was standing under the peepal tree. He looked more smarter than before. Dressed in a formal office wear she saw the difference in him and how matured he had grown over the years. She longed to run and hug him. She longed to feel the warmth of his arms. But she kept walking slowly towards him . She thought it was a dream that she was seeing. Finally when Raghav started speaking to her, she came to believe that it was actually happening.

"Samantha, this heart has waited for 4 long years" Filled with tears in her eyes she realised that he had waited for her. He hadn't moved on. She hugged him this time to complete the emptiness in her heart. He hugged her and thought.

"If only i had a second chance, I would have gone to the airport that day."
"If only i had a second chance, I would have stood by her in all the pain that she went through."

On the other side Samantha thought,

"If only i had a second chance, I would have told Raghav the truth as he waited for me even without knowing the truth"

They walked back home and seeing their love, Samantha's father gave up his adamant decision and agreed to their relationship.

Reflection:
A lot of relationships break due to misunderstanding. So if you are true do not listen to what the world says or to what your friends say. And do not hold back your feelings thinking of the otherwise.

If only I had a second chance - Part 1

It was the 10th of February, the day she had let her life take a new turn. And 6 years down the lane she was sitting on the same bench below the peepal tree of her college. The only difference was that today she was alone without her "RAGHAV". Yes, Samantha had fallen in love on this day. She had finally told a yes to Raghav, the street smart guy next door who had proposed her. Raghav and Samantha had studied college together and today Samantha was standing the the college premises, the place where she learnt the lessons for her life. As history says, it takes only a glance to find a soulmate, it took only a second for Raghav to decide that Samantha was the girl for whom he had waited patiently to let his hormones take a toll over him.

She had worn a simple T-shirt and a denim and entered the classroom and seldom did she know that she had already captured the heart of the most cutest guy in class. Her smile was a drug that Raghav had got addicted to lately. Initially it was a single Hi and Bye that Raghav exchanged with Samantha everyday. It took a month for them to become good friends and ever since then there was no turning back. If her phone beeped it was Raghav's, If she was out shopping, it was with Raghav, if she was crying, it was on Raghav's shoulder, if she was happy, it was Raghav who was obliged to hear it first. Over a period of 7 months, their friendship had grown, it had slowly bloomed into liking on Christmas Evening.

Samantha had invited all friends home for the christmas party and without any doubt Raghav had made it to the list of invitees. Samantha as usual was dressed in her best that day. She was worn a full length purple gown and had left her hair loose just like how Raghav loved it. As always, Raghav could only watch her with mouth wide open. He couldn't find appropriate words to describe her beauty. She smiled again and again and the drug that he had started consuming a few months back became a habit to him now. He gifted her a chain with a heart shaped pendant. And on Samantha's insistence he was more than overjoyed to tie the chain around Samantha's neck. After putting the hook of the chain Raghav had gone close to Samantha's ear for the first time and said "This heart has started beating after it has met its owner".

That night neither of them slept. They were quiet. Samantha couldn't forget what Raghav said. His words kept ringing in her ears. She kept twisting and turning on her bed trying to sleep. No messages were exchanged that night and the next day as usual Raghav stood at the college entrance for her. He was scared that he may loose her forever because of last night, he thought did her heart also beat the same way for him like it did for him. He was scared to loose her friendship. She finally arrived and in a mustard color salwar and a light pink dupatta. She looked terrific as usual and Raghav stood there admiring her from a distance. As she came closer his heart started beating faster, he finally held his emotions and went to her. She started talking as thought nothing had happened last night.

Raghav was confused, he dint know what to do. Ever since the Christmas evening he had no peace, he was anxious to ask her if she loved him too. He finally gathered some guts and went ahead. He had called her in the morning and asked her to come a little early to college and wait at the peepal tree. She was excited what was it that he wanted to tell her. That day Samantha dressed for Raghav and went to meet him. Raghav dint say anythin but simply asked her "Samantha, the heart that i gifted you on christmas evening was mine, I just wanted to tell you that it starts beating faster whenever it meets you , its owner. Can you please tell me if you can let this heart keep beating throughout your life?" Samantha was awestruck. she had waited so long to hear this. She finally spoke. "Raghav, I accepted your heart long back. I had just waited for you to ask me."

Finally they both had accepted each others love, and as every love story goes, they spent every single possible minute with each other. Slowly it so happened that one day Raghav's parents came to know about this. Raghav wanted to let his parents know about this earlier but he wasn't prepared. And when his mom asked him he told her the truth and his parents had accepted it quiet well.

It was Samantha's turn to let her Father know about this. Mr. Dias, Samantha's dad ran a chain of Fastfood restaurants in Mumbai, He was hardworking and ever since he had lost his wife, Samantha was the world to him. He lived and breathed for her. Samantha also loved him the immensely and all her life's decisions were taken by her dad and she never objected to it. She entered his room to tell him about Raghav. On hearing this her father was shocked as to how could she fall in love with a boy who was not of the same religion. He was angry on her and had told her to forget him. In between the argument he fell unconscious. Immediately he had been admitted in the hospital and doctors had said that half of his body had been paralyzed. Samantha was shocked, she had to take her father to a bigger hospital abroad to treat him and she dint even know if after his treatment would he accept her love. Her heart ached, she couldn't think of a life without Raghav, but she couldn't hurt her dad as well. She finally picked up the phone and dialed Raghav's number to tell him her decision.