Everything For Him - Part 3

2018 has finally departed and 2019 has come. Will 2019 be the same as the rest of the previous years? I wish I had a mechanism to know it. Every year I make a resolution to change myself completely this new year. Contrarily I didn't commit myself to anything this time as I usually break it by mid January. 

I can't believe that ten years have passed by in the blink of an eye ever since I had my divorce. What is left in my life to hope for? The cruel God has already crumbled it into a million pieces. No matter how much effort I try to put in, I can't glue them all together into a single piece again. 

Every day I tell myself not to think about Raghav, and yet every day I think about him. The more I try to forget the more he keeps coming back into my mind. If I had a chance to bring you back to me, I would do it in a heartbeat.

Outside the grey clouds have opened up their hearts to bring hope to the parched souls on Earth. As I looked outside through the window, I saw the reflections of my miserable life in the downpour. Streaks of lightning were dancing across the sky, and rain bullets were beating across my window pane. 

I leaned my shoulder against the window frame and watched the rain fall gently, the moisture weighing down the blades of grass and the branches of the neem tree in the courtyard. I made myself a cup of coffee and started savoring it sip by sip. 

I switched on my lappy and spent all morning watching the movies on Amazon Prime and Netflix. Later I went through old photo albums of my family, and listened to one of my other friends Neha on call, talking about how she'd been nominated for 'Employee of the Year'.

Although I was extremely happy for her, I was also slightly jealous. Neha was thirty nine years old too, but unlike me, she seemed to have it all together. She had her own consultancy firm, traveled to new places every year along with her husband and two kids. The stories she told me about her marriage life. It made me wish I'd had more experience before tying myself down to Raghav.

Once I was off the phone with her, I decided to do some work. I started looking over my associates latest slogan submissions and proposed advertising ideas. I read through three of them and shut the folder. I looked outside once again through my window. It's no longer raining.

I went to my closet and picked out the most basic outfit I could find: black pants and a tight white shirt. After that I picked up my wallet and rushed over to the giant supermarket which is ten blocks away from my apartment. I made my way to the magazine section. I figured I would buy yet another set of magazines to show my associates the difference between good advertisements and bad advertisements.

What makes a good ad or a good campaign? This is a million dollar question and phraseology may vary from one to another but it all boils down to one simple logic: Bad advertising is about your company, while good advertising is about your customers!

Later on as I was meandering through the frozen foods aisle, I felt my phone vibrating. It was a call from my buddy Sandhya, I held it up to my ear. 'Hello?'

'Ananya are you free today?'

'No! Today I am busy. I have got an important assignment and I am telling you for one more time. Please don't waste your time on me, searching for a groom. I made up my mind and I am not going to marry!'

'Ananya, there's nothing wrong in marrying again and beginning a new life.'

'Sandhya Please!' I said while I was pushing my basket straight into a display of cereal boxes which were arranged in a pyramidal pattern.

'Oh no!'

'What happened?' Sandhya asked.

'Sandhya I will call you later,' I disconnected the call. Stooping down, I began putting the boxes back together the best way I could.

'Need some help?' A deep voice said from behind.

'Sure.' I didn't look up. I kept stacking the red boxes in between the yellow ones, making sure each box was perfectly aligned into the tacky half diamond formation.

As I stacked the last cereal box atop the display, I turned to look at the man who'd helped me out.

OH MY GOD...

He had one of those faces like a Hollywood actor with greenish blue eyes that gleamed with the faintest hint of light, a perfectly chiseled jawline with a light stubble, and a fully well built muscular body. He was dressed in dark blue jeans and a black sweatshirt with 'FCUK' printed in white letters. And for some odd reason, he was smiling at me. 

'Umm...Thank you for your help,' I turned away and went back to my basket.

'Wait a minute,' he said as he walked over. 'If you don't mind, may I take your good name?'

His tone was so cute and polite that it is impossible to turn away. By looking at him I can easily make out that he is a student and his age would be somewhere around 25.

'I am Ananya,' I told him.

'Nice to meet you, Ananya. I am Jayanth.' He reached out to shake my hand. He smiled a perfect white smile and ran a hand through his jet black hair. 'First of all, wish you a very happy new year.'

'Happy new year to you too!' I literally couldn't take my eyes off him. He was the most handsome man I'd ever seen. His face had to have been personally sculpted by the angels, and I was starting to feel this strange rush of warmth coursing through my veins. I wish I was married to a handsome and chivalrous person like him.

'These mobile phones are really dangerous. We should be very careful while talking and it's better not to move here and there,' He seemed to reprimand me. 'And also please don't drive while talking on mobile. Your husband and kids would be waiting for you at home.'

He doesn't know about my personal story. I laughed at myself for his presumption that I am married.

'Thank you young man! I will ensure not to talk on mobile while walking,' I said to him.

'You are welcome!' His beautiful eyes lit up and he cut towards the snacks section. I wheeled my cart to the counter and the bill amount had tolled to 2500 rupees. I took out the credit card from my wallet and gave it to the biller.

The biller swiped the card. 'Mam, it's saying invalid.'

'Give me a moment,' I took out another card from my wallet, 'please try this.'

Oops! I now remember. I crossed the deadline of my credit card bill.

'Madam, keep these things aside. I will come back in ten minutes. My house is nearby-'

'Mrs. Ananya, Any problem?'

I turned back. It was Jayanth. 'Nothing, I am out of credits.'

'Madam, do one thing. Either add her stuff into my bill or mine into her,' He took out the wallet from his back pocket and handed over the card to the biller. 'Swipe this.'

'Jayanth! Thank you so much but-'

He raised his hand with a smile, telling me to remain quiet. I was flabbergasted with his generous gesture. How sweet he is? But why is he doing that? Is it any kind of flirting?

Jayanth keyed in his pin number and paid the entire bill. He then neared me and said - 'I am not trying to flirt with you!'

Oh my God! How did he get to know what I am thinking in my mind? I just felt a strange embarrassment. 

'Hey, I didn't think like that. But I was just wondering why would you be doing this? After all I am a stranger.'

'Does it pay to be kind to strangers?' He asked me. But I don't have any answer for him.

'It's really sad to see that people just don't see the things as they are,' he continued. 'There's so much hate, negativity, and suspicion, and with everyone's individualism, we feel like we're all fighting just for ourselves, but we need to counteract this and start a kindness movement. It sounds cheesy, but I think we need it in order to make this world a better place.'

'So sweet of you Jayanth. This world needs many people like you. Can you share with me your Google Pay, Phone Pay or Paytm number? I will pay you soon.'

'Don't worry about the money, just do something nice for someone else. Start with something in your comfort zone, maybe just smiling at someone in the street, or talking nicely to shop assistants. Of course it takes some courage and guts.'

I have listened to a lot of lectures like these. Had it been a man in my place would he do the same? 

'And don't think that just because you are a woman I came forward to help you. If there is a man in your place I would have done the same.'

Oh Blimey! Once again! How on earth did he figure out what I am thinking in my mind?

The biller packed his items in a cover and handed it over to him. Taking it into his hands he waved his hands and said, 'Good bye Ananya!' and he stormed out of the supermarket. I just kept staring at him until he reached the exit door.

'Madam!' The biller interrupted me, 'your items.'

I took the carry bags into my hand. Jayanth went away without sharing his contact number. I wish I could meet him again. If I have one wish granted to me at this point in time, the only thing I would ask for is to meet him again. But only a miracle can make it happen. And the probability of it's happening is one in one billion. I stepped out of the market and ventured out into the road heading towards my apartment.

It is just the beginning of the year and I didn't expect the beginning to be so amazing. His eyes had a magnetic power and it made me forget all my worries and disappointments. I think he might have taken birth from the womb of an angel. 

Almost everyone will make a good first impression, but only a few will make a good lasting impression. Lucky will be that girl who marries him. I haven't experienced this kinda feeling in a while. 

If I could meet him again I wish to experience once more what it felt like to have a million and one butterflies trying to fly right out of my stomach. I could feel that static shock rush through my entire body I felt when I first saw his smile, it made me feel warm.

I have met many men after my divorce but none had interested me at first sight. Some people say that chivalry is long gone, but Jayanth made me believe that chivalry still has a place.

There was a text message on my mobile. It was from my buddy Sandhya which went on like: My Dad and I will be reaching your home in an hour. I have an important thing to discuss.

What the hell is she trying to do? I don't understand why she cares about me this much. But why is Sharath uncle coming? Did they plan something again?

To be continued..