My Catalyst

Everyone's eyes were on her; so were mine. "Wow Samidha, you still look so stunning", she received a lot of such compliments. I was constantly observing her as she sipped her soft drink, as she greeted our old professors, and as she hugged her old friends. "Oh my God, what a charismatic persona she has", I sighed and mumbled to myself.

Samidha Sahani – the most popular student in my batch. Calling her just attractive would be an understatement. She was a natural beauty, with a slim, tender physique and a charming smile. But as much as she appeared soft on the outside, Samidha was a strong-headed girl with a focus on anything she pursued. She topped every test or exam and naturally earned the 'Favorite Student' tag from all the professors. The college staff looked up to her to represent our college elsewhere and earn merits. She had maturity. Her quick thinking and simple solutions to anything made everyone grow fond of her with minimum interactions. From the first year, she volunteered to work in the Students' Forum and by the final year, she had been elected the Forum's President. Intelligence combined with good looks is the most terrific combination; to top it up, Samidha had a chic fashion sense. She would dress according to the occasion and look stunning in almost all types of clothes. Honestly, Samidha made all the girls in our batch reasonably jealous, but at the same time, every girl wished to be in her close circle to appear in the college limelight. Samidha was not at all arrogant; she was very friendly to the people around her. But on that note, no one could take her for granted, as she was rational and very straightforward. Nearly half of the boys in our batch had a crush on her, but Samidha's street-smartness knew very well how to handle all the unnecessary proposals, date requests and creepy guys. She did not minutely entertain any boy with flirtatious intentions, rather she gave it back to them in the tone that they deserved. She was always seen standing up for other girls in similar situations too.

This was Samidha Sahani!

Tonight, I stood by a window in the party hall and looked at her, all the thoughts of college days flashing through my mind. She was wearing a black and silver evening gown, with light makeup and her hair loose. "It has been 10 years now", I thought, "she hasn't changed a bit. How much I used to love her back in those days. Well! Looking at her tonight, I can affirm, my love for her hasn't changed a bit. In fact, I have grown fonder of her over time. Yes! Samidha is the one and only woman whom I have ever loved".

10 years since our final year got over. Tonight, we have a 10-year special reunion party for our batch right inside the college campus. Everyone is here, and they are enthusiastically meeting their old friends. And me ….

Allow me to introduce myself! I was a student totally 'Not Worthy' of any introduction. I am Manoj Kumar, a name so old-fashioned for which, half of my life I have been mocked at. I had always been without any friends. A shy, introverted, socially awkward kind of guy with ordinary looks! "Hey, you, Roll No. 23", was a common way in which I was addressed, that too, only by the boys! Let me put it straight, I was Insignificant. Nobody cared if I was in the class or college. But there were a few people who were overly interested in me. And now, I saw them approach me after 10 years!

"Hey Monkey, how are you Bro?", Babloo Bhaiya patted my back with all his strength. His little group of college goons circled me the way they did back then. "Bhaiya, I forgot his name", goon no.2 mocked. Babloo Bhaiya replied, "I guess, it is Manoj or Ashok… or something… who cares, didn't we call him 'Monkey'?" The gang laughed.

Babloo Bhaiya was our senior when we were in our first year. He and his rowdy, bully gang had barely managed to reach the final year by the time we did. Ragging and bullying were his subjects of interest, which he had mastered over the four years. His targets were a few other timid boys, but I guess, I was his favorite. Every day, the gang used to comment on my clothes, my shoes, my specs, my oily hair, my gait, my mannerism, and my reserved way of talking. But I was content, at least these guys noticed me, since, for all others, I was invisible. I always took their jokes on a light note, until that day! Babloo Bhaiya's gang found out about my hidden feelings for Samidha and then, the bullying turned worse. Every taunt was all about how hot, intelligent, smart and sexy she was, while I was so unworthy. "Have you seen yourself, you Monkey!", "She would not even notice you till the end of college", "You loser, stay within your limits, she is her Heroine of the college and you are just an extra" …. These were some of the taunts I heard every day since then.

Truly, it disheartened me, since these were facts.

"Why would a girl like Samidha ever talk to me, or even look at me? Is there any way in which I could express my love to her, Guess Not!", I said every day to myself. I often cried alone, knowing that the last day of college would be the last day I would ever see her.

"So, Monkey, how are you doing?", Babloo Bhaiya asked me. He patted my shoulders and straightened my collar, as he did in the college days. I was wearing a nice suit with cufflinks; an expensive branded watch was on my wrist; I had worn a good quality perfume; my shoes were neatly polished; my hair and beard were well-groomed; and above all, my confidence was high.

Bhaiya commented after observing me for a few seconds, "You have changed a lot, huh! Looking Smart, Monkey! Seems you have done well in these 10 years!"

I smiled and answered, "Yes Bhaiya, I working in IT with a very reputed firm. I hold a good position there", I tried to be as humble as before.

"Great", he said, "remember how he was in college. Such a loser, a dork", the gang laughed together. But I did not mind it today. I shook hands with them and cornered myself. My eyes fell on Samidha again.

From the window where I stood, I could see our old building. I walked over to it and went straight to our classroom. As it was a Sunday, no student was around. I looked at the first bench where Samidha used to sit, and then somewhere behind, I tried to locate my bench. I reminisced about every moment I spent in that class. Every time she entered through the door, my heart skipped its beat. Every time she made an announcement, I hoped we could share a glance. Nostalgia took over me. I remembered our final year. I walked to a particular window, whose pane was still intact as it was 10 years ago. It had a big heart carved on it with a compass, with an arrow passing through it, and with the names 'Manoj + Samidha' written in the center. Babloo Bhaiya's gang had done this mischief while falsely assuring me that this will draw her attention to me. I resisted a lot, but they went on with the carving. I knew this was very distasteful and it will do no good. But they were on a practical jokes spree by then.

When Samidha saw the messed-up window, she was very agitated. That was the first time she spoke to me, but her voice, her angry tone and her harsh words simply pierced through my heart. "How dare you?", she shouted in anger in front of the whole class, "this is what you losers come to college for. So cheap!", she had commented. That day, Bully Gang got a good laugh, while I ran back to my hostel with nervously shaking legs, and with anxiety and shame on my face.

I did not have the guts to come to the class the next day. I knew I would not be able to face her now. But I thought, how does it matter? Everything is going to be the same as before. Neither did she talk to me before, nor will she ever again.

And then came 14th February, the Valentine's Day.

According to Samidha's instructions, the Students Committee was decorating the campus with red and white roses, red balloons and streamers. They had decided the dress code to be – any clothes in Red or White, also they had planned a small fun-fair after college hours. It was a fun-filled day for all. Samidha herself was wearing a red t-shirt and blue denim. She had worn the Committee batch and was diligently doing her job as the President. She was explaining to all the team members about the Dos and Don'ts for the day. She wanted everyone to follow a proper code of conduct and wanted her team to ensure no boy misbehaves with any girl. "Ensure every girl's safety and whoever is found not behaving decently, just take him to the principal. I want the celebrations to go well with decency!", she announced loudly and got back to her work.

 Just then, I bumped into Babloo Bhaiya and the gang. "Oho Romeo, he sarcastically said to me, "wouldn't you give a rose to Samidha today?" His tone was cheap enough to give me the creeps. I fumbled and said 'No…. No', incessantly; trying to gather more courage to avoid any scene during this special event. But Bhaiya was in no mood to give up. He plucked 3-4 red roses from the decorations and placed them in my hand. "Go and propose to her. It is my order, you fool! Let's see what drama she does today", he commanded, and everyone laughed. I was already shaking thinking about the consequences, as he and the gang started pushing me toward the counter where Samidha was. I resisted but in vain. Within a few seconds, I was right behind her, and the gang had vanished from sight; all positioned to watch the drama unfold from a nearby corner.

The chaos made her turn around, to the sight of me next to her holding a bunch of red roses. As instructed, I said 'I Love You' in a bleak voice. This was going to be on another level than the window incident; I knew it. And so, it did. Samidha looked at me with disgust and immediately threw the roses on the floor. She then slapped me hard right across my face. "Hadn't I warned you that day? Do not try these cheap tricks on me. Now get going," she shouted at me, loudly enough to create a huge scene in the middle of the campus. The sound of the slap was followed by the sound of loud laughs from the corner. I had become the clown who proposed to 'Samidha Sahani' on Valentine's Day.

I stood there still. I could not control my tears. Normally, I would not have cried in public, but this was too much for me to handle. I looked at the roses scattered on the ground, which Samidha had almost stamped by now. I turned back wiping my tears. A naturally sighed at the embarrassment which I had just faced. While I was not expecting anybody to hear it, as the noise from the laughter of the bully gang was loud enough, Samidha somehow turned and looked at me. She noticed that I had teary eyes. She gestured for me to wait, gently placing her hand on my left shoulder. I looked at her now subdued expression. She did not seem angry anymore. In fact, she spoke aloud, "Now go, gather some courage, just like you gathered to propose to me; Go back to the bully gang and their leader Babloo and tell them fiercely that you will not be tolerating their ragging anymore. Tell him firmly to stop this nonsense. Also, do tell him that tormenting you or anyone else any further would make him face the worst consequences; tell him that 'Samidha Sahani' has said so."

I was surprised; I think she had guessed it all within a few seconds.

I had heard so much of Samidha's undaunted nature, but I experienced it today, for the first time. "She's not the Heroine, but the Hero!" I thought as she continued with her work again.

And suddenly, everything changed !

The laughter from the corner had stopped by her single roar. Nobody dared to mess with Samidha if they were wrong; the bully gang knew it well. Babloo Bhaiya did not taunt me anymore since that day, leave aside any practical jokes. I suddenly became a little famous in college. People knew me as the "Rose Guy" or the "V-Day Guy", as the incident had spread like fire amongst everyone. But the whole chapter turned me for the good. Her words and her motivation gave me some sort of unseen courage and gradually altered my personality. I started talking to my classmates more. Even they reciprocated well. Everyone became friendly with me. I made a few good friends soon. Out of them, one was Samidha!

She came into my life as a Catalyst. Her nature as a friend was extremely sweet, polite, and helpful. She often spoke to me about the syllabus and tests. When I told her about my weak areas, she volunteered to teach me some topics. She shared her notes with me. She gave me her number to call in case of any queries. It was our last year in college, but I often thought, 'had I been friends with this brilliant girl earlier, my marks could have been better'. But in the few months we spent together, she assisted me so much. It boosted and morale and my confidence. I got good marks in the Internals, and I was well-prepared for the Finals. She also encouraged me to speak up, take a stand, do as I feel and not be restrained within the confines of my shyness. She groomed my personality to its best and transformed me from a random 'Roll No. 23' to 'Engineer Manoj Kumar Singh'. All Thanks to her!

Today, after 10 years, here I am, standing in the same classroom, in front of the same window pane, with a heart carved with our names; the very place where it all started. The pane must have been cleaned so many times since, but no one could erase the 'Manoj + Samidha' from it, neither anyone has erased my true love for this wonderful woman who was once my classmate. I touched the carved heart with my fingers and smiled.

That is when I felt a touch on my left shoulder. I did not need to turn; I knew who it was. I could recognize that soft, gentle palm in my deepest sleep. She had worn an elegant wedding ring on her ring finger. "What are you doing here? Everyone is asking me where you are", she said.

I held her hand and gently pulled her ahead, close to me.

I showed her the 'heart' on the window, "Do you remember this?" I asked.

She was my wife ….. Samidha Sahani Singh!

"Oh My God! It is still here after so long", she exclaimed.

"That was the first day you spoke to me. It is the most special day of my life, and I will never ever forget it", I said while hugging her tightly.

"Oh! So that day is special, huh? Not the day when we got married! Not the days we spent on our honeymoon, and so many other special days we are spending together now! What about those? ", Samidha joked and teased me in a flirty manner.

I replied, "Of course, every moment is special with you, Sami. You have made my life so special", Thanks for coming into my life, for altering it, for making me what I am today, for accepting my love, for loving me so much in return, for marrying me, for being such a wonderful wife and a dutiful daughter-in-law. They always say about successful men having a woman behind them. You are not one of them, Sami. You are a woman of substance. You are the woman who can make her man successful while being so successful herself. You have nurtured our home, our family and our careers together. I cannot believe how lucky I am. I had been reminiscing our journey today throughout the party -from strangers to friends to lovers and a married couple now - how we met, how we talked, how you got angry with me on valentine's day, but soon became friends with me. There are thousands of moments in our past till date and many, many more to come in the future".

We both cherished our memories of this amazing journey for some time as we stood there. 

"Come, let's go and tell Babloo Bhaiya and the gang that we are married for the past five years now. I want to see his jaw drop", I said.

Samidha laughed loudly, "Sure, let's go and see his astonished reaction. Honestly, we should give him all the credit. After all, he is the devilish cupid in our love story". She hugged me, held my hand and we together walked back to the party hall to enjoy ourselves with our friends and celebrate our Love.