The Cousin

It's really true... That the happiest moments are those which are unexpected and unplanned... sometimes we expect more from some planned events but fail to extract the most out of it... we don't get the expected experience from it. On the other hand there are those moments which we don't plan and turnout to be one of the best.. all of sudden the people whom we do not know come and give us some beautiful moments which we cherish for a longer period of time.

I went on to experience this feeling when I met one of my relatives in my hometown visit last year.. my family and me didn't know them personally. we met in my cousin sisters wedding. We were introduced by my aunt. There was a lady with a girl, her name was Shikha.. Shikha was there with her mother.. it is a general tendency isn't it when relatives meet especially in the marriage ceremonies.. they tend to exclude the younger generation and start "n" number of topics.

I and Shikha both were the victim this time. It was quite a regulatory Marriage ceremony as it is everywhere. things were on there way, quite slowly initially and then some acceleration as the so called "mahurat" was coming closer. Being a writer I am quite observant I like to observe things because that is where you get your topics to write, but to be observant in a marriage ceremony is too boring for a guy like me. It's not that I hate marriages it's actually I don't find myself comfortable in a marriage ceremony I can't be seated on a chair watching all the ongoing things and then stand in a queue to have family photograph with wedding culprits and then the lunch.. for some people the lunch queue comes before the photograph though. Depends how foody one is...

I hate standing in those queues with a plate in your hand. Which initially starts with individual food dishes but eventually it becomes more than difficult to identify what is what where is the sabji, where is the curry. The paneer which was earlier visible is currently not there and the pickle is mixed with the Dal. The gulab jamun in the bowl are about to lose there balance anytime ready to take a dive in the dal rice and finally we find the paneer hiding under the papad which has lost all it's crisp and is almost looking like a "Puri" now. Goodness me these people have a lot of courage to deal with all this mess ignoring everybody in the hall.

I decided to move out of the hall it was mid June overcast conditions were perfect for a writer... I walked out and tried to find a corner to sit from where I can have a view of the hall as well as there has to be a considerable amount of distance between the hall and the corner. Finally I managed to find one.. just ahead of it walkable 10 13 footsteps away there was a tea stall as well.. I always carry my lappy with me wherever I go I tend to have all my stuffs in it.. I opened it and was looking to write something and was grinding my mind..

Just when I was thinking I heard a voice "toh tumko bhi shaadiya pasand nahi" I followed the voice and was surprised to see Shikha standing behind me... I smiled and replied ha they r not that boring but also not that interesting...

Shikha said same here and both our smiles came out at once as if they wanted to shake hands together... That day I realized that the best smiles are those when two strange people happen to face a similar situation being available at a similar situation at a given place and time... because those smiles are not brought infact they arise at once... the conversation began...

Shikha: I have never seen someone bring his laptop to a marriage ceremony...

Me: Yeah have a lot of my imp stuff and details in it and now I m used to carry it more often than not.

Shikha: You hate marriages "kabhi Shaadi nahi karoge Kya"

Me : I said I they are boring when you are a spectator I never said I don't want to participate as a contestant.

Shikha: Hahaha you are funny.... so how's mumbai sunna hai things are quite happening over there..

Me: Haan metropolitan city major medium of media and lot of other city life associated stuff makes it more lively compare to rural areas.as far as Happening is concerned I would be the wrong person to elaborate happening stuff... I m not more into it...

Shikha: Okk..the way you defined Mumbai whatever anxiety I had for Mumbai seem to have diminished a bit....

Me: No no don't be.. I only told my perspective may be tomorrow you may find someone who may completely have a different view of the city probably which will justify your anxiety...

Shikha: Okk don't mind can I tell you something..?

Me: Yes sure..

Shikha: I doubt whether you stay in Mumbai.. you are so non Mumbaikar.. few of my friends who stay in Mumbai for jobs they tell me about the kind of boys and the kind of life in Mumbai.. but you seem to be completely opposite.. that's why I cracked a joke about the doubt you a being a Mumbai guy..

Me:Yo u have a good sense of humor but to clarify your doubt I will add something.. see I mean its about you and never about the city u live in.. the culture tends to differ but what is constant is your nature and behavior u don't change yourself to adjust with where u are living.. let's say for eg if a fish who earlier use to be in the fish tank is released into the ocean, things won't change much for the fish apart from the wide area available to swim and the dangers of big fishes..but she will not start jumping leaving swimming behind just because she is now in the ocean and not in the tank anymore.. that's what it is.. its more about u and less about the place u live in.. yes there will be few changes but eventually u end up living the life u love to live irrespective of what the city lives..

Shikha: Fantastic what an explanation.....

All of sudden a drizzle started and we took the shelter of the nearby tea stall.. the drizzle slightly git heavier and continued.. Shikha asked will you have a tea..

Looking at the weather there was no doubt in my mind about the tea.. we had got our cups ready.. and the conversation resumed..

It started with both of us sharing some professional details.. I followed my habbit of not disclosing my writing part.

Shikha : You know my mom told me yesterday we will be meeting ur family tommorow and I was like a guy from Mumbai very attitude waala behavior u will have n all I have made up my mind of not talking to you.. but u proved me wrong.

Me: I didn't u proved urself wrong u started the misconceptual assumption and you ended up with the actual truth being opposite. Its not always good to judge people before you experience it urself.

Shikha: Yeah you right but can't help the mind knows only to think..

Me : But the remote is in your hands you may switch off or let it play.

Shikha : it's not that easy to control your mind.

Me: easier and hard are results but whats imp is process. At least start and continue.

Shikha: tell me one thing are you a writer????

Me: Why you felt so.

Shikha: Come on, no more questions answer mine... Are you a writer???

Me: Yes... How did u recognize...

Shikha: Congratulations, me too.....and she laughed like she was successful in not revealing that she is a writer..

I was so amazed by this someone from my category for not even a single moment she let me know that she is a writer and probably she was writing her subject...

The conversation continued for a few more minutes we then went in the hall together attended all the proceedings and then it was time to leave... Mine and shikha's family greeted each other... Shikha and I also linked each other on the social networking... It was such a beautiful day spent with someone whom I didn't know.. something which I expected to be boring actually turned out one of the most beautiful memories I ever had.. its really true if u find someone who thinks like you and understands you like the way u want to be understood life starts seeming beautiful...

A month later Shikha called and told me she is coming to Mumbai for 3 to 4 days with her mother... I received them they stayed at my place I showed Shikha the Mumbai she wanted to know with some more conversation about the city.... Those 4 days went like a fast blowing wind...

It was time to say goodbye and I actually started missing her.. it was that sweet friendship we developed rather being a cousin or a relative which was so beautiful.. Shikha went back with a "new" Mumbai in her mind but left behind two versions of Mumbai one which she always thought how it was and one the most beautiful one which we experienced together...