Don't Waste Life!

Here I am, walking through time ,

Taking these steps, through this life of mine .

Where am I now, and where will I go ??

Is it all an illusion? - I really don’t know.

 

Days seem to pass, before long it’s years ,

While I’ve been contemplating life's hopes and Life's fears.

Watching and waiting, just looking on ,

before I knew it, my whole life had gone .

 

I awoke from Life's dream, and now here I stand ,

Looking back at my life with God at my hand .

I learned about life and the meaning of love ,

amidst tears of pain, but was that enough ??

 

In life we can live out our dreams if we want to - its true ,

the one who decides, takes chances, makes choices .

IS YOU !!

 

So before you let your life pass you by ,

Think of these words, Live your dream - don’t be shy ..

All you need, you have within,

So live your dream now, let YOUR life begin !!

Just One.....

 

 

 

One word can spark a moment,

One flower can wake the dream;

One tree can start a forest,

One bird can herald Spring.
 

One smile can bring a friendship,

One handclasp can lift a soul;

One star can guide a ship at sea,

One cheer can obtain a goal.
 

One vote can change a Nation,

One sunbeam can lift a room;

One candle wipes out darkness,

One laugh will conquer gloom.
 

One look can change two lives;

One kiss can make love bloom.

 

 

One step must start each journey,

One word must start each prayer;

One hope can raise our spirits,

One touch can show you care.
 

One voice can speak with wisdom,

One heart can know what's true;

One life can make a difference,

One life is me and you....

Conversation with a Leaf !!

I'm envious of you
Of a birth in beauty
Of a life under a hundred suns

... Of always knowing your place
Of never having to ask
Of never having to find someone
Of never having to find yourself
Of never being betrayed by your own
Of never having to leave
Of never knowing loneliness
Or perhaps, knowing it too well
Of dances with the wind
Of sleepy nights in peaceful slumber
Of death before womb
Of a carcass laid gently to rest
In the palms of a caring wind
Of a final dance deep into the sunset
I'm envious of you
Perhaps we meet in dust someday
Perhaps someday I have the chance to be you...

Virtual World or the Real World

Today thanks to the technology, we have smses, black berry messengers, whats app, chats etc, that you can actually choose between texting, talking on the phone or even meeting.

 This thought of Virtual or the real world occurred to me recently, when there was an incident in my life which was unexpected and shocking and I had to share it but didn’t have the guts to talk even to my best friend. Then what? Texting was the best option. I actually texted my best friend and told all about the incident, word by word. And after I spelled out everything…believe me the kind of relief that I got was WOW!!

The divide between the virtual and real worlds is narrowing. Our experiences of reality may no longer constitute a duality. We are so busy in our daily lives that we do not have time to enjoy. Our enjoyment is become the virtual world. I am so much hooked on to facebook and my black berry messenger that I cannot live without it now. There was a time when I was hooked on to playing FarmVille, and even woke up in the middle of the night to save my virtual grapes from rotting. Does today’s dualism make our lives inherently schizoid?

Nowadays friendships start on messengers and chats. We have group chats, individual chats. The umpteen numbers of smiley’s on these chats help you emote, which in the normal everyday lives we may never ever think of emoting even if we wanted to.

I thought and thought on all this and here are a few reasons why virtual is preferred to the real:

1.      Because you actually, think before you say things

2.      Because reality can be awkward at times

3.      Because a good virtual exchange of words can be absolutely bold and beautiful

4.      Because virtual exchanges can go on and on for days or even months together without hurting the other person's feelings

5.      Because virtual exchange lets you emote with the help of smiley’s

6.      Virtual exchanges can be forever

7.      Because you can live the image you fantazied yourself to be

But is it all as rose tinted as it seems? Not exactly, I do believe that such virtual life could certainly lead to a "distancing" from real life situations and relationships.

Indian TV news channel reporting Jack and Jill nursery rhyme.....

Prashant - TV Anchor : Two persons have been injured in a freak climbing accident. Jack and his companion Jill had gone up a hill to fetch a pail of water when Jack fell down and broke his crown. Jill came tumbling after.

Live from the hill, our reporter, Amrita Shah, takes up the story.

Amrita Shah :Thank you Prashant. Well, as you see, two persons - Jack and Jill - had gone up a hill to fetch a pail of water. Suddenly, Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after.

Prashant : Thank you Amrita. What do we know about the hill?

Amrita : Not too much. Jack was going up the hill to fetch a pail of water when he fell down and broke his crown. Jill came tumbling after

[Headline appears at the foot of the TV screen: "hill breaks crown of pail-boy Jack"]

Prashant: What news of Jack and Jill?

Amrita: Prashant, it seems that Jack had gone up the hill to fetch a pail of water. We know nothing about the pail, or how heavy it was but it seems that Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after.

I have here with me, an eyewitness to the accident, Mr Shahid Trivedi. Mr. Shahid, tell us what you saw.

Shahid Trivedi : Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after.

[Headline appears at the foot of the TV screen: "Boy and girl tumble down hill. Water spilled"]

Amrita: Jack and Jill. What do we know about them? Are they brother and sister? Are they married? Just what were they doing on the hill together?

Shahid Trivedi : Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail a water.

Amrita: And what happened next?

Shahid Trivedi : Jack fell down and broke his crown

Amrita : Go on.

Shahid Trivedi : And Jill came tumbling after.

Amrita : Prashant, there you have it. Two people innocently going about their business to fetch a pail of water when one of them falls down, breaks his crown, and the other comes tumbling after. Back to you in the studio Prashant.

[Headline appears at the foot of the TV screen: "Water errand ends in tragedy"]

Prashant : I have with me in the studio now, Professor Chandrashekar Belagare from the Indian Institute of Applied Hill Sciences.

Professor: a hill; Jack; Jill; a pail of water. A tragedy waiting to happen?

Professor CB : Well that depends on the hill, the two persons, the object they were carrying and the conditions underfoot.

Let us look at the evidence so far.

Jack and Jill

Went up the hill

To fetch a pail of water.

Jack fell down

And broke his crown

And Jill came tumbling after.

Clearly, one would suspect that if Jack's fall was severe enough to break his crown then the surface of the hill must have been slippery or unstable.

But I think we're overlooking something quite fundamental here. Who was carrying the pail? Jack fell down and broke his crown and - this is the key - Jill came tumbling after.

If Jack and Jill had been carrying the pail together, would they not have fallen at the same time? The fact that Jill came tumbling after suggests that Jack lost his footing first and perhaps knocked Jill over as he slipped.

Prashant : Professor thank you very much. So there we have it, two persons - Jack and Jill - went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after.

Later in the programme, Speak Asia Scam Exposed, Anna Hazare refused permission to hold indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar, and India bowl out England on Day One of Second Test.

But next up, join us after the break for a studio discussion about hills, boys and girls and whether water-fetching trips should be supervised.

We'll be right back...

I hate love!!

Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up.

You build up all these defences, you build up a whole suit of armour, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...You give them a piece of you. They didn't ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like 'maybe we should be just friends' turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It's a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain. I hate love!!!

The way a woman dresses…

The way a woman dresses…is everybody’s business!!


Whether it is Indian or it is Western…when she is small, the parents decide as to how to dress her. When in college again, the dress should not be objectionable and when she is married….

One day, I met Smita on the road and she forcefully took me to her house. Smita was a girl I knew to be a bindass babe in school. Completely tom boyish, carefree and wore only Jeans and shorts. And here, I see the same Smita dressed in a saree , of course looking very pretty with a big bindi, and long hair with flowers, long gold earrings. I was shocked to see her.

Can a person change so much? I asked myself. We entered her house and I had this very traditional feeling when I entered, incense fragrance, coffee aroma…wow! Her mother in law (MIL) was making coffee. She saw me, said hello and got coffee for all three of us. We sat down to chat.

MIL: So you are Smita’s college friend.

Me: Yes, aunty..we were very close in college. But after her wedding, she seemed to disappear only to be seen now.

MIL: Yes, she was busy with the family.

Smita: How are your mom and dad? And did you marry or not finally?

Me: Of course I am married for eleven years now and have two sons.

Smita: Wow! Doesn’t look like.

MIL: Yes doesn’t look like. How does your husband and in-laws allow you to wear such clothes?

Me: Why what is wrong in my clothing aunty? It’s just a Western outfit that I have worn.

MIL: This is not our culture. Sleeveless blouse and skirt. I cannot imagine my daughter in law wearing such clothes. A woman’s clothing is treated a symbol of her respect for tradition, culture, family values, religion, family honor etc.

God save me from such thinking!! Give us women, a break. It is not important that the clothing should be comfortable for the wearer. I could not understand how sleeveless blouses and skirts could be found objectionable. Why can’t people just learn to live and let live, especially when it comes to what women wear!

Even now in some cultures of the society, in this hot, humid weather women have to keep their hair covered all the time … Poor Muslim women….it’s the height when it comes to their traditional dressing…Burkha!! How does covered and sweat-soaked hair at 40 degrees Celsius protect a culture or show respect? Isn’t wrapping of heads in pallus , dupattas and burkhas during the summer months uncomfortable, and even unclean?

Forget that, there are houses, where women still sleep in sarees…..this is the most uncomfortable thing on earth..and still she does it because pleasing others is more important to her than her comfort!

Even the famous saas-bahu serials still show the saas as well as the bahu only in tight shiffon saris with low cut blouses…traditionally modern, I must say. High time the producers and the directors of these serials realise how un-comfortable these actors must be feeling shooting in the saris for the full day.

By saying, all this I am not trying to say, Sari is bad. In fact I vouch for the fact that Sari is the most beautiful costume which can make the woman look her best and most beautiful. But, my point still remains of comfort. Earlier days, there were no options and women wore what others want. But today, things have changed…

Most of my girl friends agreed with me and here’s what most of them replied - It’s makes women look confident and hence attractive. It shows women are capable of living their lives and are independent. It’s a sign of freedom. It’s sends signals saying ‘Don’t mess with me’. It shows you aren’t meek and that you will stand up and fight for what is right. And most of all convenience ranks the prime. And while Indian clothes are glamorous subtly, western clothes are glamorous as is by virtue of their design!!

Whatever we wear..we still are Bharatiya Naris and we know our limits… so it should be no one’s business what a woman wears!! Jago India Jago!!

Alone in Bangalore

I have been to Bangalore now Bengaluru umpteen numbers of times. But you know, being a lawyer and that too a tax lawyer can be very boring especially when you travel for work. I have stayed back at Bengaluru in posh hotels and all I have done is study the matter for the court appearance for the next day, watch T.V, call for food in the room, visit some client’s office or factory.


This time it was different. Luckily for me, I had a matter on Friday and as usual I travelled to Bengaluru on Thursday. I always travel one day earlier because I can study peacefully there and reach the court in time. Next day was a non-working Saturday. Yipee!! I had time to unwind and then I thought, why not Bengaluru? I spoke to Rajeev, my husband about it. He was okay. Secretly, I am sure both of us were happy to be alone and have some space from each other. We decided not to talk to each other too, other than informing I am safe and sound.

I finished my hearing at around 12pm on Friday. I always have a chauffeur driven car arranged for me by the clients, when I am outstation. This time, I wanted to be on my own, so I told the driver to drop me back at the hotel and come back the next day to drop me at the airport. Now, I was on my own…….. the sense of freedom was already superb!!

First thing I did was to change into causals and bought a bottle of water. I asked at the hotel reception for a map and then made a to do list:

• Visit to Lal Baug

• Go to see the famous mall of Vijay Mallya

• Go for some Spa treatment

• Shopping at Kaveri

• Window Shopping on Brigade Road

• Visit to Bannerghatta National Park

I left the hotel, walked upto the main road to catch an auto rickshaw. Lal baug, a place I have seen several times from outside, but never got a chance to look around.

Lal Baug means “The Red Garden” is a famous botanical garden originally commissioned by Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore, and later finished by his son Tipu Sultan. It is a huge place. I felt as though I am in a Moughal era. There is a beautiful Glass House, a Lake, beautiful flowers..so fresh and pretty. And Oh lala! I was walking and enjoying the beauty when I see a known face walking towards me holding a child. Wow!! It was Dharmesh Desai!! My ex-colleague from Ernst & Young-

Me: Hey Dharmesh!

Dharmesh: Abe! What the hell are you doing here? That too at Bengaluru, all alone, in a Garden??

Me: Aare I had come for a hearing. That got over. So I thought I will do some sightseeing.

Dharmesh: You should have at least messaged me on face book that you are coming.

Me: Nah re! I wanted to spend some time alone.

Dharmesh: You are unlucky then, because my kiddo and I are going to tag along with you in the garden.

Me: He he! Do I have a choice? Anyways, Cute kid. Whats his name?

Dharmesh: Anay. Vasudha has to be in office late. I stay close by. I came early, so I thought I would take him for a walk and I would also walk then  No exercise you know. So how is work with you?

Me: Dharmesh..lets not talk of work yaar. I want to enjoy the park.

Dharmesh: Okies..hey I think you really want to be alone. I leave you to enjoy alone, provided you promise to have a coffee with me before you go. Or you can come home for dinner today.

Me: I will let you know. I have your number. Dinner is a no no. I want to venture on my own a bit today and tomorrow. So I may call you after reaching Mumbai.

Dharmesh: I respect that. But do call. Shall wait for your call. Bye

Me: Bye.

There, once again I was, on my own..roaming around. It was so beautiful that it reminded me of William Wordsworth poem “The Daffodils”..

“I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze…

It was almost 4.30pm and I had to move on if I had to finish the things as per my list. I took another auto rickshaw and went to Vijay Mallya’s Mall at UB City. I got off the auto rickshaw and Voila! Huge luxury Mall…that it was, made fully of Italian Marble and big pillars around. I roamed around to see all the International brands being sold there. No option but to window shop. One of shops, I went into, because I had never heard of this brand. There was a tiny wallet, which I liked and thought I would buy it as a souvenir from the Mallya Mall and feel Woww… I shopped here. An extra ordinarily beautiful woman was sitting at the counter.

Lady: Good evening Mam

Me: Hi Good evening

Lady: Can I help you

Me: Just looking around, if you don’t mind.

Lady: Not at all

Me: (Went near the window and pointed out the wallet to her)..Can I see this please?

Lady: Of course, sure Mam!

Me: (Taking it in my hand) It’s a nice wallet. How much does it cost?

Lady: Its only costing Rs.15,000/- May I pack it for you?

Me: Wow! Its nice. But no. I will like to see some other things around in the other shops and may be I will come back for it.

Lady: Sure Mam. Thank you for coming.

Hey!! Now that’s what I call “Bagmati”………remember Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara!!! I checked my watch. It was 5.30pm. This visit was super fast..hehe! because I didn’t shop for anything. Now what? Yes of course, the spa treatment. But this was a special treatment I wanted to go for. The fish therapy. Yess!! I never get time for such things at Mumbai. This spa was close to the Mall, just about 5 minutes of walk. I located the spa and entered to see all chinki looking people in the spa. The atmosphere was so beautiful there. Lovely fragrance of essence oils and sticks, tempting me to opt for a head massage along with the fish therapy pedicure.

Chinki: Good choice of head massage Mam. Would you like a man to do the head massage for you or a woman

Me: Woman of course! (Other than my male hair dresser..I would never let another man touch my head for a massage)

Chinki: Will be back in a moment Mam..till then please enjoy this herbal tea and some dry fruits.

Me: Okay, but please make it fast as I do not have much time.

After about three minutes, another Chinki lady came with a Surai of warm water, a napkin and wooden slippers in a tray. Wow! What treatment. I felt like a Maharani. She washed my feet first with rose petals in the warm water, wiped it softly with the napkin and made me wear the wooden slipper. Took my sandals in the tray and put it in a locker along with my bag and gave me the keys. I followed her in a dingy room which had blue and a purple led lights with some piped instrumental music on and incense sticks for fragrance. She made me sit in a big chair, adjusted the chair and gave me a lovely head massage. I felt like it should never get over. Once done. I thanked her, came out of that room for the fish pedicure. It was a nice tickling experience. But nothing that I can rave about. But all in all, the spa was great fun.

Another auto rickshaw and I headed towards Brigade Road. Oily head. I would have never in life roamed like this in Mumbai. But what difference..no one knew me here. I walked on the Brigade Road and then entered a Café Coffee Day. Do you know, every corner in Bengalaru has Café Coffee Day. I ordered for a nice hot Cappuccino and was looking around to see a bunch of college kids playing guitar and some popular English and Hindi Songs. I moved to a chair near them. One of the girls saw me and said:

Girl: Would you like to join us?

Me: Yes  Thanks

Girl: But you will have to sing along

Me: I am a bathroom singer, but love to sing especially in chorus. So here I come..

Girl: Cool..you are sporting. BTW..I am Shalini, these are my friends Abhay, Anil, Sunitha, Sarika and Vijay. And you are..

Me: I am Shilpa.

They were so engrossed in singing..that my voice was left unnoticed. I had a lovely jamming session with them. By now, it was 8pm and time for me to move as I had to leave early in the morning for Bannerghatta National Park. I bid them good bye and told them what a lovely time I had with them and headed back to my hotel from where I messaged Rajeev that I am back at the hotel and safe and sound.

Once back, I read that there was a candle light dinner at the restaurant. I thought to myself..today is the day..a candle light dinner by myself..Wwow!! I love the thought. I spoke to the Manager at the restaurant that I would be back in half an hour and to reserve a seat for just me!! I went to the room.. freshened up. No time for a bath..big deal. My hair looked gelled. I went down at the restaurant. What an ambience! I was shown to my table. I ordered for a glass of red wine and steamed fish. The food was yummy, lovely music at the background and I ended the dinner having a Caramel Custard. Wow! That was some romantic candle light dinner by myself..which I will never forget in my entire life.

I went back to my room and decided to use the Jacuzzi and have a nice tub bath. I had a lovely warm bath in perfumed water with some music I played on my mobile. After a nice bath, I slept off within a few seconds. What an end to my first day of independence!!

I got up early morning all set to go to the Bannerghatta National Park. Called for an Auto rickshaw and reached the place much earlier. So I bought my tickets for the bus ride and ventured into the Bangalore Zoo. What a yuk smell!! Was it a mistake that I came here? I was thinking to myself while passing the Peacocks cage…………and Wow!! The Peacock suddenly started to dance. I was amazed and excited to see this sight. It was mind boggling. I captured it in my camera and immediately shared it with my friends.

I saw some more birds and animals..and roamed around with my napkin over my nose. Finally, the bus was about to take off. There was a huge queue by then. I stood in the queue. The bus came..our State Transport buses look like Mercedes in front of these. The cleaner was yelling..”Onely Couple Seats”..eh! what did this mean? I was alone. Anyways, I got in the bus..to find broken seats. And only seat remaining was near the driver. I was upset and thought of getting off..when suddenly a man asked:

Man: If you are uncomfortable there, you can sit on my seat. I want to anyway click pictures.

Me: Hmm..thank you very much. I would appreciate that.

We exchanged seats. Now I had a seat behind the driver. The bus started moving. The roads were bad and were leading to a jungle. I thought to myself..if ever there is a puncture..we will be stranded in the bus with wild animals waiting to feed on us…

There were these separate big gates which would open for us to enter inside on the roads where there were loose bears, deer and lions. It was a sight to the eyes to see so many loose wild animals. I wanted to click the bears..but from the seat where I was the pictures could not be clicked. The bus driver offered to click some pictures for me every time the bus stopped. Once the driver almost lost my mobile to the bear near his window and that was the end to my pictures!

The man was clicking some nice pictures with his SLR and some huge lenses. He looked like a professional photographer. When he saw my plight, I think he felt bad perhaps. He introduced himself to me as Gopal.

Gopal: Hi! I am Gopal and this is my wife Revathi

Me: Hi! I am Shilpa

Gopal: I have captured some lovely pictures on this camera. Would you like to see them?

Me: Yes sure!

He showed some pictures to me. The bus was now moving back and the cleaner announced that the bus will stop at the butterfly park in case anyone is interested in getting off. I was in two minds. I wanted to be back at the hotel and leave for my evening flight but before that my shopping was due at Kaveri.

Gopal: What are you thinking? Just get off. It’s a nice park. I have been there before.

Revathi: Hey! Even I want to see this butterfly park, I have also not seen it before

Me: Ok, I think I will also see it

We got off at the butterfly park and all three of us roamed around together.

Gopal: What brings both of you here

Me: I am a lawyer and had come here to attend a hearing

Revathi: I am an Architect.

Gopal: Hey! I am into Software and work for IBM here. Photography is just my hobby. Since I bought this new lens, I came here to check it out.

We chatted a lot while roaming in the park. Gopal clicked a lot of pictures of the butterflies, nature along with some of our photographs. Once done, Gopal and Revathi came to drop me till the auto rickshaw. This was an interesting visit to the National Park.

On my way to the hotel, I picked up a sandwich and cold coffee to save time that I had spent at the butterfly park. I packed, checkout of the hotel and sat in the car sent for me by my client. I asked the driver to take me for shopping at Kaveri and I bought lot of traditional Karnataka things that I liked and then headed to the airport..with so much traffic, I was running late for my flight. As the airport was approaching…I was secretly wishing..I hope I miss my flight..so that I can stay for one more day in Bengaluru!!!! But then, I came back to Mumbai all refreshed, happy with a lot of new memories and friends, whom I am still in touch with. Not to forget Dharmesh..I did call him..after landing at Mumbai Airport 

The Boyfriend

Face book has become a rage these days. The world is come so much closer because of that. Lost friends are found back.

I also opened a face book account on a friend’s insistence. Initially it was a pain. Open the laptop, enter the password etc. But slowly I started getting more and more hooked on to it because I found so many long lost friends on this. Some of them I haven’t met or even heard of for last so many years. And slowly the list started becoming longer and longer. Groups were formed. School group,College group, workplace group. Wow..it was super fun. All the work stress was released if I interacted with my friends on face book. It’s a part if my life now.

Suddenly one day, I get a friend request from her..Sumi. an old friend, actually an old flame. We were in school together and then we were lost and not in touch for as much as five years. And Wow!! I was too excited. Butterflies in my tummy… Before accepting the friend request, I checked her profile….first to see if she is married…Ohhlalala..she was single. I immediately accepted her friend request and we chatted–

Me : Hi Suma

Suma: Hey Dude!

Me: How the hell did you find me?

Suma: I searched for you and found you. Saw that we had common friends too.

Me: Its really nice connecting with you after so many years

Suma: Yeah! It feels nice.

Me: So what are you up to these days?

Suma: Just finished my fashion designing Course. Now looking for a job. So what do you do?

Me: I finished my MBA and am an Investment Banker

Suma: Isn’t that boring?

Me: No ways. I enjoy my work J

Suma: Good for you. How are your folks doing?

Me: They are all good.  How about yours?

Suma: They are good. Behind me to get married now L

Me: So you are still single ha!

Suma: Yess and I love it this way.

Suma: Hey Chaal, have to leave now. Talk to you later. Bye. Be in touch

Me: Ok Cya..Ofcourse I will. Take Care.

And that was the end of our first conversation. Then everyday, I would log in at the same time to see if Suma was online. And yes, she would be. We started interacting on regular basis now. So much so that if she was late by even fifteen minutes to log in I would feel desperate. We started interacting and became good friends again. I used to click “like” for even the crappiest of the things she wrote “ Went to the parlor to have a pedicure”! Ha! And I actually clicked “like” for this.

This went on for almost more than a month. Finally, one day I decided to ask her out –

Me: Hey Suma

Suma: Morning Krish (By now Krishna became Krish)

Me: How was your interview yesterday?

Suma: It was too good. I got in. And the interviewer was a damn handsome man.

Me: You went for interview or to look at the man?

Suma: Aare baba..interview..but he was also good na!

Me: Ok! Ok! Young Chap or Old?

Suma: Pretty much young, maybe 4-5 years older to me. His mom runs the fashion house. He joined her recently.

Me:  When are joining? Where is your office?

Suma: I have join from tomorrow and my office is at Andheri.

Me: Oh! That’s far from my office at Churchgate L

Suma : So?

Me: I was wondering, if we can meet before you join. If possible, today evening? For coffee?  At Bandra?

Suma: Hmmm…Okay!

Me: Give me your cell number, will call and co-ordinate

We exchanged our numbers. This is called killing two birds at a time. I got her number as well as I was to meet her.

The clock was not moving…it was extra slow that day. I was so excited. Wore my best shirt and new jeans, which my mom hated…usually friends like what mom’s hate! Finally, the golden moment arrived. We met at a coffee shop in Bandra. Suma..Oh! She was still beautiful, the same innocence on her face. And her dimples and big brown eyes…how I loved them. I was waiting for her and she just walked inside saw me and gave me a tight hug. I was ecstatic-

Suma: Hey buddy!

Me: Hi! Finally, we met J

Suma: Yes. I thought you will never ask me out and we will remain virtual friends forever.

Me: Nah! I wanted to meet you since a long time, but was somehow feeling a little odd to ask you.

Suma: Anyways, now we have met.

We spoke and spoke and spoke. Then we started meeting sometimes after office hours. Slowly, her schedules became erratic due to work pressures and again we were back to face book. Then somehow, she was erratic on face book too. Smses were not replied to. Replies on emails were also slow.

I started to feel very lonely and was missing her a lot. When your friend starts acting weird, there is usually only one reason for that….boy friend. Especially, a friend who is far from being best friends and much more than acquaintances.

I first thought it must have been something I said, but I learnt that her other male friends were not getting any special treatment either, so I just let it pass thinking she will come around when her senses return.

And a few weeks later, I learnt from one of my friends that she has a new boy friend. Three months later, my friend tells me that she put her face book status which hinted she was going to get married to that boy friend of hers. I did not believe my friend when he told me Suma put a face book status that suggested she was going to get married and so I wanted to go check this out myself. When I went to her face book page to confirm what he said, I realized I was not there in her friends list. You may be arch enemies with someone in the real world but they will still be your friends in face book.

Some of my friends got deleted from the friends list by accident and I thought this case was no different. But when I tried to add her back, I couldn’t. So I called her. She did not take my calls initially. But persistent me, finally she picked up –

Me: Hey! Did you delete me on face book?

Suma:  No Krish. Why will I do such a thing?

Me: Lol. Maybe your boy friend hacked your account and deleted me or something. :D

Suma: No he won’t do anything like that. You don’t know him.

Me: Mmmm. I am sorry if I said something wrong. I was just kidding. Your boy friend doesn’t have your passwords right?

Suma: Yeah he does. I gave them to him.

Me: WTF?

Suma: What is wrong with that?

Me: What is wrong with that? What is wrong with YOU? My  God. He gets to access your entire personal life? You don’t have any privacy at all.

Suma: It is all about trust dear. Me giving my password shows how much trust I have in him and gives him reasons to trust me.

Me: Oh yeah? So you trust him enough to not misuse it and take control of your life.

Suma: He will not misuse it in anyway Krish.

Me: I sure hope for your sake he doesn’t. But add me back on face book. I am not able to add you.

Suma: LOL!  I will do it in the night. Face book seems to have a lot of bugs ever since Google brought in Google+ :D. We should complain.

Me: Lol yeah I guess.

The next day

Suma: I am really sorry. You were right. My boy friend read some of our chat and felt insecure. He blocked you on face book. I think he gave report abuse also. That is why you are not able to add me.

Me: WHAT? He gave report abuse because I am your friend? HOW IS THAT ABUSE?

Suma: I am sorry.

Me: How can you put up with this guy? He doesn’t even trust you.

Suma: He trusts me very much. You don’t know him.

Me: He trusts my ass. Jealousy I understand. But blocking your friends from face book? :x.

Suma: You don’t know him. He is not like what you think. He must have thought you were like all guys - a jerk.

Me: If he trusted you so much when you gave him your password, why will he find the need to go through your G talk Chat history?

Suma: He trusts me okay. He just gets very jealous. He doesn’t even like other guys looking at me. He is very possessive.

Me: WHAT? Is he going to make you wear a purdah then?

Suma: Hehe. No Krish.

Me: Sheesh Suma! don’t you see that your boy friend is everything you women have been fighting against in the last century? I know a feminist who will shoot you down with a machine gun for making him your boy friend.

Suma: He makes me very happy Krish. He is like this because he loves me and I love that about him.

(What could I possibly say when she loves that?)

Me: Hmmm. For your sake I hope I am wrong. If you live happily ever after like Cinderella, I will be very happy. BUT, if you break up with him, please add me back on face book

Suma: Okay. There is nothing I can do. And hey! Please don’t send me any messages on my phone or email. Also please don’t call me again. I am sorry again! Bye!

Six months later

Facebook

New friends request

Suma

Suma: Krish!

Me: Hey Suma. I guess your boy friend finally started trusting you more huh?

Suma: My boy friend is an asshole.

Me: (Did I not tell you? :D) Oh! What happened?

Suma: He cheated on me.

Me: Oh you poor thing. L

Suma: I dumped him but he keeps stalking. I want it to stop. Tell me how to change my passwords Krish. Tell me FAST!!