Valentine's Day

14th February is a memorable day for the lovers and couples of the world. Let's not get into the nomenclature of the day- that's of less concern to us. What concerns us most is how we spend the day and whom do we spend it with!

I, too, planned for a date with my valentine, but I could not decide whether to take the motorcycle or car. As I was thinking, I heard a strange sound coming from the garage. As I approached, the sound grew louder and louder. No sooner had I flung open the garage door, I saw a person running away. "Thief...thief", I ran after him!

With a mask covering the whole face and a black garment covering his body, the guy with a bag equipped on his back, ran very fast to escape from me. He sprinted through the lawn and started climbing the gate. But his left leg slipped down. As soon as that happened, I pounced over the guy and tried to hold him back. He started hitting me with punches and kicks, which made it difficult for me to hang on to my grip. He swiftly climbed over the gate and disappeared among the thick crowd on the street. My entire body began to ache, and I decided to rest for a while. I woke up with a jerk when suddenly it occurred to my mind that Priya would be waiting for me. I hurriedly got in my car and raced it towards her place. But lo! There was a traffic jam on the road.

'She will be furious today,' I said to myself.

I finally reached her place after hour-long tiresome traffic.

'Beep, beep,' I sounded the horn loudly.

Neither did she come out nor picked up my call when I dialled her number. I redialed her, but there was no answer again. I got off and went inside her house. Her mother told me that she was in her room, upstairs. I climbed up the stairs and knocked at her door.

"Come in", she said with a low voice.

When I went inside, she looked disgusted at me. "GET OUT", she shouted at the top of her voice.

"But you told me to come inside" I was puzzled.

"I thought that it was mom."

"I see."

"Now, mister, what do you want?"

"Today's Valentine's Day, my dear. Didn't we plan to go on a date?"

"Oh really?? What's the time now? It's almost 12 noon now, and we had planned to go at 9."

"Listen, I started in time, but..." I stopped as she spoke in, "But you fell in trouble! Don't give me that excuse." she was not convinced.

"Listen to me", I raised my voice and narrated to her the entire story of the morning.

She was silent for a while. She began with a soft tone, "I am so sorry, I didn't know. We can go, I think."

"Ya sure."

Priya wore the velvet saree, which I presented her on New Year's Day. We started off towards our destination, which was far- about 45 km from my house, a place of scenic beauty- with flowers, orchids, trees, water, marine organisms. It was 'Deepor Beel', which was initially a horseshoe lake of the river Brahmaputra. That was for the evening, and currently, the plan was to go shopping at Central Mall. We crossed Chaygaon, Bijaynagar, Mirza in no time as there was not much traffic this time. I started sweating as it was a hot and humid afternoon. I switched on the A.C. and closed the windows.

"Did you hear that?" she said.

"Hear what?"

"A beep sound."

"I turned on the A.C."

"It seemed different though," she was confused, "my bad."

We almost reached Jalukbari when I heard a beeping sound, "Did you hear the same?" I questioned her.

"Yeah," she looked around, "I think it's coming from the front compartment."

"Check it."

And then we saw a flickering red light, and it didn't take much time to confirm it was a bomb fitted there with wires tangled within the car and can't be removed. It read '20:50.', and then '10:50'. We were puzzled. The next moment it turned '00:50' and then '65:h0'.

"It's upside down," I figured out.

We had just 4 minutes and 58 seconds left to deal with it. Continuing towards the city was never an option. I made up my mind to take the bye-lanes of Gauhati University and reach some isolated place.

"Get down; I need to save you," I asked her.

"Save me?! And what about yourself" she started sobbing.

"We don't have time for all this; get down fast."

"Didn't you tell me that we will live together and die together?"

"That's only for saying. It's not practical, Priya."

"But, Arjun.."

"No if and buts. I'll do something for myself."

I was relieved that she had got down. I continued with less than 4 minutes remaining now. I had saved Priya. Now, I had to protect myself, which wasn't easy, especially with so little time left. I ignored the yelling of the guard at G.U. main gate and rushed inside the campus. Less than a minute was left when I halted near the botanical garden. Thankfully not many people were there. I stopped the car and started taking out the essential documents that I could find and ran as far as possible.

"Boom!!" the car exploded like a firecracker, and I was thrown away by the explosion.

I thanked God for saving my life. But, my left hand was severely injured, and I couldn't even lift it. Blood was flowing from many parts of my body. I searched for my phone to call an ambulance. But, it was shattered into pieces. Slowly, I stood up and tried to walk, but I trembled down many times. I saw a group of students running towards me.

"Can I please use your phone? I need to call the ambulance". I asked one of them.

"Come with us. We'll take you to the hospital." the guy answered.

They lifted me up, took me to a car. I sat down slowly.

"But how did this happen? An accident?" they enquired on the way to the hospital.

I narrated what actually had happened that day. They listened very attentively; the one who was sitting beside me remarked, "I think the bomb was set by that person whom you took to be the thief."

"Ya, I also think the same now. I wonder who that guy was and what he wanted."

"You can find out that later but right now, you must get medication. Okay, we've reached the hospital. Let's take you inside."

"Thank you."

When they were about to part after getting me admitted, I took out my wallet and asked, "How much do I pay for the journey?"

They smiled, "It's humanity, brother," and patted me on the shoulder.

"Get well soon," they said. I smiled back.

A nurse took me to the emergency ward and put me on a bed. She cleaned the wounded parts following which wrapped them up in bandages.

"The doctor will be coming soon. You can rest for a while," she told me and left the ward. The next thirty minutes, till the doctor arrived, were totally boring. There was none to talk with, none to share my pain, my grief. I started staring at the walls which were painted with sour blue. Air was rushing in through the windows with broken window panes. Still, there was nothing quite remarkable in the room except for some quotations of God scribbled on the walls that had become indistinct over time.

I had hardly fallen asleep when the doctor arrived. I was amazed when I saw him. "Satyajit Sahu, it's been many years since we met last," I tried to get up.

"Relax, relax. Don't get up," He came and sat near me, "So, tell me, how did this happen?"

"It's a pretty long story."

"Just tell me."

"Can you lend me your phone once?"

"Ya Sure", he handed over his phone.

I dialled Priya's number, but there was no answer. So I sent her a message-

Priya, I m fine. I will be back soon. Don't worry. Don't call back and don't come searching for me. Love you. Bye. Take care.

Arjun.

"Thanks, Satya", I gave the phone back to him and narrated what had happened earlier in the day. He listened very carefully.

"Thank God that you're safe."

I smiled.

"I have gone through your X-ray report," he paused to look at me, "and there's nothing serious to worry about. The bruises are external. However, there's this..."

"Ya, I know," I interrupted him, "that's what every doctor comments on every time I undergo an X-ray."

"Very well then. I have plastered your left hand and replaced the bandages. You will be fit in a fortnight or so. You can go home this evening but take a nap for now,"

He was about to leave when I said, "Hey, how's Mahira?"

"You don't know?"

"No, I don't," I was confused, "what happened?"

"We broke up!" he sounded low.

"What?" I was shocked, "dude, you both looked so cute together. Everyone was envious of your relationship in college."

"Things that start must also come to an end."

"Well, it's okay then. You'll find someone for sure," I tried to cheer him up, "Bhabi koi bhi ho, hume to Shaadi se jyada matlab hain."

He chuckled, "Well, buddy, take some rest now. I will take your leave; we can meet someday once you get better."

"Sounds great, see ya."

I had a sound sleep, after which I felt really comfortable. I went to the reception counter, signed off and left for home. I reached home late in the evening. My parents were shocked to see my condition, and mom started crying. I briefly narrated to them what had happened. "Let me report the matter to the police", father suggested.

"No, let's forget the matter. I will figure out who that was," I told him, "Let me take some rest now. I'm tired."

I was really very tired and decided to check on Priya the next day. That night was pathetic for me, and I could barely sleep. I had no idea who that person might be. Was that mere coincidence or a consequence of the prediction of Babaji? Was my end really near? Those were the thoughts that kept repeating in my mind over again and again.

The following day, I got up late than usual time and hurried to complete my morning works. I tried to recollect all the names with whom I have had conflicts in my past. But it was really a cumbersome task. It was late afternoon when I started for her home. There was not much traffic today, and I reached her house soon.

I was greeted by Priya at the door. She hugged me then and there, "Ouch, slowly."

"Oops, sorry. Thank God that you're safe. I've been praying to God all day, but what're these?" She said as she saw the bandages around my body.

"These are nothing", I tried to console her from crying.

"Why is God so mean? He could have hurt me instead of you", she began to sob.

"Now, please don't cry" I wiped off her tears, "I'm safe-you should be happy about that."

"But"

"Please"

"Okay, as you wish", she smiled.

"Hey, I wanted to give you this yesterday but couldn't," I said and took out a box wrapped with bright paper.

"What's this?" she enquired

"Guess it."

"No, tell me what's there inside the box."

"First, close your eyes."

She closed her eyes. After that, I bend down on my right knee, "Now open your eyes."

She was surprised to see a ring in the box. She then looked into my eyes.

"I love you very much, Priya, more than the words can express. I can't think of a day with you not being around me. Every instant, I keep thinking only about you, and I want to spend my whole life with you. I want you, Priya, as my life partner, as my soul mate. Will you marry me?" I proposed to her.

"Why not!" she pulled me up, and I put the ring on her finger."I'm so happy, Arjun."

"Me too.."

"But still, the words of Babaji keep on haunting me."

"Nothing will happen, just relax!"

"Wait, is there any connection between the two instances?"

"I don't think so. Let's forget it as if it was a test of our love."

"Test?"

"Yes, a test in which we succeeded," I held her to my arms. But we were totally unprepared for the beautiful test that followed.