Old Flame, New Friend... and a Cyber Stalker

Destiny loves to play games... and like I often say its best game is life...while giving an introduction to Shayon and myself in the last two posts, I gave you all a background on what was happening in our lives when we met on Hi5... and here it is-

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Ani had gone off to London and that meant that the extra time that I used to spend on the basket ball courts was almost equal to none. (Here I must mention- That Ani was not liked by either my best friend or my younger sister.) That is when I got an invite from Hi5... and not averse to trying something new and since I had to be online to chat with my dear Ani... I thought this would make for a good timepass. It was December 2004 then.
I started joining groups in hope of bumping into a few friends from my school and all. Then I joined a book discussion group for the 'Da Vinci Code', and I made a few friends out there....accepting their friend requests and chatting up with a few of em. Then one fine day, I saw a guy with a weird name (He was on hi5 with his full name- Sayantan) who had commented on a topic of discussion and that too completely contradictory to what I had said. From that day on, we were continously trying to prove our point through heated discussions.
Then one fine day he sends me a friend request and we are chatting away all the time. I got my first testimonial from this friend of mine... which said...

"Shayon says:

26-Jan-2005 23:20

Hey Saxi, how you been doing, gurl? You surprised with this testi? Well...I was just browsing my friends' list when I suddenly thought of penning down something about you! Well...this gurl stays in Delhi, quite far away from my place. First time I got in touch with her is through the Da Vinci group in Hi5. There had been quite many occasions us fighting over some issue or the other. That's how I gradually grew fond of her. I always liked her ideas and loved to fight them back :-p. Then one day, we added each other and voila! We kept in touch almost everyday since then. I don't really know what to say about this gal. She has been amazing me each and every time I spoke to her. She's a very happy-go-lucky kinda gurl...with no qualms about swearing, Ahem! Although some times she does tend to be very concerned and tensed, but most of the times she's pretty chilled out and laid back. She has a very firm belief in the word LOVE. I don't know whether it's really as powerful as she makes me feel...but then again, it's all about personal choices, I guess. Oh, yes! Did I mention about her fascination for Horoscopes? Apparently she checks out her as well as of almost all she knows, EVERYDAY! Dunno what pleasure she gets off it. Maybe they do turn out to be true for her. As of my opinion, I feel they are so articulately and diplomatically phrased that each and every prediction can turn out to be 'almost' true for each and every being in this cosmos, provided you are not tsunami struck, that is :-p. Well...that's all about her, I guess. Hey saxi (Love calling her that, it's great to watch out for her reaction :-D), were I wrong in any line in this testi of yours? If I am, doncha forget to correct me out, huh?"

In the meanwhile there was trouble in the Ani land. He was in london. I was here and he was not making an effort to make time for me. So, for all my frustrations and what not- I turned to Shayon...making him give me Love advice.... one of the email he actually explained to me that I need to give him space and time ....

Then came the twist that shocked me out of my wits.... Ani actually gave his msn password to one of his 'room-mate' and that room-mate fell in 'love' with me while chatting with me as Ani. (I was too naive in the relationship and Ani n I din really call ourselves in a official realtionship). My cybe stalker made sure that he makes my lief hell by e-mailing me all the time professing his love .... Shayon actually asked me to tell Mr. Stalker to stop pestering me coz I had a bf and since I din want to reveal his (my bf) name I should say that its Shayon.

I was feeling like a damsel in distress and Shayon was a true gentleman... My end-sems were gonna start soon... and Shayon drops another bombshell at me asking me for my phone number... and despite the stalker experience... I don't know why I gave him my number... adding to it- 'If you trouble me by missed calls or bad smses...then you have had it'.

In return, I get a call from him right before a very tough paper telling me to calm down and relax. We talked on, for over an hour STD. That was the sweetest thing that anyone had done for me in such a long time... and Shayon became a topic of discussion between me and my best friend.

(All through my exams, since I was burning the mid-night oil, I was ordered to sms Shayon at time I slept... and everynight- He used to reply telling me that I should sleep early).

Shayon was becoming more of an addiction day by day... and Ani was distancing himself from me on God knows what.... The main reason was that stalker... I guess...

The Banglore trip in Feb 2005, brought me and Shayon closer than ever. It was on the 7th feb eve that we talked all night through smses... it was the best night that I had had in a long time... (We flirted like anything from day one we had started chatting.... I asked him to buy me roses on the rose day...and he actually bought them...!!!).

I missed talking to him... and despite all the guilt of maybe two timing Ani, I just couldn't help but miss Shayon everyday of my trip, even more..... and kehte hain na- 'aag dono jagah barabar lagi hai' Shayon was also missing me.... it was very clear in this mail of his....

"Hi, how you been doing? Silly question, I guessryt? Of course, you are on a much deserved holiday now. You are supposed to be enjoying!

So...what all places have ya been? Or have you been too lazy to even get out of your bed ? Have you been to Mysore till now? If you haven't, don't forget to get sandalwood stuffs next time you get there. I've been there just once. Liked the place. Although I've been in Bangalore for just 3 days . I'd been there to take my CET exams. My cousin sis stays there. Don't remember the street n all, though...

...Hey gurl...really missing you, yaar? When are you coming back? I know it's sounding a li'l selfish...but then...I'm missing you really bad. Hope to catch up with you online some time soon. Chow then, ciao for now...

Ohkay...ciao for now. Take Care." (5th Feb, 2005)

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The Proposal and the Phone bill are up tomorrow...!!!

The Cast: The Heroine, Me

Sorry... since there was something wrong in the net connection... therefore there is a days delay in this post....!!!

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Sakshi, that is me. Hmmmm....I was called a lot of nicknames... few of the favourite that are still stuck are, moti (fatso) and hitler (apparently... I used to hit alot... I still do...) and at home I was always 'tini' (my first cousin had a doll that looked like a new born baby and a few days before I was born, he broke it... and he thought I was his doll- so I was named after the doll...tini). I was a complete extrovert, owing to the fact that my mother liked me playing outside the house and most of my friends were boys... the girls liked playing house... I used to play that too... but with one of my close boy- friend.... and he used to make me play wwf cards with him... this is the reason that I was tomboyish... and really din care. In school I couldn't find the right kind of 'group' to fit in... so I was everybody's friend...and I had my cousin Mansi in the same batch she was my soulmate... (we were often called twins.... both had long really long hair and wore similar clothes... and she was an introvert unlike me). I was one hell of a happy child, scared from my mum... (everyone is scared of her) spending holidays at my cousin Mansi's place- Her parents, my father's older bro n his wife never thought that I was not their own...

Then, after 10th standard everything changed.... I changed my school and the usual happy me became an introvert I din like anything around me... that was the same year I lost my dadaji and that was like a big blow to me. My only outlet was basket ball that I played in the evening...wherein there were mostly guys...as usual. I developed a crush on a guy called Ankush... and till the end of 12th std, he was the perfect guy I wanted. But, in those two years I lost on Tauji and finally Mansi(It took me more than a year to accept that she has finally gone never to come back again...and somewhere in my heart I believed that I too was responsible for to commit suicide coz I had changed my school). Death is inevitable... but this inevitable truth took away my soul my life and my zeal to live it... till...

After 12th and losing Mansi two days before our board result, I met a guy who I will refer to as 'Ani'. He was cute, funny and absolute Greek God for me. We hit off pretty well. And in the coming 8 months I actually got him to tell me that 'he thinks that he loves me'.

I had joined engineering and after the gruelling day at college there was nothing better than relaxing at the 'court'.

Then came the fiasco- Ani went to London for some college thingy... and to pass my time I joined hi5 and finally the book discussion group and that is where I met my Hero...

In one Line- I was smiling but I was not happy... I had a best friend...but not a group of friends coz unlike Shayon... I made friends but din really know how to keep em...!!!

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How our friendship developed... is coming up in the next post.....

The Cast: My Hero....

In the series of posts that are gonna come now, I am going to introduce to the world the cast that comprises the love story that is gonna follow.

I know, I know- You did read my love story in the post that I had posted earlier... but am sure that after reading my previous post you know that I am going pen down the story thus far- 3 years, 9 months and two days of my relationship chronicled. I don't know if you want to read it... I just know that I want to write it.

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First up- The hero of my story- Shayon.....

Sayantan, known by a lesser complicated name Shayon to all is a year older to me. The first thing that you notice about him, is that he is not the best looking guy in the world. He even carries a ponch which he doesn't even attempt to lose out.

The next thing that you notice about him, is that his magnetism is not because of his looks its because of that killer smile that forms a dimple on his cheek and the way his eyes twinkle when he smiles. Sit and talk to him for five minutes and you are baffled by his worldly knowledge and his clever talks... and the best part is- He is not a nerd...at all... despite his specs....

Unlike the misconception that guys can be lame when it comes to talking anything but sports or finance, this guy has a lot of sarcasm to offer and opinions on everything. It was due to this that we first clashed on Hi5 in a book discussion group.

Shayon, took admission in NIT Jamshedpur in the year 2003. But an unfortunate incidence (read as- being at the wrong place at the wrong time.... he has a knack of doing that) got him suspended from college...

That meant at the time we met, he was pursuing a diploma course in NIIT and ofcourse doing what he loves the best, surfing the net and making new friends.

He had just gotten off from a six year relationship with Aishwarya (they are still friends) and was trying to pataofy a female in his class at NIIT, Vasudha.

In one line - He is a complete charmer, loves to make new friends...and makes sure that old ones remember him....always....

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It was under these circumstances that we met.

The Heroine: Me, will get introduced in the next post....!!!

Challenge or What...!!!

Shayon has been extremely impressed with the style of writing and the approach of my dear friend Ms. Footloose. She calls herself a terrible girlfriend coz, in one of her posts has said that she constantly has the urge of knowing and talking to her boyfriend. So many of her posts have my advice on them.

And today when I saw that huge comment on her post, especially her love story, I cant even tell you the jealousy that is gnawing at me especially since I still havent been able to get a comment on our love story that I had written, verbal or written. ( Ofcourse I was told that since there was emotional ovewhelmness that took over no reactions came...!!!) 

This along with the fact, that, I give a lot of advice, even when unwarranted for. I am going to attempt to write about my experiences in this relationship. Well maybe because, Shayon asked me if I can actually do this.... or Maybe because later in life- I can co-author a love story with my 'marriage phobic' boyfriend or Maybe- I can read these again and again to remind myself why I love Shayon so much and why sometimes- Love is Enough....!!!

Aditya Chopra has given me the tag line that I need - 

      

There is an extraordinary love story in every ordinary jodi

To Love... with Love....

" I have been talking to people, and I have been trying to talk to you for like two months but I just don't know how to say it... Jaan, How do you do it?? "

These were the lines that woke a sleepy me at 2 am in the morning when Shayon decided that it was high time that we had a talk. ( I know, when its about talking then its normally damn serious... trust me it was). My boyfriend has been wondering as to how is it that I keep a strong front and all, especially since we have not met in like a year... and now that I am finally going to be in Mumbai we are going to be together for a few days... and then what??

We both realise that its none of our mistake, we knew what we were getting ourselves into when we decided that despite the distance and all the odds we have fallen in love and that we atleast want to give our relationship a try... I dunno if anyone is interested but, I feel that this post will be incomplete w/o recounting my love story... and here it goes-

It was about 4 years back, that I for the very first time joined a social networking site... being a computer illiterate it took me a lot of time to understand the workings of that site (trust me, it took me a lot of time to figure facebook too... ) and finally, I managed to join a book discussion group... there I bumped into this guy who had total ourageous fundas (mind you- It was the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown that we were discussing) I dunno what made him do it but he sent me a friend request, I said a yes... and then there was not a day that went by when we werent talking online i.e chatting. One of those very long chats, he asked me for my phone number... I was very skeptical about it and as a rule I have never given my phone number to a net friend and today also I completely avoid it... but for him... I made an exception... ( why- I wish I knew... ) and then there were a few sms that were exchanged and a phone call here n there. It was a very difficult paper that I had to give for my sems in January 2005... I had come online to take a break... he was there n I told him that I was feeling very stressed out... and guess what this guy does, calls me up STD to just talk to me... we talked for like an hour. A month later I had gone to Banglore for a holiday. It was there on the eve of 7th Feb that we talked for the whole night through smses ( I was on roaming and I managed to indebt my prepaid accnt by over 800 rupees...) and something clicked. It took a week more for us to understand our feelings towards each other and more importantly the whole bizzare thing of 'love on net' happening to us. When on 14th Feb we mutually agreed that yup there was something more to friendship here, I was under shock... It took me less than 7 hours to say a I love you to him.

First 15-20 days we were inseparable, on phone that is- on an average we talked about 5-7 hours over the phone and then we were emailing and chatting with each other. And when the phone bill came- we were first amused, then shocked and then scared. It was then that we talked mostly through net i.e via email /chatting and ofcourse there were snail mails too and I used to go to a STD booth with 20 rupees with so that we could talk for 5 mins. ( Three years back, STD rates on cell phones were huge).

And then came a new twist, I had initially started my engineering but I found it very hard to cope up.... and I decided to change my stream completely... and it was in him that I found the maximum support... it was him who coaxed me to be courageous and to to go tell my parents about my difficulty... and though we had grown closer everyday it was this incident that found a friend in my boyfriend.

It was 8 months later that we met for the first time as a couple. I can still feel that moment... He was a perfect gentleman... and I made all the first moves, be it holding hands or the first kiss. It was here that the respect increased... and rest as they say is history.

Ever since that I have been in this relationship, I have seen my share of ups and downs actually a lot of downs... which would have definately not been endurable by anyother relationship... I have found that every down that comes just makes me love my guy even more... call me mad in love but yeah, I have seen and felt my relationship emerging stronger with every storm that we have managed to land ourselves in... lets say we are trying move strength to strength... Shayon wonders where it comes from?

I feel that it comes from knowing a mere fact that I love him and though he says he doesnt love me enough... his love.. the knowing of the fact that yes, He does love me gives me strength... I wont say that there isnt any physical chemistry involved... ofcourse there is...

But, standing and defending my love against all odds is because of Him... had he not been there to constantly support and love me... I guess things would have been very different today.

My friend Ms Footloose constantly talks about a souldmate friend of hers... I too have a best friend for like over 14 years... and we have shared too much of our lives together to bother about formalities.... but there are certai things and feelings that I cant share with her... not because she will not listen to me... but because her perspective and knowledge on that is completely different... like, she is least interested in intellectual stuff while am a sucker for the same and this is where Shayon steps in not as a boyfriend... but as a friend... and mind you most of the times when I am complaining and whining about someone he points out at my own faults ( that is why a friend) I think I am really lucky to have found a friend in my love. Ofcourse my bset friend is always there....

This post has become too long...and too about my boyfriend... I can talk and talk about him at length... and Just in case you din really get what I am trying to say... well... in short- I admire, respect and love my boyfriend for what he is...and I wish to tell him that I am strong because you are there with me... you are my strength...and I love you alot. I know, you have had enough...but just a few more days... I know we will figure something out.

And if you have read this post till here- Thanks...

Wellll

I am so freaking HAPPYYYYY...!!!

After a slew of depressing posts and lots of crankiness, finally some good news has made a headway in my life.
I was talking about going to mumbai for an internship... na?
I finally got the acceptance email from the law firm.
Ofcourse, there was a big hand of Nicole, a friend who said that she will get me the internship and she got it for me too...

It feels good, to look forward to something that you have been wanting to look forward for a long time. The only iffs and butts are the skeptical ness of my dad, who till the confirmation came was ok about me going to Mumbai.... that last hurdle is yet to be crossed.... but My God, has re-instilled faith in me... I am sure that He is not going to let me down.

I cant wait for life to take the new turns for me now that I know that green signal has come by. Oh, yeah... Thanks a ton to all others who have actually prayed that I get through the internship in Mumbai.

Thanks a ton God....!!! Keep me blessed with your blessings...!!! Love you...!!