My Love Story

Feb 15, 2024

And so began my life as a young woman...
In those days there were not many jobs available. I wasn't qualified in either... teaching, nursing, law, beauty parlour... nothing. However life takes its own course. I joined the Indian Airlines of all things! Totally unexpected! My parents were in awe. Their young fledgling...at a job in the skies!
One day as the company car drew up to my building I noticed a young man.Who was he? He stepped into the road and came to my side of the car.
"Hello” he said in a pleasant voice
“Hello?” I said “What is it?”
"Miss...er...You left your bag in the book shop two days ago. When you didn't come back I took the liberty of looking inside. I found a note book with your address... so... er ... here it is." He held out my bag. By then I had got out of the car and stood hesitantly. "Thank you ... Mr...."
"Jatin" he smiled.
Gosh! My heart definitely skipped a beat. I gulped. "Reva... Reva Singh." I introduced myself.
"I live nearby. Nice meeting you Miss... Ma'am..."
"No... no. Just Reva. Thanks," I smiled weakly and ran inside.

Why was I feeling like this? I didn't have a clue despite all the Denise Robins books I'd read.
A few weeks passed... Jatin and I ran into each other jogging in the park or in the small market that was round the corner.
As we began to meet often we felt at ease and talked about a hundred and one things that our young minds were concerned with. My job kept me busy most of the month and the years flew by. One day I heard the door bell ring.
Ma said, "Someone is here Reva asking for you.”
I heard my father’s deep voice saying, "Come in my boy!”
"Hello Sir. Hello Ma'am," I heard Jatin’s pleasant voice greet my parents.
"Sit down beta! Reeva there's someone..." said my mother.
“Jatin... Ma'am"
"Jatin is here to see you" called my mother again.
By the time I ran a comb through my hair and practiced a smile I realised something... just a wee bit... and went down slowly... to calm the heart beats. Boom! Boom! Boom! Good heavens suppose everyone hears them! Gosh!
Ma insisted on tea for everyone. She smiled happily and said, “with gajar ka halva."
Jatin twinkled at her sweetly and carried on a pleasant conversation with Baba.
"Reeva and I meet often in the park or at the bookstore where I work."Jatin explained.
"So you two are friends now hain? "Ma said in her motherly way.
Both Jatin and I said "Yes!"together, then grinned sheepishly.
After a very nice hour or two Jatin suddenly said "I'm leaving town Reeva. I've got a nice job in Kolkata.”
"Oh..."was all I could manage. Quite suddenly the morning took on a different hue.
"Sir...Ma'am... May Reeva come out for while with me?” he asked my parents.
We stepped out and I punched him hard! "You horror! You are leaving and never told me pehele?"

"Ufff! Easy...girl... easy... I got my appointment letter today only!"
We walked a bit in silence.
"Are you angry, Reeva?" He asked after I'd kicked a few stones around.
"No of course not silly! It's just a big jolt .."
"Jolt?"
"I mean... A big surprise! "
"Shall we keep in touch? Something in his voice made me look at him. Tears were beginning to fill my eyes. I nodded and I turned and ran back home.

Well, the years rolled on. Jatin and I exchanged a card or a letter now and then but what my heart unbeknownst to me looked for each time... It wasn’t there!
We moved to another colony and gradually Jatin and I lost touch. I had made some nice friends and slowly... one by one they got married.
"When will you agree to getting married beta?” Ma would question me now and then.
"Is there someone you like?” Baba would ask gently.
I would shake my head but would turn away before they saw my tears.
I missed Jatin. Was he missing me too?
I remembered how once he said, "Look at the stars Reeva..." as we stood outside my house one evening after dinner and I looked up and then found him looking at me instead and I heard him add softly "in your eyes! " My heart jumped."Here... show me your hand my good lady." And taking my hand he said, "When we are older will you still be my best friend?"
I couldn't speak. I squeezed his hand and was afraid to speak.

"How long will you keep waiting beta?"Ma would ask me. Dumbly I could only shake my head.
The year I became 24... The company car a few of us were in had a nasty bang and though we got out of the mess alive... myself and our poor Driver ji were laid up in the hospital ...broken limbs. Luckily many tests later to make sure everything was fine, there weren't any internal injuries.
Suppose I had died without meeting Jatin ? Or suppose I end up with a limp? Such thoughts ran round and round in my head.
A week later, at home as I had dozed off while reading I heard Ma say excitedly, "Someone is here to see you darling!"
I looked at the door as a man walked in.
"It's Reeva’s bestest friend," I heard Baba say happily."Come dear...these two have a lot to catch up on!! Haina, dear boy?"
"Baba...!" I whispered.
"Finding him is our birthday gift for you!” Baba grinned.
"It's mine too"!! Jatin laughed the way I thought I would never hear again.
"Gosh!” was all I could manage as he took me in his arms... plaster and all!
And that's how my real life began.

Kum Kum Ajit Singh

Kum Kum Ajit Singh a former teacher at Mayo College Girls’ today enjoys the life of a satisfied and doting Dadi. Residing with her family in Ajmer she loves to reminiscence, observe and write.