I don't know whether it's my luck or unluck , I meet a person with his name after so many years..

His name is Shravan ..but , this Shravan whom I met few days ago here , is nowhere similar to my Shravan...

My Shravan was studious in academics , a kind of nerd . Still , he was dependent upon me completely to be bold enough.. He was a shy person to even initiate a conversation with... He used to pull up his spectacles ( though it's right in it's place !! )atleast four or five times to call me by name...

Before he could call me , he would sweat and would stammer in apprehension...

That much he was innocent and the more he was innocent ,I had been attracted to him unknowingly..

He always avoided other's company as he was an introvert and Being so , he preferred to be alone . Perhaps ,his family trials had played a crucial part in his aloofness..

He had been a mystery at everyone's book ...

It took a lot of effort for me to understand him.. since then , he had been a part of my soul...

Those days were golden and I can't retrieve them back anyhow...

I miss you Shravan...!!!

His name , along with his innocent face that I remember in cloud sends down a shiver in me...I breath out long , to recall my young age...

Now , I see the couple dinner coupon that flutters on the table...

I remember how he had stated at soft tone that he will be waiting...

Without any doubt , I can't go for dinner as I have a theatre rehearsal this evening...

My entire mind confuses that how I can convince him , how I can make him understand that I can't really go for dinner this evening..

This Shravan ... he is not like my Shravan...

This Shravan is an easy going guy but irritating at times... He is beyond presumption.. Who knows ... ?He may be a drunked.. a smoker ... a womanizer too...

But for sure , he's so attractive and any one would bind with him effortlessly..

So as I am... !!!

Well... There are few weirds for the sake of God's own world... And , I am one amongst!!!

I neither want him to be close to me nor away from me..

Am I confusing you ?

Although I don't know what's happening with me.. what I can assume is he's my friend ... a new friend.. !!!

A strong breeze blows over the window to toss away the fluttering coupon..

I step fast to hold it...

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" Suman... I least expected this from you.. !!!"

The moment my teacher scolded me I felt like dying...

Though she didn't scold me anything more than that I sensed a kind of devastating...

From that incident , Shravan was told to sit near me... My teacher deliberately paired us in every project work and school activities...

She believed that if we work together that may help to patch up our distance... But , little did she know that the more we were together , the more I hated him...

Even now I wonder how I was so cruel when I was hardly ten years old ... And , somewhere my mind assures me that after all , I was a kid at that time....

It was obvious that slowly , Shravan replaced me in my teacher's good books..

She started to call Shravan to mind the class over me... She preffered him to take her books from the staff room.. she corrected his test papers first.. She handed over the assignments to Shravan to distribute in the classroom...

Earlier I was the one who did all these works..

I know you might be laughing to read this now.. but , At my young age I went through all these.. Probably , those things were significant than anything else..

But , time was so cruel on me .. As expected , same thing happened in my home too... Amma showered love upon Shravan.... My Anna too had a soft corner for Shravan ... Though Divya akka loved me equally ,that wasn't enough for me...

I was insecure... I was jealous...I was alone ..I was haunted with evil thoughts...

Shravan... !!! Literally, he was getting on my nerves .. I was desperate to hold my place in home and in school as well..

Then ....

It happened...

It was a PT period in school...

As I had dance rehearsal for the upcoming annual day celebration , I was in the auditorium...

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Checking my wrist watch , I criss cross the paved platform . The pressure I feel in my mind exerts in my face so clearly.. More than my rehearsals , the moment I am going to face disappointed shravan terrifies me ...

I grip my shoulder bag as a mere support to see him at a distance..

At present , I am waiting outside the eat -out where we are supposed to spend the evening -wearing my theatre uniform.. an ankle length maroon Cotton saree paired with white pants...

When he approaches , I wonder what if he really wants me to join him... But ,to my surprise he is in casuals which is a bad choice for a couple dinner..

I contemplate that he would be shocked to see me in different attire... But , I am disappointed...

He walks quick to reach me .. His surprise is evident in his hustle bustle module..

As usual before talking , he grabs the shoulder bag from me...

" Hey Sam... Why didn't you tell me that you have practice..? Don't you know that I am just an off the wall ? Come .. let's go"

Without even letting me to say anything , he holds my hands and begins to cross the road ...

I walk parallel to him..

" Shravan... If I ask you a question, will you answer me genuinely..?"

He shrinks his forehead to me , bringing out his best smile..

" Hello madam... Shravan never lies."

I join his smile, querying... " Aren't you disappointed that we didn't go for the dinner..?"

I look into his eyes as I need really his true answer..

He continues to walk while telling..

" Sam.. I know you won't be coming for the dinner.. because , you are one of a kind and no one can force on you anything.. still , somewhere my heart believed that you will be coming at least to say that you won't join me ... And ,I am happy that you have a valid reason.. "

For sure , he isn't lying.. His choice of dress speaks it loud..

Now , I struggle to suppress my admiration on him... How come a person can understand a girl in short period.. That too , understanding me in one tough job ever...

I stare at the ground without turning at him..

He seems to sense my thoughts...

He coughs deliberately ." No wonder ... You are my type... Genuine and straight forward... So I can understand you... " My sudden stare cut him midway.

" No... I mean to say... We are sailing on the same boat.. "

He mumbles...

I nod to say - leave it...

I introduce him to my fellow theatre artists as a matter of formality.. I am about to say - bye to him.. But , he wishes to see the rehearsals as he has a weekly off the next day.. And , he wants it to be a great evening..

Half minded , I accept...

He takes the first row , as though he knows everything and is very much interested in theatre..

We begin to practice forgetting the time and situation... It is a continuous four hours rigorous session , obviously we are hell tired at the end .. I lounge on the stage , holding my knees...

In less than a second ...

It happened....

That very split second changed my entire view on life....

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