Lost by a margin

June 2006
“Hey Raj I wish college would not end , so that I can sit here all the time with my friends and spend the best time of my life so far”said Jhanvi as she sipped the coffee,sitting in Barista in Centre Stage Mall.
“Common yaar … I am so excited to enter corporate world, it had always been my dream.” said Raj
“I agree with you but you are going to chennai yaar…I will miss you”

“Hey don’t worry it’s just matter of few months and I will be back,I will try to come back just after the training is over..moreover so many friends are still here”said Raj.
“Chalo isi baat par give me a smile”

And the most beautiful smile came on the face of the most special person in Raj’s life.

August 2010
9pm ,Delhi

The taxi was struggling to meander through the huge traffic snarl outside the IGI airport,with honks,and !@#$@#$@ abuses flowing out from everywhere.
But Raj was lost in his own world,those words were haunting like echoes in his mind.The reminicences of the past and his college life kept him occupied.
He was busy recalling and reliving so many beautiful moments when he was interrupted by driver “Saheb ghar  aaa gaaya”

His friends gave him a warm welcome after meeting him after so many years.The gossip session continued till late night when they realized that next day was office.
Next morning Raj was all excited to reach office,to meet his team mates whom he had been interacting all these months on teleconference calls and mails.
Entire day in office flew like anything meeting managers,colleagues,team meetings etc.
Then came the most awaited time.In evening he rushed from office straight to atta market, he ran into the Center Stage Mall.What awaited him was CHANGE.Everything had changed, people places,shops but one thing which was still there was “Yaadein”.
He entered Barista,could see the corner table where he would sit with his friends for hours while Harsh would play guitar and others would enjoy it.Ordering his favorite cup of coffee he sat there, reliving those moments.
He could see couples and college students sitting there and playing pranks,giggling and enjoying;unaware that life will not be same again in coming days.
He moved out to see the McDonald’s ,from where he would buy cone and would spend hours walking in rounds on each floor with Jhanvi.
Raj was always a foodie,his favorite was “Raj kachauri”,which he would have at any cost once he was here.But he was disappointed to see that Taste Of India had been shut down.
Sad and gloomy he was moving out when his cell phone rang “Hello Raj”
“Hi.. hmmmm.. sorry can I know your name please”
“Oh to ab yeh baat ho gayi….?? Will not tell my name … ”
“why ?? see don’t play prnaks with me !!!”

“Ok .. then turn around ”

“Ghosssshhh.. abe sale tum ”

Raj ran fwd to hug his college time friend Deepak.It has been 4 years since they had met.Last time was when Deepak left for Infosys training in Mysore.
Who had thought that things will turn in such a way that 2 close buddies who never remained apart even for a single day in college would not be able to meet again for 4 long  years; except for the frequent calls which had kept them binded all these years.Thanks to the corporte life.

The talks which started continued for hours.They relived their college days ,the girls they had crush,corporate life and all.

“So what next  ??” said Deepak
“Next bole to  ??”
“Abe shaadi kab kar raha hai ? So when do you plan to marry”
“Yaar , I wanted to share a secret about a girl whom I had liked but could never propose ,I have decided to do so this time …”

“Oh great !!! who is she? Do I know her ?” said Deepak

“Yes you do.. but you will have to wait before I divulge details about her ” said Raj
“What about yours.You said you had a surprise for me?”
“Wait for 2 min “..said Deepak as he took out his cellphone and dialled a number and whispered something.
Both continued their chit chat when Deepak’s cellphone rang and he informed the caller about the  location where they both sat.
Within minutes someone came from the back and shook Raj’s shoulders screaming “Surprissssseeeee  !!!!!!!!!”
Raj almost fell over the coffee mug but he somehow managed to control himself and turned back to see the shock of his life.
“Jhaanvi ……”was all Raj could say.
Both Deepak and Jhanvi burst into laughter.

Deepak”Kyun ho gaya na surprised? ”
“There is one more surprise for you.”
“Jhaanvi’s parents are going to meet my parents tommorrow and soon we will be tied in nuptial knot”The smile on Deepak’s face and  blush on Jhanvi’s face were pinching hundreds pins in Raj’s heart.
Raj was shocked to hear that.He didnot know how to react.On the one hand was his best friend’s happiness and on the other hand was his lifetime crush whom he loved so much but could never say his true feelings.
Though Jhaanvi was great friend of Raj but he never let her know how much he liked her.Adding to his misery was his onsite travel all these years which kept him physically away from Jhaanvi.
The time difference and busy corporate life had widened the gap in their friendship.He had planned to propose her & settle everything once and for all when he would return back.But before he could do anything this news had really shook him from inside.

Though shattered from inside Raj gathered courage and put on an artificial smile to hide the pain and tears in his eyes and said”Wow that’s a great news..so you guys had planned for this surprise…Congratualtions any ways ”
“Yeah, and whenver the date is finalised you have to be here , kahin fir se mat chale jana onsite !!!” said Deepak as Jhaanvi giggled.

Emotions were getting out of control for Raj and before it spilled over Raj decided to move from there.

“Hey guys I just remembered something urgent is pending and I have to rush to office..Sorry for now but will have to go.Will catch you soon”
Raj didnot even wait for them to react, and he left the place in split second.

Each step he trudged were so heavy ,filled with emotions & pain.Tears were trickling down from his eyes.
All the way he kept asking himself
“Why didn’t I tell her my feelings ?”
“Why the hell I went to  onsite?”
“God !! Where did I go wrong ”

But such questions have no answers moreover it was too late to get those answers …