I have been moving closely with Chandran for the past six months. But I never thought that he would be such a bad person.
We both have been working in different offices located in the same building. My office is located in the sixth floor and his in the fourth floor.
One day, Chandran came running and got into the lift. I was the only other person in the lift. I smiled at him and he also smiled back.
Another day, we met in the cafeteria. At that time, we got introduced to each other and began to converse.
For some reason, I developed a liking for Chandran. He also liked me. After that, we began going out together, during the weekends.
It was only last week that we decided to tell our parents about our love and request them to arrange for our marriage.
But, in the meanwhile, this incident happened.
Chandran:
I never expected Vatsala to be so mean.
When I was sitting in a restaurant with Vatsala, my boss Sakuntala came there. Though Sakuntala is my boss, she is very friendly with me, as she is with my other colleagues too. She insists that we should call her 'Sakku.' When she converses with her team members, an observer can't decide who the boss is. That is the work culture of my company.
Seeing me, Sakuntala said, "Hi Chand!" Looking at Vattsala, she asked me, "Who is this lady? Is she your lover, or are you going to say she is just a friend?"
I introduced Vatsala to Sakuntala, saying, "She is Vatsala, my fiancee."
Then, I turned to Vatsala and introduced Sakuntala to her, saying, "She is Sakuntala. My boss."
"Why do you say Sakuntala? You call me Sakku, don't you?" said Sakuntala. She told Vatsala, "You are a lucky girl, Vats! Chand is a good boy!"
She then patted me on my back and moved away.
After Sakuntala had left, Vatsala vented her anger on me.
"Who is she? She calls you Chand. She even pats you on your back! How can she take so much liberty with you?" asked Vatsala.
"That is her nature. She talks to everyone freely, taking liberties with all. Did she not call you Vats?" I said.
"That's another thing I found inappropriate. How can she take liberties with a person, whom she has just met? This is not good manners!" said Vatsala, angrily, as if she was insulted by Sakuntala.
"As I told you, it is her nature. Since you are going to be my wife, she might have felt free with you."
"And she reveals to me that you call her 'Sakku!' What does this mean? Is she giving me a message that you are close to her? She pat you on your back and you just kept quiet" said Vatsala, accusingly.
It made me angry and I said something in anger. That led to our break up.
Vatsala:
When I asked Chandran why he kept quiet when his boss Sakku (What a name! Why should she crop a good name like Sakuntala like this? Is it to make the name sound sexy?) patted him on his back, Chandran said, "What do you think I should have done? Should I have patted her on her cheek, in return?"
This made me very angry. Only because he had such a desire in his mind, he should have said that.
I told Chandran, "You better have Sakku as your lover, instead of me!" and left that place, He tried to stop me, but I left that place in a huff. I got into an autorickshaw, standing outside the restaurant, and went home.
After that, Chandran sent a number of text messages to my mobile phone. I deleted all of them, without even reading them. He also called me up several times. I didn't pick up any of his calls.
Once he came to my office and sent word to me that he wanted to meet me. When the security guard came to me with his message, I told the guard that I was on a call and that I couldn't meet him. My colleagues, sitting near me, looked at me strangely, since at that time, I was sitting idle, with no urgent work to attend.
After that, I didn't get any text message or call from Chandran. I felt relieved.
Chandran:
When I said something in a lighter vein, Vatsala took it seriously and felt offended. She got up and left immediately. I never expected such a reaction from her.
After that, I sent her many text messages, explaining to her that what I said was in a lighter vein, and apologizing to her. She didn't respond. She might not even have read my messages. I also called her up several times, but she didn't pick up any of my calls.
I went to her office and tried to meet her. But she sent word that she was on a call, I knew that she was lying.
After that, I became angry with her, for her attitude and behaviour, and stopped contacting her again.
Vatsala:
It has been two months, since I broke up with Chandran. As days pass, I have a lingering feeling of regret. I feel nostalgic about the days I was together with Chandran. How happy I was during those days! How much love did he shower on me!
Even now, he should have love for me, in his heart. It was me who broke up with him. He texted me and called me so many times. He even came to my office to meet me!
If I had spoken to him or listened to him once, the issue could have been resolved.
But what about that 'Sakku?' How can I take it lightly?
When I was sitting in the cafeteria and reflecting, Sakku came there, along with a few men. They appeared to be her colleagues. She had her arm on the shoulders of one of them. Is he her lover or is it her habit to hug her male colleagues and pat them on their back?
They sat at a table. When I observed that Sakku was pressing the arm of someone or patting someone on his back or shoulder, I realized that that was the way she moved with her colleagues.
Perhaps. I have acted in haste in breaking up with Chandran.
Chandran:
Though I have stopped contacting Vatsala, I can't help thinking about her. How nice a girl is she! If I get a chance to speak to her over the phone just once, I will be able to win back her love. But she won't take my calls!
It has been two months, since she broke up with me. Maybe, she has had a change of heart by this time. Should I try to call her one more time?
When I took out my phone, for calling her number, my phone rang.
"Hi, Chand! I am sorry. It was entirely my fault" said Vatsala.
Thirukkural
Section 3
Section 3
Love
Chapter 111
The Joy of Being Together in Love
The Joy of Being Together in Love
Udal uNardhal puNardhal ivai kAmam
kUdiyAr peRRa payan.
Meaning:
Quarreling, Reconciling and Being together. These are the perks
gained by those united in love.
(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'mudhugil oru thattu' by the same author.)
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