O' Suzzanna - Part 1

Jacob watched the crowd madly call his name from his stage. He loved their screams and excitement to watch him perform. But that didn't give him adrenaline rush to perform. It was 'Suzzanna' who gave him inspiration.  He name was more than enough to give him butterflies in his tummy and heart beat go faster. He had never met her or seen her. She had always remained in his dreams. After performing many years, he had almost lost hope to find Suzzanna.

Like always he searched the crowd for his Suzzanna while he began to play his guitar. She was not there. His heart broke. His mind wandered to thoughts of whether he would get a slight glimpse of the girl in his imagination and whether he would win his friend Sue's challenge. 'O Suzzanna, Are you just my imagination or real? " he sang the first line of the song while the crowd cheered.

                          ******  14 Years Back ******

It was hot summer morning. Little Jacob sat on floor with his cursive writing book. He watched his favorite cartoon 'Tom and Jerry' on TV while he practiced the alphabets in cursive handwriting as asked by his mother. He laughed momentarily whenever he watched Tom being thrashed by Jerry. His mother was busy preparing food for catering business which she started with her friend. 

The phone rang. Jacob didn't pick up. He waited for his mom to pick. After two rings, his mom rushed to pick. She briefly scolded Jacob and then spoke, "Hey Sheena. I was busy in the kitchen." Jacob ignored his mother and watched the commercial. Ad commercials never interested him. But this one was different. It was a Rasna ad. A girl of same age as him sat on small bench with juice. She was pretty and the way she said 'I love you, Rasna.' made him blush. 

He wanted to know what was her name. As he was deciding what her name would be, his mother spoke animatedly on the phone, "Suzzanna! That's a nice name." Jacob immediately liked the name and wrote it on his book - Suzzanna. He didn't pay attention to latter part of his mother conversation with Sheena where she congratulated her for her brother's wedding. His mother finished the call and walked towards him. She saw 'Suzzanna' written on the book and asked, "Suzzanna! How do you know her?" "She is my girlfriend.", he said, beaming with smile. His mother gently brushed his hair and smiled at her child's innocence.

(To be continued)

Pause and Resume - Part 12

Dina rang the bell when there was no response to the knock. She rang the bell again. There was no response again. She took a look at the watch. It was 6 pm. "Ah! Wrong time. Wrong place. I should have headed towards the office.", she wondered. She took the elevator to reach the ground floor. She admonished herself for being too self centered.

The elevator reached the ground floor. She waited for the door to open. Her heart skipped when the door opened. It was him. Both were numb. She neither expected him to be here nor did he. Both were surprised. As the door was about shut close, he bought his hand in between instantly to stop the door. She got outside.

While she headed towards the car, he held her hand. "Aren't you stopping by?", he asked. She turned back to meet his eyes . She was already crying. "I don't know. You didn't say anything.", she said weeping. The words were inaudible but he was able to understand. "Do I need to? It's your house too.", he said as he came closer to her.

"Stay. Don't go. I need you. I love you", he said gently brushing his lips on her head. "I love you too.", she said, hugging him tightly. They sealed their heart and headed to their floor. They didn't speak the whole night. They stayed closer, cuddled together.

The next morning was bright and warm. The house suddenly became home to them. Everything seemed perfect. She woke him up with hot breakfast coffee and yellow sticky note containing sorry and a smiley written in red lipstick. He smiled at her as he sipped the coffee.

"I am sorry. I should have understood your pain.", she said. "No! Why do you need to apologize. I was being mean to you. I shouldn't have put my frustration on you.", he said. "But I ruined your image in front of everyone. I was too childish.", she argued. "I deserved it. I should have argued with Nitin. He had no right to speak ill about you.", he reasoned. "But I am wrong. Let me apologize. I will feel much better if I say sorry.", she disagreed. "There you start again. I am saying you don't have to apologize.", he asserted. "What do you mean I started again? Wait! Do you mean that I was wrong?", she complained and left the room. He followed her, stating his arguments. A war had ended between them to start again.



                                                ***** The end *****

Pause and Resume - Part 11

When Amit rang the bell, the house helped opened the door. As he was guided to the main hall, he felt like outsider. The posh atmosphere of house made him feel out of place. He regretted coming here. He hesitantly sat on plush sofa when the helper said that his mother in law would come to see him in few minutes.

He tapped his feet on the floor to overcome his restlessness. What was he going to say? He didn't seem to find the words. He was nervous about what his mother in law would say or ask. He felt miserable to break her daughter's heart. "Would she accuse me of mistreating her daughter?", he wondered.

He gulped when he saw her. She was smiling at him. There was no sign of accusation expression on her face. That confused him. He got up and touched her feet as token of respect. She gently brushed his hair and said, "You don't need to do this formality. You are like my son." He rose back to normal stature. "I am sorry for whatever I have caused to Dina, you and Dad.", he said.

Mother smiled and said, " You haven't done anything bad. Yes, you have caused unnecessary pain to Dina and yourself. But other than that there are no complaints from my side." He smiled weakly at her and said,"Where is Dina?", he asked softly. "Oh I was waiting for this day. You are here to take her? ", she said not answering his question and expressing her happiness.

"Yes. I am here to take her as well as apologize for whatever I have done to her. But where is she?", he asked. "Oh dear! I completely forgot. She headed towards your place to meet you.", she replied. He stared at her for few minutes. Then  he ran towards the car without saying anything to his mother in law.

He drove as fast as he could toward home. He missed few signals, almost got caught by traffic police and almost collided with another vehicle. He didn't stop until he reached where he should be.

(To be continued)

Pause and Resume - Part 10

Life was standstill for both of them. They were completely absorbed in each other's thought. They were non existent to people. They were only bodies without soul. Their soul and heart was with each other respectively. Still they didn't understand that their happiness lied on coming back to each other. Everyone around them understood that but they failed to understand.

It was pleasant evening. Dina and her mother were having light chat with tea in the garden. They spoke about weather, shopping, boutique, movies and finally about Dina's life. The conversation was light initially with her mother pulling her leg. Suddenly it became deep. "So what are you going to do with Amit? Are you planning to separate?", her mother asked sarcastically. The words hit where it should have hit- Dina's heart.

She was pained by mother's words."Why do you ask? Why will I leave him?", she cried. "You don't meet him. You don't talk to him. You don't fight with him. You don't do anything with him. It's been four months that you are staying away from him. He hasn't even come to console you nor you have not gone to convince him. It's like as if he doesn't exist.", her mother said , leaving her to fend herself.

Her mother was right. She had neither tried her part to convince him to get back nor he had asked her to come back. They were fighting each other instead of resolving their differences. She scolded for all the events that took place. She felt childish to go to his office and fight in front of everyone to prove her point. She should have understood him. She had made a terrible mistake and she planned to rectify it.

Amit thought about Dina as usual. In past few months, he had missed her. He felt miserable for not giving her enough time. He had put all his effort in sustaining his job but failed in his own marriage. He had decided. He would get her back. He would withstand her anger and complaints. He would not give up on their relationship.

Next day arrived early. The sun shined brightly. Amit and Dina were determined to get their relationship on track. They got ready for their mission. Amit drove towards Dina's house while Dina traveled to Amit's house which was once hers too. Amit stood at Dina's mansion, thinking what he should say while Dina prayed for everything to go well outside his house.

(To be continued)