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The Honest Post - Phase 1



Yes, you read it right. I meant phase-1 not part-1. Because honesty in my life doesn't come in parts that would one day have a concluding part. For me honesty is a regular part of life and it remains. What I'm writing here are the phases of my life over the past two years or so. This for me would be easy to write, as I just have to write what I lived. Fiction in that way takes time. Even though I'm blessed with a good imagination it takes time for me to make up situations and characters. True life is simple and easy. What you went through is what you write. No making up or hiding flaws here. The best thing about being honest is that you don't have to remember anything. Its all out there. I never wanted to put out my love story here, and definitely not something titled like this but now I think the time is right and I need to lay some speculations to rest. For the first and last time.

Cal and I have known each other from the past 26 years, i.e all of my life. By known I mean, we were aware that each other existed. We unfortunately share a side of an unfortunate family. His maternal and my paternal. We never did meet when we were kids, except for an occasion or two here and there. We did not meet during our growing up years as well. The earliest I remember seeing him was at a wedding in March 2011. I was hungover from the previous night's party and he was simply bored. We just exchanged nods and that was it. Apparently there was another person in the room cat-eyeing him from top to bottom. And he being the charmer he is, ignored politely.

I did not see him after that and we just went back to being non-existent to each other. He was busy experimenting with his professional life and I was seeing someone else. We were content with where we were. A Facebook chat changed the equation. One random night as we chatted casually, he told me about the romantic play he was directing at Rangashankara. I was surprised impressed. And me being a sucker for romance, told him I'd like to see it. He then took my number promising to call me the next day regarding the tickets. So that's how Cal got my number. Any other person in his place would have probably got the finger, but Cal's interest towards art and theatre struck a chord within me.

Now that he had my number, there was an occasional chat or a message. Mainly related to work, art or music. I still remember the day he sent me a message asking me to check out the title track of 'Tum Mile'. I already had and told him that I loved that song. That was the first common thing we shared. I then told him about 'Stereo Love'. He loved it. He then told me about 'Stereo Hearts'. I loved it. You get the drift right?

Next on another random chat he told me that he was reading Erich Segal's 'Love Story'. I told him how I hated that book (Oh people, please don't get judgemental now. We all have opinions. On that note, I also hated 'The Alchemist'). We started talking about books, discussed the genius of Jeffery Archer and he then told me about a book called 'A walk to remember'. More on that later. I figured that he was well learnt and an extrovert like me who took their time to open up and once done would never shut up. It then felt nice to have someone to talk to about these things. So, each time either of us read a new book or chanced upon a new song, we would inform the other. That became a routine we started looking forward to.

Neither of us made a move. He was aware that there was someone else in my life and he was not a "relationship" type of guy anyway. We had become really close friends by then and respected the other immensely. All this was only on phone, mind you. The next time he met me, was as my saviour. I was sitting in a coffee shop with a friend who was boring the crap outa me with his "I love you unconditionally" tales. That was a time when I got a "Hey, wassup?" message from Cal. I told him the sticky situation I was in and he promised to come bail me out in 30 minutes. It was a weekend and I was wondering why this guy was doing this for me when he could be out there drinking with his buddies. He reached the spot in 20 minutes and I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw him. After small talk, the friend left. Cal then turns to me and asks, "So, how do you even know such constipated idiots?" That was the first time I laughed that day. We went to Lakeview later and he gorged on a bowl full of chocolate ice cream. I was looking at the child in him as he licked his bowl clean while I nibbled on my lamb burger. He dropped me home and called me later to say that he had reached home. This was in April 2011.

The next three months went by the same way. Random messages and occasional calls. In August, he called to wish me on my birthday and asked me for a treat. I agreed and we met again. RASA, the place that has seen each and every memory of mine. We sat there for straight five hours talking and drinking Old Monk, our favorite. Neither of us judged the other. I had never opened up to anyone so much over my lifetime, let alone in a day. He spoke about his past and all his thoughts. Another primary common trait was established that day. FEAR OF COMMITMENT. Both of us spoke about how we ran away from commitment and relationships. He too had had a fair share of affairs in the past and just like me he feared the same thing. We did speak about my current affair, and he did not comment any thing about. He said as long as I was happy, nothing else matters. The bar closed, but our conversations never stopped. On our way down the building I tripped and fell down the stairs. He held my hand and helped me up. I was surprised when he didn't laugh at me, and I strangely did not even feel embarrassed. We took a small walk in the middle of the night and sat down in front of a store and continued our conversation. An hour later, he dropped me home.

The next day, he calls me and asks "So, how's the bum? Shall I come over and take you to a doctor?" regarding the fall I had the previous night. It was so cute, I started laughing loud. A week later, I was sick and was on leave. Since I'm just not a home body, I was extremely bored at home and wanted to get out. I called him and asked him if he could get out of work early. The next thing I knew he was waiting for me near Barista in about an hour munching on a samosa. I shall never forget that sight till date. He then fed me a bite asking me to taste it. We had an awesome conversation later, ranging from books to friends, from movies to food, from business to hobbies and more. That day we realized how soon time passed, when we were together.

Came September and soon it was his birthday and like a routine the treat followed. Same place, same us and lot of new talk. We discussed a lot about the family we shared and both of us began pouring out our personal secrets to each other. It felt so strange and nice. Again as usual, the bar closed but we still had a lot to talk. We decided to not go back home and take a drive to the airport instead. We spent the whole night sitting in Coffee Day talking and talking and talking. We did not even notice the sun come up. On our way back we realised that we had spent about 12 hours together, just talking. We both did not know what was happening, but it felt beautiful and right. It was that day that the first glimpse of something came into both our minds.

To be Continued.

~ Soumya

Comments

  1. An honest post....that's what I liked the most about this beautiful piece.
    Your start about why you chose "phase" over part is inspiring :)

    After loads of those fictional love, I finally get to read a sweet (I wish) truth :) and that too phase by phase!

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    1. Thank you so much and it most definitely is the truth :)

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  2. Such a good read, I am glad to see some post like this which just shows the intention to say what happened without any extras added. I enjoyed it Soumya.

    Keirthana

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    1. Thanks Keirthana. It means a lot when it comes for you :)

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  3. Very engaging ! Looking forward to phase-2.

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  4. Hi. I read almost all your posts but this is the first one on which i'm commenting. Ur blog just oozes honesty and this is the most genuine blog I have read till date.You rock girl :) :).

    P.S : I can hardly wait for the next phase :)

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    1. Thank you so much dear and thanks for visiting :)

      The next phase will be out soon.

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  5. Extremely beautiful. I couldn't take my eye off the post, you narrated the post so well, with poise and it was very natural! I must say, it's an amazing feeling to have another person who rows in the same boat as you, and you can go on and on about it. It's even great, that he's your partner now :) happy valentines day to the both of you! Will wait for the continuation, if there is :)

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    1. Thank you so much darling!!! It does feel amazing :)

      Happy Valentines day to you too. There sure will be a continuation, just wait for a while ;)

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  6. Kudos to you and Cal :) Lotsa love!

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  7. so so so sweet... eagerly awaiting the continuation of this story :)

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  8. Very well written.!! Sounds like one of those love stories that makes people want to fall in love and experience such magical moments.. Absolutely loved it :)

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  9. Wow, what a beautiful story..

    n as corny as i sounds, I read this on a fitting day too :)

    Lovely yaar... very happy fr u :)

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  10. All that I can say is, god bless you both with lots of love and happiness. And take it from someone who was as commitment-phobic as you were- Marriage isn't all that scary. In fact, I think I kinda like being married *touchwood touchwood* :)

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    1. Thanks Spiff! You are my very inspiration to take the plunge :D

      *touchwood touchwood*

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    2. Are you serious? I've never been an inspiration to ANYBODY. :0

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  11. romantic and sensuous.. and even I don't like The Alchemist.

    Weakest LINK

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    1. Finally I find someone who hates 'The Alchemist'. High five buddy!!

      Thanks.

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  12. I needed something as warm as this today. <3 Thank you for having that happy feeling and sharing it. :* So happy for you love :)

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  13. Loved it! I can see a lot of similarities between this and my story!
    Distant relatives - check
    Met for the first time at a wedding - check
    Initial conversations all on phone - check
    Commitment phobic - well true in my case at least!
    Reading this makes me hopeful of a happily ever after!

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    1. Wowie, now that's some news :D

      You sure will have a happily ever after, don't worry!! :)

      Cheers!

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  14. Couldn't be more honest. I'm loving it :)

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  15. Hey Soumya,
    I'm a newcomer on your blog, in fact I started reading when Lohith asked me to vote for one of your articles. I worked with him for a month at Geek, and he was the only well-mannered guy in that place, so much that I have taken to calling him 'aNNa' :D
    Your writing is super awesome!
    And I'm so glad for you and Lohith.
    Lots of love to both of you :)

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    1. Hey Anusha, thank you so much! :)

      A warm welcome to you here :D

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  16. Hey,
    I just dropped by to say that you have been awarded “Creative Blogger Award” at Honoured - The Undefined World

    Until later,
    Keirthana :)

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  17. I don't know, I somehow missed this one. I read phase - 2 though..

    Beautiful, as always.

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    1. Thanks Sri :)

      I remember your reaction to phase-2. Fondly :)

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  18. I am gonna read all these phases ! :):)

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