My shalini

It was big day for Sathish, a tall ,young and attractive 27 year old guy. It was his first day at work. With heart full of excitement and mind full of nervousness he walked swiftly across his office to the managers room.
Good morning Mr.sathish. Hope you had a good start of the day. Let me take you to your cabin and you can start your work right ahead.
Thanks Mr. John uttered Sathish.

In no time he was in his cabin working with his new laptop that the company had provided him. This is the first time in his life to be away from his mom and sister. It has been almost three days since he came to Toronto with a new hope and enthusiasm to begin another part of his life. He was missing his Archu kutti terribly, he picked up his phone and quickly dialed her cell phone number and cut it in no second thinking it would late night in India and she would sleeping like a baby all curled up with her favorite blue blanket. A grin broke down his jaw line as he remembered the last line Archu yelled at him before boarding the plane…”Anna anga poi vaalla surittittu iru..ennakku vella kaari anni la vendam, Namba shalini maari ru ponna paaru enna”. Shalini Ajith kumar she meant.

It was 12.30pm and his stomach was making weird noises already. He took $20 from his desk and went out in search for the cafeteria. As he was walking down the lobby his senses smelled Ralph Lauren, his favorite women’s cologne. He was taken back to his college days when Anjali, a big multimillionaires daughter used to wear it everyday. All the guys went crazy for her. Who wouldn’t? Combo of attractiveness and money together. He remembered Ram who proposed her 17 times. I am not even exaggerating. Poor guy had to hear answers like no, NO, NOWAY, HELL NO. Anjali was Archu’s college mate and her best friend. Anjali has been to our house couple of times. She must have felt weird sitting in a chair instead of a comfy couch. Walking into a small house compared to her big bungalow. Looking at me study engineering in my college days Archu also wanted to do the same. So she joined computer science in SRM. I remember doing most of her assignments while she used to chat with Anjali for hours.
If I am not wrong I think it was June 21st when Anjali stood close to me one day when I was busy ironing my shirt and getting ready to go to my friends first wedding. She exclaimed “I love you”. I was taken aback. More like a shock. Turned around to see if Archu was playing any pranks. What? My voice was unclear. She said I love you again with a strong and confident look. Even though it felt good hearing (considering all the guys who didn’t get to hear this) I knew it was wrong. I explained to her subtly, you see….you are my sisters age and I can’t imagine myself with someone who is almost exactly like my sister. Plus I am really sorry to say that I never thought or saw you in that angle, I have always thought of you like my Archu….like my sister. OUCH that should hurt. Well she is in London now doing her masters. She compelled Archu to come with her, but I didn’t want my baby to go suffer all alone in an unknown land.
Brushing of his past thoughts he quickly turned right and left to find nobody around him. He walked 3 three steps ahead when he heard “excuse me”. He turned around to find a 5.4” tall woman standing behind him. With her heels it will be around 2” more he thought. Beautiful black curly hair coming till her shoulders, eyes as sharp as a laser beam piercing through her eyes. She was wearing a light blue top with black formal pants to match with her light blue crystal earrings. He noticed her silver pendent with an OM sign and Veena written in her name tag. He felt happy. He wanted to talk something, but couldn’t. His heart was beating fast. He felt he had no control over himself. It was like an illusion. Before he could say anything she said “ungaloda $20”. He wanted to ask neega tamizh aa…but that would really stupid since she just spoke in tamil. She was looking right into his eyes and he couldn’t help starring her. He burst out asking neenga India aa?
Veena-No
Sathish-apparam..from where?
Veena-therinji enna panna pora
Sathish-err..chumma oru general knowledge k

She handed him his $20 bill and walked past him muttering cha indha payangale ippdi than…parthu sirichida koodathe….she turned back to look at him…he was still standing at the same place starring at her. She got scared and disappeared into one of the hallways.
Sathish was lost in his own world. He has never felt something like this before. Her smile wouldn’t go away from his mind. He knew at that moment. He took out his cell phone dialed to Archu caring less about the time difference. As soon as she said hello….he yelled from top of his throat…..”unnoda Anni ya parthutain diii…shalini ya vida nalla irrukaaaa….”