PART 2-Siddharth's and Jatin's story

Siddharth was tense.He had felt like this only at the time when he had failed in a subject for the first time in his chequered career.Then he thought of his sister.It was not even one year since her marriage.This action by him might cast a shadow on her also."What do i do?".He once thought he should let Preeti go.It was the right decision,atleast for the society,atleast to keep everyone else happy.But then he remembered the first time he had seen her.

Siddharth had gone to Theerthahalli for his sister's engagement.The job delegated to both him and Preeti by their respective families was to take the photos.When delegated the job Siddharth was skeptical about."Me taking photos" was his reaction.But compelled by others he took up the camera.Instead of taking the photos of the people who had come he was taking the pics of the scenic beauty around.After about an hour it started getting tedious.Whenever any of his aunt or uncle arrived he was called to take a picture.

As it was a wedding season there were no photographers who were free and plus since it was not the marriage the families had relied on their inhouse photographers.Siddharth and Preeti both realised that they were doing the same job.So after some initial glances both sat near a neem tree outside the mantap,tired.Both were bored of their job.They got talking.The first thing he noticed about her was the dimple on her cheeks when she smiled.After a while he was not even aware of what she was talking.He was lost in her dimples and 32 ultra white teeth that looked straight out of a toothpaste ad.

She realized soon that he was not listening.Acting as though she was clearing her throat,she made him attentive.He was also embarrassed that he was caught gawking.Then during the lunch he saw that the place next to her was empty.He made up some excuse and sat beside her only having to forcefully make way for her grandmother.He was made to sit near aunties.In their gossip world Siddharth was feeling left out.He wanted to talk to her again but dint know whether he would get the opportunity.

After the lunch all the younger lot decide to take a walk through the huge estate there.Siddharth also went along so that he could get a chance to speak with Preeti.As the group was walking Siddharth was taking quiet glances at her.He decided he had to seize the moment.So acting as though he wanted to talk to another of her elder brother who was in a IT company he talked big technical terms with him only to show off his IQ front of her.

A small stream flowed by.Everyone decided to enjoy the waters for a moment.Siddharth was afraid of water.Suddenly there was a splash on his face.It was Preeti.She was mischeaviously splashing water on him acting as though she was doing it on her other friends.Siddharth also got into the act.But there was hardly any talk.

He returned from Theerthahalli wanting to talk to her again,wanting to open up to her,but he dint know how to contact her.He remembered the cute dimple.Was he ever going to see her again?he had wondered.

Siddharth came back to his senses to the present.He could not let her go,no way.He decided that he would personally go there and speak to her parents.
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"How am i going to start?" was the question in Jatin's mind.He had messaged away on his mobile all these years but now to come face to face with her was a different proposition.Analyzing the possible different scenarios "How would she be?what if she dint like me,what if i dint like her,what if both liked each other?" the questions were going round and round in his head.

On March 11th 2006 Jatin had taken a stupid advice of one of his friend and sent random messages to some random nos.The text varied from "Hi sorry buddy will call you later" or "Hey why was there a missed call from this number" or "Hey its ok yaar i forgive you,what are friends for" or simply some forward.It had worked all the time for his friend.The friend had managed to get the best girls numbers with the added bonus being that some of them were from mysore.

For Jatin however he had a lot of missed chances.Once he got a call from a male voice threatening him not to send any message to his friend no,another time it was a police officer's,another time a drycleaner shops,sometimes it was his mean hostel friends who were trying the trick on him and so on and so forth.He had tried a number(which was eventually Neha's) as the last time he was doing it.It worked.He even got a call querying as to who he was confirming it was a girl and not one of his a@#@ friends.

The messaging soon began and the subjects varied from college-cooking-work-magazines-social issues etc.Whatever they thought was good to discuss,sometimes even what happened in their colleges that day.

Neha however had not managed to convince Jatin that she was a college going student.He suspected it as she never used to speak about college.Whenever he asked about her college she always tried to avoid it.He knew from the tone of her message that she was sad in her heart about something.He could relate to her as even used to get depressed often,it was as though he was searching for something but dint know what it was.

So after getting ready in his best address he drove on his bike to DevRaj Urs Road where they had agreed to meet up.They decided that they would meet near the circle there.At 11 am they met.They had told each other the colour of the dress that they would be wearing so it would be easy to identify.
When he reached the spot there was a girl gang .He dint understand which of them was her.One of the girl came up and asked whether he was Jatin.She introduced herself as Neha's sister and she took him to her.He realized soon that Neha was ...........

To be continued.............