stories around us :waiting to be told

Continued : Part IV

2007-04-29T03:20:00.000-07:00

As they were preparing for the night,Sneha turned towards Naveen" I wanted to talk to you about something "...No Response" Naveen?are you sleeping"....."Ugh, I have had a long day Sneha, I want to sleep ...can we talk about this tomorrow",..."he turned his face on the other side and went off to sleep. Sneha sighed, switched off the light but sleep was far away from her eyes that night.

Over next few days, Naveen seemed pre occupied and avoided any talks with Sneha on some pretext or other. She knew she was missing on to something but could not fathom the exact reason behind it.Initially, she thought, it was work related but then she was worried" What is it that is bothering Naveen????"

********************************************************

It was Sneha's birthday that day. While getting up she was thinking" I would finish the early morning meeting today and come back home early "....Naveen was reading newspaper when she stepped into the living room" Good Morning" she said cheerfully...."Good morning" said Naveen non-chalantly without even looking up from what he was reading." I would be leaving in next few minutes"..."Hmm, ok".

Sneha thought Naveen is planning a surprise for her and pretending not wishing her on her birthday. She chose a nice silk saree and came out dressed up into the living room. " I might be late today" she said testing Naveen. " Ok, dont worry" said Naveen. " Shona has to go to her friends birthday party in the afternoon, I would drop and later on pick her up in the evening"
Sneha looked at him ,nodded and moved out of the house.

Quickly finishing her meeting, Sneha rushed into her car and ignited the wheels. " Perhaps Naveen and I can share some moments alone,Shona need not be picked before 8 in the evening and it is only 3 in the afternoon....I can tell him about my decision to quit work and plan another baby, Oh God ,I am so happy Today"she said to herself ....In the morning the same day, she had informed Prashant of her decision of quitting work ... this had made Prashant very sad..He was extremely fond of Sneha and loved her in all his heart but knowing how dedicated Sneha was to her family, he secretly guarded his feelings for her.....

Sneha quietly inserted her key into the keyhole and tiptoed into the house very slowly...the living room was immersed in darkness but there was light filtering out from under their bedroom door." Hmm, Naveen is planning my surprise, he 's back to being his usual self, I am so glad...." thinking this ,she opened the door and what she saw inside was enough to turn her word upside down......................................

************************************************************

There was pin drop silence in the room....Sneha's sad eyes were moving , questionegily from Naveen's face to Raima's face........She was wondering since when this affair has been on behind her back...she felt like a fool, it all was happening in front of her and she could not sense any of it.......

"Sneha,please allow me to explain"...stammered Naveen, Raima couldnt raise her eyes up...

"There's nothing to explain Naveen", something had died inside Sneha. She entered and closed the door of her bedroom.

Continued...Part III

2007-04-22T15:45:00.000-07:00

"Thank God for Raima" sighed Sneha and started preparing for her upcoming trip to Singapore a fortnight after.

************************************************

After few days,

"Ah, am I glad that I finished the trip early this time, Shona and Naveen would be happy to see me home,Shona would love these chocolates I had picked up from the duty free shops"thought Sneha while getting into the taxi to go home from the International airport.It was 8 already and she hoped she would be home to have dinner with both her loved ones.

Coming out of elevator, as Sneha plugged in her spare key to get into the apartment, she heard lot of giggles and sneaking voices coming from inside....."Wonder who's visiting at this hour".They were not much into socialising and kept much to themselves ...

Opening the door,Sneha saw Saima playing carrom with Naveen and Shona,looked like they all were sharing some joke...."Oh, you are back" Naveen looked up. Suddenly, there was dead silence in the room."Weren't you coming in tomorrow" said Naveen...
"I finished early" said Sneha dryly looking at Saima sitting on the sofa comfortably in her night dress.

"Oh, Hi Sneha,I had made some gajar ka halwa, so I thought I shall share it with Shona.You are always so busy,they probably would never get home cooked delicacies otherwise.I would have offered you some but looks like these both have finished it all. Chalo, I would leave now".She side glanced at Naveen and proceeded to leave.

"Thanks Saima"said Sneha with a lump in her throat and a twinge of guilt in her heart.

"Mama,the halwa was yummy...mmm...how was your trip? Wow,chocolates..thanks Mum"Shona took her chocolates, gave a tight hug to her mother and rushed into her room.

********************************************************************************

Continues.....Part II

2007-04-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

Naveen, Sneha's husband of 8 years,had quit his corporate job in media planning to start a consultancy firm of his own.He was an ambitious man. With Sneha's stable income being instrumental in running the household, he had devoted last 12 months in setting up his office and making base for his business. But, he was yet far from being settled. Sneha's late night office meetings irked him sometimes but he could not retort against it. After all, it was his decision to push Sneha back into the work after the birth of their daughter, Shona, who is 4 now.

Living in a nuclear family set up and having to raise a 4 year old child, Sneha juggled efficiently between home, office and Shona's creche'. With Naveen out of his job and a homeloan to pay for,Sneha hadno option but to continue working at her highly demanding but good paying office.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

" Are you asleep honey?". The clock showed 1.30 when Sneha tiptoed into the house in the dark of the night, using her spare key at the main door.
" No...., Shona has just slept....She was hoping to see you before calling it a night, slept with great difficulty...." Said Naveen.
This was followed by a long pause...then silence...

" I had a long day and tommorow is the final meeting for closing on to the new work order we have been chasing for a while" Sneha updated Naveen while changing into her night clothes...."Hmm..."said Naveen."Dinner..."...."I had at office. Thanks Honey. Can you switch off the night lamp please"....said Sneha turning on to her side of the bed.
"hmm...ok." hummed Naveen while lighting a cigerette .....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The new order had been bagged by the company and everyone had appreciated the efforts put in by Sneha and her boss,Prashant, in getting the prestigious order.

" Company is planning to give you a big promotion in the next financial year, I was talking to the Shrinath, our CEO the other day and he sounded very pleased with your work" whispered Prashant into Sneha's ear while coming out of the meeting room.' Uhm...thanks Prashant but to share with you...I am thinking of quitting work in another six months,don't know if it would be ethical to be accepting this position"said Sneha.Prashant silently looked at Sneha . She continued " Our home loan would come to an end this year and Naveen is settling down too, I want to be home, looking after Naveen and Shona...they need me more than the company ....but hey thanks so much , you have always been so supportive".

"This woman is amazing" thought Prashant. He always had tremendous respect for Sneha and this had put her a step above the ladder of admiration in this heart for her. Prashant was 36 years of age.....he had done well for himself and was heading the city office for his company ...he was not married yet and had always hoped to get a wife like Sneha.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coming back to her cabin,Sneha started thinking"my birthday is coming next week, perhaps I can surprise Naveen by telling him of my decision of quitting work, this would make him happy"...how excited Shona would be to have me around ,of course I can help Naveen with his work ........"Tring,Tring" ring of the phone broke her chain of thoughts . ..." Hello, This is Sneha'..."Hi Sneha, this is Raima"said the voice on the other side.

This was Raima, her friend from the college days. Raima was incidentally living in the same building as Naveen and Sneha. She had never married, looking for The Perfect match, her parents never realised when she went past her prime. She worked as a teacher in a local public school and was home by afternoon. Off late, she had been very supportive and handy with Shona during crisis situation. Sneha was very grateful to her for her constant support and always tried to show it to Raima through small gestures.

" All well Raima..." asked Sneha.
"Sneha, I had a call from Shona's creche' few minutes back.They were trying your number but probably you were busy, then they called me"..."What happened" Sneha was worried...

" Oh, nothing serious. Shona was running little fever and they wanted us to get her home.Don't worry, she is with me now,sleeping in the bedroom. Naveen is also coming in"...

"Thank you Raima,what would I ever do without your support " Sneha heaved a sigh of relief. I'll try to be home in time today, I just have to finish this final report of today's meeting.

" Oh,please don't mention....Shona is such a sweetheart.... take your time and as it is, Naveen would be here too. I would cook dinner for you guys" Said Raima and put down the phone.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Be Continued........

Life In the Fast Lane : Tryst with my destiny

2007-03-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

"Tring,Tring"....."Hi...Honey,would you order dinner from the chinese takeaway, I would be late...hmm,crisis situation, just getting into a meeting,would be late...."said Sneha to her husband Naveen." Aur haan,please see that Shona does her homework,she has been devoting too much of time to watching TV off late"......""hmm...ok" said Naveen and kept down the phone.

Sneha is 35 years of age,beautiful,talented and has been an efficient merchandiser for the export house she has been working for since last six years.

Sneha and Naveen had a love marriage.They had met accidently in a youth festival during their college days and had taken instant liking to each other. Naveen had liked Sneha for her charming,smiling and gentle ways and Sneha found Naveen to be a caring and protective person. They got married after a courtship of 4 years. Coming from a broken family, Sneha had always hoped that she would let nothing come between her and her blissful wedded life.

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