yellow rose or red rose...

Today was 'the day'. Pratham was waiting for it for months. He had seen himself in the mirror for the nth time over the last 30 minutes or so. Each time he saw himself in the mirror he decided to make some or the other change in his appearance. Today was Feb 13th, one day before valentine s day, and her birthday too. The very thought of her drifted him to a different world.

He had a hard time choosing the flowers. Yellow or Red rose. Initially he thought of giving yellow one today and red tomorrow. Start up with friendship and end up a step higher. But finally decided that today was the day. ‘let me tell her right away. I have waited for long time now. One more day is too much to ask. And if it’s a reject better today than on valentine s day’.

Pratham had talked to Aditi only twice before. For him it was love at first sight. There was something in her. She was so beautiful yet so innocent, so bold yet so gentle, so cute yet so humble. The spark in her bright eyes had hypnotized him at her very first glance. His mind was filled with everlasting images of her cute smiling face. He could still feel her stuffing a huge piece of cake into his mouth…

Hmmm Aditi… It might have been a bit less than 2 years now when Pratham first happened to meet Aditi. It was a summer morning. Sun red as an apple. Not yet harsh on people where his rays. Warm enough to make you sweat on your jog. Pratham had come early today. As it was a Sunday he could hardly see any one. Like he cared… with music on he always drifted to a different world. Music was the only companion he liked during his early morning jogs. As he passed through the corner of the park he an old man falling down. Pratham helped the old man get up, took him to his room which was very close by. Provided first aid. Luckily not a fracture, just a sprain. And the he dropped the old man to his house. It was here that Pratham was hit by an arrow right through his heart by Cupid. This was their first meet.

And exactly one year ago Pratham had got a call from the old man asking him to make a visit that evening. It was Aditi s birthday.

Those were the only 2 occasions on which Pratham had talked to Aditi. Plucking up every bit of courage he had from every corner of his body Pratham went to the park where Aditi came every morning. He didn’t have to wait for her for long. There she came. An angle. Sunrays falling on her face through trees. Few of her cousin’s kids were with her. Looking at him she smiled and waived her hand. He felt as if someone had pressed his ‘mute’ button. No voice coming out.

Letting the kids free to play she came towards Pratham.
“hi pratham how are you?”
“happy birthday.
“Thank you”
“ Beautiful…”
“I am sorry?”
“Beautiful day is it not” corrected pratham.
“ya it is a beautiful day. The flowers are beautiful. Thanks for them”
“I wanted to say something…”
“Ya , go ahead. Permission granted”. Aditi wanted to have some fun…
“the first time when I saw you….”
“ya…”
“It was because of your grand father. How is he now? Long time since I met him”
“ya he s doing good”
“it has been long time since I met you too… you look the same. Have not changed. … as beautiful as ever…”
“thank you”

After some non sense chat Pratham blurted out “iaminlovewithyou”

“what? I didn’t get you”
“I am in love with you. Ever since I saw you for the first time at your grandfather s place. Wanted to tell this before but could not muster the courage.”

“what made you tell it now” asked Aditi with no change of expression.

Pratham had drained all his strength and was left with nothing to tell.

Aditi was silent too. Then with the same cute smile she held his hands. “I fell for you the same day. In this harsh city who has time for a stranger - an old man. Some times even my cousin does not help my grandfather. But you did….” After a long pause “ and you look good too”

‘Was that a yes?’ Asked Pratham to himself. And then when they sat on the bench hand in hand watching the kids play he thought ‘yes that definitely was a yes'



A little distance apart unnoticed by Pratham, Riya was walking with her friend.
“Riya is that not Pratham?”
“ya that s him. How do you know him?”
“what s he doing here alone, flowers in his hand”
Riya was in love with Pratham… like she was with many others before him. But Pratham was never attracted to her. Now she didn’t like him.

“Riya I first met Pratham at my grandfather s place.” And narrated the incident. “and I fell for him. But what is he doing alone in the park. He seems to be waiting for some one. He seems to be talking to someone.”

“yes Aditi. He is talking to someone. He is talking to himself. Or he imagines someone to be sitting besides him. He has lost his mind. Some kind of mental imbalance they say. Don’t remember the term…”

“Aditi s eyes were moist"



Pratham was still talking to Aditi. Mesmerized by her. suddenly Aditi said "is that not Riya?"
"yes it is her. Do you know her?"
"i do know her. Used to spend most of my time with her when i was here. But have not yet met her this time. Who is she talking to?"

"May be a friend, whom she imagines to be with her right now. may be you... She is undergoing treatment. She s always in her own imaginary world, with imaginary people."