A lot of unexpected things come your way.... some surprisingly wonderful that you would die of joy and some shockingly horrible that it cud just kill you. One among them is the serendipity of finding the perfect prince. And this one is for that prince who swept me off my feet...

"Never in a million years did I think that I would find someone so utterly and completely perfect, someone who cud make me happier than I ever dreamt I could be, someone who would touch my life so profoundly and give me a whole new reason to breathe. But wen I found u, and hoped that all my anticipations would turn to reality, how so disappointed I was!

You were nothing that I hoped you would be. You were nothing that I dreamt of. Nothing that I wanted. You were much more than all that. Much more than I could dream, much more than I could need, much more than I deserved....."

Prepare yourself to let go of everything that you fear to lose

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!". The entire room swam in front of my eyes. I felt dizzy and nauseous. I screamed, I yelled; I was in pain.

And it happened again.

"CCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!"

I heard a scamper, the swish of curtains and then Lakshmi was next to me.

"Its ok. Be calm. It's gonna be alright", she kept assuring.

"NNNOOOOOOOO........." It was hurting bad. I tried to think of everything pleasant or distractible - sunrise, twilight skies, puppies, rains, Abhishek Bachan, John Abraham, and for some strange reason VJ's sentimental dialogues while watching Kal Ho Na Ho....

I gulped my urge to yell and frantically fluttered my hands trying to hold tight on to something. My eyes were profusely watering, and hurting too.

"Babes. I can't take this anymore. Make this stop! I don't want this to happen. It's a torture! Why do girls have to put up with this?", I kept talking to forget the pain.

"It's almost over", she consoled me, "here, take my hand".

I was trying to grab her hand.... the next jolt of pain hit me.... I snatched her arm making bloody scratch marks all over her fingers. She winced, I knew that I hurt her bad, but I couldn't care about it.

After about 30 minutes, I knew that it was over for good. The lady who was attending me straightened up with a big sigh of freedom.A look of relief replaced her morose look

"Doesn't she look cute?", Lakshmi asked the lady.

"Yes, she does", the lady replied.

Nope! I was not delivering a baby. Just getting my eyebrows done!

15 yrs back...

Scene 1: Dass stores (a small provision shop in CIT Nagar)

(smile) "Hi, I am Lakshmi. I live in the next flat. I go to the same tuitions as u... for maths..."

(smiles back) "o' course, I have seen u. I am Divya. I saw you in the quiz competition yesterday. Congrats for winning"

12 yrs back...

Scene 455: Lakshmi's bedroom (dupattas, saris, an assortment of jewels and other things cluttering the bed)

Cleopatra's maid n best friend - "There he is... there he is... the man of your dreams, the knight of your soul. There is Julius Caesar. Your highness is getting married. Your highness is getting married!!!!"

Cleopatra (slightly shifts the window curtains aside n looks at the withering branches of the tree outside where a line of ants r carrying something white!) (in a shy tone) - Yes! I can see him. (turns away in bashful pretense to see lakshmi's mom looking at the messy bed with a slightly shocked n a little mad expression) Hi aunty! Marriage rehearsal....

8 yrs back...

Scene 1271: Chat over the fone

D - babes... there is no way I m wearing sari for reception. boring it is.

L - u don't have to. none of us have to. let's wear lehanga or ghagra. but let's all (mulla being the third 'all') wear same shades at each others receptions. I wanna wear something in wine shade, so u n mulla choose shades close to that.

D - i m guessing mulla wud choose bottle green and i prefer maroon. sexy!

Scene 3679: Chat over the fone

L - I wud like to dress zimple for my wedding

D - there is no way thts gonna happen. cheriamma wud stand n force u to wear everything tht u have

L - phew! i kno tht. was jus wishing...

D - chill babes! we still have loooooooooaaaaaaaddddds of time.

4 yrs back...

Scene 6500+: lakshmi's east CIT nagar house, jayram's room

L - seriously! this is ridiculous. we cant go for any family function without having to undergo this interrogation session "mole per endha. kutti yaarana? achan per endha? kalyanam kazhinjo?" phew!

D - which is why i avoid all family funtions. i dont wanna have an arranged marriage. n i would never marry a mudhaliar.

L - lets see. no one knows who we wud end up wit. john abraham n abishek bachan r still single.

2 yrs back...

Scene 10,850+: Gmail chat (D in mel, M in MCC)

L - $%^&**&^#$%^&**&^))())&^%

D - @!@$#%$%&))_&@%$%^&

L - @%&()(*&&&*%%%*()_(*

D - &^%$^&*(_)+(*&^!@#%$^%^&

(jus between us...)

A yr bac...

Scene 60,000+: hot chips, pondy bazaar

D - so wats amma n cheriamma saying?

L - havent spoken to them yet. they wudnt agree o' course. but i m not ready for marriage yet.n i m tried of lookin at proposals. i wanna study. thinkin of takin this course at Dakshin Chitra.

D - ya. I wud also like to wait.... for 4 more yrs.

L - hmmm... btw, amma said tht all jewels for marriage r ready for me n chi. except for a diamond set.

D - diamond? wow! we shud get married jus for these, u kno. now, wat colour sari wud look stunning with diamonds?

L - i still want wine shade. n u apply mehandi on both my hands for the wedding.

D - wat? no way! get a professional person

L - babes. come on. lets not brk tradition!

Currently,

Scene zillion: Divya's room.hot tea mugs in hand.

L - babes. can u believe this?

somethin tht we have been discussin frm the time we were kids mite actually start happenin in the next couple o' months..... Ahem! shoppin, clothes, accessories, SANDALS, facial, pedicure, manicure, cosmetics, gifts, household stuff, invitations, parties, treats, food, food, food n .....(hyperventilatin..)

I saw her for the first time in a quiz competition which I usually won. My friends spoke about her like she was some sort of a rival. I almost immediately developed this "oh! I don't like her" tendency, which barely lasted a few hours. I met her again that same evening at my tuitions and wondered how I cud jump off into the worst conclusion ever.

What do I write about a person who has been with me always? Just that she fancies sandals and sandals and more sandals? That she runs away from maths and asks "how much does one 10 rupees ice cream cost?" ? That she intends to pass "serendipity" as the bible of romance to our daughters? That she'd explode if she hears "gore tere aankhen kahe...." or "maine payal hai chankaai" one more time? That she is a master of metaphors? That she knows me more than I do? That she has been with me all thru all phases of my life? That she is my best(est) friend and soul sister?

It's very difficult to put 14 years of growing up, understanding n sharing, in a few words. She makes me feel confident, correct, n crazy too! Irrespective of the decisions I make, she stands by my side extending her fullest support. She is my best jusge & critic and nudges me to have a go at everthing I aspire; not to forget that she is always happy to play the guinea pig when I get into experimental modes (hair styles for an instance). We have spent the past 14 yrs planning our weddings n we will continue to plan more occasions. Even at d age of 90,we will plan, share, understand, n enjoy. I am so lucky to have found not only a friend but also a family in her and I don't  mind being cliched.

ma amie, I am so sure of thee, sure of thy capacity, sure to match my mood with thine, 'coz I can never think of any trifles in our friendship. I am not very wise, my moods are quite unpredictable; I respect thy genius for understanding me, but how? It is to me as yet unfathomed. The essence of friendship is entireness, a total magnanimity, trust n eternity. and i thank thee for all these.