THUS THEY LOVED

Yukta and Tanmay were seated at the dining table having dinner with Tanmay’s parents. It was just a week after their simple wedding ceremony that the couple were enjoying a peaceful dinner at home.

“Oh please mom … that is enough...I’m already full!!!”, Yukta exclaimed as her mother in law tried to spoon more curry into her plate.

“leave it to me Yukta. You stay awake through out the night. At least feed yourself well. I was wrong to think that the lights in my son’s room will sleep at least when he gets married. Now I realized why he chose you. You are so much like him. Don’t you kids ever feel sleepy?” Tanmay’s mother was asking her son and daughter in law.

Tanmay was watching this exchange with growing interest. Yukta looked at her husband helplessly as her mother in law spooned more curry into her plate.

Yukta and Tanmay had met online, fallen in love and gotten married. That was simply stated. But they got married after endless wars that they wagged at homes. Their parents had finally consented for the wedding … for Yukta and Tanmay had already decided to live together.

Tanmay anxiously glanced at his watch. It was nearly 10pm. He hoped the others had not noticed his anxiety to get away. He slowly got up from his seat and washed his hands. As soon as he was at a safe distance from the dining table he swiftly made his way to the stairs and climbed them two at a time. Tanmay reached his room and closed the door behind him. Without wasting time he booted his laptop and keyed the password in the slot. His messenger window popped up. His fingers were trembling in anticipation . A smile reached from his lips to eyes as he saw her id on the contacts list in bold letters. She had just come online.. to meet him.. to chat with him.

“Hi!!!”, she had entered the text.

“Hello sweetheart, could not wait to see you. How was your day??”, Tanmay asked.

“My day was ordinary…. How was yours?”, she was asking him

“Relatively ok at work.. at home…things are fine”, he replied

“He he.. sorry I am a little late. It was hard to get away. Remember? I’m married now??”

“Hm.. so how is your husband?”, he asked her

“he is the best guy I have ever met, and his parents are pampering me!! I’m so glad I made the right choice”, she replied

“ I’m happy you are satisfied.”, he assured her

“So tell me Tanmay how is your bride? Is she the kind you always wanted…like me??”, she was asking.

“She is very much like you and of course the kind I wanted. Remember I had made her fall in love with me? She is intelligent, she is creative, she is beautiful… and crazy”, so much like you..he thought.

“well.. you are eccentric too..”she was saying

“that’s why I am happy.. but.. I miss you.. from dawn to dusk.. till I meet you in messenger and talk with you.. I miss you!!” he admitted

“I miss you too.. why else would I leave my husband and meet you at 10pm.. in the same way we used to before we were married off?” she supplied.

“how long will we be able to do this?”, he mused

“ well… as long as responsibilities come our way…” she replied

He gulped… reality hurts. He could not imagine a day without chatting with her. They talked the way they usually do.. about little things. Then slowly about themselves… about their dreams…time sped by and they didn’t realize it was 1 am.

“Tanmay… shall we say good night now? It is getting late you see… you have to go to work tomorrow.” She was concerned.. as usual

“yes… I guess we must call it a day…you will be here next night right?” he already knew the answer.

“yes I will be here tomorrow…”

As soon as he signed out there was a knock on the door. He opened the door to the woman with whom he had been chatting online… Yukta… the only woman in his life… his lover…his wife...his crush!!!

 She was smiling at him he naughty smile and he felt a crazy smile spreading over his face as he looked at her. He opened his arms to her in which she settled cozily.

“We must be the craziest couple on earth, right Tanmay?? Chatting from two different rooms in the same house…this is funny”, she was saying

Tanmay laughed and lifted her in his arms… and held her as she latched the door and carried her to their bed.

“that is why I love you ma crazy girl..” he whispered to her.“and by the way.. whatever responsibilities come our way… I will always meet you online at 10pm.. for our daily chat… my lover girl” he assured her

Yukta laughed as Tanmay hugged her. Together these patrons… these products of internet romance drifted into a world of their own.

                                                                                             ANITHA KAVERI