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Love Does Cost Sometimes


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Printed in India


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Love Does Cost

Sometimes

A World of Platonic Love

Grahadish Sharma

EDUCREATION PUBLISHING (Since 2011)

www.educreation.in


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This book is dedicated to my father

Late Gopika Raman Sharma

(30th June, 1960- 24th March, 2014)

I thought of sitting across to see every path,

With you and your jubilance and guidance.

Hovering here and there, I could always find you;

A day came, I closed my eyes and opened.

You closed yours, but did not open, I had none to sue.

Like a grown-up, I act, as you see from a place, far from here.

V


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About The Author

Born and brought up in the City of Love,

Silchar, Assam, Grahadish Sharma hails

from a modest family of teachers and

scholars. He is a Bachelor of Technology in

Mechanical Engineering from Lovely

Professional University, Punjab and currently

pursuing MBA in Human Resource

Management from National Institute of

Technology, Silchar.

An ardent music lover and a stage performer, he takes deep

interest in performing arts and spirituality. He is a regular

content writer for Ashman Motors and Technologies Pvt Ltd.

With this book titled Love does cost sometimes…., he tries to

foray into this unending and fascinating world of creative

writing.

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A Note of Gratitude

Love does cost sometimes…, my baby is going to have its

space amongst the innumerable dreams that cropped up within

minds and were turned into stories.

At the outset, I would like to bow every piece of

gratitude to Mr. Ashish Singh, the CEO of Ashman Motors

and Technologies Pvt. Ltd., who realized that I could craft a

novel, much before I could.

Miss Thoibi Singha, a Bio-Technologist , my ex-college

mate and a dear friend, will always remain special to me as

long as this novel will be talked of, for being the first reader

and providing me with the most critical and clinical feedback

despite of her busy schedule.

My valiant efforts could only find a meaning when

Educreation Publishing agreed to make my work appear in

physical and tacit form.So, big cheers to the publishing house.

Last, but not the least, I deeply acknowledge your

empathy as readers with a promise of feeding you with some

beautiful and endearing stories in my future endeavors.

V


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The Author Speaks

Since the day, we came to know what relationships were, the

most overused and in a way, forbidden term that our ears kept

ringing with, was LOVE.

We grew up and Love blossomed with every possible

dimensions. Sometimes, it served us elation and at times, we

got puzzled with. A time came, where listening to someone

saying I love you to us, appealed with utter fantasy. And there

were days, where pronouncing these three words came as a

mere obligation. May be, it could make someone feel special.

You may think that I am someone who is here to brush out

your concepts and constructs on LOVE.

As an emerging fiction author, I shall be lying if I deny

that this story was not influenced by real life instances. I tried

in the utmost way possible to touch every edge and corner of

human emotions. I believe, as most of the authors do, we are

not here to preach something or change any doctrine; we try to

exist with some very thoughtful and insightful renditions and

tend to discern incidents, stories, favourably on Love, Deceit,

Fortune, Success, Ambition….

Few years ago, I was somewhere asked if I believed in

love. Very organically, my answer was “yes”.

The next question was again a very regular one and that

was “Is there what we call a price for love?”

“Does love cost you anything?”

Dear readers believe me, I was unperturbed this time and

my tongue lost its spine.

I knew Love does cost sometimes, but I hardly knew

what that price exactly meant.

I, thereby, welcome you to this world of platonic love

and have your own emotions sailing across to discover, what I

could not, at that moment.

V


Grahadish Sharma

1

Chapter 1

A Letter of Invitation

P It was Sunday and let me tell you this, the morning breeze in

winters in North India are not that fascinating.Laziness

seemed on roll and to wake up before 9am in the morning was

no easy task. (Just next to impossible).

A mansion in Safdarjung, New Delhi,too was wrapped

with fog, but still,could not resist the owner of the mansion to

do his weekend chore.No, it was not something which was

physically demanding but a routine habit of checking his mail

box. After a couple of insignificant letters, he found a letter

which looked more of an invitation.

The address on the envelope read as Mr. Ashish Singh,

Managing Director of Ashniba Group, House No-62,

Safdarjung Enclave, Colony A, South West Delhi, Delhi 29.

And yes, you guessed it right.The mansion belonged to

Mr. Ashish Singh, the owner of Ashniba Group and

Subsidiaries, an alumni of LITMUS UNIVERSITY OF

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY.

Awarded as one of the emerging entrepreneurs of India

in the year 2008, he had also delved into different

philantrophic and humanitarian activities.

Back to the letter, finding it a bit unusual yet tempting,

he took no time to open it and sat on his sofa to read

it.Unfolding it, he found a wedding card and a hand written

note.

The note read as:



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“Sir, I know you must be feeling puzzled on receiving

this note from me. Yes, I could have called you over phone

but you know that sometimes hand written notes are more

effective in expressing our emotions. Thanks to all our

informal endeavours that we did to impress others during

college days…I had words and emotions were yours…

You will find a wedding card and yes Sir, It’s mine.

You heard it right, I am going to marry and the wedding

date has been finalized on 14th February as they call it The

Day of Love. Though, no deliberate efforts were made to

materialize it on that day, but it was as per the PANCHANG

and other numerologies.

I remember, I promised to never marry for obvious

reasons known to you, but as you know, it is a fact that there

are some distinct events in life which sometimes, you have to

commit or you are made to commit even though, you have

never been ready for it.

It was my mother whom I believe, apparently had one

purpose in life to see me get married. I could not but had to

oblize to her continous insistence and moral encounters. I tried

my best to resist, which I had been doing for the last 3-4 years,

but this time I failed to do so.

After all, I am her only son and after the death of my

father, I have also been very keen to make her feel happy in

every possible way. She, I believe, was just in placing her

claim of wishing to see me get settled in life.

Anyway sir, this is history now, the thing is I am getting

married and you will be glad to know that. You were very

instrumental in making my life smoother and lively during our

days of engineering. As this is one such day, where people

want to feel special and at the top of the world. I want you and

Manpreet Bhabhi to grace the occasion with your presence.

This is also how I shall, may be able to smile genuinely

on that day. Sir, I hope to meet you on 14th Feb, ironically my

wedding date.

With regards from

Girish Pathak

Asst. Manager, Bank of Baroda, Bhubhaneswar”


Grahadish Sharma

3

With no further hint of surprise, Ashish had a look at the

wedding card and to his utter glee; he found names written in

block letters which read as:

GIRISH WEDS PRIYANKA

Girish, who had been a friend and more than that a

confidante of Ashish, was his batchmate in LITMUS.

The kind of enterprising and benevolent Ashish was

how, which made Girish and Ashish share a feeling of mutual

admiration and as a pair, they were well known for organizing

events, charity shows, skits and entrepreneurship activities

during their college days.

This was also how Girish got well received by his

colleagues and teachers and as a matter of gratitude; he used to

address Ashish as Sir Ashish Singh.

Ashish called Manpreet, his better half (even they have

an exciting love tale to share) and a conversation followed.

“Oye, Girish is getting married.”

Ashish uttered with elation.

“Really, he must have overcome that incident.”

Manpreet remarked trying to indicate a past incident.

“I believe he has had. He has invited us to attend his

weding.”

Ashish sipping his cup of coffee, informed Manpreet.

“He was so lively with his acts and personality but the

way that girl treated him, I still cannot believe it.”

Manpreet’s fondness for Girish was quite visible.

“I was present there, I knew what he went through, but

life should move on.”

Ashish embarked upon with virtues of life.

“Exactly, he should not hold anything from his past.”

Manpreet added with the cup of tea in her hand.

“Girish is a very sincere person, the way he organized his

family, after the sad demise of his father, is praiseworthy.”

Ashish tried to delve into the immediate past of Girish.

“And he is never over-ambitious, which I like the most in

him.”

Manpreet was quick to admit.

“Hopefully, he is going to have the best in his life in the

form of an ideal life partner.”

Ashish wished for Girish.



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“What BEST huh!!!!!!”

Manpreet now, tried to amend her husband’s statement.

“Sorry sorry, I forgot my PRINCESS is the best……”

Who the hell would mess with his wife (and you have to

bear sleepless nights if you draw compsrison of some other

woman with your wife) and so was what Ashish and his

obedience towards Manpreet had been.

Manpreet’s phone rang.

“Papa must be calling……”

An ideal daughter was heard saying.

“Yeah, Go and receive the call or else the demon will

scream.”

Ashish’s equation with his father in law was quite

evident.

“Can you please shut up now? My dad is the best…”

Manpreet, very true to being a loving daughter, was

quick to retort.

The path of marriage of Ashish Singh with Manpreet

Kaur was a roller coaster drive and even, he had to face

repercussions from his in-laws as they belonged toa different

community.

But eventually, they tied the knot and Girish played a

very pivotal role in making it come possible.

Ashish, therefore, was inevitably looking forward to

attend the wedding of Girish and congratulate the newly wed

couple.

V


Grahadish Sharma

5

Chapter 2

The Day of Conjugality

P February14, 2009:

Finally, the day of love came and quite co-incidentally, it

was also the day of Girish’s marriage.

(As we know, that a traditional Hindu wedding is full of

small ceremonies and rituals of setting the bride and groom on

the path to marital,emotional and life-long success. Some of

the rituals may vary depending on the origin of the

couple,which therefore,outline the most common happenings

before, during, and after the wedding.)

The wedding of Girish and Priyanka was no exception at

all. Everyone felt overwhelmed by the kind of welcome they

received from the host and had every reason to celebrate this

auspicious and conjugal day.

“Mr Guha, how is the groom? We have heard he is a

bank employee…” Someone was heard saying this to Mr.

Abhilash Guha.

“Girish Pathak, my son-in-law to be, is an Assistant

manager of Bank of Baroda.”

Mr Guha replied. “You have done the best of

arrangements; there is nothing anyone can complain of.”

A family friend said.

“I have two daughters Priyanka and Alka… Priyanka,

being the elder daughter and dearer to me, this I believe must

be the last thing I can gift to her.” Mr Guha in a very

sentimental tone uttered this.



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(Priyanka is the elder daughter of Mr. Abhilash Guha,

the renowned advocate of that region. Having completed her

graduation in Cotton College, Rourkela, she mastered in

History from the University of Orissa. Priyanka has always

been distinct with her academics and is full of life. Like every

other girl, Priyanka had also dreamt of a fairy tale wedding,

from a very young age.Wearing the most beautiful bridal saree

or lehenga, with the most breath-taking jewellery and beautiful

henna designs on their hands and feet and imagining herself in

a lavish venue, have been at the rim of her wishlist.)

And to add to your knowledge, Mr. Guha left no stone

unturned to make every dream of her beloved daughter come

true. Everything was so organized and well-placed that many

of the guests made astounding remarks and were seen thurilly

enjoying every moment of the occasion.

“Paroma Ji, listen tell your brother to go and look for the

PANCHANG.

Pandit ji is asking for that.” a random lady was heard

saying.

(And yes, wife of Mr. Abhilash, Mrs. Paroma has been a

professor in Sanskrit and an ideal mother to both Priyanka and

Alka, the younger daughter of the couple. Since she has been

an academician, it reflected on even how she was conducting

herself on the day of her daughter’s marriage. Sincere to her

responsibilities, she was in sheer surveillance of everything,

ranging from the bride’s costume, make up, food, decoration

though the need seemed disguised and unnecessary.)

“Go and make sure if the food is ready. These caterers

will give us humiliation and for what reasons this place has

not been covered with flowers. Please somebody go and sort it

out.” Mrs. Guha was heard incessantly shouting to others.

A slight fraction of nervousness encompassed her as it

was her daughter’s wedding and she wanted nothing to get

missed out.

“Alka, go and make sure if Priyanka is dressed properly

or not; leave it I will go and check.”

Mrs Guha said to Alka.

“Mom, don’t worry. Dii is looking like a princess and I

have a snap of her too….”

Alka said putting her phone’s display before her mother.


Grahadish Sharma

7

“And Alka you are supposed to be with me always and

don’t disappear.”

Mrs. Guha ordered Alka. And Alka, as a true shadow of

her mother, was accompanying her to every corner of the

venue, wherever Mrs. Guha was seen wandering. Alka seemed

too excited and she had her own share of petty dreams which

she wished to fulfill when her brother-in-law would oblize to

her demands.

Mr. Abhilash Guha’s repute as an advocate was quite

evident as the guest lists included who’s and who of the city.

Starting from civilians to law makers, doctors, superintendent

of police, engineers, everyone was in attendance to bestow

their blessings and wishes to the couple.

“When is the SHUBH MAHURAT?” Everyone was

heard murmering.

It was about 6 o’ clock by the watch and the sun had

already set, the multiplicity of the noise went manifolds and

Alka screamed in excitement,

”The groom has arrived.” A sudden turbulence of

behavior was evident among the hosts and even, the guests

and mother of the bride was seen dictating every rituals to the

girls present there, so as to welcome the groom and the

following procession.

The baraat was a large procession, with its own band,

dancers, friends and relatives dancing to the peppy Oriya and

Bengali tunes.The groom and his car were covered in finery

and were closely accompanied by his mother, Meenakshi’s

(Girish’s younger sister) husband Tarnesh.

The baraat, headed by a display of fireworks was

complemented by the rhythm of the dhol. Celebration reached

its zenith when the hosts and the guests greeted each other

with garlands and aarti.

“The arrangement is grandeur and it is quite predictable

that the reception is also going to be a royal one…”

One of the BARAATIS remarked.

“This is my wife’s selection”

Meenakshi’s husband Tarnesh commented.

“Bhai is sweating .Give him a handkerchief.”

Meenakshi noticed.



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“Maa, I think we forgot to bring the handbags. Let me

immediately send someone to get it now.” Meenakshi went on.

“Send Mahesh and Give him the keys of our car.”

Girish’s mother replied.

(A baraat is incomplete without some of the groom’s real

good friends who keep a vigil eye on the vehicle which carried

performance and personality boosters. Profoundly, these are

called wine.

No Indian marriage is fully described if you do not throw

light into that zone of some good lot of magnanimity seeking

people from their respective spouses, as they know one

sensible fellow was entering their league and this, they had to

celebrate consuming several pegs.

The most embarrassing situation comes when one of

those over-efficient people consumes alcohol and drink

somewhere in the reception area, but end up to wake up the

next morning in the bride’s guest rooms. (Kind people do

come to their rescue).

But Girish’s friends were mostly from aristocratic

background and civilized people. They knew how much and

where to drink and where to wake up. So, Mr. Abhilash had no

wrong impressions.)

The priest, who was otherwise a dormant character in the

scene, now got noticed and directed the bride’s arrival at the

MANDAP.

“It is time you can now call the bride.”

Pandit ji said.

Priyanka, who was being escorted by the girls and Alka,

looked fabulous in her ochre coloured lehenga. She truly made

the most of her grace and believe me, the way she was

carrying out herself, no guy would ever give a second thought

to accept her as his bride.

Girish was truly lucky and this was heard among the

murmering of invitees. And infact, some of his friends were

caught in glimpse of enviness, as every single guy would

obviously do at such an instance.

“This bank guy has finally hit the bull’s eye. I mean just

look at her.”

“She is no less than an actress.”


Grahadish Sharma

9

The series of events of a typical Hindu marriage kicked

off which featured Jaimala, followed by Madhupak,

Kanyadan, Havan, Gath Bandhan, Mangal Phera to name a

few. And the most nuptial moment came and Girish was asked

by the priest to subject a small dot of vermillion (Sindhoor) to

the forehead of the bride, thus adorning Priyanka as his wife.

The parents of the bride and groom gave their blessings to the

newly wed couple.The couple, then, touched the feet of their

parents and in laws as a sign of respect and to seek blessings.

Priyanka, who happened to be the queen of that moment

could not hold back tears and was seen crying, embracing her

mother and sister. Mr. Abhilash was also seen trying to hold

back tears but he, too ended up crying when Priyanka

exclaimed in sorrow that as of then onwards, who would make

his morning tea.As every ideal father would do, he went up to

Girish, his son in law to seek an assurance from his part and

said; “Priyanka has been my doll, a great and an obedient

daughter. Kindly take care of her always.”

“She will be a good wife and a daughter in law.”

“Though, we have tried our best to grace this ceremony,

any silly nuances if you have noticed, then do have apologies

from our side.”

Mr. Abhilash maintained.

The moment was too nostalgic to deal with and everyone

present there, sincerely wished Girish and Priyanka sheer

heights of marital success.Mr. Ashish Singh, a friend of Girish

and the Managing Director of Ashniba Group, who was

present with his better half Manpreet, to everyone’s delight,

announced a wedding gift to the newly wed couple.

“On this auspicious occasion, I, therefore announce a

honeymoon suite to Girish and Priyanka for a week in

Maldives.”

Mr. Ashish uttered smilingly.

Girish, who looked apparently in smiles, thanked

everyone who was in attendance for gracing the occasion with

their presence. He made everyone know how Mr Ashish,

despite of having a jam packed schedule, took out his precious

time only to attend this ceremony.

He, once again looked at him and out of gratification,

they embraced each other.



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(This proved the kind of camaraderie; they have been

sharing which go long back from during their college days).

The baraat, which now included a new member,

Priyanka returned and it was then time to welcome the new

bride in her husband’s house.Girish’s mom and sister,

Meenakshi did every arrangement to accept Priyanka with

open hearts.

The mamiSS and Aunties and chachiSS were

continuously chirping among themselves and their discussions

even exceeded the present and were heard dwelling in their

past that comprised of the REGRETS and WISHLESSNESS

(pun intended).

Now, back in Girish’s place, different fun stuffs were

arranged so as to check the compatibility of the newly wed

couple.One such game was finding a ring which was

immersed into a solution of milk and Girish and Priyanka

were asked to try their chances.

“Bhabhi, go for it.We are with you.”

Meenakshi, in support of her Bhabhi, was cheering for

her.

“Dii, do it. Let us win this.”

An over-excited Alka was heard saying.

“Girish bhai, show your skills; leave the ring and try to

touch Bhabhi ji’s palm.”

This was the most expected quote every friend will say at

such an occasion.

Meenakshi was trying every possible way to make her

sister in law comfortable in her brother’s place and the kind of

friendly behavior she had, Priyanka could easily see a friend in

Meenakshi and also that, they belonged to the same age

league, they connected well.

Priyanka however could feel solace at such a warm

reception from her in laws and confided into herself the

thought of getting married to Girish, an Assistant Manager of

Bank of Baroda, as an appropriate one.

V


Grahadish Sharma

11

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