A cute love story

He stares at her with a fluffy face,

She looks back with grudge in her eyes,

He had promised her and yet didn't turn up,

Yesterday, under the vanilla skies.

He runs towards her, 

Panting with his tongue out,

She still remains angry,

And loudly begins to shout!!

He licks her all over,

And there comes a moment of doom!!

Dogs show love in this way only,

Their intentions are pure;

And hence, there is no reason to gloom!!

They love each other dearly,

And will never be divided by fate,

Together they march towards destiny,

With happiness waiting at it's gate...

Dinner with my wife

Spread across a large area, Shiv residential society is one of the largest societies in north Kolkata. With almost fifteen, ten storey buildings and five flats in each floor, it provides shelter to almost 750 families. Ramesh Ghosh is a resident of the said society. After marriage, he has recently shifted here with his wife.

Born and brought up in a middle class family, Ramesh had always been an aspirant for wealth and fame. For him life had always been about earning money and power. Initially starting with a career in sales, he quickly rose up the corporate ladder with his hard work and dedication. Currently he is the managing partner of a recruitment service provider company and also an affluent author. His sudden leap to fame is phenomenal, but somewhere in the quest for power, he has left behind his own people. His mother and father are already dead and he had long distanced himself from all dear and near cousins and relatives. Apart from his business circle and influential connections, he isn't a very family person. The only person in his family is his wife. Having married 6 months back, he is not able to give any time at all to her.


Radha is a very homely lady with surprisingly less demands. She is not from a very wealthy family and hence, she has chosen to co-operate her husband by performing all household works and never expecting any time or space from him in return. Being an workaholic, Ramesh always returns late at night and by then Radha has already gone to sleep. So, in a way their marital life doesn't exist and the couple only get to see each other's face for 5 hours in the morning when Radha serves Ramesh tea and breakfast. Ramesh rarely feels the need to hold Radha or even once look at her. This is how time passes by for another six months.



Today is 19.12.2020 - Ramesh and Radha's marriage anniversary. Ramesh has almost forgotten that he is married with a wife to whom he owes certain amount of time, space and commitment and Radha has become practically non - existent or chosen to do so. Ramesh has woken up early today as he has an evening meeting to attend and he couldn't do any initial preparation yesterday. Radha wakes up at 5 AM as usual to perform her duties as a loyal, husband loving wife. She remembers the significance of today but then, she has long stopped expecting anything from her husband. She realizes today that for the past five months, they haven't even spoken a word with each other. She goes to the washroom teary eyed and starts weeping inside.

"I never wanted such a pathetic life. Had my parents been alive today, this would have never happened. My uncle sold me in the name of marriage" - She weeps to herself, and then gets ready to do the puja and serve tea and breakfast to Ramesh.


Ramesh with utmost disregard to the day and his wife, leaves for office in his car. On reaching office, one of his employee wishes him happy anniversary and that sends a sudden surprise shock over his body. "How could I forget!!" - He exclaims and instantly orders his PA to deliver a bouquet of flowers to his wife. Even after remembering, he gives no importance to the day.


At around 6 PM, he has a a meeting scheduled with Mr. Nirav Malhotra, the director of a very large conglomerate group with whom Ramesh's company is supposed to have a tie up. Venue is a local food restaurant which serves very high quality food. This deal if finalized, will garner chunks of money for the company and Ramesh is very excited for the meeting. Nirav arrives right in time for the meeting to start. Ramesh orders some food for initial snacks and opens his laptop for presentation.


At 7 PM, an elderly couple, probably in their late sixties enter the restaurant. The waiter and the guard instantly block their way.
'Old man! Can't you see all tables are full. Why did you enter when it's all visible from outside?"- The guard asks.

"This place is where I had found her, my Radha" - The husband smilingly replies and continues "Today is our 40th anniversary. We don't know if we will be able to live, to make it through to the next one. So, I decided to take her out, might be for the final time to the place where it all started. Please let Ramesh feed his Radha for probably the last time".- The old man pleads.


A shock wave again moves through Ramesh's body. He starts fumbling. Although the presentation is almost over but this has never happened in his entire career. Tears rolls down his eyes with the realization that in the cat and mouse race for fame and money, he has left his life sideways long back and has never even bothered to look back. His thoughts get broken by a gentle tap from Nirav.

"Hey Buddy! You okay?" - Nirav asks. Ramesh suddenly has a thought in his mind. He knows this might affect his company deal, but for the first time he is willing to take the risk as his priorities have changed.

"Nirav, this meeting is almost over. Can we leave this table to the elderly couple talking there so that they can have what they wish for. I know this sounds crazy and also that you are leaving for Canada tomorrow but I think that.... It will be of help to them and also.... " - Ramesh starts blaming himself for loss of words. He knows what he just uttered isn't right and also Nirav will angrily cancel the deal.

"I understand Ramesh. I am happy that aside from a successful businessman you are also a good human being. You know humanity always comes above everything else and I am so lucky to do business with such a lovely human being. Your wife must be so lucky to have you" - Nirav replies and asks for the check. Tears again start rolling down Ramesh's eyes, but he stays mum.


The elder Ramesh blesses the younger one and Nirav departs with verbal finalization, assurance and best wishes. Ramesh books a table in the same restaurant for 9 PM at night, buys another set of flowers, this time picked by him and with a glimpse on the lovely elderly couple feeding each other, rushes towards home.


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Lying on her bed, Radha is crying loudly. Since there is no one home presently, she has let her inner sorrow out. She hears the main door bell ring.

Removing her tears, Radha moves towards the main door and peeps through the door hole. Seeing the person on the other side, her heart starts beating faster. To her utter surprise, Ramesh is standing on the other side with an impatient look and flowers in his hand.

Radha opens the door with her head down and Ramesh keels down over the ground, forwarding the flower bouquet towards her. Radha gets shocked and she doesn't even realize when her hands have automatically moved over her cheeks. Ramesh stands up as soon as she takes the bouquet in her hand, and before she could utter anything, he tightly grabs her and hugs her. Initially hesitant, Radha first tries to move him away and then starts beating him gently. But with Ramesh's strong and firm grip, she gives in and then starts crying, this time with much more noise.


"Sorry!! I am sorry for not being with you, when you needed me. I am sorry for not being with you, when you wanted me. I am sorry for not fulfilling my commitment. I am sorry for every pain that I have caused you. I am sorry for not being able to be a good husband. I am sorry for ruining one important year of your life. I am very very sorry. I love you!! and happy anniversary, sweetherat!!" - Ramesh talks so much at a single breath with Radha, for the first time in a while. Radha hugs him even tighter and starts crying and beating even more.......


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Radha and Ramesh are sitting at their pre-booked table in the restaurant. It's 9:00 PM at night and Radha feels it's a new beginning in her life, something they should cheer, celebrate and capture.

Ramesh's phone starts to ring. Although Radha signals a no, Ramesh picks up the call.

"Hi Sir. I know it's important but can we please talk tomorrow, if not urgent? I am currently out for  dinner with my wife and at this point of time, I prefer to dedicate my entire time to her. Thanks for understanding." - Ramesh cuts the call and looks towards Radha reassuringly.

Radha smiles. Something that she hadn't been able to do for quite sometime.....

Her Wedding Day

She is looking lovely in a sun kissed gown,

Hairs are tied tightly and she can't even frown.

Her eyes are pulling me intimately close,

Affecting on me like a mild hash dose.

The fireplace is ready, the stage is so lit,

People are eagerly awaiting their visual treat;

The Pujari is engaged in his own deeds,

The crowd is increasing as time slowly proceeds.

It suddenly reminded me of my old graduation days,

She was never my close friend but I admit to distant occasional gaze,

She was a rich student who came by her personal car;

To me she was an adorable but forbidden star!!

Four years went by; from classmates, we became close friends,

I used to fight with my silent feelings everyday, 

The fight continues even today; it never ends!!

We both eventually got placed and moved far away,

She moved to a separate city and I chose my hometown to stay;

An emptiness slowly engulfed me,

I missed her so much more.

Her smell, her hair, her lips, her touch,

I started to imagine her minute details to the core.

Then one fine day, she called me,

I picked up with an excited delight,

She informed me of her planned marriage,

And I imagined bashing my head, against the wall with all might!

So, here am I on her wedding day,

She will of someone else very soon,

I could never muster up the courage to tell her,

And thereby was left out like a broken spoon..

But I know I will have to move on,

This emptiness will have to stop,

Dancing at her wedding, I promise myself,

Life will henceforth be smooth and tiptop.........