ಬೆಳದಿಂಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಮಳೆ

ನೂರಾರು ಕನಸುಗಳನ್ನು ತಡೆ
ಹಾಕಿದ್ದೆನೆ; ಒತ್ತಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಕನಸುಗಳ
ನನಸು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲೆಂದು
ನಿನ್ನ ಜೊತೆಗೂಡಿ...

ಚಂದಿರನ ಬೆಳಕನ್ನು ತಡೆ
ಹಾಕಿದ್ದೆನೆ; ಒತ್ತಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಬೆಳದಿಂಗಳ
ಬೆಳಕನ್ನು ಸೂಸಲೆಂದು
ನೀನಿರುವ ಬಳಿಯೇ...

ಬಿಳಿ ಮೊಡಗಳಿಗೆ ತಡೆ
ಹಾಕಿದ್ದೆನೆ; ಒತ್ತಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಜಡಿ
ಮಳೆ ಸುರಿಸಲೆಂದು
ನೀನಿರುವ ಬಳಿಯೇ...

ಚಳಿಯ ಗಾಳಿಯನ್ನು ತಡೆ
ಹಾಕಿದ್ದನೆ; ಒತ್ತಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಬೇಕೆಂದರೆ
ತಂಗಾಳಿಯನು ಕರೆಸಲೆಂದು
ನೀನಿರುವ ಬಳಿಯೇ...

ಭರಿಸಲು ನೂರಾರು ಕನಸು
ಸುರಿಸಿದರೆ ಹೊನ್ನ ಬೆಳಕು
ಬೆಳದಿಂಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಮಳೆ
ಬೇಕೆಂದರೆ ತಂಗಾಳಿಯನ್ನ ಕರೆಸು
ಭರಿಸಲು ನಾನಿರುವೆ..!
ಪ್ರೇಮಮಳೆಗೆ ತೋಯ್ಯೊಣ
ಚಂದಿರನ ಒಡಲಿಗೆ ಕನ್ನ ಹಾಕೋಣ... ;)
         
                                                 -ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್‌

Promise to you...

Oh! my dear,
on this special day
I can promise you that
My everlasting devotion,
My loyalty, my respect,
And my unconditional love for a life time.

I can promise you that
I'll always be here for you,
To listen and to hold your hand
Through out my life.

I can promise you that
I'll willingly your protector,
your advisor, your counselor,
your friend, your family,
Your husband and
your everything.

I can promise you that
I'll see you through any crisis,
And Pray with you,
Dream with you,
Build with you,
and always be with you,
I promise you that
I love you with all my heart.

When they met in Paris part-4

Hello”
“He… Heylooooooo? Mumma?”
Avni’s expressions now changed from shock to relief. It was her son Aarav.
“Hello beta Aarav, how are you? Kaise ho beta?”
“Mu… Mummy? Mumma kaha hai? Mummaaaa” Aarav was at his childish best.

Suddenly Avni felt a surge of emotions coming from within. She couldn’t hold back. Two tears rolled her cheeks. Aarav was the only reason she felt like going back to her home every day. Her husband Sujit wasn’t a bad guy at all. He was actually good and a very homely fellow. He made sure he came home on time, earlier than Avni on most days. He was very cordial and an emotional person. He was a family man and made sure he looked after every one in the house. Above all else, he loved Avni very much. He had never had an affair in is life, not even a good friend from the opposite sex. He never had a regret either. What he probably missed was intimacy. He could never win Avni in three years of their marriage. Because he could never understand her. Some times Avni thought he was the best husband on earth. But then they were hardly a match. Three years had passed, and here Avni was… sitting with the man she loved without knowing he loved her too. And on the other side of the phone was her husband and a doting father to her son.

Yuvraj watched Avni drift apart and walk in the alley ahead of them. She was not looking at him, but he could see her from her reflection on the large glass panels lining the alley. He could make out the tears that rolled on her cheeks. He was startled when Avni dragged her hand back. But he knew the meaning of it. It was a faint reminder that Avni was now married to Sujit. Although she thought she wasn’t happy, it was not her fault. He knew the reason for her unhappiness now. It was him. Only if he could have mustered some courage and composure to go and ask her for marriage. Only if she could have been a little less reluctant. Only if they bold were bold enough. Only if… there were too many variables.

Yuvraj knew there was nothing that could be done now. If any thing could have been done, it was with his life of her life. Nothing was possible together. He so much wanted to make her happy. But probably now the only way he could do it was by letting her to live her life. He was the hindrance. He had to move on…

Avni had been talking on phone for 10 minutes now. She had walked fair distance and almost forgot who she was with. She realized and turned backwards. The alley was relatively empty, except for few passengers passing by. She hung up and started walking back. Se came to the turn where she was earlier standing. Yuvraj wasn’t there. Her luggage was neatly stacked along the wall. In the front left pocket of her bag, there was a piece of paper tucked in. She pulled it out to see it was the copy of the bill along with the TGV ticket. Some thing was scribbled behind the bill.

“Hey Avni,

It was nice meeting you after a long time. But I guess its the time for me to go. Just wanted to tell you that you are the best person I have ever met. I wish I could say this every day to you. But I guess life has written different stories for us and we should honour that. I’m happy with what I am and I wish greatest happiness to you too.

Enjoy life and take care.
Luv, Yuvi”

A tear rolled on Avni’s cheeks again. But she wasn’t unhappy now. She had hoped for the best and life had thought the best for her. She punched some numbers on her mobile phone. “Hello, Sujit? Nothing… just wanted to say, I Love You!”

— End–

When they met in Paris part 3

Serveur’s efficiency in delivering the sandwich and the juice was commendable. For by now Yuvi and Avni had barely decided on the table yet. Yuvi helped Avni to pull their luggage bags. All these years he had been thinking about her, about her (rather their) fate.  Couple of common friends would at times tell him about Avni and how she was finding it difficult to cope with her married life. He cared for her. But he never mustered courage to call once. He knew Avni was a free bird who could not be caged by social and cultural boundries. She indeed was.

“Voici votre sandwich et jus Monseur. Souhaitez-vous ajouter quelque chose d’autre?” The serveur was back with the sandwich and juices.
“No Merci monsieur” It was Avni now, thanking the serveur for his services.

When people are hungry, people feel they are alone in the world. Avni was no strange to this fact as she quickly pounced on the neatly cut sandwich. “Yummmm, Yuvi! This is heaven.” She said. Yes indeed, Yuvi thought. For how else could he describe heaven? He was sitting there with the woman he loved in the beautiful Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris, alone away from the prying eyes of any one they knew in common. He allowed Avni to munch on the delicious sandwich while he sipped the Orange juice. He just wanted to clock to go slow on them today, at least today. He remembered how they had missed the train once, and once more all due to his mistake. He so much wanted to compensate the journey today.

“So what are you going to do now?” Avni asked at her howling and munching best.
“I wish I could do any thing” Yuvi said sheepishly.
“Sorry?”
“I mean I wish I could do any thing to the flight that left early. I guess I will have to take another one now, unless there is another way.”
“There is, if you wish to try.”
“How?” Yuvi knew she is going to mention the TGV.
“You can take a TGV to London. But I dont know if there is one from here that goes directly to London.”
“Okay. Good idea! That way we can…” Yuvi stopped. Was he making it too obvious?
“We what?”
“We can travel together. Can we?”
Avni could only smile. Yuvi indeed was making it obvious.

They spent the next one hour discussing about IT projects, abbout what Yuvi’s job profile was, about how Avni’s last trip tp Lille was so boring… the topics were endless. When the serveur came to clear the tables, Yuvi asked him about the TGV schedules. There was indeed a train to London about 2 hours from then, passing Lille. Avoiding the smile was now getting difficult for him. He checked Avni’s tickets to make sure if she was traveling by the same train, which wasn’t the case.

“Oops! But can we not travel by the same train? You will end up reaching early. Is it not.”
“Yeah… but.”
“Now common. It is possible right? Please Avni. We have met after such a long time and you are doing this to me. Spoil sport!”
“Now dont start okay? What spoil sport?”
“Yes, you have always been like that. You couldn’t even…”
“Yuvi!”
“Okay okay… take your time till I clear the bills.”
If only he could understand what Avni was going through. He hadn’t changed a wee bit. He couldn’t understand her then, 4 years back. And he couldn’t understand her now. ‘But then he has always been like that’, she thought to herself. She finally agreed, much to Yuvi’s joy.

Charles De Gaulle indeed is a beautiful airport. It served perfect rendezvous for the two lost lovers in disguise. Their talks meandered from the college days to projects to economies and then to Yuvraj’s marital status. He avoided it with his guile and chivalry. But threw it back at her asking her about her marriage. Avni was stunned. A ten minutes silence walking past the series of branded stores and some comforting words from Yuvi brought her back to the composure. Avni wanted to talk. And she did. She just exploded.

They spoke about her marriage with Sujit, about her discomfort with the traditional household, about the forced child and about how much she missed the life before marriage. She wanted to tell him how much she compared him with her husband. But he retained her composure. “I was going around with some one else. I mean not exactly having an affair… but thinking about some one.” Yuvi was taken aback, but this time knew who the guy was. It was him! Within an instant they were standing looking at each other… holding hands. It felt like the lost love had come back. And the silence was broken… by a sound. It was the ring tone of Avni’s mobile and the CLI software in the mobile was reading a name sending chills down her spine. “Sujit”

To be continued…

When they met in Paris part-2

“Avni… hey!”

Even before Avni could connect with the familiar yet not so known voice, Yuvraj had already paced his way through the lounge pathway. Avni felt pangs in her throat. She couldn’t believe who she was staring at. At an instant she almost felt as if her feet had started moving, wanting to run… run fast and make her fall in the arms of the tall man approaching her. All that she didn’t speak to any one over the last 3 years was about to explode like a balloon filled with hot air.

Yuvraj was not standing rigt infront of her with an anxious smile on his face. He too had realised the sudden surge of excitement he felt when he saw Avni for the first time in last 4 years. She looked beautiful, though there was a dullness on her face. Jet lag may be, thought Yuvraj. He suddenly realised they both weren’t speaking but staring at each other for a good 30 seconds.

“How are you? And what are you doing here in Paris?” Yuvraj broke the silence.
Avni suddenly realised she was no longer Ms. Avni Dewan now. She was Mrs. Bansal and a mother of a 2 yr old kid. Her line of thought had strayed to the good old days she regretted. She almost hated herself for not asking Yuvraj. When she got married, she hated Yuvraj for she couldn’t help but compare her husband Sujit with him. Sujit was a good family oriented guy. ‘… but most guys are good, doesn’t mean I’ll marry all of them’ Avni had argued with her parents. For her parents, it was unreasonable that she rejected every good guy for no reason. The point was, she couldn’t explain them the reason. The point was, she herself wasn’t sure. Finally she succumbed to her parent’s relentless following and agreed for the next ‘good guy’ they select. Both fortunately and unfortunately, it turned out to be Sujit.

Where Avni was the only child of her parents, Sujit was second of the three siblings in the Bansal household. They all stayed together, despite the obvious space challenges. Sujit was the earning member of the large family, along with his father and elder brother. This meant Avni had no say over either the household activities or Sujit’s pay, which went straight to his mother. But this also proved a boon for Avni, as she now could continue working on the pretext that they will be better off and start saving for themselves as well. Avni’s first tryst with her bad fortune came when the united household literally forced the new couple to bear a child only few months into the marriage. This meant Avni sacrificed on numerable things, including her onsite trip. She only took a break for 6 month to avoid any more rusting. To escape this, she engaged herself with her work. She started spending long hours at the office, much to the discomfort of the household. But she had convinced Sujit that it was important for their bright future. He was a nice guy. She got herself on board of an important project in France and made sure she had to travel onsite at least twice a year. However she wanted to avoid this trip as her son Aarav was not keeping well. But she couldn’t… and since she couldn’t, she was standing in front of Yuvraj.

“How are you? And what are you doing here in Paris?” Yuvraj was now talking.
“Hi… I mean, what a surprise” She extended her hand, which Yuvraj reluctantly accepted for a shake. The touch sent shivers inside his spine.
“Nice to see you here. How come in Paris?” Yuvraj gathered some composure and spoke again.
“I have been here earlier. I have a project going on at Lille. What about you?”
“Oh I work with Gokaldas Exports. I too keep travelling in Europe. Paris is only my second time though. I was on my way to London from here… and now I have missed my flight.” Yuvraj said with a sheepish grin.
“Ah… Mr. Late Latiff! When will you learn?”
“Never!”
“So… hows life?”
“Good… looks like you came here for a brunch? Shall we order some thing?”
“Please Yuvi. They fed me such bad food in the flight. Need a good bite.” Yuvi! A name she christened when they were cheering the division’s cricket team. Although Yuvraj was so much unlike the real cricketer ‘Yuvraj Singh’. One, he was right handed and two he wasn’t a batsman but a fast bowler.
“Hmmm, let me think. I dont know much about the cuisine here. And in any case, my mantra is ‘when you are hungry, go for the basics.’ So a sandwich and juice will do good?”
“Club Sandwich and Orange juice Monseur”
“Il vous madame” Yuvraj said mischievingly.
“Hey you know French? I’m trying to learn and haven’t been able to for last 3 years.”
“Keep calling me every day Madame, I will teach you.” It changed Avni’s expressions. Yes, she needed to talk to a guy who understood her very well. She so much wanted to… sigh!
“Ahem, sandwich? I’ll get it for you.” He turned to the serveur at the corner. “Pouvez-vous fixer un club sandwich et deux verres de jus d’orange pour moi?” “Dans un instant, monsieur” He replied.

To be continued…

When they met in Paris!

Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris is considered to be one of the top five busiest airports in the world. It handles more than 6 million passengers in a year, which makes a whooping 17000 passenger movements every day. On one such busy afternoon, a beautiful Indian lady was making her way to the airport lounge. She had just landed on the Terminal 2 by the Air France flight and looked visibly tired. This was not her first visit to Paris. But this was surely the visit she so much wanted to avoid. She had been working with one of the top Indian IT companies in India. 5 years into the job now, she was their one of the trusted employees. She had successfully handled multiple projects at a very young experience and age. Now married, it was difficult to tell looking at her petite frame that she was a mother of a two year old kid… a reason why she wanted to avoid this trip.

So there she was, in Paris at the Charles De Gaulle and headed towards Lille, where her client’s office was located. There is no direct flight to Lille. So she now had to take the TGV to reach the destination, which was 5 hours from now. Add to that, she was sick of the troublesome flight and the food they fed her on the way. She just hoped she could find good food at the lounge. The lounge was well decorated and at least the menu suggested they had great variety of food. She had picked up French in some of her last few visits. So she decided to try a sentence. “Excusez-moi, je voudrais avoir…”

“Avni… hey!” A not-so-familiar voice interrupted her French connection. She was stunned to see who stood behind her. It was Yuvraj!

Yuvraj was a young, charismatic, handsome and unmarried  man. He and Avni were classmates during their engineering days. Although lot of people had notions about they being a couple, they were best friends. Or that is what they thought. Both were practical, in fact so much that it came in their way of being a couple. The three years they spent together in Engineering, and the next three years when they were still in touch were full of long (loooooooooooooooong) talks on the phone, messages, of the cold coffees, insurmountable telephone bills, long walks in the alleys of Avni’s hostel and so many other things that would make you believe they were a couple. But they weren’t, they so damn weren’t!

Some times they say, when togetherness cannot spark love, the distance does the trick. Avni got placed in a big IT firm and was posted in Chennai for the first year. Yuvraj too, after dabbling with father’s interior designing business  for a while, decided to go for a management degree and shifted to Pune. That was when they felt what they meant to each other. As they grew apart, they missed each other more than any thing else. They were together, in the sense through emails and then through occasional telephone calls. But they were still apart, unsure of each other. Yuvraj knew he loved her. At least he knew he couldn’t live without her. But he didn’t realise even Avni felt the same. They had been together for time long enough to know each other in and out. And yet the time was really short for them to tell each other what meant so much to them. Finally luck did them in and Avni’s marriage was fixed by her parents, amidst loud protests by her.

Yuvraj was shattered when he knew about it. He was returning from the training during initial days of is management career. So much he had dreaded that conversation every time they jokingly discussed marriage. But they avoided the conversation with much disdain. But then this had to happen one day. And he had paid the price for not being sure about the best person he knew in his life. He had no idea how much pain he was going to endure for the rest of his life. And some how he knew it.

3 and a half years had passed since it happened. And 4 years had passed since he last met Avni. He always wanted to meet Avni. So much he wanted to tell her what he felt about her. But he never did. And he knew since that day, it was no use either. He thought if Avni knew him so well, she would have spotted his love and accepted or rejected it. And he thought Avni didn’t. Avni kept in touch with him for the next 6 months, till she got married. She wanted to convince herself that she hadn’t made a right choice. She wanted Yuvraj to plead his love for her and force her to run away with him. She hoped Yuvraj will say that once. But as they say, fortune favors the brave. Yuvraj wasn’t brave.

Yuvraj had completed his masters and joined an export oriented unit that required him to travel away from India frequently. He enjoyed that. He was now in Paris on a business trip and was on his way to London. As usual, he had arrived late for his departure and missed his flight by a whisker. After a good cup of cappuccino with french whipped cream, he went to the news paper vendor behind the lounge to by a copy of Time Out Paris and Le Monde. He was leaning on the stand to read the fine printing on the ‘Investir’ latest stocks. When he leaned back normal, he was stunned to see the beautiful Indian lady standing in the lounge. He just couldn’t believe his eyes. It was Avni. Gosh… a million moments spent together danced their way on to him mind. “Avni… hey!” his excitement was out of control

-to be continued

ನನ್ನ ಕನಸೇ. .!

ನನ್ನ ಸ್ಪೂರ್ತಿಯೇ,

     ನಿನ್ನ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಬರಲು ಒಲ್ಲದ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಬಂದು ಸುರಕ್ಷಿತವಾಗಿ ಮನೆ ತಲುಪಿದೆ... ಮನೆಗೆ ಬಂದು ಕುಳಿತವನಿಗೆ ಯಾಕೋ ನಿನ್ನ ನೆನಪು ತುಂಬಾ ಕಾಡಿತ್ತು. 'Message' ಮಾಡೋಣವೆಂದರೆ ನೀನು 'offline', ಬೇರೆ ದಾರಿ ಕಾಣದೆ ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಒಬ್ಬಂಟಿಯಾಗಿ ಪುಟ್ಟ 'walk' ಹೋಗಿದ್ದೆ. ಅದು ಸೂರ್ಯನ ಬಣ್ಣ ನೀರಿಗೆ ಬಿದ್ದು ಅಲೆಗಳ ನಡುವೆ ಕರಗಿ ಹೋಗುವ ಸಂಭ್ರಮದ ಸಂಜೆ ಹೊತ್ತದು. ತಂಪು ಗಾಳಿ ನಿನ್ನ ನೆನಪಿನ ಜೊತೆ ನೀನು ಉಸಿರಾಡಿದ ಗಾಳಿಯನ್ನು ತಂದು ನನ್ನ ಬಳಿ ಬಿಟಿದ್ದ ಅನುಭವ. I felt you more that time sweetheart. ಆಗ ತುಂಬಾ ನೆನಪಾಗಿ ಬಿಟ್ಟೆ. ರಾತ್ರಿಯ ಚಂದ್ರ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರವನ್ನು ನೆನಪಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ ಆಗೆ. ಹರಿಯುವ ನದಿ ಮಳೆಯನ್ನು ನೆನಪಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ ಆಗೆ. ಡಿಸೆಂಬರ್‌ ತಿಂಗಳು ಚಳಿಯನ್ನು ನೆನಪಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ ಆಗೆ. ನಿನ್ನ ಮುದ್ದು ಕೋತಿ ನಿನ್ನ ನೆನಪಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ, ತನ್ನ ಸ್ಪೂರ್ತಿಯನ್ನ.

ನೆನಪೆಂದರೆ ಮಳೆಬಿಲ್ಲ ಛಾಯೆ
ನನ್ನೆದೆಯ ಬಾಂದಳದಿ ಚಿತ್ತಾರ ಬರೆದವಳೆ
ಸುತ್ತೇಳು ಲೋಕದಲಿ ಮತ್ತೆಲ್ಲು ಸಿಗದವಳೆ
ನನ್ನೊಳಗೆ ಹಾಡಾಗಿ ಹರಿದವಳೇ!

       ನಿನ್ನ ನೆನಪಿಗೆ ಯಾಕೋ ಅಕ್ಷರ ರೂಪ ಕೊಡಬೇಕೆನಿಸಿತು. ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಈ ಪತ್ರ ಬರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಪತ್ರ ಬರೆಯಲು ಕೂರಿಸಿದ ಈ ಚಳಿಯ ಸಂಜೆಗೆ ನಾನು ಚಿರಋಣಿ. ಬರೆಯಲು ಕುಳಿತವನ ಬೆರಳಿನ ತುದಿಗೆ ನಿನ್ನ ಕೂದಲು ಸೋಕಿದ ಅನುಭವ. ನಿನ್ನ ಪ್ರೀತಿತುಂಬಿದ 'soft eyes' ನನ್ನನ್ನೇ ನೋಡುತಿದೆಯೇನೊ ಎಂಬ ಅನುಭವ. ನನ್ನ ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲೆ ಕೂತು ನನ್ನ ಕೈಯಿಡಿದುಕೊಂಡ ಅನುಭವ. ನಿನ್ನ ಹಣೆಗೊಂದು ಒಲವ ಹೂ ಮುತ್ತು ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಈ ಪತ್ರ ಬರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ ಎಂಬ ಅನುಭವ... Every second I felt you dear!!

    ಇಷ್ಟು ಬರೆದು ಮುಂದೆ ಒಂದು ಅಕ್ಷರ ಬರೆಯಾಲಾಗದೆ ಮನೆಯ ಅಂಗಳದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯಲಾರಂಭಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಮನೆ ಎದುರಿನ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಮರ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ನಗುತಿದ್ದಂತೆ ಭಾಸವಾಯ್ತು. ಪೂರ್ವದ ಗಾಳಿಯೊಂದು ಸುಳಿದಿರುದು ಮರದ ಎಲೆಗಳೆಲ್ಲ ನನ್ನ ಬಳಿ ಬಂದು ಬಿದ್ದರೆ ನಿನ್ನ ಚಿತ್ರವೊಂದು ಕನಲಿ ಮರೆಯಾದಂತಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಏನ್‌ ಮಾಡ್ಲಿ... I feel you!

    ಬಿಡು, ಒಂದು ದಿನ ಸಂಜೆ ಸಿಗೋಣ. ಅರಬ್ಬಿಯ ದಂಡೆ ಮೇಲೆ ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ನಡೆದು ಹೋಗೋಣ. ಅದೇ ಸಂಜೆಗೆಂಪು ಆಕಾಶ. ಸಕ್ಕರೆ ಮರಳ ಮೇಲೆ ನಡೆಯೋ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಹುಡುಗಿ ನಿನ್ನ ಸದ್ದು. ಕಿಲಕಿಲ ಅನ್ನೋ ನಿನ್ನ ನಗು. ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಕೈಗೆ ತಾಗೋ ನಿನ್ನ ವೇಲಿನ ಫ್ರಿಲ್ಲು. ನಿಮಿಷಕ್ಕೆ ಎರಡು ಸಲ ಕಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಬಂದು, ನೀ ಹಿಂದೆ ಸರಿದೋ ನಿನ್ನ ಮುಂಗುರುಳು. ದಾರಿ ಕಳೆಯುತ್ತಾ ಹೋದಂತೆ ನೀನು ಕಾಯುತ್ತಿತುತ್ತೀಯ! ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಘಕ್ಕನೆ ಕೈ ಹಿಡಿದು "Love you" ಅಂದುಬಿಡುತ್ತಾನೊ.... ಅಂತ.   ಆ ಕ್ಷಣಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನಾನು ಕಾಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇನೆ ಹುಡುಗಿ. ಬೇಗ ಬಾ.. ಬೀಚಿನ ದಂಡೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಮರಳಿನಿಂದ ಮನೆ ಕಟ್ಟೋಣ. ಕನಸುಗಳಿಗೆ ಜೀವ ತುಂಬೋಣ . ಆಸೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸ್ಪರ್ಶ ನೀಡೋಣ. ಆ ದಿನ ಭೂಮಿ ಮೇಲೆ ಅಪರೂಪದ ಮಳೆ ಬೀಳುತ್ತೆ! At the same time,  ನಿನ್ನ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಅಂಗೈಯನ್ನು ನಾನು ನನ್ನ ಒರಟು ಕೈಗಳ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಬಚ್ಚಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಳುತ್ತೆನೆ. ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊನೆಯವರೆಗೂ ಜೊತೆಗಿರುವ ಭರವಸೆ ಇರುತ್ತೆ ಹುಡಗಿ, ಹೆದರಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಡ. ಮ್‌.... ಇಷ್ಟು ಬರೆಯುವಷ್ಟರಲ್ಲಿ ಮೊಬೈಲ್‌ ಮೌನ ಮುರಿದಿತ್ತು. ನಿನ್ನ message!

    ಸದ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾಕು! ನನ್ನ ಪತ್ರಗಳಿಗೆ ಕೊನೆಯಿಲ್ಲ ಹುಡುಗಿ. ಹೊಸ ಕನಸಿನ ಆರಂಭಗಳಿವೆ. Take care!

-ಎಂದೆಂದಿಗೂ ನಿನ್ನವನು
"ಮಂಜು"