Celebration

By Meera

'Sir, so this is the furniture design I came up with, as per your requirements'.

'Good job Jia. It's a contemporary and space friendly design, but we wanted rectangular seatings Jia'. My phone rang and I disconnected.

'Yes, on the corners, Sir. I have planned to make a big rectangular table, with comfy sofa seatings on the inner corner. In the centre, I always felt, round tables bring that softness, to the ambience and it looks quite inviting'.

'Well, It does. Let's discuss this next week, after I got the approval from the board. Pass me the cost sheet, Jia'. My phone buzzed in, again.

'Sure Sir, thank you so much. I will be there next week and I have to pick this call, Sir!!'.

'Sure, go ahead Jia. See you later!!'.

'Hello kakka, can you hear me!?. I was in a meeting a minute ago, sorry for not picking the earlier calls!!'

'Jia beta, Come home soon!!'.

'Hello kakka, I can't hear you!!'. I turned my head as the glass broke in the next table, besides a man shouting and I ran outside, dashing someone on my way out.

'I am going to run my business'.

'You are a Jeweler's son, you can't run any business. Marry her and get on with my business!'.

'Jia beta, Jia beta??. Jia beta, can you hear me!?'.

'I can hear you now Kakku, why were you in a hurry to call me?. Am coming home kakku'.

'Please, come home soon, Jia beta. Come soonnn!!'. He sounded hopeless.

'Sure, Kaku!!'.

'Pappa!??'. I screamed as I went near him.

'Why do you look so weak and sick?. You were great in the morning, when I bid you bye!!. What happened??. Pappa talk to me, please talk to me, pleaseee!!'. I shivered badly as I held his stretched out hands.

'Yes, my Jia. Pappa wants... to...talk to yo...u, this one...last time!!'. I shouted back at him.

'No, no pappa. Please, you can't leave me. Please don't leave me, pappa. You sound so breathless!'. I sniffled and trembled as he patted my hands and I gripped my younger one hard.

'Listen...Jia. Am not leaving you, am inside you in yo...ur thou...ghts... I am going to be... inside you, near to your...your...soul to guide you...hereafter. Am there alwa...ys, no matter what happ...ens in your life. Whatever life throws at you...Jia, face it and reme...mber, I will nev...er leave you behind. Jia, live...your dre..ams, as I d...id mi...ne. If poss...ible... ma...ke mine... Li......ve,....???'.

The silence froze, so did I.

'Jia beta!, the GM of our hotel wants to meet you!. Can I bring him in??'.

'Sure Kaku!!'. I whispered.

'Hello Mam, I am sorry I shouldn't be asking for your help so early, am really sorry. But the management needs you, in few days!!'.

'Sure, karan Sir, I will be there!!'. I muffled.

100 days had passed by...

'Pappa!!!. Am a failure, I failed badly. I lost it pappa!!!, I let you down!. I can't... I can't bring myself to face you... Pappa!. Am sorry, so sorry, I tried, pa. I tried my best to bring in some ideas and few more profits, with some collaborations in these few months, but I couldn't. I just couldn't!!, am terribly sorry, pappa. I made you lose, I failed you!!. Am sorry I can't live up to your expectations!!'. I cried as I held my head on the table.

'Jia, will you be my wife!?'.

'What???'.

'Please say yes to be my wife!!, Please, Jia'.

'How do you know my name!?'. I felt irked.

'You left abruptly that day!. I collected your documents and gave it to the waiter here!'.

'Why are you in a hurry to marry??'. I recognised him.

'I soon should, or else I will be soon married to the richest, jeweller's daughter in the town!!. My dreams are different!'.

'What are your dreams??'. I felt hurt hearing the word.

'I am passionate about food, I love cooking. I have dreams to own a food truck soon. I am meeting the venture capitalists to make it happen!!'.

'So, the jeweller's son can't be a cook??'.

'Yes, they are tieing me up with their businesses to make it big'.

'Why me???'.

'Because, you are the only one I know now, at this place!!. I saw you entering the cafe from afar, I was waiting to escape my engagement today, before I spotted you!!'.

'What do you know about me??. Am a stranger. Do you know, I am a carpenter, by profession!!'.

'Yes, that's all I know about you!!. I saw your sketches that evening!!'.

'So are you trying to say, If I marry you, I have to afford you until you crack your food truck business!?'.

'Yes!!. It's on the last talks, that evening I was about to sign the bond, my dad collapsed it. I will finalise it soon!!. So is it fine with you until then??'.

'What am I gaining in this sudden unknown bond??'.

'I...I...Ji...a!'.

'Do you own a flat, is it from your earning??'.

'Yes, I do!'.

'Stay there, for now. Let's get engaged, but let's not get married soon!!. Let's have a court marriage!!. From now on, I want you to help me and my younger brother with my pappa's business, besides finalising your business deals!. Train us both well. Is the deal good??'.

'Good it is!!. What's your pappa's business??'.

'He's a restuaratuer!!'.

'Wow!!. I would love to indulge, does he know to cook?'.

'He's great. He cooks our meal everyday at home!!'.

'Where's he now??. Why do you need my help in running his business??'.

'He... He left us!!'. I murmured.

'Am sorry Jia, I didn't know. How old is your brother!?'.

'Ankit is 21, young to learn but I need him badly!!'.

'I get it... I will help you out!!'.

'Thank you. So when do you want to get off from this bond??'.

'I haven't thought about it Jia. What do you think??'.

'You need me until you get your truck and I would need you until I can have a hold on my business... So let's decide whether to get married three months from now!!'.

'When will be our engagement then, Jia?. I need something to shut them down. Oh my god Jia, Riya is coming, searching for me!!'. He felt disturbed.

'Our Engagement is now!!'.

'What??'.

'Do you have the engagement ring you were about to wear her??'.

'Yes!!'.

'Wear it in my finger, now!!. Here this is my ring, show me your ring finger!!'. I pulled his finger to my hands, as he placed his ring on mine.

'Now be quick. I will handle her, just say yes to whatever I say... Yeah??'.

'Yes!!'.

She walked fast as she spotted that guy beside me.

'Taru!!!, What are you doing beside her, who's she??'.

'Who are you??'.

'I am his fiance!!'.

'That's me!!!. We got engaged!. Ta...ru, loves me, so...do...I'. I whispered & showed her my ring finger.

'When??. What's all this Taru??. Where did you meet her!?'. Is that the cheap ring she wore you??'. She shreiked in anger.

'I got engaged to her, it's a beautiful ring, Riya. In this cafe... I fell in love with her, the first time I met her'.

'No way, papaaaa!!!'.

She screamed as she fled away.

'Oh...my god, you were fabulous Jia!!'.

'So were you!!. But she seemed hurt!!'.

'She never liked me Jia. So, she will be fine!. I can't believe, we are engaged!!'.

'Yes, we are. But now let's run!!'.

'Wait!!. Thank you so much. I will cook your meals Jia, everyday'.

'You got to be alive for that!!. They will kill you, if they caught us together!!'.

'Let's leave then, Jiaaaa, before they caught ussss!!'. He sounded amused and we both laughed as we ran towards the car.

After a quarter of a year

Pappa!!. I made good use of Tarun's help. He's smart pappa, passionate about his work, just like you. He's trying hard for his food business, hope he gets it soon. I was taken aback, when I met him for the first time, I never knew someone would come up with marriage, in such a short span of time. I felt his genuine need for help, but, I was scared yet, was left with no choice, but to make quick commitments. Today, I knew I took the right decisions pa. You were right pappa, you were there beside, I remembered your words. To make your dream live. I made an effort to make it happen and I wasn't wrong this time. Ankit is turning smart too pa, he's such a quick learner. He's got your business acumen... My goodness!!!, He's taking good care of the restaurant along with Tarun. They both make a great team, pappa. Am happy to see him so happy, pappa. Ankit never smiled for the longest time, after you left. He just left me out of the business, to let me live my dream and am now, following my passion rigrously, Pappa. Just be there with me always and I cut my finger with the carver blade as Tarun walked in.

'Hey Jia!!!. I came here to help myself with some lemon tea!!... Can I fetch one for you too!??'.

'Ahh... Ouch, it's hurting!!'.

'Oh my god!, Jia!!. Are you nuts??. How can you be careless, Jia??'. Where's the first aid here??'.

'What...nuts??. Its just a small cut. Am fine to take care of myself, I can aid my needs. Go, have some tea!!'. I started working back on my carving, once I wrapped a cotton bandage, over the cut.

'Stop working Jia. You would paint your job red, you are working on a client's needs. The work so far, is good. Leave it for now'.

'No, I can't stop, am almost done. It's nowhere close to good. I will be careful, but I have to submit this, by tomorrow morning!!!'.

'Stop it, I said!!'. I jerked out of fear.

'What's gotten into you??. Why do you have to shout!?. I have work, If you can, help me with it, or else leave me alone!!'. I murmured.

'Sorry, I scared you. How can I aid you?'. He whispered back.

'Hold this board firm, in the sides I do the carving!!. Now, hold it in the top left, Will you??'.

'Yes. But can't you leave it, as it is now. It looks good Jia!. This design would look good, even if

it's incomplete!!'.

'It would be imperfect!!!'.

'So what Jia?. There's so much of beauty in imperfections, too!. Listen to me once please, leave it!!'.

'Fine. Hold it now!!. I will soften the curves!!. How's our business going on??. I heard you are bringing up some good changes!!'.

'It was Ankit's idea, not mine. He wants to cut down the prices on pastries and I helped him to design a chat stall, outside the restaurant. The school and college kids pocket friendly idea was his Jia, I just tweaked it a bit'.

'So the more the sale is, the less price could be compensated. Make sure it's healthy Tarun, it's for kids. Whose idea is it then, to merely increase the pricing in our signature dishes of the restaurant!?'. His eyes shined a bit.

'Mine, Jia. The sale on our signature dishes are always high. It's in good demand, as the majority crowd drop in to taste them. Substantial increase in the pricing would give us a good profit Jia!!. It looks beautiful, Jia. Now wrap up!'.

'Thank you. Go, have your tea!!. Can you bring me one too, Tarun!?'. He nodded no and smiled broadly as he went inside.

Half a year later

Pappa, thank you so much, for always being there. You never gave up on me. You have asked me to live my dream, just the way you did. I could never be more happy than, by getting to live my dream everyday. I love my work, pa. Thank you so much for being there even on your last seconds... I love you pappa. I had kept the unsaid promise pa. I made sure I kept your dream alive too pappa. Ankit is ecstatic, as he excels in every one of his challenges and he's truly having your business head pappa. He's pretty good at it. All thanks to Tarun pappa, he just stood by us and helped us out the whole time, besides his launch of his own business. That man is enjoying his dream, pappa. Finally he had got to live his day, I could see that in his eyes, it's sparkling. I was finishing the final touches, on the mirror frame carving I made, as I was talking to pappa and prickingly I had turned, to see Tarun observing my work and I abruptly became consious of the direction of my fingers and I stopped it at atlast.

'Stop it Tarun!!. What, What are you doing??'

'What, What have I done?. I was just observing your work'.

'What did you observe?'.

'Wow!!!, You are such a beautiful Carver Jia!!. Look at the finish on the minute detailings. You are a true artist Jia'.

'Thank you, Tarun!!'.

'What are you making??'.

'Its a traditional arch key holder and a modern mirror frame!!'.

'Its fabulous Jia!!. I love it!'.

'Thank you. Tarun!!. How's the profit going on in our business??'.

'Here's the document, have a complete look at it Jia!!'.

'Hmm... Let me discuss it, with you later. How's your food truck business Tarun??'.

'It's going on so well Jia. I am living my dream. Ankit is expertising in his business, so I had sidelined myself and had given my whole into my business!!'.

'Tarun, you aren't just living your dream. It's a massive success. I have seen it manier times on my way to meetings, people flood near your fiery red, southeast Asian food truck. What a game

changer you had turned into, Tarun. I am happy for you!!'.

'Thank you so much Jia. Thank you for being there for me, when I needed!!!'.

'You were there for me Tarun. I couldn't have asked for more. Thank you!!'.

'How do you do wood carving??'.

'I was fascinated by the carving techniques done in wood. So, after learning woodwork, I started to study the carving methods and the ways the tools are used. It was quite difficult at the start, but then I loved the whole experience. Carving is just so therapeutic Tarun, to giving attention to fine detailings and the gracefulness it requires, to hit the perfect finish. My god, Tarun, I love it'.

'Is that your recent peice of woodwork Jia... It's so simple yet irregular in shape. It's good... What, why are you laughing??'.

'Ha...Ha...Tarun. That's right, it is irregular. Do you like me, Tarun?'.

'Oh...Ahm...What??. Like you??. Why do you ask Jia?'. He packed the carved peices effortlessly to deliver.

'Just tell me, Tarun!?'.

'Ah...yes. Yes, I do Ji..a. Now what??'. His hands fumbled to tie the finishing knot.

'I knew, I thought so too. Only a person who would like me, can say, my scrape peice to look good... Ha...ha...Tarun, my latest work is that one, on that corner'.

'Oh...but it's not that bad Jia. You can still redefine it, to use it as a cute little night stand'.

'I should definitely applaud your astetutness, Tarun'.

'Thank you!!'.

'Your pretty good at this!!. Let me see, if I can bring something out of it'.

'However it turns out Jia. I am buying it!!'.

'But, why??'.

'I need it. Now, I leave you to work on my furniture!!!'.

'I will never understand you Tarun!!'.

'You soon will, Jia'.

After a week

Pappa it's been a year since you left us. I have transformed into a different person than you last met me pappa, so is Ankit. He's turned into a fine man pa, I am taking him with me to a vacation this weekend pappa. He isn't that excited, as he always used to be. I feel hurt as I made the decision to make him lose his playfulness sooner pa. Am so sorry, sorry pa I know you love him more, for all those nice little naughtiness, he does. But, I will promise you pa, on this day again, that I will make sure to revive his nature and to make him live his life, other than just living his dream. Yes, pappa you heard me right. Your dream before he could realise had turned into, to become his dream. He loves to run the restuarant, loves the craziness it brings, alongside the challenges. He's turned into a bigger man sooner than I did pappa. Keep guessing your gifts I would bring, to come and visit you today, on the land you have rested pa.

'Hey Jia!!, What are you upto??'.

'I am painting the mugs I bought recently, Tarun!!. I made the breakfast today, if you haven't ate, have some Tarun!!'.

'Wow!! They look charming. Jia, I came to give you this!. I never knew, you know to cook!!'.

'What is it Tarun??. Looks like a diary!!. Who's is it?. Am fairly good, Tarun!.

'I haven't had anything, I will have the breakfast, Jia. Diary it is. It's your dad's... He has written peices of both his kid's, childhood incidents. I know I shouldn't have read it, but am sorry. He's so good in his writing, I couldn't stop. He wanted his Jia to be smart, stubborn and caring just like him. That's what you are Jia!!. That's what you have grown as. You are so like him, Jia!!'.

'He's in me Tarun. He's such a beautiful writer, painter. Do you remember this day Tarun?'.

'Vividly Jia!!. A year back, I met you for the first time, as you dashed upon me and ran outside. So, it's his..!!'.

'Yes, it's the day he parted us Tarun!!. He loves painting, he taught me to paint. Am taking his favourites with me to go and visit him. Ankit is joining me, will you come too??'.

'Yes, I will. I have seen his collections of paintings Jia, there are some great peices. So, I have few plans to make his painting as an entrance door to our restaurant!!. Will you be my carver, Jia!?'.

'Wow, his art still lives and it will ever through me, Tarun. My god!!. I would love to Tarun!!!. I would love to carve the door, my pappa's paintings goes on!. Thank you so much Tarun!'.

'Great!!. Let's go and meet him, Jia!!'.

'Wait!. Will you be my husband Tarun!??'.

'What???'.

'Say, will you be??'.

'I... I would love to Jia. I would love to get married to you!!'.

'Did I understand you now a bit Tarun!??'.

'Yesss, Jia. Yes & thank you for that!. I couldn't have asked you again'.

'Why so??'

'I can't face another rejection!!'.

'You will never face one, again. Let's go meet Pappa Tarunnnn!!'. We both collected the gifts and heartily smiled at each other.

Author's Note:

As much as we miss them, grieve for them, feel the pain of their absence, I think we should remember them for all the happiest moments they have given us, all those amazing traits they have left us with, to cherish and to cultivate it, within us. We should also celebrate their works and their teachings. It's time for us to celebrate them, and believe that, they are within us and haven't left us alone. Happy reading.

By Meera