Tuesday 12 November 2013

PT and Serendi-Pt




We joined our new school the same year. Different classes, for some we have to call our seniors. But the same year. Coincidence. After 9 years of the nuns working hard on me, I was in a co-educational set-up. Happy. He, after years of hopping schools as a ‘transferable case’ was finally in 9th standard to hop no more. I was in 8th. Close behind!

No idea that his class was next to mine. Or that we were welcomed in the same orientation. That we both shared apprehensions and curiosity of the new school together, but apart. We did not even know what the other looked like. 

Years went by, like they do in school. He did his thing and I did mine. Best student he would be declared every passing year, whereas my report would read ‘she tried’. He would travel to play, sing and debate for his school all over the country, and I would travel too – to school and back. He shone bright, I instead socialized. Apart, still. 

Fast forward! Standard 11th and he in 12th. Still ahead! 

And now this is important … 

A rumour somewhere, that he has his eyes on me (Even tried finding out from a cousin of his from my previous school, about me). I closed up mine, totally. Did open them, those eyes, sometimes to see admire him from behind the herculean century old pillars and wonder – Him, Oh I see. But why me? The peahen danced secretly, but gathered all her feathers the moment him she would see. He was told it’s the wrong bird, for she is taken already. Someone’s jealousy! So he wound up his feathers too. And we went about doing our thing. Apart, still, but proud in our own swings.    

And then there was no choice one day. No pillars to hide behind. 

We both hated PT. Coincidence. 

And sports day was fast approaching. Which meant our PTIs would don their caps and running shoes with salwar-kameez, polish their whistles, get all worked up standing under the cool shade of the trees as we tried to jog, crawl, trot, swim and sleep walk around the 500 mts track at 40 degrees. Hundreds in the field. Trying to look sporty, be sporty and win their races. And 2, just 2, looking for excuses to not do anything. Me and him. Apart though, still, not knowing that the other’s anatomy too was making similar excuses to skip the march past. To sit on the sides, in the shade and watch the world slog, left-right-left.  

He reached before me, to that certain step where I saw him seconds after he sat. Too late to turn back and no other place around. Fidgeting with my hair, re-buckling my watch strap and doing other mindless things that being conscious is made of, I reached where he sat. Trying to look away to look disinterested. Him and me, both. Failing miserably. The first encounter after the rumour, and there were 2 pairs of jelly legs and a pair of teenage hearts shaking and beating to the tune of – ‘Oh Lord! What next?’

Serendipity. 

A fortunate coincidence.

I am sorry for causing you embarrassment. I did not mean to, was never my intention. I just wanted to be friends. And we can never trust these middle men and women” said he. I looked up to him, literally, for he sat a step above, as had always been. 

Cool!” said I, as nonchalantly as I could feign it. Did not expect it. Who admits it, except a gentleman of the highest degree? My voice was not prepared. My heart even less. It skipped loops upon loops. What nice jaw line he has.Thank God for the drum beats of the march past. 

So, I guess it’s all OK then. No discomfort no turning away no need to make the visible invisible, right?” So he had noticed, thought I. Even me behind the pillars, and I turned red.

Yes” is what I said. This time my heart danced. 

Friends. 

Down he came to sit beside me. Two yellow dots on the grey steps. One still towering over the other. 6 feet. No, nearly there. But then, he was always a step above the rest. Wasn't he?

We talked, and soon we were speaking to each other. Drums and whistles and PTIs’ instructions no longer claimed our ears. “I quite like you, you know” and I wondered if he was proposing? “You’re okay too, actually!” and I could see our feathers opening. Not to flaunt or be a prude. No. Just to reveal everything that we wanted to. About ourselves. At this point. From inside. 

And that moment etched in my photographic memory. His too, or so he claims.

Thank God for hating PT. Thank God for a kind PTI. And for the fortunate coincidence of lame excuses of anatomy.

Thank God for Serendi-Pt. Serendi-Pt? 

Platinum – Pt. 

Did you know?
Rare material and hence highly valuable. For sure he is, my man I speak about. 
Resistant to wear and tarnish. Of impeccable character, I tell you! 
A by-product of mining and processing. Really! It does show, those manners, that polish! 
Non-reactive even at high temperatures. The calm in the storm of my tea cup. 
Catalyst for many reactions. He made me pick up my pen, again. And so much more.
“Little silver” but lots of love. 
It’s rare. 
It's so him.

And it’s been 13 years since we shared that berth. Married for 6 years, and with a bundle who loves to pull my ears. Especially when I don these you see in the picture above. The first ever gift in a little red box, from a fellow yellow-dot, who I fell in love with when no such plan existed.

On our day of love. Our day of Serendi-Pt.







[Written for 'Platinum Day of Love' hosted by IndiBlogger]

112 comments:

  1. I'm speechless...and believe me, it takes a lot for me to be speechless. An absolutely beautiful piece. And brilliantly yet subtely incorporated "Pt" into the story. Thank God for Pt indeed. Good luck for the contest Sakshi; IT's yours to lose I'd say. Oh, and God bless !!! 'Sada Suhagan aur Khush Raho'

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  2. Too good Ma'am...
    All the best for the contest...:D

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  3. What a lovely story, it is a winner, for sure.

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  4. Awww...that is so so cute Sakshi! All this while I could actually imagine the two of you in school uniform sitting on those stairs. :-) May God bless both of you with many more decades of togetherness filled with enough love, care and understanding. Loved it very very much. All the best for the contest. :-)

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    1. When you come over, will share some photo albums with you from those days, Rekha. Should be fun to see them with you. Thank you for your wishes. :)

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  5. Lovely story, Sakshi, I could feel my heart go Mmmmm!

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  6. I was smiling all through. I knew the story in parts of course, but reading the 'day' it all started was super sweet <3 And my lady what a lovely touch to the Pt :P I know in all these years he would have cursed himself as to why he had to miss that PT :P :P

    *hugs* God bless you both and that amazingly sweetheart bundle of joy you have *forever*

    Richa

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    1. Yes, you guessed it. He is really wondering 'Why oh why!' ;)
      Thanks a lot for liking it, RIcha. Some chapters of life are so much fun to write about, it makes you feel warm inside. :)

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  7. Sweet story and love the way you've written it! Good luck for the contest!

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    1. Thank you for liking the 'way' of writing. Happy you did. :)

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  8. such a lovely story sakshi
    I went awwwww
    god bless : ) Btw cant see the gift box pic.
    anway All the best

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    1. It's the ear rings picture right at the top, Afshan. :) The box is long gone. :P
      Thanks for the 'awwww'! :)

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  9. Serendipity -serendi-pt . loved it Sakshi. God bless you and yr world.

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  10. Awww..such a cute lil love story. :-) Now, I am going to dig the archives. You write beautifully Sakshi. :-)

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    1. Pooja, dig dig and dig. (But I do have bad hair days!) Good to see you around. :D
      VERY happy you like my writing. :)

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  11. Oh, this is so lovely! I am so glad I have met you two dots of yellow!

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  12. Oh this is lovely....
    Loved every bit of it

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  13. Oh this is lovely....
    Loved every bit of it

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  14. A very sweet and lovely post!

    :)

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  15. Beautifully written! :) all the best for the contest!

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  16. Sakshi Nanda, you rock, Woman <3 <3

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  17. OMG, I well and truly am left speechless, I know Sid has already said this, but this post simply just blew me away.

    Was this a love story or was this a love story or what? If I try to type any more, I will just end up typing gibberish babbles, so I ll stop, you understand the rest I assume.

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    1. That moment was love-ly. Then we got married. He must be sitting thinking, why did I skip PT that fateful day? :P
      I understand. You may stop. Your comments have the tendency to make me go blush blush.
      And, thank you, Jairam! :)

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  18. WOW, this was an amazing love story overflowing with romance and I LOVED it!!!!! ♥♥♥

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    1. Lots of LOVE for that, Kathy. Happy you liked it. :)

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  19. What a post! Innocent, pure and beautiful.

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    1. Thank you, Alka. Your 'brilliant' I take to heart. :)

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  20. A beautiful story, truly heartwarming! Loved reading it and loved getting to know the both of you a little more.

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    1. Come April, and you will see what ensued after the two yellow dots fell in love when they missed PT. :) I have the mush, you on your blog have the 'real story' :)
      Thanks, Rachna.

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    2. I am sure the two dots have connected as perfectly as they could. I loved how you connected traits of Pt. with your husband. I loved this mush, not always I do, but coming from your pen it is endearing and beautiful! BTW, I saw your perfect teeth in this DP. They indeed are beautiful :). So toe nails pic next :-P?

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  21. Sigh!!!
    I curse the days spent in a girls school and college when I hear stories like yours :)

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    1. I went on to a girls college after that. :D
      Sigh not. Curse not.
      Not every story is born in a co-ed school. :D

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  22. How cute it would have been to see two yellow dots on those steps.... I had a smile right from the start.... God bless you with more n more love each day :)

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  23. Beautiful start for a beautiful life. :) Best of luck for the contest!

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  24. Beautiful account of a beautiful story!
    Thankfully, neither of you acted upPt that day!

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    1. Truth be told, my husband will have a slightly different tale to tell. I also think 'UpPt' will figure there. :D
      Thanks a lot, Pro!

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  25. wow...its amazing. pls read my post too
    http://spiritandsouladiti.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/platinum-day-of-love-ankahee-this-aint.html


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  26. This made me go awww... I think school crushes that have such a beautiful end are the best !

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  27. Lovely story Sakshi. All the best for the contest :)
    My Entry

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  28. Superb. And nice wordplay Pt, PT and Serendi PT :D
    All the best ..

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  29. Nice Serendi-Pt! Love & Platinum in good combination, Sakshi!
    Best wishes for the contest! :)

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  30. Loved reading it! serendi-PT indeed!

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  31. Very interesting! Our story has similarity with that of yours, but, we had never met... Lovely! Best wishes for the contest!

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    1. Wow! Would to read that too, Sindhu. :)
      Thanks a lot!

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  32. Always nice to meet catalysts and storms in tea-cups. :)

    Arvind Passey
    www.passey.info

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  33. Oh my god, this was a piece that wells up the eyes and brings a bright smile on the face that leave others to wonder that what is on my screen that am so fondly reading and smiling. Wish you a very happy married life :)

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    1. Thank you for your wishes, Sugandha. Happy you liked it!

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  34. A true love story! It's very rare to have come across people being united from their school days... Cheers to u Sakshi for bonding with the first best love all theses yrs and for the rest of the days to come by!

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    1. Thanks, Vaishnavi. Let's just say my parents, when in school, had set the trend. :)

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  35. Nice!

    Thanks for the promotion on Indivine. I shall definitely be reading more of your posts.

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  36. That's a cute story, Even I used to hate PT Classes in school though never met anyone when I excused myself from those horrible drills :) Your story reminds me that sometimes love strikes when we least expect it to ;)

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    1. Which is what it was. Least expected, especially given the background. :D
      Thanks a lot for reading, Prasanna!

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  37. Aww!! That's such a heartwarming story!! Loved it!! And the Pt link too! Cool! Good luck for the contest, Sakshi :)

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  38. I've been trying to read this for three days now, Sakshi and each time I get disconnected. I'm so glad I read it - a sweet story and so well told. I'm sensing a winner here! Good luck. :)

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    1. Corinne, thank you. For liking the story and how it was told. Often, the 'how' is what matters. And I love that you noticed. Thanks a lot! :)

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  39. Loved the bundle at the end. It is the choicest blessing God gives us. All the best for the contest!

    You might be interested in reading mine at http://www.indiblogger.in/indipost.php?post=293795

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    1. Indeed, it is. Thanks a lot. Will read your post too! :)

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  40. Love the creative language... makes it much more delicious to read!! :) Shweet shtory...

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  41. Thanks for reading, Vanessa.

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  42. Couldnt have been done in a better way Sakshi. My heart raced as the write progressed. Not because I didnt know what was to happen. It was a high, in a true sense, which the worlds, the style and the intensity induced. You have an added name in your fan list. :)

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    1. Oh dear! That's a really sweet compliment to be getting, Hiral. Thanks a bunch! :)

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    2. I tell you..
      You are absolutely amazing Sakshi :)

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    3. Thank you, Meghana. Just read this and feeling great! :D

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  43. Many Congratulations ma'm :)

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  44. Beautifully written.... loved it :)
    Congratulations !!

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    1. A bigger congrats to you, Sweta. Truly deserved, and what a wonderful prize.

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  45. Love the story, more because I can relate so well to...PT, march past, PTIs and what nots! But I'm wondering how come I didn't know about your rendezvous in laborare est orare! How did you manage to keep it a secret?!?

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    1. Haha! Started a little late in the day, you can say. Thanks, Divya. Bigger sparks flew when we met a few years after leaving school. :D

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  46. wow! thats the only word I would like to say...speechless really

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  47. It isn't just WOW. Its WOW-er than WOW :-)

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  48. This is so lovely...awesome...:)
    Congrats fr the Pt. Prize :)

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  49. Absolutely lovely!!! Congratulations on the win :)

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  50. This is such a lovely story and narrated incredibly well! Every bit of it had me going "awww" :')
    Congratulations on your win, ma'am! Well deserved! :)

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  51. Such a shame that I missed the post! Loved it, every word of it. Congratulations, for the award. You now have a new fan in me :) Write on.

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