I was restless to hear the ring at the other end of my mobile go by; each time I get ready to sing “Happy Birthday ", all I could hear back was the "Trnnn Trnnn", continuing. This was strange and one of its kind in the last 20 odd years. Sneha would wait for my wish; the first wish for her Birthday every year was mine. With the ring not being answered, I could guess she was not by her phone. I knew things were not going too well with her. But how could she miss my wish?
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I have known Sneha from the age of 5. While I saw myself grooming into a strong bold lady, Sneha was sculpted into a graceful woman. She was a rare beauty! Her slender fingers, her sharp facial features with a gentle smile dressing them all through, her thick hair plaited to walk down with her long legs, her simple dress collections enhancing her curvaceous splendor - she was an archetypal depiction of South Indian beauty. I often would slip down in thoughts - Had I to be a guy, I wouldn’t have missed a single chance to make her my partner for life. She was more beautiful from inside. She had a nature to help others. She was very candid. She was passionate about arts. She was specially devoted to music - was a veena artiste herself. Infact it was this which brought us close. We got to know each other from the Veena class, where we were classmates from a tender age. Years passed, with each getting to know the better of other. While we had few striking contrasts, we had lot similar interests. We had started giving performances together and by the time we were 20, we were affably known in the nearby areas and people looked forward to our concerts.
Sneha grew up in a Christian missionary quite close to my home. Having lost her parents in a calamity in the nearby village at a young age, she learnt to self-support and grew independent. My father was in a Government job with not many transfers which helped my family station at one place. Sneha took up teaching in a nearby school after completing her Bachelors, harmonizing with her nature and personality. I enrolled in an animation course finishing which I had a flattering offer in hand. Despite our different career paths, we made time for our rehearsals during evenings and had a couple of performances on festivities and weekends. Life was beautiful. We saw the seasons unfurl by. With time, we saw the two of us maturing. We enjoyed each minute of our friendship. We met every day to renew it and add more colors. It was an unparalleled relationship ever known.
Soon we were of marriageable age and began to receive proposals from known and interested people. My parents found an eligible boy and got me married. I was lucky to be shifted just a few streets away. Life did not change much. Nishant was an extremely agreeable character, understanding and highly compatible. I often prayed for one such partner for Sneha too. Though he was not fond of music he never stopped my rehearsals with Sneha and our routine continued after my marriage, with the 3rd person - my encouraging partner being a motivating source.
Few months after my marriage, a big marketing company MD, Suhas approached Sneha and sought her hand. Suhas was captivated by her at first glance when he had come to serve a donation to her school. Perfect hair, piercing eyes, and a faultless personality - Just one glimpse of her and one is sure to be mesmerized. Sneha mirrored the same interest and the two got married.
2 years of 2 successful marriages rolled by. Suhas's business started seeing a drift. With too many competitors in the market, he was not able to keep his pace. As we know, with business, it’s either a high or a low, never a mediocre life! In months his business was in rags. This began to reflect on his mood and family. Evenings, back at home after work, all Suhas did was sit in a dark corner and think through the darkness of his life. Sneha knew she wasn’t street smart; she dint consider herself eligible to give business suggestions to Suhas. She wanted to give him time and solitude to help him get out of the setback. She so continued with her routine. Suhas's time began to grow worse with his temper worsening by days. Sneha's music that one enchanted him was now no longer soothing. When she sat to observe her riaz (rehearsal), it felt to him as if she cared nothing for him and lived her own life. For she, on her part thought was trying to ease his mood with music. The sloping days saw no improvement in Suhas’s marketing business. He was conked out. The MBA guy with all his esteem did not have time and patience to heed to his wife. He barely knew, a homely lady like her could help him with his business. Distance grew between them. They both shared the same house, but as roomies and not as partners. Suhas was a nice guy though. The drop in business had blurred his senses. He could not come in terms with reality.
I was with Sneha all the while but did not know of what help I could be. I was daring, I could for sure face Suhas, his temper and set things better between the two; but I did not prefer prodding in their personal affairs, how-much-ever close she was to me.
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Minutes later, Sneha returned my call..."Hey Radha, Sorry I missed your call. Thanks! You called up to wish me. Can we meet for a while? Please... it is a little urgent! Take the day off if you can.”
We met at our usual coffee shop. Unlike the previous years when we celebrated her Birthday cutting a cake, we were today sipping a dull coffee. Sneha cleared her voice and began. “Do you have the contact of Mr. Sharma, MD of the Recording Company who had commended us requesting to sign for an album for their international customers? I think that was some 4 yrs back, during one of our concerts at Cityhall auditorium. Do you mind if we go back to him agreeing with that offer?”…… “Hey that’s perfectly fine Sneha. I am more than happy with your decision. I was infact ready for the recording long back, you weren’t much for it then.” I replied. “No Radha, it isn’t just that” – Sneha added. “Can we do the recording free of cost for Mr. Sharma and request him to give the distribution and marketing of the cds to Suhas. This is the least I can do to him to help him out of the crisis he is in.” –Sneha spoke in a requesting tone.
I gladly agreed. We had a week's relentless practice session; I took the week off since evening practices were almost nil owing to Suhas's moods. By the end of the week, we were all set; I spoke to Mr. Sharma and with no slightest hesitation, he agreed. He cheerfully approved of our deal and our request of not revealing the recording details to Suhas before he signed the agreement.
Things went as planned. The Recording was a grand success. Mr. Sharma was a gentle man. As promised he called Suhas to sign up with him for the distribution. Suhas knew not our plan; the very call from Mr. Sharma was quite motivating for him, it soon was seen in his temperament.
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Clock striked 10. It was a bright Wednesday morning. Suhas had an appointment with Mr. Sharma at 11; he was an hour early. Suhas had a great sense of time and commitment to work. "Mr. Suhas, glad to meet you. I am happy to have you with us for the launch and distribution of a CD to our international customers. Normally we do the distribution ourselves. This time we plan to involve you in this journey of ours. This CD is a beautiful rendition of Indian music to the audience of West. The 2 artistes have played like two lovers enticing each other, trying to outdo one other at places, yet culminating in to leave the appeal. You must listen to it, am sure you will market it with all your soul " - said Mr. Sharma. Suhas wishfully nodded, signed the agreement and took his complimentary copy along.
On reaching his car in the parking, the first he did was unwrap his gift - the complementary CD. In all his mind, he was thinking to rush home and gift the CD to his wife, Sneha, seeking her apology for his recent bad behavior.
Shock, surprise dawns upon Suhas as he reads “SOULFUL – veena recital, with a difference - by Sneha Suhas and Radha Nishant” on the CD cover. To add to his pouring emotions, the footnote read, “Dedicated to my husband Suhas – Sneha”. Suhas was smart to read the many pages that ran behind the day's episode and rushed to his wife thanking her for the thoughtful and timely act, all the same requesting forgiveness for his temper.
Happy era dawns upon the 2 couples again!
Curtains drop with Radha thanking the audience for an overwhelming response to her soon stage-to-be-screened drama.
-Sirish, I could at last bring you to the staging of this drama. You MBA guys have no time for wives and entertainment.huh! I better go and tell Radha that hers is a stolen story; she ought to pay me royalty"
PS: MBA guys out there - no hard feelings please... You just fit in well in my story :)
