The Connection

Connection

I read somewhere that entire world needs one thing to survive which is “Connection”, connected people are more joyful, more colorful and they tend to have better lives. They say in this connection, one grows, grows as a soul, grows as an individual, and becomes a better person.

Though this word connection might have varied definitions but Kabir and Tamanna had their own version. They believed that connection is beyond timeliness, without boundaries, where you are free to express anything to each other, this connection is here to challenge and awaken your soul.

Everyone has a story, Kabir and Tamanna also had. It all started when they chatted some years back. They knew each other but just as an office colleague. They never knew that one Facebook chat will do magic for the years to come.

The chat:

06/09/2013 11:12AM

K: Kya haal Madam! Long Time

06/09/2013 7:34PM

K: Hi, Kya haal

T: Good, You say.

K: Good, Monsoon have arrived, so fun have started! You are not on Whatsapp?

T: I am, which number of mine you have, that’s the question.

K: I searched, I don’t have your number, add me on 9867743497

T: haha, mine is xxxxxxxxxxx

K: Ping me on Whatsapp na.

    Got you

    Anyway

    You are in Mumbai only?

T: Ya

03/17/2015 3:24PM

T: Did anyone tell you that there is a cute cake icon next to your name on chat list?

K: Did anyone tell you that a cute girl has just told me this!

And then they got busy in their lives, unaware that their connection had begun, it had begun long back when both were chasing each other unknowingly, first in J&K when Kabir was 1 year old in Srinagar and Tamanna had taken birth in Jammu. Then Kabir was in Pune, Tamanna also came to Pune however Kabir had left Pune by that time. Kabir shifted to Mumbai and Tamanna too joined some firm in Mumbai. 

They didn't know about this chase and connection.

One fine day, while Kabir was doing some research about ecomm industry in India, he thought to get in touch with Tamanna who was working in the same industry. Kabir called her.

K: Hiiiii, how are you, long time.

T: Ya, how are you, I am good.

K: Actually I wanted to get some information about your industry and also just wanted to catch up, where is your office?

T: Goregaon.

K: Great, I am also in Goregaon, lets catch up today at 6 p.m.?

T: Let’s make it 5.30 p.m. or so as I stay in Kharghar and I leave at 6 p.m., I don’t have much time.

Kabir wanted to discuss in detail about the industry so he thought it’s not a good idea to spend just 30 minutes or so he thought he will postpone the meeting.

K: Lets catch up some other time then as I want to spend good time.

He didn't know that Tamanna was shifting to Delhi and his discussion will be pending forever with her.

One fine day, he got to know that she has shifted to Delhi, by that time he had gathered enough information about the industry, so he thought not to call Tamanna again.

Then Facebook happened again.

K: Hi, I saw your pics of Lavasa, is it worth?

T: haan, it’s good, I went there with BIL.

K (Confused)- BIL?

T: Brother in Law

Tamanna had a habit of using short forms which rest of the world could not understand. She first used them and then explained them, it took quite a while for Kabir to come out of comma of short forms like BIL, MIL (Mother in law).

Then they had an interesting discussion on the word ‘in law’ which they felt amusing as this word had legal connotation and somehow law and these relationships lent different meanings.

These occasional discussions ensured that they were in touch though not regularly.

Few months passed….

The connection between them was building up but they were not talking on a regular basis. In Monsoon 2014, Tamanna came to Mumbai for some outbound training.  It was agreed between Kabir and Tamanna that whenever she will come to Mumbai, they will meet.

So in normal cases, when someone visits the other city and one has a plan to meet the other person, what generally one does is that he/she picks up the phone, dials the other person’s number, informs him/her that he/she is in their city & when can they catch up.

Tamanna was brilliant, she whatsapped Kabir that she is in Mumbai, for great reasons, Kabir did not read her message as he was busy in his routine and he would have never expected Tamanna to message him but to call him.

So after her heroic act, Tamanna went back to Delhi without meeting Kabir.

When on any random day, like any other girl, she started arguing with Kabir on Whatsapp that it was his mistake that he didn’t read her message.

K: Call nahi kiya Jata tumse?

T: I messaged you that I am in Mumbai, you didn’t read.

K: Hazaron message aate hain daily, kab kya padhun, ek phone uthaya hota aur bata diya hota

T: I informed you, I messaged you. (Same lines were repeated)

Kabir understood that there was no end to this conversation, so he asked Tamanna to call him whenever she is in Mumbai next.

The authority with which they fought or argued meant something, normally you don't fight with this intensity with someone who was not able to meet you, but here either displayed anger or lemme say connection to make promises to meet. Promises of meeting again whenever they met.

Few more months passed, they kept on talking in general with gaps in between.

There are many levels when you find that ‘Connection’, first is ‘Introduction’ when you just out of sudden start talking about general things, second is the ‘Comfort’ when you start sharing daily routine with that person, Third is ‘Friendship’ which becomes base and then you start sharing your happiness and your general problems, forth is ‘Close friendship’ when you share personal issues and personal aspirations and in this stage the other person becomes ‘significant other’ whose opinions and views influence you to a large extent.

Fifth stage is ‘Connection’ where you evolve together, you understand each other’s needs of all kinds, be it emotional needs where they are available for each other whenever required, be it physical where both have urge to touch each other and they openly express to each other, be it spiritual where they discuss the soulfulness and indulge in deep conversations about behaviors, personalities etc. There are further stages also but let me stop here.

Well they say as women need more of these connections to fulfill all kinds of supports mentioned above, the only thing they search for is the right guy who can give them dose of support at regular intervals, believe me these kinds of guys are very few who understand the word ‘Connection’, many claim that they do understand but not act upon it, Woman is a beautiful thing created ever on this earth, isn't it?

So, coming back to the story, Kabir had some work in Delhi in one of the months, he remembered to call Tamanna.

 K: Hi, I am in Delhi, let's catch up, and see I have called you, not messaged you.

T: Ok ok, when are you getting free?

K: I am getting free by 1.30 pm, where do we meet?

T: Let’s meet at Starbucks, Connaught Place?

K: Done!

Kabir got free early and being a punctual guy, he reached at Starbucks at 1.15 pm only. He called up Tamanna.

K: Hi, I am here at Starbucks, when will you come?

T: Just give me 15 minutes.

K: Ok!

And then 15 minutes turned into 30 minutes, then 45 minutes and after an hr Tamanna entered Starbucks.

After exchanging the pleasantries, and ‘how are you’ and ‘Long time’ etc., Kabir was speechless.

He was awestruck by the beauty of Tamanna, dressed in some black and with long earrings which Kabir always loved, he was feeling really shy. He was thinking what to talk, after long time, he was short of words, which were his strength.

Tamanna was talking confidently and how these years had passed post their conversation about meeting in Mumbai before her shifting to Delhi.

Kabir was still clueless as he was continuously looking at Tamanna’s earrings which were doing the magic to him.

Suddenly he regained consciousness and started adding to the conversation. The wait of one hour at Starbucks was worth. After spending an hr of so at Starbucks, they started walk in the lanes of beautiful Connaught Place.

By this time, Kabir was in flow and was not shy though Tamanna’s beauty was distracting him but he didn't let her know that her magic was working.

They ate Rajma Chawal (the best food for a Punjabi) at a famous local shop before eating Golgappe in the evening.

The vibes were getting positive as they sat on a bench in Connaught Place, it was getting dark and their were more comfortable now with each other, they didn’t feel that they are meeting after years, it was casual conversations which were bringing them close, The ‘Introduction’ and ‘Comfort’ stages were over and an entry into ‘Friendship’ stage was taken.

After long conversations, Kabir felt that Tamanna should reach home safely as it was getting darker, so, they decided to leave. They hugged each other and with a promise to meet soon, they left for respective destination.

 Sometimes, long conversations do the magic to you, you feel content.  There are very few people you can share stories with, Yes stories, you can talk to anyone but sharing stories is a different league altogether, remember we use to ask our grandparents to tell us stories, stories connect people and the curiosity help people bond together.

Kabir and Tamanna felt comfortable in sharing their stories, now they were talking regularly. The shyness was gone. Kabir always admired the simplicity Tamanna had and with so much simplicity, she used to seek clarifications or justify her point. Kabir loved this trait of Tamanna.

Two months later, Tamanna had a plan to come to Lonavala for her meet which he informed Kabir well in advance.  

They didn't know this trip would do magic to their friendship and the door of ‘Connection’ would open.

The day came when Tamanna reached Lonavala, after attending the meet, Tamanna got free at 12 noon the next day. Kabir loved road trips, he loved them so much that he once travelled to Bengaluru by Bus to spend just 2-3 hours in the city and then he was back by same bus next day. (So, 38 hours journey for Just 2-3 hours of city coverage), Kabir drove down to Lonavala, he loved the western express highway as he always felt driving gave him wings. Music was his partner as he was cruising at a speed of 110 kms per hr.

Many random thoughts were running in his head, why is he going, what they both will do till next day.

He reached Lonavala at 12 noon, Tamanna was ready with her luggage, they checked in a Hotel, There was no sense of awkwardness but sense of comfort in the room, and they kept their bags on the floor and sat on the bed thinking of taking rest for about half an hour.

Kabir glanced at the Phone Tamanna was using, It was Samsung Duos, the phone which Kabir thought should have been extinct by now like Dinosaurs, surprised that the phone was still working, he teased Tamanna about the same.

“Camera acha hai is phone ka”, Tamanna tried to justify.

“You are still using such an old phone”, Kabir teased her..

After tease of 30 mins, they thought it’s better to go and roam around in Lonavala, a better option.

They got ready and left for Tiger Point which is famous for star gazing and the Hukkah.  It’s a point where you a good view of the mountains and enjoy the treat of Maggi.

Sin was brewing in their minds, Kabir loved Hukkah, he ordered for one.

“Will you try it”? Kabir asked Tamanna.

“Sure”, Tamanna said.

And then they enjoyed the smoke and star gazing. It was getting dark, so they decided to drive back to the hotel.

They were having a good time together where connection had started, unaware of what would happen next, and they thought to celebrate their meeting.

  “Should we have drinks” Kabir asked Tamanna.

“I had tasted something long back, I am not sure”, Tamanna replied.

“Ok, let’s take Vodka and its safe” Kabir suggested.

“Ok” Tamanna said.

Kabir ordered Vodka and Aaloo Parathas, a weird combination as he was always ready to experiment new things in life. He made the drinks, measuring the quantity like a scientist and pouring them into the glass.

“Cheers, I want you to be happy and smiling always, let me raise a toast for your happiness” Kabir said.

“Cheers”, Tamanna clinched the glass with his.

They were comfortably lying down on the bed and started watching movie ‘Jab we met’, favorite movie of both.

Some 30 minutes and 2 drinks later, Kabir came close to Tamanna.

“I want to kiss you, mujhe nahi pata ye time vapis aayega ya nahi, ya tum kya sochogi, but the truth is at this moment, I want to touch your lips” Kabir was looking in Tamanna’s eyes.

“No, is this the reason we are meeting”, Tamanna said.

“No, this is not the reason,  but as I said what I am feeling right now and will always be honest about it” Kabir said.

“No, next time”, Tamanna said.

“Next time is not guaranteed, what I expressed is ‘now’. Kabir replied.

There was a silence for two minutes, Tamanna was looking at the TV and Kabir was looking at her eyes.

He told himself, it’s now or never, he believed in now, and his now was telling him to kiss Tamanna, whatever be the consequences, at max she will not talk to me, he told himself.

He leaned forward, slowly moved himself closer to Tamanna, he could hear the heartbeat of Tamanna.

He kissed her on her lips. Her soft lips were irresistible.

The aroma of the body lotion which Tamanna used was making him crazy, they say every person’s body has its distinct fragrance, Kabir loved her body fragrance and started kissing her all over.

Tamanna was not only beautiful but was steaming hot. Her eyes were like a lioness, with pure white complexion, every inch was like a marvel. Kabir kissed her neck, and then placed his mouth on her shoulders, his favorite place. He undressed Tamanna and took her in his arms. He kissed the mountains the meaning which only she could understand. Her  legs and Payal were enough to make him crazy about her. They didn’t realize that AC was not working and the smell of their sweat was enough to consume them.

Tamanna was glowing in the dark, her face was glittering. Kabir was immersed in her beauty till morning came.

 In the morning, suddenly Kabir started feeling pain in his stomach, it was becoming unbearable for him, he thought to drive down 1-2 kms to see any local doctor who could help him.

He saw a small clinic and the local doctor gave him acidity tablets, but it was something bigger that was waiting for Kabir.

He came back to hotel, Tamanna was ready, and she had to be dropped at some friend of hers in Mumbai. He drove the car to Mumbai in pain, also taking Tamanna’s silence along as partner.

Kabir always wanted more from life, he explained this to Tamanna about his way of looking at life not judging it right or wrong but to do whatever one feels like, at the same time, respecting all other parts of life.

One more month passed away….

Lonavala trip helped Kabir and Tamanna in getting their connection more strong. The connection to be cherished forever, at every stage of life.

Connection is not about owning the other person, its about growing together, its about expressing the desires without any inhibition, without the fear of being judged, connection is like being a free soul.

Have you ever came across few people with whom you connect so easily, you share instantaneously, you don’t fear or you don't see the other person intimidating, many people have told me that they feel comfortable with me, to discuss anything in this world, do you share this kind of comfort with anyone?

Kabir and Tamanna shared this connect, where they promised to each other that they will express their desires, hidden or normal in all walks of life, after all a life not fully expressed is half-life lived.

Kabir again went for some work in Delhi and met Tamanna at the same place, Starbucks, it was his favorite waiting place whenever Tamanna was late and she was usually late.

After roaming around, they reached hotel at around 7.45 p.m. Tamanna wanted to see ‘Siya ke Ram’  on star plus and Kabir wanted to take her in his arms as soon as possible.

This time Tamanna was a lioness in the bed, Kabir always loved lot of energy and passion, the kisses by Tamanna were really hard and filled with fire which Kabir enjoyed thoroughly.

The urge to meet was increasing, the casual conversations were becoming more specific to daily routines, updating each other’s status, a circle of care developed between the two.

Tamanna loved mountains, their stature, the snow, just the sight of mountain gave her happiness.

They had met 3-4 times now and next they planned to meet was at Dharamshala. Kabir met Tamanna at Delhi and from there they took a train to Dharamshala. Kabir had jokingly asked Tamanna to make Churi for him but when he saw she actually made the same for him, he had no words, and he loved every spoon of it. Efforts mattered more for him than the dish.

After eating dinner, they lied down on their seats in the train, both were allotted lower birth, the urge to talk and touch was getting strong, Kabir held Tamanna’s hand and both kept clinching their fingers, the glow on Tamanna’s face was evident.

They reached a point in Dharamshala where they had to take Taxi to cover some distance, Kabir was negotiating with a guy along with one more couple whom could go with them on a sharing basis.

 “Let’s do our private taxi” Tamanna said with a calculative face.

“But why?” Kabir asked.

The silence was the answer.

Not saying anything much, he asked taxi guy to go and they booked another cab.

As they sat in the cab, Tamanna placed her head on Kabir’ s shoulders. At that moment Kabir understood why Tamanna asked for a separate cab so that they could have quality time together.

“Bhaiya, cable hai mobile ke liye, mobile wale gaane chala sakte hain kya?”, Kabir asked as he was getting bored with the song collection which taxi guy had.

“Haan hai”, Taxi guy replied.

Kabir put the cable in the mobile and they started listening to the songs.

“Bolna mahi bolna” was the song being played.

“That’s my fav song” Kabir started singing along.

“Tum bin jiya jaaye kaise” from the movie Sanam re was the next song.

“2”, Tamanna said.

“What”, Kabir asked.

“There are common songs in our mobiles, I am just counting the number:, Tamanna replied.

The car was moving slowly as it was a mountain area, beautiful it was, the roads, people passing by.

“Bahiya, yahankahin nashta kar sakte hain”, I asked the taxi guy politely.

“haan, aage rokte hain”, He replied sternly.

He stopped the car at a Roadside Dhaba, we were really hungry.

You know when you are hungry and a sight of Paratha , Dahi and achar is in front of you, you get hypnotized, being a Punjabi, Paratha is the only thing which Punjabis relate to as  food.

Kabir saw the aloo parathas, he wanted them in his mouth, fast, very fast, without any delay.

He ate parathas with Dahi and achar, the best parathas in the recent times. He didn’t think of Tamanna whether she has eaten or not. He was just mesmerized with the food. After finishing, he felt, now he could conquer the word, he had filled himself with lot of ammunition.

They reached hotel around noon, the room was fantastic with a great view of snow filled mountains, it had a balcony, lot of space to roam around in the room.

Kabir was standing in the balcony looking at the mountains when Tamanna joined in.

She saw the mountains and hugged Kabir.

“Thank you”, said Tamanna.

The love with which Tamanna had hugged him left Kabir speechless, the hug was so warm, so pure, he was really happy to see the glow on Tamanna’s face and light in her eyes. He felt as if he had fulfilled her wish of taking her in mountains.

After spending few minutes of adoring mountains in the balcony, they were back in the room.

Suddenly Kabir pushed Tamanna on the bed and kissed her. He was looking straight in her eyes, the red lipstick on her lips was to be wiped away, he told himself, he did exactly the same.

“Let’s go to the market now”, said Tamanna.

“Chlo, tum hi late karva rahi ho” Kabir teased her.

Soon, they were out in the market, it was drizzling a perfect weather for the tourists. They went to a budhist temple which was kind of famous out there, it had rotating bells, they said if you rotate them, your wishes get completed. They did rotate the same.

The sight of street food again hypnotized Kabir and soon they were in a shop eating aaloo tikki and a cup of tea. Then they entered a local shop where they thought of shopping some local stuff.

“This is a interesting flag, it will be a memory of our trip, lets buy two”. Tamanna said.

“No, I don’t need that”, Kabir said and went exploring another section.

Tamanna bought one flag for herself and soon they were back in the market. They also checked in various other shops to buy local stuff.

It started raining heavily and soon they were standing under a shed of some shop waiting for the rain to stop.

If you are in mountains and you don’t have the Maggi, it’s the biggest crime on the earth. They searched for a small joint where they ate ‘not so delicious Maggi’ but the tick mark was done.

People were walking in the rain, Kabir and Tamanna were looking for shelters, there was a chill in the air and both started feeling the cold. Not wanting to get wet in the rain, they bought an umbrella and  walked back to the hotel.

Room was cosy enough to accommodate the heat of the two, Kabir ordered for some starters and drinks for both of them, soon while watching TV, Tamanna was in his arms.

“Chuppa lun tumhe” asked Kabir lovingly.

“Haan” Tamanna put her head on his chest.

“Your neck and shoulders are my favorite areas where I want to kiss you always” Kabir declared.

They consumed each other for few hours before dozing off.

This time they had decided that they will have some selfies as a memory of the trip, they visited few temples, one Ram Mandir and one devi maa & some other places.

They had to catch the bus to at 8 pm in the evening, they reached the bus stand well in advance, Chole Kulche and tea were the saviors. Bus was on time, it stopped after 2-3 hours for dinner, Kabir and Tamanna got down the bus and ate dal and roti before dosing off on the seat.

While sleeping, both were taking each other’s support, both slept on each other’s shoulders.

Upon reaching Delhi, they checked-in to another for few hours as Kabir had to take the flight to Mumbai.

Soon, Tamanna was in Kabir’s arms and they made passionate love to each other.

Then came the time when they had to part ways, before going to the airport, Kabir dropped Tamanna home. A kiss from her on his cheeks was the best gift he got.

You get to know when someone cares for you and it’s a wonderful feeling. To have people caring for you is the thing one always craves for and to be cared by a beautiful woman is what all wish for.

Connection is not partial, when it happens, it happens. Then you just care for well being for the other person, it’s not about possession, it’s not about the control, it’s about respect, the word ‘beyond boundaries’ is not just metaphor, it’s about the care beyond boundaries, it’s about loving the other in a different way. Respecting the soul is what connection is, growing the exploring the world together is connection. In any walk of life, when you remember this connection, you smile. In the connection, you are free, free to express anything, free to do anything as long as you are in your defined boundaries.

………………………………………….. (This line is a symbol of one trip of Tamanna which Kabir didn’t and will not acknowledge ever)

After a month of Dharamshala trip, they met again, caring more for each other….

And they did promise to meet again…..

They say, it’s always great to have connection with a writer, you live forever in his stories…

Connection prevails.....

Vikas Sachdeva