Valentine's Day

Kaila was a pale skinned, lanky youth. His academics and career were also unimpressive. Being shy and uninitiated he hardly had any friend. However, he had a recently acquired life partner. He got married last month only and he was aware of the sad fact that she had not accepted him as her soul mate yet. It was an arranged marriage, a marriage of unequal match; she was superior to him in various aspects, be it beauty, grace, education or sophistication. But, Kaila’s family legacy comprising of constructed properties, vast lands, tons of gold and enormous sums of money made him a sought- after husband-to-be. Hence the marriage.

Now that the festivities around the marriage had settled down after the swarming relatives had gone back to their homes with loads of gifts, the peaceful atmosphere inside the large and splendid house was an opportunity for Kaila to win the heart of his companion. It was the Valentine’s Day eve when Kaila chose to share his life journey with his wife.

“Allow me to share my failures in the area of love. My earliest recollection of liking someone goes back to the time when I must be in my toddler years. I saw a beautiful girl in pink and green luminous gown; she seemed to have emerged from my pictorial book of tales. I approached the angel but she started to weep and ran away. I soon realised that I was wearing nothing below my waist and thick mucus was running from my nose. I ran to my mother and chided her for being so thoughtless, how she could allow me to venture out uncovered especially when girls were around.

Then, during my school days I was infatuated with a girl of my class. Watching her during the days and dreaming about her in the nights were my full time occupation. I could never muster the courage to talk to her but decided to express my love to her on Valentine’s Day. Leaving behind a card was the easiest and safest strategy. So, I purchased an expensive card and penned down my deepest thoughts. Unfortunately this romance was short lived and dreadful. My mother found the card even before it could have carried my heart full love to my beloved. The incident that happened after is something which sends cold quivers to my spine even now. She walked into my class and in front of the whole class and my significant-other, pulled me by my hairs, dragged and planted several tight slaps on my cheeks. I felt embarrassed, insulted and humiliated. That day I swore never to fall in love again.

I must admit that I have broken that promise; I have fallen in love again. This time it is you. All these years I religiously bought Valentine’s Day card and wrote my feelings on them for the lady with whom I would spend my whole life. Here they are. Please accept these.”

Kaila left a bunch of cards in front of his wife and walked towards the balcony. His wife flipped through each of the cards, some dated 12 years back to the one dated to the current year. All except the current year card were addressed- to my future wife. Few drops of tears escaped her eyes. She had found her soul mate. She walked to the balcony and planted an affectionate kiss on Kaila’s cheek. “This is the cheek which received the thwack isn’t it” she whispered.

The first light of Valentine’s Day could be seen beyond the far away hills. St Valentine has indeed smiled on Kaila.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!