Imperfectly Perfect

Most of the years my Valentine's Day comes by and goes away like those little naps which i occasionally take at office.I hardly realize the importance of it,because i don't think that to celebrate Love we need any special day,it can be celebrated 365 days a year.What matters in love is the passion and not the position.I may sound to be sarcastic to you all,but thats me.Anyways lets come to the more interesting part of the story.My friend Sohini.Now if some of you have started to fantasize,then let me remind you that she is not like the hot voluptuous babe.Rather she is a pure desi girl,who prefers salwar over mini-skirt,who wears bindi and not tattoo,in short a perfect marriage material.

It was pre valentine's day evening,when she called me up and requested to go with her for shopping.Actually she wanted to buy gift.But the sad part is that it was not for me,but rather for her boyfriend Rohit *sigh*.But an opportunity to spend the evening with her was no less then a gift for me.So,i readily agreed to her proposal.We started from home in an auto rickshaw.I must tell you one thing,the auto driver resembled our very own Shakti Kapoor.With a villainous look,he was giving constant stares at us from his rear-view mirror.I once thought of doing a bit of Salman Khan there,but good sense prevailed and i preferred not to,because that man was many times stronger then me.Finally,i started to ignore his stares,willingly or unwillingly doesn't matter at this point.After a sweet ride for 30 mins,we finally reached GVK Mall Hyderabad.

Let me tell you one thing,the person who made teddy bear,must have studied female psychology thoroughly.For some strange reason,girls have got a great fascination for teddy bears.We went inside Archies Gallery,and the first thing that captured Sohini's attention was a white teddy bear.And then........

Sohini: Hey Arun,its so cute.Can i buy it?

Me: For Rohit?What will he do with this?

Sohini: Stupid,i am asking for myself.

Me:I guess we have come here for buying something for Rohit.

Sohini: Yes of-course we will buy for him,but before that can i buy this one for me please.

Me:If i say NO,will you drop the idea?

Sohini: No way.

Me:Then why the hell are you asking me,simply buy it.

Sohini: Thank you,you are so sweet.

Sometime in life,thanks are simply thrust upon us.But as long as it comes from a beautiful source,it makes you feel happy.Finally,Sohini could fix her variable mind into one constant thing and called me.

Sohini:How is it?Will Rohit like it?

Me:I liked it,don't know whether your Rohit will like it or not.For that you could have brought Rohit here.

Sohini: Why are you so rude.I know you are jealous of him.

Me: Me jealous of that fatso Rohit?You are in your senses?

Sohini: Don't call him fatso.And i know you are jealous *semi-smile*

Me: Why should i be jealous of him?For you?.You are not my type,so don't have any misconception.

Sohini: Oye just kidding.I love to see you get angry *prolonged-smile*

Me: Ok,now quickly pay the bill and lets get out of this place.

As we were about to move out,Sohini spotted one of her aunts.She has got the habit of maintaining a bunch of aunts.This one was Rita aunt.

Sohini: Aunty! How are you *hugs*.

Aunty:I am fine baby.I guess you came for buying gifts for Rohit.

Sohini: Yes *blush*.So what are you doing here aunty?

Aunty: I too came for the same purpose.

Sohini: Ok.Meet Arun,my friend.

Aunty: Hi Arun.

Me:(Finally i got the chance to break my silence) Hi.

Sohini: Ok aunty you carry on with your shopping.We should leave now.

Aunty: Ok baby,God bless you.

I was feeling very hungry.So i asked Sohini to check in inside Cafe Coffee Day.We ordered a pizza,one chicken roll and coke for each.As we were having our snacks,i asked Sohini.

Me:Your Rita aunt looks sexy,and she is romantic too i guess.

Sohini: Yes,she must be.But one thing i cant figure out yet.

Me: What is that?

Sohini: Uncle died five years back,so now she is buying valentine's gift for whom? *big question mark*

Me: Must be for her boy-friend,simple*smile*.Poor uncle,he must be an impotent when alive,now getting jealous from Heaven.

Sohini: Stop it!

Me: Why should i stop?When your aunt can have an affair after her husband's death,then i can also speak what i wish to.You girls are all the same,can change colors like a chameleon.

Just when we were about to take our argument to the next level,Sohini spotted her aunt coming towards her,and requested me to put a smile on my face.I didn't had much options.

Aunty: Hi again,if you don't mind can i join you people?

Sohini: Yes of course,we would love your companion(when mentioning "we",Sohini didn't bother to take my consent *sigh*).

My mind was still lingering with the fact that the aunty was having affair after the death of her husband,and i could not digest this fact.So,i thought of asking her deliberately.

Me: Aunty,it's great to see that inspite of your age,you didn't lost the passion to buy gift for your valentine.Really love doesn't have any age bar.Uncle is indeed a very lucky person to have you.

Aunty: Don't know about uncle,but i was very lucky to have him as my soul mate.

Me: was?

Aunty: Yes,he left me and went to Heaven 5 years back,Sohini must have told you that.

Me: Not exactly,i didn't asked her.

Aunty: Oh! I see.

Me: If you don't mind,may i ask you for whom you are buying this gift(Sohini gave me a *WaitIWillSeeYouOutside* look).
Aunty: Of-course for your uncle.Every year on Valentine's Day i buy gift for him,and keep it on his shelve.

Me: Oh! so sweet.Doesn't get to see such kind of platonic love these days.Please tell us something more about uncle.

Aunty:Ok,i wont say all the good qualities which he had in plenty.Rather let me tell you some of the funniest thing which he used to do,that brings smile to my face even today.

Me:That will be nice.

Aunty: Let me tell you something about the way i spent my night with him at bed.

Both me and Sohini looked at each other awestuck.

Aunty: After a day of hard work,when i get to my bed at night,the night used to start with the thundering sounds of his snoring.Even my morning was not any different."Ghorrrrrrr Ghorrrrr","Phusssssssss Phussssss",all these sounds had become the part and parcel of my life.Even if i pushed him in between,he used to stop snoring momentarily,but after some pause,it used to play again "Ghorrrr Phusss".The irritating part was when i used to tell him in the morning about his snoring effects,and he was like "snoring"?Who me?No way?Trust me i felt like breaking Atul's nose every morning.

Sohini: That was really sweet.

Aunty: I am not yet done.As if the snoring wasn't enough to irritate me,here came his bombardment of farts.Some loud "pooooooooo",some with a silencer attached "phissssss",both versions had its own effect.

Sohini: Hehehe,* busted in laughter*

Aunty: He used to do bombardment anytime and anywhere,and sometime it was really embarrassing for me,specially when we were in midst of some group of people.I used to tell him repeatedly "Please control your farts when in gatherings".And atul with his pure and honest smile used to reply "Yeh dil mange more".

Both me and Sohini were loving the conversation,getting totally involved.As i took another sip of my coke,aunty continued.....

All the things which used to be a cause of irritation and embarrassment for me initially,became the sign of relief during the last days of his life.His illness made him bed ridden.And in the midst of the night when i could hear my Atul snoring or farting,i used to get relieved that he is still alive.But deep inside i knew that this snoring is not as same as before,and its not gonna last for long.

And again at times just to make Atul smile,i used to make fun of his farting when he was in hospital.I used to tease him by saying "Please dont fart in the hospital,or else the doctors will get faint and they will need to be treated first."And Atul with a semi smile on his cheek used to say "Yeh dil still mange more.But the body wants no more".I could realise the suffering he was going through.And in one grave night my Atul stopped snoring,and i could sense what's coming next.He met an end which he surely didn't deserved.

Me and Sohini were heavily moved.I saw a tiny drop of tear rolling down the right cheek of the aunt.Sohini hold her hand and wiped her tears.I didn't had any idea about what to say at that moment.So,i decided to keep my crappy mouth shut.The aunt after taking some deep breath,started again...

Aunty: Listen kids,life is all about these little mistakes and imperfections.At the end of your life,these silly moments will help to bring back the smile on your face,however torrid your situation is.So don't afraid to make mistakes.Take risk,follow your heart and don't run after perfection.Its boring.Life is at its best when there is uncertainty.Because the joy of uncertainty test your real character.

"Search for your soul-mate who is as imperfect as you are and see how life turns perfectly beautiful with all your flaws and imperfections."

With these words Rita Aunt bid adieu to us,and left me thinking into the fact that there are something in life which needs to be celebrated,and love is surely one of them.I decided once and forever to celebrate Valentine's Day from now on.