Kaadhal

Rahul could not sleep a wink the whole night. And understandably too, It was not everyday that one decided to propose his love to his secret love of over two years. He knew that if he witheld his feelings for Pooja any longer,he was bound to lose her..to one of the many suitors whom her family were starting to look out for her. But how was he going to meet her alone,he wondered as he twisted and turned listlessly,staring at the moon.

It was pure cinematic cliches..written all over his love story.

He had not known world outside of the mechanic shed,where he had lived ever since he could recall,and the adjoining streets where he roamed without a care in the world with his small gang of trust-worthy friends. Being the youngest in the mechanic shop,he also bore the brunt of their mood-swings..which meant that while on a good day,he could get to eat spicy chicken biryani and drink Pepsi..on a bad day,he would have a sore all over his body from the numerous kicks inflicted..But he took it all in his stride,and this made him more mature a male than he could ever have dreamt of being...and then,Pooja walked into his life..

Pooja...true to her north indian name,was the cynosure of the entire street from the day the Maarwaari family arrived there. In the two years that ensued,she had stolen the hearts of all the people living there,her pretty face and sashayin figure captivating all those who so much as even glanced upon her,throwin them into a trance for ever.

And poor Rahul was no exception,he had often wondered why the mechanic-shop owner,who was his guardian,care-taker and a father-like figure to him,had chosen to name him with such an unconventional name..now,he knew..if his love story was destined to be along the lines of any bollywood blockbuster...what else could the hero be called,eh ???

His friends tried to talk some sense into him...
"don't kid yourself,,its all the Owner's fault..he lets you watch all the stupid romantic movies with him and you start day-dreamin.."

But he was beyond reasoning. He could feel that they were destined for each other. Though she rarely came out of the bungalow,and even if she did,it was usually in their car..he had stood outside the high-walls many days..just to listen to her sweet voice from within. He spoke to those voices in soltitude,and even sang to it at times. His favorite was the kanmani abnodu from Guna..and his heart would nearly explode when he tried to mimic Kamal's Manidhar Unardhu kolla Idhu Manidha Kaadhal allaa...

And then out of the blue,the D-moment came,his stomach felt like a garbed bundle of knots,his mouth felt suddenly dry all over,and for a moment,he felt like running away from the scene. But he knew that it was not every day that Pooja came out alone,much less to the tea-stall near the mechanic shed...and stand there for a moment..staring at him...

He knew..this was it..now..or never...striding up to her,he tried to remember all those lines he had recited to her a million times in his dreams..yet as he looked her in the eyes...all that came out from his mouth were

"Arf! Arf! Arf! Bowwooowwwoooo!!!"