My First Blog couldn't have been something else...!!!

Jan 01st 2004, on one of the cold winter days in Delhi, I got my first compliment from her, and that was, “my room is very cozy and comfortable”, that was the first time I met her through a common friend whom she had come to visit.

Unaware of what the future had to bring, this meeting turned into a close friendship as the time passed. A relation which told us, where to look for, whenever we needed a friend. A friendship where we shared a lot, our past, our families, our then-sorrows and joyful memories, and most importantly… our Dreams!!!

This was the time, when we realized that most of the things, our future plans, our Dreams were same, although not our families, mine Christian and hers… a Muslim!

February 17th 2005, my cell phone beeps signaling a message and the message read, “Will you accept me as your wife???”

The answer was obvious.

Since then, we have faced each moment of sadness and every moment of happiness… together!!!

May 22nd 2006, we got engaged and the two different religion, two different culture and two different families came together to start planning for the Wedding.

Amidst all this, since the time my cell phone showed me the message, she kept asking me “If I will ever propose her formally?’ and I could hear the sweet warning behind the question, “you better propose me in a nice way or…!”

Known for my creativity and style, I started looking for the ideas to propose this girl.

From the first week of April 2008, I started thinking of something special to gift her on her birthday – April 17th 2008.

On April 7th 2008, I saw an article on Paragliding in Pune Mirror talking about the Joy rides offered by templepilots.com, and finally, I knew what her birthday gift will be. And since this was the first time we were getting involved in Paragliding, I had a lot of questions right from her safety to the fun she would have during the ride. Preeti of templepilots.com had a lot of patience, and very sweetly answered all my questions. During all this, my creative cells popped up with another idea, and I again called Preeti, to ask her, “if I hold a banner down, will she be able to see while she is up in the air?” and very promptly, Preeti answered, “well, if not from up high, she can see it while coming down.” Simple it was. And I knew the next thing I am going to do… I got a banner made and started looking for a camera or a camcorder to capture one of the most important moments of my life.

While I was busy preparing for everything, I got up one fine morning to cross off April 17th 2008 on my calendar. She, her brother and I got in the Cab and left for Kamshet, she was unaware of the surprises that were planned ahead. All she knew that it’s some surprise somewhere that she was going for. I managed to get a cyber-shot from another friend of mine, Arpita!

Preeti was out of town, but she made sure that Anita was keeping a check on the entire plan. And Anita was too good with her job, she even got angry when we were late. But then she made sure that Tanaji, known as T. J., is ready with his crew for the next adventure.

We reached there half an hour late, and T. J. was there to welcome us, aware of the fact, that the birthday girl is unaware of the surprise. But the back-packs and the packed gliders announced loudly and she knew, she was there for the Paragliding.

After a tiring walk; we reached the spot from where we were supposed to witness the event, but the walk was over only for me and her brother, she had a tougher task, to climb the steep hill from where she had to take off. Innocently unaware of the waiting banner, she started climbing the steep hill. Giving –up midway, T.J. took the job of helping her, motivating her and leading her to the top of the hill. And the time was there for her to fly. T.J. assigned this task to Pankaj, one of his pilots, instructing him of everything that was planned!

And here she goes up… walking in the air… and we were witnessing this experience from the ground, with the other members of the crew pointing us to the glider she was in!

We could hear the excitement and fun she was experiencing in the sky. She was enjoying the sky and the wind and her Birthday Gift.

We were waiting down; satisfied with the present I gave her. Then the pilot Pankaj, signaled us of their landing, and me and her brother, ran to the spot and flashed open the banner. And the banner shouted,

“Happy Birthday… Love!!!    Will You Marry Me…?”

  

Holding the banner in my hand, so that she can read it, I was thinking if I have answered her question, her question which she had asked several times, “Will I ever propose her formally?’’

And then, when they were landing, I heard Bushra screaming, “You are crazy…!!!” and I knew I did it… I did it well!

And yes, “The answer was obvious”.

April 17th 2009- the story continues

Hello everyone,

Life of VnB has covered several more milestones, and I am really sorry that I couldn’t share those moments with you all.

What you witnessed last was her 2008 birthday. April 17^th 2009 was not something that adventurous, but it had its own taste of emotions. "The Planning" started way back in March and flight tickets were booked well in advance for Ammi and Abbu to reach Pune on April 16th.  No prizes for guessing that she was not told about it. "This was" the surprise for her, this time!

It was just a coincidence, which I was happy about, that my mummy came down to Pune. She came to see me but then coincidently her visit clashed with the day I was waiting for. What else could I have asked for!!!

The day was approaching… and a few minutes before midnight, April 16^th 2009, Pawan, Madhu, Babli, Fatima, Afroz, Prasun, Bunty and Azhar, all started coming over one by one, to celebrate yet another big day of her life…

12:00 AM April 17^th 2009… Birthday cake, candles, lights turned off, birthday song; blowing of candles and the cutting of cake… the day had come!

A small celebration started with the cake cutting followed by music, dance, and cake smashing.. everything being blessed with mummy’s presence. It was fun, and then suddenly, everyone wanted to go out… on a long drive!!!

Mummy didn’t want to interrupt the kid’s fun so she preferred staying back. Fatima had some work at home, so she opted out. Afroz came to the party straight from office, so he wanted to sleep.  And everyone else was game for it.

Around 4:00 AM, we all got ready, took out our bikes and hit the road. Bushra kept asking, where to...? but it was planned… to the road unknown, we just wanted to go wherever the road takes us to. All we knew was that the road was Pune – Banglore Highway!!!

Khed Shivapur. A place known for the Dargah of Baba Qamar Ali Darvesh. This Dargah has an unbelievable and unimaginable secret. I was told several time about it, but never believed, thought will go there once to witness the secret. Bushra had also heard about it and wanted to visit the Dargah.

There is a stone of almost like 70-80 kgs. They say that no one can lift this stone alone, but if 11 people together try to lift it with one finger, reciting “Qamar Ali Darvesh” loud and with true belief, the stone weighed nothing. Interestingly, once lifted, it will tilt towards the person whose voice is not as loud as others. This was the miracle I wanted her to witness on this birthday.

Though I tried to mislead her a lot but she was smart. She guessed it. She guessed it that the entire trip was not just a long drive, but a pre-planned trip to Khed Shivapur Dargah.

After all the mauj-masti on the way, small little tea breaks, we reached the Dargah around 08:00 AM. We parked our bikes and spent a lot of time buying flowers and chaadar for the Dargah. And then we took the huge stairs to reach the Dargah. With each step forward, I was worried... Are they ready or not? There were butterflies in my stomach, and the Sun hid no rays to make sure I sweat. Those few stairs turned into a huge tower that we were climbing. With each climbing step, I wanted to know if everything’s set. And there it was the last step and we would reach there. With my feet unsure, heart pounding and mind worried, I led her through the last step of the Dargah. We reached. And yes, everything was in place, no doubts, these guys had a perfect timing. Everything was in place, and the only thing missing now was her attention. How badly, now, I wanted her to look towards "the place" but she couldn’t take her eyes off the Dargah. And couldn’t wait for her eyes to look that side. Azhar was along but his eyes too were busy wandering the Dargah. I couldn’t wait, so, I showed her the door of the Dargah and with the slightest hint; I showed her what I wanted her to see…

Bunty, Afroz, and Pawan were standing there, holding a stretched banner that shouted aloud, “Happy Birthday, Sweetheart”. She was surprised to see the Banner, it was the same that was used last year, rem?

What she realized a little later, were a few pair of feet behind the banner, she started walking towards it, Azhar and I followed, she knew something more was coming up, she walked fast, she recognized the feet, wanted to be sure, she ran.

And she snatched the banner from their hands... behind the banner, they were sitting. Ammi-Abbu along with Mummy. Bushra loosened herself in their arms feeling the warmth of her parents on her birthday, while Azhar was standing shocked. I was happy it worked out well. It took few moment for the excitement to settle down as Fatima and Afroz joined us too.

Ammi and Abbu landed in Pune on the eve of April 16^th, we had taken them to Prasun’s house and made them stay there for a day, so that all this can be worked out. Early morning, when we left for the long drive, Mummy, Afroz and Fatima left for Prasun’s house (in an already booked cab), to pick up Ammi and Abbu and bring them to Khed Shivapur.

And then we visited the Dargah, the story about the stone was true. Pawan tried picking it up alone, but couldn’t and then we all lifted it up, reciting “Qamar Ali Darwesh” and we could raise it more than our heights. We had to believe it today, coz WE did it today!

After spending some more time there, knowing more about Qamar Ali Darvesh, we started to leave and that’s when Babli and Azhar came running to us. They spotted Pooja Chopra, reigning Miss India. Ok, this wasn’t planned. She was sweet enough to talk to us.. we also wished her all the best for the Miss World Paegent... and then zapped the road back to Pune.In the same order that we had come... Mummy, Ammi, Abbu Afroz, Fatima in the cab and rest all of us on our bikes.

Reaching Pune, we had our Biryani delivered and with the Champagne we placed a brief halt to the celebration. We still had the evening to celebrate.

We faced a lot of hiccups while planning for the event. Starting with the huge flight bills, and then, the cab not reporting on time, getting a new cab and so many other things stopped us but today, when I look back, I am happy that we were able to do this, I am happy I brought Ammi-Abbu to Pune for her birthday. Coz this was the last birthday, she could celebrate with her Abbu.

Abbu was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome in February, earlier this year, some sort of Cancer where formation of blood reduces and slowly stops. We lost him on 9^th August, same year.

Though this was another birthday that I could bring lot of happiness and surprises in her life, this was the last celebration we had with Abbu.

All I want now is, to let Abbu know, that all my life, I will try my best to keep his daughter happy…!!!

And this blog cannot be completed without my sincere regards to everyone who helped me, Pawan who helped me plan, Prasun, Afroz, Bunty, Madhu, Babli, Fatima, they all played their own role and planning & executing this wonderful surprise and long lasting memories. We may be out of sight now, but definitely not, out of mind, they’ll always be in my prayers, for being there when I needed them. Thanks Guys, you are the special ones for me… Thanks a ton…!!!