Bole Chudiyaan..

Bole chudiyan,
Bole kangna
Hai main ho gayi
Teri saajna
Tere bin jiyo naiyo lagda
Main te margaiya

Le jaa le jaa,
Dil le jaa le jaa
Soniye le jaa le jaa, ho

~~ Sameer
~Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham

Fiza, was born in spring in the Kashmir valley. It was only fitting that she be named Fiza after Nature.Her father was commanding an infantry regiment there. Colonel Ray was everything that an Infantry CO (commanding officer) is made out to be. He was strict, a disciplinarian, a brilliant student himself, he didn't tolerate mediocrity. His wife, a bengali like him, was a beautiful lady and a talented dancer. Fiza came to imbibe and possess both these attributes and characteristics. Being a Leo she was also fiercely stubborn, witty, moody and a crowd puller. Everyone loved her. She was a perfect student, a perfect daughter and a loyal friend.

Fiza learned early to not miss her father when he went out on Operations or was posted in "fields". In the Army, posted in a field does not mean 'Sarson ke Khet' but on the border and 'sensitive' areas. She spent a lot of time with her Mother, who was also her best friend. With age, Fiza grew to be as beautiful as her Mother and as stubborn as her Father (or so her mother would say)

Fiza, after a Post Grad in Textile Management (specializing in Indian textiles) started working for FabIndia as their regional head for New Delhi and adjoining regions. To promote FabIndia's new line of Lucknowi Chikankari, Fiza was attending a function organised by the Australian High Commissioner. There, as she walked by socializing, talking, enchanting men and women, as always, a man dressed impeccably in a crisp white shirt with black trousers with a beautiful Midnight blue tie, was standing at the bar and watching her. Sometimes, when he could catch snippets of her conversations, he found her very amusing and witty. Fiza finally came over to the bar for a glass of water. All that talking would indeed make anyone thirsty.

There, Arjun Dutta, an officer at the Indian High Commission in Australia, complemented her on her saree. She smiled and thanked him. He coudln't stop himself and said "your eyes remind me of my grandmothers eyes". She thanked the waiter for water, turned to look at him, and said "ShahRukh Khan to Kajol, DDLJ". He laughed and introducing himself, extended his hand. Something about him was warm, so she took his hand and introduced herself. They spent the rest of the evening getting to know each other. Arjun was from Himachal and wanted to join the army, but didnt clear the physical tests. He was now based in Sydney and but was moving to India next month. Fiza found him intelligent, charming and extremely confident. She had never in life, met someone who was as confident as he was, he could almost be royal with that way & manner of speech. They met twice after that party before Arjun left for Sydney, to come to India for good. After he was back, Fiza and Arjun were together every weekend and whenever their work permitted them, during the week too. They both knew they were drawn to each other. But both too proud to say it to each other. One evening, they went to Dilli Haat and Arjun bought her bangles, he held her hand and said "Fiza, what are we?", she replied saying "Friends Arjun" and smiled to herself. He slipped in the first 6 bangles and said "There are some relationships beyond friendship, I think we share that", she blushed, he slipped in the next 6 bangles and said "those relationships are to do with the heart and love", she blushed even more. It was not like Fiza Ray to blush, but she pulled her hand away and ran and hid behind a row of bandhani dupattas. It was a scene straight out of Karan Johar's movie, when Arjun walked upto her and said "I love you Fiza Ray"

They were in a relationship for 2 years, when Arjun got posted to Paris. In this 2 year period, Arjun and Fiza loved each other, hated each other, fought with each other, all that drama & jazz. Both were headstrong, adamant & stubborn. But Arjun, was a little more mature. He recognized the child in Fiza, recognized the need to be at the center of all attention. She had to be priority. He understood that, he loved her for her fierceness and loved her enough to calm himself down in situations and coax her and get her out of her moods. Fiza needed that, she needed to be pampered, to feel special. And Arjun gave her that. After the posting to Paris was announced, Arjun asked Fiza to marry him and wanted to take her along. But she resisted. She wanted to marry only next year.

He tried to speak sense into her, told her that they needed to stay together, or their fights will be tough on the relationship. Fiza said she didnt think the fights were that big a problem. But Arjun knew, he knew if he wasn't there to take care of her and her moods and kiss her when they fought, their tiny fights could lead to something big. He knew Fiza's temper. Once on fire, nothing could restrict it. It would come down only once all the damage was done. And Arjun couldn't afford that, he loved her too much. And he knew, how much she loved him too. But she was a child, she was such a child. He went and met Fiza's mother, and she just smiled and said "Son I have lived with my husband for 40 years now, I know where that sttuborn streak comes from. She is just like her father. But don't you worry. Keep calm and be brave and if you love each other, nothing can come in between you guys."

Arjun knew all this but he was afraid. He left for Paris. And before he reached, there was a packet waiting for him. It had a letter inside. Fiza had sent him, her perfume and had written "I might be miles away, but when you open this bottle, all our picnics, movies, coffees, vacations will all come back, and with them, me" Arjun smiled and had tears in his eyes. He knew Fiza was for life.

Fiza, found it extremely tough to live without Arjun, every road, every song, every meal reminded her of Arjun. Once she was crossing the flower shop that Arjun always bought her carnations from, and walked up and spoke to the shopkeeper. He asked after Arjun and when she turned to leave, he called out and said "Madam, Arjun baba ke taraf se" and gave her a carnation. Fiza, loved him, and hated the fact that they fought and knew she was at fault most of the times. And was making a conscious effort to not fight and stay calm and be patient with Arjun on phone/email/sms/chat. She wanted to marry him, but she was burdened with a project she was working on. It took her to the villages of Assam and beyond. It was extremely close to her heart and she had to complete it. She was willing to quit and join Arjun in Paris after the completion of this project. It was a week away.

But one week was too much. One day, she woke up and was missing Arjun terribly. She just wanted his arms around her at that every moment. She caught the next flight to Paris and reached his apartment. She has told Arjun that she was switching off her cell phone for some work and will not be reachable, to surprise him.

When Arjun, returned home that night he smiled to himself as he was opening the door. He might have accidentally sprayed some of Fiza's perfume on his clothes today, no wonder the fragrance as so strong. Then he heard a voice say, "Marry me Arjun" he turned and saw Fiza standing with a bouquet of carnations. He lifted her and kissed her and said yes.

At their wedding reception, General Ray told Arjun, "Be careful with my girl young man, she is as hotheaded as I am", Mrs Ray laughed and hugged Arjun and said "he knows that darling". Arjun held Fiza's hand, stood in front of her parents and addressed her father "Sir, I promise that she will only get the best, always and forever, she is my little Princess"

That was the first time, General Ray had tears in his eyes, he said "And mine".