Life has its twists and turns, and I haven’t been quite myself since returning from a lovely trip to Georgia. The scent of Nino still lingers with me; I can smell her on my jacket and even on my neck. I can feel her presence from afar. “I don’t think my brother will like it if he knows we are talking to each other,” Nino said as we exchanged frantic messages on the phone upon my return to India.
“I miss you dearly,” I replied. “I get that warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart—it’s like I’m a fifty-year-old teenager.” I told her excitedly. “Again, I apologize about my brother,” Nino said politely. “I also feel that I loved talking to you; you are very smart, and I think we can have a great life together,” Nino told me, igniting more passion within me.
“I feel so warm and good when I’m with you,” I promptly replied. “I have a bank loan of $5000 that I need to pay; I can’t leave the country otherwise. I haven’t even seen my mother in Russia for a year,” she said. “Joseph and I had a great fight over me talking to you; he even took my car,” she said with sadness in her heart.
“I will send you your ticket and give you the money for the loan; just book your visa and I’ll send you tickets. Elope with me; that’s the only way out. We will explore India together for a month or so, and then you can decide how you feel,” I told her, trying to boost her spirits. “But Anuj, don’t break my heart; I’ve had enough bad times in my life,” Nino told me hesitantly. “No, trust me; you’ll live with me in my house as my queen,” I told her, giving her a much-needed boost.
My exchanges with Nino had been sudden and spontaneous. I was happy that she had some feelings for me. “But you said you don’t want anything serious, no serious relationships,” Nino said to me.
“I need a new life; I’m tired of driving and ferrying tourists all day. I need a change in my life, something new,” Nino yearned for some adventure.
I spent a few days chatting with her and even hinted to my bankers that I had found a new and exciting friend. “Have an open relationship, sir,” my bank service manager told me, as I showed her our photos, both of us holding hands snugly. “Don’t we make a perfect pair?” I told my bank service manager. “I’m sure this will be very exciting; I wish you luck,” she reiterated.
I spent the next few days sending smiles and love signs to her. Oh, love makes you do foolish things, but I’m loving being a clown and a fool again.
The only question is, will she, or won’t she? That is the million-dollar question. Will Nino reach India? Will she get her visa and wage a war against her brother Joseph, who wants her to marry her best friend in America? “He wants me to marry this ex of mine, but I don’t love him, I don’t care for him,” Nino said categorically.
The path of true love is never easy; one has to go through tests and walk through fire. Was Nino willing to do that for me? Was she willing to trust me? “But Anuj, don’t break my heart and my trust,” Nino replied.
I could feel she was scared and vulnerable, but that was natural. “I’m there for you; just take the flight and be Heer. In India, we will have no problems,” I reassured her.
After my tryst with Nino, I took a cab to Dehradun. I was pensive; I hadn’t seen my home for six months, and I knew my servants hadn’t done anything while I was away traveling.
The wall of my house was broken; someone had installed an air conditioner on my wall. The house was in a mess, and why wouldn’t it be? I had been away traveling for so long. It was time to fix things here as I returned to my house, which was in disarray.
