G and Shalaka met for the first time. Fifteen years ago today. Mobile phones had arrived then, but it was time for smartphones to arrive. It was not easy to pour out the heart through messaging. Antakshari was the best medium in those days. Shring went to his sister's house. The festive season was on. For the people of Saurashtra, there is no other opportunity to have fun like Satam-Athma. Every afternoon an innocent gambling meeting would be held at the sister's house in which sisters, aunts and sisters-in-law from neighboring areas would eagerly arrange to play. The male character used to be the only horn. He was only looking at Shalaka who lived in the house opposite Ekitse. At night, the male class would come home from work, settle food etc. and gather again and then play Antakshari till late at night. Shring used to sit on the crow's feet waiting for Antakshari. He would start singing a song from the first letter that came on his side, the target of which would be Shalaka sitting on the opposite side. On the first day, Shalaka did not understand anything, but from the second day, everything became clear. The 'H' comes to the male-team before anyone else tries to sing and the horn jumps up: 'Hum to mohabbat karega, duniya se nahin derega, chahe ye zamana kahe humko deewana, aji hum to mohabbat karega.' Little by little light began to dawn in Shalaka's mind. Also, when Shringe sang the song 'Lal Chhadi Maidan Khadi…' everything was 'cleared' because she came alone wearing a red Punjabi suit. Shalaka was initially shy. He saw that the horn was also beautiful. He also heard that he was a leader in sports and studies in the college. In it, this waterfall of romantic film songs was poured on him. The next day Shalaka also started responding. There were thousands of songs sung by immortal and successful singers like Lataji, Ashaji, Geeta Dutt and Noor Jahan to help her. Shalaka began performing songs with different lyrics starting with the first letter that came to her team. Of expressions of love, of acceptance, of complaints, of hatred, of shared dreams that will come true in the future, of celebrations and of regrets. A kind of dialogue began to form between Shring and Shalaka through songs, and none of the thirty-thirty-five men and women sitting together had the slightest doubt about it. Shring stayed at his sister's house for seven days. The knot of seven births was tied in seven days. When they finally parted, Shalaka sang: 'Tera jaana, dil ke armanoon ka loot jaana…' and in response Shringe gave voice to the feelings of the heart in this song: 'Abhi na jao chodkar, yeh dil abhi bhara nahi…' There are many shades of love between a man and a woman. Whether the hero is small or big, when viewed through a special glass, it can be seen in fifty-six shades. There are fifty-six thousand or fifty-six lakh color-shades in the element called love. We see deception, deceit, loyalty, infidelity, triangles, quadrilaterals, life-giving to life-taking events. Some love affairs last until the burning pyre in the crematorium, some love affairs are like Chinese goods; Chand Tak if it works, Sham Tak if it doesn't work! Seven days of melodious association ended. Shring went to his house, Shalaka stayed at his house. Of course, there was contact by phone. It is said that 'in that bath together.' Shring could not convince her parents to make Shalaka their daughter-in-law, Shalaka could not even dare to speak in her own house. After two years, Shalaka was married in a happy home. After another two years, Shring also got married. Antakshari's songs went on a 'national tour' to help other characters. Ten years have passed. Fifteen gone. The smartphone 'craze' was in full swing. Small groups who studied together in first and second standard also started forming groups called 'schoolmates'. Expressions of emotion began to take place. Why should Shringa and Shalaka be left behind? Messages were written and read with simile-rich narratives that resembled the poet Kalidasa. Shring writes: 'I am very happy. My wife protects me a lot. I love my daughter Chahna very much, but there are some things in life, which are never forgotten till death like first love, first love letter, first kiss, first car, first salary. Everyone's list may be different. If there's only one name on my list, it's yours because you're my first love.' In reply, Shalaka wrote: 'I am also the same. I am physically married to Nikhar, but with you I am married. My body, my heart, my mind will all be yours. When we meet we will create heaven on earth. Whenever you ask to meet me, I will come running on any pretext.' Such expectations, promises, longings kept flowing through mobile phones. One day suddenly the chance of meeting both of them happened. Shring said, 'I am coming to your city for my business. I am staying in a hotel, but we will not meet. The sales manager of my company will be with me constantly.' Shalaka's outburst did not stop: 'Why do you come here and we don't meet? Even though we can't talk but your face… even from far away… but…' after much deliberation Shring found a way, 'at twelve in the afternoon I will be at your 'Bharat Home Appliances Showroom' in the main market for just ten minutes. . I won't be staying there again after the job is over. Given my status this would seem inappropriate. You should come there right at that time for shopping. My manager will be with me but we can see each other.' Shalaka's happiness knew no bounds. On the appointed day, at the appointed time, in the appointed show room, Shring stood waiting. Fifteen minutes passed instead of ten. Shalaka did not come, his message came: 'As the road is narrow, I parked my two-wheeler five hundred meters away. Couldn't save time in walking. Arrived now. where are you?' 'Darling, I couldn't stay there much longer, but don't worry. I am standing outside the temple of Hanumanji which is one and a half hundred steps away from that show room. You…' said Shring. Shlaka snapped, 'Enough chase.' I can't walk much in this heat. Bye!' 'Hey, this is a temple. Even if I stand here for half an hour, no one will suspect. How anxious you were to see me on the phone!' Sring was surprised. 'Sorry, I'm drenched in sweat. I have to go home and take another bath.' Shalaka turned back. Shring bathed in the name of Manoman Shalaka. Love has a color too, like Chinese goods packed in an Indian 'wrapper'! }
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
