THE CHOSEN ONE

My name is Yuvi.My parents had recently separated. Maa and me had come to stay with my Dadu,my mother's father. Dadu is a doctor and Maa is his only child.Dadu brought up his friend's son Shyam Seth.He is also a doctor and Dadu thinks highly of him.He is very patronising to me.Most of the time he doesn't talk to me but if he ever does i also snap at him.He is much older than me and my childish behaviour annoys him but it gives me immense pleasure to annoy him.He stays in his own house a few block away from ours but mostly has his dinner with us.He has no family.Like my mother he is also an only child and when his parents died my Dadu took care of him.My mother is an art collector and I have accompanied her to her work frequently since childhood.I had developed a liking for old things so I decided to study history and antiques.I had enrolled in a new college and made new friends.We lived in kangra Valley,a sleepy town in Himachal Pradesh.It was during one winter holiday when me and my friends decided to make a trip to Dhauladhar and go trekking in the mountains.The Dhauladhar range is part of a lesser Himalayan chain of mountains to the north of Kangra and Mandi.Elevation of Dhauladhar range is from 3500m to nearly 6000m.Triund-Illaka Ghot approached from the hill station of Mcleod ganj, is the nearest and the most accessible snow line in the Indian Himalayas.None of us had anticipated that the weather would change suddenly.Fogs engulfed us and we could hardly see where we were going.I felt frightened and so did my friends.One of the boys called his father and we hurriedly started getting down from the mountains.It was very late,almost midnight when we reached down.I had no idea that he would be standing there,waiting for me."what is he doing hear?"I thought with irritation.He spoke to me as if we were close friends.I smiled outwardly and fumed inwardly."What business was his to interfere in my life and my family?"I thought and remained cold."Let him understand how much I dislike him"I thought.He had brought his car."I came to see a patient,an old friend in Dhaula kuan"he explained looking sideways at me as he drove his car expertly.Dhaula Kuan is near Sirmour district in outer Himalayas commonly known as Shivalik range.It has sprawling Orchards consisting of citrus fruits and mangoes."How did you know I was stuck in fog ? Had telepathy?"I asked sarcastically."Your Maa was worried and so was your Dadu.I was coming this way so they asked me to take a look at you"he said quietly."I am not a child"I said sternly."I know but you are a girl, an obstinate one and you must understand that your Maa is as unhappy as you, Yuvi. The roads were densely foggy and it was dangerous to drive in a weather like that.There are frequent landslides in those areas.He drove his car into a hotel driveway."You must be out of your mind if you think I am going to stay in a hotel with you"I said scathingly."No need to get ideas in your little head"he replied equally coldly."I can't drive in this weather, you can walk your way home if you like,I will stay the night in this cozy hotel.They serve delicious food and I am famished"he said and did not look back.I had no option but to follow him."We are almost full Dr.Seth,only one cabin cottage is available"said the pretty front desk receptionist."we will take the cabin then ,please",he nodded and the receptionist was captivated by him."He really knows how to charm,the lady is practically drooling"I thought with uncharacteristic venom.The cabins were at the back of the hotel.I could make out large,dark mountains in the background.My nostrils took the scent of Pine and Deodar trees and I pulled my jacket close to me as an involuntary action.The cottage cabin was warm and had two separate beds."I can't sleep in the same room with you, "I started with outrage."You can't have separate room/cabin in this unknown place.It will not be safe. Anyway,it's almost 2 am and we will start at 6 am.I had a hard day,I want my sleep".Saying that he fell in one of the beds and was already snoring,when I came back from the bathroom.I slowly got between the sheets.Sleep eluded me and I looked at him.He doesn't look so formidable in his sleep.In fact he looks quite likable"I thought to myself.He had made a name for himself as a pediatrist.I didn't like his proximity with my Dadu.After loosing my father,Dadu had somehow filled the emptiness in me.I wrote secretly and regularly to my father but he hardly ever replied.I kept my heartache to myself.I fell asleep suddenly.When I opened my eyes he was not in his bed.I got up and checked the time.It was already past 8 am."Where is he?Why didn't he wake me up?I thought worriedly.The room service rang the bell.Breakfast had arrived for him.He emerged from the bathroom,freshly bathed and I felt strangely aware of him as a man.I quickly looked elsewhere."why didn't I hear any sound from the bathroom?"I thought."The weather is still bad.It would be foolish to take the road now.I have informed your Maa.She is relieved that you are with me"he said between his food."I have nothing to wear"I said."The hotel has a small shop,you will find something suitable there" he said.The freezing air was howling outside and snow flecks fell like feathers.I felt thankful for the hotel's heating system and spoke to Maa and friends.Dr.Seth also spoke a few times.He found a pack of playing cards in the drawer and asked"do you play cards"?Hmm,I nodded."Let's play then,"We played cards several rounds and the atmosphere between us became less tense."What do you plan to do after college"he said by way of having a conversation."I was in no mood to fight."I want to study history further.It makes you feel an emotional bond with old things"I said."You want to be a teacher?"he said.No,I would like to work in a museum or an antique store to start with.I have no interest in teaching"I said."You are quite old to remain a bachelor,arn't you?I said in retaliation."I will settle down when I find someone suitable,someone your Dadu approves"he said quietly. "Why,what has my Dadu got to do with your choice of girlfriend or life partner? Surely you must have someone somewhere? I said."I don't have any romantic relation in my life now" he smiled."That means you had before"I said."A few times,I am not a machine like you think"he said."Ofcourse,I didn't say you are a machine.The receptionist was blown over by your charm."I said."I don't think so,she was only doing her job"he said."Do you want to take a look at the hotel shop?They have good stuff"he said ,changing the topic."I have to ,I need a change,but they will perhaps be expensive"I said."You are a rich girl,your grandmom left a hefty sum of money for you"he said.I bought a pair of warm slacks,inner wears and long warm Tee from the hotel shop and he browsed among the books."Want to eat in the hotel dinning room?he asked.We sat opposite to one another and he ordered for both of us."I will be gone the next month"he said,amidst the buzzing sound of people talking in low voices.I felt strangely bad."Where are you going?I asked.'Africa,I am going as a consultant, so you will have your Dadu to yourself"he said."Dadu will miss you"I said softly.He gave me a packet."what's this?"I asked."A gift for you"he said and lowered his eyes on his food.It was a book titled HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS, by some famous life style consultant writer,which had sold millions of copies."I don't think I am going to read this book.I don't like people telling me what to think in my head or how to live my life"I said."Suit yourself,this book has helped thousands of people do better for themselves"he said.I didn't argue further.I was not a brat."Would you like something sweet to eat"he said after we finished our food."Yes.I nodded my head.He ordered a special honeymoon dessert,a sweet dish,a famous preparation of that hotel."It is delicious,why do they call it honeymoon special?"I asked."It's a trade practice.Many couples come here for their honeymoon"he said.I watched the beautiful musical fountain,which changed lights with the music in the hotel garden from where I was sitting, beside the window as he waited for the busy waiter to bring our bill.It was still light outside and we decided to go to the Mcleod ganj market to browse into the street shops of refugees.Dr.Seth bought one or two things from the shops and I just looked around.Usually the market was crowded but because of bad weather the tourists were few.We walked back to our Hotel.He was a tall man, lean and fit, as most doctors are and he had that air of assuredness in him that comes with well deserved success.I thought any sick child will be lucky to be treated by a doctor like him.Next morning the weather cleared and we travelled back home.Something had changed in me.He was not the hated opponent anymore but he hardly seemed to notice me.He behaved like the big brother I neither liked or wanted.Then he went away to Africa.Five years have gone.I graduated from college,worked for somebody else for sometime and now have my own shop of rare,exclusive antiques.Dadu's health has deteriorated.Maa has moved to the city to work for a reputed company.I still stay with Dadu."He is coming"Dadu said."Who,I asked unnecessarily.I already knew who Dadu was referring to.Dadu was very perceptive.He looked at me and said"you don't dislike him the way you did before".He is a good person Yuvi"Dadu said and put his thin hand on mine.Next day he arrived.I took special care with my appearance.Gone were the days when i used to wear only jeans and T shirts. I chose a soft sea-green colour indo- ethnic dress with heavy embroidery,let my hair fall loose because it curled on its own at the edges and looked as if I had styled it.Sparkling diamond studs and diamond brackets looked good with my sea-green dress.After the initial pleasentaries he sat with my Dadu and they talked and laughed like old friends.I sat between them and watched him from behind my long curling eyelashes."So how are you,Yuvi?He looked at me.I felt an embarasing blush on my cheeks and put my fingers on it."I am fine"I said."Sir says you have your own shop?"You are doing really well."he said.I smiled.Next day his picture and name appeared on the local newspaper.He had got some award for his work in Africa.Dadu was very proud of him.He called in the afternoon and invited me to his award function. I went with all kinds of hope in my heart.There,at the award function,I saw her.She was a fellow doctor and she looked at him with ownership.She was beautiful."You must be Yuvi.Shyam was talking about you.I am Dr.Milli Kapoor" she said extending her hands to me.I felt cold all over.Somehow I managed to mumble a few words.Dr.Shyam Seth was very busy meeting the dignitaries and giving speech.Dr.Milli joined him.She was there with him in Africa as a visiting surgeon.I stood among the audience and clapped along with everybody as Dr.Seth received his award.My eyes remained dry with unshed tears.I couldn't stay there any long.I said my goodbyes and left.Dr.Shyam Seth would never know that I loved him.