Love is in the air- Meeting Mr. Perfect

You flourish and blossom,

You are filled with merriment and joy,

The day you meet the perfect boy!

You are all giggles and all smiles,

You no worry, you no care,

When love is in the air ..

Oh, love is in the air! She glances shyly at him. Their eyes meet, if only for a fleeting moment .He smiles. Oh, he takes her breath away; her heart almost skips a beat.

"Hello Mrs Rukmini Parth Saxeena", he whispers, and she melts!

She is so happy today! It's a wonderful day, the weather gorgeous, the food delicious, and the décor enchanting. It definitely is the perfect day, her wedding day; and her husband is definitely her Mr. Right, her Mr. Perfect!

He looks absolutely smashing in his dark suit and the tie they bought just last week, together. It was their choice, the tie and life together, totally their choice their destiny .

***************

Six months ago, before meeting Mr. perfect

"Ruku at least talk to him, meet him once," had begged her auntie.

"Only if he is willing to meet me alone, not fortified by his entire creed and clan," She had fired back.

Tara , Rukmini's mom had rolled her eyes. She had washed her hands off, a long time ago. She had almost given up on her dream, of ever seeing her little doll all dressed up as a bride. Now that her doll was not little any more, she feared the worst. She feared that her daughter was doomed to remain a maiden her whole life! Now that she was fast approaching her big three-o, yes her thirtieth birthday, by Tara's standards she had crossed the threshold! Absolutely!

Not that Ruku was against the institution called marriage or something. It was just that she had never been struck by cupid's golden arrow. She hadn't run into Mr. Right in school nor at college. He hadn't turned up at the library, or at the corner café. It was not that she was overtly choosy; but frankly none of her pals fitted the bill nor did any of her girl-friends' brothers! And in her field of work the chances of her coming across him were zilch, nil, absolutely none! She was a cosmetics consultant, you see. At that stage, trying to find him on her own was rather blotchy; she was the first to admit.

Oh she was optimistic. She was sure that she would meet her Mr. Right someday. That day had just not arrived! And as she refused to be paraded in front of half a dozen strangers who came to look at the prospective bride for their has-it-all grooms. And as she refused to participate in the grueling personal interviews involving one candidate and a dozen interviewers in the arranged-marriage process, she was still waiting for that perfect day!

"Believe me Ruku, he is absolutely made for you! Tall fair handsome, definitely your Mr. Right! Why his name is Parth. Rukmini and Parth , the perfect couple."

Of course that declaration had invited giggles from her cousins.

And with that, the dam had burst open.

"You girls nowadays, you are all spoilt. During my time .." had started her granny, her favorite lecture.

"Granny, I've agreed to meet him, haven't I? What more do you guys want?" she had mumbled and fled from the scene.

And three days later D-day had arrived. She was going to meet Parth at her office, after work. She had talked to him on phone just the previous evening. He had not been that bad, pretty pleasant actually. They had chatted about each-other, exchanged hobbies, likes-dislikes. And of course he knew her condition, her condition about no brothers and sisters; no aunts and uncles; no shields!

"I don't really like this show-see business too. A girl should not be treated like a thing." He had agreed.

"I am hardly a girl now; I am a matured woman running my own business." She'd corrected.

"Sorry, didn't mean to demean you or something. And I respect, rather admire you for what you have achieved." He'd replied.

Hey, maybe he was just right; maybe he was her Mr. Perfect. He had definitely almost impressed her already, with his words, his thoughts and his charisma. She was definitely looking forward to meeting him tomorrow. In fact, she was a little apprehensive even. What if he didn't like her? What if it just didn't click? He had sounded too good to be true, maybe a little too perfect. She heard a buzz in her head, a bell ringing or was it an alarm?

"Ruku, don't wear black," had instructed her granny, but had she listened?

"Ruku, don't cut your hair too short. Men like woman with long hair," had instructed her mother, years ago. But had she listened?

And now here she was waiting for Parth at her office in her chic black dress, her hair a stylish bob. Her best friend Madhu was discreetly sitting on the sofa flicking through the magazines. And at the chime of six, in walked Mr. Tall fair handsome. Miraculously, he looked exactly like he had looked in the snap. And was that a box of Ghirardelli's, the dark chocolate, she just loved?

"Parth?"  She had approached him.

"Hello, you must be Rukmini." He had said. "Since I have not seen your photograph…" He had presented her the chocolates.

"Parth, will you have a seat. I'll be right back in a few minutes." And with that she rushed into the women's room, Madhu had followed.

"Oh Rukmini, he's absolutely fabulous! So handsome na. And he's almost the V.P. at his company; he is practically running it already. Mrs Rukmini Parth Saxeena, You are so lucky na."

Madhu had gushed and carried on and on. She had them married already! And if she had had her way, she'd already have had their children christened; of course a boy and a girl, the perfect family!

"Hey, cut it out." Ruku had put the brake. "He looks and sounds too perfect. I don't think it will work." She had stated, ever the pessimist.

"Ruku, you are too much na!" And with that Madhu had shooed her out.

That evening Parth took Rukmini to Paradise Found, the charming garden restaurant. She could feel people staring at them, faces turning as they walked in, the perfect couple, youth and beauty, poise and charm. The food was delicious, the mood mellow and the evening still young. They had chatted for hours; he had laughed at the right spots and sympathized at the right ones too. They enjoyed each other's company, they quite complemented each other, oh they seemed to be the right fit! Well, it was almost too perfect. Rukmini was definitely apprehensive, definitely getting worried. Why, he had even split the bill with her! She could hear the bell ringing in her head, now persistently.

And as they had strolled in the public park, their hands touched occasionally, it was such a soothing feel! It was getting dark, there was a slight chill in the air; he had offered her his jacket and later, his hand when she almost stumbled on a rock. God it felt so great. He was absolutely fantastic. His likes and dislikes, his thoughts and feelings, his conduct and manners, his family and of course his paycheck! Not that, that mattered but It was toogood to be true. She was definitely worried. The ringing had definitely become shriller.

"Thanks Uncle, some other time. It is getting late." Parth had shaken hands with her father as he had dropped Rukmini at her house. Oh, he had been the perfect gentleman.

"I'll definitely come in for tea and snacks some other time."  He had glanced at her, as he said that. Now she was petrified, it was too much, he was too perfect! The ringing was now a clamor!

"But beta, we can't let you leave just like that. In fact, this is not the time to have tea. You must have dinner," her granny had barged in and had pulled him inside, into the living room.

Rukmini had been flabbergasted. Flabbergasted and apprehensive! Parth seemed flabbergasted too, flabbergasted and apprehensive; as if he was not prepared! For once he seemed lost totally lost ..scared even. And as she saw him hurriedly remove his shoes and socks she realized why! She giggled. She hugged and congratulated herself thank god he was not all that perfect after all

Thank god, he had holes in his socks! Thank god for that! Thank god for those precious holes! And she felt a certain peace, there was silence and bliss .The ringing had died down. Our Cinderella had found her Prince Charming, at last!

If he stumbles, if he but fall,

You hold his hand, you stand tall.

You complete him, the perfect circle together,

There is no her without him; and him without her.

Oh there are torrents of tears,

Ferocious fights, fireworks and tempers flare.

But you forgive and forget,

When there is love in the air!!!