The Proposal : Part II

She had not missed how he had effortlessly slipped in a flirtatious angle while answering . The answer itself was quite good. He had managed to capture quite a few intricacies and details. This however wasn’t the first time she had received a good answer, but it was by far the best.

He was quite different from other guys she had come across. He wasn’t a garden variety handsome, or intelligent or geek.  Infact , she thought to herself, he wasn’t a garden variety anything. She could almost imagine him in a crowd, a tall, lanky, bespectacled fellow with a restrained smile. Difficult to notice; difficult to spot; almost impossible to recall. Yet, once he would approach you and strike up a conversation, he would transform into an attractive persona, with effortless charm and friendly demeanor. He had a peculiar brand of conversation that you could enjoy endlessly, and once exposed, you would just not want to break away. He would no longer be the faceless, nameless shadow in the crowd, but the crowd itself.  

She remembered the first time they had met at a party. They had chatted effortlessly for quite some time. She was well read and good at conversations herself. She could glide through any party, holding, diverting, progressing conversations, but she was presently surprised as this particular dialogue flowed effortlessly.

They initially joked about how her brother had found love within a fortnight of registering on a matrimonial website, and then about how bad some of the profiles they had come across were. They had then exchanged a few accounts of their meetings with a few prospects. He had subsequently declared that he was convinced he would never find a suitable match, and was ready to resign to a more ‘flexible’ lifestyle. She however had never planned on giving up on her quest, which had intrigued him beyond measure. He probed and quizzed, trying to determine the reason behind her being so headstrong about her mission to find “Mr Right”.

“You are like a superhero, on the quest to find True Love. Have you discovered the compass of Jack Sparrow? How can you be so sure of finding Mr. Right?”

He was not entirely off the mark. She had been looking for quite some time now. Right after her long standing relationship with Rohit had crumbled under its own weight. Rohit was a nice guy, MIT educated, very intelligent, passionate, but seemed just that : nice. They had dated since engineering college, and their relationship had survived long distance, familial rejections, countless fights. However, she could simply not see him as her husband. Her mother had berated her a few times on letting go of such a handsome guy, but she had politely replied that she could not see herself sharing her life with him. Her opinion that ‘When I was 19, Rohit was a 19; it was great. But when I am 39, he will be 29.” had perplexed both her parents.

She knew in her heart that she had to be patient. She was meant for something better, someone better, and she was hell bent on finding him. The picture was quite clear in her mind.  All she had to do was to perfect responses to wayward questions like “what kind of guy are you looking for”, “Don’t you think you are asking for too much”, or “Do you think you can find Mr. Right”.

She, with a sweet smile, would go on to propound on how she did not believe in the concept of ‘Mr. Right’ or ‘True Love’; and that they only existed in fairy tales or movies. She would then leave her answer with an enigmatic finish of how she was simply waiting and searching for somebody who had the makings of ‘Mr. Right’, and not ‘Mr. Right’ himself.

But that day, at that moment, she paused and could not resist adding something more.

“Its not a quest of some kind, and it certainly does not need a compass or potions. I am not any hero either. I believe that you owe it to yourself to be with someone who is compatible with you. Its your duty. “

It was an odd feeling of relief after an epiphany. She had wondered what had triggered the impromptu addition. Nonetheless, his expression was priceless. Right then she had been called away, and their discussion was cut short, leaving him gaping.

It was no wonder he had pinged her on Facebook the following night. Initial exchanges had led to long chats about love, life and everything. She uncovered the guy she had left astounded at the party, was infact a man of many talents. What had intrigued her most was that while he had pursued higher education, he had also devoted time towards his hobbies. He had learnt Latin dance forms and typography. On certain weekends, he would teach children at a municipality school, and on a few others, be a part of some NGO activities.  He was extremely well read and it was no surprise that he would blog occasionally. He was also inclined to attend art shows, music festivals, comedy shows and theatre.

The first time he had asked her out was for a performance of “Vagaina Monologues”. She had loved the show. She had also waited to chat with one of the performers, an act she had never done before. What was also memorable that day was the conversation with him after the show. He was quite open and expressive about what he had liked about the mono acts. He spoke about character intricacies, connotations, modulation, and the emotions that it evoked in him.

Later that day she had contemplated on how, if his comments had come from anyone without his passion and charm , would seem so mundane and bland. She would have dismissed the comments as boring; but with him, the analysis seemed ‘lively’.  She had then pictured Rohit at the show, and had cracked up instantly. Rohit was never comfortable discussing genitalia, and having multiple women monoacting situations about desire, love, violence, suffering would have caused him to squirm and probably even leave midway. Christian, however, would have had handled it differently. He would have definitely stuck till the very end, having lots of questions for her when they would finally be alone.

Christian was her first crush, first love, first boyfriend, first kiss. His thought would invariably put a smile on her face. They had liked each other since childhood. Into their teens, he had become a stupendous soccer player, and she a beauty queen. Boys wanted to be him, girls wanted him. She had matured well too, having a fan following amongst the boys. It was like ‘Mr Popular’ dating ‘Ms Popular’, but the tags didn’t matter to them. They were friends to start with, and that bond had stayed unaffected. With each other they were themselves, free, unabashed and uninhibited. His parents were quite orthodox, and when they found out about them they forbid him to see her. He was sent away to a different state for education. He would still write to her, letters about love, fear, dreams, faith and friendship. Over time they fell out of love but she treasured the letters to this day. 'Words can take a girl's heart away, when are boys going to realize that writing to a girl, is a much better way of serenading her, than the silly, macho things they do.' she had quipped to her friends once, and received an unanimous concurrence.  

She had realized that day that having a friend was a crucial aspect in finding her match. She wanted a guy who was a mix of Christian and Rohit, who could be there for her when she was 29 or 49 or 89. The date had brought on a minor epiphany, and she had slept exceptionally peacefully that day.

Today, the all so familiar feeling of the epiphany had returned. Her response to the question 'What kind of man she was looking for' was a master piece. Yet, his response to that had somehow enhanced her perspective. Its like he had added colors to her sketch, and her creation now seemed more lively. She could also not deny how comfortable they had grown with each other over the past few weeks. 

‘Is this the guy I have been looking for the last 2 years’ she thought to herself as she held her stance.

She hurriedly banished such thoughts. She had to be objective in such a situation. He had invoked an unpredictable response from her three times now. If he was a faker, he was a darn good one.

With a steady smile, she sidestepped his flirtation, and asked him “What are you looking for in a woman?”

The Proposal

In a brief conversation, a I asked her, 'So what kind of Man are you looking for?'

She sat quietly for a moment before looking at me in the eye & asking, 'Do you really want to know?'
I was taken aback at the question. She had this glint in her eye. Hesitantly, I said, 'Yes.


She began, "As a woman in this day & age, I am in a position to ask a man what can you do for me that I can't do for myself? I pay my own bills. I take care of my household without the help of any man... or woman for that matter. I am in the position to ask, 'What can you bring to the table?' "

I looked at her, a bit unsure , I knew she wasn't referring to money. She quickly added , "I am not referring to money. I need something more. I need a man who is striving for excellence in every aspect of life."
I sat back in the chair, folded arms, open mind and hopeful heart as I asked her to explain.

"I need someone who is striving for excellence mentally because I need conversation & mental stimulation. I don't need a simple-minded man.
I need someone who is striving for excellence spiritually because I don't need to be unequally yoked...believers mixed with unbelievers is a recipe for disaster.
I need a man who is striving for excellence financially because I don't need a financial burden.
I need someone who is sensitive enough to understand what I go through as a woman, but strong enough to keep me grounded.
I need someone who has integrity in dealing with relationships. Lies and game-playing are not my idea of a strong man.
I need a man who is family-oriented. One who can be the leader, priest and provider to the lives entrusted to him by God.
I need someone whom I can respect. In order to be submissive, I must respect him.
I cannot be submissive to a man who isn't taking care of his business. I have no problem being submissive...he just has to be worthy.

And by the way, I am not looking for him...He will find me. He will recognize himself in me. He may not be able to explain the connection, but he will always be drawn to me. God made woman to be a help-mate for man. I can't help a man if he can't help himself.

When she finished her spill, she looked at me . I sat there , a bit puzzled.
I asked sheepishly, 'Arent you asking for a lot. She replied, "I'm worth a lot"

I looked at her intently. I was impressed with how eloquently she had described her expectations. However, what floored me was the things she had left unsaid, untouched. It was almost like an encrypted message, meant to be decrypted by the one who could realize her true worth.

I smiled, slowly, softly. "What can I bring to the table..." I started, gazing at her.
"Financial stability, an assurance of a better life, luxurious life, a promise of a strife for excellence in every aspect of life, a character that would invoke respect..."I paused. "I think rather than such selfish tangibles, I think my biggest contribution is that I understand what it all means, its significance to you and inherently its importance for the man you seek."

She looked at me quizzically, it was my turn to elucidate.
"I will start with the easiest", I said with a sweet smile, "Financial stability is not having a good income or one's own home or a set of  mortgages, is it! It is a perspective that has an essence of financial management. It is about looking at money as an resource to achieve the life goals for you, for me , for us. Lose the sight of any of the factors, the instability sets in. It downhill for there as sooner or later dissatisfaction would get the best of you. I do not propound to segregate it into 'your money' , 'my money', 'your expenses' , 'my expenses' but a clear vision and understanding can aid a couple manage their finances for each others satisfaction. "

She had a hint of a smile on her lips, yet she resisted. I knew she was pleasantly surprised with my grasp on the concept she had introduced, but I knew there was much ground to cover.
" For someone to comprehend what striving for excellence means, they have to realize the concept of growth themselves. For someone to strive for  growth in mental, spiritual, financial, personal, emotional, moral & professional aspects of life, they need to be aware about them, They need to explore them well. What is interesting is when one is cognizant of such aspects of one's own life, they learn to appreciate them in everyone else."

I paused to look at her beaming face. it was a mix of  amusement and delight.
"So as a man i bring to the table the endeavor for excellence in every aspect of life, for you, for me and for us. I intend to be the man who you can respect by respecting you first. You are right, GOD did make woman as his mate, neither a master nor a slave. So you would never be a submissive, but a partner of equal. The bedrock of marriage would be an un-split table atom formed from a pre meditated fusion of two universal elements, identical in weight, equal in force."
"So to be very frank, I dont think you are asking a lot. Infact you are being fair, to yourself , to the guy you will be with,  and also the guys you would reject in his wake." I paused.

She was calm. Smiling but composed. I knew that she knew the compliments were fair and just. No exaggerations or embellishments. I took a deep breath, looked at her angelic face, and admitted, " I dont know what you are worth, I doubt if I will ever fully comprehend that. What I do know is that to me, you are invaluable."

Epithets Of Juno

A tutelary deity of the sovereignty of people,

Never short of Vitality , Juno Lucina

Independent , Deliberate , Elegant & Simple

The great Mystic River, Juno Anahita

A goddess evoked in war & for reasons political

Subduing conflicts, primordial mother, Juno Regina

Intellectual  & wise for the worthy counsel

Numen for peace & war alike, Juno Moneta

Goddess in every sense of the world, divinity principal,

Heralded as the worthy & equal in the traid Capitolina 

Jostling & cajoling you to your high,
Ubiquitous is her support & aid,

Nonchalantly consoling when you cry,

Onerously guarding you, firm & unswayed  

Uncolored and unbiased is her care,

Nurturing & nourishing what was bare,

Inspiring love, life & freedom, with a prayer

Her epithets of her character are countless ,

Entrenched her tales, with heroism & prowess,

Rich fables of righteous strife & virtuous feat,
Ardently blessed is the ground beneath her feet,

ASTRAEA

A charming smile,

Magnetic style, 

Radiant socialite 

Inherently childlike 

Teeming with excitement     

Ardent & acquiescent

She wants to feel with every fiber of her being

Inclined to every colour in the spectrum,,

Navigate through the sights & vision; alluring

Grooving to  all the notes  invoked by the plectrum

Hosting all the flavors & tastes gradations

Harboring the entire range of emotions

She is just like water, clear as day,

Dedicated to work but Eager to play,

Reverberating warmth & spreading cheer 

The joyous maiden, the Italian belvedere

Of Pure Heart,

Of Noble will,
The harbinger of spring

BATWOMAN

Gallant. Resourceful. Enigmatic. Exotic. Strong. Humane. Magnetic. Alluring.
Intuitive. Self-assured. 

Sexy. Uber-conscientious. Passionate. Exceptional. Reticent.

How often do you come across a woman who is as intelligent as she is beautiful, as imposing as she is enticing, as calm & composed as she is wild & tempestuous?

Such beauty of character is excruciatingly unbearable, offering just a glimpse of an eternity that one would want to stretch out to forever. It is truly overwhelming to come across women that are such immaculate replicas of the lore and tales that engineer the perfect heroine right down to the minutest detail. What’s even more magical is that such divas cross your path daily without ever leaking a hint of their lineage.

With an alluring smile, shapely eyebrows, glossy skin, Venus-red lips, manicured finger nails & spools of hair plunging around her face that envelop a swan’s neck; elegant and smooth; you would take her for  one among the countless decked up Barbie dolls. However for some inexplicable reason she will always stand out.

Maybe it’s the calm soothing voice or the charming personality or maybe is the facets of her persona that integrate to create a stunning tapestry. Something enables her to transcend the attractive, into the realm of what is enchantingly, irresistibly gorgeous.

Much like the iconic comic book counter-part BATWOMAN, what sets her apart from the crowd are her set of values & beliefs. Her core built on a robust foundation of morals & ethics & she defends them vehemently. She upholds her values with all integrity. Thus she is just not your average superhero, battling lowlifes, thugs & criminals, but her strife lies in an entirely different dimension.

A strong character, iron will & an dedicated work ethic strengthen her comprehensively. Her solidarity & fortitude are shaped over time with the battles she fights. Her mettle & spirit evolve with every endeavour. Her soul & ethos whetted with every trial.
Thus she can inspire action, provoke intellect, stimulate senses, and kindle the very reason of one’s existence. This is visible in the way she dresses, the way she thinks and the way she goes about her tasks. She seeks to quell the tyranny of OR, gunning only for the Best of Both Worlds. Unsurprisingly the pinnacle yields to her supremacy, as she marches into the hallmark of perfection.

What adds to her appeal is that although she reveres perfection, she is actually the pontiff of change. "Change is the only constant", she propounds. Her attitude & her approach grant her the ability to not just predict & perceive change, but also leverage it. This confers her with maturity (that is beyond her years), insight(that is lucid & eloquent) & serenity (that is well poised & tranquil).

This is probably why she has the ability to see through façades and peer into the true self of people. This is why she can not only incite people around her to strive for the impossible, but also can build their courage and will to last that journey. Much like the fictional character who not only made the super- awesome BATMAN, more relatable & humane but also helped him rally back in time of sheer distress.  

She is undeniably & invariably the heroine that you need, but may not necessarily deserve.

Ode To First Love....

You hold your breath as she passes by,

Absorbing her glimpse, letting out a sigh,

You feel alive, and yet subdued,

A gush of colour and passion fills you high

Unimaginable and incomprehensible,

Naïve but unpredictable,

Perfect, innocent, and undoubtedly true,

Pious yet surreal,

The First love Is like the first wave of the sea,

Drenching you with colour and magic, she

Makes you a believer, a dreamer,

Captivating your heart, yet setting you free,

She grants you a life, yet perishes soon after,

She shows you a mystical world, but locks herself out

She teaches you  to give, to commit, to love, to live,

As she leaves, she shatters you throughout,

First love is never meant to be, they tell you,

Yet its one of the most beautiful feeling you ever knew,

As you recover, you rebuild, & redeem yourself,

You realize the special place she has, her true value,

She completed your frame, leaving out space for a special someone,

She concluded a story, but sparked off a new one,

She was probably not right for you, but she taught you all the right things,

She is the FIRST, forever special, forever sparkling, second to none… 

Stay.. not because I'm asking you to,but because You Want to...

Sometimes you meet someone with who you just click,
Instantly comfortable with each other, spontaneously thick,
It seems you have known them for ages together,
Waiting and seeking out this bird of your feather,
Exciting and enthralling as it is, to finally find someone like you,
Stay.. not because I'm asking you to,but because You Want to...

Your ears can listen to my soul, your eyes can see my mind,
Your heart can feel my heart beating, both completely realigned,
You fit into me like a piece of a puzzle, completing me thoroughly,
You appeal to every fibre of my being, disarming me comprehensively,
Soul mates we could be, Divine and pious our love may seem to you,
Stay.. not because I'm asking you to,but because You Want to...

I may be indecipherable at times, at times unfathomable you may be,
However, we shall overcome any predicament, Invariably and undeniably,
You calm me, control me,  in your presence I am at peace,
I sooth your pain, help you heal, enabling the agony to cease,
As devout and sincere as our synergy, our union may seem to you
Stay.. not because I'm asking you to,but because You Want to...

We can soar the skies, discovering new places and ourselves together
Encouraging, Inspiring, Enabling, Facilitating & Supporting each other
Come hold my hand, and we can live out the life of our dream,
Building a world of love & trust, of ideals and values, as a team,
Inviting and enticing as this journey, this partnership may seem to you,
Stay.. not because I'm asking you to,but because You Want to...