A longer route to love
Shreya Swaminathan (her hair being as long as her name) and I had been in the same school for two years, and I had fallen for the mysterious, kohl-ed look she gave me. I took it as divine providence that she was in my college. Advised by friends, I started participating in her charities: taught slum kids English, donated blood at camps -- and annihilated my annual results. After a year, one day, finding her alone in the library, I spoke to her. Holding my hand and taking me behind a bookshelf, she kissed me, whispering, "Nice way of wasting a year, dumbo! I have always loved you."
Parth Adhikari, New Delhi
Jab we met, and starved
My first date was in Ludhiana last year in the presence of my entire family. As I was there to attend a family function. Maheep came all the way from Chandigarh at 9 at night in the cold chill of December. I sneaked out barefoot from the gurudwara and we went to 'Samosa Junction', a place resembling 'Hotel Decent' in Jab We Met. Maheep then asked the rickshawala if there was any place to hang out. God knows what it was but before answering Maheep's question, he scanned both of us from head to toe. 'Samosa Junction' was good for nothing as it had everything to offer in its menu but nothing for real. Essentially, we starved on our date. While returning, we preferred walking but I tripped. He then held my hand tightly and walked me home. We're still together and meeting again at the same place. Manika Singh, Chandigarh
A short 'guide' to romance
In the 80s we had no smses, Skype or Facebook. But we had our own ways of ensuring privacy. I was in college and had fallen for a guy in our neigbourhood. To be in constant touch, we even studied the same course so that we could regularly meet without arousing much suspicion. The library, bookshops and tuition classes were our lovers' park. Our glances were comprehensible only to us and bewildering for everyone else. One day my parents asked my guy - for whom he just my classmate and a neighbour - to help me in studies as he was a good student. We had a great time 'guiding'each other. Now I'm a mother of two who feels a little shy of sharing her teenage romance. But this contest has certainly helped me 'cope' with it.
Swapna Ghosh, Mumbai
A short 'guide' to romance
In the 80s we had no smses, Skype or Facebook. But we had our own ways of ensuring privacy. I was in college and had fallen for a guy in our neigbourhood. To be in constant touch, we even studied the same course so that we could regularly meet without arousing much suspicion. The library, bookshops and tuition classes were our lovers' park. Our glances were comprehensible only to us and bewildering for everyone else. One day my parents asked my guy - for whom he just my classmate and a neighbour - to help me in studies as he was a good student. We had a great time 'guiding'each other. Now I'm a mother of two who feels a little shy of sharing her teenage romance. But this contest has certainly helped me 'cope' with it.
Swapna Ghosh, Mumbai
Parth Adhikari wins a dinner for two and an signed copy of Chanchaldeep Sandhu's novel I Never Thought I Could Fall In Love. The next ten entries (two featured here, the eight other winners will be notified by email) win an autographed copy of the book. A big thank you to all participants!