“Thanks India and especially Chennai for the fantastic welcome you have given me.” The voice was deep and clear. Meera was very excited. She could not get her eyes off him. “I love coming to India. I have travelled many cities while researching for my book. This is my first public appearance.  It’s great to see all of you in person.” The crowd in the audience was going crazy.

“What made you write a book on India?” someone in the audience asked. “Frankly, I don’t know. Your country and its people are like the title of my book ‘Mystic’. I think it is the mysterious and magical side of India that drew me to write the book. May be it’s the spiritual nature of your country that fascinates me.”  The questions were pouring in and finally the master of ceremonies had to say “Last two questions please!” “During your travels to different parts of India did you ever meet anyone who resembled the character in your book, I mean Nalika?” someone in the audience asked.  “Not yet, but I am sure she is somewhere and I will definitely meet her one day! Thanks for coming, and see you next time” Richard waved at the crowd and went backstage.  

Neeru led Meera backstage. “Hi Richard, this is my friend Meera. She is a big ‘fan’ of yours and has read all your books many times over.” Neeru told Richard .  “Great to meet you Meera!” Richard shook her hand and Meera  felt like she was in some wonderland. “She has come to get your book ‘Mystic India’ autographed” said Neeru.

‘To Meera with Love….Richie’ Meera read it many times over. She held the business card in her hand. Did he really mean it when he said “Call me; it would be nice to meet up!”

Richard’s thoughts kept wandering around. His heart told him that this was the girl described in his book;  Nalika in person ! Her black piercing eyes when they had locked with his blue eyes, he felt he had met the love of his life. Her magical smile had a magnetic effect on him. He knew he had to meet her once again. He had even thought of asking Neeru for Meera’s phone number.

It was two days since Meera had met her dream author; the great Richard Parker.  She had started to read his new book but was distracted with the images of her meeting with him returning to her mind. She dialled his number; and then cut it out of fear. Her phone rang. “Meera” she answered “Hi Meera, why did you disconnect the phone? I’ve been waiting for your call ever since we met.  Can we meet for Coffee today?  Can you come down to my hotel? They have a good café here and we could discuss my book.”

Meera was in a state of shock. She could not believe that the famous author Richard Parker had asked her out for coffee. She could not focus on anything; her thoughts were moving in a random manner. Meera had read every book written by Richard. She hero worshiped him ever since she had read his first book ‘In Search of Love’ many years ago.

She wore her lucky blue dress with matching jewels.  Meera  must look her best today she told herself.   This is a dream opportunity to be so close to someone you like so much, and she had to ‘put her best foot forward’ as they say.  Meera could not describe in words what she was feeling, but it felt like being on ‘Top of the World’!

Meera was early at the café, so she waited for Richard at the lobby. “Hi Meera. So nice to see you again!” Richard looked good in a red and white pin-stripped casual half sleeves shirt. “Meera…. I like your name….I’ve read a lot about Meera the poet who worshipped Lord Krishna. Do you also write poetry?” asked Richard. “Oh no, I only read” she said.   

It was already two hours since they had come to the coffee shop.  They were engrossed in each others conversations as if they were long lost friends and had known each other since eternity.  “How about a stroll on the beach? This hotel has a very good private beach.” Richard did not wait for a response from Meera and led her towards the beach.

 The sun was setting on the horizon and waves were lashing on the beach. It made a very romantic scene.   Meera got reminded of a part in one of Richard’s books where he writes about two lovers walking hand in hand on a moonlit night on the beach. She had often imagined that part in her mind and thought of doing that whenever she fell in love.

“It was wonderful meeting you Nalika.  I will try and meet up with you before I leave for New York.  Tomorrow I travel to Kolkata for my book release there.” Did he make a mistake? But Meera did not want to correct him. Richard took Meera’s  hand and gently kissed it. Both kept looking at each other till they went out of each other’s sight.

“Hey baby, where have you been?” Kiran was waiting for Meera at her home. “Oh, that’s a long story. We’ll speak after dinner, or mummy and papa will have to wait for us for dinner.” Meera spoke non-stop about her meeting with Richard. Kiran teased her, “I hope you are not falling in love with this man!” They both laughed together.

Meera enjoyed reading the book.  In spite of being an Indian, even she had not heard and known some of the things which were very well portrayed in the book ‘Mystic India’. She had loved the character of Nalika.  Meera wondered if Richard had ever met anyone like Nalika in his life. ‘I must ask him that’ she thought.

“A small gift for you from Kolkata, I hope you like it!” Richard handed over a small packet to Meera.  She opened it. It had blue earrings made out of sapphire. “Oh…thanks so much. That is very sweet of you”. “You’re always welcome!” he said giving his attractive smile.

Richard appeared a little serious today. Meera wondered why.  Both of them were very silent while having coffee. “My flight is late tonight. I’ve had a wonderful trip. I wish I can come back to India again” Richard broke the silence. Meera smiled back. Finally she asked the question she had been waiting to ask, “I loved the book, have you met anyone like Nalika in real life?”

Richard was taken aback with the question. Should he tell her? Before he could answer, a voice in the background said, “Hi Meera, how come you are here?”  It was Kiran. “Our office had an offsite meeting here, it’s just over.” Suddenly Kiran realised that Meera was with Richard. “Richard this is my fiancée Kiran, Kiran this is Richard” she introduced both of them.  “Oh my! so you are the great Richard? She’s been talking about you non-stop since the day she met you. I am really jealous about that !” they all laughed together.  Meera and Kiran shook hands with Richard and left.

It was past mid night but Meera was wide awake. The images of her meeting with Richard earlier in the day were flashing continuously on her mind’s screen. She had not even said a proper ‘Goodbye’ to him. Her mobile phone was ringing.  She looked at the number. ‘Richie’ it said. “Hi Richie” she said almost subconsciously. “Hi Meera, sorry for calling so late but I had to speak to you before I left for America. You asked me the question this evening, and the answer is that you are the Nalika of my book. The only difference is that  Nalika was not engaged to anyone.” There was a brief silence and then he said, “I love you Meera”.  Meera was not ready for this. She did not know what so say. “But Richie I am engaged to be married in a few months. I think it will be best if you forget we ever met” tears were flowing down her cheeks. The phone clicked off on the other side and she felt her world came crumbling down. She would give anything to hear those three magical words from Richard and she was the one asking him to forget her, ironical she thought.

“I don’t need to explain to anyone anything.” Richard was snapping at his friend and partner John. “What’s wrong? You said your trip to India was fabulous, the sales of the book have sky rocketed, it is third on the New York best sellers’ list. Then why are you refusing to meet the press?”  John was almost pleading with Richard. “Please give me some time,” Richard went out of the room.

It was midnight in New York. Richard was on his computer just reading the days news headlines when his messenger flashed a message, “Hi Richie”. Richard missed a heart beat. “Hi love”, he did not know any better way to address her. “How have you been?” He answered with the single word “Bad”. “Same here!” was the reply.  Both Meera and Richard had poured out their hearts to each other in the three hours of chatting. “Hey, its three o’clock in the morning here. I think I need to get some sleep. Bye love” Richard signed off and slept soundly for the first time in a long time.

The chatting at midnight became a routine with both of them. They waited eagerly for it and it was almost a month since it first happened. “Meera, is there any chance you can break your engagement?” Richard had decided to ask her point-blank. “I don’t think so Richie. In India we love some one but it is rarely the same person we marry. Our life partners are fixed by our elders and we just follow. It is not a marriage of two people as much as it is a marriage of two families and a matter in which the entire society is involved. My parents would be devastated if I even mention anything like that.” Richard felt sad when he read that.  “Why did you not come into my life earlier?” she teased him. Richard was not sure if by chatting with her like this, he was actually troubling her. After all he knew that such relationships are not recognised by the world.

Days turned into weeks and Meera’s routine was getting back to normal.

There  were loud sounds coming out of Meera’s room….“I am shocked at your behaviour!” Meera’s mother heard Kiran slamming the door behind him. “What happened?” she asked Meera. “Kiran had come to fix the date for the wedding and…” she said reluctantly. “But why did he slam the door like that?” her mother asked. “I have broken my engagement!” Meera said without hesitation. “What, are you mad?” her mother was almost hysterical. “Who is this other one?” her mother asked her sarcastically. “An American” she answered. “Oh, that Phirangee (a slang word for foreigner) you have been roaming with? Do you even know what you are doing? Are you not aware of how these Phriangees are? They don’t marry, they just do time pass.”

Meera walked out of the room without saying anything. She could hear her mother calling out to her father in a rage.

“Hi love”, her computer messenger was flashing. “Hi,” the response looked lukewarm to Richard. He sensed something was wrong. “All well?” he asked. “Yes, I broke my engagement with Kiran today!” there was silence for some time. “What happened?” he asked. “I realised Richie, I could never make Kiran happy. I love you too much, and I can’t put up a false show anymore”.

It was the third day since she had chatted with Richard last. Richard had not come online. Was he upset that she had broken the engagement or was he just busy.

 It was a very pleasant evening. The first summer shower had just stopped and a cool breeze was blowing all over. Meera decided to go to her friend’s house for a cup of coffee. “Are you sure you want to marry an American?” Soniya asked Meera. “The divorce rates in America are so high” said Soniya. “But there are many marriages that have stood the test of time and worked for many years. Richard’s parents are themselves married for over thirty years.  Also the rate of divorces in India is rising. You cannot judge anyone like that.” Meera told her friend.

It was around seven o’clock when Meera returned home. There was a hired car parked outside here home. Who has come? She wondered. “I am so happy. Our daughter is very good, and she will make a perfect wife for you.” Meera could hear her father say. With whom is he fixing her marriage now? She wondered.

 “Aha, there she comes,” said her father.  Meera was stunned to see Richard. He was dressed in an Indian kurta and had a red ‘tikka’ on his forehead. “Meera, Mr. Richard has come to ask your hand in marriage and I have said ‘Yes’,” said her father. Meera looked towards Richard. Their eyes locked together just like the first time when they had met backstage.  Richard stretched out his arms inviting her; and she could not resist any more. 

“You can kiss the bride now!” said the priest. “Not in public, my bride is from India!” said Richard. The guests at the wedding burst into laughter.