Sweet 16 Feb 14

I was busy that feb, just like every other month and every other week but I mention this very particular period (feb 2013) because for the 1st time in my 5 years of professional life I was not being enthusiastic or looking forward to an assignment though it was in my dream location - Seychelles.

How can they do this to me? I was fuming inside. That was the 1st time i had applied for leave in my entire 5 years and that was the only time I ever wished to but the stupid last minute big assignment which involved photo shoots for the biggest fashion magazine in the world's march issue spoil everything. It was surely an honor and needless to say a biggest break in my career but still...

Who would want to work in a very far away island on a valentines day when they have the most charming sweet and obviously sexy boy friend back at home? The only such fool would be me. It was our 16th valentines day together and also the last one as lovers. I don't know why i say so but something inside me kept telling me that it was our last valentines day.

I met him on a sunny day in April 20 years back (when I was in 3rd standard) as dead enemies. He was my new neighbor who managed to become close with my best buddy within a day. I hated him but then years flew by and made us good friends then best friends to lovers and (maybe someday in the future) the couples to be. I was planning to celebrate our sweet 16 in a grand and romantic manner. (something I should mention at this time. My guy is not a romantic person. He is not that kind of person who would call you every day, take you out every week, buy you gifts and surprise you with something sweet. He is that kind of guy who will be near me when I need him, understand my words, stupid gibberish which doesn't make sense even to my self and even my silence too, he is someone whose presence and smile would be a silver lining in the dark cloud. He knows when I need him near me and when I need my space -a mystery to my parents and even to myself. He knows what makes me happy, he knows how to convince me. To simply put he is my life and maybe even more much more...) he deserved it for tolerating me all these years and for being my 1st and only love of my life.

I took 15 days vacation. My day 1 started with planning and organizing the big surprise. I was looking forward to it and was extremely excited. But one phone call from my boss killed my dreams. Now I am in the airport boarding the flight silently cursing everyone and loathing my career choice and myself for taking up the assignment. I didn't have a choice but my heart couldn't accept that. Just before I left I said my boyfriend about my stupid ruined surprise and cried my heart out. People around us gave me a weird look but I didn't care because his smile and gentle hug said me that he understood. That gesture comforted me but made me miss him a lot more. I felt strangely alone and I avoided the friendly chats during the whole journey.

Our crew reached the hotel on Feb 6th. We had 10 days to choose locations and finish the shoot. Nothing worth mentioning happened initially. It was the same old routine. I was ok within a day or two and was completely into the work. And then came Feb 14th.

The whole night I didn't get any sleep. I tried calling my guy the whole time. after 4 missed calls a girl picked up the 5th and said hello. But before I could ask for him I heard his voice in the back asking her to switch off the phone and then that was it. It was really weird because he has never done something like this before, he was staying alone and I knew every single friend of his but this female's voice was not the one I had ever heard and most of all it was around 1 o clock in India (1 and half hrs ahead of me). My brain started working in supersonic speed and no decent explanation was possible.

my day's schedule was to start at 4 in the morning and so I tried to take bath and listen to music. My iPod was drained, my charger was missing. When I went to take bath, the heater was not working. It was unbelievable. Can the day turn any worse than this? I asked myself. I hated taking bath in cold water but I had no other choice. I was running late. I came out and searched for my favorite t-shirt, it was missing. Maybe I never packed it I told myself, got dressed and standing in front of the dressing table with kaajal in my hand. I heard the door being opened. I was sure that the door was locked and could be opened from outside only with the help of a key. The time was 4.15 AM, i was running late and I neither ordered anything nor was it the time for room service. I came out telling the same and what I saw shocked the hell out of me.

There a masked person with knife in his hand going through my bags. I screamed, he came running to attack me. His knife missed my eyes by inches. I froze, he made me sit on the floor tapped my mouth and tied my hands. I was helpless. He ran away with my passport. The second he left I understood the situation and tried to release my hand from the knot. It came off very quickly. The robber hadn't taken much effort to tie me tight. I called the reception and informed. Then I realized he had my passport, wallet and I was in a foreign land. I went running the way he left. All this happened within seconds. I kept screaming and followed him to till the top floor. Then he tried to attack me again. Someone opened their room door the very second hearing my screams and that distraction saved me. He went downstairs. I followed him all the way till the lobby. By that time there was a huge crowd gathered in the lobby- those who heard my screams, those who were warned my the receptionist and also my entire crew who were waiting for me to start that day's work. That robber crossed the receptionist and then the securities within seconds and left the hotel through exit. I was shocked afraid and completely lost. I kept shouting at the receptionist asking her to call the police and do something. She was making quick calls. My crew was trying to console me and everyone around were talking in excited/surprised voices. It was a complete chaos. I kept looking at the exit wishing the robber to reappear again magically. It was the worst day any human can experience and then I saw my guy walking in the hotel through exit. My brain had stopped working long back so as a reflex I just went running and hugged him. He lifted me in the air and kissed me hard. He was laughing. Suddenly the whole place was dead silent. My eyes were puffy and red due to lack of sleep and pouring tears the previous night and the shock that day morning. My brain started functioning again. I rubbed my eyes and re-checked if it was really him and what i was seeing was not a dream. He smiled and hugged me again. I knew I was safe then everyone started clapping and whistling. I turned back to look at the crowd. They all had red balloons, color papers, party bombs etc. An valentines day arch was brought to the center of the lobby. The receptionist was smiling, the so called robber was now there near her without the mask smiling at me with that knife whose sharp edge went inside the handle every-time he touched the edge. I looked at my guy still confused. He said 'happy valentines day sweet heart. It is a surprise something of my kind'. I realized what was happening (well i thought i did then). I started crying (happy-embarrassed-angry tears) and kept hitting my guy with all my strength. He kept laughing. Then I remembered the late night call and asked him "that girl?" he laughed aloud and said "an air hostess darling just to add more spice to the tale". I asked him about the heater and missing t shirt. Heater was his work but he didn't know about the t shirt.

The robber came to him and gave my belongings. My guy thanked him. Everything turned out to be fine I thought but then again everyone became silent. Dhileepan took me to the valentine arch, made me sit on the chair and proposed me with a plain platinum band - just the way I had always imagined. It was a happy yes and cheering crowd. But that was not all- the crowd had gifts in their hand. They came near me and gave it to me. There were 153 gifts in total. He said me that it was 'a gift for every month we spent without much fights or tears - a gift for every happy month together'.

I'm 27 and we are to get hitched this April on the same day we met 20 years before. words cannot express my happiness. Can anyone ask for more? :) our sweet sixteenth v day turned out to be the last one as lovers just as I imagined and the surprise was one million times bigger and better than I had ever dreamt.