All You Need Is Love: From the Ashes … a Few Pages Left

By Kriss Venugopal

The feeling of love and being loved is always beautiful, and love in itself is an emotion so dear to all...regardless of whether it is expressed or not. Some hold it close to their heart and live a life with those moments showered on them. Some unaware move on searching for something else in life.

Ram an aspiring Filmmaker meets Saranga, who held his heart, from the day they met in a media school. Ram and Saranga’s life and Ram’s burnt letters that held back a lot that his heart wanted to tell Saranga… knowing not whether Saranga had something to tell Ram. Is college time the best time for love or is there a better time in life… is it too early or too late… Love and life leaves such questions unanswered to many of us. But one thing is sure… “All you need is love”

All you need is love is a journey of love in the lives of Ram and Saranga.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: Apr 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781543704976

Kriss Venugopal

Kriss Venugopal is an engineer by education; a media man by vocation; an artist by passion; and a practicing voice coach, hypnotherapist, and writer by heartfelt choice. Starting with bedtime stories as an inspiration, he continued to write with faith in the Indian tradition of storytelling. Visit him online at www.kristheiyer.com.

Book preview

Prologue

A life is never complete without its stark intricacies and subtle straightforwardness. It always has its ups and downs. This book encompasses all those unique twists and turns, which would have been a part of anyone’s life. Those sweet soft moments of love, the incidental pricking pain of chance, the struggle and strife and all in between. Friendship, love, relations and the bonds beyond that make life a special celebration. This book is a celebration of life, as it is.

There are moments we cherish and some that we despise. Some we try to forget, but leave an indelible mark in our minds. The essence of life is to make tomorrow better than today. And so we strive on to make it a better tomorrow with what life gives us. Like the oft said quote, Truth is stranger than fiction, I strive to keep the moments as close as to truth. I saw myself in many of the characters in this work and did realize one thing - that is how life is. If you tend to see a Ram or Charu in you, it’s nothing but what life has given you - a soft caring heart. Many live a life to the line It is better to have loved and lost than never loved at all. But I feel life is an opportunity to love and to keep loving. I am with you while you traverse this beautiful journey called life.

Cheers, to Ram Diwakar and Saranga Viswanath. To life and its inspiring moments.

Chapter 1

Yet another diary

The smell of burnt paper filled the surroundings and smoke clouded the fire. That was the last few of the letters left, Ram thought, as he dropped those torn sheets of his note pad into the fire. The smoke not only clouded the fire which was burning, but also clouded Ram’s eyes, as the piercing pain in his heart let out the tears as if it tried to put the fire out. Ram Diwakar, the star in the tinsel town was known to everyone, but Ram, the child which hid behind the towering figure of a blockbuster filmmaker, was seen by only one.

What happened sir, Dorjee ran to the backyard seeing the smoke.

Nothing Dorjee, you go inside, said Ram, without turning his head, hiding the flowing tears.

The journey to be a filmmaker loved by all was not an easy one, and this was not the first diary of all his thoughts that burned down to ashes. The count lost with time, Ram burned his thoughts, worries, failures, sadness and all other unwanted emotions, or so he thought, as he burnt his diary. As he walked back into the house from the backyard, the sun was setting and the fall of dusk had cast a red hue matching the hue of Ram’s eyes.

Ram reached his room, where sheets of written scripts, books, open laptop waiting for more words to be keyed in for the next script and the cups which held the hot coffee of last night adorned the busy director’s room. The shelf had trophies and plaques which had no more space to be in place, but would fall out any moment. Ram never looked at them again. He would put them in the cupboard and move on. He never bothered to set them right in the shelf. The bed was tidy and showed he did not have a wink of sleep the previous night.

The mobile buzzed into life and the room was lit with the blue light of the phone, and Ram switched the lights on. The sky was slowly turning dark and darkness engulfing the hill top, where Ram’s residence and a few other shacks were the only settlement. Ram could hear Tiger barking, as it was time for his evening walk.

Hello. Saranga, is that you? asked Ram wiping the last drop of tear from his eyes.

Congrats Ram, she replied.

Thanks ma. Just another critics special mention, I wish you made movies.

There you go again, she retorted to Ram’s age-old comment.

I mean it Charu. I really mean it and I know you can. it’s just that you stopped.

The discussion went on, as Tiger kept waiting for Ram to take the leash in his hands and walk on the hillroad, as he did every evening when he was there at home. Just as the full moon started shining in the sky with the stars smiling away with heavenly sparkles, Ram’s red teary eyes turned to smiles and were shining again.

So how long are you here? asked Ram

I was here the whole week and going back tonight. I tried calling you and texted you too.

Yeah. I was deep inside the forest with my shoot and there was no network there.Wait I am coming

Ram cut the call and jumped on his Bullet. With a push of the button he was on his way down the hill to meet his Charu and her son Keshav. Dorjee and Tiger look at Ram flee and both remained in amazement, not knowing what time he would be back or what should be done. The birds settled down for the night as the sound of the Bullet died in a distance. Ram had a smile as he rode his road partner to meet Charu, after years. That one call and the few smiles exchanged got Ram resurrect from the ashes like a Phoenix.

Chapter 2

Smiles called

The bike fled past the lanes and the night evening traffic and passed the lanes that had become a usual trip for Ram. Every signal that was turning red on his way seemed to be his worst foe. The smile kept shining on his face as he approached his destination. The heartbeats as fast as the bikes boom did not slow down when Ram switched the engine off and parked his bike near ‘Aiswarya’.

The name of the house should have been given looking at the beauty of it, for sure. The long walk way towards the house had plants on both sides. The air carried a mix of fragrance of flowers from the garden. The white house in the darkness of the night was shining like the full moon itself. The sounds of pressure cooker whistles and Keshav laughing with his grandpa could be heard outside. Ram hurried in without a pause, towards the laughter he heard. He carelessly dangled the helmet in his hand was almost running in.

Charu, where are you? he called out.

Hey Ram, called Amma from the side who was walking towards the house after lighting the lamp near the tulsi. You forgot us and only remember Charu? she asked with a smile

Good evening Amma. Not Fair, you did not let me know that Charu and Keshav are coming.

Amma smiled at Ram and wiped the oil from the lamp she held, on her hair. It was all of a sudden and we were trying to reach you… you have become so busy.

Ram smiled as his eyes kept searching for Saranga, as his heart still kept beating fast.

Ram, he heard Charu call his name.

Was it tears of happiness, or anxiety or of the worry that she was leaving in a short while, Ram could not answer. The words got locked in his throat and were not coming out. The search ended as he saw smiling Charu at the door.

Come in. Why are you standing outside? asked Saranga.

But why do you have to leave so early? My movie premiere is next week, you should have stayed back. Ram managed to speak out.

So, are we not invited? came the answer from Achi, the name Charufondly called her father. The friendship between Viswanathan, Saranga’s father and Ram was beyond the age. They were good friends who shared a lively discussion over a cup of tea on many evenings when Ram returned from shoots. In his loose blue chequered shirt and white dhoti, golden rimmed glasses, he never looked his age, but much younger. Unlike Ram who had aged beyond his, with stress of his work.

How can I not? You and Amma have to be there for the premiere, Ram smiled back and replied.

Tea or coffee? Saranga asked and quickly continued. You are always the coffee perso. Let me get you a cup of coffee.

I have had enough coffee for a week last night. You sit, please, Ram said without even a thought as he sat down on the chair in front of the pooja room.

Ram did not know how to express his happiness as all that he wanted was to talk to Saranga and see Keshav, who by then came running.

Hey champion, you have become so big and tall, said Ram as he splashed a hi-five to Keshav.

Ram, I have to tell you something.

That was enough to silence Ram and pay all his attention to Saranga.

I am coming again next week. And it’s a surprise for you. A sweet surprise.

Ram could not wait any further as he remembered Saranga tell him once that she was not a person who fancied surprises.

A surprise from you? asked Ram in amazement.

Amma, shall I tell? asked Keshav impatiently.

Saranga silently opened the brown package on the table nearby with a smile and took out a book to hand it over to Ram. His eyes filled with tears of joy as he took the book in his hand A LITTLE MORE UNSAID by Saranga - the title read. The book Ram had been waiting for all these years from her. The words he would cherish for the rest of his life..

Finally, said Ram and could not utter a word more. It was a dream he always had; reading Saranga’s book. This was the first one. The stars seemed to smile bright outside. The wind had music in it. The silent moments with smiles shared was one of the more precious moments than the gaudy functions Ram had gone up the stage to receive numerous awards.

Chapter 3

The night chat

Achi is getting old and I don’t want him to run behind this smart young man, said Saranga as Ram was still lost in the thrill of holding her book in his hands. He did not remember how many days passed with discussions about the book nor how many nights were filled with the dreams of it.

Ram… Ram. Are you listening? Saranga shook Ram back to his senses.

Happy for you Charu, said Ram.

Happy for you Ram. Now listen, she broke the silent happy moment. I am leaving in half an hour and would be back next week for your premiere. Prabhath cannot handle things without me back in Singapore.

Ram smiled. So?

I came here last week for Keshav’s admission and he would be here. I want you to take care of my treasure. Can you … as a local guardian?

Ram nodded not able to control the joy he had in his heart. For a person who did not have a family, getting a child to take care would be like hitting a treasure chest while walking on unknown roads. It was sheer surprise.

My pleasure Charu, my pleasure, Ram replied with a blank face out of the immense joy. And if I do what needs to be done, can I ask you to stay back for a day? Please? he pleaded.

The smile on her face was an affirmation. As she called Prabhath to inform him about the change in plan. Ram called up Sudev, their common friend, colleague and all in all for the busy director he was and made the needful changes in travel plans.

Achi … Amma. Come let’s go home. Tonight is a special night for us and let’s celebrate it at my place. Oops… our place, corrected Ram. You can drive right Charu, or are you still scared as before? mocked Ram.

The drive back to the hill top was just aquarter of an hour away, but the journey in Ram’s mind was back to the past - ten years behindwhen Keshav was just 8. As he rode his bike with Keshav on the pillion, he remembered the time Keshav was in his car in Singapore as a kid.

Charu behind the wheel had a smile on her face seeing Keshav’s arm around Ram. He is not used to bikes. Maybe he is scared, she shared her thought with Achi.

Ram rides well, I feel safe travelling on a bike with him, he replied

Dorjee was happy to see Ram back and knew he had loads of work for the night seeing the car come up the driveway. Tiger who was let loose by then ran up to Ram and started licking him, expressing affection. Keshav, not used to such kind of pet love, took a step back and the same feeling was on Charu’s face, as she still kept the door locked and remained inside the car.

Come Charu. It’s Tiger. Remember him?

Saranga remembered Ram telling her about the cute little puppy, but not such a huge golden haired cocker spaniel.

He knows you all from pictures, finished the conversation with a chuckle, as Tiger went sniffing everyone’s feet and slowly walked back to his kennel wagging his tail.

They went in and the night was young. Dinner, chit chat and a couple of hours Dorjee took Achi and Amma to the guest room where they could rest and the three of them were chatting. As an hour more passed Keshav had dozed off in the bean bag he was sitting on and Saranga and Ram had a lot to catch up. Eight years on just calls and WhatsApp and one night was not enough. Dorjee kept refilling the coffee flask and the chat continued till the early morning sun peeped from behind the mountains. Keshav was still fast asleep on the bean bag and they both looked at him as he were just a two year old baby. Except for the traces of a moustache, which had started telling the world that he is fast growing up. The morning sun was rising, and Ram stood up.

I have to click the picture of the morning sun Charu. I don’t want to break my habit today. Ram walked out of the house to click. All these years Charu would receive a morning sunrise picture from wherever Ram had been, that was a promise Ram had given Charu.

Chapter 4

Late comer

Quick farewells after a breakfast and the car, which moved down the hill road, left a trail of dust as memories do in life. Ram was still smiling, reminiscing about the long chat he had with Charu. It was the long years that seemed to be a few minutes which passed. Ram walked around the house and reached where he had burnt the pages of yet another diary which took away the pain within him and turned to ashes. He looked at those beautiful flowers smiling in his garden which grew with the ashes from his pages as its manure. The flowers were ways of God to tell him that bygones are bygones and life moves on.

His trains of thoughts were broken by a call and Dorjee was running towards him with his mobile phone.

Hello, Ram Diwakar, he answered

The conversation went on regarding the preparations for the movie premiere next week. Sudev updated him on the requisites and challenges. Each one sorted diligently. Things were not different even during college days. Sudev was a sort of a conscience keeper for Ram. Each day was buzzing with activities in