Meera

Episode 05

26 January 1994

"Raghav, let me be frank! I never loved you nor do I feel to be in love with you. I always thought of you to be a good friend. But when I knew by your reactions that you were in love, I wanted to use that as an opportunity to see you clear the exams. All I did was to motivate you in your own way. Am sorry. Let's move on. And anyway, appa has got his appointment letter as a faculty in Deccan College at Poona. So we won't be meeting from now on as I am shifting soon to Poona with my family. We have even shifted anna's wedding to Poona. We are leaving by Super Dadar tomorrow morning!"

The exams were over and Raghav had cleared all papers with good marks. Raghav and Sahana had come to Chitrakulam. The weather was cold and blissful but Raghav's mind was feeling the heat listening to Sahana speak. He was angry and at the same time broken from within. He had dreamt of leading a contended life with his love Sahana but it wasn't love at all for her.

"Sahana! How could you ever think of leaving me? I love you so much. I need you by my side. How could you think of playing this game with me? Am I a toy to you? Naanum manushan dhaan! Jadam illa! I too have emotions. Adhu theriyadha unakku? Don't you think I am a good match for you? Please Sahana! I need you! Enna vittu pogadha! Let's stay in love even when you're away! Eppadiyavadhu we will stay in touch! Please!"
"Idha paaru Raghav! Don't speak like an emotional idiot! My decision is clear crystal! Let's be practical! I don't love you and I don't think this will ever work! I'm not your girl! I know you'll sure be finding your life partner soon! I respect our friendship. I don't want to lose it. Let that be ours forever. I'm leaving! Bye! Let's not meet hereafter!"

She was gone! All that he wanted to tell her, of his love, vanished like phrases written on water. He felt dejected. His course, his articleship, his family - nothing felt necessary for him. His mind was struck on Sahana. He couldn't digest what had just happened. He rushed straight to his home and to his room and locked the door from within. He burst into tears. His thought process was frozen. He felt he had to do something to win her heart. His immature mind gave him one of the ideas that has been the medicine for every single breakup or love failure as depicted in films. He took that call, a deadly call!

***

"Raghav! Raghav! Gently open yours eyes! Kanna thorandhu paaru pa! You're alright!"
"Doc... Doctor chithappa, Yenna yen kaapathineengo!? I should die!"
"Raghav! Emotional ah yosikkaama konjam porumaya yosi pa! Ippo pesa vendaam! Konjam thoongi ezhundhu evening ah pesalaam!"
"Anna, Police case aagama irukka accidental ah kaththi patturthu nu prescription la ezhudhirken! Problem illa! Raghav needs psychological treatment! Let him be here till tomorrow! Naan psychiatrist Dr. Narasimhan kitta pesidaren! Avar vandhu ivana paathuttu enna panalam nu solliduvar. Pasanga ippadi kozhaiya irundha naadu enga munnerum!? Avanukku injection podren, thoongattum. Rendu perum vaango, en room la poi pesalaam!"

"Dei Saranga, em pullai ku onnum illa la!? Avan ippadi yen panninaan ne neaku theriyala da"
"Anna. Kavala padaathel. Avanukku onnum illa. Blood loss ku dhan blood yaethirku! Ippo sethaikku periyamma kittayo amma kittayo solla vendaam. Approm ooru kooti ranagalam panniduvaa! Manniyum neengalum aathukku poittu sayandharama vaango! Manasa pottu kozhappikkaama Madhava perumal ah sevichuttu prasadathoda vaango. Avan enakkum pulla dhaan! Em pullaya naan paathukaren!"

***

Dr. Narasimhan was a leading psychiatrist in the city and a close friend of Dr. Sarangapani. Dr. Sarangapani was Chakrapani Iyengar's cousin and was running a nursing home at Mylapore.

Dr. Narasimhan thoroughly examined Raghav in his counselling session and instructed his family to arrange for his articleship as early as possible so that he focusses on his work to forget what had happened to him. Dr. Sarangapani immediately visited his school mate CA Kothandaraman and arranged for Raghav's articleship under his tutelage.

Though the time period which he was with Sahana was just within a year, the level of involvement he had on her was intense. It took almost two months to bring him back to normal. He was made to understand that the feelings he had on Sahana was an extension of infatuation and not love. And the family members were clearly instructed not to bring her name in any context till he completely recovers from her thoughts.

While into articleship, Raghav enrolled himself into the coaching classes for final examinations to qualify as a CA. His day was scheduled with his CA classes, office work and his music classes. He kept himself busy through the day and had almost recovered. He was brisk all again. His principle gave him enough exposure in handling various kinds of audits that a CA would require to do when he practices on his own. His involvement in his work and studies made him achieve more laurels.

July 1997

His three years of articleship was done. He had given his final examinations too. The results were out and much to his surprise, he was declared a ranker. His entire family was happy so was his principal.

He instantly started getting offers from known circles for work. His principal too wanted him to continue working so that his experience would help his juniors learn from him. He was happy to be back to life. He chose to work under his principal for few years before getting into practice.

April 2000

A new millennium had just dawned and the first financial year of that millennium marked the entry of Raghav into practice. But practice wasn't and still isn't easy for a chartered accountant. The industry that's full of challenges makes getting a clientele base a Himalayan task (why use Greek Hercules when we have our own swadesi Himalayas!?)

Raghav had started his practice with one of his high school friends who incidentally had the same name as his, Raghav Sundaresan Iyer, in short Raghav Sundar. They had named their firm 'RR & Co Chartered Accountants' and commenced their operations based in Mylapore. Their business started growing that they expanded their operations with branches at Nungambakkam, Ashok Nagar and Tambaram. Taxation was Raghav's specialisation while his partner Raghav Sundar was an audit specialist and this helped them gain more assignments collectively as a firm.

Why did Raghav Chakrapani and Raghav Sundaresan, both being referred in short as Raghav, become partners!? Was this God's will? Will that be beneficial forever? Hope it is!