God Has Plans Part 3: Roller Coaster Ride of a Man.

Taking the Number:

After taking the number from his school crush, he continues to talk to her. He believes it's part of a larger plan, perhaps divine, and decides to follow the flow, even though he still harbors deep feelings for his college love.

The Job Notification:

Four months after reconnecting with his school crush, he comes across a job notification for the Assistant Director position in the state government. This job aligns with his childhood dream of supporting people through government work. Initially, he hesitates to leave his current job, but his school crush encourages him to follow his dream. With her support, he decides to pursue the new opportunity and begins preparing for the role. During this period of unemployment and intense study, his school crush supports him emotionally and economically. He also discovers that his college love has moved to the US for higher studies. While he is happy for her, he feels a tinge of sadness knowing she will now be farther away.

The Long Wait:

The exam process was fraught with delays, taking 15 months to finally occur. Despite the setbacks, he cleared the exams and secured the position. Throughout this challenging period, his school crush’s presence in his life was a pillar of support. As the months went by, her feelings for him grew stronger each day. Her unwavering support helped him overcome his nervousness and become a more clear-headed person.

The Proposal:

His school crush is deeply in love with him and eventually proposes marriage. Feeling indebted to her support and help, he indirectly accepts her proposal by asking her to discuss it with her parents. However, her parents, while not inherently supporting casteism, were deeply afraid of how the community would perceive them. They worried about their social stature and the impact on their younger daughter's future prospects if their elder daughter married outside their expected norms. This fear led them to oppose the marriage strongly and even to threaten suicide if she defied their wishes. Realizing the gravity of the situation and understanding their concerns about societal judgment, he convinces her that her parents' well-being is more important. Heartbroken, she decides to follow her parents' wishes.

Life Moves On:

Though hurt by the end of their relationship, he understands the practicality of the situation and continues his professional life with the maturity he gained from her presence. Within a year, he earns the nickname "Boss" in the office and is well-respected. He builds strong relationships with his subordinates, often taking them out for lunch and inquiring about their families. Office girls begin to develop feelings for him, but he, now a practical man, makes it clear that love is not a priority in his life.

A New Chapter for His School Crush:

Six months after the end of their relationship, his school crush marries a handsome and wealthy man. Although he is still affected by the end of their relationship, he wishes her happiness.

Helping Start-Ups:

In his role as Assistant Director, he passionately supports new companies, becoming instrumental in helping many entrepreneurs get their start-ups off the ground. He developed a routine of visiting a coffee shop where he played a role in helping secure financing, going there daily between 6 PM and 7 PM, where a seat is always reserved for him during that time. The shop owner, who is deaf and mute, communicates with him through sign language—a skill he has learned over time.

The Reserved Seat:

One day, a girl enters the coffee shop and attempts to sit in the seat reserved for him. The shopkeeper gently informs her of the reservation, and she moves to a different spot. The same scenario plays out over the next two days, piquing her curiosity. On the third day, she asks the shopkeeper about the reserved seat. He explains that the seat is reserved for a loyal customer who helped the shop get its financing and who comes in every day at the same time. Later, when he arrives for his usual coffee, the shopkeeper informs him that a girl has been inquiring about him. Upon seeing her, he immediately recognizes her—it's his college love. He tells the shopkeeper to let her sit there if she wishes, which surprises the shopkeeper.

The Skepticism:

That night, after their encounter, he feels a mix of happiness and confusion. He wonders if this meeting is part of a larger plan or just a coincidence. Skeptical about her intentions, he questions whether she is in a relationship or married. However, he decides to stay open-minded and plans to talk to her the next day.

The Encounter:

On the fourth day, she initially chooses a different seat, but the shopkeeper offers her the reserved seat. She accepts the seat, sits down, and orders a coffee. When he arrives, he goes to a different seat. His skepticism lingers, but he is curious to see where this renewed connection might lead. Holding his nerves, he waves at her with a smile, and she smiles back warmly.

God Has Plans Part 2: Life Meanders.

Graduation Day:

It looked like the college management had a practical mindset too, scheduling Graduation Day 15 days before the last day of college. They probably assumed no one would return after the exams.

The air was filled with a mix of excitement and nostalgia as the engineering students celebrated their graduation. The campus was abuzz with laughter and cheer, but amidst the joy, he felt a pang of sadness. The girl he had admired for so long stood just a few steps away, surrounded by friends and well-wishers. He had a nickname for her—"Bijli," meaning lightning. His friends tried to push him to talk to her, but he resisted. He watched her from a distance, her traditional attire and graceful presence only intensifying his feelings. Her laughter rang out, a sound that both comforted and tormented him.

As the ceremony ended, he began to think again—practicality or overthinking; only fate would tell.

Post-Graduation:

With a degree in hand, he plunged into the job market. His intelligence and determination paid off as he secured a well-paying job. His family's financial situation improved, and for the first time in years, they felt a sense of stability. However, amidst his professional success, he couldn't shake off the memories of her.

Every night, as he lay in bed, her image surfaced in his mind. He remembered the way her bangles clinked softly with each movement, the way her bindiya shimmered under the sunlight, and the warmth of her smile. His heart ached with the weight of unspoken words and missed opportunities.

Her Journey:

The girl, on the other hand, embraced her own journey. She continued her education and pursued her passion for Bharatanatyam. Her performances were described as heavenly, mesmerizing audiences with each step. Dance became her solace, a way to express herself and find joy amidst the pressures of life.

Within a year, she moved on from the unspoken connection she once felt. She built new relationships, both personal and professional, and embraced new experiences. Her life was fulfilling, and she felt a sense of peace and happiness.

A Year Later:

He couldn't resist the urge to reconnect. Despite his belief that social media was a waste of time and his concerns about personal data being used by these platforms, he created a Twitter account under the name "anonymous" just to follow her. He began to engage with her indirectly, admiring her posts, defending her in discussions, and feeling a sense of connection, albeit one-sided.

Eventually, he decided to reach out directly but made the mistake of using her professional account. His desire to reconnect with her had momentarily overshadowed his caution, leading him to this misstep.

Her Reaction:

She was taken aback. The text on her professional account felt intrusive and unprofessional. Frustrated, she tweeted, "How unprofessional people can become, using a professional account for personal texting." It was a clear signal that she had moved on and valued her boundaries.

His Response:

Seeing her tweet, he felt a deep sense of regret. He slapped himself, thinking he was the most foolish person in the world. He immediately apologized, promising not to contact her again, and deleted his Twitter account. He realized his actions were misguided and had only created more distance between them.

Ongoing Obsession:

Despite his promise to move on, he found himself checking her professional account weekly or monthly. He couldn't completely let go, and his heart remained tethered to her, even if only through the digital world.

Reflecting and Moving On:

He tried to move on, focusing on his career and family. Yet, he couldn’t completely erase her from his mind. He often wondered about the life she was leading and hoped she was happy. His heart ached with the knowledge that he had lost his chance, but he respected her decision and the boundaries she had set.

Her Perspective:

Meanwhile, she reflected on their past. She acknowledged the unspoken connection but felt it was best left in the past. Her life was full, with new relationships and achievements. Dance continued to be a significant part of her life, bringing her joy and fulfillment.

Life’s Continuation:

Life meandered like a river, connecting old streams in unexpected ways. He continued to grow professionally, and his family’s situation improved further. She thrived in her career and personal life, her Bharatanatyam performances gaining acclaim.

Home Visit:

After the online misunderstanding and feeling overwhelmed, he decided to visit home for a few days. The familiar surroundings and the comfort of being with his family helped soothe his troubled mind. He spent time with his mother, whose unwavering support had always been his anchor.

Park Encounter:

One day, while roaming in a park with a school friend, he unexpectedly encountered his first crush from school. The mutual crush that had never progressed due to his practical thinking was now standing before him. Her eyes lit up with recognition, and they exchanged smiles.

"Hey, it's been so long! How have you been?" she asked warmly.

He wondered, "Why is this happening? Does God have some different plans for me?"

They spoke for some time, reminiscing about school days and catching up on each other’s lives. She had followed a career as a dentist and was also a beautiful dancer.

When it was time to say goodbye, something stirred within him, and he boldly asked for her number...

God Has Plans Part 1: Love: Practical Thinking or Overthinking.

This is the story of an engineering student wrestling with himself to understand the realities of the world. He rethinks everything, constantly trying to discern what is practical and merely a fantasy.

Coming from a lower-middle-class family run by his single mother, he experienced many ups and downs in life. He loved his mother dearly and wanted to support her by securing a good job as soon as possible. Despite being intelligent and good-looking (even cute, with many girls interested in him), he felt burdened by responsibilities and sometimes thought he was cursed by his knowledge.

In his third year of engineering, five months into the academic year, his eyes fell on a girl who stood out in the crowd. He couldn't take his eyes off her. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He wondered, "Is she wearing bangles? Has she applied bindiya on her forehead? Am I really in Bangalore?" From that day, he noticed that she regularly came to college in traditional dress. She was a modern girl rooted in tradition.

He started liking her, and his feelings for her grew. In India, one-sided love is common, and he was no exception. By his fourth year, he had been observing her for a year, thinking about her but also fighting with himself to stop these feelings, which kept him from approaching her.

One day, during a college event, the girl noticed him looking at her repeatedly. He became nervous, worrying she might think he was a creep. From then on, he avoided her, but whenever they passed each other, it seemed she looked at him with bright eyes and smiled at him. He thought about talking to her, but his nervousness led to mutism in her presence. He had her social media account IDs and could have easily gotten her number but didn't want to seem creepy. Whenever he got the chance to talk to her, he couldn't bring himself to do it, yet their eye contact never ceased, nor did his internal struggle.

On the last day of college before exams, he was standing in the corridor on the fourth floor. She suddenly appeared at the other end. Their eyes met for 10 seconds, and she looked sad as if her eyes were asking, "Why isn't he talking to me? Is he just playing?" She looked down, took the lift, and left. He thought, "This is the last chance to talk to her; go after her." He followed her to the lift but stopped, thinking again.

That night, he had her number and could have called her but worried about the exams. He thought, "What if something goes wrong and my exams don't go well?" and deleted her number.

1. For a year, he didn't try to talk to her, thinking it wasn't practical because of their different cultures.
2. When she noticed him, he worried she would think he was creepy.
3. His overthinking made him nervous and unable to talk to her.
4. Before exams, he went home and saw his family's problems, which made him think more about family, and that stopped him at the lift.
5. He had her number but deleted it, thinking of the exams.
6. Though he deleted her number from his phone, he couldn't erase her from his mind. He cried, thinking she deserved better. He had many responsibilities and didn't want her to suffer along with him. He wanted her to lead a better life.
   That night, he texted her on social media, confessing his two years of one-sided love and saying she deserved a better life. There was no reply from her.

Is it practical thinking or overthinking? I don't know...

Exams were completed, he graduated, got a good job, and his family is now in a better position, but he still lives with her memories.