Dear Friends,

When the famous psychoanalyst of the country fell in love with a girl  ,he thought of telling lie to her to gain her sympathy but he did not know that something that kindled love in the heart of his lady love was the “ALBUM” sent by his best friend.

Loads of Love,

Meena Mishra.

The  Worst Counselor

I am sitting with the most popular newspaper of this country.I am amazed, actually more than that .I am flabbergasted with all the commendation and acclaim bestowed upon me in the article published in the front page.According to the writer I,(Aneesh Shetty), am the most successful and popular psychoanalyst of this country.According to him I am also the most eligible bachelor of this country.The article is more of my bio-data. My office had informed me that they had a correspondent from The Times visiting us and inquiring about my work and awards received by me but I never expected such a flattering article to be published on me.I always believed in completing my work with utmost secrecy and dedication and loved to keep a low-profile,except for the moments when some of the universities  invited me, to felicitate me for my research work.Only then the newspapers would have my photographs and interviews.I would receive thousands of mails everyday.Thank God,my office would handle it.

My secretary informed me that the top model of our country Ms.Janaki had called up many a times and insisted that she wished to talk to me directly instead of taking an appointment to meet me.She showed me the cover-page of a fashion-magazine with her photograph on it.This was incredible.The face looked familiar.Is she the same girl I am thinking about? I wondered.I had an fb account but I hardly accessed it.I searched for her profile, in my friend list,and here she was,Janaki, first crush of my best friend .Second crush of course was his  job.But she had taken a back seat as I was too busy in my profession. In ten years of my career I had become a hard-core professional.A real workaholic.But then I had to .There was no choice.I hated mediocrity since childhood.I wanted to excel in whatever I did.I was a school topper.A serious,sincere,hard-working,disciplined,diligent, student.I was excellent in sports,dance,drama,oration and what not.I was an all-rounder.I had received around 100 awards as a student including the best outgoing student award.My parents and friends loved me and encouraged me throughout.At university level also I received many acclaims.I was an achiever in my field.A survey conducted by “The Times” declared me as the most successful and popular psychoanalyst of my country.Nearly all big shots of the country had taken counselling from me for various reasons.Most of the companies had me in their panel of counsellors.

Well, I was feeling like walking down the memory lane when I was checking her photographs on fb.The school memories came alive. Ohh those golden days!The photographs changed and with them changed the girl.I could not believe what I was seeing.The ordinary looking school girl turned into a stunning, charming, gorgeous,charismatic  super model. I was so engrossed in making my career that I hardly noticed this transition. Good gracious! She was superb. It does not mean that I never met beautiful girls in my career but they were either my clients or a professional acquaintance. I never had any attachment with them. But Janaki, she was the first girl whom my best friend   liked, probably the only girl we discussed throughout our school life. She wants to talk to me. How can I be so lucky? I was so keyed up and animated. I asked my secretary to connect me to her .We exchanged pleasantries and she asked me if I could meet her as she required counselling. But she hesitated to come to my clinic due to the paparazzi following her. I consented for the same and decided to meet her at night, in my regular restaurant, where I usually met many of my clients to keep their confidentiality. It was a part of my vocation.

                    I was too eager to meet her. Because she was not a regular client, she was my best friend's fancy. She had reached before time.As  soon as I reached there she shook me by my hand and we sat.She looked incredibly alluring.I developed a strong predilection for her.Before she could say something I decided to shoot the question.”Who is the guy?” I asked. She was knocked for six.”How do you know?” she inquired.If a fine-looking girl like you needs counselling ,it has to be about a guy.She thanked me for the compliment and smiled.She was looking diffident.I decided to make her feel at home so I steered the conversation towards her family and profession.we had  a cup of coffee.Now she looked tranquil.She asked me why I didn’t get married.I narrated the  story that my best friend had shared with me but replaced the character.I told her  how as a High School student ,I had a crush on a girl and I never told this to anyone.She was from another school but we shared the same school van for reaching the school.While returning from school ,I had instructed the driver not to pick me up from  my school but he would find me outside the school gate of hers.I would walk to her stop everyday so that I could see her.We had many common school mates ,both boys and girls and nobody ever bothered to think about the reason for the same. 

From grade 6 to grade 10 I continued with the same routine. I adored  her so much. I was deeply in love with her.For five years I kept on thinking of telling her that she was my crush,my life,my love but  I couldn’t. By this time she looked more than comfortable. 

I decided to come to the point." So..you have fallen in love with this guy. Now , what is the problem? Is he a friend? For how long do you know each-other? How did you meet this guy? She looked at me and smiled.” 

I have not seen him in person but we like each-other.He is a fashion photographer.He likes me very much and he makes me feel so special.All the messages and chats make me feel so young and beauteous.”she said.   “You are young,aren’t you?”

I demanded.”You are only 30. “yes I am" she said. “But Raju kasbekar, he is only 25.Five years younger to me.We don’t mind the age difference.He has his own studio and I am busy with my professional commitments.So career wise we are independent but as far as social acceptance is concerned,I am little apprehensive.”

  “Hello! Give yourself a break. You have not met him even once and you are angst-ridden about so many things. Just chill. Take it easy. Go and meet him once then decide your course of action,” I recommended. “Don’t get worried about anything. Good you approached me. Fix an appointment with him and keep in touch with me. It  would be my pleasure to  be of some assistance. Trust me.”I assured.She looked at ease. We shook hands and she left. With a beaming face, I sat there for sometime  and ordered a drink for me. It was a big celebration for me.

 I had seen her after so many years and developed a fatal attraction towards her. All my thoughts, feelings and sentiments had gone numb. My heartbeat had increased.”God! Have I fallen in love with her? But she already likes somebody else. So, I will just help her towards a life full of love and happiness,” I promised myself.

Two days after our meeting, Janaki sent me a message, informing me that they have fixed their first meeting in a theatre so that they could sit and natter  for three hours at a stretch.I advised her to make an excuse of lack of time and meet him in a restaurant. She consented for the same. She was very thrilled  about the meeting and so was I.

I told her I would be comparatively free that day so, if she wants to share something ,she could just drop in.

I had a strong desire to see her again.And here she was at the reception.I had informed my staff to receive her warmly and make her sit in my guest room, in case I was dealing with a client .I could see her on the CCTV.My secretary was at her service trying to entertain her when a staff gave my secretary an album that had just arrived from a shop.My secretary kept it on the table and moved out of the room to get some more coffee for Janaki.

Instead of sitting idle, Janaki decided to see the album. She was shocked to see the first page containing her photograph. She turned the pages and was stunned to see her childhood photographs of school functions ,sports, dance programmes, drama  and many more.She was everywhere.The last photograph was of the bus stop outside her school.On hearing  the footsteps of the secretary, she closed the album and sat comfortably on the couch.

But she was upset, disturbed, perturbed, troubled and what not.Is she the girl whom  the Dr.loves? If yes,Why didn’t he tell her?He is a tall,handsome,robust,beefy man.He is so successful and popular.Any girl would fall for him?He must be having many girls approaching him everyday then why didn’t he get married? Is she the lucky girl for whom he came to her bus stop for so many years? She was bewildered ,confused, muddle-headed. But she concealed her feelings.By this time the client had left and she was escorted to Aneesh’s office by his secretary. 

He gave her a broad welcome smile and apologised for keeping her waiting for a while. She said that she was perfectly fine with that as she  had not informed him that she would come to see him.

“How was your first meeting,dear?” Aneesh shot his first question.   “It was fine”,she responded.   “Why such a cold response?” I asked.    “I don’t know. It was a good meeting. He was very excited. He is a sweet and loving boy  but I am not very sure of meeting him again. I want some time to think over the entire thing.” She asked me if she could meet me the next day as she didn’t feel like talking now. I told her that my office would be closed so she could  come to my house if she was comfortable or we could meet in the same restaurant. She consented to see me at my place and  left.

Next day she joined me for lunch.My parents were pleased to see that for the first time I had invited a girl home.I told my mom ,Janaki was just a client but she knew that  never before had a client ,joined us for lunch .My mom could sense that Janaki was more than a client. She shared with my parents about her personal life and how we were bus friends for  six years.My mom gave one of her naughtiest smiles while looking at me.I felt embarrassed. Then my parents exchanged looks and smiled.I could read between the lines.Janaki was completely unaware of the entire non verbal communication woven around  her.

 After the lunch we moved towards my study where I would meet my clients on Sundays in special cases.

“Tell me now,about your meeting with  Raju.How was it? Are you at ease talking about it today?” I inquired. She stared at me with a cheerful grin. She was looking unruffled and serene. “I have not come here to talk about Raju. I am here to talk about you and that girl.Your crush.What is her name?”she asked. I was shocked by this unexpected attack.  “Well, I would never ever disclose her name to anyone.”I said. She had an  impish smirk on her face. 

“Can we see each-other quite often. I mean,I would like to spend some time with you so that we get to know each-other,” she said. I literally jumped from my chair .I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Does she mean to say that she is interested in me? I pinched myself. Ouch! it wasn’t a dream. The heart-throb of millions of boys, the super - model ,  Janaki  was interested in me. Is this my ‘Make a Wish Day’. I felt like jumping, screaming shouting with excitement but I guarded myself. I didn’t want to reveal my true feelings. I just smiled and gave my approval.

After few meetings we decided to get married. We planned to keep it a simple and private affair but our parents suggested we throw a grand receptrion and invite all our relatives and friends. Mahalaxmi  Race Course ground was the venue. Around thousand people were invited. It was a mega event of the city. The media never predicted that Janaki would fall in love with a doctor and marry him. Everybody was surprised. Both of us had invited our school and college friends. Many of them were common friends. They were shocked at this union .They always conceived me as a studious and serious student. They had never heard me talking about any girl.

 But the person who got maximum amount of shock was my best buddy,my childhood friend  , Vineet. He took me aside and asked   “How did this happen? And  why now after my marriage? How I wish I had told her that I liked her so much since school days.The pain that I took going to her bus stop to catch the school bus".  

“I don’t think you should tell this to her now. She is my wife , silly boy. She would feel sad about that. And you are a married man now, so what is the use? Why to complicate life?” 

Vineet found the point valid.   Giving me a parting hug he asked me,  “I had sent my album to your office.Did you see  that?”  “Which  album?” I asked in surprise.     “Forget it”, he said “Now there is no point talking about that.”

I stood there startled, shocked , worried just trying to figure out which album was my friend talking about.