Valentine’s Day Love Story

Sameer hails from Bangalore, India. He has his own tech startup in India and lives a decent life there. He is 26 something and had just dated one girl till date.

7 Years Ago

“I want to go to America to pursue my Engineering studies there”, Sameer told his father.

Sameer’s father is a man of traditional thinking and believes that money is everything and that education doesn’t really help in earning money. He is strict, stern and believes that whatever he says is right.

“Why do you want to go to the US? Study here and then join me in my business. I’m not going to spend hell lot of money on your studies abroad. Studies will not help you make money. Work with me, struggle and make money”, his father sternly replied.

“I don’t understand your business and want to do something on my own”, Sameer said fearlessly.

“Okay then earn your own money and go to the US. It’s clearly written in your horoscope that you will not study much. Why should I spend money on your education then?” his father asked Sameer.

“You know I don’t believe in horoscope and readings”, Sameer said. 

Sameer didn’t feel like doing anything for a few days. Nor did he speak to anyone in the family. He was stubborn that he wanted to go to the US. Ultimately his father had to agree to his wishes and Sameer was all set to fly to New York where his applications were accepted.

 5 Years Ago

Sameer’s college life was going smoothly. He was always hooked on to studies, reading about technology and settling in New York. He chanced to meet Samantha, a second year student in another department.

Samantha is a frivolous girl and enjoys life to the fullest. She likes to party, hang out with friends and shop. She is an emotional girl.

Sameer and Samantha became close friends and spent a good amount of time with each other. Samantha’s zodiac sign is Scorpio and Sameer’s zodiac sign is Aries. Just like their zodiac sign’s personality traits, Samantha is seductive and flirtatious while Sameer is adventurous yet reserved in his own world. Samantha believed in astrology and horoscope and used to read love horoscope online daily. Sameer didn’t like this initially but then he somehow started reading it along with Samantha.

4 Years Ago

Sameer and Samantha dated for 1 year but then Sameer realised that Samantha was just killing away her time with him and she wasn’t serious at all. Slowly Samantha started ignoring Sameer and they both had a verbal spat, after which Sameer stopped talking to her. A few weeks later Samantha called up Sameer and apologized but Sameer was in no mood to forgive her.

A few weeks later Sameer received a message on his phone from Samantha saying that she is flying back to her native place and that she’s engaged to a guy there. Heart-broken, Sameer replied back with good wishes for her coming life.

2 Years Ago

Sameer started working in a tech company in Silicon Valley and enjoyed his work. Very quickly he had learned things and his company was happy with his performance. But Sameer started getting calls from his parents daily forcing him to come back to India and get married to someone here and settle. But Sameer somehow got it delayed saying that he had some commitments in the company and that he was heading the project. His parents couldn’t do anything. This went on for another year.

A Year Ago

One fine day Sameer’s father howled at him for not listening to his requests to come back to India and threatened him that he will personally come to the US, create a scene and take him back. Sameer gave it a thought and decided that he’ll go to India once and come back saying that he has many things to wind up before he can come back permanently to India. Sameer had now inculcated the habit of reading free love horoscope daily (one thing that has stayed with him since Samantha’s departure from his life).

6 Months Ago

It was 31^st January (two weeks before the Valentine’s Day and his best friend Michael’s birthday).

Michael is a jovial, friendly and passionate guy. He lives in Delhi, India. Michael is very adventurous and likes to party with friends. It’s very easy for him to make friends and make people around him laugh. Girls like him and are attracted towards his body.

The daily horoscope for his zodiac sign had this reading that day, “Home sweet home? Cupid strikes your home from Saturday till 31^st March bringing both excitement and restlessness in your nest. You’ll undertake travel to your home to find the love of your life.” Sameer didn’t pay much attention but had decided that he’ll go back to India for his friend’s birthday and also visit his parents. Immediately he booked tickets for 12^th February to Delhi.

Two days later, Michael called up Sameer and the two of them were talking after a long time.

“Dude what are your plans for your birthday?” Sameer asked Michael.

“Nothing as of yet. But I’m convincing a few friends to join on an adventurous trip to Hrishikesh, India”, replied Michael.

“Wow! See dude I wanted to give you a surprise and come to Delhi for your birthday. But now I think if you’re planning for a trip, I should let you know that I’ll be there on 13^th February”, Sameer revealed the suspense in excitement.

“What! That’s amazing. Why don’t you join us for the adventurous trip?” Michael asked.

Sameer agreed. He landed at Delhi airport on 13^th February and went straight to the railway station where Michael and his friends were waiting for him to come. The tickets to Hrishikesh were booked. Michael introduced Sameer to his group of 4 girls (Kiyara, Benny, Ishika and Tia) and 2 guys (Aryan and Dhruv). Sameer already knew Ishika and Dhruv. The journey had begun. Sameer opened the website on his iPad and read the daily love horoscope before getting into the fun mood with Michael and his friends. The readings today for his star sign read: “Expenses, fun and party, oh! Love is in the air. You might just love someone more than you’ve ever loved anybody.”

The “always shy” Sameer had opened up to everyone in the group very quickly. They reached Hrishikesh a few hours later. They began the party at 6 p.m. It was almost dark. They lit the bonfire and everyone was in a frolic mood. They drank beers and roamed everywhere near their Alpine tents facing the Ganges and the mountains. It was 11:30 p.m. Sameer called everyone and brought the cake.

“The cake would only be cut at 12:00. Till then let’s dance, this time for Michael. Let’s all speak a sentence or two about how Michael is so dear to each of us”, Sameer announced.

At the knock of 12:00 champagne bottles were opened and cake was cut. They all partied till 4 a.m. Michael and Sameer were still awake and went for a walk near the Ganges and slept at 5 a.m.

Sameer woke up at 6:30 a.m. Kiyara was already awake. They both came out of their tents and went out to explore the beautiful scenery. They kept on talking and exploring the place till 9.30 a.m. They didn’t realise that 3 hours had passed since they began walking together. It was only when Ishika, Kiyara’s best friend, called up to know her whereabouts that she realised that they had come so far.

(Love was certainly in the air).

Today was the second and last day at Hrishikesh. They all got ready and went for white water river rafting in the cold water of Ganges. Kiyara had water phobia and was reluctant to join them. Everyone persuaded her that nothing would happen to her. Sameer also tried to persuade her in his own way. Kiyara finally agreed and joined them. There was still fear in her heart. But Sameer and Aryan surrounded her (and protected her). She slowly felt at ease with water and started enjoying it. The real fun began when the rafting had actually started. After surpassing the high waves in the river, the raft stopped in the middle of the river and everyone was asked to get down in the cold water.

It was a tough call for Kiara, who was still happy in the raft but had the feeling that she would drown if she jumped in the water. Sameer and Aryan once again came to her help and appeased her. She jumped in the water. Aryan was getting closer and closer to her, which somehow Sameer didn’t like. Sameer called every guy on his side and started frolicking with water and asked the paddler to click some photos.

(Sameer managed to get Aryan away from Kiara as well as leaving Kiara away from others so that she is frightened and she’d call for help and then Sameer could go near her.)

Kiara also felt comfortable with Sameer and liked the way he took care of her and the way he spoke. At night everyone drank again and partied. Kiara and Sameer chatted till the wee hours of the morning. Next day morning they were ready to move back to their respective places. Sameer was supposed to stay at Michael’s place for one more day and then leave for his hometown in Bangalore. They all reached at Delhi station. Sameer wanted to get Kiara’s phone number. So indirectly he asked all of them to click one last photo and asked them to create a group on a popular messaging app on mobile phone. This way he managed to get her number. They all departed. They all stayed in touch through the group messages, where everyday people just reminisced about the fun they had at Hrishikesh.

Three days later Sameer reached Bangalore. His parents were so happy to see him after a long time. He already missed Kiara. He opened the website on his iPad and read the daily horoscope again. Today it read, “A nice present is wrapped for you and waiting for your consent to enter your heart. It comes with a lot of tensions but the fruits are too sweet to neglect.”

Sameer and Kiara chatted daily. They spoke for long hours over the phone. Both seemed to have started liking each other. Sameer once again met Kiara, though for a short time, when he went to Delhi for his passport renewal. 4 weeks had passed since Sameer came to India and he was almost always talking to Kiara either through chat messages or through calls.

It was 20^th March, a day before Sameer’s birthday. Sameer never had had a special birthday. But this time he hoped that his birthday would be special with Kiara’s surprise. Sameer hoped that Kiara would be the first one to call him at 12:00 midnight. But Michael called him first. At 12:50 a.m. when almost everyone had wished Sameer, Sameer went off to sleep. The phone rang and “Kiara calling…” flashed on the screen. Sameer’s happiness knew no bounds.

They talked for about 20 minutes. It seemed as if both wanted to hear from the other person that they loved each other. No one said. But the silence had spoken everything. It was 24^th March. Sameer and Kiara had started chatting at about 10 pm at night and continued till 3 a.m. the next day. Finally both proposed each other. They both felt really positive and happy. Meanwhile, Sameer’s parents had arranged for him to see a girl, whom they had already liked. It was 29^th March. Sameer saw the girl but didn’t like her much, not only because he had already proposed Kiara but also because the qualities that he wanted in a girl, the girl didn’t seem to have.

Sameer said a “No” to his parents for the girl. His father shouted at him and said when everything is good why is he rejecting her. At night Sameer told about Kiara to his family. His father asked whether the girl was ready. And Sameer said a yes. His father then said that if Kiara’s father wants to meet him (love-cum-arranged marriage) then he is also ready to see his son’s happiness. Sameer left for Delhi the very next day to convince Kiara and her family for marriage. Sameer was really happy that the daily horoscope readings were turning out to be true.

4 Months Ago

Sameer is back to US. Sameer hadn’t read the daily horoscope for a few months now. While Sameer and Kiara talk daily, Kiara’s father hasn’t agreed yet. Kiara’s father is a firm believer of ‘match making’ and the horoscopes of Sameer and Kiara haven’t matched exactly. Sameer and Kiara don’t believe in astrology but still don’t want to hurt their parents and run away. While Sameer’s family is okay with both of them getting married, Kiara’s father hasn’t relented. Sameer and Kiara are all alone in their fight with not much support from their relatives. They are still positive that they will get married. They had decided that they would not get married to anyone else.

One day Sameer’s father travelled to Delhi for an official tour. There was a big exhibition for various businesses. Sameer’s father and Kiara’s father chanced to meet through a common business interest. They both were discussing about the possibility to invest somewhere. They both seemed to be equally interested in the opportunity. They both chatted for long hours and found that they had a common relation with a person, who was Sameer’s father’s business client and Kiara’s father’s relative.

Kiara’s father invited all of them to his place for dinner. Sameer’s father saw Kiara there and immediately recognised that it was she (since he had already seen her photograph in Sameer’s phone). He came back to Bangalore and called up Sameer in the US. He told her the story and asked him to wind up everything and come back to India – this time for his own love.

Present Day

Sameer permanently moved to India. Sameer and his father are still persuading Kiara’s father to get both of them married. Kiara’s father is still not ready to go against the wishes of God (their horoscopes don’t match). Sameer has rejected about 6-7 girls and Kiara has told her parents that she wouldn’t get married to anyone else if not Sameer.

If God didn’t want them to be together, why did He make both of them meet?

If they were not made for each other, why did they feel so comfortable with each other right from the day they first met?

If their horoscopes didn’t have to match, why do their thoughts and interests match?

For parents, is their children’s happiness important** to them or their own traditional beliefs?

(** Taking into consideration that Sameer and his family are really good people.)