A Wish to Love

Vinay reached home early on that day. Saranya wanted him to come along with her to the nearby temple. Vinay rarely goes to the temple.?On special days,?when his mother compels him to go, he will go to the temple.

As that day turned out to be one month after their marriage, Saranya wanted him to accompany her to the temple and then take her to some good restaurant at their place. Vinay?wanted?to take her to one of the best restaurants in the city.

Both reached the temple around 5 p.m. Kasi Viswanathan temple is one of the famous Shiva temples in the area?and?it?was built?in the year 1860. The temple?was built?with the lingam brought from Kasi by two Gujarati women.

The temple stood in a sprawling area?full?of trees. Whoever visited the temple felt the ambiance and beauty of the temple surrounded by green trees.?As the temple stood away from the city, one could breathe?in?fresh air and enjoy the?fresh?breeze from the trees.?

The four walls?that enclosed?the temple stood tall and protected the people who believed in Sri Kasi Viswanathan. Goddess Visalakshi reigned there along with God to bless the people who came with their beliefs.

As it is away from the seashore, one may not be able to enjoy the sea breeze. During?his?college days, Vinay met all his friends in this temple only. They will sit there and talk for hours about their dreams, aspirations, and every kind of stuff on this earth. Now?he?has come to this temple after a long interval of more than five years along with his newly married wife.

Saranya asked him to wait at the sanctum and went to get the ticket for doing archanai to the local deity. The cool breeze?that blew?from the nearby trees made Vinay feel happy and relieved.

That is the charm of temples?which?were?built?more than one century ago. So many religions may be there for the people to follow. But very few have the charm to bring peace and prosperity into?the lives of people. And Vinay believed that the temple was the one.

During his school days, Vinay would always play there with his friends?and?he loved to watch the fish in the temple tank. Everyone will buy rice flakes to feed the fish. Vinay and his friends will sit on the?steps of the temple?and talk for hours. Vinay has seen so many colorful birds at that time. But now things are different.

The tank is there?but?it is not without water. Several people took steps to clean the tank and make it as before. But things did not happen, and whoever came to the temple looked at the sorry sight of the temple and murmured to each other.

Vinay wanted to do something to uplift the look of the temple. He?decided to ask?his colleagues to spare some time and money to do that job. Every year around the Diwali celebration, one took the responsibility to collect the money and donate it to some orphanage or get?some?school books and uniforms for needy children.

This year, Vinay planned to do it at the temple. Suddenly, he got a brilliant idea.?He?can gather all the school kids who live near his house. He can also take the help of little kids who come to play on the vast grounds of the temple.

When Saranya came back with the flowers and the archanai things, Vinay came out with a detailed plan to clean the temple and the surroundings along with the tank. Vinay closed his eyes and visualized for a while.

His inner eyes can see the big Kasi Viswanathan temple shining beautifully with lights lit all around. Even the tall walls looked bright with colorful lights and flags of different colors.

Vinay and Saranya came out after attending the special evening pooja. Vinay wanted to take Saranya to a good restaurant.?Vinay saw Vel in his usual bus,?‘AYI2135’?that entered?the terminus.?The famous Kasi Viswanathan temple stood near the bus terminus. Vinay waved his hand to Vel.

“Hi, wait, I will join?you”?Vel shouted back. Usually, there will be at least a ten-minute interval before the bus starts the next trip. Vinay and Saranya entered the terminus to meet Vel.

Meeting the couple together after a while made Vel feel happy. With his usual brilliant smile, he asked Vinay,?‘What a surprise, you are here?at this time?’

‘I?must ask this question to?you’?Vinay asked Vel with a smile.

‘Today we are late by half an hour late. Are you on your way to somewhere?’?Vel asked Vinay.

‘Just?now?we went to the temple. I thought of taking?her?to some restaurant,’?Vinay replied him.

‘Why?don’t?you take her to Hotel Sangeetha at Adyar,’?Vel questioned Vinay.

‘Yes, that is a good idea. Saranya, shall we go there?’?Vinay enquired Saranya.

‘Come with me. I am going there only.’?Vel invited Vinay.

‘No,?problem, we will go by bike.’?When Vinay replied so, Vel insisted?that they should?come on the bus?only?that day.?‘Oh, are you going to show me your angel,’?Vinay whispered to Vel.

‘Hmm. That may be also the?reason’?With?a laugh, Vel replied to Vinay.

‘Saranya, leave the things at home and come. I will wait for you here.’

‘No need, leave the things in my locker.’?Vel got the bag from Saranya and left it in his locker in the cloakroom.

Though all the seats on the bus looked filled, no crowd clogged the bus.

The drama started once a bunch of college girls got onto the bus. Vinay can see?Vel’s?eyes fervently searching for someone in the crowd, and his eyes brightly lit on spotting a dark-eyed beauty.

Vinay could not help smiling and showed Saranya the entire drama.?Vel’s?tone went down?and?he is not the usual self?at the place.?This?made Vinay chuckle softly. The bus could not move faster and had to inch through the traffic.?

The?entire?city?well-lit?with bright lights to welcome the New Year, looked like?a?heaven to Vel.?He felt the?entire world?reflected his happiness to the world. The beaming face of Dora showed?Vel,?the emotional attachment toward him.

When the bus reached the hotel at Adyar, Vel asked the driver to stop the?bus,?so that Vinay and Saranya could get?down?from the bus and go?easily?to the hotel. Along with Vinay, a few more people got down from the bus. At that time, a Christmas choir climbed into the bus.

The group started to sing?'Jingle bells'?on the bus itself.?One person who led the team dressed like Santa Claus?started?to?bless?little kids on the bus with?some?gifts.?Vel smiled at the sudden change in the bus. How it is?true,?that when you are happy, the entire world also bubbles with laughter and happiness.

For the next five minutes, the bus vibrated with beautiful songs of the blessed Christmas Eve. The entire group left the bus at the next stop. Santa Claus thanked Vel for letting them sing and blessed him.?'May your wishes come?true'?Santa Claus blessed him with a mesmerizing tone.?'You will get the hands of your lady love.'

Vel smiled and looked at Dora sitting in the front seat. She smiled back?and her smile?showed that she had also accepted his love, and the smile assured him that she would be his forever.