It seemed a perfect winter morning, the Sun rays trying to peep through the mild mist. The air fresh from the fragrance of the dew spotted Roses and Chrysanthemums. What an irony, he thought. How he loved all this and yet despised winter. He carefully let his rickety bicycle roll along the paved walkway. He grumbled as he heard the clanging sound of the pedals as it went along with its lifeless rotation. After fastening his cycle behind the car parking lot he checked out his dress and gave a satisfied smile, no rusty spots on his spotless full white uniform. He looked at the health centre and gave a big sigh, what a serene atmosphere now and how its going to change in a matter of minutes.

Krishnettan, as his very few friends & acquaintances addressed him liked to be a loner and he had maintained that for the good part of his life. He lived in his own make believe world and had all the world’s time. Time to him wasn’t anything precious to be gobbled up quickly but to savour slowly, so much so that sometimes people would be at pains waiting for him to finish off a sentence. Many a times he had to be reminded he was saying something. Everything about him was monotonous and stereotype. The most anyone had seen him in other than his bright white uniform was in pale cream or off white stitched in the same fashion as his uniform. Even though well past into his mid 50s, he looked much older. The health centre where he had been working as a compounder for the past 30 years and his cheap type cottage were the only two worlds where his physical presence was most felt.

No one knew why he didn’t marry. Whenever that matter was put up to him he would shy away and it was a treat to the mischievous eyes of young boys and girls to see him slanting away with a blushed face. Of all his friends, he most frequented Krishnankutty’s (known to his friends as PK) place. Maybe he used to entertain him more with talks rather than wait for his slow outpourings or was it for the simple reason that there was similarity with both their names, no one knew. Any updates about Krishnettan, people used to call up PK. PK, though much younger to Krishnettan, knew exactly how to tame around his senior into jovial mood from the forlorn one he always carried. PK had once tried to rake up Krishnettan’s mind to find any hidden or subdued desire for a partner. He planned to invite him for lunch one Sunday. After much cajoling as usual he accepted the invitation, though two Sundays already passed by much to PK’s resigned annoyance.

Krishnettan arrived at PK’s house early as suspected by him.

Shailu…..our hero is here, make the coffee ready. We might be in need of more today. He called out to his wife as he saw Krishnettan meticulously trying to balance his bicycle on its rusty rear stand. He went out to greet him.

Ah, namaskaram Krishnetta!, Let me help you with that. He went over and lifted the cycle and let it rest along the hedged fence. In the meantime he heard a long drawled namaskaram from Krishnettan.

Time for a new one chetta(big brother), this one is older than you. Not fit enough to be your partner. PK said with a mischievous glance.

I will not get anything other than that now. PK was taken aback; he for sure didn’t expect a reply so soon from him. Not to lose the topic, he chipped in.

Who said you cannot get? There is nothing like “cannot”. Let your desires be fulfilled, don’t suppress it.

PK waited for any response but Krishnettan was busy in unbuckling his jet black sandals. PK watched as the scrawny fingers fumbled with the buckle. Once inside, PK handed over the cup of coffee to his old friend. He let him take some time as he knew ramming in this topic will only end it forever.

Some desires also need time. Words seeped out of the feeble lips as he slowly sipped his coffee.

Krishnetta, it is we who decide how much time we need. We can’t wait for the time to come our way. He loved this, now he knew he has him hooked onto this topic.

Age is also a deciding factor.

Yes, Krishnetta and for sure you will need someone with you after retirement which is not far away, don’t you think so?

Yes, but…..sigh…..His voice trailed as his mind went into deep thoughts.

PK looked at him and he understood what was going through the old chap’s mind.

Krishnetta, what you need now is a soul mate and companion more than your physical needs. He said stressing on each word like a professor dictating notes to his class.

Krishnettan looked at PK with a shy grin on his face, shook his head and said….”Aye…shhh, Shailaja might hear us.”. He was too blushed to say anything more.

So, tell me, if you had this desire why you didn’t do anything about it for all these years?

You know, I had some obligations to fulfill as the eldest in the family.

But that was over as you told me, its almost a decade now since then.

I thought it was too late for any marriage then.

And now? What do you think?

I should have married then.

Well, we can’t go back to that time. Think about now. I see that you still have the same thoughts. You spent 10 years thinking; now you can’t afford that.

Yes…..

So if you are willing to get married, then do something about it.

I have already spoken to my second sister. Krishnettan looked up with a sheepish grin.

PK couldn’t help laughing out. “Shailuuu, come over her. We have got news, it seems marriage bells are ringing for our dear Krishnettan,..”kochu kallan”!

Oh, that’s so nice to hear, so chetta, will you have one more coffee? Let’s hear what the plans are. Shailaja asked with a teasing tone.

Rest of the day went by with Krishnettan’s small plans about his marriage accompanied by teasing & leg pulling from PK & his wife. One can say that the latter happened more than any real info from Krishnettan. They came to know about his plans of going for vacation that summer & the poor chap was hopeful that he might find his long awaited partner then. There was only one thing that Krishenttan wanted from PK. To treat this matter with outmost secrecy which PK willingly obliged. In the evening after a tea session with Parle’s glucose biscuits (his favourite), Krishnettan decided it was time for him to get going.

As he was struggling to release his cycle from its rickety stand, PK called out with a teasing wink: “Don’t give much importance to the age of the girl, Krishnetta, remember what I told you before?”

Krishnettan’s blushing face would have put even a young bride to shame.

Months went by and PK never used to lose the chance to rekindle the flame whenever he met his old friend. Come summer and Krishnettan seemed to be in a very jovial mood. Everyone was surprised as to the reason for this drastic transformation, some feeling happy for him, some intrigued & even some concluding that it might be due to senile decay. The day he was to leave for his home town on vacation he went and met PK. PK was all happy for his dear friend and wished him all the luck in finding his partner and hoped that when he returned back he would see him as two, not one.

A couple of months went by and there was no news from Krishnettan. PK had sent two letters to him but without any reply. He hated this uneasy silence. He went and enquired at the local health centre for any news about his leave, what if he may have extended it. His suspicion turned out to be true. The old chap had extended his leave by another three weeks. He was quite sure that something about marriage might have materialized. Still he felt hurt that he hadn’t even bothered to reply to his two letters.

For PK three weeks went by in great anticipation. He let in another week to pass by before he thought about catching up on Krishnettan. He was hoping that everything went fine for him because he wasn’t feeling good about the continued silence from him. On a Sunday morning he decided to call in on Krishnettan. He knew that this day he never ventures out anywhere. When he was almost a furlong near Krishnettan’s abode, he switched off his Enfield Bullet. “Should give him a surprise”. Thought PK.

After parking his bike a little away from what he felt might be Krishnettan’s sight, he went up to the door and knocked slightly two times. “This man is a lazy bone” Wondered PK as he noticed the falling scales of paint from the door, the jutting out flakes of plaster from the walls and the dirty cobwebs on the ceiling. “What is taking him so long, might be in the courtyard washing his clothes.” Thought PK as he gave a couple of hard knocks on the door. It seemed like an eternity before the door opened slowly to reveal Krishnettan in a very shabby state and with a stupid grin on his face.

“What Krishnetta, you were still sleeping, its almost 10’o clock now.”

Krishnettan moved aside from the open door and invited PK in.

Please sit, I will come just now. Sorry, the whole place is in a mess.

As if it never was, come on Krishnetta, go take your time I will wait here.

Krishnettan was back soon and took a seat opposite his friend.

So, tell me, whats the news? I had written two letters to you. Did you get them? Asked PK

Yes, sorry, I was too busy. PK waited for him to come out with anything more to that short statement until he lost his patience and asked.

My dear Krishnetta, please tell me what happened about your marriage plans. Blurted PK

Krishnettan looked at him with a glint in his eyes, a small smile coming onto his face. He looked at the curtained doorway that led into his small dinning room and called out in his usual drawly tone……”Vi…laaa….siniii……….. Vi…laaa….siniii”.

PK could hear some rustling & clinging of bangles as he watched in eager anticipation. PK watched as a young woman in her mid thirties emerged from behind the curtain with a fixed smile on her face. She had sharp features and the jet black curly hair gave a serene beauty to a face void of any make-up. PK was stunned; he was at a loss of words. He looked at his friend. “How did he?....How could she?” He thought.

Krishnettan looked at her and said. “This is my wife Vilasini, Vilasini, this is my dear friend that I used to tell you about so much…..PK.”

There wasn’t much to talk about. PK couldn’t muster the strength to ask him directly. After having a cup of hot tea, PK took leave of Krishnettan & his young wife. Krishnettan came out and said “I will accompany you up to your bike”

PK I know what you are thinking. PK gave him a quizzical look.

This is in fact Vilasini’s second marriage, her first husband died some 6-7 years back in an accident just a week in to their marriage. She has two sisters younger to her but no proposals are coming for them as people are afraid that same fate maybe in store for the sisters. No one was even willing to marry her also. I don’t have to fear anything like that. So, I thought if I marry her then maybe it will take away the bad omen that has befallen the family.

PK was still looking at him the same way all through the narration by Krishnettan. When he felt that there was nothing more to come from those parched lips, he took his friend’s hands in his and asked “So, do you regret doing that? Did you do that willingly or as a saviour?”

No I don’t regret anything and about your other question I can only say both ways. Krishnettan was having more than a smile on his face.

Well, then my dear friend I can only say one thing to you, remember what I had told you before?” Asked PK as he kick-started his bike.

Yes, I do remember.

Then, don’t remember, forget it Krishnetta but do take care!! Winked PK as he drove away with a chuckle.