Tucked Away in my Heart - The Beginning

Let me take you back to the start.

I "met" Nonu via a matrimonial website - not a very subtly named one at that. Yes, in today's day and age, I still want my parents to look for a suitable "boy" for me. My parents had been after my life to get married and had gone ahead to make me yet another one along with a gazillion others wishing to get married - so much for your identity and meeting - and falling in love with - the right person and so on. I was dead set against this way to holy matrimony, but the powers-that-be - my parents - were dead set for it. Guess who won.

But I digress. SO, I got to know Nonu via a matrimonial site. I took one look at his profile, gave him the once-over, and passed him by saying, “he doesn't look or sound exciting enough. Next, please." And I thought that was the end of it. But no. My sweet father went ahead, gave his profile more than the once over and, giving me a very grieved look, "He's tall, decent looking and well educated. What more do you want? Meet him once and listen to what he has to say, please." Guess what happened.

When my father finishes a sentence with a "please" it means get it done and get it done now. So, there I sat, staring at my laptop screen in the dead of one very cold January night, trying to politely reply to his email -thanking him for his interest in my profile. Not me, mind you, my profile. On matrimonial websites, we are not a person. We are a "profile". I looked at his words - "Went through your profile. It interested me at first, then made me smile, captivated me with a firm grip and finally made me laugh out loud. What a refreshing change from the usual boring 'sarva gun sampann' write-ups. If you find my profile interesting too, do get in touch with me. My email ID is..." And of course, when I went through his profile, it was as cut and dry as they come. Talked about his family - a business one, in the outskirts of the place I belonged to (mental tick 1. I have always wanted to stay close to where my parents are.), about his siblings - only brother to three loving sisters (mental cross 1. THREE sisters? I'd be squashed!), about the fact that they were a super close family (mental ? 1. Aren't we all?). It also talked about the fact that he was project manager with a large IT firm (ho hum) and that he loved to eat - a complete foodie (mental tick no. 2.), that he loved to cook (mental tick no. 3.) and that he loved to travel and wanted to visit every nook and cranny of the world (mental tick no. 4. Deal Clincher.). I decided to write back to him."Hi, Thanks for showing an interest in my profile". Backspace all the way to the comma after the ‘hi.’ Sounded too gratified that he'd even so much as looked. Hello, this is me we're talking about. "Hi, Glad you dropped by." Backspace all the way again. As if I was waiting for him - or anyone else - to. Many attempts later..."Hi, Well I'm a success. I made at least one person on the earth laugh. :) Went through your profile. Must say your love for food and travel are what really made me write back to you. I have two questions for you to start with. What's the most different thing you've eaten? And, what's the prettiest place you've been to till now?

Till I hear from you, bon apetit."

I hit the "send" button.