Chapter 1

                                    

                                              
A new day had begun. For others it would hold an importance in their lives as they would do something new or spend some time with their loved ones. But for her, it was just another day to be passed in the arms of loneliness. She took a deep breath and looked out of the window. She was a sweet old-timer with rich streaks of grey hair adorning her looks, combined with her warm smile it could still flutter a few hearts. When she was young, many a proposals had come but she had vowed that she would only be his...only her Shravan's. Alas time flew by and the day never came. She opened her diary and took out an old black and white photo. Both seemed quite young and very happy with each other...of course it was their 1st picture together. A thin line of tears formed in her eyes and clutching the photo tightly with her trembling fingers she said "Shravan, where are you? Did you forget me? Will you never forgive me?"
                          
Saying this she went down her memory lane in order to derive some momentary pleasure of the good old days.
                          
She recollected how they had accidentally bumped into each other one monsoon in 1956 when she was all of 16. But the 1st meet itself was enough to tell them that they were destined to be together. They came to know their families were old time acquaintances. As the time passed the accidental meets turned into scheduled meetings and they became best friends and finally the day came when Shravan told her how much he loved her and her presence in his life. Sumo too reciprocated his feelings and it was the happiest day of their lives.

                          
Suddenly her train of thoughts came to a halt hearing a cheerful squeal "Girlfriend! GF!".
                          
She wiped her tears and looked towards the source of this sound. Standing in front of her making an angry pout face and folding his hands in front of his chest was standing the world's most cutest cherubic little thing. "How can you do this Sumo? You forgot your BF and clicked this photo. When? And who is this dumbo?" pointing towards the man in the frame "Go, I won't talk with you?"
                          
Suman chuckled at his innocent outburst and replied "No my dear Dabbu, how can I forget you? See I even bought 2 chocolates but looks like someone is very angry and won't even talk with me"
                          
Hearing the word 'CHOCOLATE' his heart melted or more so his mouth watered "No no! How can I be angry on my GF? You are my Sumo the great and I love you so much" buttering her, he now grabbed the chocolates from her and gorged on them greedily.
                          
Sumo smiled at his cute antics. Dabbu had become a part of her life since the past 3 years. She still remembers the day when he shifted with his family to the house beside the nursing home. He had hit her with his ball unknowingly while playing in the garden and when he came near her to take it back, she made a deal with him - She will return the ball only if they became friends. Dabbu was overjoyed as he had no friends in the neighborhood while for Sumo, it would provide some momentary respite from her loneliness. They had become thick friends and Dabbu came to visit her every day after his school and as today was Sunday, he would linger around her the whole day.
                          
Munching on his chocolate Dabbu said "Sumo you didn't tell me who was the stupid guy with you in the photo?"
                          
Sumo shook her head and said "He is not stupid dear. He was so handsome. He looked like Amitabh Bachchan, the actor. He is Shravan, Shravan Malhotra. He was a wonderful person. I loved him very much! I still do. I didn't get married ever. I guess no one could fill the void in my life that he left."
                          
Dabbu sensing something weird asked innocently, "Didn't he love you back? Tell me his address, I shall go and box his ears and knock some sense into his thick skull. How could he hurt my GF?"
                          
"No. He loved me very much, actually more than himself. But due to a misunderstanding we drifted apart" Sumo said with a heavy heart.
                          
Dabbu jumped and with a twinkle in his eyes asked "What was the misunderstanding? Tell me na! It's been a long time since I heard a good story and now I want to hear my Sumo's life story, no Sumo's love story! Please tell me!" He urged her with the cutest puppy eyes and shook her hand vigorously.
                          
"Ok, ok! I'll tell you but won't you get bored?" Sumo asked.
                          
Dabbu nodded his head in negative and she began...