Love is Blind

by Vijay K Kerji

  Niranjan thought for a while and remembered Jennifer telling him about his family members. She had informed him once about her brother James. 

      

  Niranjan gazed at him and asked, "Are you James Coleman?"

      

  "Yes I am."

      

  "Please come on in," Niranjan said. He wide opened the door for him and offered a seat on the couch. James sat on a smaller couch while Niranjan made himself comfortable on a larger one. 

      

  "Would you like to have something to drink?" Niranjan asked. 

      

  "No thanks, and I have seen you roaming around outside with Jennifer," he said. 

      

  Niranjan was silent for a moment. 

      

  James looked at Niranjan's eyes and said, "I am here to inform you not to cross your limits. She had been exploited by her boyfriend before and she has not yet fully recovered from the betrayal she had to face. You don't make her to go in the trauma once again," 

      

  Niranjan stared at the ground for few seconds, and paused a moment. 

      

  "Well, I don't think I am doing anything wrong, and we are just good friends. I have not hurt her feelings by any means and she always feels happy with me". 

      

  "Well, I caution you not to continue your friendship with her anymore, and otherwise you face the consequences," James said. 

      

  "Well, I need to talk to Jennifer about it," Niranjan said. 

      

  "You are not going to contact her now onwards, and you consider it as my warning," James said. 

      

  Niranjan looked at his intense gaze, and his expression had all sorts of emotions. The feeling James had in his heart was resentful. Niranjan felt uncomfortable and couldn't speak with him any longer. 

      

  "I hope you take my words seriously and leave her alone," James said. He walked outside and slammed the door. 

   

  Niranjan was shocked at the incident and was immersed in deep thoughts about Jennifer. 

      

  James mentioned about her affair with someone before. She was hurt with her previous love affair. I never noticed any sadness in her when she was with me these days. She was always happy with me. I will try to abstain from calling her and let's see how things will turn out in the next few days 

      

  He could sleep late in the midnight with many thoughts about Jennifer and James's harsh words to him. 

  Chapter 20 Andrea’s Mediation

  Everything becomes a little different as soon as it is spoken out loud - Hermann Hesse

   

  Jennifer was busy in tidying up her room in the evening. She saw James watching the television in his bed room opposite, in the first floor. She was bit disappointed with his behaviour towards her when she returned from the Shenandoah Valley trip with Niranjan. Her Mom had to interfere between them to end the spat. She understood James's point of view. She knew that he was concerned about her safety and well being, and he was angry with what had happened with her when she dated with Andrew. But she loved Niranjan, and she was attracted to his well-mannered behaviour. 

      

     She heard her cell phone vibrating while she was gazing at her closet. She saw Andrea calling on the cell screen. She immediately picked it up and said, "Hello, Andrea, how are you doing?" 

      

  "Hi Jennifer, I am doing well. How are things at your end? Is everything okay at home?" Andrea asked. 

      

  Jennifer paused for a moment. 

      

  Probably she is informed about her spat with James by either Mom or James himself. Let me not reveal her anything about it. 

      

  "Yeah, everything is all right here," Jennifer said. 

      

  "Okay, your Mom told me about your trip to the Shenandoah Valley with Niranjan. I hope you had good time with Niranjan," she said. 

      

  "Yeah, I enjoyed his company. He is really nice guy to hang out with," Jennifer said. 

      

  "Okay, that's good to know. May be you need to talk to James about your friendship with Niranjan, and convince him about your good relations with Niranjan," Andrea said. 

      

  Jennifer realized that her Mom had informed Andrea about her argument with James. 

      

  Well, I need to take Andrea’s help in calming down James about my friendship with Niranjan. Let's not miss this opportunity. 

      

  "Andrea, can you come over here, we need to talk to James about it," Jennifer said. 

      

  "All right, I will start right away and would be happy to resolve the matter between you," Andrea said. 

      

  "Okay, I will wait for you, bye," Jennifer said and ended the conversation. 

      

     ######

   

  Jennifer decided to speak with James about her friendship with Niranjan in the mediation of Andrea. She had confidence in Andrea that she will resolve the matter amicably. Jennifer had understood about Niranjan well and she had realized that his intentions are not bad as that of Andrew's. She had remembered many unpleasant incidents with Andrew which had made her to cry alone. But these days, she had embraced a new life with the company of Niranjan, who has brought cheerfulness to her life. 

      

  Jennifer dressed herself after taking shower. She saw James playing with Rosy in the main hall while Andrea stepped inside. Catherine was busy in the kitchen while James said, "Hi Andrea, What a surprise". 

      

  "Yeah, I spoke with Jennifer a while ago," she said. 

      

  "A long time has passed since we last met," James said. 

      

  "Yeah, you are correct." 

      

  Meanwhile, Jenifer stepped down the staircase and welcomed Andrea. They sat on a couch while James remains seated on the recliner. 

      

  "Well, how are your parents doing?" James asked. 

      

  "They are doing well, and Dad is away on a business trip to Philadelphia," Andrea said. 

      

  "Okay." 

      

  "Well, Jane, hope you had a nice trip last weekend with your friend Niranjan," Andrea Asked. 

      

  "Yeah, I had nice outing with him, he is a nice guy," Jennifer said. 

      

  "What the hell do you mean by nice guy?" James said. His eyes seemed to spark with fury. 

  "James, you don't know anything about Niranjan and first let's hear everything from Jennifer. Jennifer, would you mind telling your experience of friendship with Niranjan? How do you feel? Do you feel safe with him?" Andrea asked. 

      

  Jennifer paused for a moment, and explained her happy days she had spent with Niranjan. She appreciated for his kind and caring nature. She said he has given her a new life after she broke with Andrew few years ago and now she no longer lives in the bad memories of her relationship with Andrew. 

   

  She felt safe when she is with Niranjan and she is very much happy with their friendship. 

      

  "Well, do you at any time felt that Niranjan is trying to take advantage of your friendship in any ways?" Andrea asked. 

      

  "I don't think so, and he will be busy in his work all of the workweek and you know already that he works for General Electric at Princeton," Jennifer said. 

      

  "Yes, I know about that," Andrea said. She looked at James who was staring at the fl
oor. His anger seemed to be diminished a little. 

      

  "Well, James, I think the guy is fair enough and we need not intervene in their friendship which is personal to them," Andrea said. 

      

  "Well, I am concerned that the history that may repeat itself for her," James said. 

      

  "I don't think the same thing will happen to her again. She has learnt lessons from the past and she is cautious enough this time around," Andrea said. 

      

  James gazed at Jennifer once and remained silent. His fury had come down after he heard everything form Jennifer and Andrea. 

      

  "All right, James, you are not poking Jennifer with this matter again and she informs me if she faces any problems in her friendship with Niranjan. You maintain peace in this house about the matter," Andrea said. 

      

  Meanwhile, Catherine came from the kitchen and suggested Jennifer to be careful with anyone outside. She requested James to maintain harmony. 

      

  Jennifer thanked Andrea for the mediation and she appreciated her help in the matter. 

      

  Thereafter James did not interfere in Jennifer’s friendship with Niranjan and behaved well with her.

   

  Chapter 21 Niranjan Speaks with Vivek

  Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success - Henry Ford 

   

  Niranjan decided to wrap up the work in his office early and planned to meet Vivek on Friday. He called up Vivek and informed him of his visit. He left his work place well before time, and reached Summit Software Solutions, the USA office. He greeted the receptionist and walked inside the Vivek's office where he found him busy on the computer. He glanced at him once and said, “Hi Vivek, it appears you are very busy". 

      

  Vivek turned himself away from the computer and towards Niranjan and said, "Hi, Niranjan. Well, I am going through a project proposal document". 

      

  Niranjan sat by the table facing Vivek and kept his bag on the adjacent chair. 

      

  "Well, what kind of project proposal you are looking at?" Niranjan asked. 

      

  “I need to talk to you about it. You know already that, Summit Software is trying to get the projects from the clients in the USA to outsource it to its Indian office. We are not only just providing the manpower to the clients but interested in doing software projects for them,” Vivek said. 

      

  "Wow, it's a great idea, and we get more job opportunities back in Summit India since we outsource the project work from here," Niranjan said. 

      

  "You are absolutely correct, and it gives an advantage to us over our competitors who are concentrating just on placement activities. It also provides the better profit margin to Summit Software, if we are able to prove our efficiency in project execution successfully," Vivek said. 

      

  "Okay, I appreciate the initiative taken by Summit Software in this matter," Niranjan said. 

      

  "Well, Niranjan we are looking for someone from here who is technically sound and can work with us to study the project requirements from the clients and estimate the cost of the project," Vivek said. 

      

  "Okay, we can take someone who is already working for Summit, instead of a new hire," Niranjan said. 

      

  "Yes, and since we have good report from every one about you, right from India and in here at General Electric, I am interested in giving this opportunity to you," Vivek said. 

      

  Niranjan paused for few moments and said, "Well, does it require long time commitment from me to work in the USA," Niranjan asked. 

      

  "Yeah, it requires you to work for a minimum of five years in the USA and Summit will process your green card," Vivek said. 

      

  Niranjan was silent for a moment and said, "Well, I don't mind working here but I have lot of pressure from my parents to come back to India. I had convinced them for two years of my stay in the USA when I started from there," Niranjan said. 

      

  The Silence pervaded for few moments.

      

  "Okay, let me know if you are ready to take up this opportunity after consulting with your parents since it is a challenging work for you," Vivek said. 

      

  "Sure, and I will speak with you after consulting with my parents," Niranjan said.

   

  Later, Niranjan was happy to see the report written by Frank about him. It was sent to Vivek. 

      

  My hard work has really paid off and Frank has written well about me in this report. I think I can continue doing good work to build my career in Summit Software which is managed fairly well with just.

      

  Later, he walked outside the Summit Office after successful meeting with Vivek and drove his Acura towards the Deer Creek Apartment.

   

  ######

   

  Jennifer waited for a call from Niranjan on the weekend, but was disappointed as she did not receive the call from him till late in the Sunday evening. It was usual practice for her to get a call from Niranjan during the weekend without fail. She thought something must be wrong and decided to call him on that Sunday evening.

   

  She grabbed her cell phone from the table and punched his number. Phone continued ringing but she did not hear any response from the other end. She paused for few moments. She tried again for the second time and she heard Niranjan's familiar voice, "Hi Niranjan here". 

      

  She was glad that Niranjan picked up the phone and said, "Hi Niranjan, what's up? Are you busy right now?"

      

  "No, as such."

      

  Jennifer noticed not so enthusiastic tone in Niranjan's voice. 

      

  "Well, are you feeling okay? Is everything all right with you?" Jennifer asked. 

      

  Niranjan paused for a while. 

      

  I think it's better if I talk to her about her Brother's visit to my home and his advice to me last week. If not, I would be in trouble. 

      

  "Well, I need to talk to you about something important," Niranjan said. His tone was filled with nervousness. 

      

  "Okay, you can speak with me right now, over the phone," she said. 

      

  "Well, your brother James visited my house," Niranjan said with a cheerless tone. 

      

  Jennifer was little shocked to hear this and said, "When did James meet you?" 

      

  "Last week on Wednesday evening," he said. 

      

  Jennifer understood that Andrea counselled them on Friday and James had met Niranjan before the counselling. She did not at first understand what to say to Niranjan and how to convince him that everything would be alright. 

      

  She kept silent for few minutes and said, "It's all right Niranjan; don't take his words seriously if he had spoken something wrong about our friendship. He did warn me several times about our friendship before, and I know how you are. More so, I have settled the matter in consultation with Andrea and James had promised that he will not interfere with us again. You please don't be bothered much about his visit," Jennifer said. 

      

  "All right, your brother did not let me talk much on his visit. It's good that you have calmed him down, and I found him angry during his visit here," Niranjan said. 

      

  "Okay, don't think much about it and maybe he just want
ed to convey his feelings," Jennifer said. 

      

  "Yeah, I think so," Niranjan said. 

      

  Jennifer felt a sigh of relief when she could convince Niranjan about his brother's interference. She was glad that Niranjan could understand her opinion about James to him. She told him that she will call him on Friday evening and assured her company with him for a two day trip to Washington DC next Saturday. 

   Chapter 22 Washington DC

  It is better to travel well than to arrive - Buddha 

   

  Jennifer dressed herself with red skirt and white blouse, and stood in front of the decorator mirror in her bedroom. She brushed her hairs, and applied lip gloss and mascara. She was satisfied with her look in the mirror and admired herself for having such a beautiful face with well-shaped body. 

      

  She was longing to meet Niranjan since it was almost two weeks since she last met him. She had called him on the weekday and they had planned a trip to Washington DC. She had advised Niranjan to visit the AAA office to get the trip plan and book a hotel to stay. 

      

  She picked her phone and leather bag, and stepped down the stairs to reach the main hall. She saw her Mom relaxing on a couch and Rosy sat beside her on the floor. She walked straight to her Mom, put her arms around her neck and kissed her gently. 

      

  "Okay, you'll back on Sunday night, and not over staying for any reasons," Catherine said. She kissed her back, and smiled delightedly. 

      

  Jennifer had already informed her mother about her visit to Washington DC with Niranjan few days ago. She got her mother's and James's consent with much persuasion. 

      

  "Yes Mom, we have planned for just two days trip and I'll be back by Sunday night," Jennifer said. 

      

  "Okay, happy weekend, and drive safe," Catherine said. She waved her hand to Jennifer. 

      

  "Mom, inform James about my departure when he is back," Jennifer said while she walked outside the main entrance.

     

  ###### 

      

   

  The pleasant spring weather pervaded outside with the placid sunlight and gentle cold breeze down the Deer Creek Apartment. Niranjan relaxed on the sofa facing the balcony, and waited for Jennifer to arrive. He saw Jennifer parking her Beetle in the parking space in front of the balcony of his house. He picked his travel bag and walked downstairs to join her in front of the ‘H’ block. He was astonished to see Jennifer in red skirt. He was dressed with a Van Heusen dark green trouser with pale green shirt, a semi-formal dress. 

      

  He hugged her soon after he reached her and they exchanged kiss on their lips. 

      

  "Well, let's go and it will be late otherwise," Jennifer said.