A tête-à-tête with Nimmi – With Love, Forever

Hello, Kavya Janani here! It’s September 14th, 2017. I am here with something interesting.

Though I have ended writing the story of Bhavana and Jairam, I am still in touch with the characters. I meet them sometimes. Talk to them like an old pal. It’s actually been a year since Bhavana and Jairam’s reunion. They got married after six months. Phew! Those six months were a fairy tale for both of them. They had lots to talk. They never even had time to spend for their friends. In between, there was Nimmi and Vikram’s marriage, which was really magical. Since Nimmi was a Potterhead, they had arranged a Potter themed reception, which was a runaway success. 

Nimmi was dressed in Hermione’s silky pink Yule Ball gown and Vikram wore an elegant emerald green dress robe. Well, to tell that they looked like million bucks is an understatement. They were something else, altogether. How Rowling would have wished to attend the reception! And then there were pancakes, butterbeer, roasted chicken, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, and chocolate frogs among other dishes. Each and every guest was given a wand, a quill, and a Harry Potter picture book especially illustrated by Nimmi.

Okay, okay, I’ll get back to the present. Currently Nimmi and Vikram are settled in Mumbai. I am also in Mumbai for some personal work. So I called up Nimmi and arranged a meeting with her in Cafe Richo. After some initial reluctance, she accepted to the meeting. Anyhow, I am her creator and she has to abide by my rules. Right? Okay, so now I am entering the cafe. Woah! She is already there. I think I am a bit late. I am actually running to her seat now.

Hey, Nimmi! I am so sorry. You know, the traffic in Mumbai sucks. Hope I didn’t keep you waiting.

Hey, that’s okay, Kavya. I know, the traffic really sucks! It’s just been five minutes since I entered.

Oh! Thank God. I thought you were going to bash me. Anyway, you wouldn’t do that. I am your creator and if you misbehave with me, I’ll mess up your….

Don’t you have anything new to tell? 

Huh?

I mean, you spoke these exact words to Bhavana too. You said that you were her creator and blah, blah, blah. Of course, you ARE our creator. We all know that. But we have our own lives too. Don’t you think? Otherwise you wouldn’t have sat here for a chat with me.

Well, hmmm…I think these threats don’t work with you guys. You all are way too smart for me. Okay, so, how’s life with Vikram? Exciting, uh?

Yeah, he’s a storehouse of fun. Even after being married for a year, I can guffaw at his slapstick jokes. Can you imagine? Jokes that can be a damp squib for others are a runaway success with me.

Then I think you have a bad sense of humour. Actually, while creating Vikram, I didn’t inject any humour in him. Don’t know how he acquired that skill of his.

Arey, he can even perform stand-ups now. He’s soooo good at it.

The waiter arrives and takes our order. I ask for a cranberry latte and Nimmi orders a cappuccino.

Okay, did you meet Bhavana? How’s married life for her?

She’s doing great. Though they are two extremes, they get on well. I am kind of proud of them. I didn’t actually think that they can sustain together. I mean, Jairam is a conservative Rajasthani at heart, though he changed himself for Bhavana’s sake. He might still have some inhibitions about her. But he sheds everything, understands her, and moves along with her. The same goes for Bhavana, too. She is so outspoken and modern. I can’t even imagine her putting up with a conservative guy. Her lifestyle is entirely different. To know that she is following some of Jairam’s traditions is quite a surprise for me. Yeah, she does some weird pujas, when she is in Jaipur. I don’t know how she learnt doing all those.

Seems like they are happy, even being diverse. How’s your compatibility with Vikram?

We are absolutely compatible. We are just the antonyms of Jairam and Bhavana. We have the same tastes, wishes, and dreams. Though we might turn ponderous at times, we try to do things creatively to keep the spark alive. And lemme tell you something. Vikram would have been the best life partner for Bhavana, in my view. I should not say this, being his wife. But I am tempted. Things would have been much better, if you had just married off Jairam to someone else. Eventually Vikram would have married Bhavana, chucking me out. Then I’d have been a freeee bird. Ha ha ha!

Our orders arrive and we take a few moments to indulge in our delicious coffees. I am chuckling at Nimmi’s weird idea. The waiter throws a nasty look at me and leaves the place.

Hahaha..That’s a good idea. But my dear readers would have mercilessly murdered me. Well, yeah, Vikram was good for Bhavana. But how can I break a high voltage old-school romance and bring up a contemporary one in that place? That would have made the story more complicated. Okay, do you have any advice for young couples?

Yeah, I do have. Just let your partner be themselves. That is the secret mantra for a long-lasting relationship. Though I sound like someone who’s been married for ages, I can definitely provide this advice for the to-be married couples. Coz, issues begin after six months into your married life. To cope with them, you have to patiently listen to your partner, understand them, find out their exact needs, and give them freedom. You must not be egoistic or selfish. You should also find ways to keep the romance burning in your relationship. It should not fizzle out because of the emotional problems or external disturbances. Never let any third person know your troubles. Talk to each other and sort them out. Accept each other whole-heartedly. Adjust, don’t compromise. Take decisions together and take life as it comes.

Woahhhh! That was beautiful, Nimmi. So, what happened to your real name? Do people still call you Swapna?

Yes, some of my relatives still call me as Swapna. As you know, my full name is Swapnalatha Singh. As time passed by, my parents shortened it to Swapna and even changed my name in all the certificates. Vihaan, my cousin, used to call me by the nickname ‘Nimmi’. He’s no more. Passed away twelve years ago, due to a brain tumour. So I retained the nickname and asked my best friends to call me as Nimmi. Especially I requested Bhavana to address me as Nimmi, permanently.

Superb! I never knew that you had a backstory for your nickname, too. How did I miss that?

Like you have missed many other things.

What? What did I miss?

Why don’t you have a chat with Vikram? Sometime later?

Wait, don’t leave. Tell me everything.

No, I am sorry. Bye. It was sweet talking to you. You are the best, Kavya.

Th..Thank you so much, Swapnalatha Singh.

Oh, no! She’s gone. She didn’t even listen to my calling her as Swapnalatha. Anyway, it was fun talking to her. She’s sunshine. Hope she maintains the jocund aura around her.