Real dreams..!!

The sky had been stained with hues of crimson. They were sitting by the seashore, each silently admiring the drowning sun. Not a single word had been spoken so far. Yet the silence that ensued had never been more pregnant. For, she somehow had the knack of deciphering the realms of his thoughts. And he was somewhat oblivious to her train of thoughts, exulting though in the comforting silence and in the feel of her pulses nearby. The breeze that tousled his hair gave him the taste of freedom. Yet his freedom had a different meaning for her. Somehow, she had realized this fact long back.

Finally, she broke the silence.

So what are you thinking of?

Nothing much. I was thinking about life in general.

As in? Dreams and stuffs?

Kind of.

So do you dream? She somehow knew she was treading on uncharted territory.

Of course I do. Who does not?

Hmm... Tell me, what do you see in your dreams?

Oh, this and that. God, dreaming was something. But speaking openly about it seemed a far difficult task.

Naah, this and that sounds evasive. Not good enough. Tell me, what do you dream of?

Ummm....For a start, I dream of a great job. I want to work with the best minds and get the right contacts. Few years down the line, I want to set up my own business. Entrepreneurship and stuffs...................

So for the next 15 minutes, he enthusiastically chattered about his career plans.

That’s it?

Yes, I guess that’s it. And now, it’s your turn.

My turn? She tried to ape nonchalance and turned her eyes from his face. There was something about his eyes that unsettled her. And there was something about her eyes she did not want him to see. Something about her dreams she did not want him to know.

Yes. Tell me about your aspirations. Having made it to one of the top schools, you must be real interested in research and stuffs?

Depends.

On?

What do you mean by the term “real interested”.

Oh.

Oh what?

Nothing. So isn’t that your greatest dream?

No.

Then?

Nothing that would interest you, she gave him one of her sheepish smiles, trying to evade the issue.

But then, she knew that some men were relentless. And stubbornly persistent too.

Tell me, There was a certain hint of a command in those words.

Tell you what? She was just buying some time to frame the words properly. She knew it was time to face the inevitable.

About your greatest dream.

Oh damn, to hell with the framing of words. She would just blurt it out the way it was. Perhaps that was the best way to do it. Why pretenses with the man you loved?

His look was intense now, waiting impatiently for a reply.

Finally, she gave him one of those looks that would bore through the eyes and reach the soul. Okay, you asked for it. So here we go buddy, she said in her mind.

She took a deep breath. I want to marry you. And I want to have kids who would look like you. The same eyes, the same nose, the same set of stubborn jaws. That is my greatest dream. That is my “real” dream.

Somehow, he hadn’t expected this answer in a million lifetimes. And the way she threw the answer right on his face somehow shook his huge broad frame, throwing him off balance. He was left speechless, gasping for an answer for god knows how long.

He did not know what to say to her.

And she interpreted his silence to be something bordering on indifference.

Finally, she broke the silence, sensing his paralyzed state of mind. Anything to thaw the ice between them.

Well, you asked for it.

But this is crazy.

This is real. As real as it could get.

But what about your other dreams? You career and stuffs?

What about them? Don’t they sound real enough?

Certainly what you said couldn’t be your greatest dream.

You asked for the truth. And you know I wouldn’t lie. Whether you buy it or not is your problem. And you do not have to meet me halfway. I know your dreams are important for you. I can’t say I’d wholeheartedly agree with them, but I would understand.

With this, she finally got up, dusting the sand off her shorts. She was gone in a few minutes. She had suddenly disappeared in the darkness, leaving him floored. The only sounds he heard were the angry roars of the sea and his racing heartbeats. Surely she was one hell of a crazy woman.

We do not share a common dream, he thought.

We do not share a common dream, she thought.

Her dreams are so naive and unreal.

His dreams are so materialistic.

My career is my first priority.

What is life without love? And without a dream home with a bunch of kids running around?

She doesn’t realize her potential. She has a wonderful career ahead of her.

No one is sacrificing career. He just asked me about my most ardent dream.

I just hope that I do not shatter her dreams.

I just hope I do not suffocate him with my dreams.

The kibitzing continued..........

Would he learn to accept her dreams and fulfill them? Would she learn to give him the space and time to fulfill his dreams? Would they realize that in love, it’s not necessary to see things together, but it is mandatory to acknowledge each other’s dreams? Would they learn to live with the constitutional differences each harbored and still love and respect each other? Would they realize that instead of each fulfilling their own selfish dreams, it is more important to stick to each other through thick and thin? Finally, would they realize that love is not about your dreams or my dreams, but “our” dreams?

Well, time would say that