Story #11 : Audacious Memories
When Vinayak Murthy, the PhD in psychology met a timid seeming firebrand called Srilata in the fresh summer of an independant India, little had he known that he had accidentally met his soulmate. The memories they both, the 'it couple', of their times created is a thing people of that era still talk about. And then, after what seemed like an eternity of love and never ending happiness, Lata passed away. She moved on to another dimension leaving Vinayak alone with her memories and the enigmatic presence of hers concretly instilled in his heart. Now, two decades later, Vinayak is still grieving her loss. He sees her everywhere and he searches for her every awake moment. It is during this search that he finally finds her - seated amid a guffaw of laughter and fellowship with her friends - in his neighborhood park. So what does he do? Does he go up and talk to her? Will the memories of a celebrated veteran go uncared for in the sham shindig that the country has turned into? Will he be able to connect with this younger version of Lata just as he had with the original more than half a century ago? And even if he does, what will he say to her? Some memories are never old. Some of them so audacious and intense, that they inadvertantly spill over into someone else's life. Vinayak decides to walk up to the girl and speak to her after all...armed with nothing more than his audacious memories.