It was about 10 AM, a chilly summer morning at Leh.
My PS came with the daily mail.

He said with a smile "Sir, there is an admiration letter from a lady for you."
I opened the letter; it was from Calcutta from some Sapna Mukherjee.
She appreciated my interview telecast on DD.
Letter was written three weeks ago & since she did not know our address, it reached our HQ and from their redirected to our location.  I advised my PS to send her a DO letter of thanks.

I had almost forgotten about it. After 2 weeks, I got a personal letter from her. She was very happy that I had replied her in spite of busy schedule & hard life. I did not know what to reply...since I did not know her at all. But, in my view, not replying to a lady would have been rude,so I just asked her how is weather at Calcutta & how is life at Calcutta?
Her reply was prompt & lengthy. She was very vivid in her writing &
appeared quite accomplished. I enjoyed her style & content both and that started a series of exchanges between us. As the time passed, we exchanged our views on all possible topics. She was very well versed on Literature, Music, Arts & Culture (Which were my weak points)! But she was patient enough and clarified all my doubts. I used to describe her about our life in mountains, adventures,
sports & games & some time about National & International issues!

We carried on with our exchanges for about six months. My tenure at Leh came to an end. I informed her that I am leaving this place and going on long vacation to Shillong, where my parents were staying. She asked for my Shillong address & wished, if I was going through Calcutta,can we possibly meet? I informed her that I will stay for a few hrs at Calcutta & I will be pleased to meet her.

I reached Calcutta about 9 AM and I had my train at 9 PM from Sialdah Station.

We had arranged to meet at Gaylords for Lunch. But I had
not even seen her photograph, how will I recognize her? She suggested that we both come with a yellow rose in our hands !  That will make things easy !

At appointed time I reached Gaylords with a yellow rose
in my hand. As I entered the lounge, I scanned for her presence…! After a few moments, which appeared a long time, I saw a middle aged lady sitting alone in a corner with a yellow rose in her hand! For a moment I hesitated but then walked to her and wished her with a smile. Lady welcomed me with a smile & said “Son, I do not know what is it all about, but I was requested to tell you that the person whom you have come to meet here is waiting for you in the Book Store across the street, in a yellow Sari”. Lady was waiting only for me to approach her. I respectfully escorted her out & went to Book Store across the street to meet Sapna !

She was there holding a magazine & scanning my
movements from behind a glass window. Sapna was young & beautiful . She was looking gorgeous & graceful in that yellow Assam silk sari.

We walked back to Gaylords & had our lunch. It lasted for about 2 hrs. I did not know what we ordered & what we ate. All the time, just talking & listening. We had two rounds of Ice creams and still our chat was not finishing . About 5 PM, we thought we better go to some other place to continue . She suggested that we go to Victoria Memorial and continue in fresh cool breeze. So we moved to VM.
She was very apt is conversation & She almost enquired every thing about me & my family . At 6 PM I reminded her that now I must go to Sialdah to catch my train .
She felt a shock ! Falling down as if, from sky to ground ! She became quiet & sad . I told her, if I did not have to catch the train, I would have loved to stay as I loved her company. She said it is not true ! If you are honest about what you said you will not go today, leaving me alone like this ? You can cancel your reservation . I had no options ! To be honest, I also wanted to be in her company . So we went to station, I cancelled my Ticket and moved to a Hotel, which she suggested. At about 8 PM, she said that she must go home . I volunteared to escort her home , but she declined . I came out of the Hotel & put her in a Taxi . She promised to come next day at 11 AM.

I called my Mom from the Hotel and informed her that I am
staying at Calcutta to meet a friend & will let you know  when I will be able to reach Shillong ! Mom said ok, but did not appear very happy with my decision .

We carried on meeting & chatting every day and a week passed. Since, she was doing her Ph.D., there was no regular college for her . I had done my reservation for Sunday after her reluctant ok . On Friday we saw a movie & got little late, so she was a bit worried . She allowed me to escort her to her home, just a Km away . We
took a Rickshaw, she asked me to get down at the corner of her lane & return back to Hotel . I waited for a Rickshaw . After about 15 mts, I saw the same Rickshaw returning back . I stopped it & returned to the Hotel . Rickshaw man was telling me some thing in Bengali about my friend getting injured or some thing but I did not pay much attention as I was engrossed in my own dreams !

Next day when Sapna came I saw a bandage on her left hand & a few scratches on her right hand . Then I remembered that Rickshaw man was mentioning about it apologetically ! She just smiled but said nothing . She announced that since you are going tomorrow, Mom
has invited you to have dinner with the family today ! She said we have to reach by 6 PM . We had a very pleasant evening . Her Mom & Dad were very learned & cultured people . It seemed that they had taken a decision that we will make a good pair & now the matter must be discussed between elders !

Next day I left for Shillong . Sapna came to see me off . She was very happy . She said she had the best time of her life in the last week ! Her happiness was proved as she could not hold back her tears as the Train started moving . We waved till we became out of sight .

What followed was as expected . After one month we tied the knot with all celebration & rejoicing . We were in the same Hotel, preparing to proceed for our honeymoon . Both Moms were packing our bags for the last time . We just over heard them..

My mom said when he called from Calcutta saying I am waiting for a friend, I knew he was not telling the truth !
Her mom said when my daughter told me that she got late bcz she was injured, I saw her injuries but knew she was telling a lie ! My mom asked her, if  she had injuries, then how did you know that she was telling a lie ? Her Mom said “She did not get late bcz of injuries but she got herself injured while getting down from Rickshaw because she got late ! More over her injuries were fresh, even blood had not dried on her scratches ."