The girl with beautiful brown eyes

I don’t really remember the first time I spoke to her. We exchanged smiles, but very formally. I faintly remember our conversations. Most of them never lasted for more then 5 min. My first impression of her was she looked shy and reserved.

She had beautiful brown eyes and her neatly done eyebrows seemed like they had been drawn on a picture. Her beautiful long hair was usually braided, and swayed every time she would walk. She spoke little and I never really saw her loiter at anyone’s desk for a long time. Even after lunch she would get back to work immediately. She had joined office just 3 months earlier to me, probably the reason why she was so alienated from the rest of the gang.
I was new here and had not made any friends either.

After almost 3 months the two of us were assigned to a project. We started having more interactions but most of them were usually technical. The project required us to often work late and I guess both of us did not seem to mind it. I am not a morning person and my mind works best in the evening. And it seemed to be the case for both of us. She used to take the bus back home and sometimes when it would get really late, I used to wait with her at the bus stop till her bus arrived. She was extremely intelligent and it reflected in her work. Often times she helped me solve my technical queries. However silly they were.

Days turned into months and project after project, we worked together. With time, the awkwardness of the relationship had melted away and was replaced with respect and admiration for the other. We would often consult each other with our technical queries and decisions.
She always had so much to teach, and I had so much to learn from her. She taught me write DB queries, Sql jobs, simplify my programs and much more. We had equal responsibilities in the project. Be it our tasks, project successes, project failures, client appreciation, we shared it all. “Its not my job” or “I won't do it” was a statement I never heard from either of us. Often we sacrificed our Sundays, and went that extra mile to make our project a success.

Every time I asked for her help, she lent me a helping hand.
Every time I wanted to learn something new, she was there to teach me.
Every time I felt like giving up she was there, to encourage me.
Every time we failed, she was there to share the responsibility.
Every time we succeeded, she was there to celebrate the moment.

After 2 years 6 months and God know how many days, she is still there.

I had once heard someone say “Kisi ki tareef usnke samne naki karni chahiye” (You should not praise someone in their presence).
I disagree.
This is my way of thanking her and letting her know I am where I am because she was with me all this while.

Thank you Anu. Thank you for everything. This journey would not have been the same without you.