You are still the One… (Kannada)

Life goes on whether you choose to move on and take the chances in the unknown or stay behind locked in the past thinking of what could’ve been…
Nav thumba sali Beda antha bittu Hogiro vishya, namge gothilde iro thara namuna hutkondu vapas baruthe… Ide reethi nan life Ali nadeda ond situation helthini…

Nan Arya, Computer Science Engineering mugsid nange IT jobs ali interest irlilla, nange game developer agbek anodu nan passion agithu. Nan passion prakara ne nange Bengaluru ali game developing startup company ali Kelsa kuda sikthu. Nan life ali yene olled agli kettad agli nan jothe Irtha idid nan friend Aarnav,Aarnav Nanu college friends, avn kuda nan jothe same company ge serkonda. Nange yene problems bandru nan jothe face madtha ididu avne. Nam office ale work madtha idid hudgi Charulatha, Charu nanu almost 1 varsha dinda relationship ali idivi, Charu short temper hudgi, chik-chik vishyaku sittu madkotha idlu, Avlna bittu bere hudgi hathra mathadudru sittu madkotha idlu, astond possessive avlu, ondsali Aarnav girlfriend Kriti hathra mathadidke full sittu madkond idlu, avl sittu madkondaga anthu thumba cute agi kanustha idlu. Avlna irritate madode onthara maja. Nav ibru jagla (fight) adade iro dina ne Illa ansuthe… Yest sittu madkondru next day yalla sari agtha ithu. Nan introvert nange Aarnav mathe Charu na bittre yar jothe nu ast close agtha irlilla. Ide time ge nan company Abroad ali iro company jothe tie-up agtha ithu, so nange mathe Aarnav ge Abroad hogoke proposal banthu. Nange abroad ge hogi gaming world na explore mado kansu nand agithu,ankond hange nan dream yalla fulfill agtha ithu. Nan Life na heng lead madbek ankotha ide ade reethi ali nan life na lead madtha ide. Yalla olled agtha ide ankond nange… surprise kadidthu, Charu ge nan Abroad ge hogodu churu ista irlilla. Avl eh vishyake nan jothe jagla kuda madidlu. Avlna hengadru madi convince madbek antha ide. Ah time ge idea kotidu nan friend Aarnav.

Avathu Feb 14th nan relationship na 1st anniversary Avlna Dinner ge kardide, hange avlige nan Abroad ge hogo plans na convince madana antha, Avlna sanje 7 o’clock ge Blue Terrain restaurant ge baroke helide. Avlna restaurant ge yeno kardide adare avlna heng convince madodu antha mathra gothirlilla. Full ready agi office ge hogide hange direct agi restaurant ge hoganna antha… Avlna heng convince madodu ano tension ale work madtha, prathi 10 nimshake ondsali time nodtha ide, anthu 5 o’clock aythu. Office inda hortte adare ade time ge nam Boss bandu nan madiro coding ali errors ide andru. Nang ah errors sort out madoke patience agli piece of mind agli yerdu irlilla. Nan yest try madtha idru error solve akthane irlilla. Aarnav nan kasta nodi “Nan errors na solve madthini, nin hordu” antha heltha nan laptop iskonda, nan office bido astothige 6:20 PM agithu. Charu ge chocolates andre thumba ista, aduke avlig ista iro chocolate, flowers mathe greeting card thagondu hordo astothige 6:40 agithu, Nam Office J. P Nagar ali irodu, Blue terrain restaurant ididu Bellandur. Nam office inda almost 14 to 15 km, adare Bengaluru traffic Ali reach agoke minimum half an hour beku, adare Avathu traffic full jam agithu, nan restaurant reach agbekadre 7:25 agithu, nan nedkond hogidre bega reach aktha ide ansuthe.

Restaurant ollage enter ade, restaurant full hudkudru Charu irlilla, avlig 4-5 times call madide avlu recive madlilla, avlig message madide adare avlu respond ah madlilla, avl bejar madkond idale antha gothaythu, Alinda Avl PG hathra hogi yest sali call, messages madidini lekka (count) eh illa. Avathu idi rathre avl PG ache kadidni. Feb 14th yalla lovers ge memorable and best day agiruthe, adare nan life Ali memorable yeno agithu adare worst memorable day ansuthe. Anthu belagge aythu, avl pg inda bandlu, avlu calm agirbahudu antha mathadsoke hode, adare nanuna nodudru nodada hage hogbitlu, avl hinde nan kuda hode… Avlna karde “Hey, Charu ninthko. Nodudru mathadusde hogtha idyalla” antha, avl hinde thirgi “Nan restaurant Ali ning goskara 20 minutes wait madidini, Nin yelli hallag hogide? Ning time sense illva? Nanuna astond granted agi thagond idiya? Abroad ge hogtha idiya antha attitude ah?” antha baiyoke (scold) start adlu. Nan avlig chocolates, flowers mathe greeting kotte nan situation explain mado astrali, nan gifts na nan mukhad mele esedu (threw) “Nang nin explanations agli nin dabba gifts agli yenu beda, nin mukka nang inyavathu thorusbeda. Lets Breakup!”antha heli hort hogbitlu. Avlu let’s break up antha thumba sali helidale amele automatic agi seri aktha idlu, Avlig nan Abroad ge hogodu ista irlilla adru jothe nan late agi hogidu avlig inu sittu bandide antha sumne ade…
Avl wait madiro 20 mins bagge mathadtha idale, avlig goskara idi rathri avl PG munde wait madidrodna avlu consider kuda madtha illa.
Avath rathre nan manege vapas bandilde irod nodi nan friend nanuna hutkondu banda. Avn jothe vapas nam manege hodvi. Avath Sunday agidrinda nang office irlilla, Avlig mathe message, call madide connect agtha irlilla mostly nan number block madidlu ansuthe. Ondsali avlna meet madi samadana madana antha puna avl PG hathra hode, adare avl already inobba hudgan jothe idlu. Avl ondsali band nan kepalake hodidru ast nov agtha irlilla ansuthe… Adare avlu hodidu nan feelings ge. Avl kushi agirli antha avlna meet madade hange vapas bandbitte.

Avlna meet madade, mathadusde 15 days agogithu, Avlna maryoke nang agthane irlilla. Nang yeno kalkond iro thara feel aktha ithu… Nan mado kelsa dal agli yavdrali kuda interest irlilla, full depression ge hogbitide. Ond-ond sala eh Abroad hogo plan indane avl nanuna bittuhogidu antha Abroad trip kuda drop madona antha anustha ithu. Nan Abroad ge hogoke ina 20 days gap mathra ithu, nam Boss nange project ge ready agoke namge work from home kotidru, nange kelsa madoke mood eh irlilla. Frustration mathe depression ali project ge prepare agoku agtha irlilla.
Aarnav usual agi March time ali avn oorige hogtha ida prathi sali nanuna karithane ida adare nan ondsali nu avn oorige hoge irlilla, Eh Sali kuda nanuna avn oorige karda, adare nang yellig hogoku ista irlilla. Avnu “Nam Oorali prathi varsha Jathre (fare) aguthe, nenu kuda baa… Ningu mind fresh aguthe nam oorina nature nodoke 2 kannu saldu” antha helda. Amele nanuna force madi avn oorige karkond hoda.

Aarnav ooru Chikmagaluru ali Nagenahalli. Nav Bengaluru inda madyana bitvi, Bengaluru inda Nagenahalli ge almost 5 hrs beku reach agoke. Nav reach agbekadre already 7’o clock agithu, Avn helid thara nang yav nature kuda kanustha irlilla. Kushi agid ond vishya andre Bengaluru thara ili traffic irlilla. Anthu avn mane reach advi, Malnad side mane galu onthara different, mane sutha jagga iruthe, adru madya mane. Avr manege hod thakshana ond strong coffee kotru, ah tired journey inda onde sali refresh ade. Nav oorige bandidu Aarnav mane avrig kushi kodthu, amele yallaru oota madudvi, joint family jothe oota madode onthara maja. Swalpa relax agtha idid nange Aarnav ajja avr halle kathe (story) heloke start adru, keloke ista illa andru nang berre option ah irlilla. Nang avr helodu keluskoloke agtha irlilla, direct agi “Ajja, nang thumba nidde bartha Ide. Nan malkothini” antha heli alinda bandbitte.

Belagge 4:45 ansuthe nan friend nanuna ast bega yebusda. “Yenaythappa? Ist bega yebusthidya?” antha kelde, Avnu “Ning yeno surprise kadide, bega ready agi baa” antha helida, ah challi ali karkond hogi jeep al kurusda. Ah challi ali nang yav surprise kuda bedvagithu. Drive madkond hogtha ida, full manju (fog) road kuda clean agi kanustha irlilla. Karkond hogi ond gudde hathra nilusda. “Reach adva?” antha kelde. Avnu smile kodtha “Almost… Eh gudde hathudre reach agthivi” antha helda. Nan kannige adole Mt. Everest thara kanustha ithu. Hengo hathoke start advi, almost 20 to 25 mins bekithu ah gudde hathoke, hathid nange yenu kanustha irlilla, full susthagithu alle kanmuchkond malkond bitte. Sudden agi nan friend koogoke shuru madida…
‘Yenaythappa ivnige?’ antha mansale ankotha kannu bittu nodide… Ah manju tumbiro (filled) akasha… parvata madya dinda Sunrise agtha ithu, ah beautiful moment nodid nange, yeno onthara kushi agoke start aythu, nang ah beautiful moment enjoy madodu bittu berre yenu nan thale ge barthane irlilla. Nan friend nan mukka nodkondu “Just as the sun rises, a fresh start begins. We all have a choice. Will you make the best of it?” antha kelda, Avaga nang gothaythu nan friend nan life na hosdagi start madsoke try madtha idane antha. Nangu mood full refresh aythu, avn helodralu point ithu. Hange nan yochne madtha nav alinda hortvi.

Manju swalpa clear agithu, Nav baro dhari ali full coffee plants ithu, eh belagge hothu ah coffee plants na smell mathe ah ele (leaf) mele iro hani na nodudre mansige ond samdhana koduthe. Nang nenne kanusude iro prakruthi ivaga kanustha ithu, Prakruthi yavaglu soundarya vage iruthe… adare aduna nodoke Kannu – Olle Mansu irbeku. Nan thoughts ale kaleduhogiro nange ah manjali highlight ago thara yaro red colour jacket, neon colour backpack hakondu yaro nadkond hogtha idru. Nan friend avr hathra hogi avr munde sudden agi break hakida. Ah red jacket hakondu nadkond hogtha ididu ond hudgi, nodoke thumba Chenag idlu, nan friend avlna mathadsoke start madida “Oy! Kothi nin yen Illi?” anta kelda. Avlu “Hey Chimpanzee, hengo idya? Bengaluru inda hortidu late aythu so aduk ivaga reach ade” andlu. Nan ivr ibru mukka nodod bittu bere yen madbek anthane gothagtha irlilla. Nan friend amele avlna introduce madida “Macha, ivl nan childhood friend. Ivl hesru Kothi, nam pakkad estate avlu” antha helda. Nan shock ali “Kothi na?” antha kelde. Avlu nan friend na guraysi (stare) “Hi, nan hesru Shanvi” andlu. Nanuna nan introduce madkonde. Jeep hathkondlu, nanuna nodtha “Yen nodtha idya? Luggage na jeep ali idu” andlu. Nan appa kuda athara order madirlilla. Sittu bandru Aarnav friend antha sumne luggage jeep ge hakide. Avl mathige fullstop eh irlilla ast mathadtha idlu. Nav Aarnav mane reach adru eh hudgi inu mathadthane idlu. Shanvi bandidu Aarnav mane avrig thumba kushi kotithu. Avlna ah mane maglu thara treat madtha idru. Adare avl ado reethi nang onchuru istane agtha irlilla. Nan fresh agi barona antha nan washroom ge hogide. Sudden agi yaro door open madidang aythu, Yar antha nodudre adu Shanvi ne. “Door lock madkolri” antha negadkond hodlu. Avl mele yest sittu banthu andre aduna heloku agalla. Anthu fresh agi bande… Thindi ge kuthkondvi, Shanvi ale idlu, avlu nanuna nodkondu onthara smile madtha idlu. Nang full awkward feelings yargu helongu Illa, nan kasta nange. Amele nan friend “Shanvi na drop madi, hange nam estate na thorusthini baa” antha karda. Jeep hathudvi, “Yakri yavaglu sappuge irthira? Swalpa negadkond iri” antha heludl, nan aduke thale alladusde (nodding). Eh hudgi onthara pataki thara, mathadodna nilusthane irlilla, idru madya-madya nanuna nodkondu smile bere kodtha idlu. Konegu avl mane banthu avlna drop madudvi, nang onthara relief sikthu. Avn estate yalla thorusda. Full suthadi susth agithu, avathu manege hogi rest madudvi.

Belagge aythu, fresh agi thindi ge bande, nan friend mane ali Irlilla. Avn bagge avr ammange kelde. “Avnu Kriti na karkond baroke Bengaluru ge belagge bega hogidane” antha Aarnav amma heludru. Nan friend nang ond mathu helde hogidane antha bejar aythu, hange bejar kalyoke suthadkond barona antha jeep thagondu horte. Avn nene karkond hogiro estate hathra hogi, Avn estate suthadtha ide. Yaro nange yeno yesth hang aythu, midukbidange (shock) aythu, hinde thirug nodudru… Adu puna Shanvi ne. Nan hedrukond ididna nodi “Ast chikku kalige Istond hedrukothiralla” antha helkondu joragi negadoke start madidlu. Ivlna Yak Kothi antha karithare antha avaga gothaythu. Nan avlig look kodtha yenu reply madade alinda horte. Avl nan hinde bartha idlu, sudden agi kal jari bidlu. Avl bidid nodi nangu nagu banthu. Avl nanuna nodtha “Negadidu saku band help madi” andlu. Nan smile kotkonde avlig help madide. Avlig help madi admele avlu mathe nan hinde ne bandu jeep ali kuthkondlu.

Jeep ge bandu kuthavlu, Sumne kurthala? Illa nan thale thinoke start madudlu, “Niv Yak yavaglu sittale irthira? Nim smile thumba chenagide. Hange yavaglu smile madtha iri” antha heloke start madudlu. Nan avl yalla mathigu ‘Ha’ ‘Hmm’ ‘aythu’ ist bitre bere answers gale irlilla. Avl kelo questions nange thumba irritate madtha ithu. Konegu avl mane banthu…. Avl hogbekadre “Yen antha belsidare nim Appa-Amma? Ad yest mathadthira?” antha kelde. Aduk avlu yenu helilla bari smile madkond hodlu.

Nan vapas manege reach ago astrali Aarnav mathe Kriti manege bandidru. Amele Aarnav hathra “Nin helid nijja macha, ah Shanvi Kothi ne. Avr Appa-Amma yen antha bhudi kalsidaro?” antha helde. Aduke Aarnav “Macha, avlig appa-amma illa” antha helda. Avaga nang realise agidu nan yest doda thap madidini antha. Shanvi manege avagle horte. Shanvi hathra hogi “Sorry” antha kelde. Aduke avlu “Sorry yake?” antha keludlu. Avlig yalla helde. Aduk avlu “Nam appa-amma na nan ajji-ajjan ali kantha idini, nang yavathu nan appa-amma illa antha anse Illa. Life moves on nav aduke adjust agbeku. Nam jothe ilde iror bagge yochne madtha… nam jothe irorige preethi kodalla. Aduke ilde iro vishyada bagge yochne mado badlu, yen irothe adru jothe kushi agi irbeku” andlu. Avl helid nang thumba true anusthu, Nav ilde iror bagge yochne madtha namavrna kalkothivi, Charu nanuna bittuhogidu… nan avl bagge yochne madtha nan life na happiness na kalkotha idini antha gothaythu. Avlig “Thanks kanri Shanvi” antha helde. Avlu “Thanks yake?” antha keludlu. “Iga beda next time sikidaga helthini” antha heli hortbandbitte.

Belagge aythu, actually ivath indane ah oorina Jathre (fare) shuru agithu. Aarnav, Kriti nanu Jathre ge hogoke ready advi. Nange Shanvi nu karkond hogbeku antha asse adare heng Aarnav ge helodu? Antha yochne madtha Ide astothige Shanvi ne manege bandlu. Avlnu karkond Jathre ge hortvi. Eh hogo journey ali Shanvi mathu nang irritation antha anusthane irlilla… Jathre ge reach ago astrali nav ibru Olle friends agidvi. Aarnav – Kriti ge privacy kodbek antha nanu Shanvi berre (different) kade bandvi. Shanvi “Baa giant wheel ali kuthkolona” antha karudlu. “Nang hights andre bhaya nan baralla” antha helde. Avlu “Nan irbek adre yen agalla baa” antha force madi karkond hodlu. Giant wheel start aythu, Nav full height ge hodvi… Sudden agi Shanvi ne nan kai hidkondlu, avlgu height andre bhaya antha hidkond iro reethi ale gothaythu. Ride mugithu, nan joragi negadtha “Niv bidri nimge thumba dhairya… Niv idid ke nang height andre bhaya ne aglilla ” antha helde. Avlu “Nang gaint wheel andre thumba ista adare oble hogoke bhaya aduke hing sullu helde” antha smile madudlu. Nan childhood memories yalla flash agoke start aythu, Nav chik vaysali thinda cotton candy, haunted house ge hogbekadre namig agtha idid bhaya yalla nenap agoke start aythu. Nav yest bega dodavr agthivi (grow up) alva? Ah happy moments na ivathu inond sali experience madide. Avl jothe time spend agide gothaglilla.

Nav direct agi alinda devasthanake hodvi, ah devsthana dali varsha ke ondsali pooje agodu. Ah divsa rathre inda Belagge vargu pooje aguthe. Eh pooje nodoke Oorina jana yalla serkothare. Eh pooje oorige ond habbad thara. Nav pooje ge kuthkondvi, nang idu hosa thara experience. Shanvi ah pooje, avr culture bagge heltha idlu. Keloke thumba interesting agi ithu. Pooje agtha agtha Shanvi nan shoulder mele nidde madbitlu. Avlna yebso astu dhairya nang irlilla avlig malkoloke bitbitte. Avlig yechra agidu belagge ne. Pooje yalla mugdithu. Vapas manege hodvi.

Rathre full nidde ilde irod rinda hog madkond bitte, yechra agidu sanje agithu. Nange Charu call madidlu nan nidde madidake avl call receive madoke aglilla, avl nange ‘Sorry, I miss you’ antha message madidlu, nang yen reply madbek antha gothagade reply eh madlilla. Nan eh vishya Aarnav hathra helko beku ankonde, adare Aarnav mathe Kriti ge disturb madoke ista irlilla. Aga nang nenap agidu Shanvi, avlna meet madoke avl estate hathra hode, avlna hudukde adare avlu ali irlilla, bejar madkondu turn ade. Nodudre Shanvi ale ninthkond idale. Smile kodtha hubbuna mel madtha “Yarna huduktha idira?” antha keludlu. “Yarnu Illa, hange sumne suthadtha ide” antha helde. “Nim kanne heluthe yarno huduktha idira” antha heludlu. Avlig nan yalla vishya helde… Charu bagge, Abroad plans bagge. Avlu helid Iste “Ond vishya nenap itko Nin life na ningoskara lead madu, bere avr life goskara… nin life na dreams galna badlusko beda, avr ninuna nijvaglu ista padtha idare andre nin dreams na build madoke support madthare oppose madalla” andlu. Yen response madbek antha gothagade, Avlig nan helid iste “Nale Bengaluru ge vapas hogtha idini nan dreams na catch madoke” antha heli vapas bande. Amele yochne madtha ah dina hogide gothaglilla.

Next day aythu, Aarnav ge yeno urgent work Ide antha Kriti na karkondu city ge belagge bega horta, nange maneli bore aguthe antha nanuna Shanvi manege drop madi hoda. Shanvi nange yeno surprise kodoke kaitha idlu… Nan avl mane reach aktha idange nanuna yello karkond hodlu. Ivl puna inond gudde hathra karkond hodlu, “Kannu muchko” andlu. Nan kannu muchkonde, avl whale inda nan kannige patti katudlu amele nan kai hidkondlu nanuna ah gudde mele karkond hodlu, 15 to 20 mins walk madsud mele ond kade ninthkondvi. Nan kannige katid patti thegudl. Kannu swalpa manj-manj (blur) aythu. Nan clean agi Kannu bittaga nan Kannu munde ididu beautiful agiro Waterfalls, adu Manikyadhare Waterfalls nijja helthini words inda ah waterfalls na describe madoke chance ah illa, ast chenag ide. Eh surprise jothe nang inond surprise kadithu. “Nimuna nan first time nodidaga abba ivnig yest attitude? Antha ankonde, adare niv kodo looku, ah smile nodi nim mele love at second sight aythu. Niv care mado reethi nodudre yarig love agalla? I love you” antha Shanvi heludlu. Nang nijjvaglu yen helbek anthane gothaglilla… Nan akthane love anodrinda move on agide, love mele nambke ne hogithu. Nan helid Iste “Sorry, nan yavathu nimuna ah reethili nodilla” antha heli thirgu nodade vapas bandbitte.

Manege bandid thakshana Aarnav jothe vapas Bengaluru ge hortbitvi. Shanvi number iskoloke agli, avlig last time nan mukka thorsi avlig bye helo astu dhairya nang irlilla. Bengaluru reach advi. Next day office ge hode, ali nang inond surprise kadidthu, Charu nangoskara kaitha idlu… Avlu “Ondsali nang nin hathra mathadoke chance kodu” andlu. Nan opkonde. Avlu nanuna ache karkond hodlu. “I’m really sorry Arya, nange nin value gothagidu nin nanuna bittu hodmelene. Inyavathu nanuna bittu hogbeda” antha heltha nan kai hidkondlu. “It’s okay Shanvi” antha helde. “Shanvi na? Nan hesru Charulatha” antha heludlu. “Oh! Sorry” antha helde. Avlu “Ha… It’s okay, Iga Abroad ge hogo plan cancel alva?” antha keludlu. Avlige Iga kuda nankintha, nan dreams kintha avl hatta ne jasthi ithu. Avl vapas bandiro karna nan social media dali Shanvi jothe hakiro photos antha gothaythu. Ag nang realise agidu oblu avl possessiveness goskara nan dream na thyaaga madsoke try madtha idale, inoblu avl preethi na nan dreams goskara thyaaga madtha idale antha. Charulatha helid nijja ‘Obru nam life ali Idaga avr value gothagalla, avr hodmele ne gothagodu’ nangu Shanvi value avlna bittu bandmele gothagidu, Charulatha nan kai hidkondaga nange gothildange Shanvi antha karde, nan mansali mathe thale ali Shanvi ne thumbkond idale antha gothaythu, inu thada madodu beda antha vapas Chikmagaluru ge horte.

Shanvi mane hathra hode, adare avr ajja heludru “Shanvi belagge ne vapas Bengaluru ge hodlu” antha. Nan direct bus stop ge hode avlna yest hudkudru sigle illa. Avlna contact madana andre avl number kuda nan hathra irlilla. Nang yen madbek anthane gothagtha irlilla, full bejar aythu… Bengaluru ge vapas hogoku munche atleast ondsali avl propose madid jagake hogana antha anusthu. Manikyadhare Waterfalls hathra hode…
Ali yaro obru waterfalls kade face madtha ninthkond idru, adu Shanvi ne. Nan santhoshake kone ne irlilla, avl hinde hogi “Ninuna nan first time nodidaga abba ivl yest mathadthale? Antha ankonde, adare nin childish nature, nin kodo irritation nodudre yarig love agalla? Nang mathra nin mele love at first sight aythu. I love you Kane Kothi” antha helde. Adare Shanvi yenu reaction ah kodlilla. “Iga niv thirugthiro athava nanu waterfalls ge bilabekah?” antha helde. Avl odi bandu nan thapkondlu.
Nav thumba sali Beda antha bittu Hogiro vishya, namge gothilde iro thara namuna hutkondu vapas baruthe… Vapas bandaga puna bittu hogo thapu madbedi….

It is better to go for someone who loves you, rather than someone who you love…

Theme art By ✍️,
Anjana Vijay ( anjana_vijay )

Story By ✍️,
Srujan Gowda ( user__not._.available )