Mocking a Tale: Entangles called Relationships

Showing posts with label Entangles called Relationships. Show all posts

Friday, 23 March 2012

The Guest- Finale

Read Part 1 here, and Part 2 here.

He is strumming my favorite song on my guitar as I open my eyes. I had napped while talking to him.

Ain't no sunshine, when she's gone.

Some songs have associations attached to them. When you stop getting reminded of a certain person on hearing a song, you're over them.

He played this tune some 20 yrs ago over the phone. I still clearly remember.

I sit across him by the fireplace. He is smiling at me. Playing the same tune. Ain't no sunshine, when she's gone.

This is the moment when I realize the song he used to play for me, is meant for his daughter now.

'Sing along?' He says.

'I don't sing.'

'You do.'

'I did.'

_____________________________________________________________

I place his laundry on the couch. He is busy reading this book. He turns around and finds his return ticket over the pile of his clothes.

He looks at me.

'You realized last night that I was missing my daughter?'

'Yes.' I smile.

'When does the train leave?'

'In an hour.'

'Are you coming to railway station?'

'No.'

'Can I come back sometime?'

'Don't.'

He zips his LV.

'I'm going to miss you.'

'Bye.'

I go inside as I hear him strolling out of the front door.

Saturday, 17 March 2012

He is ruffling his hair dry with a white towel while walking out from the bathroom. My white towel. I see he has made himself comfortable around the house, using my things. This towel is going with him.

I hand him a plate of fresh pancakes and a large cup of coffee. He smiles while I grab my breakfast from the kitchen slab and take the chair opposite to his.

'What did you tell your wife, where were you going?' I ask him casually.

'She knows I am here. In fact, she insisted me to visit you.'

'She's that cool? Are you impotent?'

'I have two kids.' He is smiling.

'So, how does that prove you're potent?'

'They resemble me.'

'I might not let you go back after all.'

'Given your past record, that sounds a little not possible.'

'I am a changed person.'

'I've been missing you a lot lately. The wife told me to visit you. She was the one to find out your hibernation address.'

'I'm not hibernating.' I sip my coffee.

'Your cooking has become tastier.'

'Your grammar still sucks.'

He chuckles.

Part 3, soon.

Tuesday, 13 March 2012

The Guest- Pilot

Walking the narrow path down the hill to my home, I today think of the day I walked this way the first time. I instantly liked the house and the pavement that led to it. Calm, green and standing lonely. All what I wanted and needed.

My eyes get stuck on an oak tree. An old, withered tree and I see a burrow underneath that tree. A bunny is sitting cozy. I smile. Taking my eyes of the bunny, I continue walking towards the house. A human figure is visible sitting on the porch. I can't make out who, from the distance. I am not expecting anyone to show up.

Looks like a man, who is looking away. All I can see is his back. A check shirt in blue and white. I continue walking.

He turns. He must have heard my footstep approaching the house and crushing of the dry leaves. I stop. Not that I am shocked or happy or even sad to see this face in such a long time. A smiling face. A little withered and old than last time I remember setting eyes on this face. The same eyes.

I stand there for a few minutes looking at that face while he shifts in his sitting position waiting for me to make a move. There is nothing going on in my mind. Probably the mind is adapting to that sight. Very much like the eyes adapt to sudden darkness or sudden light.

'How long have you been sitting here?' I finally walk towards him.

'For 2 hours, 48 minutes to be precise' He is looking at this wrist watch.

I seat myself beside him. None of say anything for a few minutes, looking in no direction in particular. Looks like we are absorbing each others' presence.

'How long are you going to stay?' I look at his luggage. An expensive Louise Vuitton travel bag that looks stuffed.

'As long as you let me.' He is looking at me.

'Got no work?'

'Work has been going on since forever and will keep on going.'

'You'll have to sleep on the couch.'

'No problem with that.' He is still smiling.

'Do not expect me to take your luggage inside'. I am unlocking the door.

He chuckles and follows me inside the house strolling his LV.

Next part, soon.

Monday, 14 November 2011

The Woods #Day14

Here I am again. On these same pavements, in these same woods. They haven't changed, even though everything else has. 20 years.

The same sieved sunlight. The same winds blowing on to face. The same shadows. The same smell.

This is the place where I last met her. Where I last left her with a promise to return here today. Does she remember the promise? Will she turn up?

It has been two days I have been waiting for her. I feel irritated. I wonder how would have she felt for all these 20 years...

Saturday, 24 September 2011

The Definiton- Conclusion

Read Part 1 here.

____________________________________________

I sieved the tea in two cups and walked towards the drawing room.

'Why don't you chant chai chai chai instead of Neha, Neha' I teased him like every other day. He chuckled. This chuckle was the what I had fell in love with 8 years ago.

'Guess who called me today? Priyanka!' Amit has this absurd habit of asking the question and answering it himself without waiting for me to reply.

'Priyanka? The chitchat aunty journalist friend of yours?' I rolled eyes at him dramatically.

'Yea. Imagine! She ran into Papa and Rewa aunty at the Art Gallery yesterday. Papa introduced Rewa aunty as his friend and she was anxious to know everything about them. She thought she was telling me that my father has a girl friend.' He was sniggering.

'What did you say then?' I was concerned.

'I told her that she needs not worry, if there is a wedding, she'll get an invite.' He was enjoying this matter.

'You're mean Amit! By the way, this thing, about Papa and Rewa aunty is becoming talk of the town. I ran into Mrs. Gaba today. You know, she always has gossips of the world. She knows every damn thing that dint even happen.' I was getting hyper.

'Speaking of which, Neha, what do you say, I like Rewa aunty, and you do too, why don't we ask he to be our Maa first thing in when she returns from her nephew's wedding? She is so nice, and she doesn't have a proper family, especially children, to ask permission from.' He shot at me the question I was dreading ever since the moment I had returned from the supermarket.

I took a deep breath, Amit knew I was trying to relax; the sign that I had a lot to say, and he should collect all his attention for the next half an hour so. He has funny way to describe every action of mine.

'Why, Amit? Why is it necessary for us to ask our elders to define their relationships? I breathed. 'They are mature and experienced and way beyond the infatuation stage. It has to be their decision if they want to stay together or not. They are adults, and we are anyway too young to ask them anything they want to do with their lives. We love them, respect them, and we should let them have the liberty to deal with things their way, like they've done all their lives. Don't you see how fondly our 4 year old son talks about his best friend who is a girl? When two 4 yr olds can be friends beyond the difference of gender, why can't two adults be friends? Why do you think they would want to get married? They probably are just friends, who like to spend time together. We do not have to ask them to define their relationship. It would not be fair.'

Amit was looking at me fondly, like he always does when he needs me to know that he understood.

'I love you Neha' He said and smiled at me.

'I love you, too, Neha Bete.' This was Papa's voice who joined in.

I smiled.

Saturday, 17 September 2011

The Definiton - I

I remember the first time I saw her. That off- white Khadi saree with black border, big black bindi and the big neck piece with wooden beads. She looked graceful in her early 50s.

'Hello bete, I am Rewa Mathur and I just moved in next door.' She was the first one to greet me standing on the other side of the threshold.
'Oh! Hello aunty, please come in' I had smiled and welcomed her inside like a good neighbor.

Not just the neighborhood, but she was new to the town as well being the new appointed principal of the local Government Girl's College; and because she lived all alone, evening tea at my place had become a tradition for her. I had liked her as an individual since the very first day.
She was creative, intellectual and everything you expect from a college principal. Except, she was very soft spoken.

Why was I thinking about her today, because I had run into Mrs. Gaba- the gossip queen of our colony in the grocery store today. She has this style of saying things, that even if you are the most careless person on the planet, they somehow get scribbled on the mind, like writing on the sand, which gets washed away with the very next tide, but stays there unless the tide comes.

My train of thoughts came to a halt when I heard my name being called faintly somewhere in the background. It was Amit, he had returned from the office and was chanting 'Neha, Neha, Neha' in a loop. I know this loop won't pause unless I hand him over his cup of tea.

______________________________________________________
Part 2 coming soon.

Sunday, 29 May 2011

Game of Cards

'What if Amar gets to know?' Binita said in a hush voice while collecting bed sheet and wrapping it around herself.

'He wont. he is too busy ogling at other women.' replied Chetan curtly.

'You must get dressed Chetan. Amar must be on his way back home. Dint he say he will be back in an hour or so?' Binita started getting dressed.

'I guess he must be busy in rest room shaking himself. He is not too fortunate to get hooked up in a page three types dinner.' Said Chetan while getting back into his pants.

Binita let a giggle out while doing her hair after satisfactorily checking her saree drape in the mirror.

They were just eating when the door bell rang and Binita opened the door for Amar. She greeted him with a welcoming smile.

'Looks like you guys had a good game of rummy while I was away.' Amar said playfully looking at the deck of the cards placed on the living room table.

'Yes, I won. Thrice.' Chetan said sarcatically looking at Binita who gave him a cunning smile.

'I must leave now and give you and Binita some lone time my friend. Also, Diya must be getting bored at home alone.' Chetan decided to clean behind his back after another game of rummy.

'Thanks for keeping Binita company Chetan. She feels lonely at home while I am away at these business meetings.' Amar shook Chetan's hand and they both hugged like friends.

While driving back to home, Chetan thought about his best friend Amar and his super sexy wife Binita. How rude of Amar to ignore a beautiful woman like Binita alone and not taking her care. When I can read her unsatisfied needs in her eyes, why cant Amar? For a minute, his consious gave him a hard time when he thought about the game he was playing with his best friend and cheating on his wife, but then he thought it was not going to be permanent. Some day or the other, both Binita and him are going to end it. Amar and Diya would never know about it.

He parked the car in the basement and walked towards the lift to his apartment.

'Namaste sa'ab' the lift man greeted him as he pressed the button which would take Chetan to his home.

'Namaste Farukh. How are you? When did you come back from the village?' Chetan was pleased to see Farukh back.

'Bas sa'ab, Yesterday only. It was my sister's wedding.' Farukh was rubbing khaini on his palm with his thumb.

'Acha acha. Did someone come to see me today while I was away?' Asked Chetan out of habit.

'Haan sa'ab, Amar sa'ab came. I told him you were not at home, he decided to wait for you but then, he left some half an hour ago.' Farukh said chattily.

'Amar?'

Chetan went numb. Farukh shook him to say his floor had arrived.

Chetan rang the door bell. Diya opened the door. She looked unusually happy.

'Farukh said Amar came?' enquired Chetan from his beautiful wife.

'Yes, we played a game of Rummy while he waited for you. He won. Thrice.' Diya pointed towards the deck of cards neatly placed on the table.

Chetan smiled at his wife and his luck.

Friday, 22 April 2011

Since We Are Being Honest...

When I said I was going to remember you when you are gone, I meant it. Because I thought you will be gone before it is time for me to move on. But somehow, you stayed single. But I have to move on.

I have been waiting for your reaction. I wanted you to react loud and give 'us' a closure, so that I can escape my guilt of leaving you midway. Also, somewhere down, I wanted badly you to beg me to be by your side because I wanted to reject you.

Why on the face of Earth you haven't said anything? Why, are you okay that I am moving on and you are still out there alone? Did I miss anything? Did I miss seeing you gone?

This has taken my peace away. I have been trying too hard to be mean with you, to provoke you. I know you know it deep down, that I am frustrated because of your 'coolness' about this issue.

May be you are doing this on purpose. To make me feel bad.

I guess you have every right to...

Sunday, 18 April 2010

Teenage Diaries- The Finale

Dear Diary,

Shock! This is what I would define this day. All these days have been no less than disturbing. With the arrival of Nitin Sahney came a Tsunami in my life that does not seem to clam down.
When Mumma told me he was not my father, I was kind of relieved. But now that I know who actually he is, I think I hate him more than anything.

15 years of my life. I have been blessed to have the best mother in the world. And today she comes and tells me that she is not my mother. Why? Why did she have to tell that to me?

I went into a state of shock when yesterday she told me that.

Nitin Sahney is the man responsible for bringing me to life. He impregnated my biological mother and fled off because he was not ready for a family. The biological mother too gave up on me when I was born to her best friend who wanted to bring me up and she did take care of me for 15 yrs until Mr. Sahney wanted his legacy back.

Mumma wants me to decide whether I wanted my biological father or her. I decide to stay with her because she is the one I have known to be my own all these years.

No person in the world, blood or marriage can make me give her up. That is because she decided to mother me when my own mother left me.

I love you Mumma.

TTYL Diary.

Love,

Rehmat

Thursday, 25 February 2010

Teenage Diaries- III

Dear Diary,

This current of emotions inside of me doesn't let me settle down. I have never been this confused. Rather, I have never been confused. For a 15 year old girl, who has best mom in the world and has everything that could make her happy, confusion or tension are just words that could be found in dictionary.

But what happened today has shook me. Inside out. I don't know what to do.

I saw mumma in a totally different avatar today. I had never seen this aspect of her personality. I have always known her as a strong willed single parent and a composed lady.

One thing I got to know today for sure is Nitin Sahney is not my father. But who is he then is the question. I cant ask mumma right now. She asked me for some lone time. And as she said, she is going to tell me everything when the right time comes. When will the right time come?

When mumma told me today that she was coming along to meet this Sahney man with me, I sensed it was going to be something huge today. But I never expected her to lose her temper that bad on anyone. She was screaming at the top of her voice. All I could make out was she telling him to stay away from me and this Sahney guy was constantly telling her that she could not stop him.

Mumma dint talk at all on the way back home except when she told me that he is not my father.
This is such a mess. I donot want to see this man again. I donot want to upset mumma. And I donot understand what the hell is going on. This sure is not going to be easy. I see the future with distress.. One part of me wants to solve this mystery and another part of me wants it to end right here. I was a happy kid. I want my life back.

I hear the door creek, looks like mumma has come out..

TTYL Diary,
Rehmat.

P.S. Next and most probably the concluding part coming soon.
P.P.S. Apologies for keeping you all waiting for this long time :D

Wednesday, 13 January 2010

Teenage Diaries

Dear Diary,

Today was my best birthday ever. Mumma woke me up with a nice smelling cup of coffee and huge poster of Robert Pattinson and a set of the Twilight series. At times I feel awkward talking to her about my admiration for the Edward Cullen's' character. But she says I am her friend, so I can share anything with her.
Sukriti and Tanay were here as expected to wish me birthday and escort me to school. I love them both. To my wonder, Tanay had brought a bunch of Tulips for me, I was expecting chocolates as always. And why did he tremble today while kissing me on my left cheek? We have grown up pulling each others' hair and teasing each other and now all of sudden this hesitation?

Everyone in school says that he is my boy friend. Does he too think the same?
School was good. Obviously, gone are the days of dressing up in casuals and distributing sweets, but yeah, Canteen treat is fun. Whole class was there. Sandeep sir came too. He gave me "How to kill a Mocking Bird." Does he have any idea that I like him?

Mumma kept her promise and was there to pick me after school. She took me, Tanay and Sukriti fro Lunch at Yo! China and some shopping later on. How we love Chinese food. I still have that ear to ear grin as I write this.

The biggest surprise was rather waiting at home. Mumma finally succeeded to make me keep a mobile phone. She bought me Samsung Corby Pink. I could not say no. hehe.. She says she wants to stay connected to me where ever I was.. Sukriti says moms are like that only.

Bade Mumma would be here any time with my favorite chocolate cake. She bakes the most delicious cakes in the world.

I am the luckiest person in the whole wide world to have the loved ones love me so much and have all my wishes fulfilled. Except one. When will I know where my dad is..

And the door bell rings.

TTYL Diary.

Love,
Rehmat.

P.S. This series is first person presentation of a teenage girl. The excerpts from her diary. A total new venture I am exploring. Next part coming soon..

Sunday, 20 December 2009

Forever...- The Conclusion

Time was lingering, weaving them together more tightly. They became inseparable.

It was their third semester and Rohan was among the first few people to get placed.
He got a nice package in an MNC and locally. He was very happy and even happier was Amrita. She too was looking forward for her placement besides her families' pressure of not appearing for them, they wanted to get her married in a decent family as soon as possible as they still dint know of Rohan and her relationship. She dint want to tell them by the time her final semester was over. She was trying every hook and crook to keep her parents from getting her engaged, reasoning them that she wanted to work for sometime and not waste her education.

Happy too had been placed in retail sector and he was over excited to have friends and a job that payed well.

Their last semester approached and it was time to bid adieu to the college. Rohan joined his job and Amrita too found a job in a bank through her father's reference. They had decided to announce their relationship after an year of their respective careers. They knew Amrita's family would have problems initially, but a Little effort will calm them down ultimately.

They were both happy. Rohan was now earning and helping his working mother to get some rest. Amrita was now feeling independent and assuming her responsibilities towards Rohan's family. She knew Rohan's partnership is not going to be a bed of roses for her as she was used to a leisure life but she wanted to be with him and was ready for anything that came in their way.

And something did come in their way. It had just been a few months of their blooming careers when Rohan met with an unfortunate accident that took his right arm.

Amrita did not lose her strength, she stood by him all the time in the hospital, she quit her job, took his care, made him eat, washed him, talked to him, consoled him, and most of all loved him.
Rohan was astonished at her perseverance.

One day at the hospital when she could not control and broke down in Rohan's presence.

"Amrita thanks for everything you have done for me. I will be indebted to you forever for loving me to this extent, but now since I am incapable and handicapped, please go and don't spoil your life." Rohan turned his face away.

Amrita was stunned to hear all this.
All she could manage to reply was "Rohan, had I lost my arm, would you have left me??" and she walked out of the room.

He felt guilty and ashamed. When she came back in the evening to see him, he said he was sorry for what he said. Amrita gave him her brightest of smiles and just said "Rohan, some relationships are forever"...

P.S. As I said, this is a true incident happened to my friends. And I really am charmed by their fairy tale love story. By God's grace, they are now engaged to be married in next February.

Tuesday, 15 December 2009

Forever- II

There was an instant bonding between Rohan and Amrita. Happy was happy to be their friend. Being a topper, he had hardly had any friends.

Rohan made them go for movies, Amrita made them eat and Happy forced them to attend the lectures. The trio was happening and studying both together.

While Rohan was a chatter box, Amrita was a listener. He used to go talking for hours and Amrita would listen to him very patiently. He would tell her about his ambitions, his dreams, his plans, his family and what not and Amrita would lend him an ear, she was turning out to be a vessel Rohan could empty himself into.

Their connection was getting stronger with every passing day.

Rohan dint tell Amrita of the attraction he felt towards her but he never failed to convey her that she was his closest friend.

He was aware of the huge social distance between the two families and he was afraid of the status Amrita's father had in the city. She came from a renowned family while Rohan was an ordinary middle class guy who had the responsibilities of a father-less family. Amrita too was sensitive to the consequences of their relationship of more than friendship.

Each day brought them closer. Amrita would look forward to each new day to see Rohan and discover yet another aspect of his versatile personality. She found him a friend, a buddy, a very lively person who could see her soul through her eyes.

Second semester approached and the college trip was announced to Shimla.

They were both eager for the trip as they knew deep down that their intimacy will certainly grow during the outing.
Happy too was excited, for this time he had friends to accompany him.

It was the second day of the trip.

Rohan and Happy were ready for the outing and they dashed into Amrita 's room.

'I am not feeling well guys, I am staying back at the hotel, you should go ahead with others for the excursion.' Amrita said in a sleepy tone, she was ducked in the blanket.

'I am staying with Amrita' Rohan said to Happy.

'Its time you should tell her about your feelings' whispered Happy in Rohan ears and marched out of the room shouting back to Amrita 'I am not letting you spoil my day, and you get well till the time I come back or I kill you.'

'He is a fool' smiled Rohan at Amrita as he walked towards her.

While they talked this and that, Amrita felt an unusual uneasiness in Rohan's behaviour.

'What is bothering you?' she shot at him.

Rohan dint say anything, he just lay his head in Amrita's lap. She knew this had to happen, she answered by keeping her head and holding on to his back. Nothing was said, and nothing was left unsaid. They were both absorbed into each other and noting else mattered at that moment. The corners of their eyes went wet. They were together into a relationship that would last 'forever'.

Next and most probably the concluding part coming soon..

Sunday, 13 December 2009

Forever.. The Pilot

‘I must run or I am gonna be late for the first class’ Rohan thought to himself as he pulled out the stand of his bike in the parking area on the first day of hid Post grad.

As he reached the classroom, he was panting. To his relief, the class had not started yet. He walked inside the class room and neared one of the most nerd looking guy. ‘I should befriend nerd guys to make sure I study to cover up for my grad results.’ He patted his own back for this smart thought though for one second he was thinking of fun he would be missing devoting all is time to studies.

'Hi! I am Rohan, did my B.Tech from SRG College.' He held out his hand towards that guy. ‘I am Happy Sharma, B.Tech University topper' the reply came as happy shook hands with Rohan. He was amazed to look at Rohan. He had an air of mischief.
‘Can I sit with you?’ Rohan asked Happy. ‘Ok, only if you can keep your mouth shut during the lecture’ said Happy.

Rohan was about to say something, but then decided not to and fell on the bench besides Happy. ‘If you need to get a good job, you have to kill the happiness inside yourself Rohan and study’ he scolded himself.

Only then, he was awestruck at an innocent face entering the class Rohan could not take his eyes off her. Those curly eye lashes, those silky hair reaching the waist of her jeans. So simple and yet so beautiful… And she smiled at him. ‘Could someone just jinx you with their smile?’ he was wondering smiling back at her as she approached him.

‘Hi! I am Amrita’, that melodious voice was enchanting him even more.
‘He is Rohan and I am Happy- University Topper in B.Tech’ and Happy stretched out his hand towards Amrita before Rohan could reply. She took Happy’s hand and shook so warmly, Rohan could feel envy growing inside him.

Amrita held out hand towards Rohan too and he took it, only managing a ‘Hi!’

His spell was only broken with a clearing of throat by the professor while entering the class.
‘Welcome class to the first day of your Diploma in Business Management…’ Rohan could concentrate only this much to the professor as he failed to not notice Amrita sitting on the next bench.

Next Part coming soon..

P.S. This is not just another ordinary love story, but inspired from a true incidence.

Wednesday, 9 December 2009

Lost in Transit..

"Sagar, there is some problem with this report. I dont know what, but this doesnt seem to all right. Come over and take a look."
Ruhi still looks cute when she scratches her head trying to analyse something. Thought Sagar.
He stood up and moved across the desk towards her while she still was focusing on the laptop screen. He bent down close to her face, removed her spectacles "Enough for today. You look so confused and stressed. Relax. Wanna dance?" He asked her.
"Dance? now?" she looked at him in surprise. He took her hand and played their favorite song on her laptop which she had a shortcut of on her desktop.

I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While you're far away and dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Where every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure

Don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
Cause I'd miss you babe
And I don't want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you babe
And I don't want to miss a thing

He pulled her close and whispered into her ear "Marry me".
She freed herself from his grip, and fell on the chair staring at nothingness.
"What happened? Did I say something wrong?" he was not expecting such a reaction.
"I do not want to get into a relationship of sympathy." She replied curtly.
"Come on Ruhi. This is not sympathy. I am so used to you that I can't even imagine myself without you around." He was comforting her.
"I do not want to get into a relationship of convenience either."
"What are you saying Ruhi? You know we are in love since times immemorial."
"I still love Varun."
"I am not asking you to forget him. I know he always will be a part of your memories. But life doesn't stop. You have to move on."
"I can't move away from Varun's memories."

"But he is no more there and I want you to be a part of my life forever."

"Sagar, give a second thought to what you just said. You have been talking about yourself. You are used to me. You can't imagine your life without me. You want me to be a part of your life. It is all about you. Where am I in it? This is the difference in Varun and You. He taught me that love is giving without expecting. He was there to hold my hand when I was all alone. That unfortunate accident snatched him away. But I still feel him around myself. I see him when I look at Sameeksha."

"I will take care of Sameeksha as Varun would have. You know I love her, and she too is fond of me."
"But you can never be Varun, you can never be her father."
"Ruhi... We grew up together. And we have loved each other since we understood this emotion. I know I was at fault when I went away for my degree. That is when you met Varun. But now, things are back to square one. Varun was a blow of refreshing air who passed away. And I love you. Still. I do not see what has changed."

"Changed? Nothing will ever change. I could not ever return him the selfless love he adorned me with. I can't return him what he gave me in those 2 years even if I loved him my whole life. I say no to your proposal Sagar. I opt out. The way you opted out of me when you went away. Do you know why Sameeksha is so fond of you? It is biological. She is not Varun's Biological daughter." Ruhi snapped.

She could see Sagar floating into nothingness.

She collected her bag and marched out of the office she and Sagar shared, closing the door behind her..

Sunday, 6 December 2009

Encounter With Life

Ah, a break!! Riya thought, none to company with, 'let me treat myself a shopping spree and a coffee, I'll have a cafe-shopping day'.

It was Diwali, and after constant working of hours she had lost count of, she had a free time of her office when all her colleagues and employees had vacated the office to proceed for a Diwali furlough. She looked at her office, the result of her profound toil and effort of 10 years that took to establish her own export house. No regrets she thought, Gratified enough.

Spirited, as she entered an air conditioned shopping mall, her eyes struck on a man- tall, lean and handsome- busy with his shopping at the far corner. She could not believe what she was seeing.

Stopping herself from running, shrieking, she called out reaching that man and engaging him in a bear hug "OhmyGod, Ani.. Is it you? Where have you been all these years?"

Awestruck, he spared himself from the embrace to have a look who was this girl. Recognizing the strange look in his eyes, she said "Its me, Riya. Didn't you recognize me?"
"Riya? Riya Arora? You look so.. different." he mumbled with a managed smile.
"I always have", Riya found herself chuckling back at him when she noticed a tall, pretty and happening and all girl standing by his side with a stern look in her eyes.
And Ani too realized the air getting thicker and addressed that unidentified girl "Ishita, she is Riya, a... long lost friend... and Riya meet Ishita, my wife."
"Oh hi!" Riya said in a tone so friendly, "Ani and I have been long lost friends".
"And I thought only I called you Ani" added Ishita in an arrogant diction.
"Aniket, I meant, so what has been up with your life? Got so much to catch up.." was all Riya could manage.
"Yeah, I have been fine enough, into my own venture and married for 2 years now, see... She makes a lovely wife", Aniket pointed out Ishita when she left them chatting for trying another outfit.
"Yeah, I can make that out." Riya replied, she had sensed an air of uneasiness in Ani's voice. She always did, she thought gloomily.
"How have you been? What are you up to these days?" Ani shot at Riya.
"Just usual stuff, busy with work and all, I have finally set up my drem-export-house if you remember" Riya told him with a swell of pride in her eyes and a hint of sarcasm.
"Oh that's great, really nice. How about personal stuff??" He shot back with growing stiffness.
"Yeah, Mom dad are doing just fine, and Kunal- my brother, he is settled in USA." she replied coolly.
"Hun, we are getting late, remember we gotta go to the Verma's party?" Ishita's voice rang from far behind in Riya's ears.
"Just coming sweetie" Ani responded back.
"It was really nice seeing you Ani...Ket, your wife is waiting." Riya said.
"Same here. Bbye, See you around" and he left, he turned and waived a hand at Riya with a smile.
Riya too returned a faint smile, she stood there, watching him leave, 'see me around when he didn't even bother to exchange contact numbers'.

The flashes of past came rushing to her mind as if a movie was being played in fast forward.
Aniket, Ani and she had been friends since times immemorial. They had grown up together, tearing each others hair, teasing hell out of each other, soothing each other, consoling each other.

More than a friendship was blooming within, they realized, when they were knocking towards their youth. Their first brushes against each other, their first kiss, the night when she lay in his arms as her lover- possessing him and being possessed. She stood there, seeing past, scene by scene being played in the memory lane.

She was over with her academics and could not decide what to do next, when one fine day, Ani broke the news that he was going abroad, for further studies. She never asked the silly question 'and what about us?', she just understood.

But they were part time lovers and full time friends. They would talk everyday, they would talk about the hell stuff , about home- how he missed it, about lot more things. But with time lingering, the busy-ness crept in, and gradually, the everyday turned into often, often into rare ending up they lost contact.

She waited with a hope of him returning back to her, jumped into work, jerked everything other off her life and gave everything to her dream- her own export house. And how successful she was. And how empty...

Not that she did not have the opportunities, she was pretty, vibrant, successful and talk of the town. Who did not want to win her? Her colleagues, associates, clients asked her out. But she ignored. All of them. For a ray of hope, that had survived kindling inside her for these looong 10 years.. That same hope which died today in the encounter with life..

May God bestow his best of blessings on you Ani and Ishita, she wished as she turned away, startling at the call of her name from a distant place.
"Hey Riya"
She turned around to find out a business associate who had become a friend as well over the years.
"Hey Abhay" she said with a wry smile.
"What, of all the places are you doing here? and aloof?" Abhay demanded.
"Making up my mind for a re-incarnation at 35. What say?" she joked back.
"You already look stunning dear lady, you do not need a make-over I believe." Abhay bantered.
"Aww you mean guy, you know how I despise flattery." Riya continued.
"Do you mind even a coffee Damsel!" Abhay said.
"The treat has to be mine, I am the one who is going for re-incarnation" she replied.
"Your wish is my command ma'am" he bragged.
Riya held onto Abhay's outstretched hand and marched towards a new life.
With a new hope...

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