The
peace around you in your life is not just a state of mind, it only sums up to
two things, either there is a storm headed right at you, or the life itself has
given up on you to be thrilling. What the little group in here was thinking as
a state of mind had one hell of hurricane of sorrow, heart break and
confessions coming right at them.
Kanya
just to be with Aarav and Pratham missed her flight back to India which was
booked by her company, and the boys had completed the dream of being in Spain,
watching the El Classico. Along with that Aarav, the playboy who was last seen
on the flight to Madrid flirting with two girls at same time, is now long gone
and changed to a more earnest and liable one. Pratham was thrilled just with a
thought of meeting Rashi, the last time they spoke was the time when they were
in Goa, and that too when they were in a state of conflict.
“So
I was just wondering I hadn’t talked to Rashi for a long time and surprisingly
I don’t have any messages or calls from her.” Pratham said while the trio was
travelling to the airport.
“Oh
that’s out of my league question, Kanya can you please explain her behavior?”
Aarav asked Kanya to put some light on the topic
“Ummm
lemme see… may be she found someone more interesting and hence ignoring
Pratham?” she said
“Oh
dear you need to work on your words, Sonal must have been poking her with all
of your messages and hence she understood that you needed some alone time too.”
Aarav handled the situation
“I
don’t know we’ll see that when we land.” Pratham struggled to look into the
incoming traffic because of rain on the highway. Miles away and it happened for
the first time in a while that Pratham and Rashi were talking about each other
same time.
“No
ways! Pratham is landing tomorrow morning and you still want to have dinner?”
Rashi said over phone sitting in the balcony of her apartment watching the city
lights.
“Oh
come on Miss Orange I am leaving town for a while and now you are saying no?”
Ajinkya replied
“Sorry
but no thanks, I can’t be out for long; you know my mom will be calling where you
are? Why are you up so late? Don’t you have to pick Pratham? And all that.”
“Yea
but what if I come over?” Ajinkya made a proposal
“I
hate to say that I can’t refuse it. What time? Better be on time, today’s off
limit is 11 PM.”
“What?
It’s 9 already and I have got only two hours?” Ajinkya was stunned
“Yes,
impress me…” and Rashi disconnected the call
It
was the time when google retired it social networking site Orkut, 30th
September 2014, its fate was decided. A lot of users who were active over the
internet will know what social networking was like before the likes of Facebook
and retweets of Twitter came into existence. Some were happy to see the Orkut
farewell, while some still got attachment to the site and were sad that their
little online scrapbook was actually being scrapped in few days. Sonal was from
the second category, she had a habit of logging in the site and check for any
new scraps.
“I
guess he’s never coming back, I was such a fool back then. And now all these
memories are going to disappear into thin air, spoof and gone with a button’s
hit.” Sonal was upset and talking to herself.
Back
on the flight, the game began with Aarav confessing his past deeds, opening the
door to his world for Kanya. The world which was confined to Aarav himself, his
despairs, the sorrow caused by him, his ambitions, and everything else which
was meant to be with himself only.
“Glad
this time we are struck together.” Said Kanya who was sitting between Pratham
and Aarav
“I
am glad I found you here.” Aarav said while holding Kanya’s hand
“Dude,
Am I dreaming or what? Someone’s world has changed upside down and I am
surprisingly happy to witness that.” Pratham said
“Yea
well can you please give us some privacy? Or shall I ask the attendant to
change your seat?” Aarav kidded
“Stop
it you two, I feel comfortable when he’s around. And I know it sounded dirty
but I think you know what I mean so spare me from asking to mind my words.”
Kanya rested her head on Aarav’s shoulder talking about Pratham
“You
awake?” Aarav asked Kanya after their flight took off and was midair.
“Yes
awake and actively listening your aftermath of these 2 hours silence.”
“I
was gathering some information from my mind’s database and putting them
together. You have accepted me as I am but there is lot of things you need to
know.” Aarav said
“Yes
I am all ears.”
“I
come from a small family, just my mother, and she always said that my father
died while serving the army. She owns a small Burger
Joint which was my grandmother’s only inheritance. My mom never
told me the truth about how my dad actually died in an accident before even
reaching the battlefield, but that’s different story. What really matters is my
past, my deeds, what I have done when I was a fool.” Aarav continued
“I
am sorry to hear about your father but you are not fool, I bet you never were.”
“I
have had as many as relations as I could thought of, broke innocent girls
hearts, sometimes they left me for someone better. But the point is that I was
not what I am right now, I flirted a lot, had one night stands with girls
picked up at bars, done some really bad things and I want to confess and
apologies for all of it.”
“Oh
please no need to regret for what you have done in your life when I was not
there. How can I judge you on your past when I was not part of it? It’s foolish
so please just don’t.” Kanya hushed him placing her finger on Aarav’s lips and
bent over him trying to kiss Aarav on the cheeks but got struck with seatbelts.
“Let
me help you with that.” Aarav said leaning forward and making contact to her
lips
“You
are forgiven for what sins you have done.” Kanya said and they enjoyed the
moment until Pratham got up
“Can
you guys keep it down? Trying to sleep here, struggling to take a nap.” He said
“Actually
we were waiting for the beautiful airhostess to come and break your sleeping
spell with a kiss.” Kanya pulled his leg
“Good
point I am feeling hungry. Have you two eaten anything?” Pratham asked
“No,
order something please, will you.” Aarav requested
“Sure
sir anything else you want? May be a power packed kick?” Pratham replied
Flying
towards his fiancée, if Pratham knew that Rashi was having dinner at her home
with someone else he would be furious just like the engine roaring through the
clouds. Ajinkya was supposed to be arriving any moment now, Rashi was well
cladded in her black gown with her mid length hairs open and riding the wind
coming through the balcony as she watched flights ascending and descending
while whirling over the city.
Rashi
was wondering how her life has changed upside down in last few months. There
was a time when she had nothing in the mind about knowing Pratham; they were
going to meet for the first time. And it was raining as the clouds were pouring
it all at once; the restaurant was an average one, she first caught his glimpse
when he was running from the car to the door.
“First
meeting and you are late? Negative five for that.” She said
“Being
always late is my trait. It saves me from a lot of things.” Pratham replied
“May
be your trait will save you from me, maybe not.” Rashi clearly remembered their
first meeting. Her memory dissolved to another scene where Pratham was telling
his stories.
“How
do you make all these stories? Please tell me what specialization have you done
in story telling?” Rashi was laughing her stomach out
“Stop
laughing it really happened, look I can prove you.” Pratham innocently answered
back
“Yes
dear I do believe you.” Rashi’s memory took another turn to the time when
Pratham injected the idea of the accurate
list into her mind
“Rashi, we have
exactly 10 months to tie the knot. And there are few things I wanted to do
before I get married. So for sake of that I would like to ask you, Can I
complete my Accurate List?” Pratham said
“You and your
crazy ideas never disappoint to surprise me, now tell me what the things you
want to do are?” Rashi asked him and the knocks on the door brought her back to
present time where she was well dressed for a dinner, not with her fiancé but
with Ajinkya. She opened the door just to find Ajinkya with a bottle of wine
and dinner packed up in two little boxes.
“What’s that
for? I thought it was just the dinner you were talking about.” Rashi asked
pointing the bottle
“Oh just the
supplement, I bought for you.” Ajinkya smiled and entered the apartment
“Have a seat;
make yourself home except for dropping your pants off. I seriously don’t need
any trouble tonight.” Rashi greeted him not in way he would have expected
“What happened?
Is everything alright?”
“Yes it is. You
tell me why were you so impatient? When I told you I can’t meet tonight what
was the urgency?” Rashi seemed upset
“Woah take a
time-out. Where are your manners, don’t you ask a guest what he needs in a
proper way?” Ajinkya tried to calm her down
“Ajinkya! I don’t
need any suggestion from you. Why are you tailing on me? Please let me live in
peace for some time.” Rashi was now fuming at Ajinkya
“Wait a minute,
you are panicking because Pratham is coming tomorrow and you are blaming it all
on me?” Ajinkya put his point
“It’s… It is not
like that.”
“Yes it is, come
and chill.” Ajinkya poured some wine in the glass and offered her she took it
and gulped it at once
“I am not
panicking.”
“Yes you are…
not.” he changed his statement as Rashi glared upon him
She seemed a bit
of confused, all these flashbacks with every sip of wine made it worse. She was
having cold feet, once she was thinking of the time she spent with Pratham, in
another moment she was missing her undaunted life. With her senses going off
her, there was a sense of realization. Rashi was confirmed now that she was
lacking fun and moving towards a dull and uninteresting life. And to add up to
this situation there was another confession which was going to hit the ground,
this time it was Ajinkya…
“You asked me
why I was so curious to meet you today, well I’ll tell you. I am moving to
Moscow for couple of months and I am sure till the time I’ll be back you would
have tied knots with Pratham.”
“Yea so what’s
the issue?”
“Ummm how do I
say? You remembered the time we first met, when you passed out. From that
moment till date I don’t know when, where, why or how but I know one thing for
sure that life seems beautiful with you, I know it doesn’t matter anymore how I
feel about you but I do know that you need to know it. I am sorry I don’t want
to hurt you or anything like that but yes I have fallen for you.” Ajinkya spoke
his heart out but Rashi was in another dimension, another dilemma.
“Hmmm….” Rashi
replied
“What happened
you are in some kind of sticky situation?” he asked in a concern
“I am confused
to pick between two choices.” She got up and moved towards balcony
“Oh wait you are
not having any confusion to pick between me and Pratham. Are you?”
“Don’t be such a
stupid one, you are my dearest friend and will always remain the same. What to
choose Pratham or my freedom that is the question.” Rashi gazed up on the moon
and the stars as if she was asking for help or some assistance.
Back on flight, Aarav was sleeping
like he hasn’t in decades, and Pratham was miles away from siesta. Kanya was
left with no option to either sleep or talk to Pratham but she chose wisely and
confronted Pratham with another confession…
“Since how long
you two have known each other?” Kanya asked
“Oh now you see
me? Just kidding, I have known from childhood, we went to school together then
college. Had each other as brothers, fought like sworn enemies but you know one
thing he is quite an amazing guy. He’ll jump in front of a train for you, kill
a beast for you and while playing any game he’ll sacrifice himself if you are
in a better position to win it.” Pratham laughed while describing Aarav and his
friendship
“But I was not
referring to him, I was asking about Rashi.”
“Oh we met
through our parents; they were kind of pursing us to meet for like a year or
so. So we decided to shut them up, by meeting and then rejecting each other
with mutual consent, but as you know that didn’t go as planned.”
“Ah so not a
long relationship with her?” she asked further
“Yup why do you
ask that?”
“Well just like
that you know. And how do you rate me as a friend?” Kanya was interrogating
Pratham just to understand if he was ready to take the blow or not
“A very good
one, a special one indeed.”
“If that’s true
I want to tell you something but you have to promise me you won’t overreact on
this one.”
“Oh stop
building up the suspense, will you tell me already?” Pratham was on the edge of
his seat now
“The thing is
that when you guys were at our hotel, I noticed Rashi hanging out with a
particular guest of ours. First I thought she was his fiancée but later I
discovered that she wasn’t and…” Kanya was about to tell him the morning she
saw Rashi leaving Ajinkya’s room but he interposed
“I appreciate
your concern but I don’t think you know Rashi, she won’t do anything like that.
And no offense but can I please take a nap now?”
“For sure, I was
just… let it be…” Kanya murmured
Pratham did not
like the fact that Kanya was balking on Rashi. Pratham was compelled to have a
thought about all the stuffs she was blaming Rashi off, but he couldn’t. It was
about time when the flight was going to have touchdown. As they got off the
aircraft, moving towards the baggage belt Kanya was maintaining a sweet
distance from Pratham.
“So buddy, this
is gonna be a long week.” Aarav said while reaching for the first of their
backpacks talking about weeding at the weekend
“Yes, indeed
time actually flies away.” Pratham said
“Any plans for
bachelor party?” Kanya asked hoping to shoo away the fallacy which she created
last night about Rashi.
“Done with it
already, Spain did you forget it?” Pratham replied in distress making Kanya
realize she did riled him up
“Wait what? That
was your bachelor party? No booze no girls?” Kanya was surprised
“Yea well that
was all of it. And I am not willing to have another one in the house.” He
cleared
“Oh in that case
you are invited for your own party at my house.” Kanya invited him
“Yea, it will be
a classic one. The only difference will be what we experience and what they
show in movies.” Pratham replied sarcastically
“That Mr.
Pratham we will see, tomorrow night my place be there.” Kanya accepted the
challenge
Pratham took his
backpack and bid adieu to Aarav and Kanya, as they were going the opposite way.
His eyes were searching a familiar face, there were quite a few chauffeurs but
he was left in a disappointment. Pratham was in a hope that Rashi will come to
pick him up, but she was in her flat sleeping after having a sleepless night.
He once thought of calling her but as soon as the bell rang on her cellphone,
he changed his mind and disconnected. This was enough for Rashi’s sleep to
break off.
“Right away sir,
your taxi number is 1743 and will be arriving to the bay shortly.” The cab
company’s attendant said to Pratham
“Hello?” Pratham
answered his phone
“Where are you?
Your flight landed before time?” it was Rashi enquiring
“Will you please
not act so innocent?” Pratham was felling annoyed with her
“Ok sorry, but
will you please tell me where are you?” she apologized
“Just about to
cross the flyover.”
“That’s great
stop the cab right there; I’ll be there in five.” Rashi asked him to wait there
“For sure…” Pratham
disconnected the call and request he cab driver to stop
Another car pulled up in front of
the cab, there she was Pratham was now confused looking at Rashi. She was still
in the gown which she wore last night on a sort of date with Ajinkya but
Pratham didn’t know that and he was disgusted with her. He took his bags from
the cab and put it in Rashi’s car.
“Wait, where are
you going?” She asked
“Just look at
yourself, I am not going to ask where were you, or what you did last night,
your condition says it all. I can’t allow you to drive.” Pratham was angry with
her but somehow there was little care in the back of his mind. Rashi was drunk
last night which was clearly visible from the eyes.
“Aww that’s cute
and thoughtful of you but you don’t you have jetlag? It was a long flight…”
Rashi was talking but Pratham turned his back on her and took the wheel
“Yeah yeah shut
up and get in.” Pratham revved the car
“Hey I was
talking to you I suppose.”
“I wasn’t.”
“What is your
problem Mr.?”
“You knew I was
coming? Yes or no?”
“Yea I knew
but…”
“Just answer how
much is asked.”
“Yes”
“You were
supposed to pick me up?”
“Yes”
“Were you
there?”
“No”
“Am I supposed
to explain anymore?” Pratham concentrated back on the road cursing the slow
driver in front of him. There was complete silence between them except the
honking which was there throughout the journey. They reached Pratham’s home in
no time, Rashi tried to come out of the car but Pratham locked her gate
preventing her from getting out.
“What now?” she
asked
“Nothing just
one last thing, do you know why airports are so far away from cities?”
“Yes of course,
to prevent from any hazardous situation.”
“Partially
correct, another reason is that if someone is going out for a while he or she
could spend more time travelling with their loved ones and vice versa in case
if you are about to receive your loved one after a long time and even
especially when you fought last time you were together. And my dear Rashi you
have failed me.” Pratham said and left Rashi thinking what she could have done
and what she did.
Pratham was not tired of the voyage
but instead he felt exhausted when he met Rashi. He called up Aarav, and to ask
if he could meet but before he asked he heard Kanya’s voice and thus dropped
the plan. Then he called Sonal, he was not expecting her to be of any help
because Rashi was more like a sister to her.
“Hi!” He greeted
her
“Hello? Who is
it?” a guy replied
“Is Sonal
there?” Pratham asked
“Oh no, she was
here and left her phone. May I know who is it?” The other guy enquired but till
the time he finished his sentence Pratham had already disconnected the call.
There was no one
else he could think of and share his thoughts, so he penned his state of mind….
If only you were here with me,
I would ask you to peek into my heart and see…
What feelings I have for you in store,
Better than I show surely much more…
Here I am now trying to illustrate,
I hope it’s not too late…
If only you were at airport to receive,
I would have been more expressive…
If only you were with me in Spain,
I wouldn’t have gotten through the pain…
If only you hadn’t accused me of cheating,
My heart would have taken any kind of whipping…
If only you had spent more time in goa,
I would have survived any Supernova…
I only knew you were there with me,
In my memories, my dreams and every bit of me…
If only you were with me…
He took the help
of world’s most tried and trusted resource, his thoughts. Pratham knew he could
write, and write well but after meeting Rashi it seemed that he never got the
time to be with his best friends his favorite black colored ink pen and his old
worn and torn diary.
Pratham wondered
how he used to flirt with girls both in virtual world and in real world. One particular
girl he remembered was on Orkut, they used to chat for a long time. He recalled
that she was the last person for whom he wrote poem. And the thought of how she
would be in real life prevented him from sleeping this time also, as he already
spent sleepless nights either chatting with her or thinking about her presence.
As Kanya had
planned the bachelor party for Pratham, it wasn’t much of surprise that her
friends will be coming over. Thus making Aarav and Pratham both uncomfortable
and confined to them only, observing this Kanya approached with one of her
friend to Pratham…
“This is the man
we are partying today for.” Kanya introduced her to Pratham
“I must say you
are wasting most precious time of your life.” She said and hugged him.
“Aarav, honey
can I talk to you for one second?” Kanya indicated him to leave
“Who is she?” Aarav
asked
“Well she is a
friend of friend of friend of mine.”
“Woah! Stop it
right there, don’t tell me you called an escort?” Aarav shouted
“No! I didn’t I just
help a friend of friend of friend of mine who was looking for a one nighter to
get hooked with the man of the hour.” Kanya cleared
“But what’s her
name?”
“What’s in her
name? Let’s call her Puja.” Kanya proposed
“Ummm no I would
prefer Jenny.” Aarav winked at her and kissed her on left cheek
“Come let’s
dance!” Jenny pulled Pratham in the middle and started dancing all over him
“Excuse me I need
a drink.” Pratham made his way out of there after couple of embarrassing moves
“Dude she was
totally hitting on you.” Kanya gave him
a pint and said
“No ways! Although
I was quite tempted but I couldn’t do anything more.” Pratham said
“Yup bachelor
party sign #1, moral dilemma of hitting a one nighter or not.” Aarav said while
cheering him up
“No I can’t, I am
not that drunk. I am not going back there hide me somewhere.” Pratham said
“It is gonna
like classic movie’s bachelor party.” Kanya hoped
“No it’s not.
There are no Strippers; in movies they have a whole lot of them.” Aarav said to
which Kanya looked at him with grin.
“Totally nailed
it! There are not gonna be any unanswerable questions in the morning.” Pratham joined
in the debate
“There is gonna
be hangover aren’t you two forgetting that?” Kanya defended herself
“Yes but that
hangover will not be responsible for this whole night missing.” Pratham continued
“And you will
want to remember it Mr. for a long time.” Kanya being a host was now fighting for
her fort
“Well I got to
admit it this is quite a great party you have thrown.” Aarav praised her making
up for previous comments
“Yes, but I am
not so drunk that I could see Rashi in every girl.” Pratham said
“Your wish is granted.”
Kanya said while putting a huge beer jar in front of Pratham
“All yours.” Aarav
prompted him
“I think that is
Rashi.” Pratham said after gulping down three of those big jars.
“Are you mad or
what? This is Kanya.” Aarav said
“You moron I am
talking about her.” Pratham turned Aarav’s face towards the door
“Buddy your
wedding is haunting me now, even I can see Rashi.” Aarav wondered
“What if I say
it is Rashi? Or am I hallucinating too?” Kanya joined in
“There is only
one way to find it out.” Pratham got up and moved towards the image of Rashi
and pulled her up front and started kissing her. She was shocked by this sudden
action so she broke the kiss and slapped him.
“What in the
universe you think you are doing?” Rashi yelled at him and there was complete
silence all one could hear were bottles cranking up with all other guests
leaving taking the slap as the end of the party.
“Wait what? Did
you just slap me for kissing you?” Pratham was shocked
“I need to talk
to you in some peace.”
“Say it, whatever
it is won’t be more humiliating than that slap of yours.” Pratham was losing his
temperament
“I didn’t want
this to be like it. But you know I have had it all, your idea of accurate list
was quite brilliant. I rode motorcycle, went to goa, water sports and in all I am
at #7.” She said
“So what #8 was
slapping me in my own bachelor party? It better be, because I am not accepting
any other answer than that.” Pratham was so angry that he just threw his phone
which was ringing
“Sorry to
disappoint you, it wasn’t, spoiling your party was. And I am here to complete
my whole list.”
“So there’s two
more huh?”
“Yes, I want to
confess something.” She started
“Since the
moment we met, I wasn’t so sure about you. I mean you are nice, well behaved,
at time you do care; every single thing about you is perfect. But as the matter
of fact you don’t deserve me, you deserve way better than me.” Rashi continued
“Rashi just don’t,
I know where you are going with this please don’t do that. I can understand
your anxiety but this won’t help.” Kanya interrupted
“Darling, I don’t
know you much but sorry you can’t talk me out of this, I have gone through it
many times before coming here and standing in front of him.” Rashi said to
Kanya
“What is
happening here? Can you just say it in an easier way?” Pratham requested Rashi
“Sorry Pratham there
is no easier way to this; I don’t think I am ready to sacrifice my freedom, my
lone time. I don’t think we should get married.” Rashi broke into tears with
that statement
“It is not the
right time to panic, come have a seat.” Pratham offered her a seat and Kanya
bought a glass of water
“Pratham, I am
so sorry I didn’t wanted to spoil you party or your life, but I just realized
it couple of days back and since then I was trying to find a way how to do it. I
thought of running away from all this mess which I created, but that would do injustice
to us, to our little treasurable friendship. Finally I came up with confessing
it to you.” Rashi said while sobbing
“I am numb; I don’t
know how to react to it. I mean I respect your decision but don’t you think it’s
little too late we are, oh sorry we were supposed to get married by this
weekend.” Pratham said
“I am out of
words, after all the time you two spent; this is what you think you can do to
him?” Aarav was really angry with Rashi, if she would have been a guy Aarav would
be punching hard this moment
“Buddy calm
down. Even I feel the same. Are you sure about it?” Pratham calmed him down and
asked Rashi
“Yes and one
last thing #10 on my list. I will get married when the time is right for me. Pratham
I am sorry I never meant to break your trust, but I found it too late.” Rashi said
while getting up and leaving.
“You okay Pratham?”
Kanya asked
“I am fine.”
With that Pratham got up picked up his broken cell phone, once hoped for all of
this to be a dream. But he wasn’t that much lucky, and it was not any dream.
The panic button was hit hard by Rashi, she herself knew she have lost an
eternal friendship but it was about her own freedom so no one could have
questioned it except the timing of confession.
The
peace around them was not just a state of mind, it was the storm headed right
at Pratham’s life. Hurricane of sorrow, heart break and confessions hit the
lives of too many people here. But one thing is for sure, if life is at lowest
point you can imagine, it is gonna climb upwards from the same moment. It doesn’t
stop at one altitude keep on increasing or decreasing. For Pratham, it was
about to climb the cliff it had just dropped off.
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