Chapter 29: The Wedding Card

 

Chapter 23: The Ugly Guest

 

It was quite a while since we moved into KS layout and now it was like home to us, a perfect place where we could do anything we ever wanted. One more reason for shifting was, if any family member comes down to Bangalore then we can offer roof to them; which started with Rambo, a morning we heard that Rambo’s best friend is shifting to Bangalore concerning work,

“What’s his name”, asked Patti

“Sardar”, Rambo replied

That wasn’t his actual name but it did not matter because entire planet called him Sardar and he had no objection with that. Soon he began to reside with us; he was a comical guy and used to just look out for an opportunity to have a party or any kind of fun. Sooner Sardar’s friends started coming over to our place. After a few months of hang about Sardar left the house but lots of Sardar’s friends by now had become Rambo’s acquaintances, so we not at all felt that Sardar truly is gone because his friends kept coming to our house. On a usual dry evening Rambo made an announcement that one of his and Sardar’s buddy will come today and stay with us for a week,

“Who is he ?”, I asked

“His name is Imran”, Rambo said while looking at watch with an Son-Of-Bitch-is-late look on his face

“Who is he ?”, I was curious

“Imraan”, Rambo answered

“Who Imraan ?”

And here is the most exceptional relation what Rambo told us which I don’t think you will ever encounter,

Rambo’s friend is Sardar

Sardar’s friend is Akhtar

Akhtar’s wife is Zoha

Zoha’s cousin is Priyanka

Priyanka’s friend is Anamika

Anamika’s brother is Bunty

Bunty’s friend is Imraan

“Do you even know him”, I asked Rambo in bewilderment after listening to something which I have encountered only in Hindi movies.

He gave me a shitty face and went inside his room. After not many hours Imraan came with his belongings. We were as usual thrilled for an accumulation of a new person in the house, we greeted him with loads of respect and considered him like one of us, we thought, anyways he will be with us barely for a week so why not make him feel comfy. The week passed with amusement and delight with Imraan, he was a witty guy. 2^nd Week began and Imraan was still here, we did not ask Rambo anything; as we thought he might have extended his stay due to some reasons but 2^nd week also ended instantly. The entire month passed out and Imraan was still in the house as if he came here to settle down with us. And quickly Imraan was 2 months old in our house, he wasn’t paying any rent or any involvement towards any condiments because we decided not to pose as he was staying only for a week. He wasn’t cooking or helping with any other thing in the house because he measured himself as a guest, he wasn’t working either, yes that means he was an un-employed dead meat sitting on our chest. From morning till evening he was accustomed to play games on Rambo’s PC and had a habit of breaking our records and later laugh on us regarding that in the evenings. At the time of a meal, he used to buy a packet of Maggie noodles. He used to cook them in the kitchen and consumed it from top to bottom within the kitchen because if he comes out of then he might have to split it !!!

It was end of 3^rd month and there was still no indication that Imraan will ever say goodbye to us, so we stood up against him and spoke to Rambo. Fascinating thing was that Rambo hasn’t yet become conscious that he was here only for a week and its already 3 months !!! Rambo without delay asked Imraan to disappear. Within 2 days Imraan affirmed that he is leaving. That day morning while leaving for the office Rambo shook hands with Imraan and left because he anticipated that by the time he will be back Imraan wouldn’t be here. That entire last day Imraan tried all his effort on the computer game in breaking my record (Which I produced by hacking the game). He was so caught up and distressed to shatter it that he forgot that it was already twilight. Rambo returned from office and saw Imraan on his computer, his grin; which was there on his face due to some thought in his mind; changed in 10^th of millisecond.

“Saale kutte, tu abhi tak yahi, chal bhaag yaha se” (WTF !! U asshole!! Why are u still here ? Get out of the house !!!!), Rambo shouted instantaneously as soon as he saw Imraan

“Ok Ok, abhi jaata hu” (I am leaving), Imraan jolted with fright

Imraan without delay stopped the game, went to the room and took his luggage out. He went down to look for an auto rickshaw. He came back and took his belongings and said,

“Ok guys, I am leaving”, he smiled

Patti and NM burst into laughter; both of them started dancing as if god has granted them a new life.

“Hurrrayyyyyyy, Imraan jaa raha hai” (Hurray, Imraan is leaving), NM kept on screaming the statement again and again on Imraan’s face.

“Ab hum log fir se chain ki saans le sakte” (We are free, we can live again), Patti also joined

Well Imraan was more or less thrown out of the house insulted, I felt terrible for him but that’s what that SOB earned !!

***********

It was already 1 year since I proposed Deeps and it was our first anniversary. We celebrated 2 anniversaries, one where I proposed and 2^nd when she said yes. We chose not to go to the college that day. She had to come home and from there we decided to go out for the whole day. She told me that she will come at 10, so I calculated the relative time which is (The time Deeps told + 1 hr) = 11 am. I was completely geared up to astonish her. She came accurately at 10:55 am. She came to the house and we began to chit chat,

“Congratulations”, she said

“Yes, same to you too, we made it, one year”, I chuckled

“Chalo, let’s go”, she said

“Wait, I have a surprise”

“What is it ?”

“You will know in precisely 30 seconds”

1….2….15…..25….30

Hume tumse pyaar kitna, ye hum nahi jaante, magar jee nahi sakte tumhare bina ……

A song began from nowhere, she was very pleased with the whole situation and it stunned her that the song started on its own. Secret behind that was, auto play in Winamp media player and the moment it starts then call winamp by windows scheduler at Deep’s relative time and bingo !!! The Girl was impressed.

Chapter 21: The End

 

In current semester all classmates were separated into groups of 3 and they were asked to perform experiments in sets to save time. Anky was grouped with Shamita and Avanti. Avanti; who was a not a girl, she was a volcano. Whenever she spoke one could experience nails coming out of her jaws and hitting the person on face. She was very blunt and very valiant but she had a soft corner for Anky and never did show any ferocity on him. Anky was powerless to recognize why she was like that with him because from morning to evening he made fun of her, snubbed and humiliated her in front of the entire class and apparently this attracted her towards him !!! Avanti began to fall for Anky more and more which Anky never comprehended. Deeps on the other hand could not grasp this and in next to no time Anky and Deeps started having differences over this,

“Why is she always around you ?”, Asked Deeps

“She is not, where is she now ?”, Anky reacted recklessly

“I always see her with you, what’s going on between you two ?”

“Have you gone crazy”

They fought and she cried, they fought again and they cried. This went on for few days and nothing seemed to be working out. On the other hand Avanti commenced next segment of her plan by spending more time with Anky. Clearly she did not get any time in college because Anky was always with Deeps, therefore she decided to go Anky’s home. Avanti started coming home regularly for the explanation that she needs to gain knowledge of mathematical expressions; which sanctioned her to spend hours with him. Anky also entertained her because this way he could be well trained in his curriculum but little did he know that he is getting into an immense and grave complication. Anky never told this to Deeps because she would not have ever understood and never would have approved this. He anyways thought that it is not that greater deal and there was no way Deeps could have known about this.

On a usual day Avanti was in Anky’s place and they both were going through the current lecture notes. Devoid of any notice or hint Deeps came home with Apsara; they both decided to come home to meet me and NM. As soon as Deeps came in, she saw Avanti sitting next to Anky, she got livid and left from there in abhorrence. Anky was pissed with such manners because she did not even give him any opportunity of even explaining as what was going on. He never left his place and said bye to Deeps as she left. After she left Anky was little distress and asked for 2 min break from Avanti. Out of the blue Deeps yelled from ground floor,

“Anky I am going”, she was still not gone

“Wait”, he ran for her

Anky arrived there and she was there all set to disappear on her two-wheeler. He jumped and settled behind her on pillion seat and said,

“Let’s go for a ride”

They went for a ride. After a while he asked her to stop, she stopped the vehicle,

“What is wrong with you ?”, Anky asked her patiently

“I don’t like her and I don’t want her to come any near to you”, she said this while tears in her eye

“She comes only to get her doubts cleared, that’s all”, Anky shielded Avanti

“Whatever it is I don’t want her in your house”

For next 30 min this dispute continued and in the end he managed to influence her that Avanti can mean and cause no destruction, she can be rest assured that no bad can happen. She was persuaded indistinctly and dropped him back to the house, took Apsara and left. When Anky got back to the house Avanti was still there and was waiting for him to return.

“What happened”, Avanti asked

“Nothing, Deeps was not in very good mood”

“Why what happened”, she asked another time

“Nothing, she is not able to focus on her studies and for that reason she is cantankerous”

“Are you guys a couple ?”, she asked a question out of nowhere

Anky was taken aback with that enquiry but he got himself together and graciously declined,

“No nothing like that, we are just excellent friends”, he defended

“Ok, in that case I need to ask you one thing”, she examined the clear room

“Yes, sure, please ask”

“Anky I love you, will you marry me”, she blushed

Anky was struck with a very severe attack of a paralysis with a bolt of lightning at the same time. Anky’s most hideous nightmare had just turned into reality. The girl who he was just protecting with Deeps had just made things much worse for him.

If Deeps come to know about all this then she will eat me alive and will never listen to me because she somehow sensed it before it happened.

“Are you kidding, please don’t make fun of me”, Anky tried to dodge the bullet

“I am not joking”, she was serious

“Look Avanti whatever you feel for me, I am grateful for that but I don’t think the same for you”

“So are you saying NO”, she questioned

“Yes, Avanti, you deserve a much better guy then me”

“I don’t think so”, she started weeping

It took another 30 min for Anky to calm her down and eventually he managed to send her back home. He also talked her into that she should not come home again and stay as far as possible from him because then it will be very tough to get over all this. She seemed to be a matured lady and took things rather positively. Anky was thankful that this did not turn out to be yet another snag in his life. When this sorted out straightforwardly, he decided to tell the event to Deeps and also to let her know that Avanti will not be near me anymore,

“She proposed me”, He told Deeps

“I knew it”, she started howling before Anky could say anything

“But listen to me”, Anky continued

“Forget it Anky its over”, she hung up

What !!!! She did not even listen what happened !!!

Anky tried calling her up the entire evening, the entire week but she just wasn’t ready to pay attention. She wasn’t ready to appreciate that it was Avanti who proposed and not him !!! She was also pissed on him more because some girl in some other class had seen me and Avanti holding hands someday which was so fallacious.

“You are so with her Anky”, she was weeping

“Please hear me out, It’s not true”

“No way”

“Okay then that’s what you want”, Anky also finally gave up

“I don’t want you anymore”
Anky also could not take it anymore and was utterly annoyed because he was being accused for something which he did not even think of !!!

“Ok Deeps lets break-up, I guess this what it was meant to be”

“Yes”

And we hung up for ever

Chapter 20: Look Who's talking

 

It was end of yet another semester and like always, I had to catch the immediate train soon after the exams are over. I was packed and ready to roll. This time NM was travelling with me till Nagpur (Half way). It was always nice if someone you know is going with you from Bangalore to Jaipur even till half way. It was always dreadful to spend 2 entire days on your own in the train but anyways I had done it a million times. Out of those million times I was fortunate only once when I met few people who appeared of the same age as mine, 2 guys and 1 girl. The girl was from UP and she looked very extrovert the way she was interacting with us, so I started showing off. I told them that I study in Bangalore in a college called APS, “my college has this” and “my college has that”, blah blah blah, I went on and on. When I was done I was pretty certain that I have established who is the smartest and moreover the girl looked awfully impressed. I then asked each of them for their introduction, I asked the 1^st guy,

“Where do you study ?”, I asked

“I am doing MBBS from Manipal”, he said

Hmmmm this guy is clearly from a better institute then I am but that's fine

“You”, I asked the 2^nd guy

“I am from IIT-Kanpur”, he said

Great, what else are we missing!!!

“What about you Bharti ?”, I asked the girl

“I am from IIT-Chennai”, she said with a grin

So for next 2 days I was looking for a corner or someplace where I can bury my face. I was a like an ordinary man who was trying to be a hero in middle of a bunch of superheroes like Superman, Batman and Wonder women.

************************

Deeps asked me many times about how a wedding takes place in north and I gave her the fresh illustration of my cousin brother whose story line was approximately similar to ours.

Nitin was an engineering student in Bangalore and Anjula was a medical student. They fell in love, got married and lived happily ever after.

Deeps was pleased that my family is not new to this business and she liked the story because she could foresee our fairy-tale also to end the same way.

It was the first time when I was going home while my love story was in top gear and both of us could not resist staying away. So we made a deal that we will talk every day. It was those days when Mobile phones still had incoming call charges and sustaining a mobile phone itself was a character of sumptuousness and hence both of us still did not have any mobile. We were dependent either on our house phones or STD booths. A girl calling up to my house also could have raised questions for me so I told her even if she wants to call to my house apart from pre-decided time then fake yourself as a Jaipur Girl with the name “Amrita”, Amrita was my school friend and used to call to my house. I gave Deeps very basic instructions and told her that her Hindi should be excellent enough to trick them. She was as usual over-confident and gave me a don’t-you-worry affirmation.

And the day arrived where she could not hang around till the determined time, she called to my house and my mom picked up,

“Hello”, said my mom

“Kya mai Ankit se baat kar sakti hu ?” (Can I talk to Ankit), she said in an excellent Hindi intonation

“Wo to abhi hai nahi, kaun bol raha hai ?” (He is not here but may I know who is on the line ?), My mom asked

The sentence she told after that created a history,

“Mai Anjula bol raha hu” (Its Anjula speaking (In Masculine grammatical gender))           

My mother never stopped laughing that day, in fact she was almost rolling on the floor when she heard that. First Deeps said the wrong name, I guess she was too much overwhelmed with Nitin-Anjula love story that she chose “Anjula” over “Amrita” and next she said it in masculine Hindi grammar which made things even better. I returned home and I found my mom choking with extreme laughter and when she told me this I too laughed my lungs out. Later I clarified it to my mother that she was frightened to call and that’s why she attempted Hindi.

*************

Well feast were over soon and I was back in college. It was a spanking new semester and a very vital one because many new and innovative topics were to be taken up this time. In which one of the subject was “Satellite communications”. “Hari - the lecturer”, who was taking this subject was once student of the APS college and soon after he joined as a lecturer in APS. I don’t know what was about him, either he was extremely attractive or every girl was sightless. According to most of the girls he was bloody handsome !!! And he was sizzling favorite among girls, maybe it was his jokes which kept all the girls amused, one of which goes like this,

Hari was addressing us on satellites,

“Satellites move with the help of Pulsars”, elucidated Hari

He then took a pause and said

“Pulsar, definitely male”, with a wide beam

Entire classroom exploded into hilarity apart from me and NM who were looking each other’s face in repugnance, I could not resist and said,

“Sir please raise your hand next time you think a joke is very funny so that we know that we have to giggle”

The subsequent lecture was by Anil (Name forgotten). He was sincere and strict. He began with his lecture and every time he turned his back to write something onto the board; patti took out a peanut; pealed it and munched it. He did that for a while until everybody observed and asked him for peanuts. He supplied peanuts to everyone in the class in next 20 minutes until Apsara also realized and asked patti for peanuts, who was sitting just in front of her. Patti passed her a peanut, she pealed it and instead of tossing the peel away she handed it back to patti. Now patti was like a small kid, wanted tit for tat, he took that same peel and stuffed it with the chewing gum he was working on, he then handed it back to Apsara. Apsara thought that this is a new lot and she opened it cheerfully until the gum inside abruptly made a cruel and indescribable contact with her hand and as a girl her immediate feedback was,

“Cheeeeee …… thuuuuuu”, with a deafening and unmannerly scream

Anil spun back in surprise and saw Patti celebrating his victory; Patti was laughing out loudly with no sound. He threw a chalk piece on Patti and left the classroom in disgust. As soon as he left NM and Patti broke into a brawl because patti made fun of his “girlfriend” which was intolerable to him. For next 12 minutes both of them made numerous relationships with each other’s families which whole class witnessed and listened, in fact few of our south Indian friends learnt some new expressions too , augmentation in their vocabulary.

Chapter 19: Archi the Bisleri Chick

 

"Let’s go”, I got ready and got out with Deeps on her street-hawk

I was being continually coached by her on the way about what to talk and what not to with Archi.

“She might ask you about our relation”, she said in a faint tone

“Oh I thought we were going for a party !!”, I beamed

“Shut the F%$# up and listen to me I am serious”, she sounded mad

The entire ride took about 15 minutes but it felt like a year because number of instructions given to me were more then the number of instructions present in a commercial airplane flying instruction manual. In short I had to present myself as the most well-brought-up, respectful, well-mannered, thoughtful, loving, charismatic, anything I missed ?? Oh yes, most prominently,  good English !!!

“What ??”

“Yes, she speaks only English”

“??”, I gave her a shitty expression.

“But my English is horrible, according to you I am from a village”, I raised an alarm

“Stop making a mockery of the situation and pay attention; be good because she does not like people speaking terrible English”

I was dumbstruck for a minute, I could not figure out if I was going for a casual meeting with one of her family member or for the GRE interview !!!

Let’s wait and watch,

We arrived at Bazaar Hangout (Does not exists any longer) near Jaynagar 7th block. Archi was already there, we exchanged Hi and made ourselves comfortable. No one spoke for quiet some time, I broke the 20 second long silence,

“So what would you like to order ?”, I posed the question to both the females

“What’s good here”, Archi scrolled down to the menu card

There was something about her aura, the way she sat, the way she spoke and the domination she had in her tone of voice was as if she owns the place.

Superb, I just need to be a little watchful

A guy emerged with a menu card and 3 glasses of water,

“We don’t want this water, Do you have Bisleri ?”, she asked the service boy

This event is no less than 7 year old and till that age we understood just one thing that the only water that’s available in any restaurant is the water served by the server, the regular water. But this was something new, bottled water aka mineral water, which was considered to be a symbol of luxury in those days. There was something unusual about this gal, she was way too much urbane. The Gobhi Manchurian which I never hesitated to eat anywhere in the Bangalore; she made me believe how harmful can it be because it’s not made of fresh ingredients and blah blah blah. She also stated that she does not even eat panipuri because she is not confident about the water they use but she wont mind if the water is made of bisleri !! We somehow managed to eat amid all this.

After snacks she wanted some time alone with me and she asked Deeps to go away for a moment,

“So whats up Anky, How are you”, she started the discussion

“I am good, thanks for asking”, I was being the best guy that has ever been born.

“So how well do you know Deeps ?”

“We are best friends”

“I heard that, so you are thinking of getting married ?”, she said while she opened her eyes wide

I was shaken a little by her lethal gaze but I spoke “Yes why not, I like her and she likes me what is the dilemma ?”

“There is an slight unimportant hitch and just because of that we are talking in English !!”

“Look I don’t see language as a massive trouble, we love each other and we can adjust with anything”

“True but what about your parents and her parents”

“We will talk to them when we both are 100% sure and the time is appropriate. But I promise you that I am not from that breed who will sway her to abscond”, I showed some confidence

I could not decipher the reaction but she looked impressed. She clarified few more things in English and I replied her in English with acceptable grammar and articulation. I know this because I got the feedback afterwards. The conversation went pretty well and Deeps was overwhelmed. That was a relief. But it did not matter who agrees and who does not; in her family or mine because people who we care most about should be in agreement and they were our parents,

“If they differ ?”, she asked dejectedly on the phone

“Then we won’t marry, simple”, I chuckled

“What simple ? As if we will never get married”, she was annoyed

“Look, I and you do not want to get married without the consent of our parents, so if they say no, that’s all right. We will try again and we will keep trying until they agree, it does not matter how long it will take”

That reassured her and our love story kicked off officially. We started meeting at least once in each weekend because the time spent in college wasn’t adequate and we hadn’t revealed our relationship to anyone. She did not want any gossip to spread in the college. We went for loads of movies and restaurant,

On a cool Sunday evening I was doing nothing and suddenly I wished to meet her but it wasn’t possible because she could not have come out of her house however, I had to see her, I called her up,

“Hi”

“Hi”, she giggled

“So what are you doing”, I asked

“Nothing watching television”

“Why is your mother not around ?”, I asked

“She is gone out. Hey !! How did you know that she is not in the house”, she asked curiously

“Because I can’t see her bike”, I said

“Where are you ??”, she almost screamed

“Just look outside the window”

Whenever I felt that I have to see her then there was always one thing I did, catch a bus to her place and called her from the telephone booth opposite to her house. I liked giving her shockers and she used to get shocked too, every single time.

I also devised “I Love you” miss calls, it was hopeless and mark of no-better-work. It begins with single miss call for letter “I” and then pause for about 10-15 sec and then back to back 4 miss calls to symbolize the word “LOVE”, silence for some more time and again back to back 3 miss calls for word “YOU”. I am not kidding but she always welcomed it and giggled while her parents cursed in every potential manner to the pervert who is causing these miss calls. The voyage of these miss/blank calls was very long because Hitler’s ultimate nightmare was becoming a reality and hence I could not have called to Deeps house and asked for her openly. I must call and identify the voice, if it’s not her then leave a blank call. One such day I called her up,

Tring Tring Tring

Someone picked up the phone ……… and no one spoke !!

I was even smarter, I also kept the game going,

I stood there and just did breathing

No one even spoke from other side, just breathing

[inhalation] from the other side

[Exhalation] from my side

It was as if we are talking wordlessly, both of us were trying too hard to distinguish the background noise and something which can give away the individual on the line but it was not easy because people on both sides were just too clever for each other.

[Exhalation] from the other side

[inhalation] from my side

This went on for a while and eventually she spoke, “Hello”

I smiled as if I won the breathing scuffle and I hung up;

it was Hitler

Chapter 18: Goodbye Hostel

 

Say Yes or no, say yes or no, this was the only fixation that was going on in Apsara and Deeps head. It was hard to decipher what to do with their love life but Apsara understood it almost immediately and declared clearly to NM that nothing can ever happen between them. NM could not digest this, they had a big fight, NM tried hard to sway her but Apsara was immovable on her judgment. Sooner NM succumbed to Apsara’s NO. It was now Rambo’s chance to get things alright for his mate. Rambo was from MCA, NM and Rambo were die hard friends, they could have been a couple if any of them was of an opposite gender.

Rambo spoke to Apsara and even upon consistent negative response from her; Rambo just kept pleading Apsara to give NM one final opportunity. Apsara was still obstinate on her choice; she went to NM for final break-up but little did she know that she was going right into the ambush by Rambo and NM. NM said few dialogues which Rambo taught him, a little bit of crying and BAAAMMMMMM, poor Apsara fell into the trap and ended up saying YES to NM instead of pre-decided NO. NM became a hero overnight in his own eyes, he almost got his victory published in the newspaper, more or less everyone knew about it as well as Anky. Anky was not all right, Anky was livid, Anky was infuriated because it was same Apsara who was trying to demolish his relationship but when got a chance for herself; she did not let the opportunity go. Anky got the intelligence from Deeps that Apsara is going to say no to NM which reassured him but when he heard that she has said Yes; he hated her from the bottom of his heart.

*******************

After the happiest day it took me 43 cry sessions, a constant fight with Apsara syndrome and 6 more months to influence Deeps for wedding. So people who are mad with her about her marriage decision; it wasn’t her choice; I drove her crazy to say YES

After all this I had to take a key decision because after her conformity it was no good to stay so far from her. So I started working on a plan. The mission was to get out of the hostel and rent a room outside near the city so that it will be easy for us to meet up.

I alone could not have afforded the rented house, I was in love not crazy !! I was looking for a partner and I had one, NM. He was all set to shift out with me for obvious reasons. We began the house hunting. We found countless places but they all were suffering with the same crisis, all were out of our budget, even if we split it wasn’t possible to pay for the house just by 2 of us. We needed more people; we needed at least 2 more guys to move in with us so that we can divide the rent with no trouble. NM of course recommended his best buddy Rambo which I approved but we were still short of 1 more name and THEN NM suggested a controversial name, Patti. I promptly said no, I was prepared to stay back in hostel but living with him again was out of question.

Patti and I were roommates from 2^nd semester, everything was going pretty well but sooner there were lots of differences that aroused between us. We hated each other. We stayed together in one room for close to 2 years but we spoke only for say, 6 months !! And after superman incident, it was a big No No.

“Over my dead body” I said

They tried everything on me but nothing worked out and then when I saw that if we don’t take him then there is no way we can shift, I had to concur. To me more important was love then abhorrence. We settled on a house in KS Layout, the rent was sharable and the locality was amazing. A commodity store was positioned just under the house with a Rent-o-DVD store directly opposite, moreover, it was just 5 km from her house.

We decided to shift as soon as possible but there was one trouble, we did not have any furniture. The house where  we were moving to also offered nothing. It looked like we must shell out no less than 2-3 k additionally for buying essential furniture, unless ……

“Unless what”, NM asked

“Unless we use the same table chairs what we are using already”, I sounded crooked

“What !!”

“I mean we will shift and we will take the chairs and table with us what is given to us in hostel”

A bright plan but to accomplish it, we required precision,

1. We will call 2 tempos to move our bits and pieces

“Why 2”, NM interrupted

“Yaar tu sawal bahut poochta hai !!! For diversion” (you ask way too many questions)

“??”

2. 1^st tempo will come and stand in front of the hostel main gate in which we will load our personal belongings

3. The additional tempo will secretly position itself on the backside of the hostel where all illegal stuff like table, chair and stools will be loaded. Everyone will be paying attention to the front gate and we will come out clean on the 2^nd one.

4. We have to implement this at the time of warden shift change because at shift change the hostel is unguarded for at least an hour.

The day arrived and we were in absolute control. Everything was going as per the plan. Both the vehicles were loaded with the relevant possessions. I was a little gloomy, I wanted to take something more. I wanted my 7 feet godrej cabinet too. I think I became a little too greedy.

“Abay charas kha ke baitha hai kya, pagal ho gaya hai” (Have you done marijuana ? Are you crazy ?), Rambo rebuked

“No I have to have it, it’s precious”

“No way you can have it”, said exasperated NM

“No I want it, let’s get it”, I said and went inside to get the cabinet

“Help me”, I asked Rambo, NM, Patti and Arnold

I sought for their support and they lifted, not the cupboard but me. I cried and bellowed but they did not pay any attention. They dropped me into one of the vehicle and asked driver to go on a full speed. I was sad, till today I am sad, I should have got that cabinet. I kept looking at the hostel until it disappeared. Well it was time to move on, Deeps and Apsara were in high spirits that we guys made it out of the hostel because that way we can have more gatherings.

The same day Deeps arrived in the evening and she had an assignment for me,

“Get ready and let’s go”, she said

“Go where ??”, I enquired

“You have to meet my cousin, your first meeting with any of my family”

My jaw dropped, “How ?? Why ?? What ??”

“Yes, if we have to get married then we have to accomplish things this way”

“Ok ok let me get ready, but who is she ?”

“Her name is Archi”, she said in a spooky tone

And I went “Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, I am already scared”

Chapter 17: The Hindrance

 

I am into it !!! What the hell that suppose to mean !!

It took me awhile to get back into my room. I took extra time to get ready than usual because I did not know if I should be happy for what just happened !! Anyways I kept my cool and restricted my sentiments before jumping onto any conclusion. I geared up and arrived at college in happiest-confused mood ever.

This is it; this could be the end of all my miseries

I stood near the classroom and waited for her. There she was coming with a broad smile as if a hanger is stuck in her mouth. She was blushing which cleared the air but I still had to be certain,

“So what do you mean by I am into it”, I asked straight off

“That means I also like you”, she said

I was about to say further but she spoke again

“But please don’t consider it anything more than that, I am just into it but I don’t love you so don’t get any thoughts of getting married into your head”, she giggled

I was flabbergasted yet again, my heart was jumping with joy but brain was fuming red hot. What sense does it make ? But I soon grasped that it’s better to keep the silence and play according to the circumstances. So I celebrated that day by spending some extra quality time with her. This in fact was the happiest day of my life, 6 months of hard work paid off and god has given me the gift which I was praying for desperately.

After this Anky and Deeps became that brand of pair who just could not leave each other. They just wanted to have every moment with each other. As they began to spend more time with each other; people started raising concerns. Few did not appreciate it and one of them was Apsara. She in past few months had become a really nice friend to Deeps. PK, Apsara and Deeps used to interact a lot and had very good understanding with each other but not anymore because now Deeps was more involved with Anky and Apsara wasn’t able to digest it. She made lots of attempts to find out what in fact is the affair but no one knew except Anky, Deeps and Arnold.

I told Arnold because I had to rejoice my triumph.

“Why Anky and Deeps are so into each other these days ?” Apsara asked PK in a bare classroom

“I don’t know they are good friends and they like to spend time together”, PK replied

“No I don’t trust that it’s only that much”, Apsara differed

“Why don’t you believe that they can be good friends and nothing more”, Apsara asked PK

“Because I know, I was close to Anky and I am close to Deeps, I know what they feel for each other”

“Bullshit, you don’t know anything”, upset Apsara left the classroom.

Apsara forced PK numerous more times but she did not get any pleasing answers. She did not have anyone else whom she could ask this from. NM, Patti, Arnold were mere Hi-bye friends with Apsara and anyways NM and Patti did not know anything so Apsara got nothing when she asked them. Apsara asked Deeps straightforwardly a number of times but no respond and it was possibly 67th time when they were having this unchanged conversation,

“Do you like him ?” Apsara asked Deeps

“Yes I do”

“So what next from here”

“What do you mean”, asked Deeps

“I mean from here what ? Love …. Proposal …. Marriage … what ?” Apsara stressed on last 3 words

“Oh please why are we having this chat again ?” Deeps was pissed

“Look I know there is something going on between you two and I just wanna know the truth”

“Haven’t I told you the truth already so many times that we are just good friends”, Deeps explained

“Look Deeps, I am exhausted of running behind you, you don’t have time for me these days, I am all alone”, Apsara broke down. She started weeping. She could not take it any longer.

We completely disregarded our friends; we never realized that such conditions also can crop up. Deeps had to take a call, either deny again and loose a friend OR tell her the whole lot and gain her faith back. She chose prudently,

“He proposed me 6 months before”, Deeps sighed

“And ?”

“And I said yes”, she announced cheerfully

“What ?”, Apsara wasn’t delighted

“What ? What ?”, Deep’s grin washed out

“You cannot do that, how do you know if he is the correct guy for you ?”

“Why are you so obsessed ?”, asked Deeps

Apsara’s apprehension was not anticipated, not by me and not at all by Deeps. As the days progressed Apsara became my no. 1 rival because there wasn’t even a single day where she did not attempt to sway Deeps to say no to me and rupture the relationship. It was un-reasonable for both of us. Deeps ultimately started having different beliefs because of Apsara and it was Apsara’s ill fortune that Deeps discussed all this with me and I was excellent at annulling the Apsara effect from Deep’s head. But she was beginning to turn into a ruthless sting day by day. Apsara consequence was causing stress so much that if yesterday Deeps was “into me” then the next day she was “Out of me” !!

Expectedly or un-expectedly NM came to liberate me. I think he also was going through the similar thing which Apsara was going through but as me and NM were not very emotionally involved so he could not have had a discussion with me about anything. But I think between all this NM fancied his opportunities and began to implement a bright plan. On Rakhi day NM declared Deeps as her sister. Deeps was overwhelmed by this because she had few cousins but only sisters, she was blessed to have a brother which she welcomed. Poor deeps did not know that this was a setup to come close to Apsara. The plan did work, when Apsara heard that NM is now brother to Deeps; she was impressed with his move and in no time NM proposed. This gave an ignition to a spanking new race, Apsara still was forcing Deeps to get away from Anky and now Deeps started forcing Apsara to not to say yes !!!

Chapter 15: A Ray of Hope

 

### Sometime after the proposal ###

"Why can’t we be together ?" I wrote in a sheet of paper and passed it along to her. She took it and opened it, she looked intently at it for a minute and began to pen down her response. It was very hard for us to get time to chat about it hence we started trading chits in the classroom, which was practically chatting on paper instead over gtalk. One of the exchange went like this,

me - "Why can’t we end up as one ?"
She - "Because that is the dumbest suggestion ever"
Me - "Why ? We are excellent friends and now I have almost proposed you. Why can’t we take it ahead one more step ?"
She - "We are good friends, rather best friends and I value that but I don’t think in the same why you think beyond that"
Me - "I am not asking you to pronounce anything right now, I am just asking you to make an effort"
She - "Effort for what ? Even if it works out; there is no way we can get married"
Me - "And why is that ?"
She - "I cannot explain you the same thing again and again and please end this subject"

### Some more time after the proposal ###

We went to watch "Chalte Chalte", while watching the movie I could not control my sentiments because,

1. It was emotional, and
2. It was badly made

I could not control my tears at a scene where Rani Mukharji says "Nothing can ever happen between us so please leave me alone" and in reply SRK says, "Ok I leave you alone, I get it that I don’t stand a chance but at least let me try ?". The scene was extremely intense and in fact coincided with the circumstances happened earlier with us which could not control my feelings. I kept on weeping like a girl right through the movie because it was made of a familiar state of affair where guy cannot get the girl.

After the movie she asked me, “Why the hell did you cry like a baby ??”

I said, “Because the movie was about us !! The movie and our circumstances are no different. You are saying no because according to you nothing will work out, I agree that I don’t have any chance but at least let me make an effort !!”

### About 5 months after proposal ####

I tried all kinds of means but nothing seems to be working out. I started to lose all my optimism. It was college annual day and for the first time I was up for a show. Me and a dementor PJ, we grouped up to give out an exceptional pleasing concert. Both of us were guitarists and we settled on the song “Hotel California”, a handsome song . Mostly PJ had to do all and I just had to support him. I felt that I was getting my first break in music industry but I think I said that very soon. We practised a lot, day and night, hours and hours of guitar. First I was jumpy but then when we trained; I gained little self-belief. It was the judgement day, PJ updated me that he will let me know when we have to execute. I was thrilled and was waiting near the temple (The temple which was within the college campus, the adda for all the love birds at the lecture time).

I was very much looking forward for the performance. College day started off little behind schedule because as we have experienced in our life persistently that chief guest is always last to arrive. It started off nicely with some fine acts, our show was somewhere near halfway. As the day progressed and the time drew nearer my heartbeats began getting heavier minute by minute. And at last time arrived, this is it, after the in progress performance it’s our turn. The recital ended but there was no indication from PJ and no intimation that we are up next instead it was Chief guest’s turn to have a word. That Son-of-a-Bitch took more than 2 hours to conclude his impossible fairy-tale about his upbringing !!! That resulted in cut down of a number of performances and showcasing of only those programs which were important. Our routine was also chopped down due to that. I was pissed and was very annoyed. I went to the temple and wanted sometime unaccompanied. Finding me nowhere; Anjali came to temple looking for me and asked me,

“What happened, why did you come out of there ?”

“What the hell, I was so much looking forward to present and now I can’t”

“It happens Anky, calm yourself down”

“What it happens ? Nothing is working out in my life”

“Just because you could not perform; how can you hold your life responsible for that ?” Deeps asked

“Yes nothing is working out in my life”

“How ?”

“I did so much of hard work on this and this could not take place and on a similar note I have worked so hard on my love life and that is also does not seem to work out”

“Why what happened with your love life ?” She acted innocent

“My girlfriend, she does not wanna say yes to my proposal that’s why” I also acted naive

I said that and looked down in misery, I was not in mood for any discussion. I thought I have lost it all. There is nothing more to do in life and I should pack my bag return home !! (Yes that happens when you look forward too much to something which you know will work out but it doesn’t).

“Its ok everything will be alright” she tried to cool me down

“How the hell can everything get alright ?”

“Look I can’t do anything for what happened today with your routine but why are you feeling bad for your love life, your girlfriend hasn’t approved on something but she hasn’t said no, right ?” she said graciously to me

What ??? Did she just said yes ??

As soon as I heard that I was in complete paralysis and this time it was for good. I did not wanna jump on any conclusion and I also did not want to show my exhilaration in the very next second but I could see a ray of hope, it was more than ray of hope, it was tube light of hope for me. I still showed that I am irritated and did not hear accurately what she said. Gradually I showed good progress on my temper and both of us went to that final program of the day, a rocking concert by a rock band. I danced like nuts ; I no longer remembered what I was livid for because the most significant thing that mattered to me took a sharp turn towards triumph. This was the happiest day of my life because for me it was already a “YES”.

Chapter 14: The Proposal

 

"Can we get married?”

She turned towards me, saw my face in a slight repugnance. She did not know how to respond but she understood and may be she saw it coming. She grasped the situation, took 2 moments to react as if she could not identify what is happening, as if I was pulling her leg. Her face gave me a What-The-Fuck expression!! She stared me for few moments and then she smirked sardonically and said,

"Very funny !! Obviously Not"

I expected this and for that same reason I did not reiterate myself. I was glad that I came over the first, most significant and the toughest obstacle. Now I required to nourish the seed which I just sowed in her mind. I wanted that seed to nurture and become an established notion.

My bus was approaching. I saw her off, we exchanged smiles as the bus vanished around the corner. I was relieved a bit but at the same time I was feeling awful too because I never thought what she might feel. I was all of a sudden blameworthy of something which I did not mean, something which I committed just now. But again I thought that if she had taken this the other way then she would have blasted me off instead of giving me a smile. I was slight comforted but little shaken. I decided to keep my cool and work my plan out further. I was glad that I let it all out and was anxious because she did not react. Reaction was essential, either affirmative or downbeat, I guess I have to wait.

I reached hostel and went straight to my room but something was out of the ordinary. There was no one in my room. At this time of any day my room as a rule turns into a Casino with couple of group of 4 playing 29, with light music and lots and lots of roaring. But it was all not there and that was not at all normal!! Something undeniably was wrong. So I went to the next room and to my surprise same result!! This room was also uninhabited,

Where is everybody!!

And unexpectedly I heard yelling from the room at the end of the lobby. The room belonged to Gujju Dementors. I had to find out what's wrong. I began pacing towards the room. The screaming and yelling amplified steadily. I could make out that there were lots of people because it sounded not 1 or 2 people. The moment I reached near the room, there were people lined outside the room and they were looking at something. The panorama appeared like a murder/accident scene where people surround the body and look at it. Our hostel already had a history of 3-4 deaths in recent past. That very second I shuddered with fear. I was convinced that today 1 Gujju is long gone in that room but then I heard,

But if it’s so why they are yelling !!!

"Abay Shah aagey dekh nahi to marega" (Look in front or else you will be slaughtered), Chuchu shouted

This is not what I am thinking!!!

Right away I shifted few people and tried to get hang of the situation. I was astonished to see nearly 50 people stuffed in that room eye witnessing the most breathtaking occurrence in the history of the hostel. 50 odd people were ogling the computer screen while 2 guys controlling the happening on the screen. Shah was scheming the mouse/keyboard while Chauhan was serving him with additional keys on the keyboard, together they were part of the history, they were playing the most recent sensation, The Tomb Raider.

People were there for many reasons, some were “let your imagination run riot” about Lara croft's body whereas some were there for clean entertainment because it was like a perfect action packed movie which they can be in charge of. The game was on but Shah and Chauhan were having a difficult time, not because of the intricacy of the game but due to the coaching they were getting from the throng,

"Abay M****C*** (Bad word) seedha kar nahi to gir jayegi wo" (Get her straight if not she will plunge down), Dhar screamed when Lara croft began to tip riskily towards left on the pole she was walking.

"Bhai log mujhe pata hai, please gali mat do" (I know whats happening but please don’t abuse), pleaded Shah while turning back to the masses.

"Abay kutte aage dekh wo aa gaya Lara croft ka sasur" (You dog!! concentrate on the screen, Lara Croft's father-in-law is here)

Shah and Chauhan started combating it out with the baddie but quickly began loosing and Lara croft's health bar turned from Green to Orange to RED, indicating that she is about to depart this life,

"B****** Ke (Bad Word) Chauhan, saale maar na use" (Hit him Chauhan or else she will die), Mahajan yelled in annoyance.

Chauhan turned around and gave him a dreadful stare because just few days before Chauhan used to be the official dementor of Mahajan but things were changed,

"Abay meri shakal kya dekh raha hai .... screen pe dekh Lara Croft ka balaatkar ho raha hai" (What are you looking at my face focus on the screen Lara Croft is getting raped), Mahajan bellowed for a second time

Shah turned back again and shouted,

“Saale kisi ne bhi gaali di to bahut bura hoga” (If someone abuses now, the result will be terrible)

“B****** Ke (Bad Word) agar Lara Croft ko kuch hua to tera kya kya hoga wo to abhi mujhe bhi nahi pata but itna pata hai jo bhi hoga bahut dardnaak hoga” (If something happens to Lara croft then I can’t tell you what all can occur with you but whatever will happen it will be agonizing), Ali retorted.

The oomph in the room was so forceful that both Shah and Chauhan had to play like they were playing for their existence. They had to save the game from getting over because if it gets over those 50 spectators will start linking themselves with Shah and Chauhan’s family. Both played until it was late evening and one by one each bystander left for the dinner. Shah and Chauhan took a deep breath of relief, it was a worst nightmare for them. They started playing the game for fun but they soon became amusement for others.

I took my plate and went to have dinner, thinking of the next day. I was waiting to meet her the next day in the college. I was curious to learn what does she think about today,

She still think that it was a joke!! But should I ask her so soon or should I hang around for this thought to settle in her mind first. I guess I had to be patient again for my next move.

Chapter 13: Its my turn

Middle of 3rd semester expected joining of a fresh batch; new batch means freshers, meaning its payback time. One evening when I returned from the college I saw a new guy sitting in my room with his father. Hostel warden introduced them to us and gave assurance to his father that these people will take good care of him, which was quiet accurate, Me and Mahajan were just 2 humble guys who were looking for some true blood, that’s all. His father left with the warden to go back to the Bangalore City. It was just me and Mahajan who were left with Raman in the room. He was sitting on my bed and looked relieved after warden’s promise because we presented ourselves harmless puppies with innocence dripping out of our faces.

“Sir aap kaha se hai” (Where are you from), he asked me while he pushed his arms back on the wall and tried to get comfortable with his new buddies after his father left.

“Kyo ?? Thane me report likhwayega ?”, (Why ?? Do you want to complain about me to the Police ?) I barked with intense sadism in my eyes.

He was in an instant state of a kick in the teeth, people who were so kind to him a minute before are unexpectedly turned into dementors !!! His smile washed out and he abruptly sat straight up as he looked at me while I bolted the door.

“Aray sir kya hua ?? Mera matlab wo nahi tha” (I am regretful and I did not imply that what you are thinking), he cried in a convincing tone

“Abay saale pehle to khada hoke baat kar” (You Ass, Stand up at once and then speak)

He got up in shock, Raman recognized what was going on and in a little while he started responding to us. He knew if he will respond as we say then only he can get away with slightest damage.

He was our opening prey and since we were also new to this, we did not do much to him but after some extreme sessions with Raman we become skilled at it. The necessary thing to remember in ragging is to establish that you are the most livid person alive and secondly, yell for each and everything. Soon when there were loads of juniors in the hostel we trained them to acknowledge us the moment they see us, Good-morning, Good-afternoon and Good-evening. The ragging gatherings were getting severe day by day, some of us just wanted a first-class evening amusement whereas some hunted for hard core reprisal.

Each sundown we distributed a small amount of juniors among our groups of dementors. Today we were having a contest amid 3 juniors from Bihar. The competition was to abuse the ceiling fan to the degree possible in one minute. It kicked off well with Bodybuilder who abused fan so roughly that if that fan had any hearing capabilities then that fan would have committed suicide in high voltage vicinity!!

A 4^th junior stood in one corner of the room and was laughing in Sin Wave !! Puzzled ? SinX, CosX !!! Ringing any bells !! So the fourth junior, Dutta, was performing like this,

With each Sin wave cannot be of more than 4-5 seconds long that means he would giggle for 2 seconds and then weep for next 2, Creepy !!

Second contestant for the abuse challenge was Mishra, He started with,

“Kutte, Kamine, Gadhe” (Dog, Rascal, Donkey), what I comprehend was a sweet and tender tone with true love for the fan apparent in his eyes

“Abay gaali de raha hai ki Pyaar kar raha hai, Gaali de” (Are you abusing or making love to the fan ?) I screamed deafeningly

“Kutte, Kamine buuuuu hhhuuuuuuu uuuuuuu” he started weeping like a small baby or a 16 year old college girl when she finds out that she is been dumped after very first date !!!

While people were busy in cursing the ceiling fan someone swung open the door and a fresh junior pierced in and declared,

“Hi Guys, I dropped one year and I am your batch mate”, he waved at us and gave an enormous smile.

We dementors looked at each other and barely understood what and why he did that but we gave each other a gigantic smile, following that evening Mondal, who claimed to be our batch mate was serving bread jam and bread butter to every Dementor in their room while he recited “Sorry Sir” every time he handed out a piece to a dementor. Mondal you rocked our world that day, I can never forget that day, you ass

-----------------------------

One evening I came back to the hostel, I was crimson in colour because I was fuming, I was angry because she liked Sammy. I could not let her go and I was annoyed with myself that I was allowing it to occur but there was nothing I could do.

I thumped the door as I entered in my room and there was Mahajan with the latest junior, Sheetle, they were bonding because they were from the same locale, Himachal Pradesh. Everything was going great which was apparent from their bright faces until I entered. I gazed at him and he did not say a word, I went fanatical and bellowed,

“Abay aur kitni baar samjhana padega ki har baar wish karna hai” (How many more times do you want instructions on greeting ?)

“Tum log sab sar pe chad gaye ho, Lagta hai sabki dhulai karni padegi” (I think I will have beat the shit out of you guys)

I did not know what I did or how spiteful I looked and sounded but those 2 lines were very efficient as I had managed make my first victim whimper. He cried like a widow on her husband’s memorial service, perhaps because I spat my rage on him and he was just a day old in the hostel, was traumatized a bit by the ragging and was shoddily suffering with homesickness.

In middle of all that my endurance was started to give up, I could not hold it inside me anymore. I wanted to split open in front of her but I could not, I could not recognize what was preventing me, Fear ? I don’t think so, I am not afraid of anyone !!! I had to meet her.

We had to get some notes Xeroxed in Jayanagar 4th Block. We met at Jayanagar bus station. She came and I saw her, she waved at me and my heart screamed from inside, 

Mannnnnnn what are you waiting for, You will curse yourself for your entire life if you will not tell her,

She looked as gorgeous as always, her beauty was in her minimalism and the way she used to carry herself. She was an 18 year old spoiled brat with tom boyish characteristics and yes I fell for those very features. She was no typical girl and for records I neither was/is a very regular guy.

We went to the Xerox shop, it took precisely 35 minutes, 368 pages and around 110 bucks. From last few days I was finding it very tricky to focus on what she is saying, I rather liked to gaze at her while she talks. Whenever she spoke it felt like each word is like a pearl.

After Xeroxing it was time to say goodbyes because it was getting late. We stood at Yediyur bus stop and my heart started pounding all of a sudden because my heart made a choice against the will of my brain. It took a split second for me to recognize what my sub-conscious mind has just determined and I agreed no more that it’s now or never, I turned towards her and said,

“Hey can I ask you a Question ?”

She looked at me and she said “Yes go ahead”

This is it, I took a deep breath and said ……. to be continued

Chapter 12: The Pain

     2^nd semester results were out and everyone did pretty well . But Deeps was struggling a bit in mathematics . In first 2 semester she got middling grades which was tarnishing her overall end result. I sensed that and as a good friend I wanted to lend her a hand in these rigid circumstances. I began training her in mathematics whenever we got time, in college canteen or at the temple in the college. But that seemed not sufficient because we used to get very little time after attending all the regular lectures. So we begin to extend a bit and used to leave college a little late. She also told in her house that there are some extra classes and as a result we were getting generous time on Saturdays and on weekday holidays. I liked it because this way I could spend extra time with her . All of it did not go well because Hitler sensed that something is not right. She asked Deeps what is going on and what is the exact explanation of you coming late from college and going to the college when there is no college? She had to put in the picture the truth, she could not lie any longer. She told the complete state of affairs that she needed help out for her studies. Next day she came to the college and dropped a bomb on me by saying that,

“This cannot go on to any further extent”

“Why?” I asked frantically.

“I had to tell my mom everything and she does not like it at all”

“So who will be coaching you from now on?” I asked curiously.

“You”

“What!! How??” I was petrified for an instance.

“My mom said that you can come home and teach”

I could not believe what I heard, Hitler approved a guy inside her house to coach her daughter, Brilliant!!!

Anyways I started going to Deep’s house to give her some lessons on mathematics, we used to study from morning till evening and then I used to go back to the hostel. I was finding it hard to tell her about my feelings for her because if she does not think the same then I will lose her forever. Whatever bond of friendship we have between us will not be the same.

I had to be very certain about this, so I chose to wait patiently for the right time. Teaching her in her house was fun for both of us but I guess Deep’s mother did not like it and was disappointed on her choice of allowing me to teach Deeps. On one fine day Deeps updated me that her mother is not cheerful about this whole set-up. She has just one hesitation, why the hell someone will come from 20 kms to their house to train their daughter at no cost!!! She was convinced that something was going on between us, she got this suspicion A LOT and yes she was spot on but only to some extent. I was accepting all this soreness with delight because I liked her and could have done anything for her but she regarded me as only a friend,

“Please do not come from tomorrow”, She requested me.

“Why what happened”

“My mom does not like you coming to our house”

“But she is the one who allowed me in!!” I was little agitated.

“I know that but she believes that something is happening between us”

“Oh come on, what do I look like? ”

“No, she said that she does not want to hear in future that I want to marry you”

I nearly cried but I controlled in front of her. I left her house to never come back again and while leaving my heart was sobbing piercingly. I cried in the bus after I took off from her house. From the day I realized what she means to me, from that day every single thing that pointed in the direction of You-can’t-marry-Deeps destroyed me but I had to keep faith and trust in what I believe or else I will lose her. I was still comfortable that she still does not like any one and no one is after her. Was the situation in fact like this or was I careless enough to fail to notice things ??

########

Something was making a horrific sound, what the hell is that!! I jumped out of my bed, I glanced around. It was my cell phone which was making a horrendous noise. Someone was calling me, what time is it!! It was 3 am!!

Who the in the god’s name is calling me at 3 AM!! I saw the number and it was Deep’s house number, I was surprised, what the hell !! Anyways I responded to the call,

“Hello”

“Hi, It’s me”, Deeps murmured

“What are you doing up at this time ?” I snapped

“I had a dream about Sammy”

Who the hell is Sammy ?? I wondered.

And all of a sudden I remembered that from past few days she is been chatting about a guy from our senior batch in the college and there is this guy who according to her is the most good-looking in the college. Soon I grasped the situation and I froze, I did not want this discussion to go on because I knew where this conversation could go. But I had to carry on,

“What happened”, I asked with a heavy heart.

“I think I like Sammy a lot, I think I will propose him but I am terrified that he will say no”, She said in a very gloomy tone.

Tears started dripping out of my eyes.

“Its ok Deeps, I am with you, don’t lose sleep on this, if you really like him then I swear that I will see that you guys get together”

She was calmed after my assurance and hung up the phone but I could experience that my entire life has hung up on me.