Chapter 28 – North vs South

It was a distinct juncture for me because in previous 6 years this was merely the 2^nd time my parents planned a trip to Bangalore. The first time was when they came to unload me. After everything it looked like that finally we will have what me and Deeps craved for. It was agreed that my parents (Kapoors) will go to Deep’s house and will meet the girl. That means they have silently agreed for the wedding but now it all rests on how Kapoors and Natrajans get along in this whole development.

We in a little while grasped that we have the gravest situation among us related to Kapoor’s visit of Natrajans. The frightening question was what to cook for Kapoors when they visit Natrajans ? Mr. Kapoor barely enjoys anything apart from Pakodas and sweets. More than Deeps I was anxious because Natrajans might get snubbed because of this. Moreover, it might never occur to Mr. Kapoor that it is the question of his son’s wedding.

“Should we prepare Chapati and Sabzi ?”, Deeps submitted the safest selection

“The safest route would be something deep-fried”, I said

“But my mom wishes to cook south Indian food because she is good in it, not in north Indian cuisine”, she said

“I understand but what is the use if he won’t even touch it ?”, I responded

“Look, if someone comes to your house, what do you offer ? Will you prepare what they eat specifically of will you cook the best of you ?”

The argument had a weight to it and my mother also agreed to it, both of us assumed that even if he does not like it he will eat it considering the criticality of the situation. So I made a suicidal judgment and permitted “Rava Idli”, which Deep’s mom is skilled in.

The judgment day arrived and Natrajans invited Kapoors for breakfast. We arrived on time. Natrajans welcomed us with open arms and with lots of respect. They were looking forward to have a delightful conversation. We seated down and I started to feel a little jumpy thinking of near future. Now It all depends on what my father thinks because if he decides NO, means it’s a NO. Deeps came and greeted my parents and in a while Natrajans began serving us the breakfast. As soon as Deeps served Idli to Mr. Kapoor I missed a heartbeat after seeing his reaction.

“Idli ? Is this Idli ?”, he asked Deeps twice

“Yes it is”, Deeps Replied

“I don’t eat Idli”, he replied plainly and gave Deeps back the plate without any additional thought

As anticipated he wasn’t thoughtful enough about the circumstances at all and this move made Deeps terrified. But straightaway her mom came for the rescue.

“Do you eat Masala Dosa ?”, Deep’s mother asked my father

“Yes I can have that thanks”, my father answered

When he said I was once again calmed but not for long because it struck to me that he will not even eat that. In north India Dosa is served with Sambhar and in south Indian Dosa is served just only with Chutney and icing on the cake is that Mr. Kapoor HATES chutney. Hence even if he will be served with Dosa, he will not eat it. And yet again he substantiated me accurately, when Deep’s mother served him the dosa, he looked at my mother and asked,

“How should I eat it, there is no Sambhar with it ?”

“Deeps do you have any Sambhar prepared ?”, I tried to salvage the situation

Deeps almost sobbed which made it clear that they don’t have any Sambhar. Seeing this Mr. Kapoor said its ok he will manage.

He will manage !!!! how ? Oh yes by not eating it J

And I was full on money because at the end when he left the plate the entire dosa was dissected but wasn’t eaten.

After breakfast it was time for Kapoors to talk to Deeps and after few rudimentary questions my mother asked Deeps a droll question,

“We live in Jaipur and it will be hot out there, how will you manage ?”

“We will put AC in each room”, she replied outspokenly, thank god she did not say that we will move you all to Bangalore.

They had a pleasant conversation, mostly between Deeps and my mother after which we left Natrajan palace in harmony. Since my dad did not eat anything we went to a north Indian restaurant. While eating he simply condemned the relation because the girl wasn’t gorgeous.

“I don’t know what you saw in her ? She is not that attractive”, he said

“I know but I am also no Shahrukh khan if you see carefully”,

I was just annoyed by the fact that he is still looking for tasteless justifications to pull me out of this.

That night he came to me and wished to talk further on this with Natrajans. I guess after thinking about the whole thing he was ok because I anyways indicated that if not now then later but Deeps is the one whom I will eventually marry. I gave this news to Deeps and we finalized a day for them to meet and talk further.

The day arrived and Natrajans came at around evening time with some customary gifts which must be given the first time girl’s parents visit the Guy’s house. My father asked both of us to disappear so that only they can talk money. Both of us went to the terrace and started speculating about the talks. Deeps unexpectedly started crying.

“What happened ?” I asked

She said “What if they don’t come to any consensus and say no to the wedding”

I reassured her and said whatever it is, if they won’t agree then we will try further but we will walk down the aisle only if they agree to this relation. She was ok after the reassurance and we continued talking about general things. After around 30 minutes my father called me up and asked us to come down. When we entered in the room the atmosphere appeared heated up because Deep’s mother was sitting with a depressed expression and her father looked agitated.

“We have not discussed anything yet because we could not go ahead of the very first topic”, my father said

“What is that ?”, I asked

“Where the wedding will take place ?”, he said without any expression

“We want it to be done in Jaipur because it’s first one in the house and they want to do it from Bangalore because it’s the only one in their house”, he shed light on the tricky situation

“Yes we knew that this point will come and I have a solution to it”, I said

“Whats that ?”, Mr. Natrajan asked curiously

“We will perform the whole wedding ceremony 2 times; both in Jaipur and Bangalore”, I offered the way out gently

“What are you talking about, it does not work like that”, my father was infuriated after listening to this

“Look you have been debating on this from last 1 hr and you do not have any other option then to get us married twice. Everyone will get what they want”, it was an honest bailout plan

“Ok then let us think on this and let’s talk after that”, Mr. Kapoor said

“Ok, then we would like to leave now”, Mr. Natrajan stood up to leave

I am not sure what else was spoken other than wedding location because Natrajans left the house in complete annoyance which wasn’t a noble sign. Later in the day Deeps and I spoke to each other and came to the inference that it will not work like this. We have to coordinate everything from now on. Natrajans must express only to Deeps and Deeps must convey the message to me and I should tell the news to the Kapoors. We decided to do this because both the families don’t understand each other’s language, both families appears to have some self-esteem issues and no one in both families is a decent negotiator. From that day onwards we started working according to the plan. I was talking to my parents and she was with her and we discussed each and every demand from either families and discussed them with the opposition. It looked like that things finally beginning to fall in place. Both the families were glad with the developments because all of them eventually were getting what they hunted for.

We were getting married two times, Natrajans asked my parents to pick the first spot of wedding; Bangalore or Jaipur, to which Mr. Kapoor bewilderingly agreed for Bangalore. Understandably because after wedding both of us must stay in Jaipur for some time and meet all the relatives.

Deeps called me and said that her parents want to discuss the wedding dates with Kapoors. I informed my parents that Natrajans will be calling you to settle the marriage dates. After few minutes Deeps called me,

“Congrats”

“What happened?”, I was scared because there was supposed to be a discussion between Natrajans and Kapoors

“We are getting married on 24^th Feb and then all over again on 1^st Match”

“Congrats to you too”, I took a lungful of air, I was never more relieved.

Chapter 27: The Unexpected

 

The feedback established by Deeps was not so good and not so bad. Natrajans had already decided that they will get her married to me but a grave question still lingering around in their mind was, how honest the guy and his background is ?

“I guess they will call me a couple of times and will question me to know me better”, I told Deeps

“May be, I don’t know”, she said sheepishly
I was pretty peaceful after talking to her parents and was convinced that things will go smooth from here on.

Shortly it was time for me to go to Jaipur and on this occasion it was Live free or Die hard. Since I had already spoken to her parents; it was time now to give my parents a shocker, my mom by now had an impression about it but dad wasn’t aware of it.

“I wanna talk to you”, I told my dad, I was nervous

“What ?”, he asked

“There is a girl called Deeps, she was with me in college, I want you to meet her”

“What is the necessity of all this ?”, he responded infuriated

“Why did you have to go that far to make a relation?”, he almost yelled at me

I kept quiet and paid attention to what he is saying for next 10 minutes. It was obvious that he had to display his rage because he is father and had to rubbish this conversation initially but none of his questions and reasons indicated that he is not rejecting it either J. Well, I did not try to argue further on this and allowed this thought to sink in him.

A week after I was back to Bangalore Deeps called me at 2 pm on a Sunday afternoon, which is a very odd because usually her parents are there in the house the entire day.

“Hi”, I said startlingly because I don’t anticipate calls from her on Sundays

“How are you able to call today ?”, I asked her

“My parents are not in town, they have gone to Chennai”, she said

We spoke for some time and just about the same time I was getting another call, it was my mom.

“I am gonna have to call you back, my mom is calling”, I told her

I hung up and I rang my mom,

“Hello”, My mother answered the call

“Hi Mom, tell me, you called ??”, I asked

“I have news for you”, she said it very melodramatically

“Yes, what is it ?”, anticipating no big deal from her.

“We had visitors today in our house”, her tone changed from histrionic to cryptic

“Ok, Sooooooo ?”, I also adjusted to her tone and asked carelessly

“Where are Deepti’s Parents ?”, she asked

“They have gone to Chennai …………. ohhhh shitttt”

It instantly transpired to me the well-conceived plot by Natrajans. Everything became translucent, the address she took from me, the excuse to go to Chennai. Everything started falling into place.

My mom recounted the complete incident,

My mother was sitting in the living room when she heard the door bell. She opened the door and found a couple of strangers. They introduced themselves as Deep’s parents. They did not want to warn me or my parents because by unexpected visit they just found out the real us or else we could have fabricated our appearance if we had known that they are coming. Deep’s mom did not talk, she just examined the house. She was terrified and concerned. All the talking was done by her father. My mother then called my father to come home and when he arrived, they surprisingly had a pleasant and smooth conversation. Deeps parents gave an account of the witty incident occurred with them at the railway station. From Railway station they called up my house and they asked for Anky. Startlingly Anky came on the line, it astonished them also because Anky was supposed to be in Bangalore. They told Anky that they are in Jaipur and wanted to know if my parents are at home or not. Anky on the other side asked Natrajans who are they and who is Deeps ?? I don’t know any Deeps. Listening to this Natrajans almost had an heart attack, after all this if Anky is saying that he does not know Deeps then what will happen ? After few seconds of argument they were positive that Anky has made fool out of them and their daughter. But they just wanted to confirm this and teach Anky a lesson; hence they carried on with the plan to go to his house. Later they discovered that it was a wrong number and the most bizarre coincidental thing was that even on that wrong number they found an Anky. How many Ankys are there in Jaipur ??

I was almost paralyzed after learning all this from my mother and now it was Deep’s turn to get some shockwave therapy. I am sure that she was more than stunned because when I told her this she could not speak and she was scared till death,

“What will happen now ?”, she asked while sobbing

“Nothing, they will be convinced and comfortable about me”, I relieved her

The following day Natrajans came back from Jaipur but did not talk to Deeps. They knew that she knows about their trip but they themselves did not want to conclude anything and did not want to give any thoughts to Deeps, hence they called me one more time.

“We went to your house”, Hitler said without any expressions

“Yes I spoke to my mother, she told me”

She then told all her experience in my house and they narrated the “Wrong number” episode. Hitler told how she liked the place, food and shopping. And finally they came to the earth-shattering question,

“So when can you get married to her ?”

I was taken aback by the unexpected question, but I dealt with it.

“As soon as I will complete 2 years in my current profession because I am not able to take care of myself; How will I look after your daughter ?”, I defended

“No no no that’s not possible, you both will have to get married within 3 months”, Hitler just did not want to listen anything

“If we will do it late then people will ask questions”, she said

“Ok tell people that we have got her engaged, they will stop asking questions”, I offered an honest resolution

“No no no, just talk to your dad and wrap it up”, she was ready to get me married in next 1 hour

I guess she still suspected my character and she was frightened that I will flee !! Why everyone judges me by my face !!! I look like thief but inside I am just a crook !! he he he

“What about further studies after marriage ?”, She asked

“Then who will feed your daughter ?”, the comeback which shunned any further likely debate

It was a reasonable progress but I wasn’t still certain of next step. I spoke to my mom and she persuaded my dad to come to Bangalore to talk and finalize things, to which surprisingly he agreed. They decided to come to Bangalore in next 4 months, both of us were very glad because the dream seen by us 15-16 chapters before was in fact would be turning into reality very soon and without any major obstacles or did we just presumed that little too soon ?

Chapter 26: The Trap

 

I soon started enjoying the bureaucrat work atmosphere because Joke Factory gave me loads of leisure time, time to relish the paid freedom. I was placed in that very office where Joke Factory had kept a television, perhaps the only great thing ever done to its employees. Initially I was waiting on a word from higher executives about my project allocation but sooner I realized that they have forgotten me !!! 1 month, 2 month and 3 months passed and my daily routine was,

# Come to office and Swipe in

# Go to library and check mails

# Go to cafeteria and have breakfast

# After breakfast go to the recreation room and watch Television all through the day

Official and the social life was going on pretty smooth until Deeps slapped me with a shocker,

“I have told my parents”, she said

“What !!” I almost vomited out the McVeggie burger was clinched on to

“Yes, from last few days they have been talking to people about my wedding, so I had to do something”

“What did you do ?”, I asked curiously

“They told me that a guy is coming tomorrow to see me”

“Ok, then what happened”, I was frightened to ask this question because she might have done Jhansi ki Rani

“I said no, for which my mom was very disappointed and she asked if I was seeing someone”

“Okkkkkk, what happened next ??”

“I said Yes”, she said candidly

And here goes my burger

The burger came soaring out of my mouth, out of the blue all the pleasure turned sore, her parents now know everything and if they are not tolerable about it then they might do something about it. She told me a number of times that her father has loads of contacts, which includes EVERY kind of person.

What if he gets livid ? He might send people to kidnap me or even beat me up !!

“Hey by the way, what does your father think about it”, I asked unnervingly

“He does not know yet”

“What do you think will happen when he will know about us ?”, I was all set for the abduction

“Nothing, he will scold me”, she said dejectedly

“What will happen to me, I mean will he hurt me ?”, I awkwardly posted the question

“Ha ha ha, hey he isn’t like that, you chicken, ha ha ha”, she could not stop laughing when she learnt what was I thinking

“So what now ?” I asked

“Nothing, you have to come to my house and meet them”, she said calmly

My heart sank, I could not think of anything else but me getting beaten up by some goons . I know that she affirmed that her father is not like that but I never said that these assailants will be sent by her father, they will be from Hitler

The day arrived when I was asked to meet her parents,

“Any final minute instructions ?”, I called Deeps and asked

“Just don’t be yourself and rest would be excellent”, she said unperturbedly

I was disgusted because I had to pretend, typically I act dim-witted and I am constantly sarcastic. Plus I was asked to cover my grey hair and put on decent formals. I hated nearly everything about the pre-requisites of the meeting but it had to be done.

I reached her house 10 minutes prior I was supposed to. Since I have been to her house before; it wasn’t intricate for me to locate it. I rang the bell and her father opened the door,

“Hello Sir”, He welcomed me with a immense delight

The reception felt that they already have made a decision that I will their son-in-law and they will just tell me how to handle the wealth they are going to give me, I mean us

I entered and the scene inside was breathtaking because the very picture of it took all my breath away. Deeps was sitting on a chair in a corner and at the centre Hitler sat with a notepad, she wore her emblematic atrocious gaze. It appeared as if it is going to be the most evil interview of my life because Hitler is all set to make an inventory of things based on which I will be thrown out of Deeps existence.

I tried an innocent and a terrified look, the plan was to receive fewer injuries from the brutality I was about to face in next hour.

“Deeps has told us about you and that’s why we wanted to meet you”, future father-in-law was thrilled

“What is your caste”, asked the cold Hitler, suppressing the relieve established by the previous question

“I don’t know ?”, I said,

In my house we never talked regarding caste. I knew I was Hindu but that wasn’t adequate because there are castes inside castes inside castes and EVERY SINGLE SOUL IS SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT.

“What ?”, Hitler went pale, it was as if I had told that I was already married !! With 2 kids !!

“I mean I am Baniya”, I handled the situation without any delay

“Ok”

Mother-in-law and Father-in-law argued something in Kannada which more or less was “His caste is okay, I have several business clients of the same social group and they are excellent people”.

I guess they chose Kannada to converse because I did not know the language, at least that’s what they thought

After a concise debate in the local lingo which I don’t understand; Hitler turned towards me and asked again

“Your parents sent you to study then why did you do this ?”, she again posed a delicate issue

“It wasn’t deliberate, it just happened”, I tried to dodge the question but she wasn’t convinced

“What about your parents, do they know about it ?”

“Not yet”

Hitler again conversed something in kannada with Deep’s father which was roughly meant “He has no balls to tell his parents, ask him when will he tell his father and see how he will chicken out”

“When will you tell your parents ?”, Father-in-law asked promptly

“If you agree to this relation then I will tell them the next time I will go to my home”, I perfectly played according to their plan, in fact I did not have balls to tell my father yet L

I started learning kannada from the day I landed here; not to make an impression on any girl but to survive well in an unfamiliar land. In 4 years I had managed to understand all but speaking is still a hitch. This effort in learning Kannada was getting paid off today because their plan was,

# They will pose complex questions in front of me

# My responses will be discussed in Kannada among them and since I am a north Indian; I don’t recognize the language + Deepti wasn’t permitted to speak

# Based on the planning they would aim to ambush me

Little did they know that I arrived fully equipped. For each question I had a lip smacking reply standing by for them because I always knew what they are expecting

Quickly the conversation was over and they asked me my house address, the Jaipur’s address. I hesitated,

“I just want to do a light background check for my satisfaction, I have many clients in Jaipur and I will request one of them to do a little enquiry”, Hitler said

I was okay with the justification and gave her my address. Few minutes later I was given some snacks after which I asked to disappear. It wasn’t that terrible, it could have been awful if I had not known Kannada

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 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 16: Did she say Yes ??

 

Unexpectedly my life had a different implication to it. That tiny ray of hope on college day gave me a gigantic boost to look forward for excellent things. Things which looked not so bright for quite a while unveiled quiet dramatically. It was commencement of 4th semester and I was just back from Jaipur. I think it was the fifth day since my return, a fatiguing opening day of 4th semester took a toll on my body, I succumbed to sleep at around 10 in the night which was way too early.

Someone is screaming my name “Anky, Get up and come out”,

Am I dreaming ? There seem to be too many people, but where ?

I got up in fright. I looked around but it was just me in the dark room.

I think it was a delusion, but wait, someone banging the door of my room “Anky, get up”

I got up and unbolted the door, it was VK and behind him there were 20-30 juniors, my juniors who were in conflict. They were holding on to something and were completely pissed. Before I could be aware of anything Patti came face to face to me and yelled,

“Why the hell did you give photographs to Deeps ?”

I was still half asleep but I managed to retort, “What photos are you talking about ?”

“The photos where all our juniors are posed as Superman”, he spat his rage on me.

It quickly struck to me and my stomach lurched,

In 3rd semester few of us (Excluding me) carried out a very comical ragging session, in that meeting we asked every junior to pretence as superman. In short, they had to be dressed in their underwear over their jeans and tuck a towel on their shoulder for the cape. In no time there were roughly 30 Superman in different colors and sizes, lined up in front of their dementors. As if it was not good enough for dementors; they decided to make it a remembrance and clicked few pictures of them. I don’t know who sought those pictures and whose proposal it was but it was done on Patti’s camera. Now somehow those pictures ended up with Deeps who was uninformed that with all other pictures “Superman” pictures are also up for the show. She used to take the college bus and she happened to share the seat with a junior girl Harshika (Name changed) who again “happened” to be the classmate of most of the supermans in the shoot. So when Deeps and Harshika were going through those pictures, out of the blue they met with a queue of supermans and the Harshika burst into laughter. Deeps did not find it hilarious because she did not identify anyone but Harshika recognized almost all. Listening to her vociferous laugh, more girls and guys in the bus came to witness those pictures and rest was history. The following whole day, week and month; every superman faced the finest awkward time of their life. The same day when they were a subject of laughter all over the college; in the evening it was Patti’s turn to get the bashings because it was his camera which took those breath-taking pictures.

“I did not give any picture to anyone”, I clarified while rubbing my eyes, still trying to come to life

But soon the flock of juniors came close to my room. And as soon as they grasped that it was me who gave all the pictures to Deeps, which resulted in their attractiveness in no good sense; they started shrieking on me and demanded an explanation. Before I could explicate the correct picture; some of my divine batch mates came for the rescue and joined the juniors. They began to recite the same song what juniors were singing. VK came to salvage me and shooed everyone away. I went back to my room and tried to sleep but sleep was miles away,

How the hell can I cause such a gaffe, I need to find the truth.

Later next day, upon uncovering the truth everyone realized that the film roll was handed to Deeps by Patti much before I came back from Jaipur. He gave it to her because she lived in city and to get film roll developed will be a painless chore for her. She did her job but the only 2 slip-up she did was that,

# She looked at the pics, and

# She was my “girlfriend”

I met her that day and discussed this matter briefly, my main aim for that day was to get involved in her thoughts and try to get as much information as possible so that I can make her value why it will be good if we get together. I tried a lot but she was obstinate on the answer no, I explained her a lot, I explained how much I care for her and how happy we will be but the answer remain un-changed. I did not understand, I concluded that the college day message was just to cool me down and nothing more. I guess I lost it again, I was drained of explaining her and I also was tired of crying. Yes I cried A LOT in front of her so that she will melt and say yes but no she was a ROBOT.

I decided to give up because it was already 6 months since I proposed her and it did not seem to be working out from any direction. I spoke to Arnold, I used to tell him everything, we were best buddies,

“She will not say yes, I am quitting”, I said with a disheartened expression

“Don’t you quit or you will never get her”, he showed some anger

“No, I cannot do this anymore”, and I succumbed to sleep, I was mentally tired.

Next day it was a regular day, I was getting organized for the college and surprisingly I heard “Anky Phone”

That’s weird !! Who can it be now ??

I reached down to the phone, I held the handset against my ear and said “Hello”

“Hey it’s me”, it was Deeps

“Hey what’s the matter, are you not coming to the college ?”, I speculated

“No I am coming but this isn’t about that”

“Okkkkk, so what is it about ?”, me sounded absolutely confused

“Anky I am also into it”

“What do you mean by that”, I scratched my head

“Anky I am also into it what you are into me”

I missed a heartbeat, is this it ?? Am I dead ? Am I in heaven where my last desire is about to become a reality ? I gathered all my nerves one more time and asked,

“Are you saying that you are in love with me ??”, I asked calmly

“No I am just into it”, she recited

What ??

“I also like you a lot, I gave it a lot of thought and resoluted to tell you this”, she clarified

“So you are also into “it” but you don’t love me”, I was completely clueless by now

“Yes”

What the F%$& !!!!

“Let’s speak in the college today about it”, she said and hung-up

I stood there for 1 complete minute with the phone receiver still attached to my ear. I was trying to figure what the hell just happened ??

Did she 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.