Inheritance

Julia had never found herself in a similar problem earlier. Usually her father Mr Pinak had always been in concurrence with her wishes. Julia had a childhood where her father had to play the roles of both the parents since her mother had passed away while she was still a baby. Her father did get the support of Julia’s grandparents and it was in fact her anglicized grandfather who had named her “Julia”. But it was Mr Pinak’s vigilant love that never let Julia miss her mother. So suddenly now her father refusing to let her have what she desired was a first for Julia.

You see Julia was in love with Abhishek. She had been in an intense relationship with him for so many years. Julia had attended college out of her hometown and that is when she had first met Abhishek. Love with a new person in a new setting develops really well. Julia and Abhishek got the taste of freedom and love at the same time and Julia thus mistakenly identified Abhishek with both freedom and love. It is not that Abhishek did not love her back. He did and now they both wanted to get married.

They belonged to different communities and their cultural backgrounds were vastly different. It did not matter to Julia. She was ready to change and blend into Abhishek’s background. Like many other young and much in love ladies she wanted to belong to her lover and wished to rediscover herself in him.

Abhishek’s family had some reluctance in accepting Julia but Abhishek had promised to be by her side and rom-com loving Julia somehow felt lucky to have this melodrama unfold in her life for real. Julia’s father Mr Pinak was a bit taken aback to know about his daughter’s plans to marry and settle down so soon. He did not know why even without knowing Abhishek well he felt the need to keep him away from his precious daughter.

As the plans for the wedding progressed Mr Pinak realized that his instincts were not completely wrong. Abhishek’s family was expecting a hefty dowry payment. It was a part of their tradition and a bride coming home without any dowry would get their family ridiculed in the society. Plus according to Abhishek’s grandfather Julia’s father seemed rich enough to afford the dowry and hence they did not feel like they were doing any kind of extortion. Abhishek was left red faced by the logic presented when Mr Pinak had visited his family to talk things through.

Abhishek called Julia’s father the next day to make amends.

“I will pay you back the money sir. I don’t believe in these silly customs. But I cannot go against my whole family. Keep this between me and you sir…you don’t have to pay any dowry. Just pay whatever they say now and I will pay it back to you bit by bit. ”

“So you are trying to take a marriage loan from me, are you?” Mr Pinak smirked before disconnecting the call.

Julia was quite shattered by the developments. She tried to reason with her father.

“They are different in some ways…but not bad. Plus Abhishek and I will live in the city. Please pay the money now dad.”

“Julia! How can you even ask me to?” her father was reproaching her for the first time in life.

“I don’t earn that much now…else I would have paid it myself.” Julia grumbled in a fairly audible tone.

“Then maybe you should wait to earn it yourself. I simply cannot afford your expensive toy.” Mr Pinak said with finality in his voice.

Julia wished suddenly that her mother was there. She longed for the lady whom she never got to know, the beautiful lady with a kind face. Surely a person with such kind looks would have helped her to convince her father. For the first time in life Julia terribly longed for her other parent.

Julia wracked her brains trying to find a way to mold her dad but in vain. She was sitting in her terrace with a crushed soul and teary eyes when Abhishek called her.

“Jules, I can’t live without you,” his voice was hoarse…he had obviously been crying.

“Neither can I Abhi…we have to elope.” Julia offered the only thing that seemed to make sense now.

“I can’t do that Jules…I am the only son of my parents,” Abhishek said.

Julia’s heart skipped a beat…was this the introduction to a break up?

“Please come with me once and meet my mom. She is different…she is the most loving and giving soul in the world. I am sure once you meet her…she will soften her stand and change her resolve.” Abhishek requested.

Julia felt hopeful. She had been longing for her mother lately and maybe she could find a mother in her beloved’s mother.

The meeting was arranged at a coffee shop so that Julia didn’t have to feel uncomfortable. A tall and fair lady walked in. It was clear that Abhishek had inherited her classy looks.

Julia was dressed in conservative clothes and was trying very hard to impress this woman. Abhishek’s mother smiled a measured smile and seated herself beside her son. She instructed Julia to sit on the other side of the table. It seemed to Julia like she was placing her in a different team already.

Julia nervously smiled and asked her what she would like to have.

Abhishek’s mother looked at her son and asked him to fetch a cup of coffee for her. Abhishek left the table a bit unwillingly. His loving mother’s body language was completely negative today.

Once Abhishek was gone his mother wasted no time in dilly dallying over silly things.

“Julia it is not that I disapprove of you. You are well educated and my son wants to marry you. I could have accepted your wedding had you and your family shown some attitude of adjustment.

Adjustment and compromise are essential in a marriage and I cannot tolerate people who are rigid in their ways. You people call it being modern but I…”

“Aunty…I am sorry for what my father has said. He is a bit aged…and ailing. I am the one you will have to deal with…I am flexible aunty. I am ready to embrace everything that you teach me.”

Abhishek’s mother was annoyed at being cut off. And Julia’s promises could not soften her.

“Sorry aunty…please continue. ” Julia was tense. She desperately needed this woman to love her.

“See Julia I will be frank with you. We are a respected family and it is an ancient custom to exchange gifts at weddings. This is not dowry. This is a way to extend greetings to the new couple. It is a way to bless the two people who are starting a new journey. And I cannot simply do away with this custom because it offends your father.”

“Aunty I apologize on behalf of my father. Please give me some time aunty…”

“We cannot wait and we are not demanding a lot of money. Any other parent would have quoted double the amount to accept someone like you.”

There was a clear stress on “you”. At this point Abhishek came back.

“Mom please…”

“Don’t you dare to take her side and fight with me. She needs to know the truth. Abhishek is a handsome man earning well. For him we had expected a very fair girl. I had agreed to accept you because he is clearly enamoured with you. But we certainly cannot be fooled into accepting no money. This is a broad day light robbery.”

Julia was a tall girl with a dusky complexion. She was blessed with large eyes and silky hair. And never ever in her life had she felt insecure or unhappy with her looks.

But today suddenly the snide remark came as a rude shock and made her very aware of her dark skin. And it brought back long buried childhood memories of her granny rubbing turmeric on her skin in an effort to erase the dark colour.

Abhishek’s mother left in a huff and her son quickly followed her out of the café after casting apologetic looks at Julia.

Julia waited for Abhishek’s call and a very short call came at midnight.

“They are old Julia…don’t feel sad because of what she said. We love each other. Let’s try to arrange for the dowry somehow and I will pay it back.”

Julia digested the severity of the situation and rushed to her father.

“I don’t have that much money. I’m getting old too and intend to save for my retirement days,” this was the explanation offered by Mr Pinak.

“Dad I am there to take care of you in your old age. Plus we will pay you back. Can’t you count on me?”

“I had counted on you growing up to a sensible young woman. Clearly I was wrong. Can’t take a risk again.” Mr Pinak sounded dead cold and resolute.

Again a wave of helplessness flushed over Julia and she rushed to Abhishek for comfort.

“Let’s run away Abhishek and marry. We are adults. We can pay for ourselves. The parents will forgive us as time passes on.”

“No I cannot do that. Mom might commit suicide…she threatened me this evening. Please convince your dad. He is your dad…can’t he do this much for you?”

“He is not budging…please dear…please let’s buy some time from your family. We will save money and arrange for the dowry.”

“It’s not dowry. It’s a tradition and the gifts stand for the blessings.” Abhishek snapped.

“I don’t care what it is…I just know that I cannot live without you.” Julia was crying.

“Neither can I.”

Julia looked up with hope.

“Then? Will you request your family to give us some more time?”

Abhishek was silent.

“Say something…”

“They already have fixed another bride for me. I had a hard time convincing them into accepting you.

If we don’t get married soon then I will have to marry her.”

“You can’t do that…please tell me you won’t. Please let’s get married right away.”

“Do you want me to kill my mother?” Abhishek sounded really rude this time.

“No…but…”

“Let me know if you can think of something soon enough…”

Abhishek shrugged his shoulders and left.

Julia spent months thinking of a solution but could not find one. At the end of the sixth month Abhishek got married to a demure and very fair bride. Julia obsessively kept looking at the marriage pictures online and withdrew totally from real life.

Then one day she decided that she will not take this any more. She will punish the one responsible for this mess in her life. She will cut off all ties with her father. The one whose wheatish complexion she inherited; the one who refused to trust her and spend a few bucks to get her settled in life. She had friends whose fathers who pampered them like princesses. And here she was, a girl without a mother whose father did not believe in helping her out.

And Julia walked out of her ancestral home. Within a year’s time she flew to USA on an assignment. Her estrangement with her father was complete.

As time passed Julia’s broken heart healed to some extent. She made new friends and loved the new way of life. She had not found love again but she had never tried to look for it either.

Then one day one of her friends lost her father in a car accident. The extent of grief that the girl had to deal with made Julia think of her father. And suddenly that day she could not hold back her tears.

She grabbed her phone and instinctively called her father. There was no overt display of emotions and it was as if they had never cut off contact. Mr Pinak talked to his daughter in a very calm and controlled voice. But that day while returning home from work atheist Mr Pinak bought a bunch of flowers and dropped them off at the Shiva temple next to his home.

So that is how Julia and her father repaired what was lost. Overnight the lost laughter and the comforting dependency came flooding back.

Julia told her father soon that she was planning to visit India after a few months and obviously her father was elated to know about the decision. Julia had taken leave for a whole month.

A week before she reached India Mr Pinak informed Julia that he would be out of India for the first week of Julia’s vacation. Julia was a tad offended but understood that her father’s work often meant erratic schedules. She promised to keep herself happy and occupied during those 7 days.

The day she entered her ancestral home in India she was greeted by a pleasant surprise in the doorway.

“Hi Julia! I am Rakesh.” A tall and well built guy was holding out his hands. On his face there was a friendly smile and the overnight stubble on his face made him look raw and magnetic. Julia did not expect to find such a handsome stranger at her own home.

“I am sorry…I don’t recognize you.” Julia hoped badly that this cute guy was not one of her fat cousins all grown up. Luckily he was not.

“No don’t be sorry. I am working with your father on an assignment actually. You wouldn’t know me. He told me that you would be coming over…and you look exactly like him so I kind of figured it out!”

“Oh…he said something like that but I did not expect him to have such a young friend!”

Rakesh laughed out aloud.

“I’m 36…not young.”

“Well I’d say that’s a young age only. Plus you look way younger.”

“How much younger? Would you say I look closer to your age?”

Julia smiled. “That wouldn’t give you much of an advantage. I’m 33.”

“Whew! Perfect age gap. ”

“What?”

“Nothing!”

They both looked into each other’s eyes for a little longer than what can be passed off as “social interaction.”

“Coffee?” Rakesh did not wish to waste the opportunity.

Julia laughed again. “You do know that it is my home!”

“So? I never said we have to have coffee here!”

They both laughed. The kind of spontaneous laughter that gives you hope and assurance about life…

After an hour they both went out to have lunch together much to the dismay of the house maid who had prepared a 9 course traditional lunch for Julia.

“Hey, you and I can be a great match!” Rakesh quipped on the way to the restaurant.

Julia looked at him with her large hypnotic eyes and said, “You’re fast! ”

“Not always...not always, sometimes I come last too,” Rakesh said.

Julia blushed instantly. She looked at Rakesh, it was hard to figure out if he had meant what she had understood. Julia quickly diverted the topic.

“So tell me something more about you…like where you are from…your family members…”

“You want to know if I am single or not…uff…girls can never come to the point!”

“Hey not really!” Julia was caught off guard.

“Yes I am single and I can tell that you are too,” continued Rakesh.

“What? No I am not single Rakesh. I have a long term boyfriend,” Julia so wanted to prove this man wrong once.

“Oh please…you are pathetic at lying!” Rakesh laughed.

“Why? Can I not have a boyfriend?”

“Of course you can but you don’t have one. You are interested in me…like I am in you but you wouldn’t admit that straightaway.”

Julia opened her mouth a couple of times and finally closed it. She did not dare to lie again.

“See I will tell you my viewpoint and may be it will make you feel more comfortable. I am single and working. I am looking for a case of mutual attraction so that I can marry her and get complacent about life.”

“Get complacent?” Julia laid clear stress on the word “complacent”.

“That’s a euphemism for getting fat. I am honestly tired of working out every day and maintaining this physique. And then there is the pressure of having to be this smart and witty all the time. Once I trick someone to marry me I can let go of all this and enjoy life sans pressure.”

Julia was very amused by the logic.

“We just met and you are talking of marriage.”

“10 year old relationships fall apart and you still feel that time is an important parameter.”

Julia looked out of the window and kept silent for a while.

“Explain to me your concept of marriage.” Julia asked.

 “The promise to be there for each other…the promise to never judge or leave the other one…the no matter what kind of commitment…that’s what I am looking for. And that’s what I am offering as well. And yes, no chivalry to be expected from me because chivalry is only decorated chauvinism according to me.”

Julia looked at Rakesh and the way he smiled made everything in this weird crazy world seem to make sense.

And that’s how it started. Rakesh had been very persuasive from the first day and usually Julia felt uncomfortable with such guys. But she never felt any discomfort with Rakesh. To start with she found him hot and that had won half the game for Rakesh. Plus his easy going demeanor made Julia feel very happy and alive. Julia found out that Rakesh too lived in the USA within 2 hours of her home. There were many more commonalities that slowly cemented their bond.

So they dated and on their dates they had easy and casual conversations. Plain and routine conversations are the most dangerous thing in the world. They put two people in an impossible to break kind of addiction of each other.

One day as they were having dinner she decided to ask Rakesh what had been bothering her for sometime.

“Do you like fair girls?” Julia asked.

“Yes. Who doesn’t?” There was no hesitation in Rakesh’s voice.

“So you are compromising by choosing me?”

“I didn’t know that you are unfair! You seemed to be a poster girl for equality and justice to me.”

Julia laughed.

Rakesh looked into her eyes and said, “I fell into the trap of your eyes the moment I saw you. I am not the type of guy who “settles” for a person he doesn’t really like. I find you effortlessly pretty.”

Julia knew he was saying the truth. Rakesh took her in her arms and gave her a warm hug. Julia closed her eyes and drew in a long deep breath.

By the end of the 7^th day they had taken the decision of get married.

The only problem was now for Julia to inform her father. She had been speaking to him every day over the phone but she conveniently left out mentioning Rakesh. Mr Pinak on his part only asked if she was getting her preferred meals every day.

Plus her father seemed in a hurry to wrap up his work and get back to see his daughter. Tomorrow Mr Pinak will come. Tomorrow Julia will have to face the same ordeal again.

Julia was pacing in her room late at night thinking about a way to tell her father. She did not wish to come all the way from USA to disappoint him again. She suddenly grabbed a stole and rushed to the room where Rakesh was staying. She knocked hard.

“Well…aren’t you a bit too desperate? I mean in your own house…” Rakesh was rubbing his eyes but he was still in his typical jocular mood.

“Listen to me…I have serious things to discuss. Can you come out and sit with me for a while?”

“Sure…are you alright?”

“Look I had a boyfriend a long time ago whom dad didn’t approve of. Long story short he could have helped me to marry him but he kind of made sure that we broke up instead.”

Rakesh was silent.

“And you are someone who works with dad. So he may not approve of what has happened in his absence.”

“He expects you to seek his permission before falling in love?” Rakesh asked.

Julia smiled nervously.

“Look…it’s not the time to joke about it. I really want to go through this. And I don’t want to deal with any kind of objection from dad.”

“Hmmm…we both live in USA. If he agrees we will marry here and then fly…if he does not then we will fly first and marry there. This is how I am looking at the situation.”

Rakesh yawned.

Julia’s heart was beating fast.

“Can we elope if he disapproves?”

“We most certainly will.”

The answer she had longed to hear for years was said by Rakesh without any hesitation. Something told her that she will be happy with this man.

“Relax. If we want it to happen no one can stop us,” Rakesh comforted her again.

“What about your family? Is your mother conservative?”

“Well I think she will be very relieved to know that I have found my match in a girl.”

Julia laughed out aloud. It sounded like a peal of bells.

“I should tell you one more thing too. My previous relationship broke up because the guy had asked for a hefty dowry. You should know that my father is not leaving me much of an inheritance.”

“He sure is” said Rakesh.

“Don’t get ideas from this ancestral home. He might have plans to donate it after he passes away.”

“I didn’t mean his material property. He helped his little daughter to find the right guy. Learning to not make mistakes in life…that’s a big thing to inherit from a worthy father!” Rakesh sounded sermonic to Julia.

“Oh please…he didn’t help me out to find love…may be he was right in not paying the dowry but doesn’t mean he should get the credit for everything!”

“Well I think he should. I don’t really work with your father. Your father found me from a match making site and his description of you intrigued me a lot. Basically you are heading towards an arranged marriage Julia.”

Julia was open mouthed.

“Don’t worry I am 100% legit. Your dad just played cupid and set us up.”

Julia was overwhelmed and when she tried to speak no words came out.

Rakesh pulled her closer and together they looked at their reflection in the long mirror at the side of the terrace.

“Isn’t that an awesome inheritance?” Rakesh whispered as he gently kissed on Julia’s forehead.

Parallel Lines

There was a bunch of school students waiting outside the college campus. They were feeling nervous and jittery. No, it was not the day of admission. It was a much grander day. Casus belli, the most popular college fest of the city was being held and the high school kids just hoped to get entry even if it were for a few minutes. Their favorite band was supposed to play and they had turned up hoping that they will be allowed to witness history.

But the gatekeeper had strict instructions to allow only those with gate passes and these kids had not managed to get the passes from anywhere.

Shireen was one among these children. She had put on chalky make-up on her face and worn the lowest permissible neckline. But her hopes of getting in were dwindling.

Her friend Rohan saw the opportunity and pulled her aside.

“I can get 2 passes. My cousin goes to this college.”

“What? And you never told us this?”

“Shh!! Firstly I don’t know if he will agree to let us in. Secondly I can definitely not ask him to arrange for 21 passes. Slowly detach yourself from the group and meet me at the back entrance. I will call Gaurav meanwhile.”

Shireen knew that Rohan had a crush on her and on any other day she would not take a favor from him. But today she needed to go in just to see her idol Maverick Matthews perform.

She went up to her friends and said apologetically, “I’ve to start for home. I don’t think they will let us in. If it gets too late I will get into trouble at home.”

Some of her friends were dismayed; others were hopeful that diminishing numbers might help the waiting ones to get in.

She went round the campus and met Rohan at the other entrance. He was holding 2 passes and sporting the biggest grin ever. Shireen spontaneously smiled at him and ran up to him.

“Gaurav sent these 2 for me.”

“Oh…you are a genius Rohan!!!”

Shireen was liberal with compliments and Rohan’s heart danced as they entered the campus together.

However Maverick Matthews had not reached the grounds yet and only performances by college students were taking place.

Shireen didn’t mind waiting. Besides this was a college fest and hence 10 times cooler than anything she had done so far. She felt so grown up and happy to be a part of this world.

A girl was dancing to a fast number on stage when Shireen and Rohan reached the performance area. A bunch of students in weird costumes were waiting for their turn at the side.

“That’s my brother,” said Rohan pointing to a tall guy in torn jeans and black vest. He had brownish wavy hair and a face that reminded her of Shahid Afridi in his hey days. His muscular shoulders tapered down to a narrow hip and his pants seemed to conceal a pair of sturdy legs. Shireen gulped unintentionally and kept on staring. Garuav smiled to reveal dimpled smile that added a boyish charm to his strong features.

“Hi! I am Gaurav,” he said as he held out his hand.

Shireen mumbled her name as she shakily stuck her hand out.

Gaurav held her hands and shook them firmly.

His hands were warm. Suddenly in the chilly evening of November Shireen started to sweat.

“Gaurav is performing tonight,” Rohan chipped in and his voice zapped Shireen back to her senses.

“Ohh…thank you Gaurav…I mean for the passes…you are very generous…” Shireen managed to say.

“I sure don’t regret my generosity today,” Gaurav left with a wink.

He went up on stage and danced with a group of outrageously flashy guys. Honestly it was more like coordinated calisthenics and certainly nothing like “dance”.

But the energy of the boys was high and the background music was a popular Bollywood hit and no one really cared to see the subtle nuances of artistic dance.

When Gaurav and his team were done the crowd erupted in claps and appreciative hoots.

Gaurave bowed and suddenly grabbed the mike from the anchor who had walked in to announce the next performance.

To the surprise of everyone he said he started to sing…

 “Some day, when I'm awfully low
When the world is cold
I will feel a glow just thinking of you
And the way you look tonight

Yes, you're lovely
With your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft
There is nothing for me but to love you
And the way you look tonight ”

The entire time he maintained eye contact with Shireen. He bowed a little and left the stage with a mysterious smile. The crowd cheered even louder and there were thundering claps.

Shireen was blushing furiously although no one apart from Rohan had understood what just happened.

“You should know that Gaurav is a bit flirtatious. He didn’t mean anything…so don’t get ideas.” Rohan quickly said.

“Hey you think I am stupid?”

“You do have a stupid look on your face.”

The rest of the evening immediately became a glum for Rohan and irrelevant for Shireen. They realized after a while that Maverick might appear on stage past midnight and that was no way an accepted time at their homes.

So they headed home together. Shireen in a happy trance and Rohan feeling completely mad about his mistake.

That night Shireen found it hard to fall asleep. And even when she did sleep she continued to think of Gaurav in her dreams.

But the next morning was different. The bright sun was out and in the prudish starchy daylight the experience of the previous night seemed ludicrous and impossible. Shireen quickly took her bath, had her breakfast and started for school. Her mother once asked her if anything was wrong but she said nothing. Shireen had no wish to tell her mother about the dreamy evening she had the day before. It would be her precious unreal evening forever.

However a big surprise was waiting at her school gate.

“Hey you look prettier without make up,” Gaurav flashed his smile. Dressed in white tee shirt and blue jeans (that was not torn) he looked more real today. The sun light did take away some of his cool quotient. But it made him more within Shireen’s reach and she liked it.

 “Hi! How did you know? I mean…you are here…how…why…”

Shireen was visibly happy.

“Aren’t you relieved that I found you out?” Gaurav had a look of mock astonishment on his face. 

And it led way to nervous exchanges of broad smiles and phone numbers.

Gaurav and Shireen fell in love like that and they fell into it in a rather intense and perhaps irreversible manner.

Shireen spent every night stalking Gaurav’s online accounts just to make sure that he truly belonged to her. Though Rohan tried to convince Shireen otherwise Shireen found no trace of Gaurav’s promiscuity. He was a popular guy in college whom girls happened to like a lot but that was it.

To Gaurav, Shireen was a breath of fresh air. A kind soul who never asked him about his future plans nor calculated his money potential. She was still in the process of growing up and was in no way calculative. Her love was pure unlike the fake girls he had at his disposal at his college.

Both Gaurav and Shireen felt addicted to each other. They talked in the mornings and again in the evenings and again at nights till it was impossible to stave off sleep. Eating, sleeping and other routine activities seemed so unnecessary and they felt this huge need to be with each other.

Love in its purest form can give you a high that no other narcotic can simulate and these two young lovers now felt this insane and immeasurable joy in their hearts.

But there has to be a “but” in all love stories. And in this case the “but” happened to be Rohan. He knew this was wrong. He did not know why but he knew that he had to do all that he could to prevent this from going on.

And he started his research. 

He found out that Shireen came from a conservative family and she had not disclosed about her new found love at home. Very good.

Gaurav too had not told his parents about it. Even better.

Also though every one in Gaurav’s college knew about them as love birds there was no official confirmation of this fact from Gaurav. Awesome!

Rohan worked on his material and set the plot.

It happened like this. Gaurav being the cool college boy used to have sleepovers at his place when his parents were away. It used to be a typical all nighter for the boys with plenty of alcohol and food. And of course they talked. They talked about everything under the sun and they felt this easy connection with each other which made them feel very reassured and happy about life. Their conversations made no sense but they all felt ready to die for each other (if the situation demands). And this gave immense fulfillment to the boys.

On one such night Rohan had obtained invitation to such a booze party at Gaurav’s place. He went there with a plan and executed it well.

The next day Rohan went up to Shireen with a nonchalant face and asked her to listen to a voice recording in his phone.

“She is just a friend…No…no…I don’t love Shireen.”

This is all that Shireen could hear and the voice belonged to Gaurav.

Shireen cheeks became red at once...she had no idea if it was grief or embarrassment that stung her heart at the moment.

She got up and ran away. Rohan had hoped to lend her his shoulder but he had started to realize that his plans do not quite work the way he plans them.

He did not give up though and on his seventh try in the evening Shireen picked up the phone. They talked for long and Rohan told her in many ways that Gaurav was a guy with loose morals who had never intended to be with Shireen in the long term.

Shireen went to bed with swollen eyes and avoided her mother saying that she had a headache. These days Shireen talked very less to her and she had given the excuse of ever surmounting pressure of studies. Her mother had somehow bought the excuses and today also she left her after making her a bowl of hot chicken soup.

It was 2am in the morning when she called Gaurav. She had reasoned with herself that she will wait till next morning but her tears refused to stop and she had to get an answer now.

Gaurav profusely apologized and readily admitted that he had said so under the influence of alcohol.

“But alcohol makes men say the truth…” Shireen countered.

“It’s not like that. I was not that high…just a few pegs down and stupid.” Gaurav said.

“You don’t love me or are you embarrassed of me?” Shireen was direct.

“I love you Shireen.”

“So you are embarrassed of me.”

“No! You don’t know how college boys are. They kept on teasing me and called me hen pecked and what not. I just felt that I needed to reinstate myself as a person who is not a fool.”

“And being with me makes you look like a fool.”

“That’s not what I meant. I am truly sorry…I’d have felt bad too if you did it. But please forgive me. Let’s not break our hearts over this.”

Shireen softened a bit and a part of her wanted to accept this apology and end it there. But Rohan’s words came back to her mind. So went on.

“And are you really planning to sit for GRE?” Shireen asked.

“Yes. How does that matter?”

“You never told me.”

“I told no one apart from my parents. It’s in the planning stage only.”

“So you don’t wish to take up the job that you landed from campus placement?”

“Why are you talking so coldly? Maybe no. I wish to explore other stuff in life…like going abroad to do a master’s program.”

“And you never told me because it’d be easier to leave me.”

“Look Shireen…this is ridiculous. I am sorry about what I said. But this is unrelated to that. I have ambitions in life and it is not a big crime if I don’t tell you about a dream of mine.”

Shireen sighed.

“You told all your friends…that’s how I found out. Rohan told me about your GRE plans.”

“That BC knows nothing. He will go and prattle when and where not needed. See I didn’t tell you because I wanted to surprise you. I don’t know if I will get accepted or not. I wanted to break the news after making it.”

Shireen laughed sarcastically.

“You wanted to leave me and surprise me.”

“It’s not so.”

“Do your parents know about me?”

“No. But you requested to keep things off the parents because your family is strict.”

“No…I said my family is strict and I am still in school. So I need time. But you have a job and are in college. Plus your parents are liberal. You could have at least given a hint about me.”

The reasoning went on for 3 hours. But Gaurav was talking to a wall. Shireen was inflexible today. 

He did not know that Rohan had sealed every single loophole in the evening. Gaurav was saying all the wrong answers that Rohan had predicted and Shireen’s resolve was getting stronger.

The night ended in a break up. It was also another chilly November night and Shireen had never felt lonelier in life.

Years flew on. Shireen and Gaurav had gone along separate paths. Shireen is now a doctor. 

The experience with Gaurav had shaken her for life and made her more careful with her feelings. She had finally found structure and happiness in life. She had found love too but may be the definition of love had changed forever.

She no longer thinks of Gaurav. Her present is beautiful. Plus after managing home and work she hardly had any time left for romanticizing her past. Life was wholesome and happy, a tad boring but there was no risk of a painful heartbreak anymore. And that made Shireen very feel good.

All was fine and Shireen had accepted life as it is but then one night she had a dream. In her dream Gaurav and she were travelling in a train. They were sitting side by side but both angry with each other and looking at opposite directions.

She woke up. And she terribly longed to live that moment. The anger that she felt in her dream, the kind of anger that you can only share with someone you love, the kind of anger that needs a premise of lasting love to feel. She felt a gnawing pain inside knowing that it was impossible to live that dream.

Today she did the chores at home a bit slowly and set for work unmindful. She was walking slowly towards the bus stop wondering why she had to have the strangely disconcerting dream after ages.

And when she reached the bus stop she suddenly saw Gaurav at the bus stop. For a while she thought that she was hallucinating but she was not. Gaurav was truly there. He had grown older and perhaps his handsomeness had diminished a bit with the passing years. But Shireen was immune to that. She stared at him blushing furiously like she had done a long time back.

Gaurav smiled uncomfortably. He was surprised too. He did not know whether Shireen would even acknowledge him or would walk away.

But she responded with a smile. It turned out that they were headed towards the same direction.

So they boarded the bus and sat side by side inside the bus. Shireen could not believe that this was happening. Her heart was racing after a long time and she did not know how she could feel a sense of relief at such an awkward moment.

“So are you married?” Gaurav started.

“Yes.” Shireen replied. Gaurav was still as direct as before.

“Oh…too bad. I’m still single.” Gaurav turned his lips. And they both smiled. But they could not laugh out aloud...they felt a kind of discomfort.

They both tried to do small talk but the conversation hung in mid sentences.

Both looked expectantly at each other. It was obvious that the chemistry was mutually felt.

“I still miss you Shireen…and I am sorry…” started Gaurav.

“Shhh…let’s not apologize today. Let’s just enjoy this moment like the old times.”

They sat like that for a while..side by side in the bus…the silence oddly pleasing. But time was harsh…it was passing on fast and they had to decide soon if they wished to keep in touch or end it there.

“I lied to you Shireen. I am engaged. I don’t know why I lied. Just seeing you after ages shook me up,” Gaurav realized for good that keeping in touch would not be a healthy option.

Gaurav looked into her eyes and said, “I had lied to my friends on that day too…I hope you know that my love for you was true.”

The only word that Shireen heard in the sentence was “was”.

Shireen smiled. “It’s ok, I understand. When is your wedding?”

“It’s in November. Actually I had a fight with her last night and had been thinking of you all night. I was surprised beyond words to see you in person today.”

Shireen simply nodded. Her face was inscrutable. She was wondering what Gaurav had fought with her fiancee about.

“I am glad that you are married and settled. You deserve a happy life. Basically I am travelling to patch up with Sakshi.”

So his fiancee’s name too started with an “S”…she felt jealous about the unknown and named stranger. Sakshi and Gaurav will now get to relish the anger that she had dreamed of. 

“Bye Gaurav. My best wishes to you and Sakshi.” Why is it necessary to lie to Gaurav all the time, Shireen wondered. 

Gaurav smiled and alighted from the bus and walked away after a wave at Shireen.

He never got to know that Shireen had lied to him; she was still very much single.