Chapter 1
‘Not now bhai! I have this important presentation to be completed. Dad will kill me if I don’t send it across in an hour.’ She resisted as she got engrossed with her laptop.
‘Tanushree Sharma!’ He bawled at her to get her attention.
‘What?’
‘I wrote this song.’
‘I said no!’
But he was not to give in. He reached for her laptop and pulled down the lid.
‘Tanmay! What you’re doing? I will call dad now!’ She warned him and opened her laptop again.
‘As if I fear him!’
‘Oh really?? Dad!!!’ She shouted at top her voice. ‘Tanmay is not letting me work.’
May be he never agrees but he fears his dad with life, he almost jumped over the sofa and hid behind the cupboard.
‘My sweet little brother! Don’t you know? Dad is out to Kolkatta for a week.’
‘Phew!’ He came outside.
‘Grow up! Tanmay! You’re 25 now.’
‘Didi! Shut up!’ He punched her softly and went on to hug her tightly. ‘Is your presentation more important than your bro? Bolo.’
‘Stop! Your this drama.’
‘Don’t you love me a bit? Did I tell Mom that you went to Goa last weekend with your beau?’
‘Tanmay, stop your blackmail.’
‘Then listen na !’
‘Ok fine.’ She stamped her laptop down.
He picked his guitar and strummed the chords.
‘Tu kya jaane, tere khwaboon ki manzil…
Woh toh nahi tha, tere pyar ka sahil
Tu toh wahi thi, mai kyu alag tha
Janeja ye kya ho gaya…
Woh mithi baatein yaad aayegi…..’
‘Stop! Stop!’ She interrupted.
‘What?’
‘It sucks, you call it lyrics. Yak!!’
‘How rude? What do you understand about music?’ He argued.
‘Yes! I don’t and you should accept now that you can’t be a singer.’
‘C’mon! Mom said that I sing good.’
‘She is Mom right? That’s why.’
‘Priya also said same.’
‘She is your girlfriend, that’s why.’
‘She is not my girlfriend, ok!’ He was miffed off. He seriously never liked his Didi teasing him by Priya’s name. She was just his friend, his best friend rather.
‘But she likes you a lot.’
‘Even I like her a lot but that doesn’t mean that we love each other. You see Didi, love is very complicated and it just ruins everything. I and Priya are great friends because we don’t love each other.’
‘Hmmm… So my brother doesn’t believe in love.’
‘It’s not like that but someday I will get my girl and will love her till my last breath.’
‘And when will that someday come?’
‘I don’t know but I will just fall in love with her instantly and no matter what, I will never let her go away. Didi, I want to show you something.’ He ran to his room and was back in a flash with a small box in his hand.
‘What it is?’ She opened the box carefully and wow! A beautiful heart shaped golden pendant came up with diamonds embedded in it.
‘It’s so wonderful yaar! For me??’
‘Shut up! Why would I bring it for you? Ask your Boyfriend to buy one.’
‘Then? Priya?’
‘Didi!!! Please… It’s for my girl whom I am yet to meet. You see, last year I went to Paris with Dad, I brought it from there. It’s actually my heart and I will give it to my girl.’
‘And that’s romantic!’
Their sweet conversation just hit a road block as Tanushree saw her phone buzzing. Her beau had called up.
‘Bhai! Will you please excuse us?’ She said and picked up the call.
‘Ok! I will go.’ He walked off.
‘Sleep early today; I want you to be in the office tomorrow very early.’ She yelled at his back.
Tanmay went to his room and called Priya, she like instantly picked his call as if she was waiting for his call. Yes! He would call her every day at 7 after her college since past 5 years. They had met on Facebook some 5 years back and had been super friends since but then they had never met each other. Perhaps, there was not even such urge in both of them to meet ever. They were rather happy with their phone calls, fb chats and skype once in a blue moon.
He sang the song to her keeping is phone on loudspeaker and as usual she praised him to core, for her he was Bryan Adams. Perhaps, he was everything for her- Sachin Tendulkar, John Abhram, Einstein and even Superman. She told her that there was traditional day celebration at her college and she was uploading the pictures on Fb and wanted him to comment first.
He logged in Fb and liked and commented on each every photo which was being uploaded without even looking at them. And then suddenly, something caught his attention, he scrolled back and looked carefully, there was a girl standing among a group of girls. While rest of them where cheering in jollity, she looked calm with an authentic smile. Big eyes, long curly hair down her waist and mesmerizing look just hit his mind like a comet. He gazed at her completely lost in her beauty. She was damn gorgeous.
****
Chapter 2
He immediately called Priya.
‘Who is that girl in pink dress?’ he asked.
‘Who?’
‘That girl in your 9th photo.’
‘Ok! She is Nayana Sharma. She is from engineering; I don’t know her that well.’
‘Gosh! She is so pretty!’
‘Yeah! I know that! A lot of guys say that!’
‘Hey! Stop it! She is mine now.’
‘Tanmay! What are you talking about?’
‘Is she in your Fb friend list?’
‘Yes! She is!’
‘Ok! Talk to you later!’ He kept the phone and searched Nayana in Priya’s friendlist and finally found her.
She had a DP in the same dress that means she had too upload it in sometime but already, it had over 200 likes and some 50 comments, she had even replied back few and that meant she had to be online. He instantly sent her a friend request and waited for her to accept it. She took 5 minutes to answer it which actually seemed like 500 years but finally he got the notification that Nayana Sharma has accepted his friend request and he could view her timeline. He went thoroughly through all her pictures and downloaded each one of them, within 15 minutes; he had some 60 pictures of her. He kept on gaping at them and completely charmed. He pinged her with a ‘Hi!’
Nayana: Hello! What’s up!
Tanmay: Ceiling n fan :P
Nayana: Wat?
Tanmay: U asked na what’s up???
Nayana: Hmmm… that was funny! J do I knw u?
Tanmay: U add strangers?
Nayana: Na Nvr. V hv 32 common friends. I thought u r 4m my college.
Tanmay: I m not 4m ur college.
Nayana: Ya! I c dat u r from Vizag Then how come v hv mutual frens.
Tanmay: U knw Priya???
Nayana: Ya. Our Cultural Secretary but dunno which dept.
Tanmay: MBA Finance. My best fren… her frens added me…
Nayana: Hmmm….
Tanmay: So u will now remove me
Nayana: May be :P
Tanmay: Don’t do that pls…
Nayana: Y not?
Tanmay: U c v hv so many things in common. Both like Taylor swift, Nicholas Spark, Animated Movies, Cars and Pink
Nayana: Pink???
Tanmay: Its ur fav color… U always wear something in pink whether it dress, shoes or even a hairclip.
Nayana: R u Stalking ma profile?
Tanmay: U mind??
Nayana: Yes…
Tanmay: Can’t help U r too pretty to ignore. Boss! Those beautiful eyes are taking my breath away.
Nayana: Shut up!!!
Tanmay: U use what’s app?
Nayana: Ya… but I don’t give my nos. to strangers :P
Tanmay: Ok… Toh jan lo hume…
So it all started with a random photo and sparked with a friend request. They were never actually stranger even when they chatted for the first time. It seemed that they had known each other since ages. They continued chatting later that night, he told her about his strict dad, beautiful mom and cool sister. In return she told him, she had a younger sister, her friends and her liking for dogs. Time passed on but they didn’t seem to stop. He ate on his study table where he kept his laptop while she finished her dinner in 5 minutes to return. Finally, her Mum had to intervene.
‘It’s too late now. Will you keep your laptop down or I shall throw it outside.’ She hailed at Nayana.
Nayana: Mum scolding. GTG. U on what’s app na?
Tanmay: Level 2
Nayana: What?
Tanmay: When a gal asks ask 4 no. its level 2 of love
Nayana: I don’t luv u. BTW what’s level 1?
Tanmay: When she chats for 4 4hrs.
Nayana: Watever. U giving no.?
Tanmay: I don’t give my nos. to strangers :P
***
Chapter 3
Two months later…
‘What’s your Mum’s status?’ He messaged her.
‘She’s is watching TV. I will call you after she sleeps.’ She replied.
Tanmay was dead tired and was even dozing at the dinner; his Didi had strictly warned him not to talk to Priya at night. Anyway, he hadn’t actually called Priya since long time or rather say since the time; he talked with Nayana for the first time. Of course, she had an awesome voice. Perhaps, she was the most amazing girl, he had ever known and he kinda held his eyelids with his hands to prevent them from dropping as he eagerly waited for her call.
‘Hello!’ He said as he picked her call.
‘Hi! Tanmay.’
‘Mum Slept?’
‘Of course! That’s why I’m calling. Anyway, I will be hanging up soon today. I have my practicals tomorrow.’
‘Ok! Shall I put a stopwatch for five minutes?’
‘Shut up! Tanmay, I know nothing for tomorrow’s paper. I’ll fail.’
‘C’mon! You should have studied instead of partying with Riya.’
‘It was her birthday and at least you don’t shout on me. Mum was scolding too.’ She sobbed. Girls can do that on will and it works on boys all the time.
‘I am sorry Hotie!’ That was his name for her. Wasn’t that cute? ‘I didn’t mean it.’
‘It’s ok now! But pray for me that I get some addition-subtraction program and not some pointers or arrays program.’ She said.
‘Pray?? Who?? Me?? I don’t believe in God.’
‘Do that for me please!’
‘Level 11’
‘What?’
‘When a girl asks a guy to pray for her, that’s level 11’
‘Shut up! choddo… I am hanging up! I will see you kal.’ She said.
‘Suno! Suno! Suno!’
‘Sunao! Sunao Sunao!’
‘I love You.’ Each time he said that, his heart would race.
‘Good Night Tan!’ She blushed and hung up.
Tan- Her name for him. That wasn’t cool or cute but he still adored that. All day, either he chatted with her on what’s app, Fb, Gtalk, BBM, SMS or even emails sometimes or simply reading her old messages. He collected her all pictures from FB and other DPs, she even send him few on his requests. He would put them on slideshow when he missed her; needless they were already in his wallpapers and screen savers. At night, he just waited for her Mum to sleep.
She knew all this, he never hide anything from her. He had been straight or rather casual on his words and that’s why might be she had never taken it seriously when he said I love you almost every time they talked. Perhaps, guy attention wasn’t new for her; boys used to drool after her and she had been approached by over two dozens of them since she had joined the college. Block them! Ignore them! Complain about them! That’s what she did to them but Tanmay was different. He wasn’t no. 25 for her. He was not just charming but sensible too. That care he showered on her was genuine. He listened carefully to all her chats, no matter how stupid they might be, being four years elder to her; she had faith on his advices and he supported her every decision. Moreover, she cherished his friendship and didn’t want to hurt him ever.
***
If he had to recall a day when he slept before 2 am, he couldn’t. Perhaps, there wasn’t any at least in last five years. Earlier, he talked with Priya and now it was Nayana. Suddenly, he got reminded of his best friend. Once Nayana came in, Priya would always find Tanmay’s no. busy. She waited for her chance but it never came. She reluctantly stopped calling her and was even completely out of touch but worse was that he didn’t even notice yet every time her phone buzzed, she thought it was him and that day she was lucky. He actually called.‘Hi!’ He said in his regular tone as if nothing happened.
‘Hello!’ She said coldly to show her anguish.
‘Is everything fine?’
‘Tanmay! You’re calling after almost a month.’
‘Is it? I just kept busy. C’mon Priya! You too get busy. I mean when you’ve exams.’
‘No. Tanmay, we even talked in my final exams. You remember, you wanted me to hear your rock song on my accounts paper.’
‘Are we fighting? Can’t we talk properly?’
‘I’m just saying. Anyway, you’re not talking to Nayana tonight?’
‘She has exams tomorrow. Actually, I called for that. I mean you are good with God and I am not. She is tensed and wants me to pray. You know I am not in good terms with God. Will you pray on my behalf?’
That wasn’t again something new; her college friends say she is God’s angel and whatever she wishes for she gets that. Her mates would often ask her to pray for them and she happily did. But that day it hurt her.
‘I have exams tomorrow. I need to study. Bye good night.’ She abruptly hung up. And lying on her bed, she cried that night. Not because he asked to pray for Nayana but they had an argument for the first time in those five years.
****
Chapter 4
On his regular outing with his friend Rohan that day, Tanmay drove to the other end of the city towards the GITAM university. Nayana had told him that her Dad taught there and she lived nearby. Her building was opposite a beach next to the DAV school. She would see the sunset everyday from her third floor balcony. So, Tanmay was there outside room no. 304 and he pressed the door bell.
‘Yes!’ An old lady opened the door.
‘Nayana?’ Tanmay said.
‘There is no Nayana here?’ She said. Of course, Nayana wasn’t there. She had left that place some seven years back and moved to Hyderabad with her family, Tanmay knew that. Yet something in him thought she was there as he kept looking inside the house as if she would come and hug him.
The lady looked at him suspiciously. ‘What you want?’ She asked.
‘Nothing! We are leaving.’ Rohan pulled him to outside the building.
‘What the fuck?’
‘Tanmay! What you’re up to?’ Rohan was disgusted.
‘I don’t know. I think I love Nayana.’
‘C’mon. You’ve not seen her yet.'
'I have more than hundred photos of her and those video chats.’
‘I mean you’ve never met her.’
‘We will soon.’
‘Still! It’s stupidity.’
‘It’s love. True love’
‘Is it? What makes you think that?’
‘What you want?’
‘A divine signal. Let’s say, if it’s love then it’s gonna rain today.’
‘Rohan! It’s May.’
‘So?? It’s true love na?’
They laughed at it but even Rohan had seen that seriousness for Nayana in Tanmay’s eyes and like everyone, he had felt that change in Tanmay. He so much hated this Romeo of Nayana. No more long drives, adventure, alcohol, porn, night-outs. Only Nayana and her stuffs. Love sucks!
‘You see, Nayana used to come to this beach often. She loved collecting shells.’
‘Fuck man! You’re gone case now.’
***
He had already disconnected the call a couple of times. He was deep lost in his sleep but somebody didn’t care as his phone kept ringing. He picked the phone half sleep.
‘Helloooo!’
‘Tanmay! Wake up!’
‘What?? Who??’
‘Idiot! It’s me Rohan! It’s raining, see.’
‘What?’ He almost jumped of his bed and ran at the window. ‘Ya! It is raining.’ He was stunned too.
‘So Mr. Ashiq! You should now tell her.’
‘She knows, I tell her every day.’
‘Then ask her what she feels about you.’
As he kept down the phone, he had that strong urge to call her right then and tell that even god acknowledged his love for her but as I said before that he just cared for her way too much. He knew she had exams and only decided to tell her when the right time came along. Anyway, he waited for her Mum to sleep, rest of the day.
‘Hello!’ She greeted. Her voice was pleasant enough that her exams seemed were good.
He thought he had his chances today. ‘Hotie! It rained today.’
‘That’s nice.’
‘So, I think we should meet now.’ He said rather anxiously.
‘What’s the logic? Why suddenly?’ She was puzzled.
‘Don’t you want to meet me ever?’
‘It’s not like that. Of course, I want to. You’re my dear friend.’
‘I love you Hotie!’
‘I know that.’ She blushed.
‘What you feel for you me?’ He demanded impatiently.
‘I don’t know. I’ve never thought of it and also we have not met ever.’
‘That’s why I am saying, let’s meet.’
‘Hmm… But how?’
‘I will come to Hyderabad.’
‘You’ve any work here.’
‘I want to look into your beautiful eyes. Is that not enough?’
‘That’s sweet! I guess you’ll have to wait for couple of weeks then. Let my exam finish.’
‘Level 12.’
‘Now what’s that?’
‘When they plan to meet secretly.’
***
And then finally, the night before that concerned day, he simply couldn’t get over his excitement. He lied at home that he was to meet some music director in Hyderabad but his Didi had caught him. However, she was happy for him and wished he comes winning back. She had never seen his brother wanting something so much not even the Music which was his life. He loved Nayana more than his life.
He couldn’t sleep that night in train. They were texting till his mobile had network. She said that there was a little pimple taking shape on her left cheek and she prayed that it gets delayed by couple of days. He read those texts numerous times yet he had more than 12 hours before he could actually see her. On other side, Nayana slept early because she didn’t want dark circles for the next day.
Moreover, there was a third side too completing the triangle, Priya too knew he was coming to her city but not for her. He was to meet her after Nayana went home at night. She felt ignored and inferior, she was upset and jealous but somewhere down the heart, she was happy that she was to see him for the first time. She too was excited; she had shopped for a week for that day. She had messaged him happy journey and was waiting for his reply. She waited all night.
***
Chapter 5
‘It’s raining. Where are you?’ Priya called had Tanmay.
‘I’m fine. I’m near TRR Engineering College on the Highway turn.’
‘Tanmay! There is not even a shade around. Where is she? Can’t she call you in some mall or CCD?’
‘I’ve an umbrella. She is on her way and we wanted to spend some time alone.’ He could hear his phone beep, he checked, Nayana’s call was on waiting. He switched to her call. ‘Hello! Hotie!’
‘You reached?’
‘Ya!’
‘Just reaching bye.’ She hung up.
Priya was not holding the line, she had guessed it that it had to be Nayana. She cut immediately. Tanmay called her after Nayana’s call but she didn’t pick. She was crying.
Meanwhile, Tanmay tried to fight with the rain with his little umbrella but the harsh wind blew it away. He was fully drenched from hair to toe but nothing seemed to take that smile away from his face. Nayana, on her part was pushing hard to reach him. The rain was only making it worse. Every time, a scooty passed him, he would get excited though he knew; she had a white Activa. While, she just kept on peering on to the horizon to see the turn, that’s where he was standing.
And finally, the moment came. She braked her scooty as she saw him at the other side of the road. He waved at him and was coming to her side. She felt nervous; he was even more charming than his photos. He was disappointed though, she had covered her face with a scarf but those aesthetic eyes kinda hypnotized him.
‘Hi!’ She said.
‘Hello!’ He beamed. There was an awkward moment between them, he wondered what to do? Hug her? Kiss her? Perhaps, he felt shy to even call her ‘Hotie’. He managed to draw his hands for a shake. They shook hands.
‘I think we should move now, it’s raining.’ She smiled as she slipped to the back seat. She wanted him to drive and that was the problem. He had raced on his Ninja over 150km/hr but never had tried his hands on scooty. No gears, No fun.
But he couldn’t sit pillion to her. Male Ego! He took the chance as he rode on the little vehicle. He pressed the self start and searched for gear plate, there wasn’t clutch even. Just accelerator and brakes!
She showed him the way and he drove rather cautiously. It was his first time and then rain. Slippery, low visibility, potholes filled with water and curvy road, what else he didn't wanted to spoil his first date with her. However, she had argued that it wasn’t a date but just a meet. Anyway, he concentrated hard on roads so that they don’t fall, the ride was real shaky and when he was asking her some direction, he failed to notice a speed-breaker, he grabbed the brakes hard which scared Nayana and she clutched his arms tightly. It gave him shivers down his spine that even rain had failed to do so and it melted the awkward distance between them.
They reached a CCD for some shelter. So, finally she removed the scarf and she whirled her curly hair over his face.
‘Oops! Sorry!’ She said but those words definitely didn’t reach his ears. He was in different world as he gaped at her beautiful face, she was maliciously gorgeous. ‘I need to go to washroom.’ She said. He didn’t even nod but just watched her go; the world seemed to come an end.
‘She is gorgeous’ He texted Priya.
‘LOL. Nice.’ She replied. She had now accepted that she could not beat Nayana.
***
Chapter 6
‘What’s this?’
‘Takat ki goli! You said once na, you’ve got low libido.’
‘Shut up!’
‘Open it and see!’
She pulled the ribbon and unwrapped the gift paper, opened the box; it had very beautiful white shell in it.
‘I picked it from Rushikonda beach.’
‘You went there?’
‘Yes! In last 20 days almost every day.’
She had no words to say, she put a big smile to acknowledge his efforts. Can anyone love so much? She wondered.
‘Level 13.’
‘For accepting the gift?’
‘Nah!’ He shook his head. ‘For the coffee.’
They seriously needed coffee; they were all wet and felt cold. Nayana was even sneezing but Tanmay wasn’t complaining at all, he had found his lost paradise.
After the coffee, they checked outside. The rain gods finally showed them some mercy as they could see some bright sunshine. A few hours of site seeing around the city, lunch and then they went for a movie. She knew he would get corner seats and she felt awkward as she thought Tanmay was going a bit fast but she didn’t want to hurt him. She just turned away.
Once they got in the screen, she was surprised that Tanmay had actually taken center seats. He had sensed that uneasiness in her eyes, she need not tell him anything. She felt happy about that and walked with him holding his hands. It gave him goose bumps. Anyway, they didn’t need a corner seat, the theatre was empty in anyway. Bollywood movies are not that popular in Hyderabad. Level 14, by the way.
It was some romantic movie but Tanmay’s heart was more passionate. He didn’t leave her hand even for a moment and went on to kiss her hand just before the interval. He brought Popcorns and Drinks in the break and was wondering should he go ahead and kiss her once it was dark. He was anxious and looked at Nayana, she was smiling. He thought she meant yes and pulled her towards him. By now, Nayana was freaked out. She couldn’t tolerate his advances anymore and had to budge.
‘Stop it!’ She protested.
‘What?’
‘This is not happening. I am not ready for this.’ She walked out of the theatre.
He followed. ‘What’s wrong? I thought we love each other.’
‘Did I say once that I love you?’
‘But we’re on a date?’
‘I told you hundred times that it’s just a meet.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘I need to go home.’ She had tears in her eyes. She ran to parking.
He didn’t stop her either. He felt bad perhaps hated himself. The heart which was filled with love, now pained. He watched her scooty go outside the mall and then disappear in traffic. He sat back alone in the lobby, he felt numb and blank.
***
His phone was ringing for several times but he didn’t notice at all. Finally, someone shook him up and he hurriedly check for the phone. He thought it was Nayana but there were 15 miss calls and all from Priya.‘Hello Priya!’ He called her back.
‘Hi! Sorry to disturb. Actually, I wanted to ask if you’re not free to meet then I will go out with my roommates.’
‘I don’t want you to cancel your plans with your friends but I am free now. If you want we can meet.’
Of course, she can cancel an appointment with God to meet him. She asked the details of his location and rushed to him as soon as they hung up. She was dressed up since afternoon.
‘Hi!’ She blushed seeing him.
‘Hello! Priya!’ He smiled. His boyish charm was captivating, he seemed very casual and it never seemed they were meeting for first time. Five years being best friends counts a lot.
They went for a movie first. Yeah! The same movie. This time he watched it full. They later on played air hockey, bowling followed by a great dinner. Actually, she had sensed that something had gone wrong with Nayana by his expression so thought to take her chance, she knew him more than Nayana. They had a wonderful evening together.
‘Good night Priya! Thanks for everything; I had a great time with my best friend.’
‘Same here.’ She hugged him.
***
Chapter 7
Nayana too spend the rest of the evening with her best friend. But hers was exactly opposite condition from him. She had been whining since she came back.
‘Do you love him?’ Riya her best friend asked.
‘I like him as friend but he loves me. He loves me a lot and I feel bad for him that I couldn’t reciprocate.’ She wept.
‘What’s the problem?’
‘I don’t know. He is very nice but just that I don’t feel that way for him. You see, after my first relationship failed.
I’m kinda scared of all this. I’m just 21. I don’t want to get into all this commitment and all. I want to do something in life first. This love will destroy my dreams.’
‘Nayana. Shut up. Stop it. If you don’t love him, tell him. Simple.’
‘He won’t understand. I saw in his eyes today, he loves me way too much.’
‘Well… then there is just one way then.’
***
Nayana called him in the morning and they decided on a place to meet. Her voice was normal and so, Tanmay thought that everything was fine. Might be, he was just going a bit fast which scared her off. He repented his stupidity, he didn’t want lose her. He better thought to present that beautiful pendant he had brought for her, that might calm her. Girls do love diamonds, isn’t it?
‘Hey Hotie!’
‘Tanmay! My name is Nayana and I would be happy if you call me that.’
‘What’s wrong?’
‘I need to tell you something.’
‘Ya!’
‘I don’t love you.’
‘You told me yesterday. See, I just went a bit fast. I think we should give each other sometime.’
‘There is no point. I would never love you because I love someone else. His name is Sudeep. He’s a senior to me in college. We know each other since two years, I had a crush on him and just a week ago, I came to know that he too likes me. Perhaps, he proposed me few days back and I said him yes. I am committed to him. Sorry.’ She said bluntly.
Tanmay’s world just stopped turning. Perhaps everything around him seemed to come to a halt. He felt weak to stand on his feet, he got numb. That wasn’t true; he just wanted to hear that.
‘You never told before. How come this guy comes between us?’ He agitated.
‘He was always there. I knew him before you. I never told you because this was personal.’
‘Personal??? I know when you get periods, what can be more personal?’
‘Shut up! Mind your language. I don’t love you just accept that.’
‘Why can’t you love me? What’s the problem with me? I am good looking, I belong to a good family, I am from your caste, I earn well and most importantly, I love you with my life.’
‘But I don’t. I love Sudeep.’
‘I fucking damn came for you.’
‘Did I ask you to come? You wanted to meet and I agreed because you’re my friend.’
‘Friend?? That’s it?? What about those night calls, long chats and we used to talk about everything like couples. We even named our kids.’
‘You did that. I didn’t. I said nothing just heard your crap every day. And I have many friends with whom I talk late nights and chat, not a big deal.’
‘But I love you.’
‘There are many guys who love me and the point is whom I love? I love Sudeep.’
‘You know that my love for you is different and true.’
‘What love? Did we kiss? Did we sleep? You see, I know someone whose love is too different and true. Priya! She loves you, whole college knows it. You’re the one who called her for five years. In that case, you should love her not me.’
‘She never said that she loves me. We are just friends. We never talked about sex. And you didn’t kiss me because we never met before.’
‘You’re sick. You’re a psycho. Talking about sex is not big deal; I talk about it with my all friends. Anyway, just end it and fuck off from my life.’
She threw the shell which he had gifted her on the floor, it broke into pieces. So did his heart. He cried and begged her to stop but she just walk away, never to return again. She was everything, he had ever wished for and he had never thought that they would end up like this. He felt so low that he would kill himself. He called Priya to be with him.
***
‘I know that and stop crying like a girl.’ Priya hailed at him. ‘Let’s go somewhere.’
‘Bar! I wanna drink.’
‘Tanmay! Just get over it. Things would be fine. She will call back, trust me.’
‘I still want to drink. Not for her but for fun’
‘You sure.’
‘Hmm.’ He nodded.
So, they started from where they left the previous day. The fun continues, Hyderabad still had a lot of places unexplored. The snow park was the first thing to be visit. With Priya, Tanmay just forgot everything what had happened in the morning, might be for the alcohol level. Yes! He drank, he drank a lot.
‘I’ll drop you home now.’ He said to Priya, lazily.
‘And who will drop you. I am perfectly fine. I will drop you to your Hotel and leave for my hostel.’
He rested on her shoulder on their way to his hotel. He looked so innocent in sleep; those strong vibes for him were back in her. She just wanted to confess her love but he was so out of sorts that she almost had to drag him to his room. She felt pity for him. How could Nayana do this to him? He loved her so much, she thought. But then, even Priya, herself loved him so much. Did he ever care? He never knew about her feelings. Anyway, love was to sacrifice and not to demand.
‘Don’t go! I need you. I love you.’ He said as she placed him on his bed. His words almost skipped her heart beat.
‘Nayana! I love you. Don’t leave me.’ He said again. This time it hurt her. How could he be so obtuse? She put the quilt over him and turned to go. But something struck her as she look at him. She couldn’t leave him that way, not for him but for her own sake. These two days had made her fallen for him even more. But she wanted to run away before she becomes further weak. She just put her step forward and this time he caught her hand.
‘Nayana! Don’t go.’
Tears rolled down her cheeks. She was aware that what was happening was wrong but her crave for him was over powering her instincts. Perhaps, when you’re in love nothing is wrong and right, that was her only chance to make him her own. He would go next day and she would never see him again. She didn’t have any patience to wait any longer.
She pulled Tanmay in her arms. ‘I’m going nowhere. I love you.’
‘I love you too. Nayana! You’re mine.’ He went on to kiss Priya.
***
Chapter 8
Last Chapter
Next morning, Tanmay woke up to realize his deadliest nightmare. Priya was lying next to her. She just wore that pendant he had brought for Nayana, they had crossed all limits last night. Tanmay couldn’t remember anything from last night; he could just recall that the girl he thought Nayana was actually Priya. If he was not in his senses, why didn’t she stop him? He was frustrated. Priya woke up too and it didn’t take her a second to understand the situation.
‘Tanmay! Let me explain.’
‘What to explain? We had sex last night.’
‘Don’t use such words. I love you.’
‘Nayana owns me, you get that?’ He yelled at her.
Everything got straight with that line. If Nayana broke his heart the previous day, Tanmay now broke Priya’s. She wept and he didn’t bother to even console her. He packed his stuff and left for the Station losing everything on that trip, his love and his best friend. But still more was to come on his way.
***
‘Bhai! How was everything? What did she say?’ Tanushree asked.
He didn’t say word. He rushed to his room and banged the door.
‘Just check the envelope on your table. I guess that will make you happy.’
Tanmay checked the envelope. Sony Music had invited him for an audition. They had seen his videos in Youtube and were quite impressed. It was actually, the opportunity he had been waiting for all his life. But then he was not happy about it at all. Something else was eating him even more, Nayana had blocked her on FB, what’s app, phone; everywhere she could. In short she had thrown him out of her life forever. He cried all night instead of practicing.
By the time, he came to senses, it was too late. He had screwed the audition big time. The Music Company people couldn’t believe that he was same guy whom they saw in Youtube. His hands shivered as he held the guitar, he couldn’t remember the lyrics of the song, he was singing. He had lost that urge to sing because he had no inspiration.
When he returned home, he wasn’t crying or even upset. He had had worse time than that. He remained in his room all day only to create suspicion in everyone’s mind. Finally, in the evening Tanushree decided to talk to him.
‘How was your audition?’ She asked.
‘It was ok!’
‘They took you?’
‘I don’t know but there were better singers.’
‘No way Bhai! You’re best. One million hits on youtube don’t come that way.’
‘Didi! It’s over now. I’m not going to sing ever.’
She slapped him hard. ‘What you did? Tell me.’
‘She doesn’t love me.’ He broke into tears like a little child.
Tanushree hugged him immediately ‘Bhai! Don’t cry. I’ll talk to her.’
‘No. You will not talk to her. I don’t want her anymore. I hate her and everything else that reminds me of her.’
He rose and smashed his guitar on the wall breaking it into two. He went onto a rampage breaking everything that was related to her. He deleted all his social network accounts. Tanushree didn’t stop him either; she thought might be this would help him get over Nayana but that was her biggest mistake. She lost her sweet little brother forever. He turned himself into a tycoon. He joined his Dad’s business and indulged himself into the work so much that over the days, he became a replica of his dad- A dumb ATM nothing else. She tried herself best to get him back with his happy days but the key was missing- Nayana.
***
Chapter 9
Three years later, Tanushree was already married and perhaps pregnant so she was in her Mum’s place. That day she needed some stuffs from the market and was also bored staying back at home; so, she requested Tanmay to accompany her for shopping. He agreed.
After a hectic shopping drill, she was exhausted and hungry. They sat in the food court while Tanmay got an urgent call from office and he went outside to attend it. Tanushree sat back relishing on some food when she noticed someone familiar. If she was not wrong, she was the one she had been searching since long.
‘Nayana?’ Tanushree went up to her.
‘Yes!’
‘You may not know me by my face but I think you would know my name- Tanushree Sharma.’
Of course, Nayana knew that name and was rather stunned to see her. She didn’t know what to say. ‘Hi! Didi! How are you?’
‘I want to talk to you?’
‘If it’s regarding Tanmay then I don’t want to talk. I hope he’s fine.’
‘Does it matter if you really don’t want to talk? By the way, how is Sudeep? Is he with you?’
Tanushree inquired.
‘He is not here. Perhaps there was never a Sudeep. I had lied to Tanmay.’
‘What? But why?’ Tanushree was shocked.
‘To save myself from Tanmay.’
‘Save yourself? My brother is not a rapist. He is the nicest guy you would ever meet. He loved you with his life.’
‘Yes! That was the problem. He loved me too much. I was scared of it. I once had a bad experience and didn’t want to repeat it again. I also wanted to concentrate on my career. And I thought this was the only way.’ Nayana explained.
‘You know what; I’m feeling like slapping you straight on your face. You had a bad relationship that didn’t mean that you would punish my brother. He left music. He turned into a rock. You killed my brother.’
‘I didn’t ask him to do so. I’m not responsible for whatever happened to him.’
‘You may not be responsible but you’re the reason behind it, isn’t it? Look there he is.’ She pointed at Tanmay who was standing in the lobby talking on phone. ‘He seems to be a perfect business man, responsible son or whatever. But lost his innocence, I miss my carefree brother. Sometimes, it feels as if I’m with a stranger.’
‘He doesn’t sing anymore.’
Tanushree shook her head. ‘He broke his guitar after coming back from Hyderabad.’
‘I’m sorry Didi. I never thought it will affect him so much.’ She felt guilty. ‘I also miss my old friend so much.’
‘If you really care for him then come back to him.’
‘I can’t. I am scared of love.’
‘That’s so stupid. Love makes life beautiful. Even you were born because of love. And everyone craves to get true love. You got but you killed it with your own hands.’
‘Don’t make me cry.’ She wept. ‘What should I do? You tell me. Do you have any solution?’
***
‘Bhai! You’re not going office today.’ Tanushree said.
‘Why?’
‘It’s your birthday today.’
‘Is it? I just forgot.’
‘Great bhai! Dad will be so proud of you. I got something for you.’ She covered his eyes with a scarf and let him to his room.
He opened his eyes and found a beautiful blue guitar in a corner. He simply turned away.
‘I don’t play guitar anymore!’
‘Ya I know that. I told her the same but she still brought it.’
‘Who??’
‘You didn’t see my gift yet, right?’
He shook his head.
‘Dear lady! Please come inside.’
And Nayana came in. Yes! It almost gave Tanmay a mini heart attack. He wasn’t sure how to take it. Was he happy? Was he angry? But at least, he was shocked to see her. She smiled as she walked towards her.
‘Happy Birthday Tanmay!’
‘Nayana?’
‘No. Hotie! Your Hotie.’
He grabbed her in his arms in no moment. Nayana’s mind still oscillated whether she actually loved him or not. But the warmth of his hug just melted all confusion. She realized no one could ever love her more than Tanmay and she simply couldn’t run away from that. You see, in a relationship there is always one person who loves more and you’re lucky if you’re not the one.
***
Three years later, Tanushree was already married and perhaps pregnant so she was in her Mum’s place. That day she needed some stuffs from the market and was also bored staying back at home; so, she requested Tanmay to accompany her for shopping. He agreed.
After a hectic shopping drill, she was exhausted and hungry. They sat in the food court while Tanmay got an urgent call from office and he went outside to attend it. Tanushree sat back relishing on some food when she noticed someone familiar. If she was not wrong, she was the one she had been searching since long.
‘Nayana?’ Tanushree went up to her.
‘Yes!’
‘You may not know me by my face but I think you would know my name- Tanushree Sharma.’
Of course, Nayana knew that name and was rather stunned to see her. She didn’t know what to say.
‘Hi! Didi! How are you?’
‘I want to talk to you?’
‘If it’s regarding Tanmay then I don’t want to talk. I hope he’s fine.’
‘Does it matter if you really don’t want to talk? By the way, how is Sudeep? Is he with you?’ Tanushree inquired.
‘He is not here. Perhaps there was never a Sudeep. I had lied to Tanmay.’
‘What? But why?’ Tanushree was shocked.
‘To save myself from Tanmay.’
‘Save yourself? My brother is not a rapist. He is the nicest guy you would ever meet. He loved you with his life.’
‘Yes! That was the problem. He loved me too much. I was scared of it. I once had a bad experience and didn’t want to repeat it again. I also wanted to concentrate on my career. And I thought this was the only way.’ Nayana explained.
‘You know what; I’m feeling like slapping you straight on your face. You had a bad relationship that didn’t mean that you would punish my brother. He left music. He turned into a rock. You killed my brother.’
‘I didn’t ask him to do so. I’m not responsible for whatever happened to him.’
‘You may not be responsible but you’re the reason behind it, isn’t it? Look there he is.’ She pointed at Tanmay who was standing in the lobby talking on phone. ‘He seems to be a perfect business man, responsible son or whatever. But lost his innocence, I miss my carefree brother. Sometimes, it feels as if I’m with a stranger.’
‘He doesn’t sing anymore.’
Tanushree shook her head. ‘He broke his guitar after coming back from Hyderabad.’
‘I’m sorry Didi. I never thought it will affect him so much.’ She felt guilty. ‘I also miss my old friend so much.’
‘If you really care for him then come back to him.’
‘I can’t. I am scared of love.’
‘That’s so stupid. Love makes life beautiful. Even you were born because of love. And everyone craves to get true love. You got but you killed it with your own hands.’
‘Don’t make me cry.’ She wept. ‘What should I do? You tell me. Do you have any solution?’
***
‘Why?’
‘It’s your birthday today.’
‘Is it? I just forgot.’
‘Great bhai! Dad will be so proud of you. I got something for you.’ She covered his eyes with a scarf and let him to his room.
He opened his eyes and found a beautiful blue guitar in a corner. He simply turned away.
‘I don’t play guitar anymore!’
‘Ya I know that. I told her the same but she still brought it.’
‘Who??’
‘You didn’t see my gift yet, right?’
He shook his head.
‘Dear lady! Please come inside.’
And Nayana came in. Yes! It almost gave Tanmay a mini heart attack. He wasn’t sure how to take it.
Was he happy? Was he angry? But at least, he was shocked to see her. She smiled as she walked towards her.
‘Happy Birthday Tanmamy!’
‘Nayana?’
‘No. Hotie! Your Hotie.’
He grabbed her in his arms in no moment. Nayana’s mind still oscillated whether she actually loved him or not. But the warmth of his hug just melted all confusion. She realized no one could ever love her more than Tanmay and she simply couldn’t run away from that. You see, in a relationship there is always one person who loves more and you’re lucky if you’re not the one.
***
‘Congratulations!’ She shook hands with Tanmay. He was already sweating and wondered how did she come to know?
‘I thought if I could return my brother his love then why not his best friend too.’ Tanushree said.
No matter he loved his sister most but at that moment, he hated her most. His awkward moments were captured forever in the photograph he clicked with Priya. He laughed all his life watching it.
‘This is for you.’ She put the pendant in Nayana’s hand.
‘Wow! This is so beautiful. See Tanmay.’
‘Yeah! It is!’ He said sheepishly as Tanushree looked at him baffled. He is yet to give her a reply, how did that pendant reach Priya.
‘I’ll leave now. I’m in hurry.’ She bid them bye and walked off.
‘Priya!’ Tanmay followed. ‘I think we need to talk.’
‘Now?? It’s your wedding.’
‘Yes, I guess talking to my best friend is important too.’
She smiled as they walked to his room. There was a nostalgic feeling as she entered his room. She had seen this room a few times in video chats and had dreamt that it would hers someday. She never felt that she had stepped in for the first time, the room and its stuffs always belonged to her. But sad part was that it would be someone else’s’ perhaps everything, she had always wanted for herself.
‘I’m sorry for that night. I was kinda frustrated for whatever happened and then next day, I left. I should have stayed back.’
‘It wasn’t your fault, the circumstances were complicated and perhaps I’m happy that you didn’t stay back. I mean you never loved me and if we were to be together then it would had been for that night.’ She said.
‘I missed you a lot. Where were you all these days? Why didn’t you call me ever? I tried your number many times but you had changed it.’
‘I was always around you and would be there, no matter what. Anyway, I’m happy that Nayana finally got brains and came back. You seriously loved her beyond anything. She is indeed very lucky.’
Tanmay had no answer to it. Perhaps, there was an awkward silence between them. Tanmay felt bad that he could realize her love ever and she accepted her fate that if Tanmay couldn’t notice her true love then Nayana had to be that special.
‘I’ll go now.’ She said and this time Tanmay didn’t stop her either. She cried all the way to her car and might be even after that.
Priya never came back neither she ever contacted them. She just disappeared.
***
disappointed......nayana dumped him in hyderabad for apparently no reason!!!!
ReplyDeleteYa! nayana was dumb.....
DeleteBut she was lucky enough to get another chance
Wow!!!! Beautiful ending.....
ReplyDeleteThanks TARA
DeleteGood but honestly I was expecting some twist...it's a bit cliche :-(
ReplyDeleteAur kitna Twist chaiye tha
Delete