invisible string ✓

twelve

“Advika!” The sound of Ishaan boomed through my dream and I looked at him, trying to decipher what was going on during my mental absence. And, in the process, I heard something different yet so familiar.

“Holdin' me back
Gravity's holdin' me back
I want you to hold out the palm of your hand
Why don't we leave it at that?”

This guy played As It Was.

As in, Harry Styles's As It Was.

An English song!

I looked at him and asked, “Why did you change the channel? Aren't there any other great Italian songs?”

“I love English songs,” he said and looked at the road.

Liar.

“Ishaan, I thought you said that you love Italian songs. Plus, you said that you listen only to Taylor Swift.”

“Yeah, but, I…” Unleashing a fake purple face, he faked a high-pitched voice and asked, “Do you want me to continue playing this song or not?”

“Well, yeah, but you?” I tilted my head to my left.

“Well, as you like it.” He shrugged, thus suggesting an end for the conversation and continued to look at the road.

If this was fiction, one would have found me and Aarvi screaming and chanting, “Green Flag,” together.

Many people have told me that I radiate the “main character” energy. My college mates, schoolmates, cousins; fuck them, even Aarvi said this once to me during our baby stage as friends.

But, I hear myself telling myself that I don't just radiate “main character” energy, but also living the life of a main character. Talk about a “proud moment”!

“That's so sweet of you, Ishaan,” I beamed and tried hard to stop blushing, only to fail victoriously.

He smiled while I looked back at the road, only to find that I could no longer see the stars as clearly as I did. I peeked left. I peeked right. I stuck to the glass window like an adhesive. Yet, I couldn't see the stars.

Just then, I felt strong air on my hair as if someone was landing a helicopter on my head. As I looked up, I no longer saw the roof of the car but the stars I longed to see in the sky. My neck twisted to the direction of Ishaan while he mouthed, “This universe is yours, princess!”

Before I could counter it with, “I thought this universe belongs to Aadya Chatterjee,” emotions held my voice box tight and helped me get off my seat, snake to the back seat without disturbing the sleeping Fiorella, and meet the outer world. My red scarf saved me from the physical assault of the cold air on my face while I booted loud enough for the Homo sapiens of Italy to wake up and roam with sticks, assuming that the sound was from a wild animal.

I sighed more easily and relaxed and let hormones paint my cheeks in shades ranging from cherry blossoms to my scarf. Looking at the sky which was clearer than the ones in my universe, saltiness happily adorned the edges of my eyes as if I was listening to Arijit Singh's songs on high volume in my headphones.

My headphones.

Shit! I wish I could have them right now. If so, I would have played… Snow On The Beach?

Yeah. Snow On The Beach fits perfect as fuck.

And, as if on cue, I heard the sound of Taylor Swift crooning inside the car.

“One night, a few moons ago
I saw flecks of what could've been lights
But it might just have been you
Passing by unbeknownst to me.”

Was that just Snow On The Beach? Did the radio channel too understand me better than my mom and dad?

“Did the radio play this?” I looked down and asked Ishaan.

Chuckling as if I asked whether one must debit the giver and credit the receiver in a journal entry, Ishaan replied, “No, I played it on my mobile.”

Was he lying? No. Because, the radio was switched off. There was no light radiating from it.

“But, why?” I clearly wanted to know.

“Well… I don't know. I felt like it. Ummm… Are you uncomfortable with it? Should I play the radio again?”

No way, Ishaan. Just shut the fuck up and play this song itself. You did a huge thing to me.

“No. That's fine. I'm, in fact, great with this,” I stammered like a fool and looked up, covering my blushes as if the population of Italy and India were looking only at me and I blocked their gazes.

***

Me after writing this chapter: Okay, Google! Where can I get a guy like Ishaan Ahuja?

Google: Sorry. The stock ran out.

Okay, fine! This guy Ishaan is such a gem! Let's hope that they have a happy ending. :D

Stay tuned for more, peeps!

P.S.: "I Did Something Bad" qualified for the Shortlist as well. I hope it qualifies for the Finals as well. Pray for me, peeps!