Extroverting The Introvert

2

It was the 4th of December. The weather was cool outside and warm inside the studio. Aabhipsha was editing some photos with the same tired look. In fact, she was tired. Both physically and mentally. It has been months, she didn't get any proper sleep, and she was tired of pretending. But she had no choice, she kept doing her work in silence. Keshav went to a shoot this morning, he was not yet to return until evening.

"Ma'am your coffee" the clerk said and left. She silently sipped into her coffee when suddenly her phone rang. It was keshav.

"Hello?"
"Oi, abhi kisine mereko phone Kiya tha wedding photoshoot keliye"
"Kab?"
"7 wi December, eternal bliss banquet me, 6 baje"
"7 wi December... 6 baje...."
Aabhipsha checked through her notebook for events.
"Hmm thikay, tujhe aur mujhe hi Krna parega, baki sabi dusre events me rahenge"
"Okay"

He hung up the call and she went back to her work. At around 5 Keshav returned. "In jese customer ko photos Leni hi nhi chaiye" he said while keeping his camera on his table. "Kyun?" Aabhipsha asked, even tho she wasn't interested. "Ek photo 6 bar khichwai inhone. Like had hoti hai, ekbar bolte hai me smile karna bhul gayi, ek bar bolte hai hair thik nhi lag raha even though she looked perfectly fine" He sat on his chair, turning it to face Aabhipsha. "Areh hote hai kuch aise, mind mat kr" she said, continuing to do her work. But somewhere, she was unhappy about what Keshav said. Not everyone is confident about how they look, it wasn't he's fault, but still.

"Aur yeh sun, wo jo meine kaha tha na, 7 wi December eternal bliss banquet me photoshoot. Yaar ek uncle ne phone kya tha, he was so excited, keherethe ki meri bete ki shadi hai, mein sirf best ko hi chunna chahta hu." He chuckled "excitement me kiske sath shadi hai hai woh bhi bol diya."

Aabhipsha looked at him, where most people would be happy hearing that someone called them the best, she looked uninterested. Keshav continued to talk about the client. "Kuch name kaha Shruti or kuch, psychologist hai"

The name and the profession happened to spike an interest in Aabhipsha. For the first time she looked interested and turned her chair too look at him and listen to him. "Shruti? Psychologist?" She asked. "Haa, kyun janti hai kya?" He looked at her questioningly "wo hi hogi uska koi guarantee nhi de sakti par mein janti hu kisiko jiska name Shruti hai, woh psychologist Banna chati thi. Wo 5 saal pehle ki bat hai" both of them shrugged and continued with their work. But Aabhipsha kept thinking about it. After three hours it was time for the studio to be closed.

"Bye" Keshav said before driving off to the wide alley opposite to the studio. Aabhipsha waved him off in a lazy manner before walking towards her own home. She tightened the scarf around her neck as the cold wind blew.

Suddenly she bumped into someone. Her heartbeat increased instantly as her hands became sweaty, her eyes widened, she could even look at who was the person. "Watch where you go lady" the man said in a rude manner before walking off. Aabhipsha was standing there stund, her shoulders stiff. Even tho it was a simple thing, it definitely affected Aabhipsha. She didn't know for how long she was standing there, but when got her senses back she ran back to her home and into her room, locking the door. Her mom was in her own room so she wasn't aware of it.

She climbed up the bed, folded her knees to her chest, hugged her legs and sat in silence. After a long time of sitting like that she climbed off the bed and opened the small cupboard placed opposite to her bedside table and took out a whiskey bottle and poured herself some in a glass. She took a long, slow sip. The whiskey burning it's way down her throat. The sensation felt nice to her. Soon she felt numb and fell asleep on the floor with the glass in her hand.