"Paake jo tenu mere dil ne gavaya ae
dard judaai wala naina vich chaya ae."
[Since my heart got you and lost you,
the pain of separation is spread over my eyes.]
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••| Chapter 35 |••
Eleana:
We were sitting in the room. No one was sleepy. Everyone was excited for the wedding rituals to kick start tomorrow. We had called Varun, Shraddha, Maya and Naina to join us. Karthik was present there too but I didn't get affected by him because I knew I had a lot of people to protect me. I was blessed with so much. They were not only my friends, they were my life. My mattress was placed beside the sliding glass door and outside, it was the most beautiful view of the starry sky and the moon in its full glory. It had been almost a week in India. I was going back soon. I didn't want to go back but I had to. I had no other choice or option. If it was in my will I'd never have left these people in the first place. I'd never have ruined my relationship with Aryan. Maybe if everything went well with the flow, Aryan and I would have been engaged just like Varun and Shraddha. But it was only a wish, a wish that seemed unattainable and too for away from my reach. I was in my mattress, snuggled up in my blanket and munching on my daily dose of snacks. I took out my medicines and gulped them down with the water. Ricky and Varun came and sat beside me while snatching my pack of Lays and shamelessly finishing them as if they owned it. I took a sneak peak all around the room. Some were busy in chatting and tapping on their screens. Some were busy in eating like me. Some were busy in being touchy just like Varun and Shraddha beside me. I swear these two could never get enough of each other. They were absolute sweet hearts, Batuklal and Chirkut. [Nick names.]
"Guys, Leave your cell phones. I've a game." Geet said grabbing everyone's attention.
"Yayy..Game Game Game." Annie jumped in excitement.
"I'll call it "Secret Spiller" game." She further explained. "Each one of us will tell a fact or secret about someone else present in the room without disclosing their name."
"Done."
"I am outta this."
"No No. I am so done with everything."
"So gonna happen."
These were the mixed reactions of all the people. Finally after a lot of convincing, everybody agreed to play.
"First turn is for Varun."
"Okay, I'll tell a secret about my someone. Someone still sleeps snuggling into her teddy bear." Varun giggled. Shraddha elbowed him in the stomach and he faked pain. She was in a perfect position to do so, sitting between Varun's legs.
"Really Shraddha? How old are you? 2?" Obi smirked at her.
"This game is gonna be the end of everyone. A lot of secrets are gonna come out." Shraddha spoke smirking at Varun which Varun responded with a quick peck on her lips.
"Guys, PDA is against the rules of the game. A lot of desperate forever alone people are sitting here. Show some respect for them. Show some solidarity. You can get a room if you don't have enough control over your overly excited hormones." Geet spoke.
"Ok, Ricky's turn now."
"I will tell a secret about myself." Ricky spoke. "I have a huge crush on someone present in this room."
"Alia." Everybody said in unison. Ricky shrugged his shoulders. "I am not gonna disclose that. Keep guessing."
I doubted that it was either Geet or Alia.
"Okay, forget it. Next up is Ashar."
"Someone here once wet his pants when he got a detention from dean." Ashar broke into fits of laughter as everybody joined him. After a good session of laughter and curses from Kabir, everyone calmed down a bit.
"Salay, Tujhe bhi yahi secret mila tha!" [Bastard, you only found this secret.] Kabir frowned at him.
Ashar shrugged in return. "Sorry bro."
"Next is Obi."
"Someone was in love with Kabir since the 7th grade."
"Really? Is that true?" Everybody asked to which Naina responded with a shy smile.
"You guys are so lucky. You look perfect together." I sighed at them dreamily. Such a beautiful couple.
"Next is Eleana."
"Someone here has a secret crush on Maya." I spoke quickly.
"Oh Shit." was the first thing I heard from Obi's mouth. "Damn it! No No No."
Everybody burst into laughter seeing Obi's state. He looked like he was caught red handed doing some crime. Maya was only smiling and I saw a red tint on her cheeks. Damn it, she blushed.
"The liking is mutual people!" I announced and Maya shook her head vigorously glowing a brighter shade of red.
"Bro it's normal to have a crush on someone." Varun added trying to calm his nerves down.
"Now Maya's turn."
"Someone is living and smiling again. Someone is in love again." Maya spoke without realising what was she saying. As soon as she realised she bit her tongue and tried to amend her words but couldn't. Geet was unaware of everything so she continued her story. Next everybody had their turns and we got to learn some interesting facts about each one of us.
"Okay, last one is Karthik. Then we'll play something else." Naina spoke.
Apparently the game had become a bit boring as almost everybody knew a lot about each other. We had been together for almost 7 years
"So, I am gonna reveal a secret about someone very dear to me." He smirked at me.
All the colour drained from my face. My body started to shiver and my breath hitched in my throat. I clutched the comforter tightly with my fisted hands. My knuckles had turned white because of so much pressure. My heart was hammering against my ribcage. It seemed like it would jump out the very next instant. I buried myself deeper in the comforter. I constantly muttered prayers under my breath to stop Karthik from doing anything. I prayed that he might turn mute or something like that.
"Someone in this room has..."
My stomach started growling. I was going to puke out and empty the contents soon.
"Someone has hid this from everyone for some years but now I am gonna tell you.. that..." and bam!
I ran off to the washroom to empty my stomach. I bent over the toilet bowl and tried to hold myself. Everybody ran to me for help, interrupting Karthik. He didn't get a chance to complete his sentence and
I was more than thankful for that. As I stood there completely worn out, Naina and Geet held me because my legs wobbled. I could barely walk. My body had turned a lot colder and I felt weak.
"Guys, does anybody have an extra sweater or jacket or something warm? She's turning unbearably cold." Naina asked worriedly, rubbing my arms and trying to warm me.
"I've a hoodie. It's in my bag." It sounded like Aryan. Soon enough, I was wrapped in a warm and comfortable hood over my clothes that gave off the most amazing and breathtaking scent. I pulled it closer to my body and inhaled his scent. It was same as it used to be years ago. It was my favourite kind of fragrance and I had missed it. I pulled the hoodie over my head that covered half of my face and rubbed my hands together to warm them while shivering uncontrollably. My teeth rattled against each other.
"HP, bring some soup upstairs." Kabir told someone over his phone.
"Kabir, there's no need for that. I am doing fine." I assured him, trying to sound as calm as possible.
"It's good for your health and it will keep you warm. Besides it's one of the most tastiest soups you'll ever taste." He convinced me soon with his words. He had a way with his words.
"Let me check, if you have any fever." Varun said as he placed his palm over my forehead and then my wrists. He placed his forefinger and middle finger on my wrist and checked for the pulse.
"You don't have a high grade fever but still there's a slight. Kabir was right. It will get better if you eat something healthy or warm." He enlightened.
Soon, the soup arrived and Ricky who was sitting beside me helped me drink that. I felt much better after that.
"Ok, guys let's play "Dumb Charades." Geet proposed.
Karthik had exited abruptly after I encountered with my problem. Everybody agreed as we had nothing else to do.
The people sitting on one side of the room were one team and the people sitting on opposite side were one team.
We continued playing for some time.
"Okay, we are sending Aryan now. Decide your movie." Kabir spoke.
Ricky, Varun, Shraddha, Ashar, Naina and I began to decide on a movie.
"Parineeta." Ricky whispered excitedly.
"That's not a movie." I spoke quickly.
"It is! I just Googled it." He smirked showing me his phone screen.
"Hey Guys, no cheating!" Geet spoke as she saw us scrolling through the screens.
"Hey, we were just checking the validity of the movie." Varun defended.
"We're done! Send your player!" Shraddha demanded.
Kabir patted Aryan's shoulder to encourage him.
"Go and tell him the movie." Ricky patted my shoulder.
"Me?" I asked astonished.
"Yeah, you! Tujhe koi masla hai!" [Yeah you, do you have any problem with that?] Ashar spoke. We all chuckled remembering our inside joke.
"Koi masla nahi!" [No, I don't have any problem.] Varun spoke grinning.
Hesitating, yet desiring to avail the opportunity to set everything straight, I went near him. He leaned towards me to hear the movie's name. I felt so weak in my knees. I could literally feel my legs trembling. I couldn't believe that I was so nervous in front of Aryan and so near to Aryan. Finally I cupped my hands near his ear. I could feel the warmth radiating off his body. I whispered the name in his ear. He looked incredulous. He faced our team as I took my position and snuggled back again. He placed his hands on his hips.
"What kind of movie is that?" Aryan asked.
"It is a movie bro. Believe me. Here see this." Ricky showed him his phone screen.
"Yeah Yeah. It's a movie. I've seen it." Ashar spoke suddenly looking up from his phone screen as he stopped typing abruptly. I was sure he wasn't even listening what they were arguing about.
"Tu to bas hi kar de." [You better don't speak.] Aryan spoke.
"Chal beta tu acting start kar!" [Go son, you start your act.] Varun spoke patting his shoulder.
And then began the real entertainment. He kept thinking on how to start the acting because he hadn't even heard of the movie ever, let alone seen it. Neither of us had ever watched that but thanks to Ricky's genius mind. Google Rocked.
"Aryan, idhar aa Tujhe aik step bataun!" [Aryan come here, let me tell you a clue.] Varun smirked and went towards Aryan excitedly. He whispered something in his ear and they both grinned at each other sharing an inside joke. I so wanted to be a part of that inside joke but ah forget it. Aryan began dancing on some familiar steps and then Varun played that song on his phone.
Adayen badi funky, Kare hai Nautanki
Yeh chori badi drama queen hai.
[She has very funky styles. She always acts crazy. This girl is a big drama queen.]
The way Aryan danced was something to have a good laugh at. Everybody was laughing at his amazing synchronization with the female steps.
"Geet, soch soch." [Geet, think something.] Kabir nudged her shoulder.
"Hasee to Phasee?" Kabir exclaimed quickly.
"Sidharth?"
"Ah ah ah...Drama queen!"
Aryan encouraged them to go on.
"Parineeti Chopra!" Obi suddenly spoke.
Aryan literally jumped in excitement as he succeeded to get them to the final step.
"Now, we've to just modify that." Aryan spoke.
"Abey Oye! Cheating na kar." [Hey you, don't cheat.] Varun spoke quickly.
"Okay okay!" Aryan surrendered, raising his both hands in air.
"Okay. Parineeti." Kabir spoke.
"Parineeta." Obi spoke quickly making the dab pose.
"Tujhe kese pata chala?" [How did you know?] Ricky asked surprised.
"Yar, that one day I was home alone and I was surfing through random channels on TV so there was one old channel showing that. I watched that. It's a pretty boring movie." He explained and we all laughed.
"Okay. Game ended. We're even. Let's go out for a walk!" Geet proposed and everybody agreed enthusiastically.
"But Elly can't go. She might catch a cold." Varun disagreed.
"She can borrow someone's stuff for some time. She has to go, otherwise none of us will go." Geet replied. "Does anybody have some warm stuff that is currently not in use?"
"I've some stuff!" Aryan spoke looking at her.
"Then, what are you waiting for?" She countered.
He went to his bag and took out a jacket, a beanie and some gloves. He handed them to Obi to give them to me. I was disappointed yet somewhat happy at the progress that we had made. I wore his stuff and we were ready to go out. We went round the huge house together, giggling and chatting. It was so much fun. We had so many deja vu moments. I felt like I was alive again. I had forgotten all my problems for a while. It seemed like I was living in a dream and somebody would soon wake me up. But I didn't want to ruin my moment so I shook off these negative vibes from my mind. We went out and walked down the empty, silent and dark streets with a few dimly lit food and ornamental stalls. Luckily we spotted a vada pav [A speciality of monsoon in Mumbai.] stall. It had been ages since I last had one. I pleaded with my best possible puppy face to get me some. At first they declined my request, considering my deteriorating health but I convinced them on just five of them. We all sat on the plastic benches and had some vada pavs. They were so delicious, so mouth watering and so heavenly tasty. I devoured into them and moaned shamelessly like a mad woman. Food was my true love. Later we spotted an ice cream boy. Ice-cream in chilly winters was the best combination ever. Nothing tasted better than ice cream in dead cold winters. The icy cold feeling on your tongue and the shivers you get inside your body was literally the best feeling ever. Kabir bought 13 Cornettos for each one of us. We strolled down the dark and cold streets. The stone made path with small huts and stalls on either sides with small bushes and trees was a thing of joy to our eyes. The moon was hidden behind the clouds. The fog had created a wonderful aura all around. The environment seemed so amazing and so breath-taking. Ricky and Obi were busy in breathing out the fog from their mouths due to the chilly weather. I joined them too in the singles club because apparently the couples were busy in their own worlds. Geet, Obi, Maya, Ricky, Alia, Aryan and I were walking together.
Ricky and Alia were not in a serious kind of relationship, they were just doing it for fun because they had not yet found their ones and were tired of being single all the time. I doubted about Ricky though. He seemed to have found his one.
Geet was being the constant chatter box and telling us her never ending tales. She didn't need a topic to talk about, she could just go on and on and on without stopping. I loved this fact about her that she didn't give a damn about anything. She was always jolly and happy. She could be a real bitch if somebody tried to piss her off but she was an absolute sweetheart.
"One time, there was a guy. He hurt my friend in college. I beat him so much that he never faced me again. That poor guy even left the college." She began laughing so hard.
Everybody just stared at her and then burst out laughing. "Then, there was a time where I punched my boyfriend and broke his nose just because he hugged another girl." She began.
"Tumhein utha kar na museum main rakhna chahye. Ticket lagana chahye tumhe dekhne k liye." [You should be placed in a museum. There should be a ticket to see you specially.] Ricky commented.
"Oye Hoye. Tum to bilkul meri lingo bolne lage ho, Ricky jee." [Woah, you've started to speak in my language, Ricky.] She teased him poking his shoulder.
"There was a time when I ran away from my house to get married to my boyfriend leaving everything behind." She began another story. Everyone gasped.
"You ain't scared of anything. Are you?" I asked surprised.
"You only live once. What's the use of living a boring and gloomy life when you can have all the fun. Life is my favourite game. The one who can tackle the games of life is the one who wins at life." She spoke clasping her hands together. "So I ran away. But he turned out to be an Ullu ka pattha. [Bastard] He hadn't even informed his parents about anything and he just broke up with me."
"Then what did you do?" Ricky asked curiously.
"Aisa peeta main ne us Salay ko ke sari zindagi yaad rakhe ga." [I beat the shit out of him. He would remember me all his life.] She spoke chuckling.
We all laughed along with her.
After a good walk of an hour around the streets and digesting our food, we went back. Everyone went to their respective places. I laid down on my mattress. Karthik's chapter was closed now. It was time to open the most sensitive chapter, Aryan.
I searched my bag to look for my diary. It had been a long time since I last saw my diary. I shuffled around my bag but I couldn't find it. I began panicking.
What if someone read it? Oh No.
I looked again but I couldn't find it. I tried to think of the places where I could have kept it.
What if I had left it in the hotel room back in Mumbai? Oh my God. What am I going to do now. This is not gonna end well.
Praying to God, that either it gets lost somewhere and never be found again or to return it to me by some means, I slept.
Aryan:
It had been an eventful day today. We went out at night and played games all night. Tomorrow, the wedding functions would be starting. I was not feeling sleepy so I just went out to the terrace again and stared at the sky. The moon was hidden behind the clouds. The fog was surrounding all the area. The lights were dim and the surroundings were peaceful and serene. Suddenly I felt someone coming there. I turned around and found it was Geet. She had her shawl wrapped around her tightly. She gave me one of the coffee mugs that she was holding. It was so cold and the coffee was a treat at that time. I thanked her as she took a seat beside me. She was slurping her coffee and making awkward sounds. I looked at her weirdly and then we laughed it off. She placed her mug on the side.
"Yar, tu itna kam baat kyun karta hai?" [Dude, why do you talk so less?] She asked.
"Me? Nah. It's just that.. I don't know. Seriously..I don't know, what has happened to me." I answered honestly. I didn't know what had happened to me.
"Kisi ladki ka funda hai!" [It's some girl problem.] She questioned, more like pointed out. I shook my head at her quickly.
"I knew it. I knew it. I even know who is that." She exclaimed excitedly.
"How do you know?" I asked surprised.
"I have experience boy. Tumhari umar main to mere 6 boyfriends they, at a time." [At your age, I had six boyfriends at a time.]
She giggled. "See Aryan, Life gives second chances rarely. Take the chance or you'll regret it for the rest of your life. Aik dafa jo train choot gyi wo kabi wapis nahi aye gi. [Once you miss a train, it won't come back.]
.
.
.
Forgive her. It's not a big deal."
"But you can't come into someone's life, make them feel all special and loved and then leave." I added.
"Dekho Aryan, Jab koi pyar main hota hai na, to kuch sahi ghalat nahi hota." [See Aryan, when someone's in love, there is no right or wrong.] She sighed. "You don't know her side of story. You don't know under what circumstances she left."
"That's the main problem. That's the root cause. She didn't tell me. All her life, she didn't hide a single thing from me and now she's afraid to share her problems with me. She can share with that bastard Karthik but she can't share them with me? She's scared of me now. She's afraid to face me. She wants to go away from me and I won't stop her. She has already gone far away. I don't feel the same about her anymore." I shrugged. "But what hurts me the most is that she didn't consider me her best friend. She didn't find me worthy of sharing her problems."
"Chal jhoota. [Liar!] Look at you man. You still love her. The way you always look at her, you are always stealing glances at her, the way you take care of her without even being involved in that. The way you make sure she is safe. You cannot see her in any pain. I've seen you panicking internally even if she gets a tiny scratch. You care for her a lot even without knowing. You always care for her. You don't let her fall. You are not there with her but still you are there. You are the reason that she is back. You are the reason that she is living. You're her first and last love. You are her dream and reality. You are always thinking about her. If this isn't love then I don't know what is your definition of love." She sighed exasperatedly.
"It's not simple like that. You just won't understand this Geet."
"Why won't I understand? What do you know about me? You think I am really happy go lucky type who enjoys life? But I tell you what, I am not what I look like. No one has the right to judge someone by their outer appearance." She said a bit annoyed by my stubbornness.
"Leave this topic Geet. It's not going to take us anywhere." I said and got up from there rubbing my hands against my pants.
"Don't run away from your destiny Aryan. You are going to regret it sooner or later. She's meant for you." I heard her saying as I went inside and pulled up my blanket over me.
You're going to regret it sooner or later!
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