TAKE YOUR CHANCE

I looked at the digital clock on platform, it was already five. My train was about to leave in another ten minutes. I rushed towards platform number five. Train blew its whistle, it started moving. I was still outside and it started gaining speed, seeing no other way I threw my bag and jumped in. Finally I made it.

I was down there for a couple of minutes balancing my breath, hoping someone will come and get me up on my feet’s. I looked around for that someone but there was only a tea vendor standing, staring me.

 “shaab chai chahiyee”, he said.

“What?..... No ”, I replied back little irritated.

He gave me a disgusting look and again started chanting,” chai- chai “and moved away.

I brushed my clothes and settled down within minutes. The environment inside was boring so I preferred listing music. I pressed the play button of music player in my mobile but an error message came.

Memory full. Please delete some items.

“WTF…” I got more irritated. I decided to delete some old messages. But as it was some log message, it didn’t show any names. There were just numbers. So I decided to at least have a look before deleting them.

While I was browsing through messages, one grabbed my attention.

“Hey call me, if you are awake.”

It got me thinking, none of my friend text me in such sober language. Who is this gentle guy? I had time to kill, so I went on to solve this mystery.  I checked the other message from the same number.

“Why don’t you pay attention… now go and apply some burnol quickly?”

None of my friends were so caring. It was someone from my family or some girl. I had my first success.

“I think you are not interested in talking to me”

The message sounded girlish. I was nailing my investigation. But who’s she.

I browsed down for more evidence.

“This is for you; I know you love this expression. L.”

“F##K..” my mouth was wide open, “its Shruti… how can I forget her”.

I haven’t talked with her in years. Why? What happened between us??

I started searching answers. Things were going good between us. I still remember that evening when we first met. It was raining and I was waiting for my bus, drenched in rain.  Suddenly a passing vehicle splashed mud on me.

“Hey you bastard…”,I shouted in anger and rushed towards the vehicle.

The driver stopped the vehicle, hearing my voice. “Hey you, see what you have done…. Saale Behe….” I was about to complete my sentence, but then the vehicle driver took off his helmet and whom I was thinking as a guy turned out to be a girl. I was impressed by her beauty.

As she took off her helmet, shook her head to adjust hairs. And when those curly hairs were moving on her face it looked same as clouds were blurring the beauty of moon on a windy night, just letting a glimpse out. She looked more beautiful when those tiny droplets of water purified her beauty as they dripped from her face. Her puckering lips, fluffy cheeks. I lost myself into that beautiful face.

“How you dare to talk with me like this?” she shouted.

“What?” I came back to the senses.

“Ahhhh….Sorry” I said, don’t know why I said that. May be it was the charisma of her beauty.

“You shouted and chased me down to two hundred meters just to say sorry” she said surprisingly.

“Sorry.. No… Not Sorry..” words were crumbling in my mouth  .

“What?” she said in surprised tone.

“Nothing… no yes there is something… actually I washed this shirt.. Yesterday only and it’s raining today.. That’s it” I had no idea what I was saying.

“Ok… I got it”, she gave an awkward look, stated her scooty and went away.

“Shit”, I said . I knew I made a joke of myself.

I came back home, thinking about the incident. I pressed the door-bell; saw the same girl opened the gate. I thought I was day dreaming, I tried to get in.

“You..” she shouted,” So you followed me. I am calling security.”

I looked around.  Shit!!!  I was on the wrong floor. And what is she doing here. I was confused. Before I could understand anything guards were there.

 “What kind of duty you all are doing? How can you let in such a loafer.” She shouted on guards and when they were about to throw me. I snatched the bottle of water she was holding, cleared my face and said.

“Hey I live in D4 just above this flat, by mistake I pressed the bell.”, I tried to explain her and looking towards guards,” and you all, I gave 500 RS Bakshish on Diwali. And now you are throwing me out.”

 “Oh Tushar sir. Sorry we didn’t realise it’s you.” One of the guard said,” Shruti madam, he lives above, he’s not a loafer.” The guard also supported me.

“Tell her,” and looking towards that girl, whom guard just addressed as Shruti.” you… thank you so much. First you ruined my shirt. Then you were planning to throw me out. Madam I am a respected person.”  I said all this in one breath. Gave all of them a furious look and went upstairs.

I came inside my apartment, got fresh and was relaxing, just then the door-bell rang. I opened the door. It was Shruti. She was holding two cups of coffee with a smile on her face. I had calmed down till then. And that smile of her made me more calmer.

“Sorry.” She started the conversation,” I realised what I did. I behaved rudely with you na. Sorry.”

“No no. it was not your fault completely. I shouted on you. I am sorry” I replied back. It’s better to apologise when a beautiful girl stands on your main door holding two mugs of coffee.

 “Coffee?” she asked by raising a mug towards me.

“Come on in...” I said.

The evening ended on a good note. I found a new friend. As the city was new to me, it was the best thing that happened to me. We chatted whole evening.

We became good friends in no time. We started hanging out regularly.  Most of the time Shruti’s room partner Shelly also used to accompany us. We texted each other whenever we were not together. Best time pass for us was sitting in her balcony sipping coffee till the time  Shelly called us for dinner. And I noticed, I realised we were not just sharing bite of food; we were sharing something more than that.

I was living a dream. Until one day, when I got to know that I have been shifted to some other city. The first thing I could think of was Shruti’s face and thought of getting away from her. Then and there I realised that actually I had feeling for her. I can’t bear the thought of getting away from her.

I asked my boss, is this the final decision or they need my concern on it. He said me to have a look at the mail carefully. I looked more carefully and got to know that I have been promoted but can’t get the same position here because it’s already filled. So if I want to take the promotion I have to move.

I was in dilemma. What to choose? Love or profession. I was confused, seeing no way I called  Shelly, because if I would have called Shruti she would have definitely asked me to not let this chance go. So the best person to call was  Shelly.

“Hey  Shelly… are you free.  I want to discuss something with you. But don’t tell Shruti about this.” I said in a depressed voice.

“Tushar is everything fine….. I am free” I heard her faintly from the other end. Though it sounded different but I didn’t pay much attention.

“There is something I need to tell you. But please don’t tell Shruti about it.” I said

“Ok I won’t .Now tell me?” the voice on the other side became more curious.

“Well I got promotion today but I have to move to some other city. And the thought of moving away from Shruti made me realise that I am in love with her. I don’t know what to do? I haven’t told her yet. I don’t even know what her feelings for me are. Should I give it a chance or not? I am confused. Help me.” I said

There was no response from the other side for a while, I heard some sound like weeping but didn’t knew what exactly it was.

“Hello  Shelly are you listening?” I asked again.

“Yes I am listening. “ She said, then after a couple of seconds she said again,” look Tushar I hate to say this but you don’t have any chance with her. She has a boyfriend. You are just a friend …. Ok. Don’t intuit anything wrong from Shruti‘s behaviour. “The voice on the other side of line was becoming rude.

“No Shruti told she does not have any boyfriend. Why are you lying to me.” I replied back almost crying.

“You are so innocent no. you were just a time pass. You were her entertainment. So my suggestions forget her and its better you go for your job.” The voice was now more rude and arrogant.

I hung the phone. I could not be hurt more. I felt like no oxygen in the air, it was hard to breathe. I walked into my boss’s office.

“I am taking it. When do I have to leave?” I said in firm voice, trying to suppress my pain.

“Right away, if you want. I will book your ticket. You just go and pack” he said.

Now it’s been almost a three years to this incident and I buried myself so much in work that I almost forgot her. At least I tried. And I think I was successful, I forgot her number. I moved to another message. The number was of  Shelly . All these flash back refreshed my memory. Now I can remember both numbers. And yes  Shelly  sent me some other messages also but I ignored all of them. But how can you defeat fate, it was in my destiny to have a look at these messages. And I read that.

“Hey Tushar Shruti is crying. I don’t know why. Do you know anything?” I was surprised. The date was same and the time was also after my conversation with Shelly.

I moved to next message.

“Just got to know you left the city. May be she’s crying for that reason. How can you do that?”

Next message

“Reply me Tushar. You are doing no good. You just not only left a friend but also a girl who loved you and that also for a stupid promotion. I thought you loved her. Maybe you can lie from your eyes too.”

I was really surprised by reading these messages. She was the only one who told me get away from Shruti and now she is texting me back saying why I left Shruti. I was the one who was hurt that day. I was furious. I dialled Shelly number. I wanted an explanation from her.

“Hello” a familiar voice fell on my ears. It was indeed Shelly.

“Hello. Tushar here. I have some questions for you. “I said in furious voice.

“I knew I’ll get a call from you. But I was expecting you earlier. And I know what you want to ask.” She said in a calm voice.

“What do you mean.” I said.

“First listen to me then you will get every answer you want. The day you called, it was not me who picked up. It was Shruti. She didn’t want to come in path of your career. She just faked you and made you convince that she was not interested in you. She doesn’t have any boyfriend. Actually she also loved you, loved you so much that sacrificed her love.” She said in convincing tone.

I was shocked. I didn’t know how to react. Should I be happy that she loved me or should I be angry that I let her go without taking second chance? 

“Tushar are you listening ” Shelly asked, I came out of my thoughts.

“ I want her back.  But how? Help me Shelly “, I said in nervous and confused tone.

“Well she’s getting engaged in a month. She hasn’t decided yet but probably she will say yes. “She said

“Then what should I do?” I asked in depressing tone like a kid when he loses his favourite toy

.

“Well the only chance of you with her is element of surprise. Surprise her and make her remember your good old days. I know a bunch of guys who can do it for you. I’ll message you their number. Go get her.” she said in excited voice.

I hung the phone. I got out to the train on the very next station. Somehow I managed to reach my previous city. I called the guy whose number Shelly has sent. He told me to relax and reach the apartment around 7 pm in evening. He will plan with Shelly and let me know.

The surprise guy called me again and asked the whole story. He also became a bit sad but he said,” don’t worry we can fix this. Just be there on time.”

I reached the apartment on time. Shelly and the surprise guy were already there. I saw Shruti arriving, she didn’t change a bit. She was looking exactly the same as she looked on the first day. Her fluffy cheeks and puckering lips were complementing her beauty but there was sadness on her face. May be I was the reason. But I was here to make things back to normal. But how? That was the question bothering me. I was busy in my thoughts when two guys on a bike came and threw a bucket full of mud on Shruti’s face and ran away. I was confused and so was Shruti. I looked towards the surprise guy asking what? He signalled me to wait and watch.

Shruti was furious. She shouted on those guys but by that time they flee off. She walked inside the apartment in anger and went upstairs. The surprise guys gave me 2 mugs of coffee and a bottle of water. He asked me to follow him. I had no idea what was going on. I followed him.

He took me to Shruti’s flat and said, “It’s the time to return the favour to Shruti. Just remember your first encounter with her. Best of luck”. He rang the bell and ran away. Shruti opened the door; she was surprised to see me.

“What are you doing here?” she said.

“Wash your face or guards will throw you out” I gave her the bottle and said. She smiled. 

History was repeating itself. We were at the same very spot as we were three years ago.

“But what are you doing here? Why you came back?”, Shruti asked again.

“ Shelly told me everything. Look Shruti, I am sorry. I left you. I made you cry. I should have come back.” I said by holding her by shoulders looking in her eyes.

“But why you came back now? Go and do your stupid job. I don’t want anybody” she said while crying.

“because I love you. And I know you also love me. I don’t want promotions, I want you.” I said to her.

She looked towards me for a while with her eyes full of tears but that sadness was not there anymore. She hugged me and started crying.

“I love you. Please don’t leave me ever.” She said while weeping.

“Ok.. sorry, now can we have coffee. It’s getting cold.” I giggled and said.

She gave me a lovely smile and hit my shoulders.

“ouch.. I came back no. why are you hitting me.” I said,” Now let’s go in”

We came inside the apartment. I got a call from that surprise guy. Shelly and that guy where there within moments. Shelly told Shruti the whole development and the plan.

I went up to that guy and said,” thanks buddy. You just made my life”

“Don’t embarrass me. Have a good life.” He said and started walking away. After walking a while he turned around and said, “Be Santa Do surprise.”

I was standing there watching him walking away and thought, We all need a SANTA in our life, which comes and magically turns our sad life into a happy one.