WHY?

It was fall of summer and after spending a year and a half with a college friend I finally decided to move to my own apartment.  Well it was not like that I wanted to grow up and get my own place. The reason was my friend’s serious relationship. He broke our pact, which we took in 2011 B.C, before Chitra, she was my friend’s girlfriend. I hated her. 

Before Chitra, we were like two tigers in a jungle. We used to have our meal on any spot without bothering about the mess. We had a policy of not distinguishing between things, so it didn’t matter whether it was a t-shirt in refrigerator or juice in the cupboard.  What mattered was we were happy, happy with beer cans in our refrigerator and noodles in our belly.

On a black Friday we went out for a movie. In front of us a girl slipped and so slipped our diaper age. Suddenly things started to change; our apartment became more of a girlish type. T-shirts were found in cupboard and juice was in fridge. Once which was our jungle changed into a municipal park, where every time somebody was found sweeping the floor. The ERA of DUDISM ended. So I had to look for a new jungle.

I shifted to a new locality. Things were going good for me. I was back with a roar. Until one day, when I went down to get my mails. I was busy checking my mails, when I heard bangles clinking next to my ears. I looked up; saw curly hairs hiding a face and a hand with a couple of bangles on it, making a sweet sound, struggling to open the adjacent mail box. The force used to open the mail box made some hairs move backwards and there she was, my dream girl.When I was a kid and did some mischief, my mother used to say me,” beta if you behave well you will find a beautiful PARI someday”. And I always had a face in my mind, which was exactly the same.

So there was standing my dream girl, in green T-shirt and brown shorts. With two bangles in her right hand and purple nail polish. Those curly hairs were moving on her face as clouds blurring the beauty of moon on a windy night, just letting a glimpse out. My heart started beating fast, my mouth wide open. First time I was standing so close to a girl. I could even feel the warmth of her breath.

“Excuse me” dream girl said,” What are you doing?”

I didn’t realise that I moved so close to her.

“Ah…Ah…I…Ah…I” was the only sound from my mouth.

“Hey what Ah Ah…. Can’t you speak? Are you dumb.” She replied back in anger.

I wanted to speak, but suddenly all the words dried up in my mouth. I tried but could only say,” Ah Ah…” with some hand movements.

She looked towards me for a while, examined me from top to bottom like a butcher does before his final shot.  I stood there helplessly doing some monkey steps with my hands. She realized something.

“Oh I am so sorry. I didn’t knew that you really are dumb. I thought you are misbehaving with me.” she said in a soft voice, “But now I realize you were trying to help me.”

I tried telling her that my parents had a full normal boy, everything fit and fine from top to bottom. But then I thought it’s better to be dumb than to get a slap from her. So again I said,

“Ah…Ah” with my head nodding in yes. And without wasting time went on to open her mailbox. It got opened within seconds. She caressed my cheeks in response and went upstairs.

I came back in my flat, thinking about what just happened. My heart was still pounding and my hands were on my cheeks. Her fragrance was still in my breath. When Somebody pressed the door-bell. I opened and was informed by guard that today we have society meet at five in garden area.

I went down to garden area at five to attend the meeting. I thought It would be all boring uncle stuffs. So I picked a corner seat in last row. The meeting started and all greeted the secretary as if Rajnikant arrived. It was so annoying and boring, I felt like hanging myself. I felt somebody is staring at me.I turned around and found that dream girl with a broad smile on her face saying,” Hiiii”. I opened my mouth but realised I was dumb for her, so I said, “AhAh” , waving my hands.

“I know these stuffs are so boring no. But what to do we have to stay here. Anyways thank so much for helping me in morning. Well I am Shruti. Shruti Kashyap. And you?” she said all this in one breath.

As I was dumb for her, so I just gave a smile and signalled her to wait. I took out my card and gave her.

“Tushar… PA at XXX tech ltd” she said,” do you mind, if I ask you out for a coffee”

I couldn’t believe my luck, she asked me out. This was the first time when any girl asked me out for a coffee, but I didn’t knew how to react and that too when I was acting dumb. All that got into my mind was nodding my head.

“great” she smiled,” lets skip this boring meeting.”

Again I nodded my head. She grabbed my hand. I felt shocks throughout my body. Shocks are so beautiful, why do people make switches, I said to myself.

“hop on”, she shouted, ”before that boring secretary sees us.”

That day we had a beautiful evening. She told everything about her. What she likes and what she hates. I too tried telling about me but I was dumb for the day.

We started hanging out regularly and became good friends within few days. She had her apartment just opposite to mine, so we used to sit in balcony

Now I had two lives, one was my social life and the other one was with Shruti. The second was more of silent but still musical. I had all the setups done, so that Shruti didn’t found out that I was actually not dumb. Though I hated lying to her but still I can’t help it. Shruti once told me, she cannot stand anyone who had lied to her. And I didn’t want to lose her.

My both life were going good. Shruti became more caring and much more concerned towards me. Now every hour she used to text me. May be she was falling for me. But I was taking things easy, didn’t want to mess up.

Until one day, Shruti and I went out to have beer and by the end of the night she was out of her senses. I carried her in my arms, to her apartment. After putting her on bed, I was about to go. She held my hand, pulled me towards her. I thought she just wanted to say good night.  I moved much closer to her, but she kissed me on my lips and said,” I LOVE YOU”. This was the one of the best feeling I had in my life.I was startled to react anything.

“I love you. You are my best buddy. I can’t live without you. You love me no” Shruti’s riveting innocence held me back. She seemed too cute.

I never thought about her in that way, but I don’t know I nodded my head. I hugged her tight. But that guilt feeling came in my mind again. I decided to tell the truth in morning. Soon Shruti went to sleep holding my hands. I stayed there whole night holding her hand.

Next day when Shruti woke up, she realised what she did last night. She was blushing. I again wanted to tell her the truth but didn’t have the courage to break her heart. So I kissed her on forehead and went away. The whole day she dropped me romantic messages.

That evening I got a call from my ex room partner. He was getting married and there was a small get together at his place. He wanted me to come by.

Next day I went to his place. All my college friends were there. We had some drinks and I got high. A friend of mine asked me to give a toast to my room partner. As I was drunk, I didn’t care who all were there. I stood up on a table and shouted,” ladies and gentlemen. May I have your attention? Today we all are here to celebrate…..” and then among many unknown faces there seemed to be one familiar. Her eyes were filled with tears and mine with shock and shame. There stood Shruti….. Shruti Kashyap, asking only one question WHY?

Life is like a mystery box, you just dig in your hand unaware of the fact what is there for you.

Does life gives Tushar a second chance? Do they both meet again?

 Wait for the next part…….