Seven Nights 4

Night 6:

It’s so hard to even take a breath when your fate with someone you love more than anything depends on one answer and it’s even harder when the same person has to answer. Sometimes you think it’s going to be yes but just another moment you think what If she says NO.

Your mind and thoughts oscillate like a pendulum, same thing was happening to me. It was so hard to think, my mind was fully occupied with all may be questions. I was getting restless, with every clock tick. Finally the sun came down to decide my fate with Shruti.

I went to spice garden, sat on a chair near bar. I looked around, the place was less crowded.

“Sir, what would you like to have” the bar tender asked me.

“Beer” I said searching Shruti.

“Shruti madam is not here” he said passing me a beer bottle.

“How do you know I am looking for Shruti?” I was curious.

“We know everything about each other.” he replied carelessly cleaning glass.

“So at what time generally she comes?” I asked him.

“She would be coming in an hour, abhi tho raat baaki ha” he said smiling.

I had one hour to kill before Shruti comes, I grabbed my beer and started looking around. There were few people; I was looking at them casually. When I saw a familiar face, he must be around 50-52 in age. I started thinking hard where I have seen him. I was looking at him constantly. He saw me and I think he also felt the same. He took his drink and walked up to my seat me.

“I think I know you” he said,” Ravi’s son right” he said pointing his fingers towards me.

“Yes but you” I asked him.

“beta Verma uncle, I was working with your dad, remember.” He said.

“Oh yes, how are you uncle?” I said recognizing him.

“So it seems you have grown up, beer.” He said looking at me with a smile patting my back.

“No it’s just, sometimes. Please don’t tell dad.” I was little embarrassed.

“No. no it’s fine, you are grown up now. Come join me.” He said inviting me to his table.

I took my beer and moved to his table. He told he was here to see her daughter and son-in-law; they went out today so he sneaked in for some drink. He started telling stories when I was young, I was busy listing him when I got a message. I checked it was from Shruti. I almost forgot I came for her.

“Looks you got better company than me, come up to stage I want to talk.” She messaged me.

“It’s my dad’s friend, he already caught me drinking so let him go, I’ll come.” I replied her back.

“So what?” She asked me.

“I can’t, it’s just this is not a good place and you dancing.... leave it, I’ll explain you after he goes” I messaged her.

 I was scared, what will he think if he see me dating a bar girl, what will happen if he tells my parents.

“Go to hell, you coward” she replied me back.

I looked at her, she moved from her seat.

“Sorry” I messaged her apologizing.

But she didn’t replied, soon the crowd started coming in. uncle also left, he asked me to come but I said I am waiting for a friend. Now I was there alone waiting for Shruti’s reply.

Almost two hours passed, I was waiting for her but she was not even looking towards me. I realized how cowardly I behaved. I didn’t want to waste any more time, I went up to her. As she saw me coming she went to dance floor and started dancing. I stood there watching her dancing.

Crowd started cheering as Shruti came to dance, she seemed quite famous. Drunken guys started throwing money on her, I was getting freaked out.

 “Shruti meri jaan” a drunken man shouted.

“F#@#” I said,” how can anyone address her so cheaply. I love her; I can’t let her be here.”

I decide this is it I can't let her dance anymore in such a place. I went up the stage to get her down, but before I could tell her or do anything, the same drunk guy came held her hand and started dancing. She tried to get free from his hold but again he grabbed her by her waist, I could not see that anymore. I went and slapped that guy and got Shruti free.

“Chaataaakk” the whole place went silent, music stopped and everyone was looking at me. The drunk guy fell on the floor, Shruti saw me for a moment. She held my hand and took me outside.

“What the hell you were doing” she shouted.

“That guy was misbehaving with you. I stopped him” I replied to her in same tone.

“And why?” she question me.

“You don’t know why?” I questioned her back.

“Yes I know but I want to hear from you” she said.

“Ok, I stopped him because I love you, I can’t see you anymore in this creepy place.” I answered.

“So you love me, and what was that when your uncle was there” she questioned me again.

 I was silent.

“I know what was that, you were ashamed of me” as she said tears started rolling from her eyes.

“I was scared then but I am not anymore, I will take you out of this and we can live happily”, I moved closer, held her face and said.

We hugged each other for some time.

“We can’t be together” Shruti said getting away from me.

“Why?” I asked her.

“Listen I came today to say you yes, that I love you. But what just happened today made me realize that it will happen again. You got scared today, what is the guarantee you won’t be again.” She said.

“No, It won’t happen” I said crying.

“Please don’t be like that, it’s better to end our friendship today than to make our life hell” she said caressing my cheek.

“I would have also not agreed if I would have been at your parents place.” She again said,” I love you, I can’t she you being ashamed whole life.”

“No” I said again crying.

“Please, if you love me then forget, we can’t be together. I am moving back to my parents. We won’t meet again.” She said and started walking away.

I watching her again going away from me, but this time we were going far from each other. She looked back seeing me standing there helplessly. She rushed towards me kissed my lips and said BYE.

Night 7:

I came out of my room, as I walked down the gallery I could see colorful lights covering the adjacent building, lights blinking making different shapes. The reflection was falling on my face as it used to fell in spice garden.

This very same day a year ago Shruti moved to her hometown leaving me heartbroken. I still remember our last kiss, her last touch. I closed my eyes thinking of her. The surrounding went silent for that moment; it could visualize Shruti and me kissing. I touched my lips, felt like Shruti was there standing right beside me kissing. I opened my eyes again to see lights blinking.

She went away from my life but still some traces of her were left in my heart. Sometimes I miss her a lot. But time taught me we were never meant for each other. Yes I loved her but there were many others life related to me which could have been affected. She was right I would have got scared again. Now I remember her in a good way, I think I moved on.

“Hey come on get ready quickly, it’s my wedding tonight.” Tushar shouted.

“I am ready; it’s you who’s not?” I replied him.

“Shit, it’s my wedding and I am roaming in vest.” Tushar looked at himself and said.

“Its fine, be cool. It’s your big day.” I said to him patting his shoulders.

“Why I am freaking out? I am getting married to Garima only.” He said wiping sweat from his forehead.

“It happens. Come on first lets have your bachelor party drink.” I put my hand around his neck and pulled him.

After having a couple of drinks Tushar was little stable. He got dressed, and the big moment arrived.

The ambience was festive, shehnai being played, the priest sitting there chanting the mantras and the bride and bridegroom sitting on mandap getting blessed. Soon they got up to take phere, everyone staring throwing flower petals on them.

I was feeling very happy; two of my best friends were getting married. I stood there on one side of mandap throwing flowers on both of them but as the avalanche of flower came down a little, as I could see a familiar face on opposite side of mandap. It was Shruti, what is she doing here?  I rushed towards her, but Tushar looked towards me raising his eyebrows and shoulders like asking where you are going? I nodded my heading saying nothing and stood there.

I was eagerly waiting for the pheres to end so that I could talk to Shruti what’s she doing here a, why she came back? I was totally confused.

Finally the marriage got over, everyone moved to the reception area. My eyes were searching for Shruti. I looked for her everywhere, finally I found her in a corner standing with some ladies. She saw me coming towards her, so moved a little away from other ladies.

“Hi” she said

“What you doing here?” I was not able to control myself,” you left a year ago saying you won’t see me again then why you came back and that also on the same day when you broke up.”

“Listen” she tried to talk,

“No you listen, I was just getting over you and I am talking stupid because I think I still love you” I surrendered myself.

Feelings which were creeping inside me from a year erupted.

“Any problem Shruti” before Shruti could speak, a good looking guy came put his hands on her shoulders and said.

“No Rahul, just an old friend.”Shruti smiled and said

“Hi, Rahul. Shruti’s better half.” Rahul said.

“What?” I was shocked, was he the same rahul who left her.

“Hi.. Shruti’s friend” I looked into shruti’s eyes while replying to rahul.

I could see pain and guilt in her eyes. There were many questions like when? How? Why? Creeping inside me but sometimes it’s better to not have answers. I would have never given her a life what she can get from rahul, so it’s better to move on and be happy for her

.

“I also want to meet you someone” I said to Shruti and started looking for someone.

“Priyanka.. priyanka..” I shouted on seeing who I was looking for.

“Shruti meet priyanka , most important person in my life.” I said.

“Aww.. so sweet” priyanka hugged me.

They both greeted each other. I could clearly see expressions on Shruti face like she lost something forever. Maybe she understood it’s over from my side also.

“Happy for you” Shruti said to me with smile unable to hide her pain.

“See you.. enjoy yourself.” I said waiving my hand to rahul and went near Shruti.

“Nice to have you in my life. BYE” I said in her ears while hugging.

I held priyanka’s hand and walked out from that place. I wanted to turn back and see her again but didn’t, I just walked away.

“Bahiya who was she?” priyanka asked me.

“Just a friend, she wanted to see you.” I said smiling.

Memories are best framed in moonlight. Some are good and some are bad. Some you make and some just happen.