2017 (Present day)
"I am sorry , sorry for everything I did. You were so perfect and I …. !" a status updated in whats app.
" I know I was, and if you wish to come back, you can . I'm still waiting ….." another status updated
I cant , don't have the guts another status updated
Call me …. Am waiting …. another status updated
I was freeze , The phone was in my hand, I was one step behind what I wished from years yet I was confused what to do. Suddenly my phone rang it was Rishi. "Rishi" the name itself felt so affable, it created a thunderstorm deep inside my heart, enlightened million bulbs. I received the phone and didn't found any word to start the conversation so I decided to behave like taciturn.
"Hello, is this Sneha baruah" I heard his voice after so many years .
Yes , Rishi its me" I said behaving like a naïve girl.
Oh god, am I dreaming , am I really talking to Sneha baruah." Now this sounds really weird, I even couldn't convince him as I was the same girl who left him 3yrs ago. Instead of uttering a single word I decided to keep quite. There was silence for few seconds afterwards.
"So, how are you?" he continued
"I am good. How are you?" I replied
"I am always good he replied with a confident voice.
After so many years we talked for more than an hour. I was surprised he didn't change at all throughout these 3years but I was a new me. I was about to hang up the phone when he said "I love you, you were the only girl I ever loved, do you still love me?" I couldn't reply anything and simply disconnected the call. I didn't have the courage to say that yes I love him, that all these three years he was the only person who was in my mind in each and every moment. There was not a single day when his thoughts didn't hinder my way. But I couldn't say anything as I knew that he'll never believe me, he might question me that if my love was so true than why did I leave him. The waves of my fantasizing mind again took me to the mesmerizing past.
2011 ( Nehru stadium)
"Hey, you are going home so early" Akhil said from behind. Akhil was Rishi"s best friend since their childhood. They used to shared everything except their under garments hopefully. They both even looked alike ; 'skinny' , mix complexion and tall.
"Yes, actually my home is too far from here. Why you need something?" I asked surprisingly as I never used to talk to them.
"No nothing bye" he replied and moved away.
I too ignored and took the bus for home. After few minutes I noticed Akhil and Rishi too in that bus. They were coming towards me. Rishi came closer, pinched my cheeks and smiled. I was shocked about what he did few seconds back but instead of retaliating I smiled back. He was the only guy who touched my cheeks, whatever might be the reason but it felt so nice.
After few days
"Hello, am I talking to sneha baruah?" I got a call from an unknown number.
"Yes, may I know who's this"
"I love you do you love me jaan" I heard a voice from that side.
"What nonsense are you sick, don't you dare call me again" I shouted and disconnected the call but it rang again. It was the same number. I disconnected again and he called again. Finally I received the call after many rings and was about to bash that person , when suddenly I heard Akhil's voice. They were making fun of me and it was all the brain child of Rishi . This phone call was actually a knock of the destiny on my world. With time we became good friends.
23rd December 2011
Midnight
"Sneha, I want to say something" Rishi said with a shaken voice.
"What"
"Wait, Akhil will tell you" and he tried to give the phone to Akhil but Akhil retaliated and said "I'm not going to say anything, say it by yourself" . Rishi took the phone again and now with a severely shaken voice he said
"I think I like you, infact I love you."
"But I never thought anything like that"
'It's ok you can answer me tomorrow" he said trying to make me feel comfortable.
Isn't it too early Rishi? I asked him
No, it's perfectly the right time and he disconnected the call.
2am same night
He called again seeking the answer of his question. I refused to answer and was about disconnect the call when I heard Akhil's voice
"Hey, why you are overreacting Sneha, tell him that you love him too, or else he'll not let us sleep tonight"
"No Akhil, actually"
"What no c'mon yaar, acha tell me if you don't love him than why you are talking to him so late, its 2am?" Akhil's word's web puzzled me.
"No, actually".. I paused
"What no…! Your answer is no" I heard Rishi's voice again
"No, not no," I replied
"Then must be yes?" His adrenals seemed to be burst out from his words
"Yes, I too feel same way" and I disconnected the call.
1st date
It was chilling December evening, Rishi called me for an official date. At first I refused due to the venue ' "digholi pukhuri"a park near my college , as this was the same place I used to make fun of and named it as " badnam pukhuri". It was the first day of our relationship, and I was totally confused what to wear. I finally decided to wear salwar kameez. He reached half an hour early and was waiting for me .
I noticed Akhil and Aditya ( Rishi"s brother} too with their better halves. They were all in western attire which made me feel a little demoted. Akhil and Aditya moved to the other corner of the park leaving us alone. Rishi sat beside me "you look beautiful" he said. I got confused by his words, did he actually mean it and if so why I was blaming myself for wearing salwar on first date. "wow " this man loves me in all weather a feeling of joy overwhelmed my insecurities I had few minutes before but instead of expressing all this I simply replied "Thanks , you too"
We were silent for next few minutes , I cldn't find any word as how and from where to start . May be he too was going through the same situation but he finally spoke out " can you share some of your photos with me? if you don't mind"
"No its fine and I gave my phone to him" next half an hour he commented on all my photos and I silently observed his innocence, the child inside him. That I wished god to keep me flocked around him throughout my life. I saw yet couldn't believe that all my fantasies turned into reality.