"Have you ever guessed how heaven would look like??..neither did I.But i am damn sure it would exactly look like my college."
"Hi ..this is Pranay." An ordinary guy with less complicated dreams but with extraordinarily mind boggling friends.This is our second year at Christ college in Bangalore. I am with B.Sc Physics. John with BBA. Kumble with Maths and Mayuri with Physics. Hold on....Hold on..just a clarification,,Mayuri is no A Beautiful girl. We were not that blessed to owe one such in our gang and that says...THIS IS OUR GANG(without a girl). We are united with life but divided with dreams.
To have a simple life. This is my wish
Mayuri.."the sporting soul". You name the sport..he would know about it and would give a half an hour lecture. He is the richest person in our gang.Son of a Minister(and that clarifies the previous statement). A freak and lives the life for the day.
Kumble.."The Hunk",,. Whether he is dressed or not but you can always see a guitar, clinging to his shoulders. To become a lead guitarist, his dream
John..."to put a ding in the universe". That's his tagline. Money and More money..to be a successful entrepreneur.
Reality is far from all these taglines. Lingering around the college, We managed to complete one successful year of college life. Our academics was less eventful but rest, we made it sure and MADE IT LARGE. We share the Hostel room, the tea, share the dresses, share the Kings and share the Life. We game, play cricket, chit-chat, watch movies .We had no competition among ourselves, but for one thing. When it comes to NFS Most Wanted, We become wild and fight with our heart and soul for the mighty PRO title.
It was another chill evening at Bangalore. We gathered in usual tea shop outside the college.
Mayuri started the hot topic.
"Doodes, you know whats happening with Kumble?"
Kumble blushed. Others puzzled and exclaimed.
"yesterday, a girl rang to him and proposed him".
I was taken aback and in fact my tea cup slipped and spoiled my shirt.
"Who is that girl Kumble?"
"I don't know. She addressed herself as Jenny and she told she saw me at the canteen and second time when i was performing in the college cultural. She appreciated my guitar skills and she fell in love with both me and my guitar."
It was that day i decided, to learn Guitar. Girls always have a soft corner towards "music" guys and i decided to capitalize on it.
"So, What you have decided?" i questioned him.
"Don't know..she will meet me this Tuesday. if i like her i will tell a yes " finished Kumble.
"Bravo,,That's it!!I am throwing a party tonight on behalf of Kumble" boasted Mayuri
"Are you game!!!!" was the energy.
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It was half past seven,evening. We got ready for Mayuri's party. After an half an hour intense research, we zeroed Hard Rock Cafe(It was the cheapest we could find,C'Mon...its Mayuri's party). Drinking and driving is dangerous, so we opted for Bangalore Metropolitan Transport. In no less than half an hour we reached the destination. Kumble,John,Mayuri and I were in good spirits.Laughing and chafing,we went inside the cafe and got a corner table for four of us.Hard Rock Cafe was brimming with energy.The dim-light aambiance delighted the senses,absolute rock music energised the ear drums and beautiful girls increased our pulse rate. In short...it was heaven.We started to pour in our orders to the waiter..actually we were torturing him.
If my memory goes right and if i sequence it correctly this is what happened after that...
Level 1- This round was for Kumble. After all, its the main reason for this party. We wished him long and happy love-life.
Level 2- This one was for our Gang...long live our friendship,..
Level 3- This was for Anna Hazare(I really dont know how on this earth this topic cropped up). In fact we even decided to take part in the Mass Movement.
Level 4- This one was for Sachin Tendulkar..i remember some match was going on that time..
Everything was fit and fine till that time ..till I saw the remote table. In the dim-light, I saw a girl sitting all alone and having a drink. I invited myself to the that table and sat opposite to her. She raised her head to see me and she was kinda surprised. She blinked.
"Who are you...?" she exclaimed.
"An another ordinary guy" after giving a long pause "did you come here alone??"
"S"... was her reply
"If you don't mind...you can join our gang..." I offered
"Thanks and I do mind and I want to be alone.." She replied in a frustrated tone,
"Ok.cool".
I did not say anything for next few minutes. I was simply watching her.She had a round face, fair complexioned,dark eyes and she was kinda not lean.She wore a pink t-shirt and a blue Jean. She was busy with her drinks. I did not disturb her. I also noticed,her eyes were red. and she was trying to hide the tears, In one hand she was clutching the glass and other hand she was holding her mobile phone.
"My parents opted for a divorce"..she herself started the conversation.
"Thats really bad. Is it their final decision?" I tried to learn the situation.
"Yes.Many times i contemplated them to change the decision. I forced them, begged to them..all in vain.."
"Some are blessed to stay with them always...some have the opportunity to stay with them till they get married..some may get an occasional chance to meet them...and a few people never meet their parents in their entire life..its all what we cannot decide...try to live with what we are offered".I finished...
"So among these which category you fall??" she questioned..
After a pause for couple of minutes...I stabilized my voice and replied..."The last one"..
"You never met your father and mother till now??" she puzzled.
"Yes... when I was 8 months old, they died in a road accident.
Never I felt their warmth...
Never I tasted my Mom's food...
Never I spoke with them..laughed with them....
Never felt how it would be when father boasts your confidence....
I miss them,,,,miss them badly...I would rather say you are blessed to some extent" ... My eyes frequently forced me use the tissue paper.
"I don't know what to say"..she said in a broken voice...
"Ok...If you don't mind..I am leaving" I said.
"Yes,you can carry on..." she nodded/
I managed to reach my table. I was totally clueless in which level these guys were.Mayuri settled the bills.
It was twelve thirty. We hit the road and reached the hostel.
SEASON 2: The Winter
It was exactly three months later i met her once again. Lunch was over, we tried to catch some fresh air. Mayuri and I were roaming in and around brigade road. It was exactly opposite to Rex theatre I saw her. She was alone and was busy in selecting ear rings in the road-side shop. I told a short bye to Mayuri and crossed the road to meet her.
I said a "Hi" to her, which she neglected and continued her "selection process".She was done with the ear rings, paid, packed ,ignored me, crossed me and started walking towards the next shop.
I was hundred percent sure , she did it on purpose.
"Then why the hell did you kiss me on the other day??" I shouted at her.
She slowly reduced the pace and finally stopped walking and turned towards me and finally saw me.
"Are you speaking to me" she questioned.
"S" I replied in a tighter tone.
"Don't you dare tell me that." she refuted.
"No. You did kiss me."
"Look, I am conscious even when I am drunk". I was literally threatened by her beaming eyes.
"Then Why you behave as if we did not meet"
"Yes, I do know you. But that does not mean i should speak and entertain you whenever you speak to me."
"Very clever answer. Ok bye" I started walking away. I was totally clueless and was busy in decoding the situation. She was acting as if she is smart and totally irritated me.
"Stop" was the sound. I turned back to see, she was waving hands to me.
"Now what??" were the words from me out of frustration.
"Care for a coffee.??"
"Are you mad???"
"Hope so"..she was smiling.
I felt as if watching INCEPTION back to back, totally confused but liked the way it was going.
"Ok fine,we will go to CCD but you should pay the bill" I warned her.
"Never mind"
I another couple of minutes we reached the CCD at brigade road. CCD, indeed was happening. After a few minutes wait we got a seat. I dint speak to her. I was waiting for her to start the topic as I was not sure about her state of mind. She was wearing a white t-shirt, a black jeans and a sling bag. She was not exactly the way she looked at Hard rock cafe and the change was in a good sense.
"So what do you want?" she started
"I will go with cool blue".
She ordered a cool blue and an espresso.
We were waiting for drinks.
"So what you people did on that night?" she said in a much lighter tone.
"As usual. We started in another ten minutes after I said a bye to you. What did you do?"
"Same.I left as soon as you people left. You came with another three friends right?? Any special occasion or yet another boozing sessions??"
"It was special.One my friend was expected to be in a relationship."
Our orders were delivered. I was sipping the cool blue and she had espresso.
"Oh cool.Which college you are from?"
"Christ and you"
"The same" was her reply. It was indeed a surprise as I have never seen her in the college.
"So who is that girl with whom your friend is going to be paired?"
"Jenny. you know her?"
She was surprised to hear the name and was having a huge laughter. Once again I was confused. I totally hate these confusing conversations.
"Now why the hell are you laughing like a madcap" I shouted at her.
"Your friend name is Kumble right". This time I got irritated to the core and felt like giving a tight slap.But one thing was bothering me and that was how does she know my friend's name.
"How the hell do you know his name"
"It was a hoax" was her reply.
"Hoax?? why the hell you played with him and who all were involved in this" I refuted.
I felt sorry for Kumble. I was guessing what sort of reactions he would give for such things but I was sure he would take it light and continued the conversation.
"It was one fine night, we decided to give a prank call to Kumble as we were curious to know, how he would react for such things" She explained.
"What's your name" I questioned.
"All this while, you did not know my name. ok take it.My name is Surya" she responded.
"Surya, You are sick". I was totally displeased with her behaviour.
"Cool it, Why should boys have all the fun. If you want I will say a personal sorry to him as he is your friend and as we both are friends. We are friends right?" she questioned with a corner smile.
Now the million dollar confusion. Whether to ignore her or to extend the friendship hand. I decided to do the latter and extended my hand. We hand a brief handshake.
As per the memorandum of understanding, she paid the bills and we left the CCD.
We hit the road. She said a bye and left the place. I went back to hostel and explained the story to our GANG.
SEASON 3: The Love.
I got the opportunity to move in close quarters with her as we were in the same college. It was one month after the CCD incident , she asked my name. It looked kinda weird to me but I liked the weirdness in her. What initially sounded like a "hi" and "bye" turned to "hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii" and "byeeeeeeeeeeee" . The upper limit of 100 SMS per day seemed very less for us. I was totally occupied with her and the same was with her. Mornings appeared like extended nights and we became the esteemed customers for AIRTEL,PVR,CCD and Barista. As she promised, She said a sorry to John and sooner she was considered as a part of our GANG(with a girl).
I very well knew this is love,but what with her?How does she feel?Considering her weird nature into picture, these questions tortured me. Finally decided to pour out my emotions to her.
It was exactly 6 months later, we went to the CCD at brigade road. We got the same seat that we got when we came 6 months back and this time I promised her that I would pay the bill.
We placed a few orders and waited for the delivery.
"How is your preparations for the semester Pranay" she started the conversation.
"Very average, how about you?" I responded
"Good and planning to give GRE"
"Oh Cool". I replied. Is this the right time to break the ice? Shall I postpone it by 10 minutes? such questions kept circling around my head and finally I decided to speak out.
"I want to give my warmth to you..
I want to cook for you everyday...
I want to speak with you all the time....
I want to laugh with you
I want to boast your confidence when you are down...
I want to be your side...day and night..." she said holding my hands tightly.
YES, IT WAS SHE WHO SAID.
The joy of tears started to peep out from our eyes.I held her hand tightly and looked her eyes for the next couple of minutes. Those minutes were really divine.It was sublime. Indeed it was heaven like. How does it feel like when you wanted to propose , the girl stops you and she says those beautiful words. It was a feeling of content. I decided to do what my heart desperately wanted at that time.Unmindful of the CCD atmosphere, i held her hands tightly and leaped to reach her lips. She remained motionless. I placed my lips on her lips. I saw her closing her eyes and I could sense my tears rolling through my eyes and hit her cheeks.
Such moments make the life more meaningful and indeed life is nothing but a collection of such beautiful moments.
The camera slowly zooms out of CCD and the curtain falls.!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
