41 likes, 68 comments, On the Wall...it's Complicated!

41 likes, 68 comments. On the Wall…it’s complicated

By

Vidit Chopra

DIGITAL EDITION

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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Author on Smashwords

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41 likes, 68 comments. On the Wall…it’s complicated

Copyright © 2013 by Vidit Chopra

Cover Design : Sachin Loothra & Sanchit Malhotra

Thank you for downloading e-book. This continues to be copyrighted property of the author and may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed for any commercial or non-commercial use without permission from the author. Quotes used in reviews are the exception. No alteration of content is allowed. If you enjoyed this book, then encourage your friends to download their own copy.

Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

*****

There are number of people one needs to thank and then are those who want their name to be present in the book because they do believe they have every right to demand so and the the fact is they do. So, here, I would thank everybody whose name pops up in my head right now. I would like to thank my parents, Kriti, Mallika, Arpit, every person in my family, every person in my extended family, my team at Observer’s Paradise – Sachin, Sanchit, Gaurav A, Gaurav P, Tanmay, Arnav, Ravi, Sumit, all of my batch mates at College and finally, a couple of unnamed people who have been a huge inspiration for the book.

I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

*****

41 likes, 68 comments. On the Wall…it’s complicated!

*****

Prologue

So this is it. No matter how hard we try this world never let us the way we want to be. Vishal said.

Tanya was too gloomy to utter a word.

She knew that the nightmare she had always feared was coming to life. After ten long years of a lovely struggle trying to understand each other better, appreciating the good traits and accepting the flaws, trying to make ends meet, trying to convince their parents about their relationship and trying to avoid running away from home it had all come to this.

I guess this is the………the end. Tanya said struggling all the more with each word that came out of her mouth. She hated all of it.

I guess it’s time for us to part our ways. Thank you for the wonderful memories and I am sure I will take them to my grave. Vishal said as both of them stood on the airport waiting for the departure of their flights. Vishal was going to United States of America for an internship program, exactly the dream that almost every parent of the middle class family sees for their child and hopes they will be able to see their child going in for one! Tanya was going to her aunt in London where she would be doing something or might eventually end up raising a family, which now seemed beyond her control.

You have given me a lifetime full of memories and no matter what the world says, no matter what you think, no matter what went wrong between the two of us I will forever and ever keep loving you no matter what. Tanya said as tears rolled down her beautiful dark brown eyes.

Vishal wanted to say, I love you too. But something stopped him from saying so. May be the things that had conspired in the past few days stopped him from saying what he actually felt.

He hugged her instead. Her sobs now converted into full-fledged howls while the few other occupants of the waiting area stared at them. She was broken to the core of her heart and most probably to a point of no return. Certainly there wasn’t any way to make her happy other than Vishal and her being together, getting married, raising a family and living happily ever after but this was not to be. This wasn’t another Bollywood movie with a happy ending. There are happy endings in reel life not in real life, not always anyway!

They both knew that their being together was never going to be the truth of their lives. They had to part their ways and it was a fact of life, a challenge which they both had decided to take or rather had to accept while both of them knew that survival won’t be easy!

Vishal kissed her on the cheek, wiped away her tears and hugged her again. They both were just inseparable at the moment but then came the boarding announcement for the flight to New York, USA.

Vishal kissed her again on the cheek, picked up his baggage to move for the boarding. He kissed her on the cheek once again and started walking.

Please don’t go. Tanya caught hold of his hand and said.

Vishal was also on brink of breaking now, tears ready to fall as something pinched his heart.

That’s not possible Tanya, you know that. Even if we decide to do what feels right, we are either going to end up starving to death or will be slaughtered by your dad’s men in some part of the world. Practicality sometimes sounds better even if it feels wrong. Vishal said.

I don’t care Vishal. All I care about is being with you. I love you and I will continue to do so for the rest of my life. I know I might be sounding insane here but I will as it is, die without you so I would rather die being with you rather than by being away from you! Tanya replied.

All Vishal could do was smile but she definitely had a point he thought to himself. The boarding call came for the second time but Vishal ignored it. He was pondering over the idea which Tanya had just put in front of him.

It’s time to go. It’s time to go. Tanya’s brother Kushal came and said with a sense of urgency. Kushal knew about Vishal and Tanya and was very supportive. It is a big virtue if you are able to convince your girlfriend’s brother that you are the one for her!

What happened? You sound weird. Vishal said.

The security men are keeping a watch on you both. They are dad’s men. Its better you go for the boarding. We also have a VIP boarding process set for us. The arrangements have been made and we too will have to board right away. Kushal said still anxious and a bit dejected, for he too knew that Tanya and Vishal were never going to survive without each other and the world wouldn’t let them survive with each other.

Vishal grabbed his baggage again while rubbishing the thoughts of a possible running away plan. This time he wasn’t stopped by Tanya. He went towards gate number 3 for the boarding while Kushal took Tanya to gate number 7 for their special boarding.

It was a 4 AM flight for Vishal and 5 AM for Tanya so there wasn’t much rush on the airport. After walking a few steps Vishal turned around to look at Tanya walking away from him and most probably from his life as well. Tanya too looked at him and their eyes met. There was love in both of them and that love was for each other. Vishal smiled trying to reassure Tanya that everything will be fine while Tanya’s eyes kept on spilling the tears. Then she tried to force a smile and was successful in doing so even though her eyes and her lips were showing two completely different stories!. The fact that this was the last time she was seeing the love of her life was killing her every second.

Survival was bound to be difficult for, since the time they both had started understanding things, they were with each other. Through high school, through college they were together trying to help each other and being a pillar of support for each other whenever required. They both loved to write poetry even though their rhyming was of high order yet they both liked writing for each other.

They both kept walking towards their respective terminals for the boarding, eyes locked onto each other till the moment they both couldn’t see each other any longer. Finally, tears trickled down Vishal’s eyes as he said, I will always love you.

Chapter 1: I do not care

Okay so now you know what is the apparent end of my love story let’s start off from the very beginning. How it all started and how I was successful in fucking up my family’s life as well as my ‘life’s’ life, if you know what I mean!

It was the Indian summer of 2009, I was in class 11th, a tender age of 17, with the summer vacations on and a lot of work to be done and yet studying occupied the minimal time. I wouldn’t blame myself but my age for it. Such behavior is expected from every teenager, of course, apart from those nerdy ‘IIT material’.

As was my outlook towards life, I didn’t like to do a lot, yet I always kept whining that I was bored. Hence, once the holidays began, as was customary, I was off to my cousin’s place in Dehradun to make the vacation feel like a vacation!

Even though it wouldn’t be as much fun for I would miss the fifty degree centigrade temperature of our very own Delhi in the month of June! (Yes, I am destined to instigate sarcasm wherever I can.)

Spending the time with the cousins, Kabir, who was an year older, Ayesha who was an year younger and my real sister, Simran, was always magical and amazing. The sweet banter, a number of practical jokes, late night chit chats, late night movies plus no early mornings given the fact that all of us were jobless and fully agreed with the great man who once said, Early to bed early to rise, go man get a life!

We were carefree souls with nothing to worry about. This is one thing I have always cherished about summer breaks, there aren’t any exams round the corner and hence there isn’t much to think about as far as studying is concerned. Even though school days are when a child is scared shit of exams and studies round the year, we all had pretty much formed the habit of a college going kid. Maybe we were trying to familiarize ourselves with the custom of college. Which custom? Well, all it takes is 24 hours before the exam to complete the course book be it 400 pages or 800! I love this custom to be honest, oh and I forgot about the nerds, the few of them who weren’t able to go through their nerdy IIT dream and end up being in a college which I might eventually go to, will aim for the IIMs or have an equivalent nerdy dream and yet again stay busy with the books day in and day out! Anyways I will rather leave the nerds alone for I know none of them is going to read this book so I would rather let them study for now or maybe forever.

Simran and I arrived in Dehradun on the 6th of June and we had already started following what the ‘great man’ had once said. We saw a movie, played the classic truth and dare game, the banter went along irrespective of what we did. The next day, I woke up at around 2 in the afternoon.

By the time I woke up, the other occupants of the house and my three partners in crime were already up and ready. Turns out there was a party at the neighbor, Ayesha’s residence and all of us were invited, the reason being, it was Ayesha’s best friend, Tanya’s birthday party and Ayesha was going to skip it given that we had come over but Tanya wanted her best friend to be there so she invited the rest of us too. Even though I am one of those fun loving guys who is always trying to be happy, trying to make people around me happy and trying to make them smile, but social gatherings appeared pointless to me especially when you know no one present there. You are introduced to people; you look at them, judge them, get judged by them, pass a smile and move on. It’s a rarity where you meet someone whom you really think is worth spending the night with (no puns intended whatsoever)!

I didn’t really want to go so didn’t even bother getting up. I was woken up at least 5 times by Kabir but it is almost impossible to wake up an already awake human being unless the person himself wants to wake up!

Get up. Next time it will be water on your head that will wake you. Also, I don’t want to hear any fuss about not going to the party. Either all of us are going else none of us is! Ayesha said.

I was undeterred by Ayesha’s threat, trying to play it cool thinking that she was playing a bluff and wouldn’t actually do what she had just said, but it looked like I had stretched it a bit too far.

She was standing with a bucket full of water right next to me, a mug in her hand ready to spill water over me and hence I had to give in to the demand. I got up, hurriedly and disinterestedly got ready for the party, didn’t bother to shave, wore my usual clothes and came out.

I am ready. Let’s go. I said.

You are going to wear this to the party Vishal? Ayesha questioned with a frown on her face.

Yes….I guess so. What’s the problem with these clothes? I said.

She looked at me from top to bottom and then back up, then at Simran and then at Kabir, as if to gain any sort of support from them and make me change into a little more decent clothing.

I think you should change bro. It’s her friend’s birthday. Wear what she wants you to wear. Simran said supporting Ayesha.

Oh come on. This is fine. I argued and looked at Kabir for support.

I am with Ayesha on this one. You should change. Kabir said and smirked. This was expected from the two of them, none of us ever left an opportunity to irritate each other.

We were pure followers of the rule. To avoid a quarrel, be with the majority!

My reputation is at stake and well its Tanya’s party who knows what might happen. When I picture in my mind you sure will make a cute couple. Ayesha mocked.

Oh get lost. What do you want me to do, tell me? I said pretty much irritated.

First of all, shave off you beard till then let me take a look at your wardrobe and find something that is close to worth wearing to the party for I know you won’t have anything ‘worth’ wearing so I will only search for ‘close to worth wearing’ clothes. Ayesha mocked again.

But of course. I said and went to shave off my beard.

After twenty odd minutes, I was clean shaven, wearing a formal shirt and a pair of jeans.

Now you will make an even cuter couple. This time Simran mocked.

Oh shut up. What the hell is wrong with you people? I haven’t even met her. Where is all of this coming from? As it is, I don’t care! I replied.

None of them said a word and kept smiling to themselves.

Chapter 2: The first meeting

Now that I was looking like a human being or rather was unwillingly made to look like one, we all moved for the party. We entered the house, greeted Tanya’s mom and sat on the sofa in the living room.

So where is the birthday girl? Ayesha asked.

Tanya is getting dressed up in her room. She was calling you. Tanya’s mom said.

Ayesha went to Tanya’s room soon after. The agony had begun, I was sitting on the sofa uncomfortably trying to make small talk with Kabir and Simran which was difficult at someone else’s place given that most of the topics weren’t the kind to be discussed in public. Soon, the other guests started coming in. With them entering the room, the judging of looks and everything else began and the awkward silence persisted for a while till Ayesha came back and introduced me and Simran to her friends. She told me four names, with each round of introduction followed by a silent nod with a smile or a hi remark. Needless to say I forgot the names as soon as I heard them. I guess by portraying ‘not being attracted to women’ as of now draws an impression of me being a homosexual but I am not. Even if it did, it’s your right to judge me, I cannot help it.

Anyway, soon, the wait began! We were all waiting for Tanya to arrive who was taking ever so long to descend from her room aka beauty parlor. This is one thing that I will never be able to understand, why women waste so much time in trying to look like someone they are not! The true beauty lies within. Am I getting philosophical? Well, that happens when I am irritated with stuff.

Finally, the ‘queen’ descended from her castle as all of her slaves aka the guests all stood up to greet her and wish her.

Once I saw her, my theory of women wasting time on makeup went for a toss. God she looked beautiful or what! She did look like a queen, a princess to be more precise whose beauty was being conserved by keeping her from the gruelling summer sun and from making her bathe with milk and all those other things that they use for fair skin, by making her walk on rose petals to keep her feet from getting dirty and to keep them soft. I was blown away by a woman’s beauty, for the first time!

Um……Vishal Ayesha shook me. She had been calling me all the while I was lost in thought completely blown away by Tanya’s beauty. I kept looking at her face with my mouth wide open.

Yes…aa. Yes. I said startled and a bit embarrassed.

Weird reaction. You do expect that from my brother don’t you Tanya. Ayesha said.

Of course I do expect that. Happens all the time. Tanya replied.

What’s with the attitude! I said to myself.

Anyway, this is Vishal, my cousin, and Vishal this is Tanya, my best friend. Ayesha said.

I will give you a photograph. You can then stare at it as long as you want. Tanya said.

Well that was rude. I replied.

Oh was it and staring at me and imagining things which I presume wouldn’t have involved clothes, was very kind of you wasn’t it. She replied. Sarcasm of course.

It may not have been kind but it was appreciation of your beauty for sure. Bowling someone over by how one looks and that too a person like me, full points to you for that. I said.

Oh really, full points huh? So in what all aspects have you already rated me as of now? Tanya said.

Well I haven’t to be honest. It will take time to assess but you sure are going to lose points based on your behaviour towards your guests! I replied. I didn’t like her and that was first and the last impression I had about her.

Oh break it you too. Come Tanya it’s time to cut the cake. Ayesha intervened, amazed by the kind of interaction Tanya and I were having.

I was surely enjoying the conversation. Beauty with attitude, always a bad combination!

Cute couple. I said to myself and smiled.

Simran looked back to stare at me. What did you just say? she said with a bit of surprise in her voice. I hadn’t realized that I had said it out loud.

What did I say? I didn’t say anything. Was I supposed to say something? I replied as if trying to hide what she had already heard.

Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Tanya. I started to sing along with the others as soon as the candles went off. That very well cut down the conversation between me and Simran.

So she is a dear now. Huh? Simran said as soon as the song was over.

Oh beep off. That’s a song sung at every birthday party. I sang that song at your birthday as well doesn’t mean you are dear to me. I said and winked.

You are such a…… She said

Sweet and lovely boy. I completed the sentence before she could pollute it.

That you are for sure. Tanya said appearing right behind me.

Beautiful girl with an attitude said what? I said.

So you think I am beautiful. About the second part, I am sorry for what happened earlier. I was pretty much angry because the dress I had decided to wear for today got all messed up and I had to end up wearing this. She said and pointed at her beautiful dress.

You mean to say the dress you are wearing is your back up? I said.

Yes, it pretty much is. Why? She asked.

Well it looks perfect to me. You would have got a great idea about that by my first reaction when I saw you. I said.

Well that was pretty much evident. She said and laughed.

I am sorry. I shouldn’t have stared at you like that. If I were a girl I would have taken that as a complement but I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings so I am sorry for that! I apologised. I couldn’t believe the way I was talking to her and it wasn’t just me who was surprised. While she and I were having this conversation Kabir and Simran looked on in amazement! They were a little far off now and hence couldn’t really get what we both were talking about. All they were doing was looking at us and smiling.

Who said I didn’t take that as a complement. Actually I was pretending in front of your sister, if I hadn’t done what I did she would have started off with the teasing and stuff. She said.

Ah ha. No wonder you are Ayesha’s best friend. I said.

We do get along pretty well. She smiled and said.

Someone while passing on the cake to the guests spilled a plate over and it fell right between both of us. We both bended over to clear up the mess, an instantaneous reaction by both of us which lead to our heads getting bumped into each other. Somehow, after that bump our eyes met and were locked into each other for a couple of seconds which appeared to be close to infinity. It all felt so Bollywood! All so bloody Bollywood!

She had dark brown eyes which were neither too large nor too small; perfect is the word for them. They were beautiful, just as beautiful as the rest of her.

Oh I am so sorry. The person who had spilled the cake intervened and spoiled the moment.

It’s okay we will clean it up. I said picking up the cake and putting it back into the plate with a wry smile on my face.

Tanya please come here for a moment beta. Tanya’s mom called.

Tanya looked at me once again smiled and went away to meet her uncle.

Love is in the air. Kabir said.

Really? Why do you say so? Somebody hooking up? I said

Do I have to answer that question? He said with a smirk on his face.

No, you sure don’t. Simran intervened.

What is that supposed to mean? I asked.

They both were now staring at me and smiling as if I was a clown from the event management company hired for tonight’s party!

Oh no…no no no no no. Shut up! You guys are crazy. I said after having interpreted what they meant.

Why do you ask us to shut up? Did we say anything about ‘you’? We just said that love was in the air. It’s such a nice party everybody looks welcomed which is possible only if it is organized with the ingredient of love! Simran said.

Kabir’s smile broadened.

Oh stop your bullshit. You were sure talking about me and her. If you weren’t then what was that stare and the smirk all about. I said.

Well that is nobody’s fault. You have such a lovely face, once a person sees it, one cannot stop laughing. Kabir said.

Bug off. So I guess the party is done. Can we please go now? I asked already pretty pissed at them for being such asses and for all the mocking throughout the evening.

Oh come on the party is just getting started and you still haven’t met all of Ayesha’s friends. I am sure you will find them interesting even though I doubt any of them would be as interesting as the one you have already met. Kabir said, the smirk persisting on his face.

Seriously, where is all of this coming from? How can you even think of a thing like that? I am here because Ayesha wanted me to be here. I don’t have any other motive whatsoever. Besides, I didn’t want to come here in the first place remember? I said.

"But now that you are here and you