37. The truth

   I woke with the cracking alarm sound. The clock against the wall was showing 8 in the morning. I got off the bed and jumped into the washroom. Another half an hour and I was ready for my first date with Palak. As discussed last night, I was wearing a black polo t- shirt and a blue jeans. And she had to wear a pink dress.
   I reached the decided address a little early. I called her and asked about where she was. She said she will be reaching in ten minutes. She was coming. That meant I was going to see her for the first time in my life. The girl whom I didn't know few weeks before, was the most important girl for me. The girl whom I loved a lot was going to be in front of my eyes after a few minutes.
   My heartbeat was almost double of what was it's normal speed. And the excitement was too high. My eyes were looking here and there to see that face. And during this I saw someone. I saw a face which looked very familiar to me. I thought but it didn't strike me. I looked at the face again. She was walking in the same direction where I was. Yes, I knew her. I have seen her somewhere, I thought. Those eyes, that nose, those lips, I had seen it before. She was still ten yards away from me and I was continuously looking at her. Her eyes met mine and she smiled. The smile striked and I got her. I said I knew her and I was not wrong. I knew her very well.
   She was the first girl I was crazy for. She was the same girl who gave the first romantic kiss. My first love Anjali, if I was not wrong. And I was confident about it. I was not wrong.
   She stopped three yards before me. I wondered, if she had recognized me. She was smiling. The smile I was crazy for. The smile which took my heart almost every time. I was lost in that smile once again. I had totally forgotten about the girl who was coming to meet me. And I was lost in my first love or crush, whatever it was.
   But then a question striked. What was Anjali doing in Delhi? She should have been in Jamshedpur? I thought to ask the question.
   'Hi...' she said..I looked back to see if some one else was there she was talking with. But no, she was talking to me. Wait. Something striked me again. Her voice. It was too identical to someone's voice. If I was not wrong, I have heard the voice many times over the phone. Is it? I mean really? No no, it's not possible. It can't be possible anyway. But how can be two voices same.
   'Hello Rohan...!!' she said again when I didn't respond to her previous 'hi'. Now it was not a doubt. I was sure of it. I can't miss this tone. It was same. That meant she was not just my first love but last one too? Yes, she was the one. She was the girl I was here for? She was the girl I was talking to from last few weeks? She was the girl I had texted so much to?
   I was surprised and shocked at the same time. Yes, you are right. She was palak and she was Anjali too. But why did she hide it from.me? Why in the world she had to change her name? She could have told me the truth. But no, she didn't. And I was facing the truth right there. My mind had a lot if unanswered questions in my head. I didn't know that I should be happy or sad? I didn't even know how to react?
  Continues...................

36. The past

   Wednesday to Saturday. How days passed only I know. It was too difficult for me. We shared uncountable text messages between us and numerous hour on voice call. It was like we didn't want the service provider to be in loss. And yes, many sleepless nights followed. Counting the stars could have been our favorite time pass, but unfortunately, not many stars used to be visible in the sky over Delhi those days. Still it's same though.
   It was saturday night. Next day we were going to meet for the first time. It was around 1 a.m. and we were still on the phone. We didn't even had any plan to sleep off.
   "I want to tell you something." Palak said.
   "I too want to tell you something but I will tell it to you tomorrow." I said and imagined the sequences which were going to occur tomorrow, once again in my head. I smiled again.
   "It's kind of serious Rohan." she said. And I genuinely felt seriousness in her voice. My senses got an alert. I changed my position on bed in a fraction of second. Now I was sitting and firmly holding the cell phone onto my right ear. My eyes were wide open and could see everything even in the darkness of my room.
   "What happened? Any problem? Is everything okay?" I asked in all serious tone. Many dangerous thoughts crossed my head. My heart beat had started pounding up.
   "I am absolutely fine. Don't worry about it. Actually I want to tell you few truths before we meet. And it's important." She said. I relaxed. But at the same time, her last few words were enough to confuse my head. I wondered what she was talking about? Which truth of her life is still not in my knowledge? I knew every little things related to her I guess. Wait. Was she talking about the fact that how she knows me from last few years and how did she got my cell number? Is it still important enough now? I guess not.
   "Okay tell me." I said in the same confused tone.
   "Remember the day when we first exchanged the texts? That day you asked me about my identity and I told you that I am Palak. And then onwards you never asked me about how do I know you and from where did I get your number. You trusted me and never asked about my personal identity. Yes, you know a lot about me but still, a few things are there which you don't know, which I never told you. Now, it's the time that I should tell it to you." She was speaking in a very composed tone and I was listening to her. I thought for it. But it was too late to bother for such small things. I was in love and that was more than enough an introduction. I didn't want her to think so much about anything. I just wanted to talk to her but not nonsense. I wanted to talk about more important things. And I forced her not to speak about past identity or actual identity.
   We decided the place to meet and went off to sleep. Though, it took another half an hour to get slept actually. But, it happened and I was meeting palak in my dream. The girl whom I never had seen before. The girl with whom I was in love.

continues.....

35. Leg pulling

   "What..? I am in a problem and you are smiling? This is not done yaar. Tell me what should I do now?" I said irritatingly. He didn't respond again. He just kept looking at me and smiling. Now I was going out of my mind. I was feeling like to punch him on his face. And believe me, I could have done it if he wouldn't have spoken at the moment.
   "No... I mean I am trying to find what has happened to you? Look at you, you don't look like yourself. You are not talking like the Rohan I know. I know that you wanted to changed. You wanted to fall in love. And see, you are gone. You are down. You are out of your hand now. I just can't believe it that you are the same Rohan." He saved himself from my punch. But instead of solving my problem, his words confused me more. I was dumb enough to understand his words. I just not wanted to go on a date with Shreya and I didn't have the guts to say a 'no' to her directly. And so, I just wanted a help from Rajeev. But he was talking nonsense, than to solve my problem.
   "What are you talking about? Tell me how to do it? Will you talk it to Sid and pass the information?" I asked confusingly.
   "Don't worry about that. It's not what I am worried about. It will be taken care of. But I am worried about you yaar. I mean, what are you turning up into. I am afraid. I mean, no. Believe me I am afraid of loosing a good friend like you. Please. Come back." He was still looking at me in the same way. I was happy that he will pass the info to Shreya but at the same time, his words were too confusing to understand. He was sounding strange. Or, may be I was too dumb to get his simple words.
   "Thanks yaar. Thanks a lot for making me relaxed from this part. Now stop looking at me this way." I said presently. But inside, I wanted to squeeze my own head for not getting him, or for he was irritating me and confusing me too much.
   "My friend is gone. Really. I lost you Rohan. But I request you one thing, please show me that girl who took you away from us. Yes, I mean it friend." He said and dialed a number on his cell phone. Thankfully, he was not looking at me now and I could concentrate on my own thoughts and yes, most importantly I could concentrated on my lemonade. He was busy listening to the caller tune of the person whom he had called. It was Sid, I found it later. He asked about his whereabouts. He was in the college I guess. So, he asked him to join us in the coffee shop. Now, there were going to be two person for pulling my both legs.
   He reached within next 20 minutes. We had ordered another cup of coffee for us. He had a seat and looked at us confusingly. And he asked me about what happened to Rajeev. I said, I don't have any idea and it was true. I knew that he was pulling my leg but he was so serious about it.
   "I don't know what should I say Sid? Should I be happy or sad? And the same is going to happen with you when I will tell you the truth, I guess." He said in the same tone. Now, it was turn of Sid to get confused. He looked at Rajeev with the great confusion. "And the truth is, our friend is in love. Rohan is in love with a girl." He said in the same tone and then he smiled the widest. Sid and I had the totally different expressions. Sid and Rajeeve were looking too happy and I was like 'what?' Like really? No. No way. I just like palak. I am not in love yet. But at the same time, I was too smiling somewhere inside.
   After that I gave many proof that I was not in love. But, they were busy pulling my leg for next half an hour. We left the coffee shop in the evening. They dropped me at my home.
   I entered my home and I went to my room. I rolled on to my bed and I found myself in front of the mirror. I was smiling. I got up and sat on the bed. I moved my hand in my hair and Rajeeve's words  crossed my mind again. Really I was in love? I smiled again. I don't know what it was but now, I was more excited to meet Palak on sunday.
   (Next post, next day)

34. Asking for help

   I decided against the date with Shreya on Friday after a lot of thoughts. But now was a bigger question ahead. How to tell it to Shreya? It was a little tough for me to pass on my decision to a extremely cute girl like Shreya. I have never done it. Saying a 'no' to a girl was a big deal for me. But I had to do it anyway. So I thought to take some help from my best buddy. And I called Rajeeve. He said, he was in the badminton court for his match. I walked towards the badminton court where there was college team selection going on for inter college competition. And so, they were testing players through conducting matches between them. They had asked me to give a test for tennis but I preferred not to go for it. 
   Anyway, when I reached the court, a match was going on between Rajeeve and Shyam. I had to wait for him. He was playing well but his opposition was better than him. He lost the match. And he was out of the selection process with that defeat.
   I thought not to ask my questions to him as he will be upset, I thought. But he was absolutely normal. It was very likely of him. He never bothered about anything. Not even when he failed in two subjects during our schooling. His father had a lots of money to keep him tension free.
   "I have something to tell you Rajeeve." I said when he walked to me. We were sitting in the very little crowd. And in the court there was another match going on between two girls. Though, I didn't had any interest in watching them jumping in the court in short skirt, but I was with Rajeeve and he never missed these badminton or tennis clashes between two girls.
   "What?" He looked at me and said.
   "Here?"
   "What's the problem here? Tell me. I am all ears." he said casually. But I knew he won't listen to me anything here. One high jump on either side of the court and his ears will get deaf.
    "It's kind of serious yaar." I had to act serious a little. But not any kind of seriousness was enough to make him leave the match. I had to wait for another half an hour. Fortunately not any other match was there on that day and we walked out of that area.
   We decided to go to a coffee shop near by. And we were there within next fifteen minutes. We ordered two lemonades and a hot chocolate cake there.
   "Now tell me your problem." He asked after giving the order.
   "It's related to friday's date. I don't want to go." I said in a soft and serious tone.
   "Is this your problem? Wait, am I your date for friday? Then let me tell you buddy, I am straight and I like to go on date with girls only." He was still kidding. I didn't like it.
   "Be serious yaar. I am talking about the date with Shreya which you and Sid planned. I don't want to go out with her." I said with the same serious tone. It striked him. And when he got what I said, his expression was like 'what? But why?" I told him everything what was going on to my mind. I told him about Palak and the texts and the calls and everything. I also told him that I liked palak. He listened to me with all the concentration. And by the end of my story, I found him smiling. I couldn't understand why was he smiling. I asked him but he kept smiling continuously. I waited for him to suggest me. I waited for him to speak. I tried to read his face but couldn't find anything other than that smile.
    (Next post next day)

33. Excitement build up

   It was Palak's number flashing on the screen. I took a breathe of relief. Hopefully, everything was fine. At least she called me back and I felt relaxed for the moment.
   "I am so sorry yaar. Really. I am sorry. Please forgive me." I said as soon as I recieved the call.
   "For what?" She wondered.
   "You were around my place and I couldn't be your company." I said in a disappointed tone. Really. I was disappointed for not making it.
   "Oh common yaar Rohan. Don't be silly. I can understand it that you were in class. We can meet some other time. Don't be sorry okay." She said.
   "That means you are not angry with me ?"
   "Not at all. Why would I be? I don't have any reason good enough to be angry." She said and my heart exclaimed.
   "Really. Then why didn't you receive my call?" I couldn't hold back my curiosity to ask. She said that her cell was running out of battery and so it got switched off automatically. And she was on the way at that time so she reached home, plugged in the charger and then called me. I understood it all. And the answers were all present now for the questions which popped up some times back.
   "When are you free next time around my home? We can meet then." I asked after she ended with her own story.
   "I am free for you every time, where ever I am."
   "Right now?"
   "Yes. I am kind of free right now too but not around your home. I am free in my room right now."
   "Okay then. See you in your room in the evening. But make sure that your room partner is away from room. Okay?" I said. Though, I didn't had any plan visiting her right now. But yes,  I wanted to see her. I liked talking to her. In fact, I liked her and I had developed a little soft corner in my heart for her. I was just a meeting away from falling in love with the girl behind so many text messages and a sweet voice. You can say that I was eager to fall in love with that unknown face.
   "Not possible. I mean to say that you may come but my room mate will be there in my room. But I would love to meet you outside my room. I will wait for you if you decide to come." She said. I could feel the happiness and excitement in her voice.
   "But I want to see your room. Can't you take me there?"
   "Oh... I see. You want to see my room. Good. But you know, there is nothing special in my room." She said in such a dramatic tone that I am sure she must have had a great facial expressions to watch. I missed that.
   "Yes, Of course there are special things in your room. Everything which has a place around you is special. They are so lucky to see you everyday when you wake up and when you go to sleep. They can even see you throughout the night when you sleep. I am feeling too jealous of them right now." It was too flirty but I meant what I said. I was not flirting. It came naturally.
   "Wow! You speak so well yaar. Any girl can fall for such lovely words. Really." She said.
   "You?" Instantly slipped out of my mouth.
   "What?"
   "Nothing. So when can we meet? Anywhere? At your convenience." I tried to distract her attention from my previous accidental word. And I was successful doing so by some extent.
   "Sunday I am free for all day. No classes are there so we can meet on sunday, if you don't have any problem." She said after thinking a bit. What problem I could have. I didn't have any problem in meeting her even at odd hours of the day or night. I was free for her 24*7. I agreed for it. And we hung up after talking for another 15 minutes.
   Though, sunday was far away but excitement started building up at the moment when she said that she will meet me. And why not? I was going to meet the girl with whom I was chatting for last two months now. The girl whose every message was a treat to read. The girl whose voice had made me fall many times. The voice which had made me feel that I have heard it many times before and I am hearing it for the first time at the same time. Finally I was going to meet that girl.
   Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the middle. Wait! Friday had something. Yes, before meeting Palak, I had to go on a date with Shreya. Should I or not? Will it be right or wrong? But, what to do now? Should I meet Shreya for just the sake up formality? Yes. I should, I decided. But my heart was still excited for Sunday.
   (Next post, next day)

32. Overflow of questions

   "Hey... where are you?" I got this message in the middle of the class.
   It was around 1 in the afternoon. I was attending a very boring lecture, just because it was Sid's favorite subject. Though, I didn't had that much of guts to sit in the front rows of the class during the lectures, so we were all sitting on the last bench. I was almost sleep when my cell phone made me feel it's presence through the vibration. It was Palak's message. I read and replied with the truth immediately.
   "I am getting bored in the class. Why?" I wrote. Though, I don't ask much questions but yes, I asked it this time.
   "Oh... Continue with it then." I got her reply. I could feel the disappointment in her words. Now my all senses were back to work and I was all concentrated onto my cell screen. Read the text again. And I felt the same again. I dialled the number but soon I had to press the red button as I was in the middle of the class.
   "What happened...? Any problem...?" I texted her in stead of calling. Or, you can say that I was forced to text in stead of calling.
   "No. Nothing. Actually I was around your home and I had a little free time. So I was thinking to meet you today. But leave it now." I got this reply. The happy and the sad feelings entered my heart at the same time. I was happy because Palak wanted to meet me. And I was sad because we couldn't meet that day. Our first meeting was forced to be postponed. I couldn't see her that day. I couldn't see the face behind a beautiful voice and words for few more days. Though, I wanted to fly and reach her but the fact was the distance between my home and college. Almost 45 minutes in the traffic of Delhi. And minimum of 35 minutes if used metro. Anyway, she went without meeting me and I spent rest of the class restlessly. I couldn't sleep and lecture was too boring to concentrate on. I continued cursing Sid throughout the class as he had forced me to attend the lecture. I cursed the proffessor for irritating me with his nonsense. And I even cursed myself for many unidentified reasons.
   Anyway, the lecture ended and we came out of the class. I swore that I will not attend the same lecture again in life. The first thing I did after the class was I punched Sid on his chest. He didn't mind and thought it was a normal reaction but the reason only I knew. And then I dialed the most special number in my cell phone i.e Palak's. She didn't receive the call and many thoughts crossed the road of my brain to heart. What happened? Was she angry? Why? For I couldn't meet her? But I was in class? Many questions popped up but not any answer were there in the popping list. And a traffic jam of questions occurred when I made the second attempt of calling Palak, only to hear the operator's computerized voice. It said that the number I was calling was switched off. I tried again to prove my ears wrong but no. They were perfectly fine I guess. I heard the same computerized voice again and again. I cursed many people again. I felt like broken up after making the last attempt of calling. I felt like drowning. And my mind was about to crash due to overflow of unanswered questions when my cell phone vibrated again after almost 45 minutes.
   (Next post, Next day)

31. The conversation

   For next half an hour we were alone in the room. Neither any of the rest three came, nor she moved out of the room. Though, I didn't care much as I was busy with Palak in texts. But, soon I felt the environment a little heavy.
   A pretty girl was sitting alone with me in the room and I was busy in my cell phone. I was being too rude with that girl, I guess. I turned my right to look at the girl again. Her eyes were too stuck in her cell screen. And fingers were on the keypad. I thought not to disturb her. But then, 'may be she was feeling bored' thought came and being a gentle boy I thought to interrupt her. I thought about 'what should I say?' and 'how to start the conversation?' for a little while. I framed many kick start sentences but soon I gave up and decided to keep it simple.
   "Hey... getting bored?" I asked simply. She heard it and her hand fumbled with the cell, as like she was caught red handed doing crime. She looked at me with her deepest eyes. How can't any one not fall into these two oceans? How can someone not jump into these two sea of love? But, I did. I controlled myself and the reason was a girl whom I had never seen.
   "No no... absolutely not. I am okay." she said after a few moments. She was still looking at me and I had started feeling uneasy with that sweet innocent look. I removed my eyes from her and tried looking here and there. At the same time, my cell phone vibrated again and this time I ignored it. I preferred not to be rude any more.
   "So... Exam's over...?" I asked. It reminded me the day when I had asked these two sisters for dinner. That day and this day. Lot's of difference was there. That day I was too noisy and kind of desperate. And today, I was calm and composed and I was feeling like my search for true love was ending. I was more happy today. And the reason was Palak possibly.
   "It was good. Now waiting for the result. Hopefully we will get a good college." she said. It was good that two people had started to talk. And the calmness of air vanished as the talk progressed. Though, we were not talking like old friends but still a lot of information had been exchanged between us.
   From a long but short conversation, I came to know that Shreya and Saumya were twins. Saumya was few seconds elder. They had a younger brother too. Both were the pass out of higher secondary and had given the exams for engineering entrances. Saumya liked engineering but Shreya was forced to do it. And she preferred not to hurt her parents. I felt a little bad for her for a moment. But then, it was okay. She was doing it for her parents.
   I too told many things about myself but yes, I skipped a lot too. Anyway, that was a good night party. We had dinner together and then started the drinks. All the five person were drinking in one room. One by one, I lost the count. It was after a long time I was getting drunk. And that night was the heights of my drinking history. And soon the history repeated itself. We all went in the arms of sleep on the floor itself.
   Wait. Did I tell you that they planned another dinner for me with Shreya next week? That means another unofficial date.
   (Next post next day)