Conditions apply*

Conditions apply*

She was staring at her phone

and

fell asleep after waiting two long hours.

That was the ONLY time her phone use to ring in the whole day.

Perhaps he forgot to call her today,

while talking to his girlfriend.

What if...!!

What if...!!

He was still on his knees. She had rejected his proposal. "Thank god he had not called his friends", a thought crossed her mind. But then, she saw him getting up with a smile on his face. His smile confused her. He came towards her, shook hand with her and wished her for a great future. She was standing like a statue, and when he was about to leave, she asked him, “Are you happy because I have said no to you?” “What? Are you mad? No. It’s not like that?” he replied with a fake laugh. He waited for her next question. “Then why are you smiling? Are you smiling at me?” She asked without any hesitation. “No, I am happy because I’ll never have to wonder that what if I had asked you.” He walked away with a smile on his face and pain in his heart. She was still confused.

That Rose

That Rose

The rear side of house and backyard was lit by a small dusty lamp. The drainage pipe was connected to the wall at a point in line with the window sill. Pipe shook as he climbed, swaying a little more with each pull, but he knew that it will hold his weight. He had been using this pipe since last three months. Victor had newly joined high school after moving to this town. His father’s transfer had brought him here and Aditi being a gabby girl in the class, became his first friend in the first week itself. Soon after few weeks of their friendship, they were occasionally seen lurking in the backside of football ground and often teased as a secret couple in school. Pipe was slippery today, perhaps because of drizzle. Victor climbed to a certain height and then swung his legs until he got his feet onto the window sill. Aditi, immediately closed the curtains after pulling him inside her room. Victor held her pressing her back against the wall, holding her wrists trapped above her head. As usual he had a rose in his lips. He always brought a rose for Aditi, despite of the fact that Aditi never liked roses, she infact liked a flower but didn’t know its name. This April of 1995 was special; it was Aditi’s birthday tomorrow. A blade of moonlight slipped from the curtains, casting a beam upon her face. He kissed her, while she kept her eyes closed. He gave a set of silver anklets. It was their last meeting, atleast for now. Despite of Aditi’s arguments and pleas, her family did not agree on leaving her alone in this city, they were all shifting to a famous metro city in Karnataka.

After completing her graduation in computer science, now Aditi was working for a famous IT consultancy. They both had lost contact in these years. He never called her or perhaps he never had her phone number and Aditi too never visited back the same city. Today while she was drinking coffee in the cafeteria, she felt his presence or perhaps she was missing him, she had always missed him. She finished her coffee and returned to her cubicle. As she sat in front of her computer, she was startled to see a rose on her table waiting for her with an unopened letter. There was no name on it.

But still, Anjali had a smile on her face.

But still, Anjali had a smile on her face.

But still, Anjali had a smile on her face. She had a very rough day. It started with arguments with her project manager, that too because of someone else’s fault; then her friend didn’t turn up for the lunch, then online order got delayed  and the worst part, now she had to attend the marriage party this weekend, with her relatives. Not only the parties but she never liked her relatives too. 

She was working for a reputed media firm in Pune. After completing her masters in media management, last year, she had joined this firm through campus placements. Her roommate was Saira, a young, dynamic, college going girl. After taking dinner, while Anjali was doing the dishes, her mobile beeped. Saira, who was watching “House”, looked at the blinking light, on table and shouted, “Di, koi message aya hai!” She always addressed Anjali with “Di”, which was, perhaps a shorter version of “Didi”. Anjali, who was busy in her work, replied without bothering, “please, dekho kiska hai.” Saira had already checked the message. Anjali’s ex-boyfriend had been on a date today, with another girl. Saira, who was waiting for Anjali to ask, replied, “Aapke X ka hai, shyad.”, pretending that she has not read that message. 

Apart from being roommates, Anjali and Saira were very good friends too. They shared almost everything. Anjali was done with the dishes. She came back while drying her hands with the towel and sat on sofa besides Saira. Anjali was in a relationship for almost one year but recently they broke up because her boyfriend was a drug addict and had “no more feelings” for her, however, Anjali has not stopped talking to him, unlike he had expected. They were now trying to treat each other as friends, normal friends. Saira always wanted to ask Anjali and today, when she saw the fading smile on Anjali’s face, she couldn’t resist herself and asked, “Di why do you still talk to him? Even after what he has done to you.” Anjali looked into the eyes of Saira and smiled, with pain in her eyes, “I never ignored any of my friend.”, Anjali replied.  ”But he is not a good friend and so you need to change this habit.” Saira was already prepared with her reply. Anjali thought for a while and replied, “When he did not leave his bad habits for someone, who truly loved him, why should I change a good habit of mine for someone, who doesn’t even care about me?” said Anjali, while writing back to her ex.

Was it the bird?

 Was it the bird?

In these very moments, indeed he was not listening to her, distracted by a pigeon couple. He felt very soothing to see those birds playing and loving each other, away from the worries of this mortal world. They reminded him, the beginning of their own relationship, those good three months, when they both were together; they had laughed without reasons, loved lavishly and enjoyed each other’s company. But now, after three years, something was changing or perhaps something had already changed. They had to put efforts to keep conversation going; even the fights were not interesting anymore. In this long distance relationship, it was only these phone calls, which had kept their relationship alive. But now, these calls were not helping anymore.

“Are you even listening to me?” she screamed, he came out of the ocean of his thoughts and trying to hide slapdash, he replied, “yes, of course, I am listening.” She was complaining because he usually left calls in between, to do other things. “I feel like I am your least priority and I hate it.“, her voice had a touch of irritation. “babu please don’t say that. You are the most important person in my life and you know it very well.” He took a deep breath and continued, “Okay, from this very moment I have decided that I am not going to do anything at all while talking to you. But baby please smile now, I can’t see you sad.” he tried to cheer her up or perhaps tried to cover up for his mistakes. Then she said something which he was not expecting. “Its our daily story, our fights, arguments, your excuses, and your promises, I am fed with all these. I don’t think this relationship can tolerate any more fights.” It was his turn to say something.

And then suddenly, out of the blue, a cat pounced at those birds, giving them no time to escape. Before he could understand anything, the cat already had caught one of those pigeons in her jaws. He leaped towards that cat and tried to rescue the little bird, which was struggling for its life. Losing his fortitude, he ran after that cat and even picked a stone and threw it on that cat, forcing it to leave the prey out of its hold. He ran to help the bird. At the same time somewhere on the grass, a notification light of his phone was blinking, and a message was there on his screen, “you will never change but our relationship status has!!” 

Perhaps something had died.