Love - A Guest Post

A challenge is incomplete without a Guest post. And that too from a friend who writes so brilliantly and with so much of beauty. So without much delay here goes…

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Shristy’s whole world was falling apart; she always felt proud of being the happiest person. However, if anyone reads her mind now then they may come to know that there is not even a single ounce of happiness present there. The cool and calm girl now wanted scream, cry, hide, and above all she wanted to die. She however remained quiet, because at times when anger and frustration are at peak there is nothing else that could be done than gazing at the blank ceiling or a wall. The sky blue ceiling that she gazing at was blurring away, and she suddenly felt as if she was dying. Yeah, her vision was blurring, her heart was pounding. This is indeed death she thought, but unfortunately it wasn’t death. On the other hand, she lost her calm, and she was fainting. She was lucky enough that her fall was cushioned by her pillows and mattress.

“Shristy, Shristy…” – This was all she could hear, Shristy was her name, it was the bold and beautiful her. It was her roommate Priyanka’s meek voice that was more of a scared scream now. Priyanka and Shristy had rented a small flat in an apartment for themselves in the busy and beautiful Bangalore. Priyanka was now splashing water on Shristy’s face, after so much of water-splashing and few hard slaps Shristy regained her consciousness or at least she woke up. Priyanka gave her an awkward hug.

Shristy however didn’t reciprocate the hug; she was sad and angry that she was alive. The two most important people in her life had left her all of a sudden without any notice. All she wanted now was to go deep in to the earth and get buried forever. However, Priyanka’s fuming voice distracted Shristy’s suicidal plans. Girls are so persuasive especially in getting matters out of one’s mouth. Thus, Shristy got persuaded by Priyanka and she opened up the last half an hour events to her.

Speaking to someone whom you trust and who listens patiently always helps especially for the estrogen charged species. Shristy was no exception; she started to open up completely because Priyanka and she were best friends since High School. Priyanka is someone who knows all her worst secrets.

-30 minutes ago-

Nikhil had called Shristy. That was the trigger to Shristy’s bad luck and tragedies. It was an undeniable fact that whenever Nikhil called her heart skips a beat. He was the one and only love of her life, the apple of her eye, and all the cheesy romantic movie lines were as if it was made for him. They were the real life Cinderella and Prince Charming. This love was unique because for both Nikhil and Shristy, they were each other’s first and only love. They were until this very moment in relationship for almost 3+ years. They were classmates, best friends, and lovers, but now this call that was going to make them ex-lovers.

This time when her Lumia flashed his name she had an instinct that something was terribly wrong. She was hesitant for the first time to pick his call. “Shristy”, he said. It was a whisper, a warning which was on contrary to his romantic “Hey darlz, hey honey”. Of late, his calls were more formal and short. It was as if his calls were out of formality and habit instead of love. She replied back with her cheerful yet artificial “Hey Nick”. When you know the relationship is on rocks, you can’t be truly cheerful but Shristy was tactful enough to put up a cheering face. Immediately he said “It’s over Shristy, this long distance thing isn’t working anymore. There is no love and no magic at all” and he paused for a reply from her. She knew something was wrong but she wasn’t expecting a break up, she was still confident that he was joking. She collected all her senses and asked “Are you joking? Nick”. Her mind knew that he wasn’t joking but her heart debated that he was indeed. This time something happened which never happened before, Nikhil shouted; never in the past 3 years he had raised a voice against her. He was as cool and jovial as Shristy was. “CAN’T YOU GET IT? IT’S OVER FOR GODSAKE” and before she could respond he went on “Don’t call me again, let’s end this with this wretched call itself” and the line got disconnected with a beep.

She replayed the whole conversation, once, twice, thrice. He can’t be gone, he is all she had. He was her life. She wanted to call him back and explain but what will she explain when he didn’t put in front of her a question or reason? She reached for her Lumia but before she could call him, her phone beeped with her favorite “Ek main hoon aur ek tu” ringtone and she without seeing the name knew it was her sister Payal. In midst of this break up tragedy, she was glad because Payal was not just an elder sister but a best friend too. She always wondered exactly how Payal calls or meets when Shristy needs her the most. May be that is what is a Sister-Magic.

When Shristy swiped up and tapped the answer button, she was in for a surprise or is it going to be a shock? The hard yet breath taking male voice said “Shri dear”. Only her family members and Nikhil who she considered as a part of family called her as Shri. Shristy replied with a monosyllabic “Yes”. She then reluctantly added “Varun”. She called her brother-in-law by his name since he was Payal’s classmate and Shristy’s school senior. He was blabbering, half stammering, and posing her irrelevant formal questions like “how are you, had your dinner, et.al”, he didn’t even wait for her response. She asked him what happened. He paused and breathed heavily. Finally, “Shri, listen” came a well-known voice of Payal’s on the line. Shristy’s heart was pounding faster, faster than it was when Nikhil called. She brushed away Nikhil’s thoughts for a moment and finally tried to reply but before that Payal’s half sobbing and half stammering voice told “Dad is dead”. Shristy couldn’t believe her ears but she was neither ready for hearing it once more. All things were happening in a moment; Shristy’s Lumia felt down with a thug and she became stupefied as if she had been hit by a stunning spell. She was gazing at the wall and that’s when she had fainted.

-Now-

Shristy felt relaxed after narrating the tragic story of hers to Priyanka although she wasn’t less worried but she felt more confident. Without any warning, Priyanka took in charge of the situation, she took Shristy’s phone from the ground, removed and replaced the battery back and switched it on. The blue monster sprang back to life. While she was hunting Payal’s number in one hand, she offered a water bottle to Shristy with the other. Priyanka called Payal and informed that Shristy is shocked and that she will reach Chennai as early as possible. Priyanka opened the laptop and checked for flights and since she could find tickets till next afternoon which was obvious she dialed to KPN travels number and asked the dealer to keep two tickets for her to Chennai (it was a routine which they do in case they don’t get flight or train). She gazed at her friend who was sitting still like a statue. Just that she was a sad, beautiful, tragic statue (even at this moment she could correlate a Taylor Swift song). She checked the time it was 7:45 PM exactly 45 minutes left for the bus. She picked up few essentials, dumped it in the bag and pulled Shristy out of her stunning spell and made her wash her face and wear some fresh clothes. Finally by 8 PM they managed to leave the house and head to the nearby KPN boarding point in a taxi. Shristy finally asked “How will you go back Prinkles?” Priyanka was happy that Shristy at last spoke something and hiding her smile she replied “Go back where?” to which Shristy replied “back to our apartment after dropping me in bus stop” and Priyanka smiled naughtily. They have been friends for so long that even a smile makes them understand the meaning of the situation. Shristy screamed “You are not coming with me to Chennai. Are you?” and before Priyanka could finish nodding her head Shristy kissed her on her cheeks much to a huge gasp by the taxi driver.

After they boarded the bus, Priyanka tactfully gave Shristy a single sleeping pill and some Tropicano which she gratefully accepted and after some minutes she slept peacefully. This time it was Priyanka who felt stupefied she was in deep thoughts about Shristy. The way she met her, the way Shristy stood up against the whole world for Priyanka, how Shristy helped Priyanka after every single of her past three break-ups. Priyanka knows better than anyone else how hard this should have been for Shristy for Shristy doesn’t have a mom – Shristy’s mom had eloped with someone shortly after Shristy was born, Priyanka had asked Shristy only once to which she got the true reply. That was Shristy – frank, bold, never hesitating. Priyanka even knew how much Shristy loved her father and Nikhil. Shristy was not one of those girls who changed boyfriends; she was dedicated for past 3 years, and she never had a casual fling too. Thinking about all these, even Priyanka fell asleep.

At around morning 4’o clock, Shristy and Priyanka reached CMBT and they reached Adyar in another 20 minutes. While on the taxi, Shristy gathered courage and called Nikhil and informed of her father’s death half sobbing and half pleading. She wanted him back now more than ever. He replied rudely that “What you want me to do now? The maximum I can do is put a R.I.P Sanjay Verma in Facebook”. This time it was Shristy who disconnected the call. Now, she realized what Nikhil meant when the magic was gone.

When she reached home it was already full of guests and relatives. She couldn’t bear to see her father that way. She hesitated, but somehow she pushed herself to see him. He was calm, serene and handsome as always just that this time he was sleeping in an ice-box, and he is never going to wake up. She wept, cried, and screamed fully; no one stopped her, but Varun, Priyanka, and Payal were hugging her. Her scream was more wild and heavy. Finally they got composed finished all the days rituals and when they happened to sit alone just four of them Payal asked “Nikhil – he knows?” Shristy hid her pain and asked “Who is Nikhil?” Payal understood, that’s what she does – she understands Shristy without a need for additional explanation.

Epilogue:

After two years, Payal and Varun had a baby boy “Akshit” to whom Shristy is the God Mother. Shristy and Payal started a venture “Shriyal” – an all women boutique. Priyanka is engaged to her recent boyfriend after Shristy’s persuasion and advice. As of Shristy, she is Single at 25, a successful entrepreneur, a lovely aunt, a sweet sister, caring best friend, and a naughty sister in law. She is not waiting for Mr. Right but she is open to accept even a Mr. Wrong who can set things right. Time made her realize that loving and cherishing is her life more important than anything else.

About the Author:

Srilakshmi Indrasenan aka Stri is a freelance content writer and editor. She writes technical, creative, fiction, motivational, fashion, and relationship based contents. She has 4+ years of experience in content writing and editing and also she is open to jobs like EmCee and Wedding planning. She blogs at http://www.iamstri.wordpress.com/ and http://www.strilishtalks.wordpress.com/ where she writes on categories like fashion, social issues, short stories, memoir, and humor.

Who cares?

She looked very pretty today in bright red saree, stone jewelries and her long hair decorated with fresh jasmine. It was her wedding day. But the brightness her attire had, was not seen on her face. She looked sleep deprived and tired. She looked at the man who was going to be her husband in a few minutes, for the first time. According to their tradition, girls don’t have voice to opinion about their marriage nor the privilege to see the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. 

She couldn't feel any sort of emotions nor mere companionship towards him. Thou not yet ready for marriage, she expected a man who was near to her age, but seeing the person next to her, made her stop breathing for a moment. He was old enough to be her father!

How could she marry him? How could she spend rest of the days and nights with this old man?

She wanted to run off from there. Wanted to flee away from that crowd who showed no mercy on her. 

But even before she regained her breathe back, a mangalsutra was hanging down her neck. With her permission? With her smile? 

Who cares…? 

Home Atlast

Been child of divorced parents, her childhood was a race between hostels and parents places. On very vacation, either of them would take her to some foreign countries. But, most of the time they would be working and she will be confided in hotel rooms along with her help. 

So this is the first time she felt so alive. Her first job took her away from parents, their egos, and even her childhood memories. She was going to make this new city her home, one which she never had all these years.

“It does feel like home, doesn’t it?” she hugged herself and asked.

Pebble in the shoe...

When I read Vidya’s blog post, the first thing that came to mind was, “Oh! Then I’m too the victim of these pebbles”. Then of course the way she wrote it. Whenever I read Vidya’s blog, a sense of tranquility overcomes me. I could picture herself sitting on a very comfy couch with a cup of coffee and her trademark smile and actually speaking out all those things she have wrote. That’s the effect good writers have on me. And she’s one beautiful writer I adore.

Now about those hidden pebbles… Yes, I do have my share of them in my stilettos/sneakers/flats or whatever I wear. And the worst part is that I know these soft pebbles would eventually make me stumble upon my paths. But knowingly or unknowingly these stubborn things just stick to my toes. 

There are pebbles of anger! To self and to those certain people who made me question the loyalty of any relation. Thou I don’t hold grudges or hard faces on them or deny any good things from my side, deep down the fact that they had hurt me once are still buried. And, I’m one of those that come under ‘I-forgive-but-never-forget’ category. 

Then pebbles of guilt! For not making the maximum I had in me. Moments, I made my ambitions secondary. Days, I was eager to please others rather than self. People I lost because of sheer egoism and stubbornness. 

Pebbles of regrets!  When things didn’t work out the way I planned and life just took me off from the road-want-to-travel to a new one. Thou it was an awesome ride, now and then some what-ifs make me look back.

Anything else? 

Certainly I’ll be able to find some more junk in the dusted closet of my mind if I ponder deep down. Been an introvert in sharing and expressing emotions, detoxifying these pebbles out of my system would require so much of time. But yes, I’m working on it. Because, been a woman who wishes happiness all-around her, I don’t want these tiny tot pebbles who just tickles once in a while now to turn into a sharp edged stone and hurt me. 

Thoughts and Words...

After many years of solitude and hiding away from things that meant so much to her, today again she took her pen and notebook which was left abandoned to be dusted off in some lonely corner of her room. Turning the pages of the old book, she noticed her own beautiful handwriting depicting emotions and moments of everyday life from her past. The sight of her own wiring gave her the sorted inspiration to scribble down again.

Taking a fresh faded page, keeping her pen on top, she stared at the blank space waiting to be filled with the words oozing out of her thoughts.

But… like the once dusted book, her thoughts also seemed to have dusted off, leaving her back in the solitude zone… once again. 

Happens for a reason ...

" … The moment you walked inside the room I knew we were connected. Not by persons or personalities, touch or sight but through our souls.

Don’t know why you came and left in a hurry from my life, but we were meant to meet. To know… To give a piece of each other to each other … "

He read her words for the umpteenth time. They had met when he was in her city for a business party. She came up to him and introduced herself. They talked all through the night and when they left, she insisted that he see the city in moonlight. They walked around the place, embracing the beauty of the city, which looked even more spectacular in the moon. It was after dawn when they reached the doorsteps of her place and parted ways. He felt alone without her at the hotel room. But why? They were just together for a few hours? And still the prospect of going back, away from her made him feel so incomplete. And it was in that moment’s spree he decided to extend his business trip for a week.

For that whole week, he lived his days in her way. Completely away from stress and work pressure and like a kid who was so in love with life, enjoying each and every second. He never felt so happy and content with his life before, but now he never wanted this week to end. But everything has to end and this too did.

Back in his busy world, thou initially he tried to maintain his personal and professional life together, but before too long; he had to give up one. Knowingly or unknowingly he got tied up with his work leaving her behind. 

Now after two years, back in her city for yet another business meet, he read her message which she had send on the last day of his previous visit.

He felt a sudden urge to see her… but… what if she had moved on? What if someone else is there in her life?… then he would be unbalancing her life with his sudden appearance. He decided to leave all those questions unanswered… because as she said maybe there were only meant to be together for a short time…

Hey Baby...

How can a little baby who’s so tiny, that we actually hesitate even to touch him, wondering whether it would hurt him or make him uncomfortable, can be the center of everyone’s life all of a sudden?

Yesterday, I and a friend went to see another friend of us. And when we entered her room, next to her was lying a small bundle with just a tiny handsome rosy face peeping out. His face just made the time stand still and feel as if the world is so beautiful and made me think why we never thought before, that this little guy would be part of our gang sooner or later. Whenever we visit her, we used to buy her flowers and chocolates, that been her favorite, but yesterday we were thinking what are we going to get for the baby love.

I meet her the day I stepped inside my boarding school. Parents  been at the same country, added to our advantage and then and there started our friendship. Now after 15 years, I’m aunt to her baby boy. Awe… Life! Before I looked forward to meet her, but now I can’t wait to see the baby again.

Definitely children add so much beauty to our relations and to this very world. 

What you say?