Will She Say Yes?

 

Akele ho? Baatein karoge mujhse (Are you alone? Wanna talk to me), I woke up smiling reading this message. 

Don’t tell me you are speculating a girl name behind this message because if you are thinking so, I may disappoint you. This is an automated message sent by BSNL to all its customers. Though I know everything behind this message, I still enjoy reading it. 

With this, you may have understood how single I am in my life. Further, such messages are the only reason I never gave up on this SIM card even though it has the worst internet speed. 

Why do you always smile after waking up? Di looked at me in surprise.
Hehe… Tell me which sim card you are using? I asked folding the blanket.

Of Course! Airtel, she replied confidently.

Forget it! You will never understand the reason for my smile, plugging the headphones I went downstairs.

How can a SIM card be the reason for someone's smile? She asked annoyingly.

Yes, it can be. You have an alive example of it. At first, you need to have your break-up then get a BSNL SIM. Simple, you will find the reason. I guarantee you, they will never let you feel alone, I replied loudly.

What rubbish are you talking about, Shivam? She said annoyingly.

Let it be. You won’t understand. Ok listen! Say this to maa I am going to Kishore’s place and will come back at 7:00, saying that I took one more step ahead towards the door.

I don’t know what you are talking about but don’t say this again, idiot. She replied angrily. I guess the break-up part made her angry, hehe. I replied nothing and closed the door smilingly. 

I was the only one in our group who never ever had a girl in life. Although, I have tried sometimes but it never worked out. Therefore, with the passage of time, somewhere I had convinced myself that if there would be a girl in my life, she would probably be that BSNL girl.

(Kishore’s House)

Shivam bhaiya…Shivam bhaiya, chanting my name, a little kid from Kishore’s family came running towards me.

Golu bhaiya is sleeping over there, he fingered towards the room upstairs. That little cute face with such a soft loving voice can induce anyone. Also, I have seen that girls pay more attention to you when you have a cute baby in your lap. However, this also never worked for me. Over the years, I have completely turned into a guy who has buried his belief that someday with the sunrise his forlorn single and sleepy life will also rise and a girl herself will approach him. 

Golu, is the sobriquet of my 6'1” tall best friend, Kishore. Indeed, we are best friends but things between us are like two separate poles of magnet, completely different. Let me address him properly, he's good-looking, handsome, easy on the eyes, eye candy, appealing, dapper, suave, and fair. On one side where I had stopped thinking about a lady in life, he had to manage schedules for when and with whom he would talk. He never learnt how to say “NO” to someone and has a very calm behavior. He was like our Shah Rukh Khan who is admired by all, mainly by girls, and in revert, he respects all of them with all his heart. But our Shah Rukh has not found his Gauri yet.

Why are you sleeping even in the evening, idiot? I entered his room, sat down beside him and pushed his shoulder to wake him up.

What brought you here? He pulled the blanket up and covered his head.

Of course to ruin your sleeping habits. I am concerned about your fitness now, I replied and pulled the blanket down.

Now you have to get fresh and come along with us, I held his hand and lifted him up.

Us? Who else is down there? Pouring water on his face he turned to me and asked. 

I guess you need to freshen up properly. There are some uncles who come over and we need to join them. Who else would be there except our old buddies? I replied sarcastically. 

Hmm. Well, I can't see anyone except Rahul, cleaning his face with a towel he peeped down through the window.

Abhay is in his village, Prince is sick, Lekhraj is busy with studies, and so only three of us left with no work today, I replied.
 

Like always, he turned smilingly and we laughed together

Let’s go now. He turned the light off and we went out.

Have you seen his Jacket? I asked Kishore, coming downstairs.

Yeah, it’s looking nice, folding-up his sweat shirt he replied. 

Guess any price for it? I asked.
 

Well, around 1,200 INR? He shrugged while answering. 

That’s pretty good speculation but can you say how much he paid for it? I grinned while asking. 

Don’t tell me he managed to bargain it for 700 something? He looked surprised at me.

No way! I scoffed.
 

I knew….. It’s 500, before Kishore could gain his confidence I stopped him in the middle and said the actual price that Rahul paid. 

500, Are you serious? Bravo. How could he manage doing all these bargaining? Kishore asked in surprise.
 

It’s Rahul's thing. I think he must have been in our aunt's group,  I said laughing. Take my advice whenever you go on buying something from local markets, just take him with you. Buy things freely and let him handle the billing work. Trust me you would save a lot of money in the end. With these talks we reached him.

Nice one, Kishore praised touching his jacket.

There is a story behind this. That boy at the shop thought I was a dumb-ass. Can you believe he was selling this jacket with a fake NIKE brand for 1,200 INR and was trying to sell this to me? He narrated the whole story that I just finished with Kishore.

Yaa, we were talking about your bargaining style, Kishore patted on his back.

So, where are we heading today? I asked, rubbing my hands.

Temperature is a bit low today! I think we should walk to the Polo field. It’s near and nice as well. And sometimes I believe hiking is better than riding, what say? I asked, smiling.

Not a bad idea writer sahab (sir), Rahul said tapping on my shoulder. 

The Polo Field is a nearby stadium where youngsters come to play cricket, some middle and old aged come for a walk, passionate and dedicated boys come to run in order to get selected in the Indian army, and then some people like us who just come to the field for no specific reason.

We find a silent spot and just keep eye on what others are doing. The reason for choosing a less walked place in the field was that we did not want kids or uncles to hear some…okay more than some “F '' words that we use often. Certainly, we try to avoid it often but sometimes it comes out. Heat of the moment, you can say it. 

If you are thinking that we share some intellectual conversation, then somewhere in your head you got us very wrong. We discuss our old school memories, about someone we met before, sometimes politics, cricket, observing people near us, or so on. I must say that our observation was very good and so was our humour. But that evening was a bit different. We sat silently looking up into the sky.

Unlike other days, the number of people was less today. I could only see uncle-aunties, baba-dadi(Grand parents), and some few kids there. No matter how old they are, love can be seen between them. Tangled fingers and a smile on face was enough to tell how happy they are with each other. Perhaps the weather of that evening was trying to make them close and share a cozy moment together. In between these romantic ambience of the field, we were feeling proud of ourselves who have shown the courage to come out in this chilly cold rather than warming bedsheets like other slothful youth.  

Are you watching the same thing that I am looking at? Rahul asked.

Hmm, I nodded.

She looks so beautiful! I mean look at the sparkle of pearls in her eyes, the pigment of red roses on her lips, and that blush on her cheeks is collectively attracting me. Hey.. hey.. see the grace in her hand when she is touching her hair. Isn’t it so inducing, Shivam? Looking at somewhere that I was unable to figure out, he pushed my hand.

His exclamation somewhere confused me as Rahul could not have been interested in what I was looking at. I mean in aunties and dadis (Grandmothers)? Hell! No, I just said 'hmm' in my answer. But then what he is looking at, I thought for a while. 

I wish I could go and ask her out…have you gone mad or what? I screamed before he went on extending his fantasies. 

What's wrong with you? Are you into aunties now? I asked aloud.

What? When did I say that? And, what are you starting at? He turned back to me.

Of course! What you are looking at. These uncles and aunties who... Oh come on Shivam, do you think I was looking at these aunties? Well I'm not like you and I have a visionary vision. Before I could finish he shot a taunt at me I guess.

Ahmm…I didn’t get you, I said in confusion.

Look straight and tell me what you can see? Rahul asked. 

The same thing. An uncle is…damn Shivam, tilt your head a little left and see straight to the entry gate, Rahul replied screamingly.

Wow….the first word that came out of my mouth.

Now your eyes found the right place, Rahul smilingly answered to my “wow.”

Let it be…I don’t want to see her, I said, turning around to Kishore.

What’s wrong with you? Are you alright, Shivam? I mean just look at her. Doesn't she look like a beautiful fairy landed from heaven, he said, staring at her like a little kid watching a candy. 

Indeed! She is beautiful but I know nothing will change my life so instead of watching them and then regretting my fate, I choose not to look at them and sit silently, calmly and happily, I ended up with my head again towards those uncle and aunty. 

How could you be so pessimistic? He annoyingly replied. 

Experience buddy. I have become very optimistic about negative things, I replied.

So you don’t want to have a sizzling, stunning, beautiful, and hot girlfriend ever? Kishore looked at me

Beautiful…sizzling…like seriously. Don’t rub salt into the wounds. This might be your list but not mine. Okay tell me, have you heard that dialogue by Nawazuddin Siddiqui, “pasand-naa pasand ki toh baat hi choriye, aap larki hai, hum larka hai. Bss vivaah ke liye kafi hai '' (Let’s not talk about what we like or not. You are a woman, I am a man and that’s enough for us to get married), I replied annoyingly. 

Hmm.. I remember. But why did you say this? Rahul entered our conversation.

Because this is my life. Ever since I realized I was going to be single forever, I tore up the page that listed my criteria for a girl to be my girlfriend. So, now I don’t need any hot, stunning, cute, fair, or whatsoever. If she is a girl, it would be enough for me, I moaned my sorrow to them. 

I feel you bro, Rahul said, patting on my shoulder.

Oh that’s why you were exaggerating that lips, hair, cheeks, of that…I stopped when turned to the entry gate. Hey.. where did your fairy girl disappear? I asked Rahul.

She was with someone and he whisked her away, he said, staring at the entrance of the ground as solemnly as if a tragic incident had happened.

He may be her brother. And I guess since it's getting dark, he drove her home, I empathize with him. 

Maybe? He frowned at me.

98%, he will be her brother, I said with a smile.

You will surely get a girl in the middle of this winter. I guarantee you, we shared a high-five followed by a tight hug from his side.

You guarantee Rahul bhai? How much? I asked.
 

Aahmm…he waited for a while before answering and then came up with “98%.” It was exactly the same percentage that I predicted for him. I wish he could say one percent more than my prediction but it would never happen as we never want our friend to get more than we have or lose more than us. It should always be equivalent. However, this rule only works if you and your friend are on the same level. If someone is moving forward, then you should help him more than you helped yourself. Raise your 98% to 100% for your friend.

Note: Add this in your Friendship Rule. 

It’s getting colder and darker, we should also leave for home now before we get a call, I suggested.

Tring…Tring, Rahul’s phone rang.

Wait…wait…wait, Kishore, tell me who’s calling him, I asked laughing. 

Of course! His girlfriend? He replied and we burst out.

With girlfriend, we mean Rahul’s dad. It is because he keeps calling him whenever he is out. Indeed, we respect his concern for his son, but still this persistent calling made us give him the tag of Rahul’s girlfriend. 

Show us your phone? I asked. 

And we were right. It was his dad. He needs some privacy, I said, taking Kishore aside.

We moved towards the gate while Rahul was talking  to his dad in the corner.

Lesson: Never talk to your parents, siblings, or relatives when your friends are around, especially, male friends. Take a step aside and then talk to them. In case you avoid this, you will face the worst consequences. 

Do we know him? I asked Kishore.

Who? He looked around.

That guy standing in the corner, I pointed towards the corner of the field. 

I guess we know him but why is his head not straight? Is something wrong with him? Kishore and we ran towards him.

Hello… I patted his back.

Yes, he turned back. 

Abhay….we said simultaneously.

What happened? Why are you guys staring at me? He frowned towards us.

Were you on call, idiot? I yelled angrily at him. 

I guess so, he lowered his voice.

And if we are not wrong, she was on the call, Kishore asked.

Yeah, he smilingly replied

He is the guy who when talking to his girlfriend, no one can hear it even if you are sitting next to him. He tilts his head to the side where he holds the phone, places it between his shoulder and ear and then talks like the buzzing of bees.

Falling in love is like a first experience when you get into a river. You enjoy it, you play, you dive, it makes you happy, but when you try to go deep into it. It creates a dilemma for you. Either you will drown or will get yourself hurt. So, always try to hold yourself to the shore of the river. Don’t go deep, it will submerge you, I gave a philosophical knowledge. 

(This is not just for Abhay but for all of you who are reading this)

That’s deep and yeah, has a great sense but you know, I wonder how you collect such lines…I mean, someone who has never been in these things knows more about it than the people who are in it, Abhay replied.

It seemed like an appreciation but the smile that he added while saying “never been” has somewhere sounds like he mocked. Anyway, I let that go not because I have a big heart but because I had no answer to argue with him over that topic. He was right.  

Sometimes the result does not describe how much effort you added. This is how I learn and there is no need to wonder about it, I replied to his “wonder” part.

True, he smiled and said.

So do you often come here in this chilling cold to share your deep feelings with her? I asked, laughing.
 

Hahaha….no, it’s not like that. It’s just that I came for a walk and she called. That’s it, he answered.

And what brings you guys here? He asked, rubbing his hands. 

We were free at home so thought of going for a walk, Kishore answered.

Cool. Hey is that Rahul, Abhay asked.

Yaa, you had a far and clear vision, I replied. 

But what is he doing there? Talking like me? Abhay asked smilingly. 

Hahaha…yaa he is with his girlfriend…aah… I mean his father, Kishore said mockingly.

Okay guys, I’ll take your leave and we will meet soon. With this Abhay waved at us and left the ground. 

Okay..okay, I’ll surely tell them. Take care. We heard Rahul saying something about someone to his dad. 

So what was he talking about? Rahul asked, keeping his phone in the pocket.

Just about well-being and nothing important. So shall we leave? I gestured towards the exit door. 

Yaa…sure. With rubbing hands and blowing air in between it, we started moving. 

So everything is okay with Uncle, I asked.

Yaa..he is doing well, Rahul replied.

Great. I smiled.

Tring, My phone beeped. Perhaps it was a notification or some sort of text, so I didn’t check it and kept moving. 

Bhaiya…How long will you stay there? I think by this time the field should be closed. Right? I asked the guard when we came out. 

Just a few more minutes then I’ll push off, he replied.

Yaa..you should wrap up now. Temperature is getting down so you should leave for your home. Kids are waiting for you, I said smilingly. 

Yes…bhaiya, he replied with a smile. 

I haven’t seen you before, he said.

Perhaps you are new here. When did you join? I asked. 

A few days back, he replied. 

That’s why. We are regular here but yaa, we were busy with some stuff in the last few days so missed coming here, I said.

Okay. And thank you, he said, shaking hands with me.  

Why so? I asked shrugging.

Before you, nobody has even talked to me but the way you came near, talked to me and showed your concern . I really felt good, he ended up with a big smile.

It’s always a pleasure to make someone happy. I bowed my head with a smile and replied.

See you again, he said and went inside his room. 

My phone beeped again. I still avoided it and moved from there. 

Check the notification. It came again, Rahul suggested. 

I know it will be a message from BSNL, I replied.

Hahaha…oh that one. Ghar mae koi nahi, baat karoge kya? (There is no one at home, can we talk?) Kishore imitated them. 

She is Shivam’s dream girl. Rahul joined Kishore in mocking me. 

Ssssh…Mummy is calling, I made them silent before receiving her call. 

Hello..yaa mummy. I am just a few minutes away from home. Coming in a few minutes. I knew what she was going to ask so I said it before she could say. 

I know how near you are. Come soon okay, she replied.

Sure..sure, I cut the call. If you think you are smart, do not forget your mom is smarter. She knows everything. I mean you can't lie or hide things from someone who kept you hidden inside for nine months.

 

I need to move fast now. Mummy is waiting. I succinctly replied. 

Wait…Wait…wait..don’t keep the phone in, Rahul shouted. 

What happened? I frowned.

There is a notification. I guess it was a friend request, he said smilingly and took my phone.

I told you before, he must have been a lady before as it is the qualities that only ladies possess. They can even see thin and light hair on their husband’s shirts even from a mile away. 

There is a friend request. I think my 98% is turning into 100% tonight, he said jubilantly.

Shivam see, my prediction is turning into reality and now I’ll wait for your turn. Please make that fairy girl meet me again.

Hahah…first check it, no. I don’t believe there would be any girl or if there would be any, it would be a fake id, I showed no interest.

Can you please be a little positive for a moment? Let me check once, there are three friend requests, Kishore shouted at me and took the phone in his hand.

Fine. Read the names, I replied.

Aaquib Singh? Kishore read the name.  

Is it a name or an India-Pakistan border? Divided by borders united by names. I mean, see the secularism in his name, Rahul mockingly said. 

Hahaha…good one. See, I knew there would be no one. Anyway, read the next name, I said.

Rahul, Can you see a hope somewhere? Kishore smiled cunningly at me. 

Aahm…no..no..it’s not like that. It’s just I am trying to be positive only because you said, I answered back and turned my head.

I understand everything, haha. Okay let me read the next name, Kishore scrolled the screen down. 

Beauty Priya, he read the second name where both of them looked at me and laughed aloud.

Give my phone back. That’s why I never checked Facebook friend requests. I knew it and that’s why I was not checking it. And I am pretty sure you both were also aware of it but just to mock me, you took my phone, I replied in rage. 

Don’t get angry over it, Rahul patted.

I am going away. You have to get my phone safely delivered at home, I stepped forth.

What’s the next name? Rahul asked. Though I was moving ahead, I could still hear it.

It’s also a fake Id, Kishore replied. 

Are you guys coming or not? I shouted when I heard Kishore.

Give him his phone, Kishore, or else he would get angry. I am coming with you, Rahul ran towards me saying.

We both started moving while Kishore was still scrolling  my phone. Now, I also stopped looking at him and moved ahead with Rahul. 

Have you checked your old friend request? Kishore asked screamingly.

I told you I am very optimistic about negative things and so I never checked the bullshit list, I laughingly replied.

Who is Samayra? Kishore shouted from the back and that made both of us stop moving. 

To be continued……( Part-2)

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