The tournament and late night parties had left me exhausted and within a week I was to fly to India for the CBSE tournament. God knows how do Indian cricketers survive after so many matches.
Well, more then that I was interested in knowing the Jai-Ranbir friendship story.
I did feel like asking it directly to Ranbir and then dropped the plan.
But wait, I guess Ishita called up last night and she know’s the reason. Flip how the hell did I forget that.
The next thing I do, is try her number and it’s unavailable. Atleast 10 calls in a minute, just wishing that this time I might get through.
The suspense was beginning to kill me. I have no clue what the excitement was all about.
I again tried her cell after an hour and still off.
Why do these girls keep cell-phones when they want to keep it off? Just to show-off their fancy pouches.
And she doesn’t even have a landline to call up on.
Then back to cricket practice but calling up Ishita was all going on in my mind, so I was completely off play. And then we aren’t allowed to keep cell-phones on practice as it’s a source of distraction and now not having it was distracting me.
And the first thing I do after getting off the grounds is catch hold of my cell. And the unavailable saga continues.
I was actually getting frustrated to the core.
Today I decided to walk back home. Just felt like going on a long walk. So me and Sanjay decided to take on the walk.
There was more of cricket in our talks rather than anything else. Basically both of us have been vice-captains to the school teams in various matches and many a times my selection in the team has been doubtful like the one for CBSE Annual Meet.
On the way we decided to have a quick bite of a sandwich and so dropped in to a restaurant on the way.
We were just leaving the restaurant when all of a sudden Sanjay goes like,
“Hey Nikhil, that’s Ishita right, the girl we met at your party.”
I turned around with a sprang.
“And who’s that guy with her? I have seen him somewhere.”
“No idea. Lets leave. I am getting a bit late now.”
“Wait a sec. He is Jai, Science, our school only.”
Jai. What the hell? How the heck do Ishita and Jai know each other? I did not consider it wise to confront them now, so we just left the restaurant with the sandwich and a bottle of cold drink.
I was already confused with the Jai-Ranbir history and now there’s a new angle to it – Ishita.
“Jai and this guy Ranbir used to be really good friends. You would never see them separated. Then suddenly something happened that they could see each other’s face.”
Does Sanjay know something about them?
“Do you know the reason?” I asked.
He went in for a brief pause and then a car came honking and halted right next to us. It was Sanjay’s dad. So he boarded the car and left. I was alone walking, with so much of mess in my brains that I totally forgot that I had to leave for India, the very next day.
But again that thought vanished. Jai-Ranbir and now Jai-Ishita. What’s cooking? I was totally clueless.
Ishita was going to tell me, but her cell was off. And then I see her with Jai. I seriously don’t get the connection.
Well I was so getting bugged with this.
So next I do is call up Ishaan. I seriously needed a break. Even cricket, my passion couldn’t help me out. What’s wrong with me?
“Dude, where are you?”
“Practice buddy, you know naa..that I have that Youth Cult Fest happening in a fortnights time.”
“Ohh..yeah. By the way I am leaving tomorrow night for the CBSE Meet.”
“Awesome. That’s good news. But wait a minute, you don’t sound excited.”
“Actually…I am. But I don’t know, somehow I feel so low. I mean…I seriously have no clue why.”
“Dude,…you ok.”
I was silent. I was totally blank.
“Nikhil…you there? Listen, I am wrapping up the practice for the day. Meet you at our hotspot in 20minutes flat.”
Now that’s what I call true friendship. I knew that this event meant a lot for him. It was nothing less then a dream come true. But then he knew that I needed him urgently. And that’s why he was gonna be there.
And then there are people like Ishita who keep their cell off.
I reached the hotspot at the creek in 10minutes.
This was like the best place in town. You come here, alone or with friends; you are bound to go back happy.
The best about this place is that, everything around talks to you. I mean the passing water, that at times flashes up on your face, the birds that talk to each other, the breeze that blows by, the cool grass.
And everything of this has got a meaning a lesson to teach us.
The flowing water shows with its waves show us that life is just not the same. At times you love it, at times you hate it but that’s the fun of it.
The birds say that you are not alone. There is some one somewhere who cares for you and that person will always try to make sure that you never feel alone.
The breeze shows that you need to let things go by, specially those things which have turned up against you.
The grass tells us to be cool. Just because that’s the only time when we function normally.
“Want some fries?”
“Love you Ishaan.”
I just loved fries like crazy, and I was already feeling better.
“What have you been talking to yourself all this while about?”
“When did you come?”
“Since the time you have been in your deep-deep thoughts.”
I couldn’t help but just smiled.
“So still trying to unknot the Jai-Ranbir friendship mystery.”
“Actually,…yes.”
“That’s why I didn’t call up Ranbir. Because you would have been in an even more awkward position then.”
“Thanks for understanding.”
“Shut up Nikhil. Keep your thanks to yourself. Why are you so concerned about that? I mean its history, so why can’t you just let it remain an unsolved one?”
I again went silent. I did not have a reply.
“Nikhil, don’t you think more than that is required for a 17 year old guy.”
“I don’t know. But there is surely something that’s pulling me to it.”
“Why do you take things so seriously that they just lose the charm of it?”
“I am clueless yaar. I mean when I have heard something partially, I so feel like knowing everything about it. Its just the way I am. I just can’t help thinking about it.”
“And that’s why you have been messing up everything these days.”
“I didn’t get you.”
“Your cricket practices, your behavior at home, mood swings. Listen control your brain or else you will lose it forever.”
“But I have lived this way for the past 17years. And all’s well.”
“You must be kidding Nikhil. All’s well it seems. Dude nothing is well. Learn to ignore things, so what if it’s about your best friend. If he doesn’t bother anymore, if he doesn’t care, then why do you?”
“Even if he is wrong or has done something wrong or maybe is planning to.”
Ishaan went silent for the first time in today’s conversation.
“Reply Ishaan. How can you just see your friend ruining his damn life and stay silent. I mean I seriously cannot. No matter what it takes. I don’t care if considers me wrong or takes me in the wrong sense.”
“You are forgetting dude. You need to be in the system to change the system.”
“What system dude? Every second counts. By the time you try to enter the system only things change. By that time you might have actually lost your friend. So if in any case you are going to lose him, then why not by putting them on the right track.”
“Relax Nikhil. I think there is something more than Jai-Ranbir that’s bugging you.”
“Today I saw Jai with Ishita.”
“What?”
“Exactly I also gave the same reaction.”
“But just the other day she had told, that she knew no-one in our school.”
“No clue..Ishaan.”
“But so what, I mean like big deal.”
“Last night, Ishita had called me up and she told me that she knew the reason of their friendship split.”
“What rubbish. How’s that possible.”
“Now toh..even my curiosity is rising. So, did not she tell you the reason.”
“Actually my cell went off and the today since morning her cell is off.”
“Do you think that we should ask Ranbir straight?”
“I don’t think this would be the right time to as him. I mean we all are leaving for India in sometime. Maybe after that.”
“I guess you are right. But what about your mood. You are normalizing it or should I do the honours.”
“What you planning to do?”
Before I could even realize, splash water comes on my face from the bottle he was carrying.
And bang I almost run behind him the entire stretch of the creek, still outside our building.
“You are too slow Nikhil. God knows how they selected you in the cricket team.”
“Ya right. Its just that I injured my leg in the practice today.”
“Sporty reason. Anyways bye, its three in the night, go and sleep, you have to leave within 24hours.”
What the heck? It’s three. I had reached the creek at around 10. Time actually just flew by. And then now I was actually even feeling better. Thanks to Ishaan.
But wait. I was supposed to be home today before 10 or else Mom was going to kick me out or basically not let me in. Dead.
I was like Ishaan, I am coming over to sleep.
The next day I had an off from the practice sessions. Basically before killing a goat you feed them naa…same that way. Because after landing in Kolkatta I can’t even expect a single minute to chill-pill.
Well, that day I was busy like crazy. Instructions from Mom that don’t eat this, don’t try that, take care of yourself and a long list of do’s and don’ts.
Next in line was Dad. Don’t talk to strangers. Don’t go out alone. Don’t leave your rooms in the night. Kolkatta is not a very safe place and another list of Do’s and don’ts.
Then called up one of the coaches who was not coming along. Play this shot this way and don’t try this shot. Don’t let them know your weakness. This team is good at this. The pitches there are like this. The weather is going to be like that. One more list of Do & Don’ts.
I couldn’t help but listening to all this. And Di was busy laughing over me.
Then once packing was over Ishaan, Ranbir, Jai, Ishita, Bhavika and Sania came over to my place.
I was feeling like I was in the Indian Cricket Team and I was going to play the World Cup.
“So all set Nikhil.” started off Ranbir. To stay quiet is not in him.
“Yes, everything is fixed.”, I replied
“From now?”
“Yes. The hall, the date only the girl is left.”
“What you talking about?”
“You talking about my marriage only naa. All set it seems.”
And all of us started laughing and Ranbir was feeling so embarrassed.
That’s when Ishita came for the rescue.
“Why Nikhil? Very eager to get married. You are not even 18 yet.”
“Anything Ishita.”
Hearing her speak, it reminded me of Jai-Ranbir and Ishita knew the reason. But how and when would I ask her?
We were upto all sorts of time pass. Pulling each other’s leg. But then these are the moments I am going to miss for a month now.
Time passed by but I got no chance to speak to her alone. So the mystery was going to continue for atleast another month, still I return from India.
I left for the airport with Dad. And then Mom started crying as if I am going abroad for further studies and she wouldn’t see me for ages. Well that’s what you call Mom and you just can’t help it.
I checked in and Dad hugged me and was like,
“Go and make us feel proud.”
It felt so great to here those words. Dad would never express his feeling to us but I knew he was the best Dad on earth.
Once in, I called up everyone one after the other.
Here is what they had to say,
Ishita: “You better don’t come back without the cup.”
Ranbir: “Chak De.”
Ishaan: “Leave your heart back in Dubai and go.”
I boarded the flight and it was scheduled to depart on time. It was shocking that Air India was going to be on time and it actually even did.
But then around 10minutes after take off it landed back at the same airport.
A guy from behind my seat shouted.
“Kolkatta came. So fast. I did not even eat anything.”
But most of us were in a state of shock. I mean why the emergency landing.
...to be continued...
3 comments:
SHIT...WAT NOW??? Anoda twist!!!
The movie if i may call is goin in the most AWESOME direction...lv the suspense but u shud hv cleared the jai - ranbir friendship part :p
ahaan...movie..u mus b kidding...
newayz ur comments nd backing r highly appreciated...
nd Jai-Ranbir...jus wait nd watch weneva tht suspense uncovers finally...
Peace!!
Hardik Shah
tooooo goood!! well written
sim
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