Best Buddies - The last Singlet of the Triplet - Part 14

TO ALL NEW READERS, PLEASE READ FROM
Part - 1
TO KNOW WHATS HAPPENING IN THIS STORY.




Ranbir was back to Dubai and so was Ishaan. Even Ishita had landed in Dubai just a few hours back. So basically I was expecting life to hit normalcy soon and things to be back on track.

The first thing that Ranbir did after landing was to come to my place, and was taken by shock when he found out that I was almost hospitalized for low blood pressure, just because he broke the news of Ronak’s suicide to me. He then vowed never to break such news over the phone ever again.

Well, even I promised myself never to leave my friends, come what may. Stand by them at all times and remain friends forever. Its actually tests like these that help us realize what friendship means, and then people like Ishita, Ronak, Ranbir & Ishaan who add value to it. Still, I continued to consider myself a bad friend, no matter how much Sneha did try convincing me that I was a really good friend.

But things had changed a lot over the past week or so. Somehow Sneha dominated my thoughts, though totally as a friend and nothing more than that.

For instance, a huge party was thrown to mark the friendship day & celebrate the win of Ishaan and gang. I was initially hesitant to go, but somehow Sneha convinced me to go, just for the sake of my friends and for Ishaan, though Ranbir and Ishaan’s persuasion efforts failed earlier.

I was over the Ronak incident by now. And then suddenly Sneha arouse my so called hidden crush on Ishita. That also to such an extent that she even asked me to ask her out, before the friendship day bash, and go there as a couple.

Totally brainwashed by her, I totally acted as per her directions and in full enthusiasm without any normal consciousness asked her out, just for the party happening that night. She was taken aback, as she didn’t expect all this all of a sudden. And then Miss Diplomat very politely declined my proposal.

There the first girl I ever ask out rejects me. But somehow I didn’t feel so dejected. I took it very much sportingly as if nothing had actually happened. In real terms, somewhere deep inside my heart I was hurt; it’s just that I did not feel so. In real terms, I seriously don't think I had a crush on her. How can I?, she is such a sweet buddy, and thats about it.

Sneha convinced Ishita’s action by saying that probably she wasn’t ready for it, as I approached her without any signal of my having feelings for her. Girl’s are really smart at backing their counterparts very effectively, no matter if they have never met, or to whatever extent wrong they would be.


So I pulled myself together and got ready for the party. Di was like as if I was dressed up to see a girl or probably for my own marriage. And according to Sneha, the formals made my look like the most suited bridegroom of the day.

It was actually a bit embarrassing to be praised as a would be husband, but indeed I was flattered.

I was just outside the party hall waiting for Sneha, as we had decided to go together for the day. Actually Ranbir was gonna come with Sania & Ishaan with Bhavika, so, basically I just didn’t feel like going alone. It was a bit weird to go with a friend, but she had no issues, then why would I have.

Just then Miloni came along, alone. We spoke casually for a few minutes and then suddenly she goes like,

“Will you be my date tonight?”

I was just going to inform her that I have already a date for myself, when Sneha signaled from behind to go on with her. Somehow I was lost of thoughts so just went along with Miloni. Sneha knew about Miloni and my hidden infatuation towards her.

Somehow I was really pepped up, pairing up with Miloni that night. I danced like crazy that night. I had never enjoyed a party so much. Ishita, Ranbir and Ishaan were shocked to see me burning the dance floor with Miloni. It was a hell of a night.

Later on, after the party all of us went to the beach, as it was pretty close by and going back home was totally out of the question.

I was actually carrying out with Miloni, and the best part about it was that I myself was not informed about it.

Ishita, Ranbir & Ishaan were so dead sure that Miloni was just more than a date, they were even ready to bet on it, and were not at all ready to get off the stand they had taken. Somehow, after a really long deliberation by Sneha and intervention by Miloni, they agreed to the fact that I am still officially single, since birth.

It was a clear dark sky with the moon illuminated by the sun’s light. A perfect romantic night out. Miloni just then untied her hair, and she was looking gorgeous like never before in that navy blue gown.

Ranbir and Ishaan were just waiting for a chance.

“Somebody is in love.”, and soon Ishita, Bhavika, Sania and to my surprise even Sneha joined in.

I was out of words to defend myself again.

After a while, the girls were sitting together and discussing their usual stuff, and we guys were just staring at them.

Then suddenly out of nowhere, Ranbir got a rose and pushed it into my hand. And almost threw me towards the girls. I was really confused of what was going on around me.

There, Sania, Ishita, Miloni, Sneha & Bhavika, all stood in a semi-circle, with me at the center, and Ishaan & Ranbir behind me, kicking me on my back every few seconds to speak something.

And if all these sudden happenings were less, Sania pulled Ishita aside, and so did Bhavika pull Sneha. I guess they were indicated by Ranbir & Ishaan to do so.

There with the vast sea stretching behind us, the dark sky on top and the scintillating moon right over Miloni’s head, me kneeling down with the rose on one hand, and her hand on the other, I finally opened my mouth,

“Will the world’s most beautiful girl I have ever met, accept me as her boyfriend”

There was pin drop silence. The world around us as if came to a still.

“Yes.”, was all that she said.

And before even I stood up, rose petals came showering upon the two of us.

I had just given up the single tag, and these people were already as if in a mood to get the two of us married.

Ranbir and Ishaan congratulating me with the words,
“Enter the zone at your own risk.”

After all this, we all finally sat down by the seaside, exploiting the time and weather to its fullest extent.

Ishita began with the talks for the night,

“We dedicate this night to the newly weds, I mean the newly committed couple, Nikhil & Miloni. As the host for this midnight talk, my first question to the two of you, how did you people meet?”

I had just opened my mouth to reply, when Miloni started off, so I obviously had to shut up.

“Well, he was on his way to Kolkatta for the cricket tournament, and I was going there for a wedding. After some technical snag, my seat was shifted next to his. His face was worth seeing when I was seated next to him.”

But as far as I remember, I was sleeping. But she continued.

“His mouth was wide open. And what a dumbo he was, he did not even bother asking my name or anything. I only had to start the conversation. That’s how we met for the first time.”

Ishita then continued,
“That is true Nikhil style. Now it’s the turn of Bhavika & Ishaan. How did you people meet up?”

Is it that girls normally dominate in a relationship? I was literally sensing that. Here also, it was Bhavika who replied and not Ishaan,

“Well, we met a cousins wedding. He was from the groom’s side and I was from the bride’s. There is this ritual of hiding the groom’s shoes. So he was responsible for hiding them. He was looking really nice that day, probably the only time till date. I was told to get the shoes from him. I casually asked him for the shoes and he willingly gave them to me, realizing his blunder only after I left. After the wedding we met, and hit off really well. People already had started calling us a cute couple and they were like, how about two weddings today. And that’s how we are together today.”

Now, she went a step ahead of Miloni. It was actually an attempt to prove, their guy is better than that of others. And here, me and Ishaan scratching our heads, and thinking what was Sania going to come up with.

Ishita continued,
“So cute of Ishaan. Now, the third couple of the lot, Sania & Ranbir.”

And as expected, Sania spoke first,
“Jaanu, you want to tell or shall I.”, though it was a lovely way to ask, her eyes said it all, that you better reply in the negative.

Ranbir goes like, “Jaan, you shouldn’t even be asking, carry on.”

“Well, I was Nikhil’s date for the party at Spellbirds. There even Ranbir & Ishaan were present with their dates. Though I had come with Nikhil, I was more engrossed in a conversation with Ranbir. He was really a smart guy. We remained in touch for a while and then he asked me out before leaving for Bangalore, last month. Since then it’s been a great time.”

Well, frankly speaking that was really nice & sweet and the least exaggerating of the three and closer to reality. Hats off to Sania.


So basically that was all for one of the most memorable days of my life, as we took a cab back home, I dropped Miloni at her place, though the only thing missing that night was the goodnight kiss, probably some other day, well night.


...to be continued...

Best Buddies - Realising the importance - Part 13

TO ALL NEW READERS, PLEASE READ FROM
Part - 1
TO KNOW WHATS HAPPENING IN THIS STORY.





The journey back to Dubai was pretty smooth, basically like no hiccups during the travel. In the almost three hours flight, most of my time was spent smiling at the round of events happening in almost the last 2-3weeks.

The Jai-Ranbir friendship break up mystery, and leaving for Kolkatta just before the reality was going to be disclosed, then getting lost in the city, breaking the three instructions, losing the finals, back to Mumbai after months, then to Delhi, Ronak’s miserable life, Ranbir’s taunt, but to end on a happy note, Ishaan’s birthday.

Like its been said in popular movies, in the end, all’s always well, and if it’s not, then the movie is still left.

Post reaching Dubai, Mom had given me strict instructions to get back to the boards and make me realize that I was in 12th, the year that can make or break my life. My sports sir was like since this is your last year, prove your cricketing skills. And if this was less, Di goes like; in the last year in school also you will remain single.

My brain was already spinning with all this thoughts, when the movie of my life had another major turn awaiting me.

I was alone at home, and all of a sudden Ranbir called up.

“Hey, Nikhil, how was the flight back. Enjoyed with the airhostess on flight?”

“You got to be kidding dude. They were all those aunty types.”

“By the way, I wanted to give you some news.”

“Don’t tell me you are not coming back to Dubai soon. I will shoot you.”

“Dude, their is something more serious to talk about.”

I was feeling rather scared.

“What’s about it? Tell me.”

“Nikhil.”, and after an abnormally long pause, “Ronak committed suicide.”

“What?”
I had got the shock of my life. I was just not able to digest the news. And hundreds of questions like, why, how, when did all this happen came splashing into my brain.

“When did all this happen. And any idea why did he do so?”, I some how picked up myself and the courage to ask Ranbir this. I was actually in totters.


“The next day after you left, some policemen went to Ronak’s house for some investigation related purpose. That’s when they revealed the entire happening. Just a few days before the accident some guys tried misbehaving with Sejal and Ronak had called in the cops and got them arrested. After their release, they were seeking revenge. That day, after Ronak dropped Sejal, these guys followed her with acid in their hand. She was trying to run away from them, and accidentally stepped on the road, when the speeding car, threw her away.”

I was already in shatters, after hear about Ronak’s suicide, and this just made matters worse. I was gradually losing control over myself.

Ranbir continued, unaware of my mental status.
“Ronak’s parents had decided not to tell Ronak the truth, but he had overheard the entire conversation. He locked himself into his room. When he did not open the room for several hours, his Mom got worried and they broke the door. But, then it was already to late. Ronak’s had etched out Sejal on his hand, which also cut his nerves. There was blood all over the floor, and Ronak was no more.”

I guess, my brain and heart had reached their saturation point.

I just shouted,
“He killed himself, because of me.”, and then slammed the phone down.

Actually the phone slipped of my hand, I had fainted for the first time in my life.

I don’t even faintly remember, but after a few hours when I got back to my senses, around 10 people surrounded me. Mom was crying, Dad was tensed, and Di expressionless.

The Doctor then said that I was fine now and listed down a few medicines.

I knew I had loads of questions to answer, I could actually see them on their faces. A couple of my aunts and neighbors also filled in my room. All staring at me, and me turning my head from left to right just like in a tennis match with no clue what’s happening and like a typical saas-bahu serial, what’s going to happen next mystery.

Thanks to Di, they all left the room soon and I felt a bit relaxed. Actually for a while I did forgot about Ronak’s suicide till Di, closed the room and asked me,

“What’s wrong Nikhil? Your blood pressure was really low. How could you be so careless.”

And then I came face to face with reality, Ronak was no more.

I told Di in brief about everything from what Monica told me, to what Ranbir did.

She anyways knew Ronak and was also taken aback and couldn’t come to terms with what happened.

But then I somehow began to blame myself for his life. If only I had not left him alone in these times, maybe he would not have taken such an extreme step.

I was actually being a too harsh on myself and hit myself a couple of times till Di stopped me. I began crying like a small baby and slept on her laps for a while.


It actually took me a few days to get back to a bit of normalcy and that also just because I began moving out a bit. For the initial days I was totally under house arrest.

But it was a totally different me. Hundred percent silence, no interest on what’s happening around me and at times I wouldn’t even know that some person is next to me. I was lost in my own world.

In the mean time I backed out from a forthcoming Cricket tourney also, and that surely didn’t go down well with the team and officials, thinking that I was being really unprofessional and not being sporty. But surely things were not in my hand and not at all under my control.

I was given strict instructions by the doctor to not to be carried away emotionally as that could actually do a lot of damage to my brain. And with those instructions Mom made life all the more difficult for me, with one hundred and one restrictions imposed upon me.

During these times, I did miss Ishaan and Ranbir a lot. Ishita also was not in town. The loneliness actually began to eat me and failing to realize that this is actually what Ronak had gone through. Every few minutes I could see the helpless face of Ronak in front of me.

Walking alone to tuitions and back with no one to speak to. I was gradually being isolated as I surely was not in any mood to make any new friends whom I could spend some time with. It was really difficult for me to spend every minute as Mom put even a restriction on cricket, so catching up with teammates was also out of question.

Life was never so bad. I somehow mentally balanced myself as the week passed by and understood the trauma that Ronak would have faced. Whatever happened, the untimely death of Ronak and to some extent even that Sejal did hurt.

All this actually did help me realize the importance of Ronak and his friendship in my life. He help a special place in my heart, which no one would ever be able to replace.

That’s when I met Sneha. She was Mom’s school friend’s daughter. They had come over for dinner and she was actually from my school. Basically that was the first day after Ronak’s death that I had smile, that’s what Mom felt, I rather not comment anything on that.

She was a good looking, decent and smart girl but somehow I was least interested. I just didn’t bother about who she was. The most annoying part was when Mom goes like, ‘Why don’t the two of you go on a walk to the creek.’

I was not even in a mood but Di forced me to go, and helplessly I did. But this was actually a turning point. I really felt better that day when I spoke to some one, and we actually were together for a couple of hours and I did speak my heart out. We went and sat at my favorite place and I really enjoyed the time spent. I did not even realize when did the time fly by, till Di called me up to come back soon.

I was really feeling lighter after the walk and conversation. Somehow it was nothing less than magic. It was a very different and refreshing feel that I was going through. Thanks to Sneha, for whatever she did.

The next days I totally spent in her company and she did help me realize that it wasn’t my entire fault after all for what Ronak faced though I actually convinced her that somewhere I could have stopped it. Sneha, I can say actually totally brainwashed my thinking process. She gave me a new perspective and approach to life and brought me back to reality from my dream world.

I enjoyed her company and got over Ronak and even missed Ishaan and Ranbir less frequently, as according to her, it was a time of transition in our friendship, so that I actually realize the actual value of my friends that I have always failed to realize. I stopped taking friendship for granted from then onwards.
A new Nikhil was in the making, rejuvenated and transformed.


...to be continued...