Inked Imagination: May 2016

Friday, 27 May 2016

10 years later......

It had been a hectic day at work. The deadline was fast approaching and my project was nowhere near completion. Suffocated by these thoughts I drove to the nearby café for a coffee.

I was busy on my laptop when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I was startled. "Hey, What a surprise", she says. It was Aarohi.

She had grown more beautiful over the years. She smiled and her eyes lit up. How I once longed for that smile. "Hello, You there?", she asks, bringing me out of my reverie.

Then I notice that she is holding a kid of about five or six. It took a moment before realisation finally hit me. "So this is your son?", I ask , drawing him closer to me. "What's his name?". "Arjun", she replies.

For a moment I stare at her , out of words. Then she bursts into laughter. "No , you idiot. He's Kiran. Mind if I sit here?", she points to the chair and smiles. I nod. I felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me.

I did not notice how the time flew. We were once again clueless teenagers talking and laughing as if we had no worries in the world.

By the time she left , it was already 8 PM. I then drove back home. I rang the doorbell and waited. Aarthi finally opens the doorbell and says , "Late again". I hug her. "I love you" , I whisper in her ear and plant a kiss on her neck. "Someone's a bit romantic today", she teases and giggles.

"Daddy!!!", Shreya cries and comes and hugs me tightly. "She wanted to say goodnight to you before she went to bed", Aarthi says and picks her up.

As I watch Aarthi tucking Shreya into bed, I finally feel a moment of bliss. It was one of those moments when everything in life seems perfect. Aarthi looks at me and smiles.

That day I realised something. Some No's aren't meant to leave you sad and heartbroken, instead they are signs meant to tell you to keep looking because sooner or later you'd stumble upon the person who was meant for you.

All you've to do is keep looking.

The End

KK

Wednesday, 25 May 2016

I went to the class only to find her alone, sulking. "Hey look, I'm sorry okay , they forced me to do it", I say. She looks at me, her eyes still wet but says nothing. "Hello?", I ask , this time a bit softer."It's okay. I overreacted", She finally says."Mind if I sit here?", I ask nervously. She looks at me, eyebrows raised but finally nods. "Hey, I'm Arjun", I say offering my hand. "Aarohi", She says and shakes it. "So Friends?", I ask. "Friends", she says.

Even though it sounds silly ,that was how our friendship started. There was no turning back after that. We used to do a lot of crazy stuff together. All our friends used to tease us, thinking we were a couple. (I wished it'd happen soon). But no matter how hard I tried , I couldn't bring myself to propose to her. I really didn't want to spoil our friendship. What if she misunderstands me? What if she doesn't talk to me anymore? What if things between us wouldn't be the same anymore? The 'What Ifs" kept on increasing with each passing day and so did the number of proposals that Aarohi got.

Although she turned down all of them , I started to feel a bit uneasy.

The years rolled by quickly and we had our final year exams around the corner. Even though my grades were good , I took help from Aarohi just to hangout with her and watch how her eyes lit up when she smiled and me smiling like a goof when she calls me an 'idiot' (Seriously, What's up with girls and 'idiot'?). Today was one such day. She was explaining something to me about Feminist Literary works (As if I really cared). She caught me staring and asked ,"What?". "Listen Aarohi.......... I've something to say to you", I begin.

-To Be Continued

KK

Monday, 23 May 2016

"Wow, She looks Hot!", I heard a guy saying to his friend and sniggering. I wanted to punch him right there but his burly physique and bulky frame made me change my mind instantly. Yes , She was beautiful. Aarohi.

The semester had just begun and everyone were still coming out of their schoolish hues and I had already fallen head over heels in love with the most beautiful girl in the class. She had become everyone's heartthrob instantly but was shy and always kept to herself.

I had tried to talk to her a couple of times and miserably failed. She always kept to herself but when she smiled my heart warmed up instantly.

She spent a lot of time in the library and apparently liked to read a lot (Credits to my online Facebook stalking). The ragging season had just begun and while returning from the library (I went there hoping to see her but the universe didn't conspire this time) I found Aarohi surrounded by some seniors.

Just then a guy saw me and called me over. I halfheartedly walk towards them. "So which department?", he asks in a rugged voice that was supposed to intimidate me. I wasn't intimidated. I was terrified. "English", I answer meekly.
After a few follow up questions they ask me to propose to her.

I glance at the teary eyed Aarohi. My heart melts instantly. After several failed negotiations with the seniors to let me go I realised there was nothing I could do. A few more seniors had joined the group to see the 'entertainment'. This was too much for Aarohi. She couldn't take it anymore. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She wiped them and without a word went back to the class.

I just stood there transfixed by the sudden turn of events wondering what to do next.

-To Be Continued

KK

Sunday, 22 May 2016

She had always wanted to be a doctor. When the other children played 'House' , she'd play 'Hospital'. She wanted to help people. To keep a smile on a face just a day more was more than enough for her.

She loved painting too. Her drawing teacher told her that she had a bright future. She did not want to keep it aside when she becomes a doctor. She knew she'd find time for it.

She wanted to travel all around the world too. The mountains of The Alps from her geography text fascinated her just like the leaning tower and the hanging gardens did.

The morning alarm brings her out of her reverie. She looks over her shoulders to find her lawyer husband sleeping soundly. He had been having a hard time at work.

She goes to the kitchen and starts doing the dishes from the previous night. She then packs food for her husband and her daughter. She makes a mental note to go to the grocery shop, clean the house and wash the clothes.

The canvas and paints in the basement continued to be forgotten just like her dream to keep a smile on a face just a day more.

-KK