12. GATECRASHER

Our business was going well, and we were growing at a better speed. I will always be thankful for our business because it was the only source of all adventures which came to my life. One of the biggest adventures which I met was a Beast. One who later became the backbone of my life. 

Ankit Sharma. One of my childhood friends. We were together from nursery to class two and separated by harsh luck and met again by god’s grace. His 6’2 feet tall height was damn enough to threaten everyone. His muscle was hard enough to kill only with a punch. Walking with him made me relaxed and tension free. He was next to a bodyguard, walking around. No fear in life, no tension of world, whatever happens, he will manage. His company made my life amazing. He was pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Science from Rabindra Nath College, a reputed college in Kolkata.

I called Riya the next day and told let’s meet at 3 pm. As she got to know, her voice became sweet in a moment. Her throat struggled to utter even a single word. It was unbelievable for her, I called her to meet. Her happiness, on the other side of call, was soothing me. My decision pleased me because it made her mesmerized.

 She threw her bag once she reached her home. With half bathed and wet hair, she came to the nearest Domino’s on time. She was looking weird in a yellow skirt and a blue tee. It was completely an awkward combination. But her alluring eyes were desperate to have a gaze of mine. She didn’t waste a single minute to think about what to wear. She focused only to cover herself with whatever she got in the first attempt. She was with one of her friends, who traveled with her straight from Bangalore. 

We enjoyed delicious pizza and as usual, shared our bill too. All three of us sang our favorite song and made our moment one of the best and memorable. She gazed at me differently, while singing and made me a victim of her influencing eyes. I shared about my return and further plans, and we left after completing our pizza and fulfilling our urge of meeting. 

After three days, I came back to Kolkata. Some of our plans got ruined as I went there, but god has planned something different for us. At night Riya was about to attend a reception party of one of her friend’s brother. It was near to my house so, Riya forced me to come. I didn’t know she would become so desperate. It made me uncomfortable to attend, and I took god’s name several times.

I had never done such a crime in my entire life, but only for her, I did a stupidity. My mom didn’t allow me to go as I had entered my home ten minutes ago from Patna, with my father. I lied to mom by saying it was a medical emergency in Kartik’s home and he called me. I was in a dull and decent dress. I tied my shoelace well for an adventure and left with a heartbeat pounding faster than before. Fear encircled my mind and my legs vibrated whenever the thought of getting caught crossed my mind.

 I sweated while entering. My hands shivered. I stopped a few meters away and thought, how will I manage my insult if I get caught? How will I avoid all those people? Next moment, I got a text from Riya. She forced me to enter as quickly as possible.

I am about to leave, where are u? 

No eye contact with gatekeepers, I entered a beautifully decorated banquet only by staring at my mobile, reading those words, and getting confidence, accepting no welcome and escaping from greetings.

Standing beside the bride, in a pink gown, she was looking magnificent. Her high heels made her taller than me. Her long hair, opened to show off, snatched my attention. I felt proud to stand beside her and walk. Her ears were hanging by heavyweight of her long ear-rings, which was eye-catching. I stared at her from hair to toe and enjoyed her beauty. I called her in a vacant place and told, “Now you have seen me so I am going.”.

She protested immediately, “At least have something before going.”

I already had my dinner at home, yet I had some fried rice and chicken, which was my favorite dish. Even at late night, I didn’t inform Nisha about my visit to that reception. I felt sorry for her, yet I could reject noting, which Riya ordered. I ended up following every single word. It was something we both wanted to continue with no future goals. After a few days, Riya went back to Bangalore and with her, my mind too went away for a while. 

March 2016.

It was a month of colors. People celebrate Holi which makes their life colorful. But this month took some colors from my life when my sister was about to get married. On one side I enjoyed my sister’s wedding and on the other side, I had my last semester of graduation. There was big a chaos in my mind running day in day out. It wasn’t enough for me to take mental ailments that only a day before my sister’s engagement, I saw 8 missed calls of Nisha.

 It made me dumbstruck. Why she called me eight times? What the hell happened to her? She never called me more than twice, so I trembled with fear. My hands shivered because of cold. My heart got stagnant and breath stuck. I took god’s name several times and called her back. First call. No response. Second call. No response. Third call. No response. I lost my sense in vain. Every single second stabbed me hard. My rapid breathing made my heartbeat run faster and faster. I sweated like hell. Negative thoughts surrounded my mind. Her suspense blocked my lungs to breathe. I dialed her mother’s number as fast as I could. I had printed it in my mind so I didn’t search in the contact list. 

Aunty received my call with a hello. She was in grief. Her voice was low as never. I asked.

 “Aunty! where is Nisha? Is everything ok?”

And she said in a low spirit,

 “We are going to hospital. Nisha needs an urgent operation.”

 Her lines hit my heart hard, and I lost my mind. What the hell happened to my Nisha? I asked the reason, but she denied saying and disconnected my call and told to wait.

All the curtains which covered my eyes to avoid my love for my sweetheart vanished in a second. I couldn’t bear the pain of such a disaster. Two families in two different situations. On one side my family was singing and dancing and preparing for my sister’s engagement, and the other side was in grief of her daughter’s health. Love in my heart which was lost somewhere assembled for my princess. I realized how badly I ignored her. I hated myself for everything I did. I punched a wall of my house multiple times. I blamed myself for the pain she was going through. If I had taken care of her, she would have attended my sister’s engagement next day. I cried. I cried my eyes out. I cried like never before. I cried out loud in front of my family. They knew how much I loved her. I didn’t want to ruin happiness of other people so I went out of my house and started walking randomly. I couldn’t wait for her call any more. So, at night, I called aunty once again. The moment she picked my call I asked,

 “Aunty, please tell what happened to her.”

She elaborated. 

“Nisha was suffering from a slight wound, which she didn’t even inform us. Her wound has taken an enormous face and needs to be operated. Now we are in Lake Garden Hospital, tonight they will operate her. As per the doctor, the operation will last for forty-fifty minutes.”

After she shared all information, I immediately showed my interest to come to meet her to which she denied as she knew what’s going on in my family. Panic set in my eyes and I kept begging her to visit the hospital. At last she understood my condition and told to come the next day, early morning at six.