It was 7 in the morning, Rishabh was knocking on Grishma's door. She opened the door and let him in. Her eyes were swollen and red.
"You know, you didn't have to cry all night. You could have cried for an hour, the dosage is usually enough to induce deep sleep." said Rishabh with a smile " And imagine if you fall asleep after you reach there."
"Very funny" Grishma smiled back at him " You think I could sleep today"
"Yeah! That's why I came to meet you early." said Rishabh as he lay sprawled across the sofa "Now, listen. If you feel that anybody is being hostile or is trying to harm you, gimme a call. I'll be there in twenty minutes. On second thoughts, shall I accompany you?"
"Why would anybody harm me? Just because I didn't do what I was told to? I don't think they would" she said.
Rishabh noticed she was getting into one of her tempers. "Ok babes! Cool it now. and even if anyone does try anything. I'll be there"
"No you won't" said Grishma, her voice raised " The place is a one hour drive from here. Not 20 minutes. and NO you are NOT accompanying me. I have to be there alone." She stormed out of the apartment and hopped into a taxi.
Meanwhile, Vasanti arrived at the Mirik railway station. She walked out of the station and was surprised at the hustle and bustle of the once sleepy town.
A few taxis were waiting at the taxi stand. Vasanti walked towards the stand.
"Lake house?" she asked one on the drivers.
He stared at her for a while and said "There is no such place in Mirik"
"Maybe you don't know the place. Are you new around here?"
"I've been here for about seven years madam. and I know every corner of the town." said the driver with a tinge of pride in his voice " Are you sure that is where you have to go?"
"Pretty sure!" said Vasanti "Tell me, do you know the lake near Devi temple? The house is right next to it. It's huge with a sprawling garden and a .."
"I don't know about any lake view house ma'am." Interrupted the driver " But the only huge place I know near Sumendu lake is 'Lake view hotel'. Shall I take you there?"
Vasanti's turned pale as she said "OK! take me there"
The Lake was a long drive from the city, and Vasanti could not help but exclaim how much the town had changed.
"Here you are madam" said the driver after an hour long journey. "Lake view hotel. Beautiful! Isn't it?"
Vasanti muttered a meek "yes". There lay in front of her a palatial building. She had never seen anything as beautiful in her town. This could not be lake view house, but then, this is where it was.
She paid the taxi's fare and started walking towards the hotel's reception. As she entered, a car stopped at the entrance and a beautiful lady got out of the car. She walked to the reception. Everyone in the hotel seemed to have stopped in their tracks to take a look at her.
"I've seen her somewhere, maybe on television" thought Vasanti, as she saw the lady pick the keys to her suite and walk away gracefully. At the same time she realised she could not afford to stay in a hotel like this. It was too expensive for her.
She picked up her bags and walked out. The durban smiled at her in a sympathetic way. He would usually snigger at people like her, but she looked so innocent and helpless that he forgot to be rude.
"Where do I go now? I planned to stay at the house." said Vasanti to herself and suddenly she panicked as another thought stuck her "How do I meet the others? I can't even recognize them." She scanned the place for the sight of a familiar face.
There were a lot of people around and she could not spot any of them. Disappointed, she sat on the edge of the lake, and was absently throwing pebbles in the water.
A few feet away from her a girl who seemed to be in her early twenties was playing with a little pup. As she saw her, Vasanti was reminded of her childhood and smiled at the girl.
The girl stared at Vasanti for some time and then sat down beside her.
"Hi!You seem to be troubled, can I help you in anyway?" she asked
Vasanti smiled "You know, you remind me of a little girl I knew a long time ago. She had kind eyes like you. She would always go out of her way to help people and animals." said Vasanti, looking as if she were in a trance.
She looked up to see the girl looking at her with a big smile "She was your special little girl. And you came here to meet her today. Didn't you? It's me Vasu di. It is your Varshu." cried the girl as she embraced Vasanti.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Vasanti
Raghu was sitting at the dining table reading the newspaper. The coffee on the table had cooled down completely. Vasanti usually heated it up twice before he finished reading the newspaper.
Raghu realised Vasanti was not rushing around the house dusting, cleaning, cooking and always humming. She could not be heard at all. He wondered if she had gone to the vegetable market. He walked into the kitchen to find her staring into space, completely lost in thought. He could not help but marvel at how beautiful she looked even when she was clad in a simple sari.
Vasanti startled, suddenly realising there was someone standing beside her. She looked flustered and blushed a deep shade of red. Raghu was not the kind of person who voiced his observations. He took one look at her and then went back to the dining room.
Raghu was reading the sports news when her heard Vasanti bringing back the cup of coffee. Usually she put it on the table and went about polishing and repolishing the furniture in the dining room. She wanted everything spic n span and she always hummed a tune while she worked around the house. Raghu loved listening to her song, for Vasanti was no bathroom singer. She could have been a professional singer had she not decided to give it all up in favor of being a homemaker. She was a busybody and never spent a minute sitting idle . Her home was her world, and she did all that she could do to make it a wonderful place to live in.
Raghu lowered the newspaper adn saw Vasanti staring at him with a strange look in her eyes. It was not fear, coz he knew how she looked when she was afraid of him. It looked like a mixture of defiance and fear. Acting like he did not notice anything, Raghu went back to reading the newspaper.
When he finally lowered the newspaper, he saw his wife sitting next to him with the same look in her eyes. Felling that he could not ignore her anymore, Raghu asked her "What is it?"
"Nothing" said Vasanti. He noticed her eyes reflected only fear now.
"Fine then. I'm off to take a bath." He started to stand up.
"Wait! Actually, I wanted to talk."
Raghu sat back on the chair and nodded which meant "Go on"
"Umm! Tomorro is the 10th of October"
"Ohh! Is that why? OK! So what have you decided? You want to go?"
"Do you want me to?"
"It's up to you. What do YOU want to do?" asked Raghu
"Well, I do want to go. I mean, I've waited for this day for 12 years."
"If that is how you feel then you must go. I will not stop you."
"But won't you be angry with me for going?" asked Vasanti for she knew her husband's moods very well.
"Of course I will be" replied Raghu "I never said I won't be angry. I only said you can go if you want to."
"Dear, please! I want to go." begged Vasanti "Don't be so angry."
"I am not angry now. But I will be if you go" He replied calmly "Of course, that does not mean I'm stopping you. It is your decision to make."
"Why are you doing this to me?" asked Vasanti with tears in her eyes "You know very well that I cannot defy you."
"Sometimes," said Raghu, "You have to make a choice. No two things in life can have the same importance. Now, decide what is more important for you."
Vasanti ran into their bedroom crying bitterly. After all these years of marriage, she never could understand her husband. He did strange things at times just to make her unhappy. But, she knew he really loved her.
"But I still don't understand him" she muttered to herself.
The door opened and Raghu walked in. He sat beside Vasanti on the bed. She did not look up.
"It's ok sweetheart" said Raghu stroking her head." I know you want to go. It's just that I'm worried how you will manage things alone. You also do not know the kind of people they are."
"How can I not know them?" asked Vasanti, stifling sobs.
"Hmm, but they could be anybody now" replied Raghu, " But since you've waited so long for this.. I guess you must go."
"Won't you.." began Vasanti.
"No I won't" replied Raghu "I won't be angry"
Raghu realised Vasanti was not rushing around the house dusting, cleaning, cooking and always humming. She could not be heard at all. He wondered if she had gone to the vegetable market. He walked into the kitchen to find her staring into space, completely lost in thought. He could not help but marvel at how beautiful she looked even when she was clad in a simple sari.
Vasanti startled, suddenly realising there was someone standing beside her. She looked flustered and blushed a deep shade of red. Raghu was not the kind of person who voiced his observations. He took one look at her and then went back to the dining room.
Raghu was reading the sports news when her heard Vasanti bringing back the cup of coffee. Usually she put it on the table and went about polishing and repolishing the furniture in the dining room. She wanted everything spic n span and she always hummed a tune while she worked around the house. Raghu loved listening to her song, for Vasanti was no bathroom singer. She could have been a professional singer had she not decided to give it all up in favor of being a homemaker. She was a busybody and never spent a minute sitting idle . Her home was her world, and she did all that she could do to make it a wonderful place to live in.
Raghu lowered the newspaper adn saw Vasanti staring at him with a strange look in her eyes. It was not fear, coz he knew how she looked when she was afraid of him. It looked like a mixture of defiance and fear. Acting like he did not notice anything, Raghu went back to reading the newspaper.
When he finally lowered the newspaper, he saw his wife sitting next to him with the same look in her eyes. Felling that he could not ignore her anymore, Raghu asked her "What is it?"
"Nothing" said Vasanti. He noticed her eyes reflected only fear now.
"Fine then. I'm off to take a bath." He started to stand up.
"Wait! Actually, I wanted to talk."
Raghu sat back on the chair and nodded which meant "Go on"
"Umm! Tomorro is the 10th of October"
"Ohh! Is that why? OK! So what have you decided? You want to go?"
"Do you want me to?"
"It's up to you. What do YOU want to do?" asked Raghu
"Well, I do want to go. I mean, I've waited for this day for 12 years."
"If that is how you feel then you must go. I will not stop you."
"But won't you be angry with me for going?" asked Vasanti for she knew her husband's moods very well.
"Of course I will be" replied Raghu "I never said I won't be angry. I only said you can go if you want to."
"Dear, please! I want to go." begged Vasanti "Don't be so angry."
"I am not angry now. But I will be if you go" He replied calmly "Of course, that does not mean I'm stopping you. It is your decision to make."
"Why are you doing this to me?" asked Vasanti with tears in her eyes "You know very well that I cannot defy you."
"Sometimes," said Raghu, "You have to make a choice. No two things in life can have the same importance. Now, decide what is more important for you."
Vasanti ran into their bedroom crying bitterly. After all these years of marriage, she never could understand her husband. He did strange things at times just to make her unhappy. But, she knew he really loved her.
"But I still don't understand him" she muttered to herself.
The door opened and Raghu walked in. He sat beside Vasanti on the bed. She did not look up.
"It's ok sweetheart" said Raghu stroking her head." I know you want to go. It's just that I'm worried how you will manage things alone. You also do not know the kind of people they are."
"How can I not know them?" asked Vasanti, stifling sobs.
"Hmm, but they could be anybody now" replied Raghu, " But since you've waited so long for this.. I guess you must go."
"Won't you.." began Vasanti.
"No I won't" replied Raghu "I won't be angry"
Friday, July 11, 2008
Varsha
The phone was ringing as Ed walked into his cubicle.
"Hello"
"Hi, May I speak with Varsha?"
"Umm" said Ed, stealing a glance at the young woman who was sleeping at her desk.
"Varsha's not at her desk. She's out for lunch. May I know who this is?"
"This is Vidya. Been trying to contact her for half an hour now. Just wanted to know if Varsha has got the design ready."
"OK. I'll make her call you once she is back. Bye"
"Bye!"
"Varshu!!" Ed called out. "Wake up. How can you sleep when the phone's been ringing fo the past half an hour"
"What time is it?"
"2:30"
"Ohh! Have to send a copy of the Wentworth Ad to Vidya at 3"
"Yep! She just called.So, you have the copy ready?" enquired Ed.
"It was ready a week ago. But Vidya wasn't ready to look at it. She wanted me to review it again" said Varsha "What she does not know is, I reviewed the design the week before."
"OK" said Ed " But WHY have you been sleeping at work of late?"
"Coz I'm not able to sleep at night. and before you ask me why, lemme tell you, it's none of your business" said Varsha, trying to stifle a yawn.
"For god's sake, Varshu. Don't go about saying that to people." warned Ed "Do you even know the kind of rumours floating about you?"
"Yeah! Sharma down there in finance thinks I'm a 'you know what'" giggled Varsha.
"IT IS NOT FUNNY!"
"Oh!Come on! Me of all people!!"
"Yeah!" said Ed "We know what a baby you are." Ed made a face and started ticking off an imaginary checklist " No alcohol, No lies, No parties, No meat and worst of all NO BOYFRIEND!"
"It's not as bad as it looks Ed!"
"Yeah! you've got me!" said Ed with a sly smile "Did anyone ever tell you? You look like jessica alba?"
"No! But you're gonna tell me anyway." said varsha with a bored look.
Varsha had a habit of doodling whenever she was bored or distracted. Right now she was scribbling on a notepad hardly noticing Ed, who never tired of flirting.
Varsha, Priya and Ed, short for Edward Mathews, joined the AD-vantage AD agency on the same day. All three worked for the design department. Soon they became very good friends. Varsha was Tall, lanky, vivacious, loud and full of energy, exept for the days when she looked like she could drop off to sleep any moment. She was very quick with her work and she always had a habit of finishing things way before the deadline. Thanks to this many people in Ad-vantage considered her a snob. Only Ed, and Priya knew what a 'baby' she was. She had a set of rules which she rigidly followed.
Priya Dutta on the other hand was totally outgoing and fancied herself as a detective. In reality she was extremely nosy and had a special interest in gossip. Though not very talented, Priya was very good with words. She could talk her way out of trouble.
Ed on the other hand had a knack for attracting trouble. A lot more talented than Priya and Varsha put together, Ed could be considered a genious. But Ed was never taken seriously thanks to his 'extra curricular activities' as Priya put them. These included flirting, taking care of his pony tail and acquiring new earstuds for his left earlobe.
Priya worked for the afternoon shift and just entered the block.
"Good afternoon! Flirting again are we?"
"Not me!" said Varsha and Ed together and burst out laughing.
"Priya! I'll be out of town for some time and am not very sure when I'll be back. Do you know anyone who can take care of bubbles?" asked Varsha.
Bubbles was her pet parrot.
"Not a problem. I'll take care of her" offered Priya
"Where are you off to?" She enquired
"Don't ask me and I wont lie to you" replied Varsha, "Oh no! I was supposed to call Vidya."
As Varsha made the call Priya walked over to her desk and looked at her scribble pad.
"Hey Varshu! What's with all these 10's?" asked Priya.
Varsha turned around looking a little uneasy and said "Well..."
"We know!!" said Ed and Priya in unision " Don't ask me and I wont lie to you!!"
"Hello"
"Hi, May I speak with Varsha?"
"Umm" said Ed, stealing a glance at the young woman who was sleeping at her desk.
"Varsha's not at her desk. She's out for lunch. May I know who this is?"
"This is Vidya. Been trying to contact her for half an hour now. Just wanted to know if Varsha has got the design ready."
"OK. I'll make her call you once she is back. Bye"
"Bye!"
"Varshu!!" Ed called out. "Wake up. How can you sleep when the phone's been ringing fo the past half an hour"
"What time is it?"
"2:30"
"Ohh! Have to send a copy of the Wentworth Ad to Vidya at 3"
"Yep! She just called.So, you have the copy ready?" enquired Ed.
"It was ready a week ago. But Vidya wasn't ready to look at it. She wanted me to review it again" said Varsha "What she does not know is, I reviewed the design the week before."
"OK" said Ed " But WHY have you been sleeping at work of late?"
"Coz I'm not able to sleep at night. and before you ask me why, lemme tell you, it's none of your business" said Varsha, trying to stifle a yawn.
"For god's sake, Varshu. Don't go about saying that to people." warned Ed "Do you even know the kind of rumours floating about you?"
"Yeah! Sharma down there in finance thinks I'm a 'you know what'" giggled Varsha.
"IT IS NOT FUNNY!"
"Oh!Come on! Me of all people!!"
"Yeah!" said Ed "We know what a baby you are." Ed made a face and started ticking off an imaginary checklist " No alcohol, No lies, No parties, No meat and worst of all NO BOYFRIEND!"
"It's not as bad as it looks Ed!"
"Yeah! you've got me!" said Ed with a sly smile "Did anyone ever tell you? You look like jessica alba?"
"No! But you're gonna tell me anyway." said varsha with a bored look.
Varsha had a habit of doodling whenever she was bored or distracted. Right now she was scribbling on a notepad hardly noticing Ed, who never tired of flirting.
Varsha, Priya and Ed, short for Edward Mathews, joined the AD-vantage AD agency on the same day. All three worked for the design department. Soon they became very good friends. Varsha was Tall, lanky, vivacious, loud and full of energy, exept for the days when she looked like she could drop off to sleep any moment. She was very quick with her work and she always had a habit of finishing things way before the deadline. Thanks to this many people in Ad-vantage considered her a snob. Only Ed, and Priya knew what a 'baby' she was. She had a set of rules which she rigidly followed.
Priya Dutta on the other hand was totally outgoing and fancied herself as a detective. In reality she was extremely nosy and had a special interest in gossip. Though not very talented, Priya was very good with words. She could talk her way out of trouble.
Ed on the other hand had a knack for attracting trouble. A lot more talented than Priya and Varsha put together, Ed could be considered a genious. But Ed was never taken seriously thanks to his 'extra curricular activities' as Priya put them. These included flirting, taking care of his pony tail and acquiring new earstuds for his left earlobe.
Priya worked for the afternoon shift and just entered the block.
"Good afternoon! Flirting again are we?"
"Not me!" said Varsha and Ed together and burst out laughing.
"Priya! I'll be out of town for some time and am not very sure when I'll be back. Do you know anyone who can take care of bubbles?" asked Varsha.
Bubbles was her pet parrot.
"Not a problem. I'll take care of her" offered Priya
"Where are you off to?" She enquired
"Don't ask me and I wont lie to you" replied Varsha, "Oh no! I was supposed to call Vidya."
As Varsha made the call Priya walked over to her desk and looked at her scribble pad.
"Hey Varshu! What's with all these 10's?" asked Priya.
Varsha turned around looking a little uneasy and said "Well..."
"We know!!" said Ed and Priya in unision " Don't ask me and I wont lie to you!!"
Friday, July 4, 2008
Sheetal
A cool breeze was flowing from the seaside. A little kid was running along the beach with a dog. A man was walking towards the beach houses.
A young woman was watching them from the porch of her beach house. Everything from her white summer dress to the large almond eyes to the long straight hair radiated beauty and richness.
He sighed when he looked at her and smiled to himself. "What would I have done without her"
The man often bragged that his wife, for that was the woman he was looking at, had a face that launched a thousand ships. He never tired of looking at her or pampering her with lavish gifts. Indeed, he could afford to do so. Tushar Vaid owned a chain of restaurants around the country. The business was very succesful and Tushar was touted as one of the richest men in his city. A sprawling house in the heart of the city, a cute beach house, a few swanky cars, were a few of his assets.
Tushar first met Sheetal at one of his restaurants, a whirlwind courtship was followed by a lavish wedding.
Sheetal soon became the life of his lonely house. She was not only stunningly beautiful but also very intelligent. She was very shrewd when it came to business, always full of new ideas. And the business flourished even more after she became partner. Tushar, Sheetal and six year old Aryan, were a very happy family.
Presently, Tushar followed Aryan and their little pug into the house. He walked towards the porch and noticed his wife seemed to be in a pensive mood. As Sheetal saw him approach, she crumpled and threw away the note she held in her hand.
"What's the matter sweetheart? Is anything wrong?" enquired Tushar.
"Nothing" replied Sheetal with a well practiced fake smile "I have to leave for Bangalore tomorrow. And I was thinking how much I will miss you and Arry"
"And we will miss you too. But why are you travelling so suddenly"
"A friend of mine is getting married. And she wrote to me to come over a couple of days earlier."
Tushar sensed that this was not true but refrained from saying anything as he had done over the years whenever there was mention of any of her 'secrets'. Tushar had learnt not to ask her too many questions about her past. This was sort of an unspoken agreement between them.
Sheetal stood up suddenly and walked into her room saying "I have to pack. Early flight tomorrow"
Meanwhile Tushar's eye fell upon the crumpled piece of paper Sheetal threw away earlier. It was a very old piece of paper and he unfolded it carefully lest it tore in his hands.
On it were written the numbers
10/10/10
A young woman was watching them from the porch of her beach house. Everything from her white summer dress to the large almond eyes to the long straight hair radiated beauty and richness.
He sighed when he looked at her and smiled to himself. "What would I have done without her"
The man often bragged that his wife, for that was the woman he was looking at, had a face that launched a thousand ships. He never tired of looking at her or pampering her with lavish gifts. Indeed, he could afford to do so. Tushar Vaid owned a chain of restaurants around the country. The business was very succesful and Tushar was touted as one of the richest men in his city. A sprawling house in the heart of the city, a cute beach house, a few swanky cars, were a few of his assets.
Tushar first met Sheetal at one of his restaurants, a whirlwind courtship was followed by a lavish wedding.
Sheetal soon became the life of his lonely house. She was not only stunningly beautiful but also very intelligent. She was very shrewd when it came to business, always full of new ideas. And the business flourished even more after she became partner. Tushar, Sheetal and six year old Aryan, were a very happy family.
Presently, Tushar followed Aryan and their little pug into the house. He walked towards the porch and noticed his wife seemed to be in a pensive mood. As Sheetal saw him approach, she crumpled and threw away the note she held in her hand.
"What's the matter sweetheart? Is anything wrong?" enquired Tushar.
"Nothing" replied Sheetal with a well practiced fake smile "I have to leave for Bangalore tomorrow. And I was thinking how much I will miss you and Arry"
"And we will miss you too. But why are you travelling so suddenly"
"A friend of mine is getting married. And she wrote to me to come over a couple of days earlier."
Tushar sensed that this was not true but refrained from saying anything as he had done over the years whenever there was mention of any of her 'secrets'. Tushar had learnt not to ask her too many questions about her past. This was sort of an unspoken agreement between them.
Sheetal stood up suddenly and walked into her room saying "I have to pack. Early flight tomorrow"
Meanwhile Tushar's eye fell upon the crumpled piece of paper Sheetal threw away earlier. It was a very old piece of paper and he unfolded it carefully lest it tore in his hands.
On it were written the numbers
10/10/10
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Grishma
The lone figure was walking quietly along the street. One could not help but wonder at how her eyes shone even in the darkness.
Grishma stalked the lane slowly, deep in thought. "Would they turn up? What would they say if they knew what I've done with my life? Well Im not sure if they would actually come. But what if they did!!!"
"Grizzly!! Hey GB! Wait up!"
Grishma turned around to face Rishabh, her best friend. People found the fact that these two were friends, a little hard to digest. At 6'3 Rishabh was taller than most people he met, but he towered over petite Grishma who was hardly five feet tall.
Rishabh was the balancing factor in Grishma's life. He was the only one who could calm her down when she was in her 'special moods' as he put it. Grishma's only problem was her temper, which was the reason why she was called grizzly bear, another reason being the unruly, curly mass on her head, which people usually call hair.
'Wassup dudette! Why the happy face?" teased Rishabh pouting as hard as he could to match his look with GB.
"Dudette is not a word" retorted Grishma.
"It is!"
"Is not!"
"Maybe YOU never heard it"
"Impossible"
"Possible! 'Coz I just coined it"
Once the argument ended, Grishma fell silent again. Rishabh on the other hand was talking as much as he could so that he could commit another 'sin' and that would bring Grishma back from here reverie.
Grishma could not stand grammatical errors in any language that she could speak. She prided herself on the fact that she was well versed with the dictionary, which she often called her bible.
"Language is my religion" she would say, " And the dictionary, my bible. All ye who commit literary 'sins' be prepared to incur the high priestess' wrath"
"What's wrong with you?" cried Rishabh "I just said 'I has a chocolate in my pocket'. Neither the 'sin' nor the chocolate roused your interest. Tell me, is he better looking than me?"
"Is WHO better looking than you?"
" The guy you are thinking about"
"There's no guy"
"Oh no! you're not..." Rishabh was smirking
"NO!IM NOT!" glowered Grishma.
Rishabh knew something was 'actually, seriously' wrong, because silly jokes as this would always make her smile.
"What's wrong sweets? You look like it's the end of the world"
"It might be, for all I know." Grishma looked like she would cry any moment, "Tomorrow's the tenth of October"
"And today is the ninth. So?"
Grishma pulled out from her pocket, a piece of paper which looked like it was thus opened and folded back many times.
10/10/10
The numbers on the paper looked as if they were written by a child. Grishma showed the paper to Rishabh and he blanched at the sight of it.
" Tenth of October, 2010." He let out a low whistle, "That looked like a long time away to me"
"Time does fly when you want it to slow down"
"Are you ready?"
" I'm not sure. I keep wondering how they would react if they find out what I've done"
"I'm sure they would be proud of you" said Rishabh, bending down and holding her by the shoulders, " Just like me!"
Grishma couldn't help but smile at the sight of her giant of a friend. She hugged him round the middle and together they turned back to walk home.
Grishma stalked the lane slowly, deep in thought. "Would they turn up? What would they say if they knew what I've done with my life? Well Im not sure if they would actually come. But what if they did!!!"
"Grizzly!! Hey GB! Wait up!"
Grishma turned around to face Rishabh, her best friend. People found the fact that these two were friends, a little hard to digest. At 6'3 Rishabh was taller than most people he met, but he towered over petite Grishma who was hardly five feet tall.
Rishabh was the balancing factor in Grishma's life. He was the only one who could calm her down when she was in her 'special moods' as he put it. Grishma's only problem was her temper, which was the reason why she was called grizzly bear, another reason being the unruly, curly mass on her head, which people usually call hair.
'Wassup dudette! Why the happy face?" teased Rishabh pouting as hard as he could to match his look with GB.
"Dudette is not a word" retorted Grishma.
"It is!"
"Is not!"
"Maybe YOU never heard it"
"Impossible"
"Possible! 'Coz I just coined it"
Once the argument ended, Grishma fell silent again. Rishabh on the other hand was talking as much as he could so that he could commit another 'sin' and that would bring Grishma back from here reverie.
Grishma could not stand grammatical errors in any language that she could speak. She prided herself on the fact that she was well versed with the dictionary, which she often called her bible.
"Language is my religion" she would say, " And the dictionary, my bible. All ye who commit literary 'sins' be prepared to incur the high priestess' wrath"
"What's wrong with you?" cried Rishabh "I just said 'I has a chocolate in my pocket'. Neither the 'sin' nor the chocolate roused your interest. Tell me, is he better looking than me?"
"Is WHO better looking than you?"
" The guy you are thinking about"
"There's no guy"
"Oh no! you're not..." Rishabh was smirking
"NO!IM NOT!" glowered Grishma.
Rishabh knew something was 'actually, seriously' wrong, because silly jokes as this would always make her smile.
"What's wrong sweets? You look like it's the end of the world"
"It might be, for all I know." Grishma looked like she would cry any moment, "Tomorrow's the tenth of October"
"And today is the ninth. So?"
Grishma pulled out from her pocket, a piece of paper which looked like it was thus opened and folded back many times.
10/10/10
The numbers on the paper looked as if they were written by a child. Grishma showed the paper to Rishabh and he blanched at the sight of it.
" Tenth of October, 2010." He let out a low whistle, "That looked like a long time away to me"
"Time does fly when you want it to slow down"
"Are you ready?"
" I'm not sure. I keep wondering how they would react if they find out what I've done"
"I'm sure they would be proud of you" said Rishabh, bending down and holding her by the shoulders, " Just like me!"
Grishma couldn't help but smile at the sight of her giant of a friend. She hugged him round the middle and together they turned back to walk home.
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