He was walking steadily towards the big brown door, when a rodent that crossed his way, startled him. He looked down, to catch a sight of the animal, when he saw himself, in a piece of broken mirror. His skin, looked dull, eyes could barely see anything, and he had just sixteen teeth to survive with. His nose was crooked, lips torn and hair pale gray. The drops of dirty water falling from the roof, on his bald head distracted him again. He rose, this time, to see her standing in front of him. He might have aged, but she was the same beauty she used to be years ago… He touched her soft hands, looked deep into her eyes, and said, “I might have grown old, but I love you the same… still.” On hearing this, she raised her hand and brought it with speed towards him and….
“Tringggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg”, rang her alarm. She woke up, rubbing her eyes, stretching her arms, and sighed, “Duh… I would have just slapped him.. This stupid alarm!!!!” She got ready for college, had her breakfast and rushed out of house. She found Kylie and him standing near the yellow wall. She rushed towards Kylie, pulled her away. “What…What. What is it….? Ooh.. you…. Stop Nikita!...Stop…. Stop pulling me will you?”, said Kylie, irritated. “Ssssh…. !! Ron will get to hear. I gotta share something with you. I saw a dream.!”, she gushed. “Dream? What dream? Tell me!! Hurry up”, asked Kylie enquiringly. Habitual of girls, to first act as if they are mighty irritated and then become their gushy selves, when they think it is a “Seeeeeecrett!!”. He stood thinking. She narrated the entire dream to Kylie, and she laughed until she coughed. But the fact seemed obvious. She could sense that Nikitha had feelings for him. Kylie ran towards him, and said, “She is in love! With….”, before Kylie could say a single word more her mouth was covered with Nikita’s hand. “She’s in love with?? “ Ron asked as he set his T-shirt and hair right. He exhibited his teeth through his silly smile. “No Kylie. Shut up.” Nikitha pressed into Kylie’s ears as she
released her hand. “She is in love with……. Ice creams.” Kylie announced. Ron’s bright face reduced to a face with all its lights switched off. He gave a loser’s smile but said- “Shall we go for ice creams then?” “Sure” said Nikitha as Kylie behaved like the PM of India as she said –“ Sorry, I’m busy. You guys carry on.” Kylie left as Nikitha and Ron entered a near by ice cream parlor. “I just love this place.” Nikitha said awaiting a reply from Ron. “Yeah. The chairs are so comfortable here.” Ron said scanning around the place like an architect who was pissed off. Nikitha rolled her eyes. The ice- cream they had ordered, arrived and it took exactly 3 minutes and 30 secs for Ron to empty it while Nikitha was still relishing her first scoop. Ron said- “ You are so slow. I can finish ice creams in a minute, you know?” Nikitha rolled her eyes again. As the bill made its way to the table, Ron grabbed at it like how lizards catch their prey. Nikitha smiled, sat straight and said- “ Ron… Hey Ron.. I .. I Love you.” “Oh shit. Where’s my wallet? I cant find it.” Ron acted as if electricity was being passed through him as he couldn’t find his wallet. “Hey listen Ron…. I Love You…” Ron was busy digging out all his pockets. Nikitha felt pissed and irritated and said- “ I have money, I’ll pay. Don worry.” “Oh! Thank you so much. Give the money. Give.” Ron behaved like a greedy beggar. Nikitha pulled currency out of her handbag and passed it to him. He paid the bill, and digged out a calculator from his bag and said – I have to return Rs. 45.50 to you. I’ll give it to you by 10 in the morning tomorrow.” Nikitha smiled with an expression on her face like as if she was going to vomit any moment. “Hey, you were telling me something. Whats that?” Ron asked as he pushed his calculator into his bag. “I said I Hate You.” She said and rushed out of the place as if she had to attend an emergency. “God! She hates me. I think I should have made it a round figure- Rs 46.” Ron said to himself as he left home still confused. Later that same day, As Nikitha sat alone on her computer, distressed, and all freaked out. She received a mail, from one of her class mates. It read: BoyS...And their various mind forms. "Rubbish", she thought. And just when she was about to dismiss the mail into her trash box, this line caught her attention, "He needn't behave as if he needs you. He needn't even pay attention to what you tell him. No matter how important to you it is. He might not even look like he would be sensitive to your needs and words, for ages to come.But When you are gone, he would always think of you!! And wonder, why you "didn't" say anything." She was left partly amused by this mail. Thoughts were running in her mind like a whirlwind. "So perhaps....He has the same thing for me...May be. May be not....But how do I find out? Who will tell me? How...!!" That night she couldn't sleep. She wanted to talk to Ron, but she did not know whether calling him up would be a nice thing to do. On the other hand, Ron was trying to call her up, and every time he would dial a wrong number, he would cry irritatedly like a kid. "9...2...6..4...74 or 47? then ... 12 or 10..??", he kept asking himself. All startled. After a minute of meditation, he decided upon dialing randomly the digits that circled his mind. so..."9264471021", was what he dialed. And bingo! It went ringing. Nikitha looked at her cell phone with utter dis-belief. She received the call, and heard him talk. "Hey hello. Is it Nikki?? Please say it is. Please Please."
"Shut up Ron."
"Oh.................. Thank God.!!"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh well.. nothing..! I wanted to tell you something."
For a moment, Nikitha held her breath. She could feel her heart pounding. She somehow managed to put her thoughts together and talk.
"Yes.. What is it?"
"Amm... Well .. first you have to promise me that you wouldn't mind." "Ok..Now say."
"Umm... you know....... I mean..."
"Yea.... Go ahead.."
"Like.. you know, Its like.... Funny, but yes..I mean.."
"Will you speak up!!!!" "Well!...Yes... I mean, You know, I.."
"You...??"
"Yes.. I... I have no issues paying you the Rs.46 thing, I mean no issues with just 50p. See, I don't care for that. That is ok. I mean, you can have it. You know, cause you paid. So.. its like... Yeah"
She frowned. She did not know how to hold her temper.
"Right! Tomorrow, I shall have my money right back!!"
"Good......." and the line went dead. He looked at his cell phone and said, "Strange girl..".
She could not sleep the whole night. She was terribly angry, on herself, for having loved such a heartless guy, and on him, for not understanding that she loved him. Next morning, she walked steadily towards him, with great anger in her eyes. He could detect that she was "very" angry. He immediately stuffed his hand his pocket. Took out four notes of ten a coin of 5 and a coin of 1. He put his hand forward. It was too much for Nikitha to tolerate now. As tears rolled down her cheeks, she took out a note of hundred from her purse, and placed it on Ron's hand. "Take it. And keep your money too.And possible, go buy yourself a brain from some where..". Kylie was looking amazed at both of them. With expressions on her face she was trying to convey something to Ron. But before she could, Nikitha continued saying, "Oh.. and A heart too!! Go buy one... Cause I doubt you have one."
As she started to go away, Ron murmured, "Of course i don't have mine with me..". Then after a pause.. He screamed,"First she steals it away, then she asks me to buy a new one.Huh. Tell her it isn't fair. NOT AT ALL FAIR!! She has to give me hers... !! She HAS to!!". He grumbled a little more, then headed for the ice cream shop. By the time Nikitha could realize what was happening, he was off. She whispered to herself with amazement, "What the.... Oh goodness!! Where is he lost!!". She took fast steps to the shop, and found him sitting there. One look at her, and he rose to leave. "Hey Ron.. Listen.. Stop... Ron...!!" He turned hastily and replied, "Yes what?? What more do you want now??" "I want nothing more... I had... had something to give you..." He was so angry that he did not know how to react. "Hurry up. What is it.?" He was looking here and there in pure dissatisfaction, when suddenly, she came closer to him.. kissed him on his cheek and ran away.! He stood there shocked for a while, then when he realised that they had both confessed their love for each other, he took his cell phone out, punched in, "Come back. Now.! I need you." and sent it to her. She replied, "Stupid. " He knew that he had to run behind her yet again.
She was standing at the door of the Church, smiling to herself. He was walking steadily towards the big brown door, and she could hear him coming. She turned, and found him sitting on one knee, with a hand stretched out to her. He touched her soft hands, looked deep into her eyes, and said, “I might be very stupid, but I love you the same… still.Like I did when we met. Like i did, when we talked, like I did, in our dreams.”
She smiled, and said, "Do I still have to say it with words?" Ron said, "No... Another kiss would be just as good.", and winked.
By,
Arjun Choudary
&
Alisha Das
