Hate Story» 8

        e I g h t       

What strange creatures brothers are!

~Jane Austen

M A N I K

It's strange how one does not realize how much someone's absence costs them until they are finally there again. 

I had not realized how much I missed Cabir, his humor, his sarcasm, our banters, and mostly, his presence. His silent support in every mischief I got up to or every struggle I faced. 

This feels good. It felt...hopeful. 

"Bachelor's Day — a time for men to gang up and celebrate with the rest of the single guy bunch. It's about having a good time, and..."  What he didn't miss was this. This was annoying though.

"Cabir, "he stopped," I know what bachelor's day means. Stop reading articles from google." 

"No, you don't." Cabir denied. "If you have known we won't be setting this snack table in front of the TV. "

"A game night is a good start," I said but he wasn't having it.

"Even a movie marathon would have been better than playing these battle games." he gestured to the stack of games on the table.

"We can do that then," I suggested but again, he is Cabir.

"But I don't want to," he whined. Not again.

"Cabir, it was your idea," I pointed out.

"Of course it was. I am not denying it," Cabir said but he was sure there was a but there.

"But..." there. "it was just to stop you from planning a candlelight dinner. And instead of understanding my sarcasm, you decided on just that."

"I...sarcasm?...but... I don't understand. " I said, "You only advised me to talk to Abhi. And to break the ice, I decided to invite him for a game night in my room."

"To break the ice you don't need to play games. You need to say sorry," he advised with a straight face.

I felt my cheeks heat up but no, I was not embarrassed. It's just that Cabir always made me feel like an idiot.

"You look cute when you blush," Cabir stated amused like a nuisance he was.

"I am not," I replied defensively. A chuckle sounded from behind and I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Cabir's big grin was enough of an indication as was the sound itself.

"Well, the effort counts Cabir." Cabir was already moving. And with the laughter that followed, they were obviously hugging. I should turn. I ought to but I could not.

Hate Story» 7

        s e v e n       

"If you have two friends in your lifetime, you're lucky.

If you have one good friend, you're more than lucky."

― S.E. Hinton

M A N I K

Ranting about your life story to a stranger, they say, is sometimes the best option one makes in case family and friends are somewhat; unreachable, if that even makes sense.

But the best of best would come just to the luckiest and that being the presence of that one friend, one who makes you realize you matter.

Cabir Dhawan is just one famous standup comedian whose humorless humor too hit the perfect humorous aspect. As quoted by Cabir himself, "Sarcastic Humor or Humorous Sarcasm, it's all about terms. On the whole, it's all about comedy and comedian."

Whereas Cabir was, is, and will always be my Knight in shining armor if I can say that.

"So," Cabir finally broke the long silence, "Found someone?"

His straightforwardness always manages to make me bewildered. Having known him since childhood too, his to-the-point talk hits me in the head like a bouncer before I get to dodge it.

"What do you think? " he glared at me for my regular question for question instead of an answer.

"What if I say you did? " it's confirmed he knows me like the back of his hand.

"Maybe I will say yes," I replied casually remembering her.

Hate Story» 6

        s I x      

"He was jealous of her future, and she of his past."

― Anaïs Nin,

M A N I K

Sunrise and sunset both are a sight to behold if you really are a beholder of the beauty. But is it necessary for you to be, as quoted by many, "beholder of the beauty?" Is it bad if you are just the beholder of life, or to be specific either an optimistic beholder or a pessimistic beholder?

But again, talking about being optimistic or pessimistic, what will you call a person who is completely optimistic as others like to say after talking to him/her or taking advice from the say but the truth is; there is no one who can hold the title of a pessimist like the same one. Does that even make sense?

Not wanting to read more, for the time being, I just closed the book without even bothering to bookmark the page to continue reading it sometime later. Maybe it was all getting too much to bear that even reading could not stop the turmoil I was feeling.

It's ironic how I was reading the article of the same person for over an hour now when she was the complete reason for all the thoughts going on in my mind. Or maybe she was not?

But again blaming others is as simple as it is then accepting your fault. Isn't that what it describes us as human beings? A better phrase - a jealous human being.

Jealousy in itself is a dangerous world, not just a word. It's like that storm in the depth of your existence- heart, mind, or soul; which either withers your petals or, simply, pierces others with your thorns.

Jealousy - an abyss tinted by your own insecurities, past experiences, or future preferences.

But again comes with it a tinge of regret for some while some drown themselves in the same pit of regret till there are no thoughts to think.

That was the feeling I, Manik Malhotra, was carrying sitting in my music room with bleeding hands that tinted the white handkerchief all red since all the events that happened in just a few hours. And the reason for all the mess was I, me, and myself.

I was drowning in the guilt of running the happiness of my brother when I heard that voice, the voice that is like my salvation for the time.

"Guitar, Guitar strings, and Rockstar, " he greeted while entering the room, "Here I am. And I brought you a surprise gift."

"Tadaaaa...."

Hate Story» 5

        f I v e       

"A soul mate would be great, but at some point

 I'd settle for someone who gets back to a text message."

~Atticus

M A N I K

Life is unexpected they used to say and today I realized it.

Who would have believed I, Manik Malhotra, will be smiling looking at the text messages that too of someone whom I met just three days back?

Yes, somewhere she is still a stranger but again, remembering our journey of these three days we were never strangers though we have met just for once.

My phone vibrated again as I made myself comfortable in the bed.

One new message from Mini Monster.

Mini Monster. That's a nickname given by me to Nandini Murthy. Firstly, that was just based on the things I have heard about her and how she loved to prank others and irritate and annoy others. But now it's from experience. Also, the name is perfect for her personality.

And most importantly, she knows it as well so it does not come under any bad category. But guess what, now I feel like why I had to give her a nickname cause for the last half an hour she has been trying to give me names, and trust me, all are too weird and most of them are so hard to pronounce too or simply say I didn't know such a word even existed.

Mini Monster: 

How about damoiseau?

Me:

What does that even mean? Is it even a word?

Mini Monster:

Leave that. It's difficult to pronounce. How about Pinky Prince?

Me: 

What the hell Nandini?  Pinky? That too prince. Do I look like a three-year-old kid to you?

Mini Monster:

Malhotra, who told you that only a "three-year-old kid" can love pink color? And the prince can wear pink too not just princesses.

Me: 

I don't know that but I don't like pink. So better change that name.

Mini Monster:

Don't worry I will make you love that. Nandini Promise ;)

Me: 

In your dreams.

Mini Monster:

Trust me, I have already seen you in the pink shirt in my dream.

Hate Story» 4

        f o u r       

" There are no strangers here; Only friends we haven't met yet "

~W.B.Yeats

M A N I K

"Wasn't the Ferris wheel supposed to be the last ? " she raised her eyebrow at me as I turned the car in the direction opposite to the place she was staying. 

"It was the last but last, is never the end." she groaned at that. I didn't understand the meaning of her this groan - if it was of approval or not until she spoke out loud confirming it was seriously of disapproval.

"Was Mukti less that you too started with these riddles? " I could not help but smile at that. Being a writer and that too one of the best  ( if I add ) - talking in riddles was something Mukti was too fond of or, simply habituated to. 

"Trust me, I am not even a percent close to hers." to this she simply shrugged,

" Who knows that better than me? " she continued, " And that's not even the thing that irritates me. It's when I ask her what does that even mean and her simple reply saying..."  which I completed for her.

"You will come to know as the time comes." she gave amused smile at that but then maybe realization dawned upon her that Mukti was no different from people she came across. It's just that she was the same for all but again different and it was hard for the person to depict her personality even if they are too close which included Abhi too.

I am not sure about Nandini though as Mukti and Nandini are not someone who would call each other their soul. They don't even talk for days due to their busy schedule but again they can feel if one is fine or not. 

It's like their soul is connected. 

Now also they are meeting after five years but looking at them anyone will think they are always together but no one knows it's never the case. 

Hate Story » 3

        t h r e e        

M A N I K

Today is the day.

Does this statement ever come to your mind? When?

Maybe on your birthday or of someone special to you. Or, on Sunday like we say " Today is the day I am going to sleep and eat all day with no school or no work or any other work but just you and your weekend. Maybe for some, this is during the festive season and time to spend with family, friends, and so on.

The day.

There was nothing like the day for me before today.

Not until morning when I was sitting in the car and was thinking about a person.

A person whom you know but have not met yet. A person about whom you have heard a lot but not ever heard their voice. A person whose face is clear to you from those numerous photographs but again, you don't know the real beauty. A person who is the complete opposite of you but again, it's what you know from other's views. A person who is just like your friend's friend but again, you don't know if you guys are friends or not?

What do you call this sort of person who is the stranger but not a stranger?

How do you start a conversation with a known stranger?

Formal or Informal.

Confused right? The same was the feeling I was going through this morning but now, at this moment it all seems like years have passed and I feel so stupid of myself for even thinking like that.

"Why are you grinning like an idiot?" she asked with curious eyes but before I could reply she herself spoke ..." Never mind, who was I asking to? I just keep forgetting that you are an idiot."

"Did you just call me idiot Miss, Murthy?" I raised my eyebrows but again who was I kidding?

"Yes, Mr. Malhotra. I did call you that only." and she was smirking. This girl. But again I could not help but remember all that happened today and again that stupid smile formed on my lips and I spoke something that never thought I would have said after her previous reply...

"Thank u Nandini. "  and she was shocked would be an understatement. Wait did I just speak any foreign language? No, then but my confusion was cleared by her only...

"This is the first time someone is saying thank u that too so politely with no sarcasm after I called them an idiot." oh god, this girl. How can one be so dramatic?

" It was not for that" and she gazed at me with narrow eyes" It was for today. "

"I don't know when I enjoyed my life like this before today. Life was so hard that I never got time to enjoy it like there's no tomorrow. " but she cut me off...

"Manik, life is never hard. It's us who think so. And about enjoying it, there is always time, we just need to have the courage to live in the time without planning."

I could just nod at her. Somewhere she was correct too. 

"Manik, what do you think will happen if we jump from here?" and I looked at her horrified.

"Nandini Murthy, we will reach either hospital. But seeing on which height we are I guess we will directly reach heaven." I replied seriously while looking down at the ground. No, it's not a cliff, but rather a Ferris wheel.

Ferris wheel of 64 ft. and we were at the top for the last 15 minutes waiting for the ride to start. 

"But seriously Manik tell me, you are enjoying this idea of ending the day with this ride?"

"I hate to say it but yes, I like this idea. Never thought I would do such crazy things in a day."

"Manik, these things don't count under crazy. They are the adventure," she stated as a matter of fact.

"Oh really. Let me remind you about everything we did and explain how this all counts under crazy. Also not just adventure but life-threatening adventures."

"So let's rewind what we did today ?" I nodded and she continued.."Let's point out everything we did and see if they count under crazy or fun."

"Okay done. So first destination among five..."

"Silent disco..."

Hate Story » 2

        t w o       

"I feel like girls who drink whiskey have good stories"

~Atticus

M A N I K

"Heartbroken heart breaker, that's what they call me. They think I rule the dark world but only I know how much I fear that darkness," she said while gulping down the liquid at once with an expression that said it didn't taste good at all but nevertheless. After putting the glass down she looked at me with a smile and asked if I wanted to dance. I nodded negatively and she shrugged casually before making her tipsy form to the dance floor already crowded with people. 

Strangers. It's sometimes good to hear out their story. Some make you laugh, some make you sleep and some show the hidden reality of life.

It's strangely peaceful listening to others' experiences, connecting to their life characters and blending in their words, and brewing your own thoughts about what might have happened ahead. And getting all curious to know more.

"I know the most active part of a person's body is the mind but that does not mean you think so much that forget the surrounding. You are drinking from an empty glass Manik. Let your mind rest at least in this noise of the club." and this brought me out of my train of thoughts.