Chaotic Chaos : 1

 

  

 

10/29/2021

 He was just there,
 standing by the once
a roaring fire, beside the
camp, trying to search a
companion, more faithful 
then his own shadow,
who left him, in those 
dark hours with his own
inner demons laughing at
his teary eyes.

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Certified Crazy → 4

 

Raizada members one by one stepped down from the car. The Raizada house standing in all glory before them.

"Finally, we are home," Arav exclaimed. The grin he had suggested just how happy he was returning from that crazy hospital," That hospital was making everyone crazy."

"Yes, Bhai. " aashi said supporting her brother with a serious expression, "The doctors were crazy too."

"Quite charming also, isn't it?"Arav teased his Mami and mother. The blush on their faces described exactly what they thought. 

Arav looked at his dad and mamu and stopped himself from laughing. They were still on that. He thought of having some fun.

"Oh my god,mami, you look so beautiful while blushing. You know If only I was older, I would have married you myself." Arav teased his mami noticing how his mamu was looking at him horrified and slowly it turned to annoyance.

"Arav, what's wrong with you?  How could you say such a thing? " Arnav scolded him, "And Khusi, why are you still blushing ." His annoyance was clear.

Arnav saw how his little nephew was trying to hide his laugh. When their eyes met, his nephew had the audacity to smirk at him. So, his nephew wanted to play. 

In the hospital, he was worried about Khusi but now his mind was not clouded by worry. He gave Arav a look who looked confused by the sudden change in his attitude. 

"Di, jiju, I'm telling you. Don't say late that I didn't warn you. " Arnav started. He inwardly grinned seeing Arav's confused face from the corner of his eye, "He will be a great flirt in the future. I even heard he has many girlfriends in the school already. 

Arnav never knew it felt so satisfying to get a win over a kid.

"Arav, what is Chote saying? Is that true? " Anjali asked in a dangerous tone.

"Mom..no..." Arav started but Arnav beat him to it.

"And di, don't even make me start of his mischiefs. So many complaints. " Arvan stated with a shake of the head.

"No mom, mamu is lying," Arav said glaring at his mamu who just smirked at him.

"No excuses Arav. Why will Chote lie? " Anjali warned.

"Don't worry Ranisaheba, I will contact to school myself and see what is he up to." Shyam too couldn't believe his son would something like that.

"Mom Dad. No. He is just jealous that Mami loves me more than him." Arav said fast protecting his ear which was in danger zone since his mother was approaching him.

"What the. Who said that? Khushi loves me more than anyone else." Arnav replied proudly yet a frown marring his forehead.

"Mom loves me the most. Even more than you two. Right, mom ?" how could little aashi remain back when the talk was about her mom. So, she directly asked her mom other than discussing with others.

"Of course, my little princess," Khushi said without hesitation pulling her bubbly cheeks completely missing that hurt expression of Arav and Arnav.

"Khushi."

"Mami."

Both had slight hurt in their voice. Khushi too noticed it immediately. His boys were just...she didn't complete her thought seeing how two accusing eyes were staring at her.

"I love you two also," Khushi assured them who relaxed slightly.

"But mamma..." little aashi didn't like this. She was the youngest so she should be loved most.

Before another round went with who was loved more, a voice sounded.

"Are you all planning to spend the whole evening there? " 

There she was, Nani at the main door shaking her head at her grown-up grandkids and their kids. She was waiting from the time she heard a car horn. But instead of coming inside her crazy children were very much busy among themselves standing in car parking.

"Thank u Devi Maiya," Khushi whispered for sending Nani at right time. This was a perfect distraction from another situation where she would have been helpless.

"Coming, Nani," Arnav shouted and everyone started moving toward the door completely forgetting what they were arguing about a few minutes back.

They were about to enter the house when Nani suddenly stopped them.

"Badi Nani, are you practicing to be a vamp, Nani?" Aashi asked Nani, giving shock to everyone standing there.

"Aashi bacha, what are you saying? That was bad. You can't talk to Naniji like that." Khushi said coming out of her shocked state.

"You are just too innocent, mom. Now. Nani will throw us from the house. We have to live in a small house." Aashi said. The worry lines were visible on her forehead.

"What is she saying Chote?" Nani asked his grandson getting confused with what his little ASR was saying. Why will she do such a thing?  what is this vamp thing?

Before Arnav could open his mouth Shyam Jha came to Aashi's rescue.

"Princess, don't worry! I'll take care of you all. We will buy a big house and live together. You don't need to worry ok." Shyam decided to cheer Aashi who seemed like she was about to cry.

He completely missed the dangerous look he was getting from everyone.

Listening to Aashi was shocking but looking at Shyam was downright startling. They appreciated he was trying to assure Aashi but that didn't mean he just forget what Aashi said.

"Seriously dad," Arav said with an annoyed tone. He sometimes really doubts his father's profession. should not he think about everything many times before speaking in a courtroom?

"What was that Shyam Ji? Instead of making her understand you are supporting her." Anjali too showed her annoyance like her son. Her husband can be too much sometimes.

"What did he do?" Shyam thought completely missing his son and wife's expression. 

"Mami, I'm telling you. This is all because of those serials she keeps on watching ." Arav complained to his mami. Serves Aashi right for watching those useless things, Arav thought.

"Aashi, you watch serials?" Arnav asked completely baffled about what he heard. His little girl watched...that. That too at this age.

"Aashi, you had promised that you will not look at them. I told you they are not good. You broke mamma's promise." Khushi asked faking a crying expression. She was sure now aashi won't lie.

"No mamma, promise I don't look at them. This scene was shown long back when Nani stops the hero heroine at the door and closes the door at their face. " Aashi said innocently. She was not at fault. She thought like in serials her Nani too will throw them out.

"Aashi you have to promise papa also you will not look such a thing ." Arnav kept his hand in front of aashi. These serials things are to be banned. He doesn't want his daughter to come in front of him one day and repeat every word three times as they do in serials.

"Oh, come on papa. I will not watch them. Anyway, they are getting boring nowadays. They keep repeating the same thing. Though I'll promise for your peace of mind." Aashi said keeping her hand in his and rolling her eyes dramatically.

"And aashi baccha, say sorry to Nani. You know Nani is so good how can she be a vamp right." Anjali encouraged her.

"Sorry, Badi Nani. But you will not throw us right ." Aashi caught her both ears asking for forgiveness but she needed her doubts to be cleared from Nani herself.

"Could anyone ignore such innocent sorry," Nani said," It's ok my doll. And how could you think I can throw my doll out. I will never do that. Never think that way. But keep your promise Ok." Aashi nodded her head agreeing to whatever her Badi Nani said.

"Now, come forward. I'll do arati. That was the reason I stopped you ." Nani took the arati thali which Hp was holding till then.

"I will do arati of Khushi bitiya. No one should speak a word." Nani said strictly which everyone supported by nodding their head. Her kids can be a handful sometimes without a proper warning.

"Because of them, I could not congratulate you. May Devi Maiya shower her blessing upon you and the little one who is coming. " Nani said pulling Khushi in her arms after completing arati. She could not express how happy she was." Now I don't need anything even if God asks me to come with him."

"Nani..."

"Badi Nani..."

The shouts brought a cringe from Nani. They were loud.

"Ok ok. No talking about dying. Happy?" Nani said to which they all muttered yes. 

Nani could just smile at her kids. They grew up so fast. She felt like yesterday Anjali and Chote had come to her house now, even their kids were growing fast.

"Come inside all of you. Khushi bitiya must be tired." Nani said moving forward taking Khushi along with her while others followed.

"Shyamji, why are you still standing there? " Anjali asked confused seeing her husband still standing at the door.

"You all scolded me and no one even said sorry," Shyam complained like a little kid.

"Now really. You are a lawyer, not aashi ." Anjali replied rolling her eyes at his child-like behavior.

"Don't listen to Bua, SJ. I'll ask them to say sorry. Come." Aashi pulled her SJ inside along with her. 

All shook their heads at the duo. It was amusing how they were always the first to come to the support of the other.

"Oh, I forgot" Anjali suddenly said," I invited doctor Armaan and Riddhima here for lunch tomorrow." 

Anjali dropped the bomb. 

Khushi beamed at her all excited.

Arnav and Shyam fumed.  

Arav, Nani, and Aashi shared a look.

Tomorrow was sure to be wonderful.

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Stupidity Cupidity » 1

SOBRE MANIK; and the talk of love

 

Cabir never would have thought, not even in his dreams that he will be having something like ‘The Talk of Love’, with his best friend –Manik; the one feared for his short-temper and blind rage.

The best part of the talk was drunk Cabir and sober Manik.

Cabir, from childhood, was the talkative one but Manik was a silent one. Not even a distant relative was the term ‘speaking’ to Manik, was the 10-year-old Cabirs thought seeing the new student who everyone talked of.

It was just in the spur of the moment when Cabir had decided to befriend the angry young boy who had snapped at Cabir’s favorite teacher. That day Cabir for the first time did not talk for two days straight and kept following Manik wherever he went, except for the classes.

Manik, who was though silent; was a very observant one, had taken notice of everyone around him. It did not take a genius to figure out that Cabir and talk were like two parts of a coin- inseparable.

However, when he did not for once hear the talkative boy do the thing he was best at and just follow him like a shadow for two days straight, he had had enough.

On the third day, Manik had cornered Cabir and asked with a glare, “What the hell is your problem?”

Cabir had grinned, hugged him, and stated, “From today, you are my best friend.” Manik was startled would be an understatement.

Gaining his composure, Manik had pushed Cabir and snapped, “I am not your friend. Stay away from me.”

Cabir had just given that face-splitting smile and said, “Trust me, I was staying away only. You noticed how amazing of a person I am and took me to an isolated corner to talk. Therefore, you are the one who proposed the friendship and I just accepted, as I hate rejection. So, my best friend, see you soon.”

The next second Cabir had gone to his class as the bell was about to ring while Manik was left standing there, not knowing what happened.

It was just a beginning but Manik had decided to end it and avoided Cabir but Cabir stood his ground and was with Manik like a shadow. No, they did not share a word just sat in each other’s presence.

It was about three months from their first conversation when Cabir was absent for a few days and that was the day when hell had broken loose for Manik. The three months of the progress of no fight, no argument, and no snapping had broken and he was given a final warning for rustication, his parents like always didn’t care and let money talk. Nevertheless, he had realized a thing and he was going to follow his heart this time.

The next day, when Cabir had returned, Manik had engulfed him in a hug and scolded him for not coming for so many days. That day Manik had talked the whole day from everything to nothing which was so out of his character and Cabir had been a silent listener taking everything in and even visited Cabir’s home after school, not that his parents cared but he had left them a message as calling them was prohibited for him.

That day Manik not just got a best friend but the love of his parents too.

The little Manik whose parents were always busy just had the servants, nannies, and house cleaners in that big house for their son but no big heart to know about the day of their only child.

They said to have a love marriage but forgot Manik was the gift of their love. Maybe money had become their new love and reputation their child.

In all this, the little Manik started to be silent with no one to share his thoughts.

The house cleaners, servants, and nannies tried to talk to the innocent boy but the strictness of his parents of treating the lower ones as equals and firing the one with a little closeness to Manik made him bitter towards his parents.

However, which child does not fear their parent’s anger. It was Manik’s case too. They were his parents, be it out of so-called respect or the fear of what their anger can lead to, he started to keep his anger, hurt, and every other emotion to himself.

In the house, he just nodded at every word of his parents who liked it that way and did not like his blabbering self. For them to like him, he stopped talking.

However, in school, his emotions came out in form of anger when someone talked to him, forced him to talk, or, took it as a challenge to talk to him.

No, he did not want to have a conversation. He wanted a listener. A person who will just be there and listen to his rant of every absurd thing with sheer curiosity and enthusiasm and Cabir- the talker became the same listener for the silent one to become talkative.

Ironic it was for Cabir when he saw his Monster Manik, smiling to himself while staring at nothing in particular with the same beer bottle in hand - untouched.

In the celebration of getting a promotion, Cabir lost the count of bottles he finished but seeing his best friend - the one whose drinking capacity is more than that of Cabir – lost, with the same, first bottle handed to him, the intoxicated mind of Cabir started to run Marathon.

Cabir while swaying here and there finally reached where Manik was in the far corner of the garden, away from the music and madness.

“Manik, is the beer not tasty?” Cabir asked but got no answer in return.

“Stupid,” Cabir muttered to himself while hitting himself in his head and giggled. “How can beer not be tasty? Wrong question Cabir, wrong question.”

“So Manik, Is it your dry day?” Cabir asked but seeing Manik still lost Cabir frowned but the next second he giggled in between burps.

“Oh, now I get it. Someone told you ‘statue’ right?” Cabir asked when he saw Manik blink, he laughed loudly that finally broke Manik’s retrieve.

“Be careful- oops!” Manik said but it was too late as Cabir already fell with a thud.

 Manik frowned at his best friend’s form who was trying to stand but again fell down and the giggles and chuckles leaving his mouth made the situation more confusing for Manik.

Finally having enough, Manik hold Cabir’s hand pulled him up to sit, and made him sit on the bench.

“When you know you cannot handle it then why do you drink so much?” Manik scolded looking at his best friend who was grinning to himself.

“Manik, you…you are out. You cannot mo…move till it’s over.” Cabir suddenly exclaimed making Manik hold his head thinking of all the times Cabir made him play each childish game in his drunken state.

“Cabir, just before you fell, you said it’s over so I can move,” Manik explained making Cabir point a finger at the place beside Manik making Manik groan.

“You cheat. “ Cabir said, “I no saying such thing. I remember. I call, you lost, beer bottle, statue, and I laugh.”

Manik wanted to band his head listening to the innovative and fragmented English of the great ‘Drunk Cabir’.

“No Cabir, I was just thinking something. I was not lost.” Manik said while a smile instantly graced his lips thinking about earlier.

“Monster smile,” Cabir shouted which caused Manik to jump on his place.

“Damn Cabir, speak slowly. You scared me.” Manik spoke with a hand on his heart.

Cabir again started to giggle, “Monster is scared. I, Cabir, the great, made the Monster scared.”

“I was startled Cabir, not scared,” Manik emphasized on startled but Cabir had his mindset.

“No. You scared.” drunken Cabir sang making Manik chuckle at how ridiculous it sounded. Thank god, Cabir has the tendency to forget everything in the morning with the massive hangover, Manik thought.

“Manik,” Cabir called while trying to make a serious face making Manik sigh. Now, comes the emotional Cabir, Manik sighed.

“You no longer consider me your best friend,” Cabir said with his bottom lips quivering as if he will cry any second.

“No Cabir. You are my best friend and will always be.” Manik spoke calmly as if talking to a 5-year-old, which seemed an easier task compared to a drunk emotional Cabir.

“Aw, Manik “Cabir was all excited at once making Manik chuckle at drunken Cabir’s mood swings. “Then tell me, what are you hiding?”

Manik groaned not knowing how his best friend can still have his suspicions regarding him (Manik) keeping secrets from Cabir even in a drunken state.

Again, it was in Manik’s favor that Cabir was drunk and will not remember anything in the morning. He can easily say all the things bothering him and the new feelings he had which will have been a deathly task to do in front of sober Cabir.

“Cabir, I have a secret to tell.” Manik started cautiously.

“Secret?” Cabir whispered to which Manik nodded looking suspiciously at Cabir.

“What secret?” Cabir suddenly shouted making Manik cover his mouth with his hand.

“Cabir…” Manik whisper shouted, “It's top secret and you cannot say it to anyone.” Seeing Cabir nod, Manik slowly let go of his hand.

“But Manik, there should not be a secret between friends. No secret is a rule of friendship. ” From where does he get such thoughts when he is drunk, thought Manik.

“But Cabir, they are our friends.” Manik explained while pointing to the crowd partying at a distance, “But you, Cabir, are my best friend. Moreover, this secret is between best friends. And isn’t there a rule that says best friends before friends?”I surely did not drink, Manik thought while shaking his head at his absurd talks.

“NO there isn’t such rule.” In all the answers Manik thought he would get from Cabir, this was not supposed to be the one.

Cabir kept looking at Manik while the latter was thinking of what to reply. Finally, he spoke the first thing that came to his mind.

“But Cabir, you are Cabir, the inventor, the rule-maker,” Manik spoke with a grin at his reason while instead of being happy, a frown graced Cabir’s forehead making Manik wait for the blow.

The blow was not that big, Manik thought.

“I don’t want to be a rule-maker. I want to be a rule-breaker.” Cabir added with a ridiculous pout making Manik scoff.

“I know Cabir. But to break a rule, you must make one, right?” Manik asked calmly. Cabir slowly nodded making Manik sigh.

“So, now I will tell you my secret and you will not tell it to anyone okay?” Manik hoped, really hoped for a positive response.

“But just now you said I am a rule breaker.” Cabir glared at Manik.” You lied, you liar.” Manik just wanted to bang his head in frustration.

If only he was not desperate to share the newly discovered feelings that had been bubbling inside him and trying to come out, he would have left but alas, this was his chance to express his undying love and he will not trade it for anything, not even for getting away from his drunk mess of best friend.

“No Cabir, I didn’t lie. The rule applies just until tomorrow morning. Then you can break it.” Manik added carefully while inside he was happy because drunken Cabir remembers only hangover and nothing else.

“Okay.” Cabir finally nodded, “Speak.”

Getting a green signal Manik was about to speak but for safety measures gave his beer bottle to Cabir while the latter took it with twinkling eyes and wiping fake tears for the kindness of his best friend.

“So, Cabir, I won’t beat around the bush and come to the point,” Manik said while rubbing his hand while Cabir nodded in encouragement.

“Whenever I feel her presence, my heart starts to beat rapidly,” Manik said making Cabir chuckle.

“Same pinch Manik,” Cabir said while pinching Manik’s arm making Manik jump with the pain.

“What the hell Cabir?” Manik said while rubbing the area that was still stinging, “And what do you mean by that?” Manik added.

“My heart also beats rapidly while there is need of 2 runs in one ball and the ball is in air,” Cabir answered taking Manik’s hand and placing it just above his heart.

Manik looked dumbfounded at Cabir. “Listen, this heart beats at the speed of 80km/hr,” Cabir added.

“What the Cabir?” Manik exclaimed while taking his hands back, “And the heart cannot beat 80km/hr. That’s the speed of a bike or car.”

“Why not a bicycle?” Cabir asked.

“Cabir…” Manik spoke with gritted teeth.

“I know my name is Cabir. You don’t have to keep telling me that.” Cabir spoke with something like an eye roll but his dropping eyes made it something else. Manik glared at him but Cabir just took a long gulp of his drink while royally ignoring Manik.

“Calm down Manik. He is drunk. This is the chance you have. You cannot lie more.” Manik pep-talked in his mind and took a deep breath.

“Cabir, your situation, and my situation are different. Your heart beats rapidly because of suspense, expectations, and so on. But in my case, it beats without a reason.” Manik explained remembering how he can know she is near just by the motion of his heartbeat. However, what he did not expect was Cabir’s logic.

“You are wrong Manik. Every heart beats for a reason.” Cabir said then gestured for Manik to come close. As Manik bent, Cabir whispered in his ears as if telling a top-class secret, “It beats for your survival.”

Manik looked at Cabir who was carrying the most serious expression.

“Cabir, forget I said that okay. I will tell more clearly.” Manik said while Cabir thought for some time and nodded making Manik sigh.

“So, whenever I speak to her, I start to grow nervous. My words fumble, hands sweat, and I make a fool of myself.” Manik said remembering how his confidence gets away like a puff of air when she starts a conversation with him.

“Oh!” Cabir exclaimed. Manik finally thought Cabir understood but later realized he spoke too soon.

“It’s okay to have problems socializing and public speaking. You just have to keep motivating yourself and try speaking fluently in front of the mirror. I heard that helps.” Cabir added, “I never tried that but if you want something from my experience then take one peg and speak, you would rock it.”

Thank god, sober Cabir is not so advising, Manik thought. He had thanked God more times today than in his lifetime he realized but shrugged the thought away.

“So, whenever I look into her eyes, I keep looking at it and the whole world vanishes. “ Manik added while a smile graced his lips remembering her doe eyes filled with innocence.

Nevertheless, Cabir’s reply broke every dream of his.

 “It’s okay to love someone’s eye color. I too keep looking at the grey eyes of my cat. So beautiful they are.” Cabir continued, “And about world vanishing, it’s not an abnormal case. When I start to play games on mobile, I will not even know if the whole world is upside down. I will still be in my game. You are too just looking at your favorite eye color. It is okay. No one will say you are mad. ” Cabir patted Manik’s back as if to say, ‘I am there’.

From when Cabir became so logically dumb, Manik thought but now he had had enough.

Enough is enough.

“Cabir, this is my last warning. You will not speak until I complete whatever I want to say. Understood?” Manik gave the famous monster’s gaze making Cabir shut his mouth and put a finger on his lips.

“Understood?” Manik again asked to while Cabir nodded in the same position.

“Good,” Manik exclaimed but Cabir grinned and was about to speak when Manik cut him off.

“But if you speak, you will be bad,” Manik added making Cabir pout but nod.

“So, I, Manik Malhotra, am in love.” Manik declared with a grin.

 Not getting any reply from Cabir, Manik looked at Cabir who had a finger on his lips. “You can speak,” Manik said but just wanted to slap himself for letting Cabir speak.

“I already know that you love me Manik. That is no secret, Tch.” Cabir said with a shake of the head and muttering curses for making his expectations high.

 “But it’s not you that I love,” Manik said making Cabir snap his head at Manik.

“You don’t love me?” Cabir asked. His voice held an edge and his eyes were dropping.

“No Cabir, it’s…” but Cabir cut him off, “You didn’t have to tell it in the face. At least you could have lied for my happiness.” Cabir spoke softly making Manik hold his head in between his hands.

It was silent for a few seconds before Manik spoke,

“Cabir…” he started, “it’s not that I don’t love you. You are my best friend. Of course, I love you but I am talking about romantic love-the one between lovers. I am in love. “Manik said, “And you even know the girl. In fact, you know her more than me. “

“Cabir, I am in love with Nandini; been since few years though just realized. She brings out the best as well as worst in me. You, Cabir, became my listener but for her, I want to be the same. I want to hold her close in my arms and embrace her fears. Give her warmth of assurance, be the hand she held’s to step forward, and be always her back up to support her if she falls - in short, have a walk of life to be remembered every night with a smile before falling asleep with her in arms to wake up to her glowing face.”

Manik finally took a deep breath on voicing out his feeling that has been making him overwhelmed for the last two days.

Two days of torture had ended with his confession to at least Cabir’s drunken self, as he was sure, he would not have any courage to voice it out in front of sober Cabir who might as well kill him after knowing his feelings.

Not hearing a sound from Cabir, Manik turned to look at Cabir who had finally passed out at an odd angle.

Chuckling, he supported the drunken Cabir to take him inside and tuck in the bed waiting for a sober Cabir with no memory of the night like always.

With the thought of his ladylove, Manik too crashed beside Cabir.

What he did not expect was a kick in the morning as his wake-up call.

What he did not expect after that was Cabir’s voice that boomed making him doomed.

 

“You are in love with my sister, my cousin, you monster.”

 

Of all the times Cabir had to remember, Manik thought. 

 Cabir was muttering every profanity at his best friend for his absurdity.

One thing was sure, Cabir was in deep shit with a killing headache, a best friend in love, a sister who even despises the name of his best friend and his dream.

 

A dream to be cupid for his best friend seemed to be a nightmare now.       

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Strangers↝ OS

 

STRANGERS

humming to old classics we came under the shade of...

♫♫Aksar Is Duniya Mein, Anjaane Milte Hain
Anjaani Raho Mein, Milke Kho Jaate Hain
Lekin Humesha Woh Yaad Aate Hain ♫♫

INDIA (At around 11:30 at night)

"Zara tasveer se tu nikalke saamne aa meri mehbooba..." a stranger's voice brought him out of his memory retrieve. His earphone was plugged out from the mobile's socket and the song was now playing in the silence of the night. 

The only person present; him and the stranger before him.

"May I?" her voice was soft and polite. 

He heard his girlfriend's voice in his mind,  

"Manik, however bad they may be but if they have started a conversation with politeness we have to return it."

He was sitting by the same cliff which has listened to each and every talk and witnessed every moment of their 7 years of togetherness so he just nodded at the stranger despite the what-ifs in his mind. 

The stranger made herself comfortable in his car's bonnet.

"So? " he started, " You love calmness that comes with this breeze caressing your skin now and then or it's just that you are fond of stargazing? "

He looked at her and she was already staring at him. Her calm stare made him uncomfortable. He averted his eyes quickly. A few seconds passed before she replied,

"What if I say I want to be a storm shaking the foundation from the depth and this breeze is all about the smell of someone close lingering in the air."

It was his kind of answer yet he knew the difference between his and hers. Her smile, his seriousness.

He didn't like the silence that prevailed, so he looked at her again, "Stargazing?"

She understood it was a question.

 "I love the chaos surrounding the cosmos rather than the twinkles of these stars."

"Seems like we are sailing on the same boat," he said. His eyes searched for the moon he admired most but it seemed lost in the cluster of clouds and stars.

Maybe the moon too knew he was alone, he thought.

He stopped himself from thinking about her. He rather decided to speak to the stranger.

As if guessing his thoughts,

"So, what do you think about this calmness?" she asked. Her eyes closed. The breeze caressed her skin and her hair flowed covering her face. 

The sight made him remember his girl. How the wind will blow her hair and cover her face. He will watch with amusement how she tried to tame it but it was always him who braided it after that. It was like an unspoken rule for them.

Lost in her memory, he spoke what he used to, every time he saw her,

"Beautiful.." The stranger gasped and looked at him wide-eyed. 

He blushed and quickly averted his gaze. 

He was busy cursing himself for blurting out the praise after zoning out again when he heard her slight chuckle.

"She will be lucky.." he looked at her, confused. " The one in whose photo you were so lost that you didn't even realize anyone's presence around you."

He smiled sadly. He missed her. He just wanted to voice it out.

"I am the lucky one. She is unique, my Nandini. After about..." he looked at his mobile for the time.." 20 minutes it's supposed to be our seventh anniversary."

His voice held no enthusiasm, she noted. 

"What went wrong then?" she asked out of the blue. 

He looked up startled. "She is not here but you are. And that says a lot." she pointed out.

"It's okay. You need not share. I understand," her hand squeezed his, slightly and let go.

.And again, the voice sounded in his mind,

"Sometimes it's better to let it out in front of someone who does not know you cause they won't judge. It's okay to speak Manik."

"It was okay. We had ups and downs like any other relationship. We thought it will be easy too. But ..." he paused, " long-distance relationships...just..."  she understood even if he didn't elaborate.

Meanwhile, he remembered the day she went to London. He had refused to escort her to the airport. She knew why he did so. They would have broken down. So, they said their goodbye early. Maybe if..., he didn't dare think further though.

"Umm..where is she now?" the stranger asked in a calm voice.

" London. She is pursuing her dreams. I am so proud of her," and he meant it, wholeheartedly.

" How long?" she asked.

 He replied without pause, " 3 years."

"How long since you guys last talked?" she asked again.

"5 months," he replied with a monotonous voice. 

He still clearly remembered the I love you's shared instead of some phrases like it's over.

Their birthdays too came and went. Neither of them was strong enough to wish each other. Her photo and his tears became companions. The dark circles were clear indications of his sleepless nights.

"And I thought it was years," she said with a laugh.

 He was offended. " How dare you say that? Do you know what's it like to lose her? It's like I am dying inside bit by bit." 

He watched how quickly she blinked back her tears. He felt slightly guilty. Just slightly.

Nandini's voice again filled his mind,

"You should learn to apologize Malhotra. It does not reduce your height you know." her teasing tone still ringing in his ears.

"You don't seem the type to apologize?" the stranger said. He just nodded.

"Good. I don't do good with it either." She declared. 

He bit his lips to keep from smiling. He still was offended.

"We were together for 5 years." the stranger spoke. There was a longing in her eyes and pain.

He thought if his eyes were the same.

"You know the best part, it was our anniversary. 5th anniversary. And he had said he was planning a surprise for me. I somewhere knew he was going to ask me for marriage and I was on cloud nine. That feeling was out of the world." she had now turned to face him.

"I waited at the venue for like hours and he didn't come. After dozens of calls and messages, my phone rang with his name and that's how our long-distance relationship started." she seemed like she was reliving the whole thing.

She stopped. He wanted to know more. He asked,

"Are...Are you guys together now?" his voice shaky. Dread already setting over him. Did it not work for her too?

"Yeah. We are. Seems like this long distance that you whisper about didn't affect us." she said with a chuckle, "though we were the one with the longest distance one could ever have."

"Wanna meet him?" she asked him with all the more enthusiasm. He looked at her flabbergasted. He just nodded. He wanted to know. He wanted to see if he and Nandini could have been the same.

"There. " she pointed at the sky." The farthest star shining dimly at the corner. That's him. My Abhi," she said.

 It took just a second for him to realize what she meant. His voice ditched him and he kept staring at her when a tear left her eye. She didn't bother wiping it.

So alike yet so unlike him, he noted.

"The phone call was about him meeting with an accident and till the time I reached, he was gone. I didn't even get to hear his voice last time or hold his hand to tell him, he will be okay. We will be okay. He just went by giving me the biggest surprise of my life."

He imagined himself in place of her. He couldn't. 

Being in a different country gave hope the least. But, the hopelessness would have killed him.

She looked at him, wiping her tears,

"At least you can wish her, it's just one flight to take you to her but I cannot even do that. After a few days, it's our anniversary and after 3 years I still get confused whether to smile remembering the day we met or cry remembering he was lost in the abyss from where there is no return."

He pulled her in a hug. She slowly put her arms around his torso. 

He blinked to stop the tears. He didn't mind the small wetness he felt at his shoulder.

They needed it.

"I don't know what he was like but if he loved you like you do, he will have just wanted to say, there is someone almost exactly the same as him but just a little bit funnier, a little bit emotional, and simply a better version of him waiting for his lady love. "

He heard her snort. It brought a smile to his lips too.

"By the way, I didn't catch your name?" he asked breaking the hug.

"Abhi's LOVE," she replied forwarding a hand and he shook it with a grin and replied,

"Nandini's HUMESHA."

While in London at the same time

"Main Duniya bhoola dungi Teri chahat mein.." the song startled her.

Her eyes met the curious eyes of a stranger to whom the voice belonged.

"Hmm?" she asked unsure of what he meant? Was he trying to flirt? 

"You were so lost in your world like mein Duniya Bhula doongi types.." he chuckled seeing her  'are you serious look'.

"Sorry, that's my habit to crack lame jokes. But hey, it works sometimes," he said in his defense and she smiled at that and gestured for him to have a seat across her.

"So?" she raised an eyebrow at him gesturing to the empty coffee shop.

His eyes held that mischievous glint and she knew what was coming next. 

"Except for the fact that I am beautiful and you are here to flirt ." he laughed heartily at that.

"Touche. "

 She too gave a tiny smile. She gave him credit though. He knew how to lighten a mood.

"You really know how to read a person or am I someone special? " he asked her while she just shrugged and thanked the waiter who brought her order and he did the same.

"You are too predictable," she replied.

"You are so predictable, Manik. " and that pout he had given her. How much cute did he look? His greek god-like sharp features were no comparison to how cute he looked. And that was reserved just for her.

"Hello"." Stranger..."

"hmm?" she came out of her memory lane to find a curious stranger before her.

"You seem distracted," he said while taking a sip of his espresso. He scrunched his nose in distaste. His every move was observed clearly by her.

"Seems like you don't like the taste of it," she said. Her black coffee tasted bitter too.

"I can say the same looking at your expression," he said while again taking a sip of his espresso.

"Okay..." she pressed," I am using the girl's first card. " He pouted. It was so ridiculous that she could not stop herself from laughing out loud.

"Hey, you are laughing like I seem so bad. My girl loves me for that cuteness only " he said with a pout again.

"Yeah sure." she controlled her laugh but the giggles were still escaping.

"I won't tell anything," he grumbled.

 She put her finger on her lips showing she will keep quiet.

"If I explain in my way, it will take more than a day so I will tell in that boring way with no dramatic essence. " she could just roll her eyes. Without a drama he says.

"You know long-distance relationship sucks. " and that made her shiver in her place. Was his condition too like her? Was the person he loved too not with him? The what-ifs brought back the memories of these 5 months where she didn't have one night without nightmares.

There didn't go one day when she didn't write something to her Manik. She just could not press the send button.

"My love, my Navya is a doctor in the Indian Army. And being one of the best at her work and seeing her devotion towards her work, she is mostly sent to the camps with high risks. The risks of her life being in danger are always so much and with no communication, and me being in another country just adds to our misery. " 

His every word made her think of Manik. Their togetherness of six years, scratch that seven years of togetherness. Was their separation so complicated like Cabir and Navya?

"Always when I miss her I drink espresso. Her favorite," he concluded with a smile.

 She too smiled knowing that longing. Wasn't she doing the same?

"My mind knew you were the one even before I realized I love you. My heart was beating for you even before I realized you are my heartbeat." his eyes were full of love, respect, hope, trust and a myriad of emotions were swimming in it as he uttered those words six years back while confessing his love to her for the first time.

"Now your turn," he said bringing her out of her thoughts.

"It's our 7th Anniversary today and we are not together. Six years of togetherness just came to a halt with just the exchange of I love you's five months back," she stated straight- forward not knowing what more or less to say. "Black coffee was my Manik's favorite."

"Where is he now?" he asked observing her each movement. "India"

"Which place?" he asked again and she frowned yet replied, "Mumbai"

"Great. After a year I am going to meet my love. It's today evening's flight and I will reach till tomorrow night at Mumbai. She has the same timings and her flight from Assam will land at the same time in Mumbai. " he said. 

She looked at him confused. She could understand his enthusiasm but why was he giving her so many details.

"Wanna join ? " his question took her by surprise.

 He added before she could speak,

"A cup of coffee just stirs the taste bud and memories but his presence will soothe the aching in the heart."

"What if..." he cut off her question.

"What-ifs always are the reasons for separation. I think this six years or more taught you enough of that," he said and she knew he was correct and again her Manik's voice filled her mind...

"The more what-ifs cross your mind, the more fear develops. It's in you to see beyond the what-ifs and believe only then will you reach your goal. And I, Manik believe that this distance will not matter till I love u, and trust me, that won't stop even after I stop breathing."

These were his words when he convinced her to take the offer to work in London, to take a step away from his embrace to fulfill her dream, and now it was her turn to return back to that embrace.

"I think your company will not be that bad for a flight." she finally added. 

He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Finally, my dream came true," he said will a full-blown smile. 

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow."What dream?"

"To be a cupid to someone. And I guess I did fulfill my dream." she could not stop herself from grinning at this statement.

"Trust me, I wanted to be the same. But you are already together with your love."

"Actually no." she stiffened but relaxed when he continued.." we just get to spend very little time with each other so you can pray. Sometimes the god listens to the ones with pure love towards love. "

"Are you a writer by any chance?" she asked while he shook his head.

" Cabir. Cabir Dhawan,"

"Nandini. Nandini Murthy."

"It was nice meeting you Nandini. "

"Same here Cabir. "

"So I think we should take our leave. You will want to pack too," he said and she grinned at him but again frowned.

"Tickets?" she asked while he assured her.

"Leave it to me. I will get it covered. I will see you at the airport."

"Phone number?" she added seeing his expression, "No, don't say that line."

He shook his head with a youthful grin but gave her a piece of paper from his pocket.

"I am not even going to ask why you carry it around." 

He grinned, "It's a long story. And our flight is long too."

"See you Cabir." and she hugged him which he reciprocated back.

"I will pray to Aaiyapaa that this time when you meet, it will be forever." and he could just smile in the hug.

♫♫ Aankhon Se Baat Hoti Hain,
Dhadkan Bhi Saath Hoti Hain
Koi Na Samjhe Ye Ishq Ki Zubaan ♫♫

"Final call for all the passengers of Indian Airline flight 111"

She just stood looking at the eyes which held so many emotions; love, trust, complaints, accusations, anger, but the most noticeable, the twinkle that one has when they are home and his eyes were depicting the same.

Who said they broke up? These five months were just a pause in their life where everything kept moving but they were stuck. Now though, they were moving towards each other and those five months seemed like nothing.

Their eyes were doing all the talking for them and their heartbeat had accelerated but they both knew, it's till they both are in each other's embrace.

And finally, he held her in his embrace, the embrace which was the only home for her, and finally, he felt like he was in peace as she wrapped her arms around his torso.

The hug was the filling of their months of separation but was it? No, it was a celebration of marking their seven years of togetherness.

"Happy Anniversary Nandini."

"Happy Anniversary Manik."

♫♫ Dheere Dheere Se Woh, Dil Mein Bas Jaate Hain

Chori Chori Se Woh, Dil Ko Churaate Hain ♫♫

FEW WEEKS LATER

"I like you more when you are drunk," he said while coming behind her once again.

She turned to glare at him at that comment. 

He had lost the count of her glares from this morning only.

"When you are drunk, you behave so sweetly. No sarcasm, no glares. Just that beautiful smile of yours that can light my world and that cuteness...my heart always skips a beat when you talk with that sweet voice. " he said all dreamily.

He turned to look at her to see her piercing him with her eyes, again.

" And when you are sober, you are like this. You just know to get angry, shoot daggers through your eyes, and after a few more seconds, punch," he complained, an accusing finger pointed at her.

He expected the same punch but not her laugh. Her melodious laugh.

"You look so cute when you sober. I will surely like to see the drunk you," she winked at him. The redness was fast to spread in his face.

"I guess my heart just skipped a beat seeing you blushing." and he was flushed at her this comment. Who told only girls can blush? Boys do too and that's the cutest sight.

"So, can I take that as a yes?" he asked while controlling himself.

" For what? " she pretended to be confused and he frowned.

" For the date Mukti. " she raised an eyebrow at that. He sighed.

"Okay fine..." he took a long breath and finally spoke the words,

"Abhimanyu's Mukti, Will you go on a date with me?"

"Sure Zubi boy." his eyes narrowed but gave in when she hugged him.

"I love u so much Abhi for sending a cupid as the STRANGER to get my life on track. Thank u so much stranger." she thought and wished for the stranger's happiness.

♫♫Phir Ek Din Woh bichad Jaate Hain♫♫

NEXT DAY

Breaking News

Indian Airlines Flight 111, an international flight from London collided with Indian Airlines Flight 222, a flight from Assam to Mumbai during landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport due to bad weather leading to lack of communication with an air-traffic tower which resulted in a mid-air collision while trying to land on the same runway causing the explosion taking the life of every passenger and crew members present in both the aircraft.

"I will pray to Aaiyapaa that this time when you meet, it will be forever." and her wish was granted.

"You made me love those dimly lit stars at dusk, the glowing fireflies in the moonlight, and the chaos of that dark night. And I do not know when I fell in love with you, except them. And just like they are for eternity, we are for eternity too." He whispered as if she could hear for one last time before the darkness engulfed him.

"You are my warmth of wildfire in lonely nights, galaxies lighting the lifeless road on sight, and my guardian when I cry at night. Your embrace is the only home I need. I am yours for eternity, Cabir. Not even the death could do us apart. " her final words before she opened her eyes in his embrace after falling into the abyss of darkness.

♫♫ Yeh Dil Jo Pyaar Maange Hain, Saccha Dildaar Maange Hain
Jaane Mohabbat Mile Kise Kahan ♫♫

And the verses say it all for one's imagination.