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.
