TWO STARS AND A MOON-20

I instantly lit up. “I have a plan. Let’s see how long your horse can run.” 

“Plan?” She looked in dubious.

After that I told her my plan, she punched numbers on her mobile.

“Hey. Where are you?” She spoke on the receiver.

After a pause she told. “Okay. Will be there in a minute. It seems you are having your luck.” She hung up, grabbed my hand and scooted out pushing away some guys on the way.

We went straight to the library. He was there looking over stacks of book.

“Hey. Everything fine?” He asked as we went over to him.

“Yeah.”

She looked over me with that wicked, amused and sly glance. “Of course. Just that we were thinking..” She paused giving the air a blow of suspense.

I could see how befuddled and anxious Madhav looked. But he spoke nothing.

Preeti again resumed. “Just that we are going to movie next Sunday. So we were thinking that if you would like to go. I mean only if you are free.”

“Yeah. I mean..”

“Hey. No forcing. Okay. Only if you are free that evening, then only come. Or else no problem.”

“No problem at all. I’m free on the Sunday. By the way I’m free on the whole weekend. Even if you want to go now, I can arrange.”

I wanted to laugh loud and raise a high five to Preeti. But then again, I had to get the first step of my plan properly executed. I remained silent behind Preeti.

“Then see you. Bye.” Preeti turned with big grin on her face and got me moved to the door. When we were just to cross the exit, I turned back a little and gave an I-am-feeling-lucky kind of look over shoulder to him. Damn! It worked. He was still staring at us and when our eyes met I could see how happiness jumped right into his eyes. He was surely feeling like some Grammy award winner or at least that’s what his face said.

When we reached to half of the way, we couldn’t control ourselves and stayed back there a little to cheer over our proper execution of plan.

My plan was test to him phase by phase, with every aspect of a gentleman. I wanted to see how mature he was to endure and sustain in this. A game of courtesy and there was lot to lose for him, though the loss will be temporary except me. And after that I will get my point to keep him away forever.

Sunday afternoon arrived as usual like cushy breeze for me but for Preeti the loads of curiosity kept piling up with every hour. She was running with impatience by the Sunday morning itself. In the early morning only she had asked me when, how, where to arrive and the proper lay out of our plan as Madhav was not allowed to make any contact with me till he proves his feelings.  

It was 6-8 evening show. Mom’s permission was the most unachievable part in here. After learning about hundreds of rape cases and molestation accusation she has left believing anyone when it comes to her daughter’s security. She always panics when I ask her to go out after dawn as if with disappearance of sun all the evil rise from their grave. I never understand what to do with day or night. Even girls are ravished, blackmailed on the name of their loved ones in broad day light. They are sold around like goods or you can say rituals of our society like child-marriage, dowry etc. etc. Even numerous female are still unaware that they are the victims as they think girls are just meant to endure all these from man and it’s just their fate that comes along with the gender. At least for me they are no way less than any rapist.

Not single rape outrage can ever change it. Change need to be nourished from the early stage on children. Only when a boy will be taught to respect the other gender instead of bragging and lauding, some changes can be expected when he turns into a man. Until then nothing can change it. No Government, No God. If my Mom had a son, I’m sure my brother would be a kind, loving and fun-making one. I always felt a lack whenever I saw three us in the family photos. I have many times imagined a tall figurine resembling mine gracing the fourth table in the dinner next to me. Sometimes I despondently needed him next to me. Though with Preeti I got a sister, but the place of brother was always unfilled.

Oops! I am again dreaming of what is shear impossible. I concentrated on how to pursue Mom for permission. Finally she agreed after that I refused to leave her pallu and stop following her everywhere I she went. I tied a corner of her pallu on my small finger and followed her everywhere for whole one hour till she exasperatedly agreed but stipulation was straight to home after movie and to call her in the interval.

“Yes Mom! It’s no Kargil. Just movie hall.”

“You never know how dangerous these places can be.” She replied grumpily.

The bell rang discontinuing our conversation. I knew who it was. I huffed a thin bang off forehead and ushered Preeti. She was all set to go. There was still two long hours left to go. We would take hardly thirty minutes to get there from home and that also Madhav was coming to pick up. Subtracting that I roughly had more than one hour to get ready. Aaah! Long enough to pack bags for a month long journey.

Preeti sat in my room and I went for a quick shower. When I returned, Preeti had already delved into my dresses and separated two tops, two jeans, one skirt and a legging. I stared at them till I forgot why I was staring at them. Yeah! It happens when you keep trying to cudgel your brain more and more when you understand nothing of it.

“I just need something fun and funky, not bland and boring.” I finally left it to Preeti.

She again turned back and laid the dresses on the bed. I went out to make my hair. She came behind me with a red top with plunging neck and a pair of skimpy jeans and hang them on my shoulder.

I looked leaner in that pair and bright red was killing. I was sure I was going to be a hey-look-at-her thing out there. I hope it was enough to gain Madhav’s attention.

“Just for today, don’t ruin you hair.” Then she carefully detangled my hair and left loose. She put some leave-on conditioner and spread carefully portion by portion till end .

“It’s never me. They do it themselves.” I hate my frizzy hair; no matter how much conditioner you put they are never gonna look better than buffalo’s tail. Yuck!

We went out of home in time. We were fifteen minutes early. I had told Preeti where to ask Madhav to wait and Preeti supposedly told time and place Madhav in the morning only. We walked leisurely to there gossiping randomly. My steps halted when I found a black Volkswagen waiting right there. As I had instructed to Preeti, he was exactly at that place.

Madhav was leaning on his back over this sleek luxury while talking on phone. He looked both confident and chivalrous as if stealing heart was his favourite business. An unnerving anticipation started to stir in as I saw him. It felt like all the strength I had accumulated started to melt down. I felt wane and vulnerable. Though I had planned that the place would be secure with very less people crossing us, but now I was sure that many female eyes must have located him here. He was definitely that sizzling and eye-catching.

“Oye! Oye! Someone seems totally floored.” Preeti commented beside me. All of sudden I found myself unashamedly gazing at him like dog staring at piece of meat. It was loud enough to turn him and hang down the phone.

“Hey Maddy.” Preeti shouted waving her hand.

“Hey Preeti.” His eyes shifted to mine and frosted for a while longer than needed. “Hello Ava.”

I brushed off a smile. “Hi.” I made it as small as possible, just a whisper.

 “Girls ready to rock the world.”

“Of course. Looking forward to the evening.” Preeti said with a big grin.

“Same here.” He looked more enthusiastic with those words.

“So shall we go?”

“Yeah.” He stepped hastily and held the car door open to the back seat. Preeti moved in at first and he looked at me questioningly till I slipped along with her.

He settled himself behind the wheels and started moving. We reached the movie hall in less time thanks to his skilled driving. The way he swept through the clogging city traffic that was no less commendable.

It was Sunday, a day to chill out for all. Everyone was out. Expectedly the movie hall was also no spare. There was outpouring heavy crown swarming in the waiting zone. We stepped out and he went for ticket. There was long line for ticket which seemed totally never ending. I doubted we would get a ticket. He stood in the end of the line, looking straight but I could feel his eyes from the corners stealthily at us like a careful watch over.

It took reasonable time for him to finally come to us. He came and flicked three tickets at us held between fingers.

“Thank God! We got the ticket. I was thinking we might have to return home.” Preeti whined and took the tickets, all of them.

“That’s never gonna happen with such charming beauties.” He sparkled a smile.

“But you got three tickets?” I tautly asked him.

He waited a while before answering. “Anybody else is also joining. I didn’t know.”

“No. I mean only Preeti and me are going movie. I hope Preeti told you this.”

Color blenched from his face. The impalpable look on him assured that my plan is working. A straight hit on his male-ego. Impossible to miss the hit.

“So see you later Maddy.” I checked the time outwardly. “Oh! We are getting late for the movie. Preeti, let’s go in.” I grabbed Preeti’s hand and dragged her with me. I turned back abruptly. “And oh Maddy! Thanks a lot for the ride. We enjoyed it. See you later.”

After that we crossed the straight length and turned left of the entrance, we both sighed.

“It’s was not fair Ava. I feel bad.” She bitterly told me.

I was searching for our place. “Me too sweetheart. But to keep yourself safe, you have to be bit rigid or else the world will crush you down.”

“Hmm..still. He looked totally lost like someone pickpocketed him. Seriously Ava, day by day you are turning evil.” She squeezed my cheek.

“Ouch! Preeti. Just pray that he will be enough angry not to look at me again.”

“I’m not sure. He will surely find out that you are playing with him.”

“We will see.” We settled ourselves in the seats. People streamed in and the lights were dimmed as the movie started.

With every kick of hero or every pelvic move of heroine, the hall would shudder in whistles and catcalling. Those were only things I noticed as I was deep in thought about Madhav. I crossed my fingers and prayed that he would leave and reach home safely. I didn’t want him to go mad. I just wanted him be furious with me.

As soon as the interval came, I hopped out of my chair and pushed through the crowd. I made my way slightly enough to the hall from where I could see at the parking lot but no one could see me from there. The black Volkwagon was still parked there. Preeti joined me from behind.

“What’s up? Is he still there?” Preeti asked worriedly.

I nodded. Now I was less scowled of my failure and more worried about him. He was waiting there the whole time, alone.

“See I told you. He loves you. At least now accept it.”

“No. Straight no. He is just dogged to get me. Nothing else. But I’m also no less stubborn.” I stomped hard, turned back and retuned to the hall.

Preeti’s phone rang suddenly. It was Madhav. She received the call, handed me the phone awkwardly and left.

“Hello.” I answered in a rigid tone.

“How is the movie? Are you enjoying?”

I made an artificial sweet voice. “Yeah. It’s a very nice movie. Sorry. You missed it. I hope you reached home safely.” There was a swift smile from his side. I ground my teeth in irritation. His persistence was pestering me.

 “So..you need anything..I mean I can get it.”

“Oh! No thanks. We are fully loaded. Hope you are having nice time. Bye. Talk you later. Film is going to resume.” I cut the call. . Preeti came then with a big bag of chips and two bottles of colddrinks.

“Maddy?” Preeti boisterously asked.

“Yeah. Asking whether are we having good time or not. How can my plan fail? Doesn’t he have the so called male-ego. Even the lions have it.”

“Hmm..may be he shredded it off for you.”

“Unbelievable.” I started to bit my nail when Preeti pulled them down.

“Stop biting nails. You dumb girl!”

I was clueless. I didn’t know what to do next. I was so assured and over-confident that I didn’t plan the next move. Right then something crossed my mind.

“Preeti, I hope it’s not like you told him our plan.” My eyes narrowed on her.

She was going to eat a thin wisp which left in middle only as she stoned. “Of course not. How can you even think of it?”

“why not? These days you have started advocating him in everything. I think he has spelled something on you.”

“Come on. Don’t be silly.”

“I’m not silly right now. I’m paranoid. I can’t trust you in this matter.”

She pulled up a face, acted grouchy and turned to other side sipping the cola.

I started to work my brain quickly, more faster digging for some other plan. A while later, I pushed Preeti on feet and drove her out. Instead of the main exit door, I took the second exit door that led to the backyard of the hall. We were out before the lights went off again.

“What now?” Preeti was horrified.

“A simple twist.”

“Twist? Are you out of your mind?”

“Nope. I just got it in the right place.”

“Seriously. What’s the next move?”

TWO STARS AND A MOON-9

After being fed with a whole week’s food within two days, we were spared to take our leave from there. I was all excited and relieved. But then again there lingered some uneasy unpredictability that clouded my instincts.

The moment we reached home, we were all tired to our cores but I flung myself out. There was a zest of queasiness that stood me next at Preeti’s door.Her mom opened the door. I greeted her and ran to Preeti’s room.

“Preeti.”I tried to be gentle on my voice.

“Hey Ava.” She took me in and closed the door behind.

Her room wasn’t messy as usual. It was odd for everything to be perfectly in their place. Even the pillows and blanket were neatly folded and crammed to one side of the bed. Preeti never liked her room in order. According to her the messier the room, the cozier it is.

“What’s up. Your room doesn’t look exactly like yours.” I mocked.

“Mom just left cleaning it. Don’t worry; everything will be flown to their different places within an hour. Have a sit.”

I sat on the bed facing her while she sat leaning on the bed. Her laptop was left on next to her.

“So..” I didn’t know where to begin. I had expected that she would tell me everything by herself.

She eyed to me in silence.

“So how are you?” I asked her.

“Good.”

“Hmm..and party?”

“It was good too.”

“What happened to you then?” I could not keep the curiosity inside anymore.

“Just that..I was feeling alone there.”

“Did anybody say you anything?”

“No.. no.” Her hands fidgeted in circular motion cuddling each other. She looked outward into nothing. Actually there was just a bare wall painted in light yellow; nothing to stare so long. There was clearly something that was constantly disturbing her.

“Then..You are hiding something from me. Tell it, Preeti.”

“I just... I think you should consider about Arnav again.”

“What!” I reacted as if someone said that world is going to perish in next hour- an absurd, meaningless joke.

“Yeah..I think..”

“I got what you think but why?”

“Arnav is paired up.”

The news was like a ball of fire just crossed my face travelling at an inch distance.

“Paired up? With whom? I mean...what kind of terrible things you are saying. I am sure you need to visit doctor very soon.”

“He is paired up with Manishaa.” She said it gentle.

I stood in repulse off the bed.

It was impossible. He never liked her that much. Even we had once talked about her where he had told me that she was too flashy, disoriented, noisy and shallow for him. They were like two different poles.

“Now I got you. You and Arnav have planned to make fool of me. Right! I knew it. Just because I missed the party you both wanted to play with me. And it must be your plan; not my Arnav’s. You little evil friend!” I pinched Preeti’s nose playfully.

“No. Seriously. How will I make you believe?”

“Oh. You need not to. ‘Cause I know that you are just pulling my leg. Okay! Let me call him. Then only you will stop.”

She sighed frustrated.

Then she instantly moved to her laptop and I could hear two dozens of tick-tock of keys pressed on the keyboard violently. Then she turned the laptop to me.

I bowed down to the laptop’s screen. The Facebook was open there and the account I was looking into was of Manishaa. In the recent updates, there was a notification saying that she had changed her relationship status from single to engaged two days back.

I scrolled down the screen and saw a big photo hovering the whole space. In that picture, Manishaa was wearing a tight black top showing her pumped out cleavage and was sitting next to Arnav holding his hand. Except them there were Kishore and two other guys from college and the fancy-girls gang whose leader was Manishaa. In photo it looked as Manishaa was forcing Arnav’s hand with her too hard.

 “Come on, Preeti. It’s just a group photo.” I argued with Preeti.

“Oh God! Please. Help me.” She said looking up, at the ceiling literally. I thought she was saying all this to her dusty ceiling fan.

She faced to me. “Listen. I don’t know what and how it happened but they are paired. That evening I got bit late to party and before I reached there, the announcement was done. Arnav is paired with Manishaa.” She said putting more stress on the last sentence.

The words penetrated me like someone had poked holes through out my whole body and poured concentrated acid into the fleshy holes.

“Enough is enough, Preeti. Stop this silly game. I’m damn serious now.” I flared in anger.

“I’m serious too, Ava. I know it’s difficult. Still try to..”

“What will I try? You think, you will say and I will agree that Arnav loves Manishaa now and all that happened were false. You want me to believe that Arnav doesn’t love me.”

She remained silent. I was acting like some notorious mental patient escaped from asylum in middle of her treatment.

“Preeti. Answer me. What’s the truth?” I looked straight into her eyes.

“Everything I said.”

“NO. NO.” I dropped onto my knees on floor. “No. No. No. No. No. No. No.No.” This time I could whisper only.

Eyes filled up with tear and everything before looked me hazy.  Chill ran up through back and busted into flame inside the skull. Every piece of flesh inside my body started to burn like scalding with boiling oil. An insidious pain gripped at chest, pulling me into a tight knot.

I threw my arms across me, my face dug in the gape of my knees and I held myself tight to stop the excruciating stimulus. Still there was something, deep inside excavating at heart. May be it was the memories I had with Arnav, digging up like a ten headed angle-dozer. With a blow, all the love started to sting like snake bite.

Preeti came running to my side and hugged me from above.

“It’s fine. Calm down. Please.” She also had no idea what to say in such a situation.

There were no shrills or shouts, just regretful empty sobbing. After an hour of it my throat went parched and tongue was sticky. Without making noise I had poured out enough to create a sprawled wet patch on my dress. Still I continued it, continued it till my eyes was dry and swollen and stomach retched weakly.

It was nonsensical to defy the reluctant truth but also unendurable to accept it. I lost Arnav forever. The truth slapped at my face each time I thought of him.

Preeti got me some water to drink. I took a gulp and it formed a scratchy lump at throat making me almost vomit on her carpet.

 Shit! Crap! Holy shit! I purged out everything. Thankfully I made it to her washroom.

Preeti came behind me and tapped my back. “It’s ok. Let it go.”

I wiped my mouth and returned to her room. “Sorry.” I said to Preeti.

“No. I’m sorry.” She cupped my face. Tears came up in her eyes too. “I’m sorry as I couldn’t do anything. I’m sorry ‘coz I didn’t punch that bloody face the moment I got to know it. Bloody asshole! ”

“It’s my fault. I should have known that it was just a game which is not going to last whole lifetime. I should have known.” I said and stormed out of her house.

My senses were blocked at ends. What I heard, what I saw and what I realized- those three were totally divergent to each other. My limbs felt wane. It was difficult to even walk in a line on the road. I could hardly see anything coming before me. After toppling over road-humps and bumping with some vehicles, with an untamed and intractable brain on top I somehow managed to reach home.

I knew at home Mom would be waiting for me and she was. They were waiting for me to have dinner.

I silently slid through the entrance and escaped to my room. I threw myself on the bed, buried face into a pillow and pouched another one over my head and stayed there in dark. Five minutes later I heard Mom next to my room.

“Are you fine, Ava?” She asked standing outside.

“Hmm.”

“What happened then dear? You are not coming for dinner?” She plodded in identifying silhouette over walls, tables and finally bed.

“Don’t have appetite for anything?”

“Are you having stomach-ache?”

“No.”

“Feeling nausea?”

“No.” I shrugged.

“Head ache? Let me give you a massage.”

“No. No ache.” How to tell her it was my heart who was aching and bleeding.

“Then period cramps?”

“No Mom? Please stop interrogating with different names of sufferings. You are not a doctor. Got that.”

“But I’m your mother.” She came and sat next to me, stroking my hair.

A silent tear dropped from eye tumbling down at arm to pillow. I clamped the gasp in the throat. A painful ripple traveled down the body contracting every muscle into spasm. I ignored the agony.

“Just bit tired Mom. Can I rest in your lap a bit?” Mom instantly took my head into her and started patting it. It was done so deliberately and involuntarily that it boogied my memory back to childhood days when I used to sleep with my mom. The magic of Mom’s lap still worked and I gradually drifted to sleep too.

One wise anonymous had told once chapped knees and broken toys are better than chapped feelings and broken heart. At that time I could understand the depth of those lines. In fact I wanted to list in undone homework, severe punishments with them as they were also nothing before this betrayal. It was more frustrating and harassing.

One day passed inside room but after that Mom prodded me out. I had to face others in family, though I stopped going out. I had no idea which occasion, function, celebration passed by. I didn’t know which reality show topped in charts or which movie bashed in box-office. I forgot which day or date it was. Even the acknowledgement of day and night was from whether lunch was served or dinner.

Preeti continuously kept calling me. She tirelessly sent me worried caring messages. And when I didn’t answer to any of them, she called home. But I ignored them too with miscellaneous excuses every time. I gave no attention to anything. I cut off every interaction from outer world. I was filled with hatred for all, even for myself. I hated myself then.

The only things that gave any solace were sad music and lots of crying. Whole day my room would float in darkness except the dull luminance invading through the ventilators and with some gloomy, ditching, slow broken-heart songs played on low volume. I’d be lying or curled around a pillow on bed for endless hours thinking of all those happy moments where Arnav was there and then again crying over it. Sometimes in the middle of night, I’d get up from sleeping, cry till eyes are tired and then would sleep again. Crying had become one inevitable chore in my daily routine.

Why! How! what! There were many provocative questions gnarled in my mind though heart was still unconvinced that Arnav betrayed me. Mind and heart leapt out into battle in defending themselves and I was stuck in them. Every time mind won the conflict, it got a gash on heart and with the victory of heart, mind would get slapped. There was an constant intrinsic war going on inside me and I started to get tired of it and one day they became unbearable. I decided to finish them.

Till that moment I only knew that I loved him a lot but after it, I acknowledged how much I loved him. I never knew living would be so hard that I would beg for its end.

I fished out the pencil knife from bag and swiped it open. The curved sharp edge was gleaming in dark like a smirk of ghost. My heart pounded heavily in rib. The face of Mom flashed before me at first. Her smiling face brought tears to my eyes. It was then followed by my Papa’s memory. Although I was not very close to Papa still I was his darling daughter and I knew it. And at last Preeti came to mind. The friendship, hug, sharing, laughing, crying, care, love, promises we shared - I was going to miss them a lot. The three closest people of my life; how would they feel if I do it?

But I wanted this excruciating farce to be over. Any how. I brought the knife close to my wrist. I closed my eyes, took a heavy breath, and swiftly crossed it over the skin. A sharp twitch sensation prowled out on the inch of skin on which the blade was swiped. I watched it. Tiny drops of blood oozed out from it. It was not too deep to cut through all the layers of skin. I decided to try harder next time.

Again I repeated myself through the same steps. Closed my eyes, took a heavy breathe and steeled myself for a harder stroke this time and held it next to the previous cut. Knock! Knock!

TWO STARS AND A MOON-8

The next day Preeti made a freaky plan. Preeti wanted to see, up to which extend he would go to convince me. That day she made me wear a gaudy pink dress against my own will and forced me with everything in pink. She knew boys conventional perception regarding pink color.

We went for the bus as usual. I was looking like a strawberry-syrup ice-cream and was afraid of tempting little girls to have a bite of me. It was late but Arnav hadn’t arrived till then. After a while when the college-bus was visible far away racing through the other vehicles, I got tensed. What happened to Arnav? Is he okay? Yesterday’s coffee didn’t look that bad to harm him so much.

I looked at Preeti but she was also clueless. The bus arrived and the boys started to get into it. My heart was sore. I hopefully glanced into the other end of the road and there I saw Arnav was running towards the bus-stop. He extended his hand signalling to stop the bus for a while. I got into the bus and peeked out of the window to see him. He sprinted across the road and stepped into the bus with thumping noise.

Sweat was furiously dripping from his forehead and his breathing was rough. He crossed us to the last seats where his friends were sitting, hollering at each other. I watched him crossing me silently. He wore a flashy pink shirt and black jeans. The shirt looked old, faded and wrinkled. It did hurt to see him like that suffering just to prove a simple point.

We were pretty sure after this that the matching clothes were not the coincidence but just a simple signal from his side though we had no idea how did he got to know what I was to wear everyday. Did he get some agent behind me? Or he is psychic.

Preeti sniggered quietly. “He looks yummy..” She said while imitating with her tongue sexily swiped over upper-lip.

“Come on Preeti.” I scowled at her. “Now for your stupid idea he has to move whole day wearing that pinky-pomp shirt. You knew that he would wear it any how. Is it fair to assess someone this way?” I looked Arnav. I seriously loathed myself for this. I held myself responsible for this creepy situation. I felt sorry for it whereas he was composed and easy, not at all vexed of it.

But I had to pay for it too. The more we put him on test, the more intense and bewitching his gaze grew towards me, wildering my feelings ensconced for him. As if he could hold me with his engrossing angular eyes wandering with me everywhere I went. I was captivated by his irresistible poised demeanour. Like dark deep sea I was merging inside him little by little. The more I tried to escape from his lure, the more tangled I found myself.

A single shot of him was enough to melt me like wax on fire. It had an airy restraining effect that refrained myself from me. I had lost my sense, thought, defence, preferences, taste even my heart to him and never knew even after losing all of these, anyone could touch the sky of happiness.

I was somehow convinced that he would speak out his emotions soon. Preeti had even prophesised that the event would be the party he was having on Sunday.

“Or else what’s the need of inviting you to that party?” She told, occupied with her own thoughts.

“It’s just ‘coz I’m his friend.” I replied.

“ Friend? Then does he personally invite everyone taking them for coffee?? And don’t forget he said it’s special.”

I nodded at her approvingly and crossed my finger under the chair hiding from all and praying the prophecy to be real soon. I was getting unbearable for me to keep the emotions covered. The muffled voice of them was vanished and they were whooping inside me. They wanted to be unleashed, they wanted me to run to him and fall loose cradling in his arms. They wanted to be embraced, bosomed and kissed in his warmth.

I was counting every day on calendar, pleading at each day to pass faster. Somehow I made it till Saturday, an evil Saturday when I had to leave the town.

“Are we all supposed to go?” I asked Mom. Of course there was pressure from family or else I would not even step out home.

“Of course.  She is your father’s aunt and really close to him. Or else he wouldn’t ever hurry us for this trip.”

“Still then..I have my exam tomorrow, Mom.” I lied to her. Though it was no less edgy than appearing boards.

“Then I’ll tell your papa to talk to your teacher and after that you return home, you will appear the exam.” She stroked my cheek and again got busy in stacking clothes inside a big carry bag.

“But..can’t I stay with Preeti? I promise we won’t do anything demented. ” I tried to convince her with my sad puppy eyes. But that’s my mother after all. She knew when I pretend something to her.

“No means no dear. I have told you. Now get me clothes you want to take.”

“Hmm...How many days are we gonna stay there?”

“Four to five days at max.”

Four to five... They sounded like dinosaur digit.

“Can’t we reduce the days? I mean can’t we return by tomorrow evening?”

“Tomorrow? Yeah ,we could only if there was an aerodrome in that village where we would land in your private jet.”

“Mommm..” I whined.

“No my dear, it’s not possible. At least it will take three days. And if her condition deteriorates then we may have to extend the trip.”

I returned to my room and dialled to Preeti.

“ What?” She was as surprised as I was sad hearing the news.

“What do you mean by you can’t? You know that tomorrow is a day you were waiting for a very long time. Now when it came, you packed bag for outing? How ridiculous!”

“Not outing Preeti. It’s my father’s aunt breathing her last. I have to go with them too.”

“Can’t you stay with me? I’ll come over there and take permission from your parents.”

“I wish I could. I tried for it too but mom didn’t agree at it. She said we all have to go.”

It was hard for me to decide. In the same night we boarded into bus. All the way I was only thinking about Arnav and staring out through the window at the bright gibbous moon hazily illuminating the running sideways.  How would he react over my absence in party?

I had told Preeti to convey my personal apology to him and tell him how much I wanted to be there and also to inform me everything happened in the party. I didn’t want to ruin Arnav’s mood. So I kept silence and let Preeti to handle everything.

My father’s aunt lived in a remote village of south. It took us to change two buses and in total thirteen hours of journey. At the end of the journey my legs were cramped and sore and my mobile had no network. The village was supplied with low-voltage electricity and was almost swimming in dark. I could barely make out my path without slipping on cow-dung.

As we reached there, my father’s respected aunt of ninety years was bed-ridden. I felt pity seeing her wrinkled skin and emaciated body. She looked fragile. But within next few hours she charismatically got well. Everybody said it was my father whom she was missing to hell. But they had no idea what it was for me to miss the party and Arnav.

Even after going to every possible tall point, it was hard to get a proper telephone signal on my mobile. For once I thought of climbing up the coconut tree but then again it sounded too riskier. So as devastated and harried freak, I sneaked to a telephone booth of village.

There were four people in line before me. I waited there for twenty minutes before I got to hold the antique round headed phone-receiver.

I dialled the number to Preeti. After four long rings she received the call.

“Hey Preeti.” I told bringing the receiver close to my mouth.

“Is that Ava?” Her voice was deformed. “Where the hell have you been? I am calling you since morning. What happened to your crappy phone?”

“Nothing. Just this village is driving me crazy. No signal. No electricity. No running water. No roads. No people who doesn’t smell of sweat. Just cows, trees, veiled women and nude kids.”I whined her in English. Some people waiting behind stared at me in perplexed manner showing their tobacco stained teeth.

 “By the way, howz the party going?” I asked her.

“It was nice.” She replied.

Was nice? “Aren’t you at party right now?”

“Na.. I came home sooner.”

“Why? What happened? Is everything fine over there?” It got me really tense.

“Yeah. Just that I wasn’t feel good. I came home soon.”

“Oh! Are you fine now, dear?”

“Yeah.” She slowly replied. There was something strange that had gripped her words.  They were suppressed and low. I sensed something not correct. I could tell at that moment that she was hiding something from me.

“ Preeti! Are you seriously alright?” I intriguingly asked.

“Yeah. I am perfectly well.”

“Then did anything happen in party?”

“Nothing serious. You just come home soon. We will talk.”

“Preeti. Tell me what is it. Did that bitch say you anything?” It was a chance with high possibility.”

“Nothing dear. You come home. I miss you here.” She was depressed, I could bet on that.

“I miss you too Preeti.” I miss Arnav too.

I heard shouting people asking for their turn.

“Okay Preeti. I’ve to go now. I am trying to get out of here as soon as possible. But I don’t think it will be less than two days. You take care of yourself and take some rest too. Stop jumping around like monkey. Save that part till I come home.”

“Bye.”

I disconnected the phone and paid the owner.

While on my way to home, I kept pondering over the conversation with Preeti, analyzing each word she said, trying to steer out any clue. What could have happened in the party? The thought bugged till end.