Minutes of Madness - 07

She started yet another time when I start a new post, “Hey please please, one more pause please!”

I just stopped and when she asked, “Hydar was your best friend right?” with a little doubt in it, I replied “Tense mismatch – Hydar is…” and continued!

For every relationship there will always be a lag after few days of closeness – even if not for everyone, it will be for me with everyone excepting one. Hydar – I knew him for past 7 years and we were best friends since the first meet! (Of course he is a guy and you can’t expect every single soul I write good to be a girl!) We went to school together for only a year but we managed to meet most evenings. There was a distance of separation during the college days but we are together again after our engineering. With a large share of common friends, we had our own unique friends too. But the best part of our relationship is that we search for one another both during happy and sad times. Another reason why we were close is that we reside next to each other. 

We both were returning back from the movie together and I have literally no secrets to hide from him. He casually enquired, “Marriage was scheduled tomorrow only na? Shall we…” 

I stopped him halfway, “I know what you would say… but its life now… we can’t do anything… let us leave…!”

“Hey we still have 12 hours da… Porom..ponnathookurom!” (Kidnap the bride) Hydar seemed serious. 

But that was usual for us ‘we planned the same for most of our friends’ ex-lover marriages. I dint respond to that and he continued, “Okay, leave that plan. You say what to do! We will do that tonight!”

I thought for a while, my mom and dad were out of town for the night, I had asked Hydar to join me. “How about a party tonight?” I just asked casually. 

“What kinda party?” he kidded with little hint of alcohol. We usually say everyone that we both get drunk in weekends but have never experienced that. I don’t want to have that tonight either. 

Door open and in my house, everything shattered hinted my mom was not there for the past 12 hours. I just sat down dejectedly when Sun Music turned to full music without VJ’s – hinted its more than 11. 

“She won’t be mine from tomorrow da. With doubts of my uncertain future, all my dreams were getting crushed. I know am the master of my destiny and I just can’t avoid anything from her and not even her marriage invitation. I don’t want to say anything to her but I have to go. Just once and I swear I won’t even try speaking to her. Hydarrrr… come… we shall go there now!” 

“Even now she is not yours. You are not drunk and you have never been. Don’t act like you are! And we are not going anywhere…” stern and stubborn response. He usually won’t go against my thoughts but those words were completely supressing and I started feeling little.

“Pleeeaaase da…” 

“We will go tomorrow morning. Sleep now!”

We have stayed together even before, but haven’t experienced such a serious conversation. It’s quite different but to me difference was within me.

Minute of Madness

Minutes of Madness - 06

“So, the phone call ended that way? I doubt” she said with more suspicion.

“How long you want me to stay in a bathroom and speak in a hissing voice!?” I said and just smiled hiding back most things that happened that night.

“I guess you would have stayed up all night!” she said.

“All night?? Mad or What? Next day was a big day!” I sounded little more enthusiastic and continued.

31^st August 2011

I woke up little early which became a practice after my early morning driving classes. But today a little heavy heart with a thought ‘you still have 24 hours’. I know the certainty but it’s always a classic act that your heart doesn’t understand the reality. I just wanted to keep my thoughts clear and far away from what we call as ‘reality’. 

A change of mind was what I expected and it was evitable with lots of tweets early morning with huge expectations over ‘Mankatha’- The Ajith starrer movie which was due releasing that day. I was a huge fan of Ajith – as a person and as an actor and so booked tickets for the movie. It was the most awkward decision to skip Eid Biryani for the sake of movie but managed to complete the Biryani lunch and be on theatre perfectly by 1:45 PM. The show was delayed by nearly 2 hours and we were waiting at the gate till 4’O clock. Till then lots of debates over ‘Ajith or Vijay’ – insult Suriya in between, Jayalalitha’s 100 days record as CM, and so on.

The movie was a heroic flick and was not like usual Tamil movies. I was really happy that it satisfied most audience in theatre irrespective of hero favourite audience. I was crazy behind those dialogues Ajith uttered in that movie with a majestic laugh sequence. Varun was among those who accompanied to the movie. He was my only friend during first year, later distanced, came close and did that many often. We don’t fight or so, but he would be busy and I won’t disturb either but will always be together!

Varun was quite complex in character may be coz he was brought up as a single child. He won’t usually care for people and feelings but quite attached with me. He puts up all his awkward character into single word ‘possessiveness’. When we just started to part to our houses, it was nearly 7:00 PM. I and Hydar crossed the road for our bus and Varun suddenly called me, in fact shouted from the other side of the road, “Meet you at the marriage tomorrow da…” 

I turned towards him, little frustrated with those words. In fact I dint even remember about her for the past 6 hours or so but suddenly he reminded me of that. A little upset but managed well and said “Ha… Ha… You enjoy dude! Am planning for yet another show tomorrow morning – Mankatha da!”

Minute of Madness!

Minutes of Madness - 05

“Hey… pause! I have got one small thing to say. A guy-guy story bores anyone! Please, a guy – girl story?” she said that after a huge yawn which clearly meant it bored her. But it stirred up my instincts and said her, “Time for Aaradhana story again?”

She turned furious within seconds and replied sternly, “No. You have a lover. Write about her!”

“Okay, let me try it!”

Midnight Transition 29 – 30^th August,

A long term fighting with Priya (Obviously my lover!) has never deteriorated our relationship in the past 4 years. No doubts over my character here, I loved Aaradhana for first 30 months and got committed with Priya for the final 16 months of my engineering life (Still committed!).We often fight for unnecessary reasons, I find her little emotional and childish and she finds me little ‘never’ care, heartless, brainless, memory less, blah, blah, blah. She had all reasons to call me so and I had one simple reason ‘you are too childish!’

After the college got over, she flew back to Mumbai. One could never express with words the feel of relief when your girlfriend leaves you out of the town and had no plans of returning back. It is quite similar to an IDC (Indefinitely closed) in your university! Such happiness was short lived and later I began to miss her within a month. I missed the dates, long night calls, movies, purchases, treats and her ‘really funny’ gifts but never cared to say anything to her!

I couldn’t sleep and was staring at my mobile and reading those stupid updates in twitter. I was in a mood to talk with someone, may be my best friend – Sahana but she could possibly be asleep. I don’t mind waking her up and she too won’t mind but I don’t want to do that (That’s a different story!). The complete silence of the night went unnoticed with my swaying mind and thoughts. 

1 message received

I have got the text alert in twitter so I thought someone could have mentioned me in twitter. I was happy for that as someone was awake along with me so that I could have a conversation! But the text was not from twitter but from Priya. I was wondering what she was doing such late. I have Received a ‘Good Night baby’ message a few hours ago which I never cared to reply but now a message ‘Shall I call you now? feel like talking to you…’

It would really be funny to say ‘people close to you will always be with you at time of distresses’ but I felt that to be true for the first time in my life that night. I dint reply but straightaway called her. Within seconds I realised that was the stupid decision to call when whole family was sleeping. I just don’t want to hang up the call and so locked up inside the usual place for night talks – The Bathroom! Talking inside a bathroom is always a special feel; we could hear our own voice as noise.

I started, “Hey what happened? Any problem?”

She replied with a hissing tone “hmmm...Nothing. But I love you… ok?”

That was too cute to hear her say that in such a husky voice in such calm night. I was enjoying the moment without replying her. Getting back to normal I said, “Yeah baby, I know. Why now? Suddenly at this night?”

“Just felt like saying. That’s all. Nothing big” she said with a little enthusiasm. 

Calling up at night – anyone can do it, but just to say ‘I love you’ – only Priya could do that! I loved the way but I know there would certainly be some other reasons behind it! 

Minute of Madness!

Minutes of Madness - 04

“Hey… once again a story about Aaradhana? No I can’t hear any more! And please, don’t write about her. Already many are fuming and I don’t want them to speak ill about you. Also, now it’s not right to write about her. She is married!” she completed without even a pause to make me think and so her final words stick to me hard!

“Hey… What if married? And also, I don’t have any other topic to write other than her!” I said it with a puppy face and waited for her to get convinced.

“Whatever, You are not continuing college story! Got it?” she said and that clearly meant she was not convinced and I had to skip college. 

“Ok. Let me start again and finger in lips now!” I said, she did and I started again!

Four Years Later.

29^th August 2011,

A sleepless night again – completed my engineering 4 months back, got through the campus and got an offer, got a lover, some good friends, few best friends but still why no sleep?!

No call letter from the company – Ha… Ha… I was a guy who cares least for that!

Ajith’s movie hitting screens tomorrow – Who cares? It should be his worry!

Aaradhana’s marriage invitation mail – Well, a little but not exactly!

The Phone call last evening – Yeah. I got that! When we really try hard to forget something (not exactly forgetting, to act like that at least), the all possible memory pills on earth adhere together. It was more like adding fuel to the fire.

Why the hell he could call me and enquire me about HER marriage? Whats there for me to say anything for that?For me it was the day which I never want in the worst of my dreams was waiting right before me. I was cursing earth for its movement still! I felt so dejected and don’t ever want to witness that day in life.It was just like inviting me to my own funeral!

Wait. Whats the matter here? Am angry over me? Sam? Or Aaradhana?

Roger Samuel or just Sam – You don’t know him. He is my best buddy in my engineering 4 years. To be exact, the last 3 beautiful years of my college life! Born on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth date, my own friends call him as the disgrace to the nation but I would definitely rate him higher than Gandhi! Quite authentic with Christianity yet a simple guy who could give anything for his friends. From the two seated benches to the food we eat we have shared everything from sky to dust!

Aaradhana – I don’t want to say anything more and am done with her. That’s all. 

Evening Phone Call,

Sam, “Hi da… how are you!?”

I was totally elated with the call and with utmost enthusiasm, “Yeah da very fine! It’s so long since you called, how is Bangalore? Work?Girls?”

Shattering all my enthusiasm into such tiny pieces Sam replied, “Hey… leave that da! Una alukku kalyanam ahme!?” (Your lover getting married it seems!?)

“Most important da... Am very happy for that! Are you coming for that function?” (Sarcasm)

“Hey, really? That’s great da… I can apply for leave and so can meet you all there that day!” (Without understanding sarcasm)

“Stupid, am not coming! I won’t. But I guess most guys would go!” replied with utmost defeated tone. 

“It’s your Ex-lover’s marriage da, how can you avoid it!?” 

“PEEM PEEMPEEMPEEM PEEM!!”

A minute of silence, stirred up with anger. It was a long call that went on to various topics. I guess that was my longest call with a guy! (Wonder how same gender people speak such long time! especially girls! :P). Though it ended with a good note, I couldn’t just trace back to my normal state. I was frustrated!

Minute of Madness!