It’s Not Right…but It’s Okay

by Anuj Tiwari

  Ved is concentrating on the counter and doesn’t answer her question. The server gives him the plate. The aroma of spices, lemon and onions is so heady and tempting that it’s impossible to stand there without having a bite of it.

  ‘You didn’t answer…’ Angira repeats, squeezing the piece of lemon and then sprinkling chopped onion over the bhaji.

  ‘They are…’ Ved avoids answering her question. ‘So tell me about your family.’

  ‘I have an older sister, Mom, Dad and me—hum do hamare do.’

  They both giggle.

  Soon it stops raining, except for a slight drizzle. Few people are still leaving their umbrella open, while some have preferred to close them and walk in the drizzle. The scent of earth after rain brings with it a sense of renewal.

  ‘It’s so amazing to walk in the rain, isn’t it?’ Angira asks, watching the people who are walking by.

  ‘I have not experienced it yet,’ Ved says gently and follows her eyes to look at the same people.

  ‘Seriously?’

  ‘Yes, I have never walked in the rain.’ He takes the last bite of the food. ‘But I have spent enough time over the years on the football ground on rainy days,’ Ved says. He tries to find out if she wants to walk on the beach. He guesses so as Angira is new to Mumbai and these beaches are new for her.

  Before he asks her, she asks him, ‘Do you want to try?’

  ‘Walk in the rain?’ he asks.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ he confirms.

  ‘Yeah, come.’

  Why do all girls like extra lemon?

  Why do all girls walk in the rain?

  Why doesn’t she know that it will ruin my shirt?

  These questions come to his mind and before she says anything else, he says, ‘No, that’s fine.’

  ‘Come, let’s walk,’ she finishes the last bite. She gives the plate to the cleaning person roaming around.

  Ved doesn’t want to go with her. He is afraid of telling her the truth. He feels he might come across as a self-obsessed person. He takes a moment to reply and prefers to speak the truth and not tell a lie.

  ‘My shirt…’ he is about to say and she understands.

  ‘C’mon, shirts? You can buy them anytime but this moment will take another year to come back and maybe in Mumbai, never.’

  Ved knows Angira is right. He thinks for a moment and decides to follow his heart.

  ‘Okay,’ he says, wiping his hand with a tissue.

  They go down three flights of stairs and start walking on the beach.

  Oh, the chocolates! They are still in my pocket, I forgot to give them to her.

  He remains quiet for a moment and then decides to keep them in his pocket. By now they must have melted.

  They walk along the beach, enjoying the fine rain. It is then that Ved realizes how enjoyable rain can be. Walking on the beach, he talks about his life. He is curious to know about her, so he asks her to talk about herself.

  Angira talks about her family and her dreams. She shares her past experiences about love and life.

  ‘I was also in a relationship in college. Those were the best days of my life, but he left me for someone else. That’s the worst thing that happened to me but I survived, thanks to the support of my family. I lost three kilos in a month after the breakup and gained four kilos later,’ Angira says. Though she’s talking about something that deeply affected her in the past, she ends her sentence on a funny note.

  Ved starts sniggering.

  ‘Really.’

  ‘Yes. It took a long time to understand that to be happy you must focus on what you have, which is far more important than what you don’t,’ she says.

  She pauses, ‘Just a minute.’

  She folds her pants and a black anklet grabs Ved’s attention.

  While she is busy folding her pants, Ved, who’s standing next to her, says, ‘There is nothing wrong with falling or rising in love but be sure, that at the end of the day, you raise yourself in love.’

  Angira just smiles looking at him and stands up.

  They walk for some time and then sit by the sea.

  The boy who was worried that his shirt will get wet and dirty is suddenly carefree and not thinking about anything else.

  ‘Hey, I got this for you, as a safeguard against your anger at me getting late, but it has melted,’ Ved takes the chocolate out of his pocket and gives it to her.

  ‘That’s okay,’ she tears the wrapper and starts eating.

  ‘So what do you have to shop for?’ she enquires, still licking her lips.

  ‘I can get the stuff next weekend. Actually, I’m still waiting for the letter. Till then I have enough time. We can go next weekend, if you are free.’

  Ved doesn’t want to lose an opportunity to meet her again. He is enjoying her company. Today, rather than spending time in a mall, he wants to spend time with her on the beach.

  When the rains have stopped, Angira says, ‘I am sorry if I dirtied your shirt.’

  She looks innocent and endearing while saying this.

  ‘No, that’s fine, I’ll wash it. Daag acche hain.’ They have a hearty laugh.

  ‘Wait, I’ll get something to drink. I’m thirsty.’ Ved goes to a hawker and gets a bottle of water.

  Angira sits on the sand. Ved finishes half the water in one go and she uses the rest to wash her sandy ankles.

  ‘So, have you ever been to Delhi?’ she asks after taking a few sips of water.

  ‘No, but if I pursue football and get selected for a team, I may go for a match over there to promote football.’ Ved takes the empty bottle from her hand and throws it directly into the dustbin.

  ‘Do you play basketball as well?’ Angira asks.

  ‘I tried but I am really bad at it. Why did you ask that? Do you?’ Ved questions her.

  ‘The way you threw the bottle into the dustbin,’ she grins.

  ‘Good observer,’ he raises his eyebrows in salutation.

  ‘I can be your instructor as well,’ she says with a smile.

  ‘Aha! Really?’ he asks.

  ‘Oh yes!’ she winks in response.

  Are you in love with her? His mind needs the answer right now.

  ‘No, I am not, but I feel so happy spending time with her,’ his heart responds.

  A cold breeze is blowing and the sun has set. The weather is pleasant. They both do not want to go back, but it’s getting late as Angira has to go out with Charu and some friends for dinner. By the time the clock strikes 8, they both say their goodbyes.

  A Bag of Happy Cards

  Love in our modern times is such that when someone special comes into our life, gadgets can define how close they really are to us. Ved has used some special characters to save Angira’s number. A new symbol (^;^) is displaying these days in his recent call list. Angira has saved Ved’s number with a hash symbol just to keep his number at the top on her contact list.

  They both have started talking to each other about their days and even their secrets. They have spent more than two months getting to know each other. From good morning messages to late night calls, everything is evidently visible to Arjun but he doesn’t know who Ved is involved with these days.

  On 14th August, Angira turns twenty-six. A week before the big day, Ved is looking to confirm if Angira is going to Delhi to celebrate her birthday. In case she does not travel back home, Ved has already planned a special surprise for her. After a tiring game of football, he calls her to ask offhandedly about her birthday plans among other things

  ‘Hey, what’s up?’ he asks cheerfully while panting a little.

  ‘Hi, nothing much. I was just passing time watching television. Some kabaddi. By the way, what happened? Are you practising right now?’ Angira presumes that he is playing football.

  After days of talking, it’s very easy for her to guess his activities. However, Charu is calling her, something Ved can hear over the call.

  Ignoring the diversions, he asks, ‘So som
eone in your family used to play Kabaddi?’

  ‘Are you pulling my leg, Mr Gulati?’

  ‘Just asking. Your cousin plays football, so I thought you also know someone who plays Kabaddi,’ Ved says with a smile.

  ‘No, I was just wiling away my time,’ a jaded Angira retorts.

  ‘Well someone has her birthday next week, right? So when are you going home?’ Ved asks, pretending he doesn’t know much about her plans.

  ‘Yes but this is going to be a boring one,’ she says ruefully, her voice down.

  ‘Why? Are you not going home on your birthday?’ Ved needs this answer so that he can execute the surprise he has planned.

  ‘No, I have to submit a report and I have to be here as a few fashion shows are going to be held in Mumbai. So…’

  ‘So where is the party?’ he changes the topic not letting her guess his intentions.

  Ved figures that she anyway won’t guess what he is upto because she knows that he is not in the habit of surprising people.

  ‘You want me to give you a treat? Are you sure? But for that a person should be physically present, and someone is very busy these days,’ Angira says, mocking him.

  They were supposed to meet this week, but Ved was busy so he couldn’t make it to the venue and cancelled the plan at the last moment. Now he has to listen to her tirade until they meet again.

  ‘No, I am free for you,’ he flirts as he walks on the ground.

  ‘Then we’ll meet next weekend,’ she says merrily.

  ‘Sure. I will call you at night. I hope you’ll be awake till then. I’ve got to go now,’ Ved has utilized his time-out well. He runs to the centre of the ground thinking about ways to make her birthday memorable.

  ‘Sure. Bye.’

  With one day to go for Angira’s birthday, Ved opens his cupboard and takes out all the envelopes that he has been making since last week. Angira called him from Charu’s phone a while ago as her phone was not working. This is how Ved gets Charu’s number, something which allows his plans to work perfectly. He calls Charu.

  ‘Are you home? Where is Angira?’

  ‘Yes, I am home,’ she says.

  ‘Is Angira home?’

  ‘She has gone for an event. What happened? Why are you being so impatient about her?’ she asks bluntly.

  Before she gets confused, Ved requests her to help him in executing his plan.

  ‘No, tomorrow is her birthday, so I wanted to give her a surprise. I need your help in making it successful.’

  Ooh, what have you planned for her?’ she asks him eagerly.

  ‘Don’t tell her anything, please. Can we meet in the evening?’ he asks her hoping she’ll say yes.

  Having listened to Angira talk about Ved, Charu has come to like him and agrees to help him.

  ‘Okay. It sounds like a big surprise,’ she agrees to meet him in the evening.

  In the evening, Ved reaches her apartment and knocks on the door. He has started figuring out the perfect plan and imagines how Angira will respond to the surprise. Ved knows that confidence comes from planning one’s moves so the entire event runs smoothly.

  ‘Hey,’ a cheerful girl welcomes Ved with a broad smile.

  This must be Charu, but why she is smiling so broadly? She should be nervous as she is meeting you for the first time.

  Ved is a little jumpy. He hopes Angira does not come back early and his well thought-out plan goes for a toss. He has already reached her home so late. He hands over the bag to Charu and explains her a little about its contents, making Charu a part of the plan.

  ‘You can come inside,’ Charu says, showing the way to the hall.

  ‘No, I’ll leave now. I need to go,’ Ved needs to rush after giving the bag and update Charu about what to do with it over the phone.

  He knows the value of each second. However, he is also excited to check out the place where Angira lives. Though, virtually, he knows everything about this place as Angira has described it to him over the last two months of talking and meeting during evenings in the city.

  ‘Doesn’t look good, come,’ Charu repeats.

  Someone passes him on the stairs. In order to avoid being seen, he quickly goes inside the apartment and sits on a bean bag which seems like it hasn’t been used for a long time.

  ‘What do I do with these?’ Charu asks, keeping the bag of envelops aside and offering him some water.

  ‘I’ll message you the instructions on WhatsApp?’ Ved says.

  ‘Okay,’ she responds.

  His eyes fall on the clothes hanging in the hall outside, which includes undergarments and a towel.

  ‘So, are you guys dating?’ she asks, adjusting herself on the other bean bag kept across the hall.

  Charu notices Ved turning towards the door and then checking his watch.

  ‘We just met two months ago,’ he answers offhandedly.

  ‘Yes, isn’t it enough time to know a person?’ she raises her eye brows.

  ‘It’s nothing like that,’ he says.

  Someone knocks on the door.

  ‘Who is that?’ Ved gets up suddenly.

  Charu remains silent, looking at Ved and then at the door.

  ‘What if it’s Angira?’ Ved thinks, noting how irresponsibly Charu made him stay longer than he intended.

  ‘Don’t worry, your surprise is still a surprise. Let me check who’s at the door,’ Charu gets up and opens the door.

  Luck always favours those whose efforts and intentions are true, strong and pure. The person who knocked on the door is the guard who delivers letters for Angira. Ved smiles in relief when Charu announces that Angira will be delayed and won’t be home till 8 p.m. It’s 7.30 p.m. and he does not want to push his luck any more. In the next few hours, Angira will experience the magic of the surprise Ved has in store for her. On his way back home, he texts Charu an elaborate set of instructions on how to hand over the envelopes to Angira and hopes that Angira accepts the surprise in a desirable manner.

  Ved and His Surprising Ways

  Angira is sleepy as the clock inches towards her birthday. She is, however, still texting Ved while rolling on her bed, eventually falling asleep. At 11.30 p.m. when her phone begins ringing with calls from friends intending to wish her, she pulls it out from under her pillow. Along with the phone she pulls out an envelope as well.

  ‘Charu, who kept this under my pillow?’

  Charu is sleeping in her room. Having not received a reply, Angira answers the call before it gets disconnected. She walks in to find Charu sleeping like a log and covers her with a blanket. She continues taking calls from her friends from Delhi. By 11.59 p.m. Ved calls her. It’s always a different feeling to be the first one to wish someone special at sharp 12 a.m.

  ‘Wish you a very happy birthday,’ he says immediately.

  ‘Thank you so much,’ Angira says.

  She is happy that more than twenty people have called her before her birthday even began. She didn’t think so many people would remember her birthday but they do.

  ‘I just called to wish you. I am sure your family and friends must be calling you now. Enjoy your special day. Good night,’ Ved wishes her.

  She sits on the sofa while talking to Anushka and then Arjun. With her phone between her shoulder and ear, she tears the envelope. It has a card with a note written with a sparkle pen. Without reading its contents, she turns the card to check who has sent it to her. However, the card bears no name. For a moment, Angira recalls her past when she used to make these heart-shaped cards. She turns the card back and opens it. At that moment, someone knocks on the door. She leaves the card on the dining table.

  Who could it be at this hour of the night? She reaches for the door and looks through the peephole. Her friends Neha and Rashi from college are standing outside with polybags. As soon as Angira opens the door, they shout birthday wishes to her. They walk straight into the apartment and into Charu’s room.

  ‘Hello, sexy Charu! Today is your babe’s birthday and you are fuc
king sleeping,’ Neha says and gives Angira a high five.

  ‘What are you wearing, Neha? You look smoking hot,’ Charu replies, now awake.

  Neha is wearing a dress which perfectly fits her small waist and toned upper body. Rashi is also looking fabulous in a two-piece dress with nail art on her long nails, shiny lipgloss on her broad lips and fish-shaped earrings with small diamonds on it. When she smiles, she wins many hearts in an instant.

  ‘Yes, all this is for the party tonight,’ Neha winks and points to the bottle of vodka in the polybag she is holding.

  ‘What is that?’ Charu asks.

  ‘A birthday gift for Angira,’ she responds with naughty eyes.

  Everyone settles down on the sofa and Neha places an unwrapped box on the table.

  ‘Thank you guys, so, so much for coming. I was thinking of going home yesterday because I have never been alone on my birthday, but you guys made it perfect,’ Angira looks happily at them.

  She didn’t expect this. Few minutes ago, the place was quiet and now it’s noisy and it is going to get even noisier as the night progresses. Charu goes on to prepare everything for Angira’s birthday. It just takes a few minutes to make sure everyone is in a party mood. Charu connects her phone to the woofer. She switches off the lights and puts on the LED disco bulb, which she and Angira had installed the day they moved into the apartment. The disco lights, not too jazzy and not too low, add just the right amount of understated elegance to the hall decor. Charu lights some candles around giving the room a romantic touch. With light music playing in the back, the ambience is just perfect.

  ‘How’s this? I bought it the day I was leaving for Delhi,’ Neha asks Charu, showing off her dress.

  ‘It’s perfect. You are looking good. Anyway, even if you wore something else, you would still look great. The dress matters very little given how amazing you look,’ Charu replies with a smile.

  ‘But I can’t be like you. You are the prettiest girl I know, and you have a great heart and a killer smile,’ Neha smiles at Charu.

  ‘Thanks, Charu. It’s been a long time since I have been to any party. Thanks a lot for inviting me secretly,’ Rashi says looking at all of them.