Finally I DARED TO SAY“Hey,” I said in an attempt to make conversation.
Her glance now changed towards me and her expression immediately changed to one of a shocked one, as if this was an encounter she had been hoping to avoid. “Oh!” she said in a tone that almost implied she was disgusted. “It’s you.”
Well, it wasn’t the most encouraging start but one that was expected. So I ploughed on. “Yeah, it’s me. The guy who made out with you yesterday without seeking your prior permission,” I said in an attempt at humor.
“Don’t worry, I am not drunk now,” Anjali responded in complete sarcasm.
Well, this was going to be a much more difficult task than I had imagined. This girl wasn’t just upset with me, she completely despised me.
“Yeah, Thank God for that,” I said. This was another attempt at humor. And once again it fell flat. There was absolutely no response from her. Either this girl just didn’t have a sense of humor or she really loathed me. I was afraid it was the latter.
“Ok,” I said, “jokes don’t seem to be working.”
“If that was your attempt at lighting things up, then you are just appalling,” she said.
“Ok-look,” I said, desperate to just clear the slate at least, “I know we didn’t get off the right foot but the thing is last night was just a drunken mistake from my side. I am not defending what I did because I know it was completely despicable of me to do such a thing but if you can be kind enough to forgive one drunken mistake from a guy who clearly wasn’t in his senses, then I would be utterly grateful. For all that it means; I really am sorry.”
“We can’t be friends, huh?” I muttered to myself. “We’ll see about that,” and slugging my bag over my shoulders, I walked off.I hate silences. They never really clear anything up and just add onto the pressure. Especially a silence of this kind where I know that the person is weighing up the words that I had just said and is thinking whether they were strong enough to be considered an apology or not. And somehow I felt as if my entire life depended on the words that Anjali would choose next. I just couldn’t explain why there was a huge knot in the pit of my stomach for I really shouldn’t have been as nervous as I was. Heck-I could start sweating any moment now. I felt like my fate was going to be decided by this girl sitting in front of me who I didn’t even know properly. Why did I feel like that? What was it about this girl that somehow I just couldn’t ignore her how much I ever tried to? And why wouldn’t she just speak up? Was it that difficult to accept or reject an apology? Argggghhh, I hate myself!
“Well,” she finally said after what seemed like eons, “I guess I can live with that apology.” Ah-my heart seemed a thousand pounds lighter now. “But,” she continued which surprised me a bit, “if you are thinking that me and you can be friends then let me clear now itself that friendship between me and you just isn’t possible and will never happen.”
“Huh?” I responded. Wow, this girl could be upfront, couldn’t she? I guess once again my reputation preceded me. She had already formed a opinion of me on the basis of what she had heard and so though she had very politely accepted my apology, she had decided she was never going to let me get me anywhere around her.
“Well, whatever you think is right,” I responded, upset that she wasn’t even willing to give me a chance.
She got up from her seat. “Good then,” she said picking up her handbag, “I am happy we have got that cleared.” Then just as she was about to leave, she turned back and picking up the glass of water on the table, she splashed the water on my face. “And that was for yesterday night,” she said as I cleared the water off my face. She then went and joined her friends at the waiting counter.
As I picked up my bag and tried to get over another humiliation meted out to me by a girl, I saw her looking at me and sniggering with her friends. “We can’t be friends, huh?” I muttered to myself. “We’ll see about that,” and slugging my bag over my shoulders, I walked off.
A Die Hard Fan Of A.R.REHMAN
*************************
KISMAT SE TUM HUM KO MILE HO
KAISE CHODENGE YE HAATH HUM NA CHODENGE
KISMAT SE TUM HUMKO MILE HO
KAISE CHODENGE YE HAATH HUM NA CHODENGE
PHIR SE BANTI TAQDEERO KO
ARMAANO KI ZANJEERO KO
JAANA AB NA TODENGE
“Will you stop that freaking music?”
“Huh?” Virat turned towards me. “Stop that freaking music?” he questioned me as if I had just said the most unfair words ever. “You call this ‘freaking music’?” he questioned me. “Dude, listen to the song properly, listen to the lyrics, you won’t find such beautiful poetry with such soothing music anywhere else in the world but in A R Rahman’s songs.”
I hated Virat for this. I don’t know why but he was absolutely in love with Hindi songs. And not just hindi songs, but these supposedly soul stirring romantic numbers. And this wasn’t the worst part. He would play it at a full blown volume of 2500 watts on those Intex speakers of his.
I mean, can you even imagine songs like ‘Hum bewafaa hargis na the…par hum wafa kar na sake’ and “Ghungroo ki tarah bajta hi raha hoo main” playing at 2500 watts in a boys hostel? In moments like these I wondered why on earth did I select Virat as my roommate.
“Soothing music?” I asked incredulously. “Soothing freaking music?” I repeated in a louder voice.
“Keep your volume down,” Virat replied. “And yes, soothing music. Way better than your Linkin Park and Metallica. I mean, I don’t even understand half the words those guys sing. And what on earth is the meaning of the song sanitarium?”
This was an endless debate. Music was one topic which we could never agree on. He didn’t like Rock and heavy metal, which is what I preferred and I absolutely despised Virat’s soothing music.
“Damn it Virat, I don’t give a crap about your soothing music. I don’t give a crap about A R Rahman. But at least turn down the freaking volume man.”
Virat looked hurt. As if I had just thrown a personal insult at him. Looking straight at me with an affronted look, he slowly rotated the volume button and to my absolute horror increased the volume.
Virat could be so irritating at times. “Virat, what on earth is wrong with you? I asked you to turn the volume down. Not increase it,” I said angrily.
Virat continued to look straight at me and with another turn the volume went a few notches higher.
“Virat, For God’s sake, turn the volume down.” I was not literally shouting at the top of my voice.
TUKDE DIL KE HUM TUM MILKE
PHIR SE JODENGE YE SHEESHA HUM PHIR SE JODENGE
The loud speakers continued to blare. Yet Virat didn’t say a word. And I was afraid I could go deaf any moment.
“Virat,” I said pleading, “Please turn the volume down. I beg of you.”
And finally Virat turned the volume down and my torture was over. .SHARMAATI YUN GHABRAATI AISE SIMTI SIMTAAYI
pologise to A R Rahman,” Virat said, his fingers still on the volume knob.
O MERE BALAM YUNHI NAHI MAIN
JAATE JAATE LAUT AAYI HUN
I said, shocked at Virat’s incredulous demand for turning the volume down. “A R Rahman isn’t even here.”
PREET MERI PEHCHAANI TUNE
MERI KADR TO JAANI TUNE
creased the volume even more now. “I don’t care,” he said. “Apologise to A R Rahman. You can’t insult Rahman sir and get away with it.”
Rahman sir? This guy was absolutely nuts.
AB DIL JAAGA HOSH MEIN
CHAHAT AB AAYI
“Virat, are you nuts? What’s wrong with you man?”.
Shit, wrong words. Virat turned the knob again and the volume went even higher..
KISMAT SE TUM HUMKO MILE HO
KAISE CHODENGE YE HAATH AB NA CHODENGE
“Ok, ok!” I finally said giving up. There was just no winning with Virat when it came to Hindi music. “I am really really sorry for making fun of Rahman’s music,” I said hoping now atleast the volume would go down a bit..
PHIR SE BANTI TAQDEERO KO
ARMAANO KI ZANJEERO KO
JANAM AB NA TODENGE
Damn! Virat turned the volume even higher now. What on earth had I done now? “Rahman ‘sir’,” Virat said making me realize my mistake..
KISMATE SE TUM HUMKO MILE HO
“Alright, alright. I am sorry that I disrespected Rahman sir’s music. Now would you please turn the volume down?”.
KAISE CHODENGE YE HAATH
HUM NA CHODENGE.
And finally Virat turned the volume down and my torture was over. ..
“Besides, those days aren’t far off when you too will be listening to such songs.”
“Don’t ever insult Rahman sir again,” Virat said giving me a hard glare.
“I despise you,” I said glaring back at him
“Same to same,” Virat responded.
For a few moments we continued glaring at each other as if this was a western movie and we were two cow boys ready for a face-off with our hands on our guns. Virat then winked at me and said, “Besides, those days aren’t far off when you too will be listening to such songs.”
“Yeah, right,” I said in sarcasm.
“Keep denying all you want. But the truth will come out sooner or later.”
Ok, Virat was confusing me again. What on earth was I denying now?
“Ummmm….what?” I said.
Virat winked at me again. I hate it when he does that. “You know,” he said already with a new taunt, “Anjali Shah.”
“Oh Jesus! Don’t you ever get anything new to say?” I said in frustration
I wasn’t sure whether to be mad at him or burst out in laughter. Despite the fact that he was mocking me, I was afraid I could be in splits any moment.
“Well, I could but then the truth is so much more fun,” Virat laughed.
“It isn’t the truth, Virat,” I replied.
Virat looked at me, his eyes mocking me. “Of course it isn’t, Rahul. Of course it isn’t.” He then added, “Let’s see now-how long has it been since your last tryst with Anjali Shah when she so lovingly splashed the water on your face?”
“Five days,” I said glaring at him. It wasn’t really an incident I liked to be reminded of.
“Five days,” Virat continued. “And in those five days all you have thought about is how you are going to make friends with her. You haven’t commented on the available single girls in our college or the non-available one’s as well for we know the presence of a boy friend never really affects Rahul Agarwal’s pursuit of a girl he wants. But then ever since you last broke-up you hasn’t short listed the names of the girl he’s going to hit on next. Now why would that be? Why would the ultimate play boy of this college all of a sudden stop taking an interest in all those beautiful girls that continue to brighten up this sullen town?” Virat had gone nuts. He was completely mocking me and while talking he was making these facial expressions as if he was selling a product on TV. You know, those one’s where they say, ‘Come on…come all! The biggest sale in the city is finally here.’ God, the way he was exaggerating every word he said, I wasn’t sure whether to be mad at him or burst out in laughter. Despite the fact that he was mocking me, I was afraid I could be in splits any moment.
“Rahul Agarwal is in LUUUUVVVVVVVV.”“Oh wait, wait,” Virat continued. “I think I have the answer.” What now! I thought to myself. “JACKPOT!” Virat exclaimed. “And the correct answer is,” Virat said imitaiting one of those game show hosts, “Rahul Agarwal is in LUUUUVVVVVVVV.”
I picked up my pillow from the bed and threw it at him. Virat tried to duck but the pillow hit him on his shoulders.
“Oh, you are resorting to violence now?” Virat said. Then Virat raised his index finger in mock protest and said, “But remember my friend.” He then started imitating Dharmenra. “Sachche pyaar ki aawaaz koi nahi mitaa sakta. Pyar ki hamesha jeet hogi hamesha.”
“Alright Dharmendra,” I said, “enough with the over acting.”
“Yeah, well-my point is Rahul, that you are in luvvvvv.”
“No, I am not.”
“Yeah, and I suppose that’s why your Theory Of Machines notes have imaginary conversations taking place between you and Anjali.”
“Oh God,”What? How did Virat know about that? Oh My God-I was so freaking dead now, Virat would never let me live now.
“What!” I said trying to act as if I didn’t know any such thing existed. I knew it was of no use but admitting to him that I was actually doing such things would only make the situation worse.
“Oh yeah, Rahul,” Virat said, “I looked into your notes the other day. I had seen you scribbling something in your notebook now and then and I guess my curiosity got the better of me. So while you weren’t in the room, I had a peak at your notes. And guess what I found?”
“Oh God,” I said.
“Yup. A sweet little imaginary conversation between the lovebirds-Rahul and Anjali.” Virat was exaggerating each and every little detail so well that I could have a heart attack any moment now.
He then formed his two hands in the form of puppets and went about imitating me and Anjali.
Her glance now changed towards me and her expression immediately changed to one of a shocked one, as if this was an encounter she had been hoping to avoid. “Oh!” she said in a tone that almost implied she was disgusted. “It’s you.”
Well, it wasn’t the most encouraging start but one that was expected. So I ploughed on. “Yeah, it’s me. The guy who made out with you yesterday without seeking your prior permission,” I said in an attempt at humor.
“Don’t worry, I am not drunk now,” Anjali responded in complete sarcasm.
Well, this was going to be a much more difficult task than I had imagined. This girl wasn’t just upset with me, she completely despised me.
“Yeah, Thank God for that,” I said. This was another attempt at humor. And once again it fell flat. There was absolutely no response from her. Either this girl just didn’t have a sense of humor or she really loathed me. I was afraid it was the latter.
“Ok,” I said, “jokes don’t seem to be working.”
“If that was your attempt at lighting things up, then you are just appalling,” she said.
“Ok-look,” I said, desperate to just clear the slate at least, “I know we didn’t get off the right foot but the thing is last night was just a drunken mistake from my side. I am not defending what I did because I know it was completely despicable of me to do such a thing but if you can be kind enough to forgive one drunken mistake from a guy who clearly wasn’t in his senses, then I would be utterly grateful. For all that it means; I really am sorry.”
“Well,” she finally said after what seemed like eons, “I guess I can live with that apology.” Ah-my heart seemed a thousand pounds lighter now. “But,” she continued which surprised me a bit, “if you are thinking that me and you can be friends then let me clear now itself that friendship between me and you just isn’t possible and will never happen.”
“Huh?” I responded. Wow, this girl could be upfront, couldn’t she? I guess once again my reputation preceded me. She had already formed a opinion of me on the basis of what she had heard and so though she had very politely accepted my apology, she had decided she was never going to let me get me anywhere around her.
“Well, whatever you think is right,” I responded, upset that she wasn’t even willing to give me a chance.
She got up from her seat. “Good then,” she said picking up her handbag, “I am happy we have got that cleared.” Then just as she was about to leave, she turned back and picking up the glass of water on the table, she splashed the water on my face. “And that was for yesterday night,” she said as I cleared the water off my face. She then went and joined her friends at the waiting counter.
As I picked up my bag and tried to get over another humiliation meted out to me by a girl, I saw her looking at me and sniggering with her friends. “We can’t be friends, huh?” I muttered to myself. “We’ll see about that,” and slugging my bag over my shoulders, I walked off.
A Die Hard Fan Of A.R.REHMAN
*************************
KISMAT SE TUM HUM KO MILE HO
KAISE CHODENGE YE HAATH HUM NA CHODENGE
KISMAT SE TUM HUMKO MILE HO
KAISE CHODENGE YE HAATH HUM NA CHODENGE
PHIR SE BANTI TAQDEERO KO
ARMAANO KI ZANJEERO KO
JAANA AB NA TODENGE
“Will you stop that freaking music?”
“Huh?” Virat turned towards me. “Stop that freaking music?” he questioned me as if I had just said the most unfair words ever. “You call this ‘freaking music’?” he questioned me. “Dude, listen to the song properly, listen to the lyrics, you won’t find such beautiful poetry with such soothing music anywhere else in the world but in A R Rahman’s songs.”
I hated Virat for this. I don’t know why but he was absolutely in love with Hindi songs. And not just hindi songs, but these supposedly soul stirring romantic numbers. And this wasn’t the worst part. He would play it at a full blown volume of 2500 watts on those Intex speakers of his.
I mean, can you even imagine songs like ‘Hum bewafaa hargis na the…par hum wafa kar na sake’ and “Ghungroo ki tarah bajta hi raha hoo main” playing at 2500 watts in a boys hostel? In moments like these I wondered why on earth did I select Virat as my roommate.
“Soothing music?” I asked incredulously. “Soothing freaking music?” I repeated in a louder voice.
“Keep your volume down,” Virat replied. “And yes, soothing music. Way better than your Linkin Park and Metallica. I mean, I don’t even understand half the words those guys sing. And what on earth is the meaning of the song sanitarium?”
This was an endless debate. Music was one topic which we could never agree on. He didn’t like Rock and heavy metal, which is what I preferred and I absolutely despised Virat’s soothing music.
“Damn it Virat, I don’t give a crap about your soothing music. I don’t give a crap about A R Rahman. But at least turn down the freaking volume man.”
Virat looked hurt. As if I had just thrown a personal insult at him. Looking straight at me with an affronted look, he slowly rotated the volume button and to my absolute horror increased the volume.
Virat could be so irritating at times. “Virat, what on earth is wrong with you? I asked you to turn the volume down. Not increase it,” I said angrily.
Virat continued to look straight at me and with another turn the volume went a few notches higher.
“Virat, For God’s sake, turn the volume down.” I was not literally shouting at the top of my voice.
TUKDE DIL KE HUM TUM MILKE
PHIR SE JODENGE YE SHEESHA HUM PHIR SE JODENGE
The loud speakers continued to blare. Yet Virat didn’t say a word. And I was afraid I could go deaf any moment.
“Virat,” I said pleading, “Please turn the volume down. I beg of you.”
pologise to A R Rahman,” Virat said, his fingers still on the volume knob.
O MERE BALAM YUNHI NAHI MAIN
JAATE JAATE LAUT AAYI HUN
I said, shocked at Virat’s incredulous demand for turning the volume down. “A R Rahman isn’t even here.”
PREET MERI PEHCHAANI TUNE
MERI KADR TO JAANI TUNE
creased the volume even more now. “I don’t care,” he said. “Apologise to A R Rahman. You can’t insult Rahman sir and get away with it.”
Rahman sir? This guy was absolutely nuts.
AB DIL JAAGA HOSH MEIN
CHAHAT AB AAYI
“Virat, are you nuts? What’s wrong with you man?”.
Shit, wrong words. Virat turned the knob again and the volume went even higher..
KISMAT SE TUM HUMKO MILE HO
KAISE CHODENGE YE HAATH AB NA CHODENGE
“Ok, ok!” I finally said giving up. There was just no winning with Virat when it came to Hindi music. “I am really really sorry for making fun of Rahman’s music,” I said hoping now atleast the volume would go down a bit..
PHIR SE BANTI TAQDEERO KO
ARMAANO KI ZANJEERO KO
JANAM AB NA TODENGE
Damn! Virat turned the volume even higher now. What on earth had I done now? “Rahman ‘sir’,” Virat said making me realize my mistake..
KISMATE SE TUM HUMKO MILE HO
“Alright, alright. I am sorry that I disrespected Rahman sir’s music. Now would you please turn the volume down?”.
KAISE CHODENGE YE HAATH
HUM NA CHODENGE.
And finally Virat turned the volume down and my torture was over. ..
“Besides, those days aren’t far off when you too will be listening to such songs.”
“Don’t ever insult Rahman sir again,” Virat said giving me a hard glare.
“I despise you,” I said glaring back at him
“Same to same,” Virat responded.
For a few moments we continued glaring at each other as if this was a western movie and we were two cow boys ready for a face-off with our hands on our guns. Virat then winked at me and said, “Besides, those days aren’t far off when you too will be listening to such songs.”
“Yeah, right,” I said in sarcasm.
“Keep denying all you want. But the truth will come out sooner or later.”
Ok, Virat was confusing me again. What on earth was I denying now?
“Ummmm….what?” I said.
Virat winked at me again. I hate it when he does that. “You know,” he said already with a new taunt, “Anjali Shah.”
“Oh Jesus! Don’t you ever get anything new to say?” I said in frustration
“Well, I could but then the truth is so much more fun,” Virat laughed.
“It isn’t the truth, Virat,” I replied.
Virat looked at me, his eyes mocking me. “Of course it isn’t, Rahul. Of course it isn’t.” He then added, “Let’s see now-how long has it been since your last tryst with Anjali Shah when she so lovingly splashed the water on your face?”
“Five days,” I said glaring at him. It wasn’t really an incident I liked to be reminded of.
“Five days,” Virat continued. “And in those five days all you have thought about is how you are going to make friends with her. You haven’t commented on the available single girls in our college or the non-available one’s as well for we know the presence of a boy friend never really affects Rahul Agarwal’s pursuit of a girl he wants. But then ever since you last broke-up you hasn’t short listed the names of the girl he’s going to hit on next. Now why would that be? Why would the ultimate play boy of this college all of a sudden stop taking an interest in all those beautiful girls that continue to brighten up this sullen town?” Virat had gone nuts. He was completely mocking me and while talking he was making these facial expressions as if he was selling a product on TV. You know, those one’s where they say, ‘Come on…come all! The biggest sale in the city is finally here.’ God, the way he was exaggerating every word he said, I wasn’t sure whether to be mad at him or burst out in laughter. Despite the fact that he was mocking me, I was afraid I could be in splits any moment.
“Rahul Agarwal is in LUUUUVVVVVVVV.”“Oh wait, wait,” Virat continued. “I think I have the answer.” What now! I thought to myself. “JACKPOT!” Virat exclaimed. “And the correct answer is,” Virat said imitaiting one of those game show hosts, “Rahul Agarwal is in LUUUUVVVVVVVV.”
I picked up my pillow from the bed and threw it at him. Virat tried to duck but the pillow hit him on his shoulders.
“Oh, you are resorting to violence now?” Virat said. Then Virat raised his index finger in mock protest and said, “But remember my friend.” He then started imitating Dharmenra. “Sachche pyaar ki aawaaz koi nahi mitaa sakta. Pyar ki hamesha jeet hogi hamesha.”
“Alright Dharmendra,” I said, “enough with the over acting.”
“Yeah, well-my point is Rahul, that you are in luvvvvv.”
“No, I am not.”
“Yeah, and I suppose that’s why your Theory Of Machines notes have imaginary conversations taking place between you and Anjali.”
“Oh God,”What? How did Virat know about that? Oh My God-I was so freaking dead now, Virat would never let me live now.
“What!” I said trying to act as if I didn’t know any such thing existed. I knew it was of no use but admitting to him that I was actually doing such things would only make the situation worse.
“Oh yeah, Rahul,” Virat said, “I looked into your notes the other day. I had seen you scribbling something in your notebook now and then and I guess my curiosity got the better of me. So while you weren’t in the room, I had a peak at your notes. And guess what I found?”
“Oh God,” I said.
“Yup. A sweet little imaginary conversation between the lovebirds-Rahul and Anjali.” Virat was exaggerating each and every little detail so well that I could have a heart attack any moment now.
He then formed his two hands in the form of puppets and went about imitating me and Anjali.
1 comment:
Wow wow wow.... Virat isssss soooooo cute man.. I m in lv wid him... Amazing... Nd dat imaginary convo.. Dats sooo sweet kinda things... Dat ws sch a marvelous..... Awsm...
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