here is the last part: Chapter 2
Her elbow gave up at last and her head slipped out of her hand and she got up with a jerk. No doubt as Sheena said Uni life sucked. It had been just a month and Ragini was finding it difficult to adjust to the boring lectures. Her eyes scanned to realize whether she is still in the same class or the next professor has entered the class.
To her dismay she was just five minutes from the time she fell asleep. At her right John asked her what happened through his eyes. Nodding her head she gave him a weak smile and he reflected the smile before turning to the board.
I don’t want to be Rowling though then why the heck I chose literature?’ she yawned. “Because you are too lazy to study and literature looked easy one to you” she heard Sheena’s voice as though she heard her. It wasn’t tough to guess Ragini’s thoughts for Sheena as they had been together from a long time and Ragini was only close to her.
“Whatever” Ragini whispered again trying to adjust herself ready to take the next nap. The class room was filled with almost hundred students. Sheena along with Ragini always rushed to the class so that they can find a good spot. A spot from where they aren’t visible to the professor. In a crowd of students the professor hardly cared if anyone was listening.
“I can’t believe you can’t keep yourself awake for five minutes” John chuckled as they were walking to the parking. “I double dare you listen to Mr. Philips lecture without your iPod” she unlocked the doors of her car. “Gosh I can’t even imagine my life without my iPod” he clutched his dear iPod like it was his permanent girlfriend. “I don’t know how Sheena manages to stay awake” his gaze moved to Sheena.
“Because he is a jerk” Ragini stood near the car. “Oh common Gini you have problem with all my crushes” Sheena frowned. John chuckled hearing them. “Because they eventually turn out to be jerks” said Ragini opening the car door. “Whatever. I will find my Mr. Perfect for sure” she said dreamily.
“Princess of Dream Land. Please bless us with your presence in the real world” John bowed in front of Sheena and Ragini gave him a high five over the car’s top. Sheena twisted her lips sitting inside the car. John opened the back door of the car and sat in it.
Ragini ignited the engine and her car pierced the roads of Manhattan. She reduced the car speed at the signal. Mouthing her favorite’s songs lyrics “Now that I see you” she turned her gaze to her right. The same cafe’s stairs made her mind to travel back in time a month ago. The first day of her college in Manhattan.
She stood waiting for the person to speak when she heard a cellphone ring. When she turned she saw only his back. He was busy over the phone. She smiled at the lady whom she just saved and walked away from there wearing her hood and placing her hands inside her pockets.
The honks jerked her in present bringing her out of her thoughts. She brushed her thoughts and accelerated the engine. In an hour she was at her home after dropping John to his place. As the door opened with a click Ragini walked to the sofa and collapsed on it. “Damn it was hell of a day” she grabbed the apple in the fruit bowl.
“I will make the pasta. Wanna have some?” Sheena placed her bag on the table walking to the kitchen. “You know I love you so much” Ragini gave her a wide smile which made Sheena nod her head.
***Sanskar’s POV****
I was cleaning my call list as I needed space in my phone. “What are you doing?” Venessa walked to me with a can of coffee. “I’m just clear my call log” I grabbed the can from her hand and sipped the first sip. My fingers were moving the screen up. There was this number which was highlighted in Red.
“A missed call?” I was confused. “So is that any miracle or only available in you phone thing” Venessa shrugged her shoulders mocking me. “He he. It was so funny I’m dying out of laughter” I looked at the number again. “Nobody appreciates my wits” she whined and walked to her cabin. I haven’t dialed to check who it was. It’s not so me.
I looked at the date and time. I was in Manhattan that time as per my schedule. And when I’m off duty I make sure I don’t miss a call. That was what my duty commitments have taught me. I cursed myself for missing it and then not dialing it to check. My fingers moved hesitantly to press on the green spot to dial the number.
“Sanky emergency” Venessa’s voice jerked me and I closed my eyes annoyed. This girl has very wrong timing always. If she wouldn’t have called me that day. I wouldn’t have missed Ragini. She just disappeared in thin air that day. Twitching my jaws I replied “Coming”.
Taking a deep sigh I messaged the number “Hello. I’m sorry a month back I was not able to attend your call. May I know who is this? I’m sorry that I did not redial that day” Am I acting like a maniac? I questioned myself. But I have to know who it was? I placed the phone in the drawer and headed out of my cabin before Venessa could come back banging the door.
***.***
Her phone buzzed. She lazily took it out of her pocket. Unlocking the phone her fingers pressed the new message which she received . The top of it showed that it was an unknown number. Then her eyes moved down. For an unknown reason a smile crept her lips. “Such an idiot” she nodded her head locking her phone again.
“Here are the pastas” Sheena walked with a tray with two bowls. Ragini grabbed the bowl and looked at the delicious pasta and licked her lips feeling the tasty with its aroma. Sheena placed the tray on the table and took the bowl and sat beside Ragini.
They talked random stuff and enjoyed the food.
The sky turned dark and Ragini lazily walked to her room yawning. She dropped her slippers before landing on the bed. Her hands moved to clutch her pillow. Her phone vibrated and her face twitched annoyed. She grabbed it from the side table.
“Tomorrow Jessica’s birthday party at grooves at 7 p.m. Good night” Ragini read John’s message. “Love you John. You are my medicine to boredom” she replied him with a smile. She looked at the message below his message. “The sender sounds cute” she smiled looking at it again.
“Sorry. I have the worse memory. I don’t remember and moreover my call list is blank” She replied and placed the phone back on the table. She did not expect a reply. It was just the genuine courtesy to reply which she did.
“Hmm. Sounds like we both are suffering with early age Alzheimer” she read the next message when her phone buzzed. “Are you a doctor?” she texted. “Must say your guesses are so apt” she smiled reading the next message. “And you sound amusing not serious which is hard to find in doctors now a days” she bit her lower lip replying.
“And you sound interesting. If you don’t mind may I know your name?” she read the text and her fingers typed her name quickly. “Are you insane Ragini? Why are you letting him know your name?” she hit her head reacting to her stupidity.
“Shanaya” she retyped the message and sent it. “And I know it isn’t the real name” her eyes went wide reading the message. “And don’t worry I will wait till you are comfortable to trust me with your name which for sure I cannot misuse. By the way I’m Sanskar” she read the message and smiled as the blood rushed to her cheek.
“Nice to know you” she hit her head after replying thinking what the heck was she doing. Chatting with a stranger at midnight. “Pleasure is all mine.” she smiled at his text. It was a weird feeling that crept her heart and covered her mind. “Good night” she texted. “Sweet dreams” she closed her eyes with a smile on her face reading his reply.
***.****
The club was fluttering with the music and the colourful lights. Ragini sat at a corner enjoying the music and relaxing with a beer. “This you could have done at the apartment right?” Sheena asked huffing as she stood in front of Ragini crossing her arms.
“You know I walk to clubs for a reason and it isn’t dance of course” she showed her beer can sipping the next sip. Sheena nodded her head and walked back to John. Ragini sat there smiling looking at her.
Sanskar:
I was analyzing a report. That’s worst job to do trust me and Venessa always does that for me. But as she was on a family weekend celebration I have to do it all. I collapsed back on the chair frustrated. My phone buzzed and I unlocked it to check.
The phone screen flashed ” New message from May be Shanaya”. I looked at the phone surprised. I did not expect a message from her. “Hello” I could feel the excitement in her voice. “Hi What you’re doing?” I typed the message quickly but then my fingers stopped before touching the send. Am I looking like a desperate? I questioned myself.
I brushed my thoughts and touched “Send”
That’s how we started bonding over the text messages.
***.***
I was again in Manhattan to meet my mother. It had been a month that me and ‘May be Shanaya’ are talking to each other. You are right she hadn’t told me her real name yet. But texting her at every free minute I get has become a part of my day’s schedule.
I wanted to meet her for once. “Hey guess what?” I texted as I was relaxing in my room. Mom had stuffed me with all the food of the city and I had no energy left to move.
“I’m not fortune teller” I smiled reading her text. “Oh is it. I thought you are one” I replied her and bit my lower lip imagining her annoyed face. “Listen. I’m in Manhattan. Can we meet?” I asked her. Yes she lived here. In between our conversation that was the only thing she revealed to me.
I don’t know how will she react. My phone buzzed raising my curiosity level.
“I’m sorry Sanskar. I’m not in town” My face fell reading her text. “Yeah that’s fine. I can understand I haven’t gained enough trust to know your real name also. So I deserve to stay behind the shadow” I couldn’t hold my annoyance and vented out.
After I sent the text I realized I was rude. “I’m sorry. I did not mean to say all that” I texted even after not receiving the reply from her. “Bye” was the only which was on the reply thread from her side.
Arghh. I just hate myself for doing that. I wanted to convince her then I better of it and threw my phone away not replying. My hands moved over my head and I clutched my hairs frustrated.
Why does these attachments bring so much pain with it? These question has been haunting me from the time Ragini left just like that. The tears fought heat on my face to drop down.
***.****
Tonight I will be returning to Washington as I have to rejoin the duty the next day. Venessa had arrived to Manhattan to visit her aunt. She insisted her to join her on her Shopping flee. I so much hated doing but she had been my mind diverting pill all these days. And the time made me depend on her. Without my will I accepted her suggestion.
“You look like autumn tree” she dragged herself away after hugging me in the mall. I gave her a wry smile and we walked inside the mall.
She was trying out different outfits. She wanted to buy a nice gown as she was the brides maid in her cousin Stacy’s marriage next month. All looked same to me as she stood in front of the mirror trying one after one and asking my opinion.
My eyes stopped and did not move for a brief time when they captured something. My heart felt frozen and I could not help but hack for breath. Damn it had been eight months that she disappeared but how do I remeber each curve on her face.
Ragini’ I finally breathed as my mind recalled her name. And my heart beat again gained the speed. I blinked my eyes to make sure if I was hallucinating. Her image did not vanish from the mirror. That means she was there. She was really there and my heart gained some more speed
***.****
How was this.
Do let me know through your comments
Love
Sally ?