*A FairyTale Ending* - SaJan Story - Page 11

"Shut up, you are too loud!" he whispered as he came closer. I moved back. "This isn't for you Fool!" he said poking my head. My face became normal again. But then it suddenly struck me that if not me then... Claire? "You are going to propose Claire? Are you sure? Samrat.. there are a few things I—"Oh God Gunjan, you have a very bad habit of not letting a person finish! Don't get to conclusions yet.. I am not proposing Claire. I want to break up with her! Just without hurting her too much and also gaining the sympathy of other girls, out of which one will be my future girlfriend." My eyes widened and my mouth twitched, "You are giving her a break up ring?" I asked confused as ever. What was he saying? It all went over my head. "No, see, Claire doesn't want to get married.. so if I propose—"Then she will break up with you and this way the other girls will sympathise with you and Claire will have this feeling that she broke up with you and not the other way round? And this won't even hurt her!" I finished the sentence for him understanding everything he meant to do. Smart. Clean. Fabulous. Samrat had always been good at this. My my, he had some talent. "See, that's more like my Gunjan.. you are not that dumb also!" he flashed one of those charming smiles at me and then left. Some how I was having a bad feeling about this. I felt he would mess it up. What if Claire said yes? What if she had changed her mind? Poor Samrat would have to bear with her for a life time.. That thought made me laugh. But again he was a champ at this. I am sure he would have something up his sleeve even then! He went up to Claire and in front of the whole college, went on his knees and took out the ring. "Claire.." he said with a deep and romantic voice, "You have always been there for me and I promise to be there for you.. will you be mine forever? Will you marry me Claire?" he said. It made me feel as if he actually meant it. Maybe he did that to make her believe that he wasn't joking. He was a master at this. Suddenly I felt a pang of curiosity as Claire didn't reply for a few seconds. She looked around at everyone staring and I really thought she would say yes when she spoke, "Samrat.. why? Why did you have to ruin it? You know I don't want to get married now. I really love you, but marriage is too big of a deal. Sorry Samrat.. You have reached too far in this relationship and I am not there yet." Samrat looked down as though he was disappointed but I knew he must be happy about his little triumph. "Claire, you'll get there.. I can wait." He said getting back on his feet. I controlled my laughter and she continued to say, "I don't believe in Marriage.. And I dont think I will ever get to the point where you are.. I am sorry Sam.. I.. I .. don't think.. we should be together anymore." Samrat stepped closer and said in a teary voice, "But Claire, I.. I.. Love youu!" I was totally enjoying that scene. That guy was such a good actor! Dia and Benji were all looking confused staring at me since they were feeling so bad seeing Samrat get rejected while I was enjoying it. I winked at them and that just puzzled them further. "I know Samrat, and so do I, but we want different things from life and I really dont know if we were meant to be.. I am sorry.." she left from there in tears. More than anything I am sure she felt sad rejecting Samrat, but Bravo Man.. that guy was a genius.. If he would actually utilise his talent in academics I swear he would do better than Mayank. He walked straight up to me to receive my comment on his small act, "Smart. Superb. For sometime I thought she would say yes..!" I commented. "Oh please. That would have made matters so much worse." He said placing his hand around Benji's shoulder and explaining everything to Dia and Benji. Mayank was very annoyed at this, "How can you do such cheap things? Honestly, don't you ever feel bad?" he asked Samrat. Samrat thought for a while and then replied, "Um.. No.. Never.." "Disgusting!" Mayank said leaving the canteen. Dia too left behind him. "You had actually got me going for a while. I was so shocked when you proposed Claire out of the blue!" Benji said. Samrat replied by laughing. He was never that type, I could never imagine Samrat having a wife, a settled family, two kids and a job.. He always seemed like the playboy sort.. But well, he was my best friend. "Aah! Freedom..." he said. "Calls for a party? My place!" he said. "No.. Lets go to a pub!" Benji said. I could make out from Samrat's expressions that he liked Benji's idea. "Cool. Gunjan your coming?" he asked. "No, you guys carry on!" "What? But its your birthday!" he said. "I think I have had enough surprises for a day!" Obviously, I mean first of all the whole rose thing, then the France trip in Summers and then Samrat and all sang.. Samrat and Claire broke up.. God. Too much for a day! "But we haven't ! Its your turn to treat us!" Samrat said. "But I am tired.." "Pleasee Gunjan.." Benji said making a puppy face. "Ice-cream would do?" I didnt feel like going anywhere else. It was almost 6 and I was exhausted for some reason. "YES" Benji and Samrat said in unison. I laughed at their kiddish-ness. "Let me call Dia and Mayank also!" But before I could text Dia Samrat took the phone from my hand. "Let us go. Mayank will just make a fuss and ruin the day. Dia is with him now, give them some privacy!" he said winking. I frowned at him. Why didn't he like Mayank? I know Mayank is a little too serious and Samrat is not serious at all, but still.. Well, I couldn't help it I guess. "Okay fine, lets go!"

GELATO. My favourite Ice-cream parlour. Since I was a kid I have been coming to this branch of Gelato. I just love the ice-cream here. I know, people usually think that all chocolate ice-creams are the same but they aren't. It tastes different. We enter the small parlour. The waiter smiles at us, recognising the three of us from 'the college nearby'. He comes to the table immediately to take our order. "Good evening sir.." he says obediently to Benji and Samrat and then politely turns around and wishes me the same. "The usual sir?" he asks. I am about to say 'yes'. When Samrat says, "No. Not today. Its Gunjan's birthday. Get us something BIG." He says. I can imagine Samrat and Benji digging into a huge pot full of ice-cream. I laugh at my imagination. "A super-banana split sir?" he asks. "It has six scoops of different flavoured ice-cream with toppings like Chocolate sauce, Cookie Crumble and Caramel Crunches." He finishes. Samrat says yes to that and we wait for the "special" ice-cream to come. "You know, we should try something new more often here!" Benji states. "But I like me usual.." I say. I always have butterscotch ice-cream with caramel crunches. And I love it that way. I am not a person who likes too much variety in food. I am happy with what I eat usually. Samrat thinks of changing the subject, "Guys, our last semester in college!" It was a little random. But It hadn't struck me yet. The last few weeks together, not counting the summers ofcourse. After summers we just come back for our results and graduation! Just a few weeks. Where will I be after that? What will I do? I suddenly start thinking of my prince. When will I meet him? How will I meet him? Samrat clicks his fingers in front of my eyes. "What's up, buttercup?" he says in a singing tone. I shake me head. "Its all passed so fast. I can't believe college is going to end!" I say. "We have to party before our exams!" Benji exclaims. "This weekend!" Samrat says as excited as Benji now. "at our usual, Sheesha!" I add. "Done!" benji and Samrat say in unison. Suddenly me phone rings and its Dia. "Where are you?" she asks. "Dia, we came to Gelato!" I said feeling guilty for not telling her. "Oh, you guys enjoy. Mayank is in a pretty bad mood after what Samrat did. Why can't they just sort it out? God!" she says frustrated. "I am going for dinner with him.. okay?" she says. "Fine, see you!" I said. I slap Samrat on his arm. "Mayank is in a bad mood because of you!" "So?" he said. So? Thats all he has to say? "So nothing. Since when do you care about others, right?" I was kind of angry. Dia had to bear with Mayank because of Samrat. Mayank had always been a man with values. And he was brought up in a very orthodox family. He felt bad when Samrat behaved like a jerk, which he did most of the time. Well, I can't blame him. But again, he does everything for the people he cares about, so I can't complain. "Gunjan, just chill. Its not the first time! And I can do whatever I want, he isn't my father to object! I just didnt want to create a scene by hurting Claire." He said. The topic was completely changed as the ice-cream appeared. It looked so good that even my mouth watered. I smiled looking at my friends hog. I still ate the butterscotch part of it with the caramel crunches but I have to have a little chocolate sauce too. Well, it didnt taste bad for all I cared. We discussed further about the party. Divided our work and then finalised the plan. Dia would make the guest list and invite everyone. I would book Sheesha for a private party and finalize the menu and Benji would arrange the decorations. And as usual, Samrat would supervise, that is, do nothing at all. As we finished the ice cream and leave the parlour Benji suddenly remembers he had a date with a girl. It seems very odd and random. He borrows Samrat's bike and leaves. I stare unbelievably at Samrat and ask, "When did he get a date? And who?" Its not usual for benji to date. His last date was in his First Year, with me. I was new in college and he had tried to woo me. But I just agreed for the date because he had a good sense of humour. The date was fun but quite embarrassing also. Benji still has no idea that I had thought that he was pathetic after the first date. Even the memories make me laugh. Samrat shakes his head, "God knows!" Anyway, since Benji takes his bike, I have to drop Samrat home. On the way he is extra quiet and I instantly know he is trying to hide something from me. "You want to say something?" "Umm.. Did you have fun today?" he asks looking at my face for an answer. I smile and nod. I knew he meant to ask whether I still missed dad or what happened at home in the morning. But he didnt. He didnt want to remind me I guess. But since he wanted to know I say it anyway, "I didn't miss dad too much!" He looks surprised for a while. "I didn't ask" he said. And after a short pause he said, "Okay.. I wanted to ask.. but, yeah you answered the question before I could say anything!"

I stop the car below his building. He gets down and comes and opens my side of the door. "Come out!" he says. Ok, why? Why should I go out? I was tired and wanted to go home. "Why?" I asked. "Just come out!" he repeats. I just listen to him and get down from the car. He sits in my place and drives away. Then I realise he had gone to park the car. I waited for him to return. He came back with a grin on his face. "What are you doing Samrat?" I asked totally taken aback. "A special day requires a special end," he whispers. I smile as he takes my hand and pulls me along. My heart begins to thud as he opens the door to his house. I expected something big. But there was nothing. I walked inside. When I reached the dining table I saw it. He had made dinner for me! Then suddenly I take back my thought. He didnt have time to cook. And Samrat doesn't know how to cook! The food wasn't made by him. "I didn't make this!" he said as if reading my thoughts. "You wanted your birthday gift right?" he said while I opened the dishes to see Chinese food inside. It smells good. But it was just 6! I wasn't even hungry. But the food was hot. "Gunjan! FOCUS." He said. I looked at him. "You already gave me my gift, the song, the roses, the cake.." I paused and then added, "And breaking up with Claire." I mutter under my breathe, not wanting him to hear it.. but well. He does. He looks shocked. I explain to him how I had seen her lie and cheat on him.. "What? Really? Why didn't you tell me this before? I would have just broken up!" he said surprised. "I thought you really liked her and besides you did break up with her anyway, so no harm done." I cover up. He laughs and then says seriously, "But now time for my gift!" he reminds me. I wonder what he would give me? A dress..? No, not Samrat style. A ring? I really loved the ring he brought for Claire. I wanted to tell him to give it to me! hmm.. What else? What else. I rack my brains a little more when he keeps the present in my hand. As I tear the wrapping paper, I almost shriek. Its an album. It is hand made! "Took me a month!" he said. I had no words. It was so beautiful. I just kept staring at it for a while. It had Samrat and Me on the cover. The picture we took at the beach while samrat was trying to drown me into the sea. I opened to see a small not written near my picture, I read it out loud.

Dearest Gunjan,

It takes time to make a friend but it takes years to make a true one. I have finished my job. Without you, my life life is incomplete, without you, I really don't know what I'd do. With you, life seems bearable, I can stay away from my parents and still be happy and close to home. I can tell you whatever I actually feel. You are the only girl I don't get bored off.. Lol.

The bond we share is special, its not easy to find a person you can be yourself with. You may be the apple of your parents' eye, but for me, you're as sweet as the most exotic blueberry in the world..

I laugh as I read that line, "Blueberry?" I ask. Where does he get such cheesy lines from! He joins in the laughter. I read further. My eyes are almost blurred with tears. How senti can he be?

I suck at writing birthday messages, but at the end, I just want to say thank you for being so special, thank you for making my life the way it is today. And I truly wish you find your Prince sometime soon in life :) Have a great great Birthday!

With lots Of Love,

Samrat.

"Thank youu so much!" I told him as I hugged him tight. His arms always felt so warm. It was so familiar that I didn't feel awkward or even uncomfortable being embraced by him. I did cry a little, but then he started laughing and I was compelled to stop. I was really blessed to have him in my life. We looked at all the other pictures and remembered all those moments we spent together. "In this way you won't forget the time we spent together!" he said. "I wouldn't, even if you hadn't gifted me this.. But Samrat, it means a lot. Genuinely. This is the best gift I got today!" I said with a wide smile. "Even better than going to France this summer?" he asks cheekily. I nod and replied, "Even better than that!" We ate dinner, laughed and chatted a little longer and then finally I returned home. Mom was waiting for me. She wanted to know all about my day and I repeated the events to her. I even showed her the album Samrat had made. I couldn't believe he had done so much for me. I snuggled into my bed thinking about the amazing day and then wrote every bit of what I felt in my diary. I wrote so much that I didn't even realise when it was 12 and was no longer my birthday.. I sent a quick thank you to god before I lay down in bed allowing the dreams to engulf me while I slept..

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NOTE – I know this part must have been quite boring. These were fillers ofcourse, just to show you a glimpse of what Gunjan's life was like. The *Main* Story starts from the next Update. Hope you are enjoying this FF and will keep doing so in the future.

And I am so sorry for the delay in Updating this FF! :)

Precap -- *A Twist In The Tale*

Love,

Manjari :)