Epistle 22: Dates and Mishaps
A/N: Hey there everyone! :D :D Here is the next update! :D :D And before I forget, here's wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! <3 <3
Happy Reading! :D :D
1st December, 2000:
Society and customs are so strange, I swear. What's so special about a girl maturing anyway? Doesn't everyone have to grow up? Don't boys have their own share of problems and stuff? Why is a girl's 'date' made such a big deal of, really?
Okay, okay, I'll tell you what happened.
Well, today there was supposed to be a pooja at the Siddhivinayak Temple, something that the Parekh clan have attended for more than six decades now (and even I've attended them for four years now). It's something both Ranveer and I love attending and unlike 99% of the kids, we actually look forward to attending it. There's something about the aura of the temple that just... I don't know, provides this strange peace to our hearts and we know that whatever happens, we're in the safe hands of the Almighty at the end of the day.
However, this year, Maa took me aside first and asked me about my date (I bloomed six months back, like you know). I had half a mind to lie about it (I'm currently in my second day), but I couldn't. Try as I much, I can't lie, you see. I'm a terrible liar. So grudgingly, I told Maa about it and just like I feared, she asked me to stay back. Everyone at home including Prateik and Disha would be attending the pooja, but not me.
But that's not even what irked me the most.
What did it for me was that even Ranveer was made to stay home, just to 'babysit' me. Like alright, I get it why Maa asks me to stay back home, but why Ranveer? What did he do? And I'm going to be thirteen for crying out loud! I'm no child! But nooo... take all the servants and family clan for the pooja, but make Ranveer stay behind forcefully. And the idiot even agreed to it! Honestly, I don't even feel half bad for denting his cycle - he had it coming anyway.
Alright, don't give me such derogatory looks now. I know that I was at fault. But don't blame me - you know I get reckless when I am in one of those rages. And these were just one of those days. Ranveer and I were back from school at two and everyone were to leave home at four in the evening. Given that the pooja took a long time, we weren't to be expecting anybody back home until eleven in the night.
Everybody left home at around 4:30 after the usual hullabaloo that takes place anytime there's a family outing. I remained surly throughout the time that Maa and Papa tried making conversation with me and they kept giving instructions to Ranveer, who solemnly nodded his head as he mentally made a note of it. I still could not make up my mind at the time who I was angrier with - my parents or Ranveer.
Finally after the house had emptied out completely, Ranveer took a seat on the floor beside where my knees touched his face and he stared at me dejectedly.
"Come on, don't take it so badly," he began, patting my hands rather sympathetically even though he retracted them the moment I looked up.
"You won't understand, you're not a girl," I shot back at him icily and all he did is simply shrug his shoulders.
"It's not their fault if traditions are like that, you know," he reasoned, even though he did look rather hesitant. Both of us remained quiet for some time before I couldn't restrain myself anymore.
"You're a first-class doofus," I exclaim suddenly, and just like I'd anticipated, he stared at me in shock.
"What? Why?"
"Why did you agree to stay back?" I asked, annoyed, and all he did was spare me is a guilty look.
"Because you'd be lonely alone. Besides, best friends don't go for things like that if their partner-in-crime won't be there. It's useless," he added confidently, knowing that he'd hit the right notes with me. But somehow, his trick didn't work today. I only looked at my knees and spoke sadly.
"I wish you weren't so noble."
"Ishaani, stop being such a drama queen now. Besides, cheer up! We have the whole house to ourselves!" he exclaimed excitedly, while all I did was give him a confused look.
"You talk as though we can do whatever we like over here," I stated rather tastelessly, but somehow no matter what I said, nothing seemed to put off Ranveer.
"Well, we can certainly play our favourite game of being the richest owners of the house," he suggested happily, but it didn't excite me this time.
"No, I don't feel like playing that today..." I sighed sadly, and I could see his spirits fall as well.
"Alright, I won't force you," he told me finally, knowing that nothing would change my mood unless I chose to do so. He continued slowly. "I'm going out to cycle, and I'll be back in some time. Will you be alright?"
"Yeah, no problem," I replied him absent-mindedly before an idea struck me. Before he could leave, I caught his hand and pulled him back.
"Wait, can I join you?" I asked, hoping that he would allow me to atleast get away with one thing today.
"Sure! You can sit behind me," he responded quickly, happy that I'd atleast shown some interest in utilizing our time properly. But the daredevil in me was awakened by now.
"No... I want to ride the cycle," I emphasized, and just like I'd expected, his face drained out of all colour.
"What?! But- but you don't know how to ride one!" he protested, his eyes now narrowing at me. He knew what I was up to.
"Well, teach me," I insisted stubbornly, the disapproval upon his face evident. But I didn't let it deter me.
"Ishaani, you know we aren't supposed to do stuff like that," spoke Ranveer in a small voice, hoping that I'd be a little more practical after knowing the scenario in the house.
But somehow, I refused to see sense anymore. I was just tired of people telling me what I could do and what I was supposed to do. And so I knew that if I could get away by acting like a spoilt brat with anyone, it was Ranveer. I knew that I was taking advantage of Ranveer's helplessness, by try explaining that to your out-of-control hormones that refuse to feel guilt.
"Are you going to teach me or should I take the cycle out on my own?" I shot at him haughtily, and I could see that he looked highly troubled now.
"Alright, alright, I'll teach it to you, happy?" he muttered irritably, knowing that I wasn't going to give up until I had my way. But even before I could say anything in response, he continued with the same resignation in his voice.
"But just near our place only, alright? We don't need any more controversies around," he added uncertainly, as though he hoped of me to change my mind. I didn't.
In spite of wanting to protest so badly, Ranveer kept his mouth shut (I salute him for his restraint) and took me outside to teach me cycling. And you can only imagine how disastrous it must have been. For the next one hour, I only kept doing the opposite of everything he had been teaching me, and when he corrected me, I only fumed more. Sometimes, I really wish he wouldn't give in to my whims and desires so easily. I feel afraid that one day, I'd be the one who ultimately breaks him.
Just as things were at their prime worst and Ranveer looked almost certain that there could not have been a greater tragedy that could have befallen upon him, it did. I'd managed to get the cycle to balance and had almost had a near successful stretch with it when I lost myself into thought, losing my focus alongside. The result? Thirty seconds later, I had fallen upon the road with the cycle upon my leg and an excruciating pain in my ankle.
Ranveer quickly ran up to me and took the cycle off my feet wordlessly after checking my arms and feet for any bruises. Even though he did not say anything, I could make out that he was now overly frustrated and the fact that my ankle looked sprained did not put him in a lighter mood. I did not dare to make any eye-contact with him because I knew that I had failed my friend. I had been selfish and had only thought about my emotions, but I didn't stop to think twice that Ranveer too, had made a huge sacrifice for me, especially for something that was not his fault.
Ranveer tried to bring me up to my feet, but I could not support myself and nearly pulled Ranveer down with me alongside. He shook his head and spoke silently.
"Just put your arm around my shoulder... I think you've sprained your ankle."
I silently did what he said as he supported me all the way up to the mansion. Unluckily, I had my accident far too away, so it was not before a good twenty minutes that we reached home. I wouldn't be so modest to say that I was a fat girl, but I wouldn't even be as arrogant to cite that I was a thin one. I'm healthy. But I did feel a little embarrassed by the time we reached inside the house when I found a panting Ranveer beside me who looked at the staircase as though he was yet to scale the Mt. Everest.
Sighing, he scooped my legs off the ground and pulled me into his arms bridal style, and I could feel his knees wobble. Just praying in my mind for our safety as Ranveer began his nearly impossible ascent, I did not know who thanked God more dearly after we had reached my room another fifteen minutes later, where I think Ranveer let go off my on my bed a little too unceremoniously. I could not blame him for it, though. After all, I did behave like a moron. I had it coming.
Without speaking another word in spite of calling him twice, Ranveer left my room and didn't return back until a good two hours later. And I swear upon the good Lord, I've never been this frightened my whole life, not even when I was lost at the fair. I was always a girl who could bear the hot, scalding anger, but never the cold, disappointed one. And the silent treatment that Ranveer had just given me belonged to the category of the latter. I knew how demented Ranveer could get when he was particularly upset about something, and this was just one of those days when everything went wrong.
So you can only imagine my relief and happiness when Ranveer returned back into my room two hours later with a tray in his hand. Without speaking another word, he set it down beside my nightstand and took off the ice-pack from it, applying it upon my injured leg. I hissed in pain, but the cold was welcome. Unable to bear the silence between us anymore, I asked him in a falsely cheery tone.
"Where were you?"
"I'd gone to get my cycle," he replied shortly, continuing to massage my ankle now.
"And for the rest of the one hour and fifty minutes?" I asked further nosily, knowing that he was still mad at me. He grumbled back in response.
"I called Falguni Maa and told her about your accident." Eyes wide, I made to argue with him but he cut me instantly. I knew what the fool must have done, and I wasn't disappointed when he spoke next.
"I told her that it was all my fault and explained the scenario to her," he continued as though I hadn't spoken a single word. This time, I chose to remain silent to show my disapproval with what he'd done, but it didn't bother him at all. Instead, he just added another phrase shortly.
"She didn't scold me luckily. Just told me to apply some ice and a spray on your leg and to bandage it."
I was hating the cold, silent treatment he was giving me and the fact that he cared so much for me in spite of me messing up everything was even more horrible.
"I hate you," I said finally, hoping that it would atleast garner a response from him. It didn't. I continued, even more resolute now.
"If you are angry, just hit me or pull my hair or yell at me. Stop giving me the silent treatment. It hurts," I added painfully, hoping that atleast he would do me the courtesy of looking me in the eye. He only chose to talk to the ice-pack on my foot.
"And stop hurting yourself when you are angry. It hurts me as well," he replied silently, and I couldn't have felt any guiltier than I already was in that hour.
"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to be so rude or mean to you, I just-"
"Don't give me an explanation," he cut through my speech shortly yet again, his eyes now stern. "Just have your food once I bandage your feet."
"But there's only one plate over here... Where's your plate?" I asked him curiously as he now silently bandaged my foot, eyes still not meeting my own.
"We servants have a separate plate. Have your food and take rest," was all Ranveer said as he tied a knot upon the bandage. And even though I wanted to argue, his lack of response stole away my will to speak anything further. I knew that I was the one at fault this time and no matter what I told myself, the fact wouldn't change. Keeping the first aid box back into the drawer, Ranveer walked out of the room without saying anything further.
And the next one hour that I spent alone in my room was amongst the most miserable ones, the silence daunting. And then I decided that enough was enough. I had to be man enough to stand up to my mistakes. And so I hoisted myself off the bed and tried to limp around but it hurt so badly, it took me a lot of effort not to cry out in pain. After several failed attempts, I finally lost all balance and fell down on the floor again with a sickening crack coming from my ankle.
And just like that, my leg became alright.
It pains me still, yes, but atleast I can move it normally now. Determined to make things right, I took the untouched tray of food from the table after fidgeting with my foot a little to see that it was alright. I carried it down with me into the kitchen to re-heat it in the microwave. Making an urgent call to a person who deserved to know the truth, I finally took the tray (along with a special ingredient) and made my way to Ranveer's room this time, opening the door without even bothering to knock.
I saw Ranveer furiously scribbling away into his own diary, unaware about my presence. I don't know why, but I found it extremely cute, chuckling rather unannounced. I think I nearly gave the poor fellow an attack, or so I assumed with the way he jumped out from his chair, nearly tumbling and shut his diary all in one go. And I laughed even more shamelessly until his glare silenced me.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to enter my room without knocking?" he quipped angrily, but I didn't pay him any heed. It's something he's been complaining about me since forever but it's okay. I have the right to enter him room without knocking, be it for crying upon his shoulder whenever I'm terribly upset or else just like that! I'm his best friend, for crying out loud!
So anyway, I stepped into the room and put the tray on his bed, speaking softly.
"Eat, you must be hungry."
"I've already eaten my food," he countered a little too quickly, turning his back upon me. I cocked my eyebrows at him in skeptism.
"So have I," I retorted shrewdly, knowing that he would react. And he did, looking at me and glaring even more so. When I gave him a deadpan look, he turned his back upon me and folded his arms, now speaking to the wall.
"I'm not hungry."
"I wasn't asking you," I stated coldly, taking a seat upon his bed.
"Yeah, you can boss me around. After all, I'll do anything you order me to do," he exclaimed rather bitterly, still not looking at me.
I instantly realized how stupid I was to make him do something that could have very well landed him into a pool of trouble just like the time with the tree-climbing fiasco. But I also knew that I had to make my amends. I ploughed on, slightly more confident now that I had a line of attack in mind.
"If ordering you to eat is sufficient enough to get you to eat, I'll do that too."
"That's dumb me always being outwitted by smart you," he grumbled under his breath but sat down beside me nonetheless. "I can't eat from this plate," he complained with a childish pout, and all I could do was roll my eyes at him.
"Fine, I'll feed you," I suggested, but he shook his head with the same obstinance.
"It's still the same thing," he fussed rather stubbornly and I could feel my patience grow short with him. But I knew that I had to control my temper. So instead, I jumped upon another alternative.
"Fine, I'll eat from your plate then."
"NO!" he yelled at me as though I was about to sin, and that was it. I finally lost my temper.
"Just shut up and let me feed you!" I yelled at him in a violent burst of decibel, and surprisingly it worked wonders.
Ranveer looked like he would argue back, but he let me feed him nonetheless. And he fed me as well. And throughout the meal, he asked me about my leg and its miraculous recovery and I asked him about his cycle and the damages I caused it. Honestly, we are so stupid at times, it's funny it its own way. We only just need to keep our heads in check. Goodness knows that we have enough "self-respect" to pave way for ego. But it's alright for now and we can live with it.
After dinner, I finally let Ranveer open the final bowl that remained mysteriously covered up until then. And just like I expected, Ranveer looked nothing short of ecstatic at the sight of the butterscotch ice-cream.
"Wow! But why this today?" he asked me, bewildered suddenly. I simply shrugged my shoulder, replying truthfully.
"Well, I hurt you."
"But I don't have an injury," he pondered, confusion even more evident in his voice.
From the first time that he used ice-cream to treat his wounds back when we were eleven to this date, it always amused me. But somehow, I've always let him use ice-cream and have applied it for him several times as well because it gave him a comfort of its own. And today was no different. So I replied softly.
"All wounds don't leave a physical scar, Ranveer."
"You're really being silly now," he replied, looking thoroughly embarrassed. "But no problem, feed me," he added cheekily, but he was taken by surprise when I fed him without any complaint. I hate feeding people their food (precisely Disha because she's such a pain), so he was bound to be surprised.
"I'm sorry," I whispered after we were done with our little ice-cream session. Ranveer looked at me, puzzled.
"What for?" he asked in return, my answer instantaneous.
"Your cycle."
"Don't apologize for that," he said lightly, giving me a reassuring smile. Before I could say anything, he piped in further.
"It's just a small dent. I'll get it repaired after a few months," was what he told me, and rather happily at that. I would have asked him why he was waiting for a "few months" to get his cycle repaired, but I knew that he was saving his salary for my birthday due in two months. My guilt knowing no bounds, I spoke the same thing again.
"I'm sorry."
"Again?" he asked me curiously, now looking genuinely concerned.
"I don't know... I don't like this, you know. Being differentiated out for things like having periods," I said rather bluntly. But unlike all the boys I know, Ranveer never acts like it's a taboo. Ninth standard biology must have not rubbed any effect upon him then thankfully. Instead, he chose to reply with dignity and grace.
"Look, there isn't anything wrong in celebrating what makes you a woman. If our ancestors decided that there was a reason why girls couldn't attend temples during the condition, then it must be for your own good. So accept it."
"Not being allowed to go didn't make me as angry as making you stay behind as well. That's not fair," I confessed finally, considerably lighter after speaking my mind out.
"Look, I am your best friend. But it does not change the fact that I'm a servant-"
"-don't say that word!" I shrieked angrily while he continued like nothing had happened.
"-of this house now, does it? Ishaani, just think of it as six hours of good time we got to spend with each other."
"Yeah, six hours out of which I wasted one hour in cycling, two hours in ruining your mood and another hour in feeding you. Could things get any worse?" I ended sarcastically, unable to hide the twitch of my lips. He gave me a sheepish smile.
"Hey! Don't blame me about the feeding thing! I was perfectly happy being hungry," he said cheekily, and that comment earned him a punch from my side.
"Yeah, shut up. And before I forget, I phoned Maa and told her about the entire cycle mishap," I informed him proudly, happy to have atleast done one right thing at the end of the day.
"What?!" he exclaimed rather loudly, looking clearly in shock. I enjoyed watching the stunned disbelief upon his face. I spoke rather proudly.
"Don't look at me like that, it was the right thing to do. Also, Maa said that she'll chip out for the cycle repairs so you needn't worry about that as well."
"You didn't have to do that," he told me slowly as I got up, taking the empty tray in my hand now.
"Yes, I did. And it's about time you stopped shielding me from things like this," I remarked solemnly, hoping that he'd pay me some heed. Instead, he simply sighed.
"But-" was all I let him say before I put my hand up.
"Before we create any more ruckus," I cut through as I made my way towards the door, Ranveer in tow, looking flustered. "-we better go off to sleep. Goodnight and don't let the bedbugs bite," I added jovially. He repeated my mantra with a relaxed sigh, smiling away at me sweetly in an eye-lock that only spoke of apologies, gratitude and silent understandings.
And honestly, that one smile is what made this tradition worth it. Constructive criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for any typos. :D :D
Next chapter:
Epistle 23
Edited by LadyMeringue - 8 years ago
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
Bigg Boss 19
Real Estate
