Here's Part 1 of the OS. I plan to write maybe another four parts, since it is an OS. so not gonna make this too lengthy.
Second, as you can see by my signature box - I am going to be less active till after May due to school.
Thirdly, Not asking for much, but please do leave feedback! I like reading it and knowing that my work is actually readable and not just gibberish! thank you ! :)
Fourthly- this OS is merely MY idea. It is not anyone else's. This story is also posted on tumblr, and I'd appreciate it if the story is kept on tumblr and this thread alone!
This is a shape up of what i wanted to happen in place of the seven month leap - just increased the time to four years to allow the story to flow. Introduction of new characters belong to me.//
Tumblr:
Read on, follow the code, it'll help you keep track of dialogues.
KEY CODE:
Arjun
Purvi
Ovi
Other
Pari/ Pari = Arabic dialogue
Character Thoughts
(x) links
--
Part 1
He looked at the policeman, bewildered. He tried cleaning his ears, making sure he heard right."I'm sorry Mr and Mrs Deshmukh. We've tried our best and we've even assigned our most efficient men on the job," the policeman took off his hat and held it in his eyes, looking so guilty in front of the people at Deshmukh residence.
Manav gaped wide open and Archana held on to him for supprt, falling to the ground. She couldn't take it in. She looked at Manav and back at the policemen to look for hope but neither people could assure her anything.
Arjun stood far from the scene in a corner and his heart literlly broke into pieces, no- actually, his whole life just shattered. He began to freak out, emotionally. He couldn't believe this and he fought internally to not believe this.
He walked over to the policeman, not being able to take control over his uncontrollable emotions and grabbed the man by his uniform collar.
"You guys can't do your work right and now you're giving us an excuse !! I know you didn't look hard enough! Stop lying to us! She's not dead!"
"Sir, listen, I understand your feelings, but we are very sorry. Evidence shows that Ms Purvi Deshmukh is no more. We found these two broken pieces of a red glass bangle and an orange dupatta covered in blood from the picture provided. We've done our searches in the hospitals too. The bomb blast was so severe that not a single soul survived. All the buses headed out from Mumbai were attacked. We checked all the buses to see if Ms Purvi was listed, and she was and-"
"Shut up! What a nonsensical story! I can get you fired for lying!"
"Sir, please control yourself, this is the truth. Ms. Purvi Deshmukh is no longer alive."
"You're lying, no, no ... you're lying, you're all lying, all of you, Purvi can't die, she can't, she can't ..." Arjun's voice quivered and trailed off. He ran for the door and started his car with a jolt and drove to nowere. He kept driving and driving. Each tear drop that fell from his face threw out each little second spent with Purvi, each little word he spoke to her, and each little gesture he made to the girl. Was it really all over ? His car came to a stop at Sunset Point. He stepped out of the car and shook his head in disbelief. He really didn't know how to digest all of what just happened. He had taken the bangle pieces and the blood stained dupatta and held them tightly. These were the only things he had left of Purvi, but somewhere in his heart he felt she was alive, something told him she was safe, but then he looked back at the things he held and what the policemen said. Why is life so cruel to me?
Arjun looked up at the obscure night sky. No stars were gleaming tonight. Hot tears fell down his cheeks again and he yelled at God looking over him.
"From today onwards, I am done with you. You took away my mother from me when I was younger, but I never said anything to you. I fell in love with Purvi, then I came to you and thanked you. And then my love gave me away, even then I didn't complain to you. I've always respected you, but what did you give me? I've never complained to you and always respected your greatness God, but what are you doing to me? Why do you want to take Purvi away from me, and that too forever? You want me to be miserable right? That's exactly what you want from me." Arjun's voice might have been heard all the way in New York. His fight with God was justified and from that night he promised himself and God that he'd never step in front of him ever again. Clearly, his whole vision of a powerful one above him was shattered. He'd never asked too much, and when he did, everything went wrong.
He started his car back up and went home. The whole house was empty- not literally though. You couldn't exactly call a house with about ten people to be empty. But the house lacked happiness, it almost lacked air even. He opened the door to his and Ovi's room and felt a sudden suffocation overwhelm him. He sat on the couch, holding his head in his hands and tried with all his might to get rid of his agony. He sniffled as he began tearing up again. Hearing his sniffling, Ovi awoke from the bed and stood in front of Arjun. It was evident she was also crying; her eyes were red and her whole face seemed to be hammered.
Arjun looked up to Ovi and broke out crying. At the end of the day, as much as he hated Ovi for playing him and Purvi, she was his childhood best friend. After Purvi, she knew the most about him- it was true. Ovi sat next to Arjun and put an arm around him. It was better she didn't say anything, and she just heard him out.
"I really love her Ovi, i really do. I can't live if she's not here. I can't do anything Ovi, please, bring her back to me, please" Arjun hugged Ovi. She hesitated to hug him back and as soon as her hands touched his back, Arjun pulled away and apologized for his behavior.
"It's okay Arjun. I'm sorry too. Go get some sleep"
"I'll try"
The next day called for a funeral and Arjun, though dressed for it, refused to attend. Everyone came to him to tell him to join and that Purvi's soul would appreciate it, but he bashed at all of them, telling them it was wrong to do a funeral of someone that's alive, and second he wasn't going to step in front of God. He refused to acknowledge Purvi's death, no matter how much people told him she was and he was acting childish.
He drove back to DK mansion and went into his room and sat on the sofa, scrolling through his phone. Ovi entered a little after, with a large file in hand.
"Arjun, we need to talk"
"Hm, yes Ovi? Is something wrong?"
"Ah, no, not really- uhm, actually everything is." Arjun looked on, searching for answers.
"These are divorce papers Arjun ... Um, listen, I've thought about this a lot. And this is the best for us, for our friendship."
"Oh man, Ovi! I am so sorry! I know I'm being a lousy husband, in fact not a very good one! I'm going to try my best Ovi, I know I can keep you happy if I just try, Ovi I am sorry."
"No Arjun, this isn't your fault. I don't want you to just move on now just because ... Purvi is no longer with us ... I can't live like that. That just shows that if she was here, you wouldn't try. Arjun I was wrong in the first place to ever force my own decision on you and Purvi. That was very childish and wrong of me. In fact, I never really did love you. I was just ... obsessed I guess. I was mad I was losing my best friend."
"But Ovi, we can start again, afresh. I'll forget everything."
"That's easy to say Arjun, even I can, but I've seen the love for Purvi in your eyes. As much as I try, I can never take her place. Even if we did work out, one day or another, I'll look into your eyes and I'll still see love for Purvi in them. I don't want to put myself in that position Arjun. Look, I've signed the papers already, just do so too."
"But Ovi, what about you? What are you going to do? I feel like a total jerk right now."
"Arjun don't worry! I am planning to go back to Canada and continue my modelling dreams. Who knows, maybe there I'll find someone who'll love me as much as you love Purvi."
Arjun weakily smiled at Ovi. He felt guilty, but relieved at the same time. He signed the papers because it really was what he wanted. Ovi was right; she could never take Purvi's place.
"Ovi, can we still be friends?"
"No Arjun. I want to move on in life and the more i stay connected to you, the more I'm going to hate myself for keeping Purvi away from you. In all this, Purvi died because of me. Had I not blasted her in front of everyone, she might have not left Mumbai or been on that bus and ... I'm sorry Arjun, really."
"Ovi, thank you."
"For what, ruining your life?"
"No, for finally understanding me. It might be too late, but I appreciate it." He smiled and hugged Ovi one last time.
--
Four Years Later ; Delhi
Arjun shifted to Delhi a month later and started looking after his business alone in the city. He helped expand his business and worked hard to keep himself active and away from Purvi's thoughts. Daily he'd go to work at 8 am and reached home around 11pm. He worked and worked. He kept everything going in his life according to a planned schedule. Soon enough, Arjun's life became highly sophisticated and money- oriented. He was filthy rich. His hourly hard work had paid off and he was so engrossed in his business, he forgot what feelings were really like.
"I asked for dark coffee, no sugar, and heated to a minute. Neither is this dark coffee and neither is it sugar less. It probably isn't even heated to thirty seconds."
"Sir, I am sorry, I-"
"You're fired"
"But sir-" Arjun gave one stern and cold look and the employee was scared beyond belief. He took off his hat and hurried out of the office. His career was gone. Once fired by Mr. A. Kirloskar, there was no where else you could get a job.
He picked up his iPhone and dialed his secretary.
"Is everything packed and ready?"
"Yes Sir"
"Good. I hate lateness. Bring the car in five minutes, and we'll head off to the airport."
"But sir, we're in traffic jam, and we can't-"
"Five minutes." He cut the line and packed his stuff and locked his office cabin doors.
--
"Can you get off that tree darling, you're going to hurt yourself!!"
"No I'm not, relax Mom. I'm super-girl"
Purvi shook her head and walked inside the house, and saw a few little boys walk up to her fence.
"Darling, i think you have some friends over"
The little girl's face turned into an "O" and she whipped out her slingshot.
"They think they can get me before I can? What losers"
Bang Bang Bang.
She jumped off the tree and walked over to the little boys on the floor scratching their heads or rubbing their eyes, or rubbing their bottom.
"Haal beemkani mosa' adatuk?" (Can I help you) The little girl fired at the boys in Arabic and turned around to her home.
"Who cares if they're older than me? No one messes with me. It doesn't matter if I'm a four year old - i can and will do anything. That's just me."
"Pari, come inside! It's going to rain!"
"Sadly, my name says otherwise."
--
Kumkum Bhagya
Anupamaa
