The Most Unromantic Romance: A FF(Updated Pg. 35) - Page 24

JP and OP were having their own cosy chat about the inscrutable couple with whom they had to deal with until the arrival of their Saab.

OP was highly confused and his mind was out of its green matter in dealing with this mercurial couple who were laughing one instant and fighting the next, who were hurting each other and at the same time applying the balm on each other's wounds.

JP after putting all his superior wits into use came to the single conclusion which he shared with his Laurel, OP, "Hum un logon ke sath hum hum hothe hain jine hum apna dil seh manthe hain. Kabhie kabhie hume joh log hamare apne hain unke baren mein baad mein patha chaltha hai. In logon ke sath bhi wohi horaha hai." (We remain ourselves before those whom our heart tells us as our own i.e. we reveal our true nature to our own people. Sometimes we realize who are our friends and well-wishers much later. The same has happened with these two.)

Khushi was using the computer in the hall and checking her mails. She was going through all the mails she had received from the ID 'parched earth' again.

I just found your paintings. I was struck by the enormous amount of thought you have put behind each painting. Your paintings were speaking a language of their own to me. Please tell me your address or contact number so that I can send them to you. I could not stop myself from writing the following poem on your paintings.

Just saw your reply! Yes! Let's be friends! And I need such an anonymous friend very badly. There have been things and thoughts which have been running in my mind for years with nobody to share them with. I know you will understand them better than anybody. My mother died when I was four years old. It was Deepavali night. I was holding sparklers in my hand. I knew I was not supposed to because I was too small. But it seemed great fun when I saw everyone lighting crackers. I don't know what how and why it happened but my sparkler slipped from my hand and fell on a large cache of fire crackers. My mother pushed me aside but could not save herself. My father has never forgiven me for it. As if I could ever forgive myself. I could never speak with anybody in a proper manner. I have just only one childhood friend. I never made other friends or relationships for fear and guilt that if they knew what I had done, then------. Anyways why bore you with my sorry past! Signing off!

Arnav who was sitting at the other end of the hall was getting impatient as he too wanted to use the computer. He decided that enough was enough. He was going to push that girl and use the computer himself.

"Hey, Miss Catty, I want the computer for some time! Who's the unfortunate person who has mailed you?" said Arnav

"None of your business! Here I've logged off! You can use the system." Khushi replied.

Just then the light went off. Khushi was wagging her finger at Arnav teasing him, "Serves you right for commenting on my friend!"

Khushi groped around and at last found a candle which she lit till the electricity would come again. Arnav immediately snatched the candle from her hand and threw it it outside the window.

Khushi exclaimed, "What the-----Are you mad? It's pitch dark and what are we going to do till the light comes?"

Arnav hesitantly replied, "I'm afraid of fire!"

Khushi vexedly, "That was not a fire for God's sake! It was a small candle flame!"

Arnav did not reply anything. The entire horrible past was running before his eyes as if it was yesterday. He wanted to run away from those thoughts and memories. But they never seemed to leave him. Today even more so!

Khushi suggested, "O, Mr.Phobia. Since you have already extinguished the only light we have and are in no mood to light another, let's go to the terrace. There in that world of bright moonlight and twinkling stars we don't need any feeble candlelight. Is that okay with you?"

That's how both of them found themselves on the terrace doing some star talk.