OS/FF( A Haunted Tale):
____________________________________
1.Piya
The floor itself seemed to shake as a blinding white light enclosed me in its strange, yet somewhat familiar arms. There was nothing but white, a dazzling, pearlish glow of light. For a smidget of a second I thought I had died, and was now in heaven, but then I saw him. Abhay. He too was dressed in stark white, opposing his usual look in white. Besides his clothes, there was something else about him that felt different, alien, to me. He wasn't the hostile, arrogant, rude person that I had first met, nor the caring, loving one who protected me when danger was near me.This was another Abhay, one whose eyes were filled with agony, an anguish I hadn't witnessed before. There was hope too, just a twinkle of it. He looked at me through a frightening, piercing gaze, as if he could see right through me. Although he was standing right there, he seemed distant. It hurt to see him like this, in pain, and I decided then, that if I there was a way I could take away that pain, I would do it. Even if it meant binding my curiosity and throwing it in the bin, even if it meant staying away from Abhay, I would, just if I could take that damn pain away.
Suddenly, he moved a step back, his eyes flaring, then turning into a deep blue, like the midnight sky. He smiled --why did it seem as if he was thirsty or hungry?-- all of the sadness gone, replaced by nothingness. His smile grew wider, into a grin, and then I gasped. His pearly fangs, yes, fangs glinted, and blood dripped onto his white shirt. I shrieked and backed away, but then he faded away before me. I tried to run, tried to escape this horrific place, but I couldn't Something was holding me down, stopping me from moving. I sank down to my knees and started sobbing. 'Piya?' 'Huh?' I looked around. No! What was this? I could have sworn that voice was my mother's. 'Mama?" There she was! I stood up but then realised that there was no point, since I still couldn't move. She hovered, slightly above me, and the look on her face was of emptiness, sadness, but not one comparable to that of Abhay's. I spread my arms, like when I used to be little and wanted her to pick me up, but she didn't move. She faded, too, just like Abhay had, leaving no trace that she had been there. I opened my mouth, but found myself unable to talk. She couldn't leave me like this, she just couldn't. The light, which had become somewhat bearable, became brighter, as if it had become angry. It felt like staring into the sun, and my eyes glazed over, forcing me to close them.
I could feel the blood getting pumped throughout my body, the slight buzzing in my ears, spots in fluorescent colours flashing in my eyes. I opened them again, and I was back in the classroom. My ears felt numb, as if I had just gone scuba diving, and everyone's faces blurred. A hand grabbed my waist, as I struggled to stay standing.
"Piya, Are you okay?" Misha, I think it was, asked, "You looks so pale..."
"As if you've seen a ghost" Angad added. Did he know how close to the truth he was? I had seen not just a ghost, but a vampire as well. I cringed as the throbbing in my head increased.
"I am fine" I rasped.
"You sure?" Kabir, who still had his hand on my waist, slid his other hand under under my arm, picked me up, and put me on the chair. Was I imagining the low growl coming from Abhay, or did he actually feel jealous? And if he did feel jealous, why did that thought send a warm ripple through me?
"Yes, I am fine" Wriggling ou of his grasp, I staggered out of the classroom after giving everyone a reassuring smile.
_____________________________
2. Misha
"She's acting weird"
"She is in lo-ohve"
"With who?"
"Abhay of course"
"He's mine!"
T interrupted my chatter with Tracker. The only reason I was even talking to the fool about something this important was because there was no one else. And now this T...
"Haven't your parents taught you not to interrupt adult's conversations?" I retorted.
"Hmph!" She flicked her hand, as if I was a fly on some cake, and rolled her eyes, "You and adult conversations? Why am I even wasting my time" she purred in a excessively irritating, swanky voice.
"Whatever" I didn't want to waste my time thinking of a good comeback. She smiled victoriously--Huh? She thought she could give that awful smile just because I couldn't give a comeback this time? What about the thousand other losses of hers?-- and pranced away.
"Misha!! Look there!" Tracker patted my shoulder and pointed towards the door. Shaurya?! Oh god no!
"Tracker, I have to go, Bye"
"Mmm hmm" She was lost, drooling over Shaurya.
I tried to go, as inconspicuously as possible, but it wasn't possible, as Shaurya was standing right near the door. Damn it!
"Hi Misha"
"Uh..Hey"
"How are you?"
"Listen, I have to go. To meet someone...important. Bye!" I ran out of there, without looking at him. I presume his expression was one of confusion, so was mine. What's up with me?
__________________________
3. Madhu
What use is a mother who cannot protect her own children? What kind of wife is one that can't even stop her husband doing something against her will? Well that's me, Madhu Dobriyal! Panchi and Misha snuggled against me, and together we watched a movie, an old 80's one, of Arnab's choice. We had given up this old ritual, Friday Night Family Movie Time, we called it. Panchi's studies started to get harder; Tuitions, extra homework, etc, so we stopped trying. Today, I grabbed both of their hands and dragged them onto the bed. I told Arnab that he better come too, and he came, only because of his guilt, but he still came. He sat down beside Panchi, and handed her the popcorn.
"Hey Birdie, give me some too, other wise I will start calling you Piggy!" Misha teased, snatching the bowl from her sister.
"Shhh, look!" I pointed at the TV screen, as the hero serenaded the heroine, and I lost myself in a reverie, one with Arnab proposing to me and then me in the hospital, wheezing, pushing, as Arnab held my hand, and then we had our very first daughter. Sighing I leaned back, stroking Misha's hair. Piya was a nice girl, but if she was the one to break our family, then I would have to do something about it,
__________________________
4.Abhay
The sweet tangy liquid running down my throat, indulging my senses in an ecstasy to be found nowhere else, beside this rich, red blood. Oh! It felt like life, in all its beautiful forms, reviving me, giving me the strength to survive another few weeks.
'Abhay?' I had let my guard down during this feed, so I hadn't heard the telltale signs of someone approaching, the scent, the crunch of leaves as feet stepped on them. I felt ashamed, but it had been a while since my last feed, since I got the chance to immerse myself in bliss; a happiness that didn't last long, but was extremely fulfilling.
'Abhay!' Haseena said again, a hint of exasperation in her voice. I let the limp, once magnificent, bear fall down onto a bed of orangey-brown leaves on the muddy forest floor. It had been raining, and there was fog everywhere now.
'What's the matter? You know I don't like getting disturbed while...' I gestured towards the dead animal. Two small holes, barely visible, dotted the arch of it's neck. I had taken care not to get blood on it, but instead, it had splattered all over my shirt.
'I know..' She stepped closer and wiped something off the edge of my lip. Blood. 'You have to take care'
'I know'
'Do you? Chand stepped out from behind a tree and placed a hand casually around Haseena's waist. 'You didn't notice me'
'I did, I just didn't acknowledge you' I lied, but I didn't care. I know he didn't believe me, but still, he nodded and took of with Haseena.
I could still hear her voice ringing in my ears, 'Come home soon'
Where was home? I realised I had said that out loud, because Piya emerged from somewhere and squatted beside me, saying 'It's where you want it to be'
'Piya?'
'Abhay, I don't know what you are, for sure. But I do know who you are...' she paused.
'Who?'
'You are Abhay Raichand, my Prince charming, my knight in shining armour. You are my beloved Abhay'
'But it isn't right. You can't love me, and I can't love you'
'Love isn't about right or wrong, it's about caring so much that the rest of the world doesn't matter. No rule, no custom, can separate Love. Abhay, forget your past, for the future is far more welcoming.'
'But the past doesn't leave me, it keeps on coming back. My past haunts my present, and my future as well. I don't want it to haunt you too. Piya? Do you know what your past holds?'
'Yes' She furrows her brows together.
'All of it?'
'I am not sure. And I don't care. Abhay, to me, all that matters is you. I want to live this moment, and the ones to come!" She looks up at the sky and smiles, her face radiant, and the fog chooses this moment to clear, so that the sun's rays can dance on her face. I can't hold back anymore, I pull her into my arms. She is startled, but when I kiss her, she kisses me back. Chocolate, gulab jamun, anything goes sour, compared to this sweetness.
I will live this moment, and that is all that matters, right?
____________________
kawaii hime
"Pia, you have to tell me today what's up with this 'last and eternal love' anyway?" Abhay gave the card in his hand another glance and said. His tone was playful mixed with a fake hint of annoyance.
"Huh? You mean to say this isn't the first time she's given you such a card?" Rui coughed as she drank her drink when she heard her cousin say those words. "How romantic!" she added.
"What's so romantic about it?" Piped in Misha as she leaned against her husband's arms, relaxed as Shaurya ran rubbed her arms while smiling. "It's just a stupid card anyway!" This made Shaurya stopped his moving hands for two seconds as he gave her wife a glance of helplessness. "Mish, you are still unromantic as ever'" he sighed and kissed the top of her head. Angad, seeing his former crush snuggling so cutely to her husband made him stare at his wife to whom only her drink seemed the most important thing in the world.
Pia shook her head at her friends and turned to raise her eyebrows to her husband Abhay. She could easily see the playfulness dancing in his eyes and the truth of the annoyance behind his expression. Taking her time, she sipped from her drink and pretended to think.
"What's so wrong about it anyway? I think the words in itself are too poetic, how can you not like them?" She asked in return and saw Abhay roll his eyes.
"Spare me the pleasure of your poetic riddles honey, I just want the answer!" He demanded in his business tone which was cold, husky and very royal. Pia smiled at the childishness of his world famous business tycoon husband.
All of this was happening in the expensive and elegant sitting room of the Raichand Villa, where Abhay Raichand lived with his wife Pia and two 14 year old twin boys. Today was Abhay's birthday and like every year he had decided to spend this day with his extremely close friends and family. Unfortunately, his parents Chand and Haseena Raichand couldn't be there for their son's birthday because of their priorities. Nonetheless, it wasn't a big loss for the birthday man; after all he hadn't been extremely close to his parents anyway. It was always a day which was a bit off the traditional because whenever people heard there was birthday of a rich and famous business person, immediately a thought of lavish party crossed their mind whereas for Abhay a good birthday celebration meant close friends, a glass of finest wine and a few arguments with his wife.
"What don't you like about it?" Pia tried again and suppressed a smile.
"Everything! It makes me feel like I'm missing a lot of things from your life. 'Last'? The word makes it feel like there's been so much in your life and I've been too absent through it, I hate that feeling." Abhay finished his glass of wine in one gulp and said out his feelings.
"Abhay, it is about time you accept the fact that no husband knows everything about their wife's life. And trust me, it's better that way." Shaurya said in a reasoned tone.
"Not for me, I always like to be the first. Be it professionally or personally, first is what I am meant to be." Abhay's voice was filled with furious pride as the smirk crept on his lips at his words. Angad and Shaurya whooped at his statement while Misha just shook her head.
"But, I am first in Pia's life." He added with an afterthought. Pia raised her eyebrows at him. "Well, I am the first person to see when she wakes in the morning, the first she calls in when she's happy or sad, the first person to hold her hand etc." Abhay explained with a wink towards Pia. Pia gave a soft laughter.
"This makes you the first in everything cous!" Rui chirped and applauded. A wave of laughter echoed in the room.
"True, but that doesn't mean that you are a first in everything hubby!" Pia said in a mysterious voice when the laughter died. "Oh c'mon Pia, you can't wiggle out of this one. Admit it, I'm always first in your life!" Abhay said in a somewhat bragging way.
"Of course not! You're not the first one who'" the words escaped Pia's mouth before she could stop herself. As she said it, a pair of smiling eyes and a single silver earring flashed in her mind. Her heart skipped a beat and the smile on her face faded away as a shadow of the past crept on her face. But it was gone as soon as it had come. Abhay was staring at her with a confused smile and questioning eyes. Pia just shook her head and plastered a smile on her face which clearly indicated that she wanted everyone to forget her blunder.
"Forget it! Who wants more wine?"
---------------
Pia walked into the study and closed the door behind her. Walking to her shelf, she extracted an old blue diary from behind her books, somewhere no one would dream to look for anything special. The year engraved on the diary was exactly 20 years old. Taking the diary in her hand, she moved her fingers over the silver writing of the year and a sad smile crept on her lips. Sighing, she walked towards her favorite chair and sat on it. Bringing one knee to her chest, she rubbed her temples. Too much wine, she thought as she closed her eyes.
"Let me give a massage, trust me all the headache will be gone in a poof!"
Pia opened her eyes with a start as the voice rang in her head. The playful, carefree voice with enough power to take away anyone's troubles away. Could she ever forget that voice? Could she ever forget the person to whom the voice belonged? Did she even want to forget him'? After twenty years, she was still clutching to the memories silently without giving away anything. Why? She sometimes questioned herself and the answer was always ready'
Pia opened the diary and turned the pages one by one just glancing over them without giving them much thought. She was 18 when she started her first diary and strangely on the last night of her 18th year, she stopped writing it. Ever since then, Pia had never considered writing a diary. After carefully turning the old yellowed pages, she finally reached the one she was searching for. Running her fingers over her own writing, she read the words she had written long ago which she still remembered and all the feelings attached to it.
I am in love'
These four words had marked the beginning of everything'all her firsts which Abhay claimed that he was. And Pia had never cleared his misunderstanding. He had no idea how hard, painful, heartbreaking being anyone's first was. So many feelings attached to being the first. Each one of them irreplaceable and she knew it because the special place that he held in her heart was still not replaced by anything.
Him. Kabir Singh Rathore.
Her. Pia Jaiswal.
Them. A dream still etched in her heart, never letting go.
Kabir was her first; first best friend, first rival, first support and first love. He was first person who brought her out of her fairytales and made her see that the magic of reality went far beyond the boundaries of stories. The first person to break the walls she had created upon herself. The first person to give her wings. The first person to tell her just how beautiful she was'the first person to unlock all the emotions she never thought she would be able to feel.
The happiness of sharing the little joys of life with someone.
The eagerness to get by someone's side as soon as possible.
The strange fluttering of heart just by assurance that in the crowd there was one person who quietly cheered her on with a smile.
The joys of seeing all the magical dreams come true.
The sensation of soul being sucked from your body when someone kissed you'just what was that Kabir hadn't done to her?
He was like a storm who's each action swept her off her feet. His smiles, his laughter, his anger, his excitement, his childishness; he was so full on emotions and each portrayal of his emotion was so breathtaking, or maybe she was the only one who felt the world stop and people disappear whenever he smiled at her.
How could she ever forget when he had sneaked in her room in the middle of the night like a thief and danced with her under the light of the full moon in the balcony? The wind played the melody and the trees were the audience as they moved around perfectly with their arms around each other. All because she had carelessly wished for such a moment in front of her. And he had been the first one to fulfill it.
Or the time when he had sung her a song in front of the whole crowd, meaning every word as he sung it? She remembered her rapid heartbeats and uneven breathing when he started straight into her eyes as his hands moved on the keys of the piano. It was like she was going die because her heart was going to explode due to happiness. He was the first person to show that he cared in such a dreamy manner.
And never could she forget the time when after their first huge fight, he had grabbed her hand and pinned her on the wall with eyes that showed anger like she'd never seen before. When she had demanded him to let her go with furious and hurt tears in her eyes, he had crushed her lips with his. Her first kiss. It wasn't gentle but furious. It wasn't demanding, it was commanding. His kiss had told all his unspoken feelings that she wasn't alone burning in the sweet flames of love, he was with her too. She had felt like her breath was going to leave her body if he didn't stop yet she hadn't wanted him to stop; she was welcoming that sweet breathlessness.
So many firsts'that Abhay could never have in her life. And because of all these beautiful firsts, she was still fulfilling the first promise he asked her make. It was when he was going, forever. Parting was the gift he gave her on her 19th birthday. He had taken her hand in his' and asked her to promise her. That he would always be her last'
"Promise me, I'll always be your last. Your last first kiss and your last first love'please don't forget your first promise with me'"
After saying those words, he hadn't stayed but had walked away. Without a backward glance at her tears'he walked away. Never to turn back again. Never to be by her side again'never to be the first in anything in her life again. He had given her all his share of firsts'now she was left with seconds only'
Pia got out of her whirlwind of memories. Rubbing the traces of tears from her face, she got up and walked towards the window. For twenty years she had been fulfilling her promise to him and she would keep on holding on to it. Even if he hadn't made her promise to remember him, she still would've done in anyway. He was far too special for her forget. Her present may have Abhay having all the firsts but her untouched pure past was filled with Kabir. She loved Abhay more than anything in the world and her whole future was no doubt be going to be spent with him by her side but that one year she had spent with Kabir had given her so many firsts and memories that an eternity wouldn't be enough to erase them.
Even if Kabir had given her such beautiful feelings, he had also given her first heartbreak which still throbbed whenever she thought about in loneliness. Maybe that was why she was persistent to keep Kabir the first and Abhay the last in her life'because Abhay would be the last person to leave her with heartbreak'something that would never. She only wished Abhay could understand the beauty of the word 'last' in her life without her trying to make him understand. Because if she did try to make him understand, she would have to taint the untouched snow of her secret one year with Kabir, something she would never do.
Sighing, she stared at the falling snow outside of the window. It was going to a night to remember all her firsts. Even as she watched, in the screen of her mind her first ever snowfall became clear.
"Kabir! It's snowing! My first snowfall ever!"
"Really? Then let's have another first!"
"What?"
"Your first snow fight! With me'!"
"Who else would I have it with anyway?"
"No one'because all your firsts belong to me Pia'"
Udne Ki Aasha
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Fan Fictions
