if Wishes were horses Part 30,Page 79,3rd November - Page 10

Part 5

Dialogues are in purple and the thoughts are red and in brackets

Life was silk'.nothing or no one could take away this feeling. Liberation of mind paved the way for everything else. Though they say that Change is the only constant,didn't shake everyone or maybe''

Watching a cliffhanger between Arsenal and Liverpool in the EPL was all she wanted right now and was savouring the feeling. With a first class bachelor's degree,she has to move ahead with the Masters. Admissions begin next month. Going to the university and meeting few old pals and trying to make new acquaintances would be interesting'.perhaps'you make only acquaintances after a point in life'.

There would be a void though. Not that she expected her to pursue university but would've been great. But as it goes if wishes were horses beggars would ride'.

Were they pushing her into something she wasn't prepared for? Was this a gift wrapped feeling which looked perfect with a glossy paper on the exterior'leading to a dungeon inside ? Does she want this at all? How can she be so selfish? Did she spare even a thought on what she would be leaving behind'.why do men do this to women? Even the slightest feeling of surrendering yourself to a complete stranger who puts his best foot forward and keeps you in the dark about how he actually looks and who he actually is''

The mere feeling suffocated her. She could imagine herself in a space which had walls as far as her vision would take her with no door or windows'.choking oneself and dying out of asphyxiation was the only guarantee'.just like a foetus does in the mother's womb when her amniotic fluid dries up''.

The whiff of the evening air tinted with the orangish red hue gifted her the much needed life she was about to lose. The wind was playing truant this evening'..

The beige curtains were more than eager to give in to the flirtatious advances. They swayed in ecstasy. Khanak lay on her back staring at the ceiling and breathing in all the life she could'..

Built in the early 50s, Khanak's house stood on huge rounded pillars and very tall ceilings. It looked like one from the Victorian era. The two storied house had a grand drawing room overlooking a grander balcony. It housed the world's most comfortable sofa''the one that Khanak could kill for'.

The 8 seater dining table graced the dining area with the kitchen exactly 100 metres away. There was a guest room downstairs which remained occupied most of the year,courtesy Pinaki and Swagata's staunch belief that guests were the harbingers of God himself'..

The first floor had three bedrooms, one each used by her parents and she. The third room remained unexploited mostly but for guests ''

Khanak's room had a queen sized bed and a mahogany wood almirah with a full length mirror. Her laptop stood on the tiny coffee table. Black varnish adorned the entire furniture. And not to forget her study area with a functional table and an extremely comfortable executive chair where all her creative juices flowed''..

This feeling of desolation has gripped Khanak's senses for the past few days'.what would she do without Gunjan? Their inter-dependence was too deep rooted'.

So what? Singapore isn't that far away. I can fly down and meet her whenever I want. But she would now share her life with someone else'what if I felt unwanted? What if Mr.Pompous finds our bond interfering? Why did she have to get married and go so far away? Why am I not able to share her happiness? Am I being selfish?'..No,of course not'

Distance between Camac Street and Lake Road seemed never-ending. The white land rover crawled only 50 metres every 10 minutes. Taking one's fiancee out on a week day evening suddenly didn't seem appealing to Shaan. But he has only a day in between,was going back on Saturday. He parked the car in the drive-in and waited for her''

And there she was,in a turquoise sleeveless cotton top with a creamy white A line knee length skirt sans any jewelry, hair tied in a high pigtail, she looked a picture of elegance and chic style. The white flats completed the look'..

There was so much to be said and heard but who was going to break the ice? Bundles of nerves,they decided to look out of the window and discover the city which they knew like the back of their hands!!!

Shaan decided to take her to Scoop - an old ice cream joint on the Outram Ghat. Outram Ghat in Kolkata on the banks of the Ganges does have a colonial touch in that the ghat is dedicated in memory of Sir James Outram who was a brave general of the mighty British empire. James Outram originally hailed from Derbyshire, England and had come to India as a foot soldier of the British East India Company. He rose to the highest military position by dint of his bravery, dedication and commitment. Towards the end of his career, he was also bestowed with the title of "Sir" from the British monarchy.

He ordered a death by chocolate for himself and a sugarfree black currant for Gunjan, the concern which floored and melted her heart'''

I believe you've been informed about my health condition already'.

Yes!!! but why are you talking as if you are addressing your shareholders in an AGM(annual general meeting)!!!!

Do I sound that boring'..but Shaan there are certain things that you need to know'..

I am medically challenged for life. Insulin keeps me alive which I inject myself, twice a day!!! My condition with growing age is only going to worsen''

Do you think you'll be able to live with this? I needed to tell you all this as I felt that you have every right to know'..

Gunjan don't you think it's too late for me to know all this'..

Her sharp reactions made him realize what he had just blurted out!!!!

I was only joking!!! I have been reading a lot about lifestyle diseases lately and I admire your courage to deal with this with such grace'..

The round orangish red ball going down the horizon said a lot about state of minds''not knowing whose'..

Please comment!!!!! 😛