Hey Everyone! It's been a long time... This one is an OS with Ananya and Ronnie's friendship in view... It is a sort of tribute to Ronnie... whose death still pinches...
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I'll Be There For You
"Where's Ananya?" Ronnie asked in the general direction of the rest of the group as he filled his backpack.
"I don't think she's gonna make it." Richa replied, and continued with a meaningful look when Ronnie looked up in her direction, "She said she has some work."
"Hmm" Ronnie replied taking the hint. He zipped up his backpack and moved over to Sejal. "I'll join you guys in a while, all right?" She only nodded with a small understanding smile. "Thanks." He kissed her forehead.
Ting Tong. Ting Tong, Ting Tong, Ting Tong.
She scrambled up to her feet and forcefully wiped the few tears that had escaped her eyes off her face as she ambled towards the door. She didn't wanna see anyone. Not even him. Or maybe she did. She wasn't sure. She was sure though that it wouldn't be him ringing her doorbell incessantly for the last 3 minutes, not after their last conversation. She therefore wasn't at all surprised albeit a little disappointed in spite of herself to find Ronnie on her doorstep instead.
"What are you doing here?" she blurted out without any preamble. "Aren't you supposed to be leaving soon with everybody else?"
"Aren't you too?" Ronnie countered, giving her a once over. His eyes hardened a little seeing the state of her.
"I'm busy." Ananya lied, not meeting his eyes
"Doing what?"
"Stuff." She said evasively.
"You probably need help." Ronnie said stepping over the threshold and into the small corridor leading to the living room.
"No I don't." Ananya replied quickly.
"I wish you'd stop living in denial Kaddoo." Ronnie used the old nickname, which didn't fit anymore, making her tear up once again.
"C'mere." He said as he proceeded to embrace her while she hugged her small frame in an attempt to keep herself together. "It's going to be okay. Shhh. Everything's gonna be fine." He comforted her while thinking of violent ways of straightening out the guy responsible for her tears. It wasn't the embrace she really yearned for but she was still glad to have a comforting shoulder to cry on. It was so difficult to hold everything together, to hold everything in. How did he do that? She felt like she was going to pieces. Why was he incapable of letting out?
She had calmed down relatively and now the two of them were sitting at the foot of her bed in her room.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" Ronnie offered even as he knew her answer.
"Nope." She replied staring at her feet.
"What, has he started controlling your interactions too now?" Ronnie asked harshly.
"He does no such thing! You just don't like him." Ananya said defensively. "Besides do you tell me about each and every argument you have with Sejal?"
"That's different-"
"How's that different? Kabir and I are in a consenting relationship same as you and Sejal. We just have different problems. And we're both entitled to privacy regarding those problems"
"Neither Sejal nor I are that unreasonable."
"Kabir is not unreasonable. He's just... complicated."
"Huh!" Ronnie let out a humorless laugh, which plainly said yeah right!
"I can't explain this to you Ronnie. You'll just have to take me on my word." Ananya sighed. It was a task in itself understanding Kabir. She didn't think she could make anyone else understand. Not without giving out details of his life. And he definitely wouldn't like that. After all he had confided in her after so many fights and difficulties.
"I don't have to do any such thing. I can see what is happening with my own eyes. You've been so up and down since you've met him Kaddoo. Your priorities have all changed. Its like nothing matters to you except him. Not even your own happiness. I haven't ever seen you cry so much or be that affected by anyone. It's like you're losing yourself to an emotional wreck. You don't need this Ananya. He's controlling, obnoxious, and arrogant. He spells bad news."
"Kabir is so much more than what you see Ronnie. You're blinded by your love for me." Ananya replied, choosing to ignore the rest of his tirade. She really did not have an answer for any of it anyway.
"So what about the thing you used to say that one should not make one person that important to themselves that all others stop mattering?" Ronnie asked.
"Ronnie, he is the most important to me. And he is the only one person who'll ever be the most important person in my life. The only exception."
"You're 21. How can you be sure that their isn't anyone else out their for you, someone who would make you happy, someone who would care and won't come with complications and such emotional baggage?"
"I don't know how to explain this to you but he cares. He cares a lot. He just doesn't know conventional ways to express it." No need to mention that he believes himself to be incapable of such expressions.
"I can't explain his essential nature to you. He's been through so much. His life experiences have made him so. And I understand. And I love and respect him for it, for being able to come out of all of that though not unscathed. But I know he'll get there. And till then I'll be patient. You have to realize that no one has ever made me happier than him. And whatever we have now is enough. We'll work on our relationship like the next couple and we'll get there."
"Ananya." Ronnie said almost painfully. It was clear from his expression that he thought of her to be delusional. "I don't think relationship are this much work. Look at Sejal and me. We're doing great. It's so effortless. Like falling or something."
"Yaar har relationship itni easy nahi hoti. And just because it's not easy doesn't mean I should give up. Maybe I am in a difficult relationship because I could make it work. And I would take that chance. Kabir's worth it."
"You are not a stupid person but you're doing a hell of an impression of it right now! Why the f**k do you have to be understanding and patient? Is he doing any work in this relationship?" Ronnie bit out.
"Ronnie agar realtionships sirf easy honi hoti toh kabhi koi problems hi nahi hoti. He does enough. He gives me a reason to hold on to him. That's all I need. Relationship mein ek insaan zyada pyaar karta hai aur ek zyada kaam. Fortunately for me he has the loving part down to perfection. Rahi baat kaam ki, I'll have to show patience. He has a lot to learn and I'll give him time. We'll get there."
"You're full of crap. What that guy needs is for me to roughen him up."
"He needs no such thing." Ananya snapped.
"And you don't need this." Ronnie retorted.
"How do I explain to you I'm fine? I'll not be fine if you hurt him. Mind you I think there are more chances of him hurting you. Aur phir main Sejal ko kya jawab dungi? Ek shaqal hi toh achi hai tumhari. Who bhi bigad gayi toh..."
"Oye! Tu bhool gayi last time uss bande ka kya haal kiya tha maine jo tujhe pareshan kar raha tha?"
Ananya chose to ignore this and glanced at the watch. "Ronnie you should really get going. Sab wait kar rahe hoge."
"What about you?"
"I'll go to Kabir's. He's probably sulking. I'll get him around. And when he'll feel better I'll feel better too." Ananya replied.
Ronnie just shook his head, got up and pulled her to her feet too.
As they both got into his car, she said "Thanks."
He grunted watching the road straight ahead. She smiled understanding it to mean, "What are friends for?"
PS: Sorry there wasn't much of Kabir here...
Shiv Shakti
Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon
Cricket
